An approach to improve ACE-inhibitory activity of casein hydrolysates with plastein reaction catalyzed by Alcalase

The preparation method of casein hydrolysates with high ACE-inhibitory activity was studied by Alcalase-catalyzed hydrolysis coupled with plastein reaction. Casein hydrolysates with an IC₅₀ value of about 47 μg mL⁻¹ were first prepared by hydrolysis of casein with Alcalase and then modified with plastein reaction catalyzed by the same enzyme. The impacts of four reaction conditions on plastein reaction of casein hydrolysates were studied, and then optimal conditions were determined using response surface methodology with the decrease of free amino groups in the reaction mixture as response. When the concentration of casein hydrolysates was fixed at 35% by weight, the maximum decrease of free amino groups in the reaction mixture of 181.8 μmol g⁻¹ proteins was obtained. The optimum conditions for the above decrease were found to be an E/S ratio of 7.7 kU g⁻¹ proteins, reaction temperature of 42.7 °C and reaction time of 6 h. Analysis results showed that ACE-inhibitory activity of casein hydrolysates prepared could be improved significantly by plastein reaction. When casein hydrolysates were modified by plastein reaction, with a decrease of free amino groups in the mixture of about 154.7 μmol g⁻¹ proteins and 181.8 μmol g⁻¹ proteins, their IC₅₀ values could be decreased to 0.6 and 0.5 μg mL⁻¹.     

三种氨基酸添加下酶法修饰酪蛋白水解物的ACE抑制活性

采用碱性蛋白酶水解酪蛋白,制备水解度为12.4%、IC50为42.19μg/mL的酪蛋白水解物。在添加外源氨基酸的情况下对水解物进行类蛋白反应修饰,并响应面法研究氨基酸添加量、酶添加量、反应温度及3种氨基酸的影响。结果表明:氨基酸添加量、反应温度、氨基酸种类对修饰反应影响显著,而酶添加量的影响不大;分别添加苯丙氨酸、亮氨酸、缬氨酸制备3个酪蛋白水解物修饰产物,其IC50降低至21.03～25.13μg/mL,表明添加外源氨基酸可提高修饰产物的体外ACE抑制活性,但添加不同氨基酸的影响不显著。     

Coupled Neutrase–Catalyzed Plastein Reaction Mediated the ACE-Inhibitory Activity In Vitro of Casein Hydrolysates Prepared by Alcalase

Casein hydrolysates with a degree of hydrolysis of 13.5% were prepared by hydrolyzing casein with an alkaline protease Alcalase, and showed ACE-inhibition in vitro with an IC₅₀ value of 45.2 μg/mL. The hydrolysates were modified by plastein reaction catalyzed by a neutral protease Neutrase to reveal the impact of the coupled Neutrase-catalyzed plastein reaction on the ACE-inhibition of the casein hydrolysates. The effects of addition level of Neutrase, substrate concentration, reaction temperature, and time on the plastein reaction of the casein hydrolysates were studied with the varying amount of free amino groups of the modified hydrolysates as index. The results illustrated that the amount of free amino groups of the modified hydrolysates increased in all occasions, and the addition level of Neutrase, substrate concentration, and reaction time had a clear impact on the plastein reaction. Six modified hydrolysates were prepared at a substrate concentration of 40% (by weight), Neutrase addition level of 3 kU/g peptides, reaction temperature of 35°C, and different reaction time. The assay results highlighted that the coupled Neutrase-catalyzed plastein reaction improved the ACE-inhibition of six modified hydrolysates with IC₅₀ values ranging from 15.6 to 20.0 μg/mL. Size exclusion chromatography analysis showed that some plasteins with a molecular weight of about 68 kDa existed in the modified hydrolysates. The results also demonstrated that it was the coupled Neutrase-catalyzed plastein reaction but not further hydrolysis of casein hydrolysates that enhanced the ACE-inhibition of the modified casein hydrolysates.     

