Rapid purification and characterization of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory peptides from lizard fish protein hydrolysates with magnetic affinity separation

A sensitive and specific LC-MS/MS method for determination of a novel antihypertensive peptide FR-6 in rat plasma and pharmacokinetic study

The investigation of peptide drugs has become essential in the development of innovative medications for hypertension. In this study, a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method was developed to determine the plasma concentration and stability of the antihypertensive peptide FR-6 in rats. An isotopically labeled peptide (with an unchanged sequence) was utilized as an internal standard (IS) for validation purposes. Subsequently, this assay was employed to examine the pharmacokinetics of different administration methods (tail vein and gavage) in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Extracted plasma samples underwent sample preparation through methanol protein precipitation, followed by elution of FR-6 on Wondasil C18 Superb column (4.6 × 150 mm, 5 μm), using a mobile phase consisting of formic acid (0.1%) in water (A) and formic acid (0.125%)-ammonium formate (2 mM) in methanol (B). Ion pairs corresponding to FR-6 and IS were monitored via multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) under positive ion mode: m/z 400.7 → 285.1 for FR-6 and m/z 406.1 → 295.1 for IS detection respectively. The method exhibited excellent linearity with respect to FR-6 concentrations. In addition, the inter-day and intra-day precision were 0.61-6.85% and 1.76-11.75%; the inter-day and intra-day accuracy were -7.28-0.13% and -7.20-2.28%, respectively. In conclusion, the matrix effect, extraction recovery, and stability data were validated according to FDA recommended acceptance criteria for bioanalytical methods. This validated method serves as a reliable tool for determining the concentration of antihypertensive peptide FR-6, and has been successfully applied in pharmacokinetic studies involving rats.

Targeted Affinity Purification and Mechanism of Action of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitory Peptides from Sea Cucumber Gonads

Protein hydrolysates from sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) gonads are rich in active materials with remarkable angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. Alcalase was used to hydrolyze sea cucumber gonads, and the hydrolysate was separated by the ultrafiltration membrane to produce a low-molecular-weight peptide component (less than 3 kDa) with good ACE inhibitory activity. The peptide component (less than 3 kDa) was isolated and purified using a combination method of ACE gel affinity chromatography and reverse high-performance liquid chromatography. The purified fractions were identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and the resulting products were filtered using structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) to obtain 20 peptides. Of those, three noncompetitive inhibitory peptides (DDQIHIF with an IC50 value of 333.5 μmol·L-1, HDWWKER with an IC50 value of 583.6 μmol·L-1, and THDWWKER with an IC50 value of 1291.8 μmol·L-1) were further investigated based on their favorable pharmacochemical properties and ACE inhibitory activity. Molecular docking studies indicated that the three peptides were entirely enclosed within the ACE protein cavity, improving the overall stability of the complex through interaction forces with the ACE active site. The total free binding energies (ΔGtotal) for DDQIHIF, HDWWKER, and THDWWKER were -21.9 Kcal·mol-1, -71.6 Kcal·mol-1, and -69.1 Kcal·mol-1, respectively. Furthermore, a short-term assay of antihypertensive activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) revealed that HDWWKER could significantly decrease the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of SHRs after intravenous administration. The results showed that based on the better antihypertensive activity of the peptide in SHRs, the feasibility of targeted affinity purification and computer-aided drug discovery (CADD) for the efficient screening and preparation of ACE inhibitory peptide was verified, which provided a new idea of modern drug development method for clinical use.

Production, identification, in silico analysis, and cytoprotection on H2O2-induced HUVECs of novel angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides from Skipjack tuna roes

Background

Exceeding 50% tuna catches are regarded as byproducts in the production of cans. Given the high amount of tuna byproducts and their environmental effects induced by disposal and elimination, the valorization of nutritional ingredients from these by-products receives increasing attention.

Objective

This study was to identify the angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory (ACEi) peptides from roe hydrolysate of Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) and evaluate their protection functions on H₂O₂-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Methods

Protein hydrolysate of tuna roes with high ACEi activity was prepared using flavourzyme, and ACEi peptides were isolated from the roe hydrolysate using ultrafiltration and chromatography methods and identified by ESI/MS and Procise Protein/Peptide Sequencer for the N-terminal amino acid sequence. The activity and mechanism of action of isolated ACEi peptides were investigated through molecular docking and cellular experiments.

Results

Four ACEi peptides were identified as WGESF (TRP3), IKSW (TRP6), YSHM (TRP9), and WSPGF (TRP12), respectively. The affinity of WGESF (TRP3), IKSW (TRP6), YSHM (TRP9), and WSPGF (TRP12) with ACE was -8.590, -9.703, -9.325, and -8.036 kcal/mol, respectively. The molecular docking experiment elucidated that the significant ACEi ability of WGESF (TRP3), IKSW (TRP6), YSHM (TRP9), and WSPGF (TRP12) was mostly owed to their tight bond with ACE's active sites/pockets via hydrophobic interaction, electrostatic force and hydrogen bonding. Additionally, WGESF (TRP3), IKSW (TRP6), YSHM (TRP9), and WSPGF (TRP12) could dramatically elevate the Nitric Oxide (NO) production and bring down endothelin-1 (ET-1) secretion in HUVECs, but also abolish the opposite impact of norepinephrine (0.5 μM) on the production of NO and ET-1. Moreover, WGESF (TRP3), IKSW (TRP6), YSHM (TRP9), and WSPGF (TRP12) could lower the oxidative damage and apoptosis rate of H₂O₂-induced HUVECs, and the mechanism indicated that they could increase the content of NO and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) to decrease the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA).

