Validation of a tRNA-Glu-cytochrome b key for the molecular identification of 12 hake species (Merluccius spp.) and Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) using PCR-RFLPs, FINS, and BLAST

The goal of this study was to develop a diagnostic key for hake meat to solve the limitations of previous identification methodologies, mainly related to the high degradation of the DNA recovered from processed foods. We describe the development of two molecular tools based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the cytochrome b gene, respectively, to identify DNA from 12 hake species in commercial products. The first assay is an exclusion test consisting of the PCR amplification of a 122 bp fragment using nested primers interspecifically conserved in Merluccius spp. and in Gadus morhua. This 122 bp amplicon, being the shortest one so far designed for hake DNA, is a useful traceability tool for highly degraded samples because its sequence contains enough interspecific diagnostic variation to identify 10 hake species and cod and has been successfully amplified from most commercial products so far tested. The second identification key follows a positive outcome of the exclusion test and consists of the PCR amplification of a 464-465 bp fragment and its digestion with three restriction enzymes whose targets map at interspecifically nonconserved sites of the cytochrome b. The key presented here has passed through a rigorous methodological calibration including its testing for genus specificity, its validation on a large number of authenticated sample types from each species range, and its implementation with a maximum likelihood method for the assignment of unknown samples. Together, these two procedures constitute the most complete molecular key so far developed for Merluccius spp., which is optimal for routine identification of hakes in large commercial samples at a reasonable cost-time ratio.     

Novel preparation method of template DNAs from wine for PCR to differentiate grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivar

Template DNAs were extracted from wine and purified for use as samples for PCR to differentiate grape cultivars. It has been pointed out that the authentication of grape material by PCR using wine as a material is very difficult. The problems are (1) decomposition of DNAs during fermentation; (2) contamination of DNAs from microorganisms such as yeast; (3) interference of DNA extraction by polysaccharides and polypeptides in the beverages; and (4) coexistence of PCR inhibitors, such as polyphenols. For this study was developed a novel preparation method of template DNA from wine to differentiate grape cultivars using PCR by (1) lyophilizing and pulverizing the fermented beverage to concentrate the DNAs; (2) decomposition of polysaccharides and proteins so as not to inhibit DNA extraction using heat-resistant amylase and proteinase K without DNA damage by endogenous DNase; and (3) separation of the template DNAs for PCR from PCR inhibitors, such as polyphenols, by purification using 70% EtOH extraction and isopropyl alcohol precipitation. To prevent the amplification of microorganisms' DNAs during PCR, suitable PCR primers closely related to the specific plant DNAs, such as chloroplast DNA and mitochondrial DNA, were selected. The sequences of the amplified DNAs by PCR were ascertained to be the same as those of grape materials.     

ITS1-rDNA-based methodology to identify world-wide hake species of the Genus Merluccius

Species-specific DNA-based tags are valuable tools for the management of both fisheries and commercial fish products. In this study, we have developed a two-step molecular tool to detect the presence of hake DNA (Merluccius spp.) and to identify the exact hake species present in an blind sample. The first test involves PCR amplification of an ITS1-rDNA fragment of 193 bp using nested primers that are interspecifically conserved in Merluccius spp. and Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua. The second test consists of the PCR amplification of a 602-659 bp DNA fragment spanning part of the ribosomal cluster 18S-ITS1-5.8S and digesting it with four restriction enzymes whose targets map at interspecifically nonconserved sites of the ITS1. Alternatively, the identification of hake species can be achieved by FINS or BLAST, using the nucleotide sequence of either the whole ITS1 sequence or its nested fragment of 193 bp. Because of their high reproducibility and ease of execution, these procedures allow for routine analysis and constitute high reliable tools for the rapid identification of 12 species of hake.     