Modification of Soybean Protein Hydrolysates by Alcalase-Catalyzed Plastein Reaction and the ACE-Inhibitory Activity of the Modified Product In Vitro

Soybean protein hydrolysates were prepared by hydrolyzing soybean protein isolates with a protease alcalase to a degree of hydrolysis of 16.6%, and then modified by alcalase-catalyzed plastein reaction to reveal the impact of plastein reaction on the ACE-inhibitory activity of the modified product in vitro. The suitable conditions of plastein reaction of soybean protein hydrolysates were selected based on the results of response surface methodology with the decreased amount of the free amino groups of the modified product as response. When reaction temperature was fixed at 30°C, the selected conditions were as follows: concentration of soybean protein hydrolysates of 45% (w/w), addition level of alcalase of 275 U/g peptides, and reaction time of 3 to 4 h. Soybean protein hydrolysates and eight modified products were evaluated for their ACE-inhibitory activities in vitro. The assay results highlighted that plastein reaction improved the ACE-inhibitory activity of the modified product. The IC₅₀ of the modified products ranged from 0.64 to 1.11 mg/mL, while that of soybean protein hydrolysates was 1.45 mg/mL. The decreased amount of the free amino groups of the modified product showed influence on the ACE-inhibitory activity in vitro. Analysis results from size exclusion chromatography confirmed that some plasteins with higher molecular weights were formed in the modified product. Our results showed that alcalase-catalyzed plastein reaction could be applied as a potential approach to enhance the ACE-inhibitory activity of soybean protein hydrolysates in vitro.     

脯氨酸存在下酪蛋白ACE抑制肽的Plastein反应修饰

利用枯草杆菌碱性蛋白酶水解酪蛋白制备ACE 抑制肽,其IC50 为47.1μg/mL;采用相同酶催化ACE 抑制肽和脯氨酸进行Plastein 反应,对ACE 抑制肽进一步修饰,并用响应面分析法优化反应条件。在ACE 抑制肽质量分数为35%,反应时间为6h,以反应体系游离氨基减少量为指标,得到适宜的反应条件为：温度为47.8℃、脯氨酸比例为0.54、酶添加量为9.5kU/g pro,此条件下体系游离氨基减少量约195.7μmol/g pro。在适宜条件下改变反应时间对酪蛋白ACE 抑制肽进行同程度的Plastein 反应修饰,制备出6 个修饰程度不同的多肽混合物并测定它们的ACE 抑制活性、计算其IC50 值。结果表明：修饰产物的ACE 抑制活性随修饰程度的增加不规则变化,当反应体系的游离氨基减少量为195.7μmol/g pro 时,修饰产物的IC50 降低至0.2μg/mL。     

酪蛋白类蛋白物的溶剂分级和酶水解对ACE抑制活性的影响

利用响应面法优化类蛋白反应条件修饰酪蛋白水解物制备酪蛋白类蛋白物.酪蛋白类蛋白物的ACE抑制活性高于酪蛋白水解物,IC50值从52.6 mg/L降低到14.9 mg/L.利用乙醇-水混合溶剂对酪蛋白水解物和类蛋白物进行分级,结果表明,极性最低的溶剂得到的上清液部分活性较高,而沉淀部分活性较低.4种蛋白酶水解酪蛋白类蛋白物的分级产物,导致活性下降,除碱性蛋白酶外,木瓜蛋白酶、胃蛋白酶和胰蛋白酶的水解产物ACE抑制活性为31.5％～46.8％,但是仍然高于酪蛋白水解物的ACE抑制活性(27.8％),表明类蛋白反应提高了酪蛋白水解物对一些蛋白酶的体外抵抗能力.     