Conclusion

WGESF (TRP3), IKSW (TRP6), YSHM (TRP9), and WSPGF (TRP12) are beneficial ingredients for healthy products ameliorating hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Activity of Two Peptides Derived from In Vitro Digestion Products of Pork Sausage with Partial Substitution of NaCl by KCl

This study aimed to identify angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) from in vitro digestion products of pork sausage with partial substitution of NaCl by KCl (PSRK). Peptides from in vitro digestion products of PSRK were identified through liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry analysis coupled with de novo sequencing. Subsequently, the ACE inhibitory peptides LIVGFPAYGH and IVGFPAYGH were screened based on PeptideRanker, in silico absorption, molecular docking, and the determination of ACE inhibitory activity. In addition, the ACE inhibitory peptides LIVGFPAYGH and IVGFPAYGH were mixed-type inhibitors; these peptides' ACE inhibitory activities were expressed as the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values in vitro, which were 196.16 and 150.88 μM, respectively. After 2 h of incubation, LIVGFPAYGH and IVGFPAYGH could be transported through Caco-2 cell monolayers with paracellular passive diffusion. Furthermore, LIVGFPAYGH and IVGFPAYGH significantly increased the levels of ACE2 and nitric oxide while decreasing the levels of ACE, angiotensin II, and endothelin-1 in Ang I-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells, indicating the ACE inhibitory effect of LIVGFPAYGH and IVGFPAYGH. In summary, LIVGFPAYGH and IVGFPAYGH from PSRK can be used as functional foods with antihypertensive activity.

Anchoring of Polymer Loops on Enzyme-Immobilized Mesoporous ZIF-8 Enhances the Recognition Selectivity of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptides

Immobilized angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is a promising material for the rapid screening of antihypertensive drugs, but the nonspecific adsorption is a serious problem in separation processes involving complex biological products. In this study, triblock copolymers with dopamine (DA) block as anchors and PEG block as the main body (DA-PEGx-DA) were attached to an immobilized ACE (ACE@mZIF-8/PDA, AmZP) surface via the “grafting to” strategy which endowed them with anti-nonspecific adsorption. The influence of DA-PEGx-DA chain length on nonspecific adsorption was confirmed. The excellent specificity and reusability of the obtained ACE@mZIF-8/PDA/DA-PEG5000-DA (AmZPP5000) was validated by screening two known ACE inhibitory peptides Val-Pro-Pro (VPP, competitive inhibitory peptides of ACE) and Gly-Met-Lys-Cys-Ala-Phe (GF-6, noncompetitive inhibitory peptides of ACE) from a mixture containing active and inactive compounds. These results demonstrate that anchored polymer loops are effective for high-recognition selectivity and AmZPP5000 is a promising compound for the efficient separation of ACE inhibitors in biological samples.

A rational approach for 3D recognition and removal of L-asparagine via molecularly imprinted membranes

In this study, a L-asparagine (L-Asn) imprinted membranes (L-Asn-MIPs) were synthesized via molecular imprinting for selective and efficient removal of L-Asn. The L-Asn-MIP membrane was prepared by using acrylamide (AAm) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as a functional monomer and a comonomer, respectively. The membrane was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The L-Asn adsorption capacity of the membrane was investigated in detail. The maximum L-Asn adsorption capacity was determined as 408.2 mg/g at pH: 7.2, 24 °C. Determination of L-Asn binding behaviors of L-Asn-MIPs also shown with Scatchard analyses. The effect of pH on L-Asn adsorption onto the membrane and also the selectivity and reusability of the L-Asn-MIPs for L-Asn adsorption were determined through L-asparaginase (L-ASNase) enzyme activity measurements. The selectivity of the membrane was investigated by using two different ternary mixtures; L-glycine (L-Gly)/L-histidine (L-His)/L-Asn and L-tyrosin (L-Tyr)/L-cystein(L-Cys)/L-Asn. The obtained results showed that the L-Asn-MIP membranes have a high selectivity towards L-Asn.

Small molecule angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors: A medicinal chemistry perspective

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), a zinc metalloprotein, is a central component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). It degrades bradykinin and other vasoactive peptides. Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors, ACEIs) decrease the formation of angiotensin II and increase the level of bradykinin, thus relaxing blood vessels as well as reducing blood volume, lowering blood pressure and reducing oxygen consumption by the heart, which can be used to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases and kidney diseases. Nevertheless, ACEIs are associated with a range of adverse effects such as renal insufficiency, which limits their use. In recent years, researchers have attempted to reduce the adverse effects of ACEIs by improving the selectivity of ACEIs for structural domains based on conformational relationships, and have developed a series of novel ACEIs. In this review, we have summarized the research advances of ACE inhibitors, focusing on the development sources, design strategies and analysis of structure-activity relationships and the biological activities of ACE inhibitors.