Identification of gadoid species in fish meat by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on genomic DNA

Identification of fish species is significant due to the increasing interest of consumers in the meat of sea fish. Methods focusing on fish species identification help to reveal fraudulent substitution among economically important gadoid species in commercial seafood products. The objective of this work was to develop a conventional PCR method for the differentiation of the following gadoid fish species in fish products: Alaska pollack ( Theragra chalcogramma), blue whiting ( Micromesistius poutassou), hake spp. ( Merluccius spp.), Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua), saithe ( Pollachius virens), and whiting ( Merlangius merlangus). The species-specific primer pairs for gadoid species determination were based on the partial pantophysin I ( PanI) genomic sequence. Sequence identification was confirmed by cloning and sequencing of the PCR products obtained from the species considered. For the simultaneous detection of Alaska pollack, blue whiting, and hake spp., a quadruplex PCR system was constructed. Other gadoid species were detected in separate PCR reactions. After optimization of the reactions, the developed PCR systems were used for the analysis of codfish samples obtained from the Czech market and the customs' laboratories. This method represents an alternative approach in the use of genomic DNA for the identification of fish species. This method is rapid, simple, and reliable without the need for further confirmative methods. Furthermore, the identification of a mixture of more than one species is possible. The PCR system has been optimized for routine diagnostic purposes.     

Identification of Hake species (Merluccius Genus) using sequencing and PCR-RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences.

The use of DNA-based methodologies in identification of hake species belonging to the Merluccius genus was shown to be successful. A short fragment of the left hypervariable domain of the mitochondrial control region was amplified, sequenced, and digested from 11 hake species. The hake-specific PCR product, due to its limited size, was obtained in a variety of tissue samples with different levels of DNA concentration and degradation, including sterilized food products. On the basis of this phylogenetically informative 156-bp sequence were selected four restriction enzymes (ApoI, DdeI, DraIII, and MboII) that allow the hake species discrimination. Species identification by phylogenetic analysis of sequences or by PCR-RFLP methodologies is useful in a variety of scenarios including authentication of thermally processed food, detection of food components, and species determination of individuals whose morphological characters are removed.     

稻米深加工产品基因组提取方法及其对PCR的影响

以4种米粉为原料,每个样品做3个梯度(120、800和2000mg),采用改进的经典酚/仿法、CTAB(十六烷基三乙基溴化铵)沉淀法以及盐酸胍/氯仿法提取基因组,经PCR扩增内标基因(SPS)检测方法的优劣。结果显示,120mg的样品经3种方法提取的基因组均不能扩增出内标基因;800和2000mg的样品只有用CTAB沉淀法提取的基因组(采用相同的模板量)能全部扩增出内标基因。结果表明,CTAB沉淀法提取基因组的效果最好,对PCR的抑制现象最少。     

猪粪和土壤样品中微生物DNA提取方法的比较

猪粪施于土壤可能会对土壤微生物多样性造成影响,为选用同一种DNA提取方法用于土壤和猪粪微生物DNA的提取,该文采用了化学裂解法和试剂盒法同时从土壤和猪粪样品中提取微生物DNA,并对这两种方法的提取DNA的效果进行了比较。结果表明,试剂盒法不能用于提取土壤中的微生物DNA;可以从猪粪中提取到DNA,PCR扩增能得到目的产物,但重复性不高。化学裂解法提取的土壤微生物DNA浓度高但纯度低,纯化后纯度增加,但DNA有所损失,用于PCR扩增时结果不理想;处理猪粪样品,提取的DNA浓度较低但纯度较高,PCR扩增结果比较理想。由此可见,化学裂解法用来提取猪粪样品中的微生物DNA是可行的,但需寻求更好的土壤样品微生物DNA的提取方法。     

Cultivar identification of rice (Oryza sativa L.) by polymerase chain reaction method and its application to processed rice products