In Vitro Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Inhibition of Casein Hydrolysate Responsible for Plastein Reaction in Ethanol-Water Medium,Solvent Fractionation,and Protease Digestion

A casein hydrolysate generated by Alcalase had in vitro ACE-inhibitory activity of 44.4%, and was treated by Alcalase-catalyzed plastein reaction in ethanol-water medium. Alcalase addition, ethanol, substrate concentration, and reaction temperature optimized from experimental design were 8.36 kU/g peptides, 56.8 (v/v), 56.8% (w/v), and 37.5°C, respectively, when reaction time was fixed at 6 h. Two treated casein hydrolysates, namely TCH4 and TCH8, were obtained with reaction time of 4 and 8 h, and exhibited the highest ACE-inhibitory activity of 62.5% or the greatest reaction extent but an activity of 35.6%, respectively. Fractionation of TCH4 and TCH8 by applying ethanol-water of 7:3 (v/v) conferred the obtained supernatant (precipitate) fractionates higher (lower) activity than the parent substrate, while applying ethanol-water of 3:7 (v/v) or water led to an opposite result in activity for the fractionates. In vitro digestion of TCH4, TCH8, and their fractionates revealed that they had resistance in activity towards the investigated four proteases, as the resulted 47 out of 48 digests had higher activities than casein hydrolysate. TCH8 exhibited better protease resistance than TCH4. It is concluded that the applied plastein reaction can enhance ACE inhibition and protease resistance of casein hydrolysate.     

Antioxidant properties of whey protein hydrolysates as measured by three methods

Four microbial proteases (Alcalase, Flavourzyme, Neutrase and Protamex) were used for the preparation of whey protein hydrolysates. The aim of this research was to find out whether these hydrolysates can be used as a source of whey derived antioxidants. Hydrolyzed samples, including their unhydrolyzed protein solutions were tested by the ABTS (2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) decolorization assay, by the total radical-trapping potential method and by the assay of liposomes peroxidation (fluorescence photometry). Antioxidant properties were enhanced by hydrolysis in most of cases. Alcalase hydrolysates were found as the most effective antioxidants as determined by ABTS assay (~50% of antioxidant activity at 0.1 mg ml⁻¹ of hydrolysate in reaction) and fluorescence photometry. Liposomes were oxidized ~50% less (1.1 μM of α-tocopherol equivalent) with Alcalase hydrolysates additive (at 5.85 mg ml⁻¹ of hydrolysate in reaction). Hydrolysates did not inhibit the oxidation of liposomes at concentrations below 1.0 mg ml⁻¹ in reaction. On the contrary, results of total trapping potential method did not agree with findings observed in other tests. In this assay, Neutrase hydrolysates showed the best antioxidant properties. Pro-oxidant properties were observed in solutions containing (prior to the enzyme Protamex addition only) intact whey protein as determined by the measurement of the liposome peroxidation. The ABTS assay was optimized for the evaluation of the antioxidant activity in whey protein hydrolysates. The reaction time should be prolonged to avoid underestimation of the antioxidant activity.     

Charakterisierung pankreatischer Casein-Plasteine

Characterization of pancreatic casein plasteins. In the course of the plastein reaction hydrophobic peptides concentrate mainly in the aggregates (plasteins), whilst hydrophilic peptides remain in solution (supernatant). Liquid chromatographic and sequence analytical studies of pancreatic casein plasteins have shown that the aggregates consist mainly of the free amino acids tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan. Plasteins contain, in addition, short-chain peptides, particularly from the C-terminal of β-casein. Characterization of the functional properties of the plasteins has shown clearly that aggregation of the short-chain peptides and free amino acids is brought by non-covalent, hydrophobic and ionogenic interactions. In the supernatants resulting from the plastein reaction caseinophosphopeptide sequences, in particular from α_s-casein, were determined.     

Ace Inhibition and Enzymatic Resistance In Vitro of a Casein Hydrolysate Subjected to Plastein Reaction in the Presence of Extrinsic Proline and Ethanol- or Methanol-Water Fractionation