A review on recent advances in the applications of composite Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles in the food industry

Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have attracted tremendous attention due to their superparamagnetic properties, large specific surface area, high biocompatibility, non-toxicity, large-scale production, and recyclability. More importantly, numerous hydroxyl groups (-OH) on the surface of Fe3O4 MNPs can provide coupling sites for various modifiers, forming versatile nanocomposites for applications in the energy, biomedicine, and environmental fields. With the development of science and technology, the potential of nanotechnology in the food industry has also gradually become prominent. However, the application of composite Fe3O4 MNPs in the food industry has not been systematically summarized. Herein, this article reviews composite Fe3O4 MNPs, including their properties, modifications, and physical functions, as well as their applications in the entire food industry from production to processing, storage, and detection. This review lays a solid foundation for promoting food innovation and improving food quality and safety.

Surface Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles as a Selective Sorbent for Affinity Fishing of PPAR-γ Ligands from Choerospondias axillaris

Coronary heart disease (CHD), which has developed into one of the major diseases, was reported to be treated by the target of peroxisome proliferators-activate receptor γ (PPAR-γ). As a natural medicine long used in the treatment of CHD, there are few studies on how to screen the target active compounds with high specific activity from Choerospondias axillaris. To advance the pace of research on target-specific active compounds in natural medicines, we have combined magnetic ligand fishing and functionalized nano-microspheres to investigate the active ingredients of PPAR-γ targets in Choerospondias axillaris. The PPAR-γ functionalized magnetic nano-microspheres have been successfully synthesized and characterized by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The specificity, reusability, and reproducibility of the nano-microspheres were investigated with the help of the specific binding of rosiglitazone to PPAR-γ. In addition, the incubation temperature and the pH of the buffer solution in the magnetic ligand fishing were optimized to improve the specific adsorption efficiency of the analytes. Finally, with the aid of ultraperformance liquid chromatography plus Q-Exactive Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS/MS), the 16 active ligands including 9 organic acids, 5 flavonoids, and 2 phenols were found in the ethanolic extracts of Choerospondias axillaris. Therefore, the study can provide a successful precedent for realizing the designated extraction and rapid isolation of target-specific active ingredient groups in the complex mixtures.

Separation and identification of ACE inhibitory peptides from lizard fish proteins hydrolysates by metal affinity-immobilized magnetic liposome

Purification of peptides responsible for angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity from highly complex protein hydrolysates is difficult. Affinity chromatography is a powerful method for purification of peptides. In this study, a metal affinity-immobilized magnetic liposome (MA-IML) was prepared using lipid, N-hexadecyl iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) and magnetic nanoparticles made of FeCl₃·6H₂O and FeCl₂·4H₂O as main materials. MA-IML was used to adsorb ACE inhibitory peptides from lizard fish proteins hydrolysates. The optimal pH of adsorption solution was 8.5. The peptide sample adsorbed by MA-IML was separated by reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Upon amino acid sequence analysis and verification, an ACE inhibitory peptide with IC₅₀ value of 108 μM was identified to be VYP. Molecular docking results indicated that VYP bound to ACE via multiple binding sites. The present study demonstrated that MA-IML might be a useful tool for separating ACE inhibitory peptides from proteins hydrolysates.

Advancement and prospects of production, transport, functional activity and structure-activity relationship of food-derived angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides

Food-derived antihypertensive peptides have attracted increasing attention in functional foods for health promotion, due to their high biological activity, low toxicity and easy metabolism in the human body. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is a key enzyme that causes the increase in blood pressure in mammals. However, few reviews have summarized the current understanding of ACE inhibitory peptides and their knowledge gaps. This paper focuses on the food origins and production methods of ACE inhibitory peptides. Compared with conventional methods, the advanced technologies and emerging bioinformatics approaches have recently been applied for efficient and targeted release of ACE inhibitory peptides from food proteins. Furthermore, the transport and underlying mechanisms of ACE inhibitory peptides are emphatically described. Molecular modeling and the Michaelis-Menten equation can provide information on how ACE inhibitors function. Finally, we discuss the structure-activity relationships and other bio-functional properties of ACE inhibitory peptides. Molecular weight, hydrophobic amino acid residues, charge, amino acid composition and sequence (especially at the C-terminal and N-terminal) have a significant influence on ACE inhibitory activity. Some studies are required to increase productivity, improve bioavailability of peptides, evaluate their bio-accessibility and efficiency on reducing blood pressure to provide a reference for the development and application of health products and auxiliary treatment drugs.