As the cultivars of rice markedly affect eating quality, processing suitability, and price, identification or differentiation of rice cultivar is very important. We developed suitable 14 STS (sequence-tagged site) primers for PCR (polymerase chain reaction), and it became possible to differentiate 60 Japanese dominant rice cultivars from each other using template DNA extracted and purified from rice grains. A multiplex primer set was shown to be useful to effectively differentiate rice cultivars produced in various countries by PCR. A novel multiplex primer set for PCR has been developed to differentiate KoshihikariBL, which is closely related with the premium cultivar, Koshihikari, in Japan. The application of the cultivar identification method by PCR method to commercially processed rice products was investigated. We developed an enzyme treatment method, in which the gelatinized starch is decomposed by the heat-stable alpha-amylase at 80 degrees C, followed by the hydrolysis of proteins by proteinase K with sodium dodecyl sulfate and purification of extracted DNAs by phenol/chloroform/iso-amyl alcohol. It became possible to identify the material rice cultivars of the commercially processed rice products, such as cooked rice, rice cake, or rice cracker, by a PCR method using template DNA prepared by the enzyme treatment method and novel multiplex primer sets.     

Investigations into inhibitor type and mode, simulated gastrointestinal digestion, and cell transport of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme-inhibitory peptides in Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) fillet hydrolysate

Fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) produced by incubation of Pacific hake fillet with 3.00% Protamex at pH 6.5 and 40 degrees C for 125 min demonstrated in vitro ACE-inhibitory activity (IC50 = 165 microg/mL), which was enhanced by ultrafiltration through a 10 kDa molecular weight cutoff membrane (IC50 = 44 microg/mL). However, after simulated gastrointestinal digestion, FPH and ultrafiltrate had similar ACE-inhibitory activity (IC 50 = 90 microg/mL), indicating that FPH peptides act as "pro-drug type" inhibitors and that enrichment by ultrafiltration may be unnecessary. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry confirmed that the molecular weights of major peaks were <1 kDa regardless of ultrafiltration. ACE-inhibitory activities of digested hydrolysates were not significantly affected by preincubation with ACE ( P > 0.05) and exhibited a competitive inhibitory mode. A permeability assay using fully differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells showed an apical to basolateral transport of peptides that ranged from approximately 2 to 20% after 2 h at 37 degrees C. Pacific hake fillet hydrolysates are a potentially bioavailable source of ACE-inhibitory peptides awaiting further in vivo study.     

An improved method for purifying genomic DNA from forest leaf litters and soil suitable for PCR

