A new method for protein extraction from sea lettuce (Ulva fenestrata) via surfactants and alkaline aqueous solutions

Alternative protein sources such as seaweed can help relieve the pressure on land-based protein supply. This proof-of-concept study developed an extraction method to recover soluble and lipophilic proteins from the seaweed Ulva fenestrata. The method consisted of processing U. fenestrata with 0.1-0.5 % aqueous Triton X-114 solution and reprocessing the pellet with an alkaline aqueous solution. Then, the solubilized proteins were precipitated via acidification. The new method extracted 3.4-times more protein, measured as total amino acids, compared to the control with two alkaline aqueous extraction cycles. Triton disrupted the chloroplasts and likely solubilized lipophilic membrane proteins as supported by microstructure and polypeptide pattern analysis. Triton-derived protein extracts contained lipids inside the precipitates/aggregates and were richer in fatty acids typical of photosynthetic membranes. The higher extraction yields are proposed to result from membrane charge neutralization upon acidification, triggering interactions between the membrane lipids and their subsequent precipitation with the lipophilic membrane protein.