Investigation on the characteristics and mechanisms of ACE inhibitory peptides by a thorough analysis of all 8000 tripeptides via binding free energy calculation

Food-derived angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides represent a potential source of new antihypertensive. However, their characteristics and binding mechanisms were not well understood. In this study, novel energy calculation and experimentation were combined to elucidate the characteristics and mechanisms of ACE inhibitory tripeptides. ACE inhibitory activity of all 8,000 tripeptides was investigated by in silico experiments. IC50 values of the five top-rated tripeptides ranged from 5.86 to 21.84 μM. Five hundred top-ranked tripeptides were chosen for detailed structure-activity analysis, and a significant preference for aromatic amino acids at both C- and N-terminus was found. By binding free energy analysis of nine representative tripeptides via MM/GBSA, electrostatic energy was found to be the leading energy that contributed to the binding of ACE with its high affinity tripeptides. Besides, S355, V380, and V518, three residues positioned around the classical binding pockets of ACE, also played a key role in ACE's binding. Therefore, for tripeptides, their binding pockets in ACE were redefined. In conclusion, the characteristics of ACE inhibitory peptides were more deeply illustrated by the thorough analysis of all tripeptides. The energy analysis allows a better understanding of the binding mechanisms of ACE inhibitory peptides, which could be used to redesign the ACE inhibitors for stronger inhibitory activity.

Two novel potent ACEI peptides isolated from Pinctada fucata meat hydrolysates using in silico analysis: identification, screening and inhibitory mechanisms

The aim of this study was to discover potent angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory (ACEI) peptides from Pinctada fucata (P. fucata) for treating hypertension and to characterize them using in silico analysis. The P. fucata proteins were hydrolyzed by Alcalase®, a serine endopeptidase with broad selectivity, at various times (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 h). The degree of hydrolysis (DH) and ACEI activity of the different hydrolysates were measured. Considering the molecular weight and ACEI activity, the 10 h hydrolysate was purified by a series of traditional separation methods, including ultrafiltration, gel G-25 chromatography, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), with ACEI activity as a guide. The results showed two fractions, C17 and C18, eluted by means of semi-preparative RP-HPLC, and showed the highest ACEI activities of 80.33 ± 2.70% and 81.66 ± 0.29%, respectively, at 1 mg mL-1. The two fractions were then identified using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) and their MS/MS spectra data were subjected to de novo sequencing. Subsequently, the potential ACEI peptides were screened by in silico methods, namely, to analyze the average local confidence (ALC) value obtained from the sequencing software and the P-value from the Pepsite 2. In total, 13 potential ACEI peptide sequences were obtained and identified from the two fractions by LC-ESI-MS/MS, and two novel tetrapeptides, FRVW (607.3314 Da) and LPYY (555.2881 Da), were screened for synthesis according to the in silico analysis. The in vitro ACEI tests indicated that FRVW and LPYY had IC50 values of 18.34 and 116.26 μM, respectively. The Lineweaver-Burk plot showed that FRVW was a noncompetitive inhibitor, and LPYY was shown to be a mixed-mode type inhibitor. A stability study against ACE indicated that both peptides were hydrolyzed by ACE to some extent, the higher ACEI activity following incubation with ACE indicating that they should be classified as pro-drug substrates. Molecular docking results showed that hydrophobic amino acids (HAAs) within peptides formed vital interactions including hydrogen bonds, electrostatic forces, van der Waals forces and Pi-Pi interactions with ACE residues, which stabilized the enzyme-peptide complex. Furthermore, the docking results accorded with the inhibition kinetic mode. Our study demonstrated that FRVW and LPYY isolated from P. fucata have potential applications as antihypertensive agents.

Affinity Purification of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptides from Wakame (Undaria Pinnatifida) Using Immobilized ACE on Magnetic Metal Organic Frameworks

Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides derived from marine organism have shown a blood pressure lowering effect with no side effects. A new affinity medium of Fe3O4@ZIF-90 immobilized ACE (Fe3O4@ZIF-90-ACE) was prepared and used in the purification of ACE inhibitory peptides from Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) protein hydrolysate (<5 kDa). The Fe3O4@ZIF-90 nanoparticles were prepared by a one-pot synthesis and crude ACE extract from pig lung was immobilized onto it, which exhibited excellent stability and reusability. A novel ACE inhibitory peptide, KNFL (inhibitory concentration 50, IC50 = 225.87 μM) was identified by affinity purification using Fe3O4@ZIF-90-ACE combined with reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Lineweaver-Burk analysis confirmed the non-competitive inhibition pattern of KNFL, and molecular docking showed that it bound at a non-active site of ACE via hydrogen bonds. This demonstrates that affinity purification using Fe3O4@ZIF-90-ACE is a highly efficient method for separating ACE inhibitory peptides from complex protein mixtures and the purified peptide KNFL could be developed as a functional food ingredients against hypertension.

