Position: Associate Professor

Office:
University of Manitoba
Department of Human Nutritional Sciences
R 209 Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals
196 Innovation Dr., SmartPark
Winnipeg, MB R3T 6C5

Phone No.: (204) 474-9555

Fax No.: (204) 474-7552

E-mail: alukor@cc.umanitoba.ca




Dr. Aluko’s research interests include bioactive peptides and functional properties of food proteins. There is a particular interest in the use of bioactive peptides from plant proteins such as peas, flaxseed and hempseed in the formulation of nutraceutical products and as antihypertensive agents. Currently, clinical trials are being performed in human subjects to determine the blood pressure lowering effect of one of the pea protein hydrolysate products.

Education:

1996 Ph.D. University of Guelph
1985 M.Sc. Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria
1982 B.Sc. University of Lagos, Nigeria

Areas of Specialization:

• Protein Chemistry
• Food enzymology
• Functional foods and nutraceuticals
• QSAR of bioactive peptides
• Watch Dr. Aluko's recent press interview at the American Chemical Society conference.

Research Interests:

Protein Chemistry: Structure-function properties of plant seed proteins; enzymatic modifications to improve protein functionality; characterization of protein-stabilized emulsions.

Functional foods and nutraceuticals: Isolation, characterization and biological activity of peptides derived from enzymatic hydrolysis of food proteins.

Funding

1. Advanced Food and Materials Network (AFmnet)
2. NSERC
3. Manitoba Agri-Food Research & Development Initiative (ARDI)

Peer-reviewed journal publications:

1. Aluko, R.E. 2009. Food protein-derived peptides as calmodulin inhibitors. In "Functional Food Proteins and Peptides", E.C.Y Li-Chan, Y. Mine and B. Jiang (Eds.), IFT Symposium Series, Wiley-Blackwell: New York. In press.

 2. Zhang, B., Aluko, R.E., Ye, X., Yuan, L. 2009. Binding of sodium houttuyfonate analogues to bovine serum albumin revealed by fluoresence quenching study. Medicinal Chem. Res. In press.

 3. Tsopmo, A., Diehl-Jones, B.W., Aluko, R.E., Kitts, D., Elisia, I., Friel, J.K. Tryptophan released from mother’s milk has antioxidant properties. Pediatric Res. In press.

4. Agboola, S.O., Mofolasayo, O.A., Watts, B.M., Aluko, R.E. 2009. Some functional properties of yellow field pea (Pisum sativum L.) seed flours and the in vitro bioactive properties of their polyphenols. Food Res. Int. In press

5. Aluko, R.E., Mofolasayo, O.A., Watts, B.M. 2009. Emulsifying and foaming properties of pea seed flours. J. Agric. Food Chem. 57, 9793-9800.

6. Wu, J. Aluko, R.E., Muir, A.D. 2009. Production of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides from defatted canola meal. Bioresource Technol. 100, 5283-5287.

7. Udenigwe, C.C., Lu, Y-L., Han, C-H., Hou, W-C., Aluko, R.E. 2009. Flaxseed protein-derived peptide fractions: Antioxidant properties and inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in murine macrophages. Food Chem. 116, 277-284.

 8. Udenigwe, C.C., Lin, Y-S., Hou, W-C., Aluko, R.E. 2009. Kinetics of the inhibition of renin and angiotensin I-converting enzyme by flaxseed protein hydrolysate fractions. J. Funct. Foods 1, 199-207.

9. Agboola, S., Aluko, R.E. 2009. Isolation and structural properties of the major protein fraction in Australian wattle seed (Acacia victoriae Bentham). Food Chem. 115, 1187-1193.

 10. Udenigwe, C.C., Ramprasath, V.R., Aluko, R.E., Jones, P.J.H. 2008. Potential of resveratrol in anticancer and anti-inflammatory therapy. Nutrition Rev. 66, 445-454.

11. Wu, J. Aluko, R.E., Muir, A.D. 2008. Purification of angiotensin I-converting enzyme-inhibitory peptides from the enzymatic hydrolysate of defatted canola meal. Food Chem. 111, 942-950.

 12. Aluko, R.E. 2008. Methods for the determination of nutritional and bioactive properties of peptides present in enzymatic pea, chickpea and mung bean protein hydrolysates. J. Assoc. Official Anal. Chem. 91, 947-956. By editor’s invitation only for a special edition of the journal.

13. Farzamirad, V., Aluko, R.E. 2008. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition and free radical scavenging properties of cationic peptides derived from soybean protein hydrolysates. Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr. 59, 428-437.

 14. Parris, N., Moreau, R.A., Johnston, D.B., Dickey, L.C., Aluko R.E. 2008. Angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitory peptides from commercial wet-and dry-milled corn germ. J Agric Food Chem. 56, 2620-2623. 

15. Aluko, R.E. 2008. Antihypertensive properties of plant-derived inhibitors of angiotensin I-converting enzyme activity: a review. Recent Prog. Med Plants, J.N. Govil and V.K. Singh (eds.), Vol. 22- Phytopharmacology & Therapeutic Values IV, pp. 541-561. By editor’s invitation only.

