Novel immunomodulatory peptides from hydrolysates of the Rana spinosa (Quasipaa spinosa) meat and their immunomodulatory activity mechanism

Yan Zeng; Hongyi Cheng; Ruimin Zhong; Wanying Zhong; Rongquan Zheng; Jianyin Miao

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142024

Novel immunomodulatory peptides from hydrolysates of the Rana spinosa (Quasipaa spinosa) meat and their immunomodulatory activity mechanism

Food Chem. 2024 Nov 14;465(Pt 2):142024. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142024. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yan Zeng¹, Hongyi Cheng², Ruimin Zhong³, Wanying Zhong¹, Rongquan Zheng⁴, Jianyin Miao⁵

Affiliations

¹ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
² Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Wildlife Biotechnology and Conservation and Utilization, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, China.
³ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation of Food and Medicinal Resources in Northern Region, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, China.
⁴ Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Wildlife Biotechnology and Conservation and Utilization, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, China.. Electronic address: zhengrq@zjnu.cn.
⁵ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. Electronic address: miaojy8181@scau.edu.cn.

PMID: 39561595
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142024

Abstract

In this study, hydrolysates of Rana spinosa meat were purified and characterized, and combined with molecular docking to screen potential immunomodulatory peptides and explore their activities and mechanisms of action. The results showed that 582 peptides were identified from the hydrolysates, and three novel immunomodulatory peptides, GIHETTYNS (1020.4512 Da), IADRMQKE (989.4964 Da), and IVRDIKEK (999.6077 Da), were obtained by molecular docking. These peptides significantly increased the proliferative activity of RAW264.7 cells and accelerated its cell cycle proceeding, promoted the production of NO, IL-6, and TNF-α, and enhanced ROS levels. The molecular docking analysis revealed that immunomodulatory peptides bound to the key regions of TLR4/MD-2 by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions, and the common sites of action were LYS A:458, ARG A:434, and ARG D: 90. Furthermore, these immunomodulatory peptides had favorable safety and stability properties in silico analysis. These novel peptides are expected to be new natural materials for immunomodulators.

Keywords: Active peptides; Immunomodulation; Molecular docking; Purification and identification; RAW264.7 cells; Rana spinosa.