Vegetable By-Products as New Sources of Functional Proteins

Vegetable by-products, obtained from cauliflower (CA), broccoli (BRL), cabbage (CB) and beetroot (BR) can be a potentially good source of proteins. The proteins were obtained from leaves (LPs) of vegetables with alkaline extraction at pH 10, and their isoelectric precipitation at pH 4. Protein contents were in the range of 39.76 - 53.33%, and the molecular weights of fractions were mostly about 45, 25 and 14 kDa. Their solubility is higher in the alkaline environment, where they reach the highest solubility at pH 10 (9.7 mg/mL for CALP, 8.45 for BRLP, 5.35 mg/mL for CBLP, 5.5 mg/mL for BELP). Moreover, they showed favorable emulsifying abilities, water absorption capacities (0.62 to 1.61 g/g) and foaming capacity (86.3 to 92%) as well as stability (48.57 to 79.30%). Digestibility was studied using gastrointestinal proteases (pepsin and pancreatin), and all four LPs can easily be digested. The biologically active potential of the digests was evaluated measuring antioxidant capacity by two complementary methods - DPPH⁺ and ABTS⁺ radical cation scavenging activity. The values for DPPH+ and ABTS+ were in the range from 59 to 65.1% at 0.1 and 0.3 mg/ml to 0.22 mg/ml IC₅₀ values, respectively. Therefore, it can be indicated from these results, that obtained LPs, owing to their good functional properties, may be considered as potential ingredients of health-promoting food and cosmetic products.

Recent Advances in Marine-Based Nutraceuticals and Their Health Benefits

The oceans have been the Earth's most valuable source of food. They have now also become a valuable and versatile source of bioactive compounds. The significance of marine organisms as a natural source of new substances that may contribute to the food sector and the overall health of humans are expanding. This review is an update on the recent studies of functional seafood compounds (chitin and chitosan, pigments from algae, fish lipids and omega-3 fatty acids, essential amino acids and bioactive proteins/peptides, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and minerals) focusing on their potential use as nutraceuticals and health benefits.

Immobilized metal affinity chromatography matrix modified by poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether for purification of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide from casein hydrolysate

Purification of small bioactive peptides from complex biological samples is a difficult task due to the interference of concentrated large biomolecules. In this study, a magnetic immobilized metal affinity chromatography matrix modified by poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether (IMACM@mPEG) was prepared and applied for the rapid purification of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides from casein hydrolysate. The proposed IMACM@mPEG considerably reduced the non-specific adsorption of large proteins and exhibited improved purification efficiency towards ACE inhibitory peptides. A novel peptide with moderate ACE inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ value of 274 ± 5 μM) was identified as LLYQEPVLGPVR. Lineweaver-Burk plot confirmed the non-competitive inhibition pattern of LLYQEPVLGPVR. The purified peptide was digested after simulated gastrointestinal digestion and produced shorter peptides which contributed to enhanced ACE inhibitory activity. These results indicated that the IMACM@mPEG is an effective method for the prepurification of ACE inhibitory peptide and the purified peptide LLYQEPVLGPVR may have potential as nutraceutical ingredient in functional foods for hypertension treatments.

Comparison of an angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide from tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with captopril: inhibition kinetics, in vivo effect, simulated gastrointestinal digestion and a molecular docking study

BACKGROUND

In order to utilize tilapia skin gelatin hydrolysate protein, which is normally discarded as industrial waste in the process of fish manufacture, we study the in vivo and in vitro angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of the peptide Leu-Ser-Gly-Tyr-Gly-Pro (LSGYGP). The aim was to provide a pharmacological basis of the development of minimal side effects of ACE inhibitors by comparative analysis with captopril in molecular docking.

RESULTS

This peptide from protein-rich wastes showed excellent ACE inhibitory activity (IC₅₀  = 2.577 μmol L^-1 ) and exhibited a mixed noncompetitive inhibitory pattern with Lineweaver-Burk plots. Furthermore, LSGYGP and captopril groups both showed significant decreases in blood pressure after 6 h and maintained good digestive stability over 4 h. Molecular bond interactions differentiate competitive captopril upon hydrogen bond interactions and Zn(II) interaction. The C-terminal Pro generates three interactions (hydrogen bonds, hydrophilic interactions and Van der Waals interactions) in the peptide and effectively interacts with the S1 and S2 pockets of ACE.

CONCLUSION

LSGYGP, with an IC₅₀ value of 2.577 μmol L^-1 , has an antihypertensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Through comparison with captopril, this study revealed that LSGYGP may be a potential food-derived ACE inhibitory peptide and could act as a functional food ingredient to prevent hypertension. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Purification, Characterization and Evaluation of Inhibitory Mechanism of ACE Inhibitory Peptides from Pearl Oyster (Pinctada fucata martensii) Meat Protein Hydrolysate

Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides derived from natural products have shown a blood pressure lowering effect with no side effects. In this study, two novel ACE inhibitory peptides (His-Leu-His-Thr, HLHT and Gly-Trp-Ala, GWA) were purified from pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata martensii) meat protein hydrolysate with alkaline protease by ultrafiltration, polyethylene glycol methyl ether modified immobilized metal ion affinity medium, and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Both peptides exhibited high ACE inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 458.06 ± 3.24 μM and 109.25 ± 1.45 μM, respectively. Based on the results of a Lineweaver-Burk plot, HLHT and GWA were found to be non-competitive inhibitor and competitive inhibitor respectively, which were confirmed by molecular docking. Furthermore, the pearl oyster meat protein hydrolysate exhibited an effective antihypertensive effect on SD rats. These results conclude that pearl oyster meat protein is a potential resource of ACE inhibitory peptides and the purified peptides, HLHT and GWA, can be exploited as functional food ingredients against hypertension.

