Plant proteins and their colloidal state

Abstract Plant proteins are characterized by a complex colloidal state in their physiological environment. The main reasons are related to the multiple functions of plant proteins as well as the different architectures encountered in the plant cells from various sources. During extraction process to produce ingredients, plant proteins reorganize in several native or denatured colloidal states depending on the energy and the physico–chemical changes applied to the system. In most cases, an equilibrium between the native (soluble monomers or oligomers) and denatured (mostly insoluble) oligomeric/aggregated states is reached. Further, processing of the plant protein ingredients during food production, introducing new hydrophobic phases (e.g., gas, oil), energy (pressure, temperature, shear), and physico–chemical conditions (pH, ionic salts) will lead to a final colloidal state, specific to the structural features of the considered final food product.