IP Library Granted Patent US 12,458,039
Granted Patent B2
US 12,458,039 · App. 17/605,920 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Recombinant milk proteins and compositions comprising the same

Inventors: Timothy Geistlinger (Oakland, CA); Ravirajsinh P. Jhala (Castro Valley, CA); Heather Jensen (Oakland, CA); Hendrik Meerman (Encinitas, CA)
Assignee: PERFECT DAY, INC.
A23C11/00C07K14/4717C07K14/4732C07K14/76
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,458,039
App. No.
17/605,920
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are recombinant milk proteins with non-native PTMs, food products comprising the recombinant milk proteins, and methods of obtaining the recombinant milk proteins and for manufacturing the food products.

Claims (29)

1 . A dairy substitute composition comprising:

a milk protein component that confers on the dairy substitute composition a sensory attribute of milk selected from the group consisting of a taste, a flavor, an aroma, and an eating quality, wherein the milk protein component consists of:

a recombinant β-lactoglobulin;

an optional recombinant k-casein; and

one or more other milk proteins selected from the group consisting of: a native and/or recombinant lactoperoxidase, and a native and/or recombinant GMP.

2 . The dairy substitute of claim 1 , wherein the dairy substitute is essentially free of a protein obtained from plant.

3 . The dairy substitute of claim 1 , wherein the dairy substitute is essentially free of any protein other than the recombinant β-lactoglobulin, the optional recombinant k-casein, and the one or more other milk proteins comprised in the milk protein component.

4 . The dairy substitute of claim 1 , wherein the recombinant β-lactoglobulin comprises an amino acid sequence that comprises one or more of amino acid residues selected from T4, T6, T18, 821, S27, S30, S36, T49, 197, S110, S116, T125, S150, N152, and T154 of Bos taurus β-lactoglobulin, and has non-native glycosylation on one or more of such amino acid residues.

5 . The dairy substitute of claim 1 , wherein the recombinant β-lactoglobulin comprises an amino acid sequence that comprises one or more of amino acid residues selected from T4, T6, T18, Y20, S21, S27, 330, S36, Y42, T49, 176, 197, Y99, Y102, S110, S116, T125, S150, and T154 of Bos taurus β-lactoglobulin, and has non-native phosphorylation on one or more of such amino acid residues.

6 . The dairy substitute of claim 1 , wherein the dairy substitute comprises a milk protein polymer network.

7 . The dairy substitute of claim 1 , wherein the milk protein component comprises the optional recombinant k-casein, and wherein the optional recombinant k-casein comprises micellar casein concentrate.

8 . The dairy substitute of claim 1 , wherein the recombinant β-lactoglobulin is at least 95% identical to a β-lactoglobulin found in a mammal-produced milk.

9 . The dairy substitute of claim 1 , wherein the recombinant β-lactoglobulin is at least 99% identical to a β-lactoglobulin found in a mammal-produced milk.

10 . The dairy substitute of claim 7 , wherein the one or more other milk proteins consists of the native and/or recombinant GMP.

11 . The dairy substitute of claim 8 , wherein the mammal-produced milk is sheep milk, cow milk, or goat milk.

12 . The dairy substitute of claim 9 , wherein the mammal-produced milk is sheep milk, cow milk, or goat milk.

13 . The dairy substitute of claim 1 , wherein the recombinant β-lactoglobulin is produced in a recombinant host cell selected from the group consisting of: a recombinant fungal host cell, a recombinant bacterial host cell, a recombinant algal host cell, and a recombinant plant host cell.

14 . The dairy substitute of claim 13 , wherein the recombinant fungal host cell is selected from the group consisting of: Aspergillus, Candida, Fusarium, Hansenula, Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Saccharomyces, Tetrahymena, Trichoderma, Yarrowia , and Zygosaccharomyces.

15 . The dairy substitute of claim 1 further comprising one or more of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin K, calcium, potassium, potassium, sodium, and citrate.

16 . The dairy substitute of claim 1 further comprising one or more sweetening agents selected from the group consisting of brazzeine, curculin, mabinlin, miraculin, monelin, pentadin, and thaumatin.

17 . The dairy substitute of claim 1 further comprising a plant oil.

18 . The dairy substitute of claim 1 further comprising an interesterified oil.

19 . The dairy substitute of claim 1 further comprising a triglyceride comprising butyric acid, caproic acid, caprylic acid, and capric acid.

20 . The dairy substitute of claim 1 , wherein the dairy substitute is a powder.

21 . The dairy substitute of claim 1 , wherein the dairy substitute is configured to be used as a substitute for a dairy product, the substitute for the dairy product being selected from the group consisting of: substitute milk, substitute yogurt, substitute cheese, substitute cream, substitute frozen confection, and substitute fermented dairy product.

22 . A composition comprising the dairy substitute of claim 1 .

23 . The composition of claim 22 , wherein the composition comprises a milk protein polymer network.

24 . The composition of claim 22 , wherein the composition is a polymer, pharmaceutical product, or personal care product.

25 . A method for producing the dairy substitute of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises obtaining a recombinant β-lactoglobulin, an optional recombinant k-casein, and one or more other milk proteins selected from the group consisting of a native and/or recombinant serum albumin, a native and/or recombinant lactoperoxidase, and a native and/or recombinant GMP.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2023
From: GEISTLINGER, TIMOTHY; JHALA, RAVIRAJSINH P.; JENSEN, HEATHER; MEERMAN, HENDRIK
To: PERFECT DAY, INC.
Reel/Frame 063207/0197 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2023
From: GEISTLINGER, TIMOTHY; JHALA, RAVIRAJSINH P.; JENSEN, HEATHER; MEERMAN, HENDRIK
To: PERFECT DAY, INC.
Reel/Frame 063156/0447 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62837098 · Apr 22, 2019
Related Publication 20220211061A1 · Jul 7, 2022
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