Marine Organisms as Potential Sources of Bioactive Peptides that Inhibit the Activity of Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme: A Review

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) is a paramount therapeutic target to treat hypertension. ACE inhibitory peptides derived from food protein sources are regarded as safer alternatives to synthetic antihypertensive drugs for treating hypertension. Recently, marine organisms have started being pursued as sources of potential ACE inhibitory peptides. Marine organisms such as fish, shellfish, seaweed, microalgae, molluscs, crustaceans, and cephalopods are rich sources of bioactive compounds because of their high-value metabolites with specific activities and promising health benefits. This review aims to summarize the studies on peptides from different marine organisms and focus on the potential ability of these peptides to inhibit ACE activity.

A novel strategy to synthesize dual-responsive polymeric nanocarriers for investigating the activity and stability of immobilized pectinase

A dual-stimuli-responsive support material for pectinase immobilization through ionic bonding was prepared. Specifically, polystyrene-b-polymethylacrylic (PS-b-PMAA), light- and pH-sensitive polystyrene-(5-propargylether-2-nitrobenzyl bromoisobutyrate)-b-poly(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate-b-poly(polyethylene glycol methacrylate) (PS-ONB-PDEAEMA-b-PPEGMA) were synthesized through atom transfer radical polymerization, click chemistry, and hydrolysis. The two parts could self-assemble into the micelles in an aqueous solution. The micelles shrunk at a higher pH, and their size reduced under UV irradiation. The stimuli-responsive properties of micelles were characterized by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. It has been found that this support was able to adsorb 10 U/mL of immobilized pectinase (approximately 223 mg/g) at pH 5.0 and 60 °C for 60 Min. Meanwhile, the highest relative activity of immobilized pectinase was up to approximately 95% at pH 5.0 and 60 °C. The immobilized pectinase retained more than 50% of the initial activity after eight cycles. The relative activity of the pectinase immobilized on the supports without UV irradiation was approximately 3% lower than that after UV irradiation at 60 °C, indicating that tailoring of enzyme activity was achieved by changing environmental conditions. Apparently, the original enzymatic support material had a great application prospect on enzyme immobilization.

Preparation and identification of novel inhibitory angiotensin-I-converting enzyme peptides from tilapia skin gelatin hydrolysates: inhibition kinetics and molecular docking

Tilapia skin gelatin was hydrolyzed by successive simulated gastrointestinal digestion, and the hydrolysates were further separated by transport across a Caco-2 cell monolayer. Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitory (ACEI) peptides were separated by successive chromatographic steps from the transport hydrolysates. We have identified two key ACEI peptides, namely VGLPNSR (741.4133 Da) and QAGLSPVR (826.4661 Da) with IC50 values of ACEI activity of 80.90 and 68.35 μM, respectively. Lineweaver-Burk plots indicated that the inhibitory ACE kinetics of the two peptides were noncompetitive. Molecular docking simulation showed that the two peptides could interact with the ACE site via hydrogen bonds with high binding power. However, the hydrogen bonds were not formed with the key amino acid residues in the active site of ACE. This finding was in accordance with the noncompetitive inhibition. This study established a novel approach to identify key ACEI peptides and suggested the use of tilapia peptides as functional food ingredients to prevent hypertension.

Studies on the Interaction between Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) and ACE Inhibitory Peptide from Saurida elongata

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides derived from food protein exhibited antihypertensive effects by inhibiting ACE activity. In this work, the interaction between ACE inhibitory peptide GMKCAF (GF-6) and ACE was studied by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), molecular docking, ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Experimental results revealed that the binding of GF-6 to ACE was a spontaneous exothermic process driven by both enthalpy and entropy. The interaction occurred via a static quenching mechanism and involved the alteration of the conformation of ACE. In addition, ITC and molecular docking results indicated binding of GF-6 to ACE via multiple binding sites on the protein surface. This study could be deemed helpful for the better understanding of the inhibitory mechanism of ACE inhibitory peptides.

