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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Quinoa and Peanut Extracts as Alternatives to Animal-Derived Extracellular Matrix Proteins in Cultured Meat Production.

Journal of food science · 3 October 2026 · DOI 10.1111/1750-3841.71509

Peanut and quinoa extracts supported muscle-cell growth much like animal-derived matrix proteins, suggesting a plant-based coating option for cultivated meat. Researchers screened edible plant proteins by computer for cell-binding RGD sequences, then tested water-soluble seed extracts on mouse C2C12 cells and immortalised bovine satellite cells. Coated surfaces enabled similar attachment and proliferation to animal-derived controls. Mass spectrometry found RGD-bearing proteins, while cell-free production tests linked one protein from each crop to increased attachment and growth. The evidence supports further work on animal-free surface coatings.

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