Fractionation and identification of antioxidant peptides from an enzymatically hydrolysed Palmaria palmata protein isolate

Proteins derived from the macroalgal species Palmaria palmata have emerged as potential substrates for the generation of bioactive peptides. The aim of this study was to fractionate, identify and characterize antioxidant peptides from a P. palmata protein hydrolysate. The P. palmata protein hydrolysate generated with the food-grade proteolytic enzyme Corolase PP was sequentially fractionated using solid phase extraction and semi-preparative (SP) RP-HPLC. The most active SP-RP-HPLC peptide fraction (SP-RP-HPLC-30-F26) was analysed by ESI-MS/MS. Seventeen novel peptide sequences were identified in this fraction. Of the peptides selected for synthesis, Ser-Asp-Ile-Thr-Arg-Pro-Gly-Gly-Asn-Met, showed the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity with values of 152.43±2.73 and 21.23±0.90nmolTE/μmol peptide, respectively. The results presented herein indicate that P. palmata derived peptides may have potential applications as health enhancing ingredients and as food preservatives due to their antioxidant activity.

Purification of dirucotide, a synthetic 17-aminoacid peptide, by ion exchange centrifugal partition chromatography

Dirucotide is a synthetic drug candidate for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. This 17-aminoacid peptide was successfully purified by ion exchange centrifugal partition chromatography. The optimized conditions involved the biphasic methyl tert-butyl ether/acetonitrile/n-butanol/water (2:1:2:5, v/v) solvent system in the descending mode, the di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid cation-exchanger with an exchanger (di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid)/dirucotide mole ratio of 100 and Ca²⁺ ions in aqueous solution as displacer. Critical impurities were efficiently eliminated and dirucotide was recovered in high yield and purity (69% and 98%, respectively) and with a productivity of 2.29g per liter of stationary phase per hour.

Peptides derived from plasma proteins released by bothropasin, a metalloprotease present in the Bothrops jararaca venom

Viperid snake venoms contain proteases that affect hemostasis by degrading important proteins such as those that participate in the coagulation cascade. The Bothrops jararaca venom presents as its main components metallo and serine proteases, which comprise around 65% of the venom composition. Bothropasin is a hemorrhagic metalloprotease from the B. jararaca venom which causes disruption of the basement membrane of the vascular endothelium, resulting in bleeding. Although the bothropasin ability to degrade plasmatic and extracellular matrix proteins in vitro has been described, the primary sequence of the released peptides is unknown. This research study presents the peptide identification from both fibrinogen and fibronectin, generated by bothropasin proteolytic activity. Among the fibrinogen derived peptides identified by mass spectrometry, analogous of endogenous products like the fibrinopeptides A and B were found, as well as other sequences described in the literature with vasoactive or antiangiogenic properties. A series of peptides derived from fibronectin by the action of bothropasin were described, and for most of them no biological activity has been described. However, exceptionally a peptide that is known as a bond site for B cells was found. This study indicates that, beyond to the degradation of human proteins, bothropasin can generate bioactive peptides, which may participate in the envenoming process by Bothrops snakes. Also important, the knowledge of the formed peptides, based on the cleavage sites of the hydrolyzed proteins, provided the opportunity to study the primary specificity of bothropasin.

Oryzatensin-stimulated PBMCs Increase Cancer Progression In-vitro

Oryzatensin (ORZ) can reduce potentially IFN-γ secretion by natural killer (NK) cells. Therefore, current study was designed to evaluate the effects of ORZ treatment on peripheral blood mono-nuclear cells (PBMCs) cytokine secretion, proliferation and also to evaluate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) expression in HEP-G2 cell line after culture with ORZ-stimulated PBMCs. In this ex-vivo study, PBMCs from apparently healthy male volunteers (n=25) aged 20-30 were isolated by ficoll density gradient. Tetrazolium colorimetric test (MTT assay), ELISA test and real time PCR were performed to evaluate PBMCs proliferation, PBMCs cytokine secretion and the genes expression accordingly. The results of MTT assay showed that ORZ significantly stimulated proliferation of the isolated PBMCs. The results also indicated that ORZ treatment significantly decrease and increase IFN-γ and IL-4 secretion by isolated PBMCs, respectively. Also, VEGF and MMP-9 expression significantly increased in HEP-G2 cells after culture with ORZstimulated PBMCs. The previous studies have introduced ORZ-like peptide for pharmacological purpose and in this study we get to the conclusion that the administration of this peptide may change the immune system response and sensitize target populations to cancer.

