During her PhD studies, Jing Che investigated the potential of future milk protein production strategies by examining two aspects of cellular agriculture: the production of milk constituents through in vitro cultivation of bovine mammary epithelial cells, and the role of phosphorylation degree in casein micelle reassembly and functionality. By LC-MS/MS-based proteomics, Jing Che studied the comprehensive profiles of secreted proteins of in vitro cultivated cells and unveiled the similarities and differences of the cultivated milk with normal milk in both quality and quantity. Moreover, using bovine caseins as a model study, Jing Che unravelled the critical role of phosphorylation degree in governing the functionalities of reassembled casein micelles. The research findings highlight both the strengths and challenges of cultivated milk and provide valuable insights for precision fermentation in future dairy applications, which clarify the current state of progress and obstacles in developing artificial milk without relying on cows.

The PhD study was completed at

Department of Food Science, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Tuesday, 10 December 2024 at 10:00.
Place: Aarhus University, Department of Food Science, 5910-214, Agro Food Park 48, 8200 Aarhus N
Title of PhD thesis: Towards cellular agriculture – proteomics of secretomes from cultivated bovine mammary cells and the effect of phosphorylation degree on micelle reassembly
Contact information: Jing Che, e-mail: jing@food.au.dk, tel.: +45 91884891
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Birte Svensson, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Scientist Michael Affolter, Nestlé Institute Food Safety and Analytical Sciences, Nestlé Research, Switzerland
Professor Carl-Otto Ottosen (chair), Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Professor Lotte Bach Larsen, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor:
Associate Professor Nina Aagaard Poulsen, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defense is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.