Ovalbumin - Two Sides of the Same Coin

Abstract

Ovalbumin (OVA) is the most abundant egg white protein. It is a globular, acidic phosphorylated glycoprotein of the serpin family with a molecular weight of 45 kDa. OVA is rich in essential amino acids and upon proteolytic digestion yields bioactive peptides (BAPs), recognized nutraceuticals with hypotensive, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties that contribute to the overall nutritional and health benefits of eggs. OVA is a common choice in the food, biomedical, and pharmaceutical industries due to its useful properties during food processing, capacity to form biocompatible gels, and special properties as an effective transporter for a variety of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. Cellular agriculture is an innovative interdisciplinary approach that bypasses conventional animal husbandry in the production of animal proteins. OVA expressed in Trichoderma reesei (T. reesei) most closely mimics the structural and functional properties of its natural homolog and is therefore considered a sustainable alternative to chicken egg white protein powder. Egg allergy poses serious concerns for food safety and an important socioeconomic burden to the food sector and public health. OVA has been extensively studied as an important egg allergen in mice and in vitro experimental models, providing fundamental insights into the molecular mechanisms of allergy and identifying new therapeutic targets. This chapter focuses on providing a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art of OVA in human nutrition and the food industry. After presenting the structure underlying the functional properties of OVA, we provide a critical perspective on cellular agriculture as a non-poultry production of OVA. Additionally, the detailed nutritional and biotechnological significance of OVA is elaborated. The final part of this chapter provides a comprehensive insight into OVA as a model antigen and food allergen from a food safety perspective.