Review: Placental derived biomarkers of pregnancy disorders

Pregnancy is one of the greatest physiological challenges that a women can experience. The physiological adaptations that accompany pregnancy may increase the risk of developing a number of disorders that can lead to both acute and chronic physiological outcomes. In addition, fetal development may be impaired and, if the fetus survives, the child may be at an increased risk of disease throughout life. Pregnancy disorders are poorly predicted by traditional risk factors and maternal history alone. The identification of biomarkers that can predict incidence and severity of disease would allow for improved and targeted prophylactic therapies to prevent adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Many of these pregnancy disorders, including preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, gestational diabetes mellitus and preterm birth are known to be regulated at least in part by poor trophoblast invasion and/or dysregulated placental function. Cellular stress within the placenta increases the release of a number of factors into the maternal circulation. While many of these factors minimally impact maternal biology, others affect key physiological systems and contribute to disease. Importantly, these factors may be detected in physiological fluids and have predictive capacity making them ideal candidates as biomarkers of pregnancy disorders. This review will discuss what is known about these placental derived biomarkers of pregnancy disorders and highlight potential clinical opportunities for disease prediction and diagnosis.

Characterization of TistH, a multifunctional peptide from the scorpion Tityus stigmurus: Structure, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity

The presence of bioactive peptides in animal venoms has been targeted in scientific research for assessing biological activities, as well as mechanisms of action. A recent study by our group observed hypotensive action of TistH (Tityus stigmurus Hypotensin), a peptide deduced from the transcriptome of T. stigmurus venom gland. The present study aims to analyze TistH structure properties and to evaluate its toxicity on normal and tumor cells, its in vitro antimicrobial activity, as well as its inflammatory effect. Circular dichroism analyses of TistH showed a general predominance of α-helix conformation in TFE (20-70%) and structural stability to pH variations. TistH was not cytotoxic to normal cell lines (3T3, RAW and HEK), and also not to cancer cell lines (HeLa, B16, 786-0, SiHa and HepG2). The peptide did not present inflammatory activity up to 6 h after administered subcutaneously to Swiss mice. It was observed that concentrations of 4-1024 μg/mL of TistH produced no inhibition against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis e Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results of antifungal assays showed a moderate activity of TistH against Candida albicans strain LM-108 and the filamentous fungus Trichophyton rubrum LM-640, with growth inhibition at a concentration of 1024 μg/mL. In contrast, the peptide presented a greater activity (MIC 128 μg/mL) against C. albicans LM-106, Candida tropicalis ATCC 13308 and Aspergillus flavus strains LM-247 and LM-26, fungi that cause oral and vaginal infections, candidiasis and respiratory allergies, respectively. The present data contribute to a better understanding of TistH and its possible use as a bioactive compound. This multifunctional peptide is capable of acting as anti-hypertensive, as well as to inhibit the growth of fungal strains, having low toxicity, which suggests its safety for using as a pharmacological agent.

Sustainable efficient way for opioid peptide LVV-h7 preparation from enzymatic proteolysis in a microfluidic-based reaction-extraction process with solvent recycling

LVV-h7 (LVVYPWTQFR) is a bioactive peptide that can be obtained from blood as waste of food industry, more precisely from hemoglobin hydrolysis by pepsin. This opioid peptide belongs to the hemorphins family and have strong physiological effects that bring its use in pharmaceutics and various therapeutic treatments attractive, in particular for substituting its costly chemically synthetized analogous. Hemoglobin hydrolysis by pepsin generates a huge variety of peptides among whose LVV-h7 can be purified by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE). Herein, selective preparation of this peptide is proposed by a microfluidic-based continuous reaction-separation process. Hemoglobin hydrolysis in microreactor was firstly coupled to LVV-h7 LLE in octan-1-ol and then coupled to LVV-h7 back LLE in acidic water. This continuous process allowed to prepare pure LVV-h7, as confirmed by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The microfluidic circuit also allowed octan-1-ol recycling in a closed loop, making this method more sustainable than similar biphasic batch process.

