Specificity of Lipoprotein Chaperones for the Characteristic Lipidated Structural Motifs of their Cognate Lipoproteins

Lipoprotein‐binding chaperones mediate intracellular transport of lipidated proteins and determine their proper localisation and functioning. Understanding of the exact structural parameters that determine recognition and transport by different chaperones is of major interest. We have synthesised several lipid‐modified peptides, representative of different lipoprotein classes, and have investigated their binding to the relevant chaperones PDEδ, UNC119a, UNC119b, and galectins‐1 and ‐3. Our results demonstrate that PDEδ recognises S‐isoprenylated C‐terminal peptidic structures but not N‐myristoylated peptides. In contrast, UNC119 proteins bind only mono‐N‐myristoylated, but do not recognise doubly lipidated and S‐isoprenylated peptides at the C terminus. For galectins‐1 and ‐3, neither binding to N‐acylated, nor to C‐terminally prenylated peptides could be determined. These results shed light on the specificity of the chaperone‐mediated cellular lipoprotein transport systems.     

Valorisation of protein hydrolysates from animal by-products: perspectives on bitter taste and debittering methods: a review

Conversion of animal by-products to high value-added food ingredients is one of the top trends in the slaughter industry. Enzymatic hydrolysis of animal by-products can generate protein hydrolysates, which provides an opportunity for effective utilisation. However, bitterness of protein hydrolysate is a major undesirable aspect for various applications. In this review, the current knowledge on protein hydrolysates from animal by-products is briefly reviewed. The structural features of bitter peptides and bitter taste receptors are summarised. Moreover, the potential approaches for debittering protein hydrolysates are highlighted, including exopeptidase treatment, Maillard reaction, plastein reaction and encapsulation. In addition, the current debittering strategies and challenges are also discussed. This article presents some opportunities to utilise protein hydrolysates from animal by-products and their debittering methods.     

Bioactive peptides with antidiabetic properties: a review

Diabetes mellitus is a complex disorder characterised by insufficient insulin production or insulin resistance. Disease incidence is accumulating at a rapidly increasing rate, resulting in a considerable social, health and economic burden in the modern world. Bioactive peptides show significant potential for use in health management strategies, particularly as components of drugs and functional foods for diabetes treatment. Many antidiabetic bioactive peptides have been isolated and validated. The aim of this review was to update the state of knowledge of the origin, structural characteristics and action. Additionally, the potential mechanisms of bioactive peptides on key enzymes and proteins, such as α-amylase, α-glucosidase, glucagon-like peptides and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV, that participate in glycaemic level control from the intake of carbohydrates to blood glucose regulation were overviewed. This knowledge should facilitate research and industrial efforts to better understand and evaluate the potential of bioactive peptides with antidiabetic properties for blood glucose level management.     

Hydrogen Peroxide-Preconditioned Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Enhance the Recovery of Oligodendrocyte-Like Cells after Oxidative Stress-Induced Damage

Oxidative stress associated with neuroinflammation is a key process involved in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, and therefore, has been proposed as a crucial target for new therapies. Recently, the therapeutic potential of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) has been investigated as a novel strategy for neuroprotection. These cells can be preconditioned by exposing them to mild stress in order to improve their response to oxidative stress. In this study, we evaluate the therapeutic potential of hASCs preconditioned with low doses of H₂O₂ (called HC016 cells) to overcome the deleterious effect of oxidative stress in an in vitro model of oligodendrocyte-like cells (HOGd), through two strategies: i, the culture of oxidized HOGd with HC016 cell-conditioned medium (CM), and ii, the indirect co-culture of oxidized HOGd with HC016 cells, which had or had not been exposed to oxidative stress. The results demonstrated that both strategies had reparative effects, oxidized HC016 cell co-culture being the one associated with the greatest recovery of the damaged HOGd, increasing their viability, reducing their intracellular reactive oxygen species levels and promoting their antioxidant capacity. Taken together, these findings support the view that HC016 cells, given their reparative capacity, might be considered an important breakthrough in cell-based therapies.     

Antimicrobial and Amyloidogenic Activity of Peptides. Can Antimicrobial Peptides Be Used against SARS-CoV-2?

At present, much attention is paid to the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) of natural and artificial origin to combat pathogens. AMPs have several points that determine their biological activity. We analyzed the structural properties of AMPs, as well as described their mechanism of action and impact on pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Recently published data on the development of new AMP drugs based on a combination of molecular design and genetic engineering approaches are presented. In this article, we have focused on information on the amyloidogenic properties of AMP. This review examines AMP development strategies from the perspective of the current high prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and the potential prospects and challenges of using AMPs against infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).