Journal Article

PUBDB-2025-03651

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png 3D structure of protein networks and lipid globules in heat-treated egg yolk revealed by x-ray holo-tomography

Wittwer, F. (Corresponding author)DESY* ; Anthuparambil, N. D.Extern* ; Unger, F.Extern* ; Gautam, R. P.Extern*XFEL.EU*DESY* ; Flenner, S.Extern*HZG*Hereon* ; Greving, I.HZG*Hereon* ; Gutt, C.Extern*XFEL.EU* ; Modregger, P.Extern*DESY*

2026
Elsevier Science Amsterdam [u.a.]

This record in other databases:  

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2025.112916  doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2025-03651

Abstract: Upon heating, egg yolk transforms from a liquid to a grainy gel due to a combination of lipid aggregation, protein denaturation-aggregation-gelation and other processes. This heat-induced solidification of egg yolk can serve as a useful model system for the investigation of protein denaturation and gelation in biological systems in general. Using x-ray holographic tomography, we studied the heat-induced changes in egg yolk on the micron to sub-micron length scale. In contrast to electron microscopy, x-ray holography does not require sample staining, fixation, or drying, which potentially alter the sample and harm sample fidelity. Our results reveal a developing separation between proteins and lipids with fatty components rapidly aggregating into large globules around 40 µm in size.

Note: Additional funding: BMFTR (projects 05K24PSA, 05K22PS1, 05D23PS1, 05K25PS3, 05K25PS1) and DESY Center for Molecular Water Science (CMWS)

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. FS-PETRA (FS-PETRA)
2. Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon (Hereon)
3. Experimentebetreuung PETRA III (FS-PET-S)
4. DOOR-User (DOOR ; HAS-User)

Research Program(s):

1. 633 - Life Sciences – Building Blocks of Life: Structure and Function (POF4-633) (POF4-633)
2. 6G3 - PETRA III (DESY) (POF4-6G3) (POF4-6G3)
3. FS-Proposal: I-20240551 (I-20240551) (I-20240551)
4. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)460248799 - DAPHNE4NFDI - DAten aus PHoton- und Neutronen Experimenten für NFDI (460248799) (460248799)

Experiment(s):

1. PETRA Beamline P05 (PETRA III)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

---

Database coverage:
; ; ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

---