Valorization of tomato waste proteins through production of antioxidant and antibacterial hydrolysates by proteolytic Bacillus subtilis: optimization of fermentation conditions

In this study, protein-rich waste of tomato processing industries was fermented by Bacillus subtilis A14h to produce hydrolysates with antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The effects of different levels of initial pH, incubation temperature, fermentation time, protein concentration and inoculum size on proteolytic activity, release of amino acids and peptides, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of hydrolysates were evaluated and optimized by using response surface methodology (RSM). Results showed that all the evaluated variables significantly influenced the hydrolysis and bioactivities of hydrolysates in polynomial models. Hydrolysates showed remarkable 2, 2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity (up to 70 %), ferric ion reducing power, and inhibitory activity against B. cereus (up to 69.8 %) and E. coli (up to 29.8 %). Overall, good correlation between the concentration of amino acids and peptides, and antioxidant as well as antibacterial activities (in particular for B. cereus inhibition activity) was observed. Finally, optimum conditions for fermentative conversion of tomato waste proteins to antioxidant and antibacterial hydrolysates were established. Results of this study showed that tomato waste protein can be valorized to produce antioxidant and antibacterial hydrolysates in a fermentative system using B. subtilis A14h.

Suppressive effects of dRYamides on feeding behavior of the blowfly, Phormia regina

Recently, dRYamides-1 and -2 have been identified as ligands of the neuropeptide Y-like receptor CG5811 in Drosophila melanogaster. It has also been reported in brief that injection of dRYamide-1suppresses the early feeding behavior called proboscis extension reflex (PER) in the blowfly Phormia regina. Immunohistochemical analyses by our group using anti-dRYamide-1 antiserum indicated symmetrical localization of 32 immunoreactive cells in the brain of P. regina. In order to analyze the mechanism of feeding regulation, we further investigated the effects of dRYamide-1 and -2 on intake volume, PER exhibition, and activity of the sugar receptor neuron. After injection of dRYamide-1 or -2, flies showed little change in the intake volume of sucrose solution, but a significant depression of PER to sucrose. Injection of dRYamide-1 revealed a significant decrease in the responsiveness of the sugar receptor neuron, although the injection of dRYamide-2 did not. These results suggest that the dRYamide peptides decrease feeding motivation in flies, as evaluated by PER threshold, through a mechanism that partially involves desensitization of the sugar receptor neuron.

Identification of bioactive peptide from Oreochromis niloticus skin gelatin

Fish skin, one type of wastes generated from Nile tilapia processing, is still a good source of collagen and gelatin. Bioactive peptides can be obtained from Nile tilapia skin gelatin by trypsin digestion. Trypsin hydrolysate was subsequently purified by gel filtration chromatography. Trypsin A fraction showed the greatest reducing power (5.138 ± 1.060 μM trolox/mg peptide) among all hydrolysate fractions, while trypsin B fraction from gel filtration column was found to exhibit the best radical scavenging and angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities 8.16 ± 2.18 μg trolox/mg peptide and 59.32 ± 9.97 % inhibition, respectively. The most active fraction was subjected to MALDI-TOF/TOF MS/MS. After annotation by Mascot sequence matching software (Matrix Science) with Ludwig NR Database, two peptide sequences were identified; GPEGPAGAR (MW 810.87 Da) and GETGPAGPAGAAGPAGPR (MW 1490.61 Da). The docking analysis suggested that the shape of the shorter peptide may be slightly more proper, to fit into the binding cleft of the ACE. However, the binding affinities calculated from the docking showed no significant difference between the two peptides. In good agreement with the in silico data, results from the in vitro ACE inhibitory activity with synthetic peptides also showed no significant difference. Both peptides are thus interesting novel candidates suitable for further development as ACE inhibitory and antioxidant agents from the natural source.