 16. Friel, J.K., Tsopmo, A., Diehl-Jones, B.W., Aluko, R., Kitts, D. 2007. Antioxidant properties of human milk peptides fractions. Free Radical Biol. Med. 43, S101. [Abstract]

17. Prairie, N., Li, H., Aluko R.E., Tappia PS. 2007. Novel bioactive peptides attenuate phenylephrine-induced activation of RAS in isolated rat cardiomyocytes. J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol. 42: S132. [Abstract]

 18. Humiski, L., Aluko, R.E. 2007. Physicochemical and bitterness properties of enzymatic pea protein hydrolysates. J. Food Sci. 72, S605-S611.

19. Yuan, L., Wu, J., Aluko, R.E. 2007. Size of the aliphatic chain of sodium houttuyfonate analogs determines their affinity for renin and angiotensin I converting enzyme. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 41, 274-280.

 20. Aluko, R.E. 2007. Technology for the production and utilization of food protein-derived antihypertensive peptides: a review. Recent Patents in Biotechnol. 1, 260-267.

21. Wu, J., Aluko, R.E. 2007. Quantitative structure-activity relationship study of bitter di- and tri-peptides including relationship with angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity. J. Pept. Sci. 13, 63-69.

 22. Li, H., Aluko, R.E. 2006. Bovine colostrum as a bioactive product against human microbial infections and gastrointestinal disorders. Current Topics in Nutraceutical Res. 4, 227-238.

23. Yuan, L., Wu, J., Aluko, R.E., Ye, X. 2006. Kinetics of renin inhibition by sodium houttuyfonate analogues. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 70, 2275-2280.

 24. Omoni, A., Aluko, R.E. 2006. Effect of cationic flaxseed protein hydrolysate fractions on the in vitro structure and activity of calmodulin-dependent endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 50, 958-966.

25. Li, H., Aluko, R.E. 2006. Structural modulation of calmodulin and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II by pea protein hydrolysates. Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr. 57, 178-189.

 26. Wu, J., Aluko, R.E., Nakai S. 2006. Structural requirements of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides: quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling of peptides containing 4-10 amino acids. QSAR Comb. Sci. 25, 873-880.

27. Wu, J., Aluko, R.E., Corke, H. 2006. Partial least squares regression study of the effects of wheat flour composition, protein and starch quality characteristics on oil content of steamed-and-fried instant noodles. J. Cereal Sci. 44, 117-126.

 28. Wu, J., Yuan, L., Aluko, R.E. 2006. Restriction of the in vitro formation of angiotensin II by leucinyl-arginyl-tryptophan, a novel peptide with potent angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 70: 1277-1280.

29. Omoni, A., Aluko, R.E. 2006. Mechanism of the inhibition of calmodulin-dependent neuronal nitric oxide synthase by flaxseed protein hydrolysates. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 83: 335-340.
30. Wu, J., Aluko, R.E., Nakai, S. 2006. Structural requirements of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides: quantitative structure-and-activity relationship study of di- and tri-peptides. J. Agric. Food Chem. 54, 732-738.

 31. Omoni, A.O., Aluko, R.E. 2005. The anti-carcinogenic and anti-atherogenic effects of lycopene: a review. Trends Food Sci. Technol. 16, 344-350.

32. Omoni, A.O., Aluko, R.E. 2005. Soybean foods and their benefits - potential mechanisms of action. Nutrition Rev. 63, 272-283.

 33. Li, H., Aluko, R.E. 2005. Kinetics of the inhibition of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II by pea protein-derived peptides. J. Nutr. Biochem. 16, 656-662.

34. Aluko, R.E., McIntosh, T., Katepa-Mupondwa, F. 2005. Comparative study of the polypeptide profiles and functional properties of Sinapis alba and Brassica juncea seed meals and protein concentrates. J. Sci. Food Agric. 85, 1931-1937.

 35. Aluko, R.E., McIntosh, T. 2005. Limited enzymatic proteolysis increases the level of incorporation of canola proteins into mayonnaise. Innovative Food Sci. and Emerging Technol. 6, 195-202.

Book Chapters
1. Wu, J. P., Ding, X. L., Aluko, R.E. and Muir, A.D. 2002. Antihypertensive effect of fermented soy products. Proceedings of the 2nd International Soybean Symposium on soybean and human health. pp. 113-133.

2. Aluko, R.E. 2004.  Extraction and purification of proteins: an introduction. In ‘Proteins in Food Processing’, Editor R.Y. Yada, CRC Press, New York, pp. 323-351.
 
Patent application
1. Wu, J., Muir, A., & Aluko, R.E. ACE inhibitory peptides from plant materials. United States Patent No. 7,566,690. Filed December 23, 2003; Granted July 28, 2009.

2. Wu J, Muir A, and Aluko, R.E. A process for preparing and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide containing hydrolysate. Indian Patent Number: 221818. Filed June 08, 2005; Granted July 7, 2008.