Casein was hydrolyzed by alcalase to a degree of hydrolysis of 10.9% to obtain a hydrolysate having ACE-inhibition in vitro with an IC₅₀ value of 52.6 μg/mL. The prepared hydrolysate was modified by alcalase-catalyzed plastein reaction with extrinsic proline added at 0.4 mol/mol free amino groups (on the basis of the hydrolysate), and fractionated by ethanol- or methanol-water solvents in proportions of 3:7, 5:5, or 7:3 (v/v), respectively. With the decrease of free amino groups of the modified hydrolysate as the response, the optimized plastein reaction conditions were alcalase addition of 3.1 kU/g peptides, substrate concentration of 50% (w/v), and reaction temperature of 25°C. Four modified hydrolysates prepared with different reaction times exhibited higher ACE-inhibitory activities than the original hydrolysate. The evaluation results showed that solvent fractionation of the modified hydrolysate with the maximum activity (IC₅₀ = 13.0 μg/mL) yielded the separated soluble fraction's higher activity but the precipitate fraction's lower one. Further enzymatic digestion of the modified hydrolysate with the maximum activity and its two fractionated products by four proteases in vitro caused damage to the activities, but the residual activities of the final digests were higher than that of the original hydrolysate, indicating that the plastein reaction could confer casein hydrolysate protease resistance.     

酪蛋白水解物的酶法修饰与ACE抑制活性变化

利用枯草杆菌碱性蛋白酶水解酪蛋白制备酪蛋白水解物,其水解度为11.2%,IC50为47.1μg/mL。再应用相同的酶对酪蛋白水解物进行类蛋白反应修饰,考察底物浓度、温度和酶添加量对类蛋白反应的影响,并制备5个不同的修饰产物测定其ACE抑制活性和IC50值。结果表明,修饰产物的ACE抑制活性随修饰程度(游离氨基减少量)的增加而提高,并且都高于未经修饰的酪蛋白水解物。当游离氨基减少量为154.65μmol/g(蛋白)时,修饰产物的IC50值可降至0.6μg/mL。毛细管电泳分析结果显示类蛋白修饰后水解物的多肽组成情况发生明显变化。研究结果证明酪蛋白水解物的ACE抑制活性可以通过类蛋白反应的修饰作用而提高。     

Evaluation of Functional Properties in Protein Hydrolysates from Bluewing Searobin (Prionotus punctatus) Obtained with Different Microbial Enzymes

Enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins from low commercial value fish could be produced for uses like functional ingredients in a wide and always increasing zone of application in different food products. The objective of this work was to evaluate the functional properties and the amino acid profile of enzymatic hydrolysates from Bluewing searobin (Prionotus punctatus), using two microbial enzymes, Alcalase and Flavourzyme. The enzymatic hydrolysate obtained through the addition of the enzyme Alcalase reached the maximum solubility (42%) at pH 9, water holding capacity (WHC) of 2.4 g_water  g_protein ⁻¹, 4.5 g_oil g_protein ⁻¹ of oil holding capacity (OHC) and an emulsifying activity index (EAI) of 54 m² g_solids ⁻¹ at pH 3. On the other hand, the hydrolysate obtained from Flavourzyme attained 38% of solubility at pH 9, 3.7 g_water  g_protein ⁻¹ and 5.5 g_oil g_protein ⁻¹ for the holding capacities, and an EAI of 71 m² g_solids ⁻¹ at pH 11. The hydrolysate with Flavourzyme produced best results for WHC, OHC, and EAI because it had solubility lower than the hydrolysate of Alcalase. The hydrolysate produced by Alcalase had a higher amino acid content compared with Flavourzyme’s hydrolysate. However, both showed a good essential amino acid amounts. In general, these results indicate the potential utilization of the hydrolysate from Bluewing searobin in food formulations for the direct human consumption.     

The effect of enzymatic modification on lysinoalanine formation in field-bean protein isolate and beta-casein

Lysinoalanine (LAL) was determined in alkali-treated partial hydrolysates (PH) of casein, peptides isolated from these PH and in PH of field-bean protein to clarify whether intermolecular or intramolecular LAL bridges are preferentially formed. Furthermore, the formation of LAS in plasteins was studied as a contribution to plastein research. The formation of LAL in the peptide mixtures of beta-casein and the decrease of the LAL content in the PH (as compared to intact proteins) indicates that the formation of LAL favours the intramolecular cross-linking of polypeptide chains. The LAL content decreases as the degree of hydrolysis of the PH of the field-bean protein isolate increases, and depends upon the protease used in the production of the hydrolysates. The LAL contents of the alkali-treated plasteins are less than those of the initial hydrolysates. The decrease of the LAL content is directly proportional to the hydrolysis proceeding during the plastein reaction.     