A method using angiotensin converting enzyme immobilized on magnetic beads for inhibitor screening

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), fusing with FLAG tag, was overexpressed in human embryonic kidney 293T cells. This recombinant FLAG-tagged ACE was immobilized on anti-FLAG antibody coated magnetic beads by affinity method in crude cell lysate for the first time. The enzyme-immobilized magnetic beads (ACE-MB), without further cleavage procedure, were used directly to establish a cost-effective and reliable method for screening ACE inhibitors by coupling with fluorescence detection. The enzymatic activity of the ACE-MB was validated based on its Michaelian kinetic behavior towards hippuryl-histidyl-leucine by UHPLC-MS/MS method firstly. Then, several conditions were optimized including amount of magnetic beads, incubation temperature and time in the procedure of ACE immobilization and amount of ACE-MB in the microplate operation. Moreover, this screening assay was validated with Z' factors between 0.71 and 0.81 using four known ACE inhibitors (captopril, lisinopril, fosinopril and fosinoprilat). The developed method was applied for the screening of ACE inhibitors from a small compound library of 45 natural products. As a result, epiberberine and fangchinoline with certain ACE inhibitory activities were screened out in the assay and validated. The results demonstrate the usefulness of this screening method using ACE immobilized on magnetic beads and the advantage of great efficiency with respect to both time and reagents for screening ACE inhibitors.

dentification and molecular docking of novel ACE inhibitory peptides from protein hydrolysates of shrimp waste

The effect of enzymatic hydrolysis by Savinase on the interfacial properties and antihypertensive activity of shrimp waste proteins was evaluated. The physicochemical characterization, interfacial tension, and surface characteristics of shrimp waste protein hydrolysates (SWPH) using different enzyme/substrate (E/S) (SWPH₅ (SWPH using E/S = 5), SWPH₁₅ (SWPH using E/S = 15), and SWPH₄₀ (SWPH using E/S = 40)) were also studied. SWPH₅, SWPH₁₅, and SWPH₄₀ had an isoelectric pH around 2.07, 2.17, and 2.54 respectively. SWPH₅ exhibited the lowest interfacial tension (68.96 mN/m) followed by SWPH₁₅ (69.36 mN/m) and SWPH₄₀ (70.29 mN/m). The in vitro ACE inhibitory activity of shrimp waste protein hydrolysates showed that the most active hydrolysate was obtained using an enzyme/substrate of 15 U/mg (SWPH₁₅). SWPH₁₅ had a lower IC₅₀ value (2.17 mg/mL) than that of SWPH₅ and SWPH₄₀ (3.65 and 5.7 mg/mL, respectively). This hydrolysate was then purified and characterized. Fraction F1 separated by Sephadex G25 column which presents the best ACE inhibition activity was then separated by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Four ACE inhibitory peptides were identified and their molecular masses and amino acid sequences were determined using ESI-MS and ESI-MS/MS, respectively. The structures of the most potent peptides were SSSKAKKMP, HGEGGRSTHE, WLGHGGRPDHE, and WRMDIDGDIMISEQEAHQR. The structural modeling of anti-ACE peptides from shrimp waste through docking simulations results showed that these peptides bound to ACE with high affinity.

Isolation and Characterization of Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitory Peptides from the Enzymatic Hydrolysate of Carapax Trionycis (the Shell of the Turtle Pelodiscus sinensis)

Carapax Trionycis (the shell of the turtle Pelodiscus sinensis) was hydrolyzed by six different commercial proteases. The hydrolysate prepared from papain showed stronger inhibitory activity against angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) than other extracts. Two noncompetitive ACE inhibitory peptides were purified successively by ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography, ion exchange column chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The amino acid sequences of them were identified as KRER and LHMFK, with IC₅₀ values of 324.1 and 75.6 μM, respectively, confirming that Carapax Trionycis is a potential source of active peptides possessing ACE inhibitory activities. Besides, both enzyme kinetics and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) assay showed that LHMFK could form more stable complex with ACE than KRER, which is in accordance with the better inhibitory activity of LHMFK.

Antihypertensive activity of fish protein hydrolysates and its peptides

The rising interest to utilize nutritionally exorbitant fish proteins has instigated research activities in fish waste utilization. The development of newer technologies to utilize fish waste has fostered use of bioactive value-added products for specific health benefits. Enzymatically obtained Fish Protein Hydrolysate (FPH) is a rich source of biologically active peptides possessing anti-oxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial and anti-hypertensive activity. Isolating natural remedies to combat alarming negative consequences of synthetic drugs has been the new trend in current research promoting identification of antihypertensive peptides from FPH. In this review, we aim to culminate data available to produce antihypertensive peptides from FPH, its composition and potential to be used as a therapeutic agent. These purified peptides are known to be rich in arginine, valine and leucine. Reports reveal peptides with low molecular weight (<1 kDa) and shorter chain length (<20 amino acids) exhibited higher antihypertensive activity. As these peptides have proven Angiotensin Converting Enzyme - I inhibitory activity in vitro and in vivo, their potential to be used as antihypertensive drugs is outrageous. However, current focus on research in the field of molecular docking is necessary to have improved understanding of interaction of the peptides with the enzyme.

Identification and the molecular mechanism of a novel myosin-derived ACE inhibitory peptide

The objective of this work was to identify a novel ACE inhibitory peptide from myosin using a number of in silico methods.

