WAL’PROT 5 UCLouvain

The WAL'PROT_5_UCLouvain project (05/02/2024 – 31/12/2026) is part of the WAL'PROT project portfolio, which includes UCLouvain, ULB, ULiège and UMons, as well as Celabor, CER, Cetic and CRA-W.
As part of the transition towards a more sustainable food system and the reduction of Europe’s dependence on large-scale imports of plant proteins, particularly soy, the WAL’PROT FEDER project portfolio aims to study and support the deployment of alternative protein value chains for the human food sector. 
The project focuses on the production and valorization of locally sourced plants and alternative proteins derived from a wide range of raw materials, including dedicated crops, discarded plant biomass, agri-food co-products and emerging protein sources such as microalgae and insects. In addition, WAL’PROT adopts a multi-sectoral approach that integrates cascade valorization strategies to maximize the recovery and use of all by-products generated throughout protein transformation processes.
The WAL’PROT_5_UCLouvain sub-project is part of this approach, with the aim of evaluating the nutritional quality of alternative proteins developed by the various partners in the portfolio.

↪    First, the digestibility and bioavailability of alternative proteins are studied using an in vitro pre-colonic digestion model called INFOGEST, which reproduces the luminal digestive conditions of adults. Digesta from INFOGEST are then brought into contact with a cell model composed of enterocytes and mucus cells, representing the intestinal barrier. The results obtained are compared with those of model animal proteins.

↪    Secondly, muscle growth is evaluated using a cellular model of human myotubes derived from biopsies. Myotubes are exposed to compounds absorbed by enterocytes in order to evaluate the impact of digested proteins on muscle anabolism.