Plasteins. Their preparation, properties, and use in nutrition

The theoretical and practical aspects of the plastein reaction, which consist in the formation of a gel following the addition of an endopeptidase to a concentrated solution of a partial protein hydrolysate, are examined and the properties and possibilities of using plasteins in nutrition are discussed. It is shown that valuable protein food products can be obtained with the aid of the plastein reaction from proteins with an unbalanced amino acid composition and from chemically synthesized amino acids. Other applications of plasteins in nutrition are discussed and the studies carried out hitherto on the mechanism and driving forces of plastein formation are considered.     

酪蛋白水解物的类蛋白反应修饰及其产物ACE抑制活性特征

采用碱性蛋白酶水解酪蛋白,制备水解度为10.9%、IC50值为52.6μg/mL的酪蛋白水解物,并利用响应面法优化碱性蛋白酶催化的类蛋白反应修饰条件。修饰反应时间固定为6h时,适宜的条件为酶添加量3.1kU/g pro、底物质量浓度50g/100mL、反应温度25℃。制备9个修饰程度不同的修饰产物,结果显示：修饰产物ACE抑制活性均提高,并且活性最高的修饰产物的IC50降低至14.9μg/mL。该修饰产物离心分级后,上清液部分和沉淀部分的ACE抑制活性分别低于和高于修饰产物,表明沉淀部分是提高ACE抑制活性的主要原因;Tricine-SDS-PAGE电泳分析表明,修饰产物及沉淀部分有较大分子质量的肽分子生成;该修饰产物和上清液部分、沉淀部分的进一步酶水解处理则显示,酶水解会导致它们的ACE抑制活性降低,但是仍然高于最初的酪蛋白水解物。     

Physicochemical and sensory characteristics of soya protein isolate hydrolysates with added substrate‐like amino acids

Soya protein isolate (SPI) with or without added substrate‐like amino acid was subject to enzymatic hydrolysis catalysed by commercial proteases (Alcalase 2.4 L, flavourzyme and pancreatin). Addition of a small amount of amino acids (amino acid: SPI = 1: 2500, mol g^?1) during hydrolysis would cause a significantly (P < 0.05) reduced protein recovery, increased degree of hydrolysis, and altered amino acid composition and antioxidant activities of SPI hydrolysates. The SPI hydrolysates prepared with added Asp, Arg or Lys exhibited a higher antioxidant activity than the control. The bitterness of SPI hydrolysates was largely reduced upon addition of Met, Asp or Glu during hydrolysis, whilst the umami taste and mouthfeel‐liking were remarkably increased. Therefore, adding amino acid during hydrolysis is a feasible and beneficial approach to improve both the functional and sensory properties of SPI hydrolysate.     

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activity of milk protein hydrolysates: Effect of substrate,enzyme and time of hydrolysis

Nine milk protein substrates were hydrolysed in vitro with five proteases for various times (0, 3, 6, and 24 h), and the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity of hydrolysates was assessed. Overall, the casein substrates gave rise to hydrolysates with significantly higher ACE-inhibitory activity than the whey protein (WP) substrates (85% vs. 79%). No significant difference between 3 and 24 h of hydrolysis was found. A reasonable correlation was found between the ACE inhibition of the 6 h hydrolysates determined in vitro and estimated by in silico modelling. The highest ACE-inhibitory activity was found in hydrolysates made with thermolysin followed by proteinase K, trypsin, pepsin and Bacillus licheniformis protease. The IC₅₀ values for thermolysin hydrolysates of caseins and WPs were 45–83 and 90–400 μg mL⁻¹, respectively, with α-lactalbumin giving the highest inhibitory activity. Thermolysin, proteinase K and trypsin were useful for the release of highly potent ACE-inhibitory peptides from both WPs and caseins.     