Graphitized Porous Carbon for Rapid Screening of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptide GAMVVH from Silkworm Pupa Protein and Molecular Insight into Inhibition Mechanism

A novel hydrophobic hexapeptide with high angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity was screened from silkworm pupa protein (SPP) hydrolysate via graphitized porous carbon and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography methods. Graphitized porous carbon derived from dopamine, possessing high surface area and high graphitic carbon, was used to rapidly screen and enrich hydrophobic peptides from SPP hydrolysate. The ACE inhibition pattern and mechanism of the purified peptide were also systematically studied by the classic Lineweaver-Burk model and by molecular docking/dynamic simulation. The novel hydrophobic hexapeptide was identified as Gly-Ala-Met-Val-Val-His (GAMVVH, IC₅₀ = 19.39 ± 0.21 μM) with good thermal/antidigestive stabilities. Lineweaver-Burk plots revealed that GAMVVH behaved as a competitive ACE inhibitor. It formed hydrogen bonds with S1 and S2 pockets of ACE and established competitive coordination with Zn(II) of ACE. The synergy of hydrogen bonds with active pockets and Zn(II) coordination efficiently changed the three-dimensional structure of ACE and thus inhibited bioactivity of ACE.

Purification of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides from casein hydrolysate by IMAC-Ni2

Casein proteins were hydrolyzed by papain to identify inhibitory peptides of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE). The hydrolysate was fractionized by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC-Ni²⁺). The fraction with high ACE inhibitory activity was enriched and further chromatographed on a reverse-phase column to yield four fractions. Among the fractions, the L4 fraction exhibited the highest ACE inhibitory activity and was identified by sequence analysis as Trp-Tyr-Leu-His-Tyr-Ala (WYLHYA), with IC₅₀ value of 16.22 ± 0.83 µM in vitro. This peptide was expected to be applied as an ingredient for preventing hypertension and IMAC-Ni²⁺ may provide a simple method for purification of ACE inhibitory peptides.

Antihypertensive peptides from animal products, marine organisms, and plants

Bioactive peptides from food proteins exert beneficial effects on human health, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition and antihypertensive activity. Several studies have reported that ACE-inhibitory peptides can come from animal products, marine organisms, and plants-derived by hydrolyzing enzymes such as pepsin, chymotrypsin, and trypsin-and microbial enzymes such as alcalase, thermolysin, flavourzyme, and proteinase K. Different ACE-inhibitory effects are closely related with different peptide sequences and molecular weights. Sequences of ACE-inhibitory peptides are composed of hydrophobic (proline) and aliphatic amino acids (isoleucine and leucine) at the N-terminus. As result of this review, we assume that low molecular weight peptides have a greater ACE inhibition because lower molecular weight peptides have a higher absorbency in the body. Therefore, the ACE-inhibitory effect is closely related with the degree of enzymatic hydrolysis and the composition of the peptide sequence.

Angiotensin converting enzyme immobilized on magnetic beads as a tool for ligand fishing

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) presents an important role in blood pressure regulation, since that converts angiotensin I to the vasoconstrictor angiotensin II. Some commercially available ACE inhibitors are captopril, lisinopril and enalapril; due to their side effects, naturally occurring inhibitors have been prospected. In order to endorse this research field we have developed a new tool for ACE ligand screening. To this end, ACE was extracted from bovine lung, purified and chemically immobilized in modified ferrite magnetic beads (ACE-MBs). The ACE-MBs have shown a Michaelian kinetic behavior towards hippuryl-histidyl-leucine. Moreover, as proof of concept, the ACE-MBs was inhibited by lisinopril with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 10nM. At the fishing assay, ACE-MBs were able not only to fish out the reference inhibitor, but also one peptide from a pool of tryptic digested BSA. In conclusion, ACE-MBs emerge as new straightforward tool for ACE kinetics determination, inhibition and binder screening.

Inhibitory effect of leaves extracts of Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum gratissimum on two key enzymes involved in obesity and hypertension in vitro

Aim:

To evaluate the phenolics composition and inhibitory effect of the leaves extracts of Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum gratissimum on two key enzymes (pancreatic lipase [PL] and angiotensin 1-converting enzyme [ACE]) involved in obesity and hypertension in vitro.

Materials and Methods:

The phenolics (flavonoids and phenolic acids) were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection. PL and ACE inhibitory effects; DPPH* and ABTS*⁺ scavenging activities of the extracts were tested using spectrophotometric methods.

Results:

O. basilicum had the following major phenolics: Rutin, quercetin, and quercitrin (flavonoids); caffeic, chlorogenic, and gallic acids (phenolic acids); while O. gratissimum had the following major phenolics: Rutin, quercitrin, and luteolin (flavonoids); ellagic and chlorogenic acids (phenolic acids). “Extracts of both plants inhibited PL and ACE; scavenged DPPH* in a dose-dependent manner”. O. gratissimum extract was more potent in inhibiting PL (IC_50: 20.69 µg/mL) and ACE (IC_50: 29.44 µg/mL) than O. basilicum (IC_50: 52.14 µg/mL and IC_50: 64.99 µg/mL, against PL and ACE, respectively). O. gratissimum also scavenged DPPH* and ABTS*⁺ more than O. basilicum.

Conclusion:

O. basilicum and O. gratissimum leaves could be used as functional foods for the management of obesity and obesity-related hypertension. However, O. gratissimum may be more effective than O. basilicum.