Characterization and functional properties of protein extracted from Bambusa oldhamii munro shoots

Protein is rich in bamboo shoot. This study aimed to explore the physicochemical and structural characterization, and functional properties of protein (WE-BSP, SE-BSP, EE-BSP, or AE-BSP) extracted from green bamboo shoots to add its value. Pure proteins were characterized by SEM, FT-IR, Raman spectra, TGA, DSC, and amino acid analysis. The main secondary structures in the four proteins were β-turn and β-sheet. Except protein WE-BSP, there were 16 amino acids in other proteins. The functional properties of protein were conducted using fluorescence methods. Under 365 nm UV light, all of solid state proteins could emit blue fluorescence. The fluorescence intensity (409 nm, 438 nm, 450 nm) of AE-BSP decreased linearly with an increasing temperature of 30-70 °C. In the PBS buffer solution (pH = 9.18), proteins presented better fluorescence performance, and resulted with different interference capacities in the presence of a metal ion. Finally, proteins were used to image Hela cells with a concentration of 5 or 25 μg/mL, and they offered clear intracellular fluorescence in cells. Thus, the proteins extracted from natural green bamboo shoots, could be further used in cellular imaging of cancer cells.