Evaluation Of Antioxidant Properties In Vitro of Plastein-Reaction-Stressed Soybean Protein Hydrolysate

Alcalase was used in the present study to carry out an enzymatic hydrolysis of soybean protein isolate and a plastein reaction of the prepared hydrolysate in vitro, aiming to investigate the influence of the plastein reaction on the antioxidant properties of the modified hydrolysate. Soybean protein hydrolysate was prepared in a degree of hydrolysis of 14.0%, exhibited a scavenging activity of 43.6% on ABTS radical in vitro, and thus was used as the substrate of the plastein reaction to prepare the plastein-reaction-stressed hydrolysate. Response surface methodology was applied to select suitable reaction conditions as follows: enzyme addition level 1037 U/g peptides, substrate concentration 29.7% (w/v), reaction temperature 20.3°C. The stressed hydrolysate showed the highest scavenging activity on ABTS radical (about 47.9%) or maximal reaction extent when reaction time was 6 h. Three stressed hydrolysates with different reaction extents were prepared and evaluated for other antioxidant activities. Compared to the original hydrolysate, the stressed hydrolysate with lower reaction extent exhibited a similar (P > 0.05) scavenging activity on DPPH (or superoxide) radical and reducing power, but a significant higher activity (P < 0.05) on hydroxyl radical. The stressed hydrolysate with the highest reaction extent behaved as these investigated antioxidant properties were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the original hydrolysate except for scavenging activity on DPPH radical. The results of the present study highlight that the alcalase-catalyzed plastein reaction appears to be capable of improving antioxidant properties of soybean protein hydrolysate.     

Protein hydrolysate from salmon frame debittered by plastein reaction: amino acid composition,characteristics and antioxidant activities

Impacts of plastein reaction on bitterness, physicochemical and antioxidant properties of salmon frame hydrolysate with the aid of various proteases (alcalase and papain) at different concentrations and varying reaction temperatures were investigated. Plastein was produced from hydrolysate by papain at 40°C, which had 30% degree of hydrolysis (30DHP). Rearrangement of peptides in hydrolysate was performed by 1% papain at 40°C for 10 h, yielding plastein namely ‘30DHP-P1’. It showed the lowest bitterness (P < 0.05) than other plasteins and hydrolysates. Surface hydrophobicity was not related well with bitterness. Therefore, the size of peptides also determines the bitterness. 30DHP-P1 had augmented solubility; however, its antioxidant activities (DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and ferric reducing antioxidant power) were slightly lower (P < 0.05) than those of hydrolysates. Bitterness of hydrolysate was markedly debittered via plastein reaction under optimal condition. Plastein generally had lighter colour and still possessed antioxidant activity.     

Determination of 20 Free Amino Acids in Asparagus Tin by High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method after Pre-Column Derivatization

A novel method was studied for determination of 20 free amino acids in asparagus tin by high-performance liquid chromatography with pre-column derivatization. Derivatization of the samples was performed with 4-chloro-3,5-dinitrobenzotrifluoride (CNBF), and the SPE cartridge was used for purification and enrichment of the analytes. The derivatization conditions and the influence of elution composition on the separation were investigated. The reaction of amino acids with CNBF was completed in pH 9.0 borate buffer. The separation of amino acids was achieved at room temperature within 60 min by gradient elution mode with triethylamine in mobile phase, and the flow rate is 0.32 mL min⁻¹ constantly. The method correlation coefficient was from 0.9975 to 1.0000 in concentrations ranging from 20 to 2000 μmol L⁻¹, except asparagine (from 100 to 10000 μmol L⁻¹). The detection limits of amino acids were from 1.2 to 6.0 μmol L⁻¹, with a signal-to-noise ratio of three times. The calculated recoveries of the proposed method were from 81.4% to 109.4%, and relative standard deviations were 0.48–3.94% in application to the quantitative determination of free amino acids in asparagus tin samples. The present method is reliable and sensitive that allows fast analysis of free amino acids in asparagus tin, which makes it suitable for further study of free amino acids in other asparagus foods.