Bioactive peptides released by in vitro digestion of standard and hydrolyzed infant formulas

Hydrolyzed infant formulas serve as appropriate nutritional sources for infants afflicted with cow's milk allergy, and milk proteins in hydrolyzed formulas are industrially hydrolyzed extensively or partially. To investigate whether industrial hydrolysis may modulate the digestive trajectory of milk proteins, thereby releasing different profiles of bioactive peptides compared with standard formulas, both standard and hydrolyzed formulas were subjected to in vitro digestion and formation of bioactive peptides were compared. One standard, one extensively hydrolyzed, and one partially hydrolyzed infant formula were digested in vitro with pepsin and pancreatin, taking into account the higher gastric pH of infants, and the digesta were subjected to peptidomic analysis. The standard formula released a larger variety of bioactive peptides than from the hydrolyzed formulas, indicating that industrial hydrolysis of milk proteins may generally attenuate their indigenous bioactivities such as antibacterial, immuno-regulatory, and anti-oxidative activities. Conversely, industrial hydrolysis may facilitate the formation of bioactive peptides from hydrophobic proteins/regions such as β-LG and the "strategic zone" of β-CN, which encrypt bioactive peptides including a dipeptidyl dipeptidase-4-inhibitory, hypocholesterolemic, and opioid peptides. Infants fed hydrolyzed infant formulas may be influenced by milk protein-derived bioactive peptides in a manner different from those fed standard formula.

An identified antioxidant peptide obtained from ostrich (Struthio camelus) egg white protein hydrolysate shows wound healing properties

CONTEXT

Ostrich (Struthio camelus) egg possesses a high amount of food proteins and thus plays an important role in nutrition.

OBJECTIVE

Ostrich egg white proteins were hydrolyzed with pepsin and pancreatin to examine its antioxidant properties and further characterized the most active peptide.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ostrich egg white protein hydrolysate (OEWPH) was fractionized using reversed phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antioxidant activity of OEWPH and its HPLC fraction were investigated based on their scavenging capacity1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), superoxide ([Formula: see text]), hydroxyl (OH(•-)) radicals, and Cu(+2) chelating. In a wound healing assay, paravertebral excision (1 cm diameter) was made on the skin and the percentage of wound closure was measured at defined intervals (0, 3, 7, and 14 d).

RESULTS

A potent antioxidant peptide named DG-10 with the sequence DAESLSRLLG (MW: 1060.18 ± 0.5 Da) was identified from OEWPH. The peptide DG-10 showed DPPH (IC50 = 0.0085 mg/ml), ABTS(•+) (IC50 = 0.56 mg/ml), superoxide (IC50 = 0.36 mg/ml), and hydroxyl (IC50 = 0.4 mg/ml) radical scavenger and copper chelating activity (IC50 = 0.28 mg/ml). In vitro cultured HFLF-pI 5, the cell model, also revealed that DG-10 could protect HFLF-pI 5 cells against H2O2-treated necrosis. Ointment composed of DG-10 peptide exhibited wound-healing properties on adult rats (Wistar strain). The percentage of wound closure in peptide-treated group was 98% by day 14.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Our results suggested that DG-10 is a natural agent obtained from ostrich egg possessing considerable antioxidant and wound-healing properties.

Maillard conjugation of lactulose with potentially bioactive peptides

Milk ultrafiltration permeate was heated at 97 °C in the presence of eggshell for 60 min. This decreased the ash content of permeate and converted ≈ 17% of lactose to lactulose. The isomerized permeate was subsequently purified to a lactulose-rich product (LRP; ≈ 70% lactulose content to total sugar) through crystallizing lactose out by methanol. The LRP and lactose were then conjugated with either whey protein isolate (WPI) or its antioxidant hydrolysate (WPH) through Maillard reaction at 90 °C. The amount of the Maillard reaction advanced products was higher for WPI-lactose system than WPH-lactose counterpart; whilst, the DPPH scavenging activities of WPH-sugar conjugates were significantly higher than those of WPI-sugar counterparts. Based on free amino groups content measurement, it was found that lactose is more reactive than LRP for Maillard conjugation with both WPI and WPH. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the bonding of the anomeric region of saccharide configuration of lactulose with WPH.

C-peptide evolution: generation from few structural restrictions of bioactivities not necessarily functional

The proinsulin C-peptide has molecular, cellular and organismal activities but lacks disease-associated mutations or short-term loss-of-function effects. This dilemma between activity and function may be explained from its evolutionary setting with insulin as an ancestral partner. The charge, approximate length and flexibility of C-peptide are all that is required for the insulin interactions, while remaining aspects are free to evolve, where new bioactivities can emerge. They can initially be transient, weak, and non-functional, but may gradually be consolidated. In this manner, C-peptide may have acquired multiple bioactivities, explaining why some yet have limited functions but could represent early-stage hormonal-like activities.

Purification and identification of dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) IV inhibitory peptides from the macroalga Palmaria palmata

Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-IV inhibitory peptides were purified and identified from an aqueous Palmaria palmata protein extract hydrolysed with Corolase PP. The hydrolysate was fractionated by solid phase extraction (SPE) using a C18 matrix followed by semi-preparative reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (SP RP-HPLC). IC50 values of 1.47 ± 0.09, 0.54 ± 0.03 and 0.36 ± 0.03 mg/ml were obtained for the hydrolysate, the 25%--acetonitrile (ACN) SPE fraction and the most active SP RP-HPLC peptide fraction (SP RP-HPLC 25_F28), respectively. Thirteen peptide sequences were identified following UPLC-ESI MS/MS analysis of SP RP-HPLC 25_F28. Three novel DPP-IV inhibitory peptides, Ile-Leu-Ala-Pro, Leu-Leu-Ala-Pro and Met-Ala-Gly-Val-Asp-His-Ile, with IC50 values in the range 43-159 μM were identified. The results indicate that P. palmata derived peptides may have potential as functional food ingredients in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes.

Extraction of antioxidative and antihypertensive bioactive peptides from Parkia speciosa seeds

Antioxidative and antihypertensive bioactive peptides were successfully derived from Parkia speciosa seed using alcalase. The effects of temperature (25 and 50 °C), substrate-to-enzyme ratio (S/E ratio, 20 and 50), and incubation time (0.5, 1, 2 and 5h) were evaluated based on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) assays. Bioactive peptide extracted at a hydrolysis condition of: temperature=50 °C, S/E ratio=50 and incubation time=2h, exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (2.9 mg GAE/g), reducing power (11.7 mM) and %ACE-inhibitory activity (80.2%). The sample was subsequently subjected to fractionation and the peptide fraction of <10 kDa showed the strongest bioactivities. A total of 29 peptide sequences from peptide fraction of <10 kDa were identified as the most potent contributors to the bioactivities. These novel bioactive peptides were suggested to be beneficial to nutraceutical and food industries.

Analysis of peptides secreted from cultured mouse brain tissue

Peptides represent a major class of cell-cell signaling molecules. Most peptidomic studies have focused on peptides present in brain or other tissues. For a peptide to function in intercellular signaling, it must be secreted. The present study was undertaken to identify the major peptides secreted from mouse brain slices that were cultured in oxygenated buffer for 3-4h. Approximately 75% of the peptides identified in extracts of cultured slices matched the previously reported peptide content of heat-inactivated mouse brain tissue, whereas only 2% matched the peptide content of unheated brain tissue; the latter showed a large number of postmortem changes. As found with extracts of heat-inactivated mouse brain, the extracts of cultured brain slices represented secretory pathway peptides as well as peptides derived from intracellular proteins such as those present in the cytosol and mitochondria. A subset of the peptides detected in the extracts of the cultured slices was detected in the culture media. The vast majority of secreted peptides arose from intracellular proteins and not secretory pathway proteins. The peptide RVD-hemopressin, a CB1 cannabinoid receptor agonist, was detected in culture media, which is consistent with a role for RVD-hemopressin as a non-classical neuropeptide. Taken together with previous studies, the present results show that short-term culture of mouse brain slices is an appropriate system to study peptide secretion, especially the non-conventional pathway(s) by which peptides produced from intracellular proteins are secreted. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: An Updated Secretome.