Background, aim and scope  An improving knowledge of bacterial community within natural environments including forest soils and leaf litters requires extraction of nucleic acids directly from environmental samples since molecular approaches provide less biased access to a larger portion of uncultivable microorganisms. However, when DNA was extracted successfully from these samples, it might still have been difficult to apply it as a template for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifications due to the effect of PCR inhibitors. Various compounds from plant tissues including polysaccharides, phenolic compounds and especially humic acids can inhibit PCR amplification. Some of these inhibitors could inhibit PCR amplification by chelating the Mg²⁺ (cofactor for Taq polymerase), or by binding to target DNA, and PCR amplification would consequently be interfered with. Therefore, eliminating the effects of these PCR inhibitors is one of the most important steps for PCR-based molecular techniques. Four different methods were assessed in this study to purify the genomic DNA extracted from F, L layer leaf litters and forest soil in an exotic pine plantation of southeast Queensland, Australia. Materials and methods  Three samples including two leaf litters and one forest soil were collected with a core (25 × 40 cm) from a 22-year-old slash pine plantation in southeast Queensland, Australia. The DNA fragments were extracted directly using the Ultra Clean™ Mega Prep Soil DNA kit (Mo Bio Labs, Solana Beach, CA). Then, four different purification methods were applied and compared to purify the DNA for PCR amplification, which include PVPP, Sephadex ^TM spin column, low-melting agarose gel and a new modified gel purification method. The purified DNA from these four purification methods was detected by agarose gel electrophoresis, and the purity and usefulness of DNA samples were ultimately determined by successful PCR amplifications. Results and discussion  The DNA was extracted from each sample using the Ultra Clean™ Mega Prep Soil DNA kit, and the DNA eluents were dark in colour and sometimes formed compact aggregates. Subsequently, PCR amplification from such samples failed, although a series of dilutions had been made from neat to 1:10³. The DNA purification step could not, therefore, be avoided. It was observed that both the colour of eluent and the DNA concentration decreased gradually after elution. Considering the difficulties of removing PCR inhibitors and the possibility of high DNA losses, 50–200 μl of sample DNA was used for purification. Four DNA purification methods (the PVPP spin column, Sephadex™ spin column, low-melting agarose gel and the modified gel purification method) were applied and compared on leaf litter and soil samples. The DNA purified by the modified gel purification method provided the best PCR products for 16S rRNA gene amplification, but the other methods, PVPP, Sephadex™ spin column and low-melting agarose gel, produced very weak or no products. Thus, in this study, DNA fragments which were purified by the modified gel purification method were amplified efficiently. This may be attributed to running the low-melting agrose gel for a longer time, which could remove substantial humic substances and also some other compounds from the samples and, thus, prevent them from being involved in PCR amplification. Conclusions  A new modified gel purification method which can improve DNA purification and PCR amplification of environmental DNA is first introduced in this study. Comparing PVPP, Sephadex ™ spin column, low-melting agarose gel and modified gel purification method for the effect of DNA purification, the modified gel purification method is more successful in removing the PCR amplification inhibitors and obtaining the highly purified PCR amplifiable high-molecular-weight DNA. The method described here is cheap, fast and easy to operate. It suggests in this study that the method containing less and easier following steps should be widely used to relieve the heavy working load of molecular-biological researchers. Recommendations and perspectives  This study introduces a new modified DNA purification method, and it is found that this modified gel purification method is effective in removing the PCR inhibitors and obtains highly purified DNA from leaf litters for PCR amplification. The modified gel purification method may have wider applications, although it was only assessed on leaf litter and soil samples. The effect of the modified gel purification method on the DNA purification would need to be further investigated on a variety of samples which suffered from PCR inhibitors, such as clinical samples, plant tissues and environmental samples.     

稻米深加工产品基因组提取方法的研究及其对PCR的影响

本实验以四种米粉为原料，每个样品做三个梯度：120mg, 800mg, 2000mg，采用改进的经典酚/仿法、CTAB沉淀法以及盐酸胍/氯仿法提取基因组，并通过聚合酶链式反应(PCR)通过扩增内标基因(SPS)来检测提取方法的优劣。结果显示：120mg的样品经三种方法提取的基因组均不能扩增出内标基因；800mg的样品和2000mg的样品只有用CTAB沉淀法提取的基因组(采用相同的膜板量)能全部扩增出内标基因。结论：CTAB沉淀法提取基因组的效果最好，对PCR的抑制现象最少。     

Differential detection of shrimp and crab for food labeling using polymerase chain reaction

Shrimp and crab are well-known as allergenic ingredients. According to Japanese food allergy labeling regulations, shrimp species (including prawns, crayfishes, and lobsters) and crab species must be differentially declared when ≥10 ppm (total protein) of an allergenic ingredient is present. However, the commercial ELISA tests for the detection of crustacean proteins cannot differentiate between shrimp and crab. Therefore, two methods were developed to discriminate shrimp and crab: a shrimp-PCR method with postamplification digestion and a crab-PCR method that specifically amplifies a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene. The sensitivity and specificity of both PCR methods were verified by experiments using DNA extracted from 15 shrimp species, 13 crab species, krill, mysid, mantis shrimp, other food samples (cephalopod, shellfish, and fish), incurred foods, and commercial food products. Both PCR methods could detect 5 pg of DNA extracted from target species and 50 ng of genomic DNA extracted from incurred foods containing 10 ppm (μg/g) total protein of shrimp or crab. The two PCR methods were considered to be specific enough to separately detect species belonging to shrimp and crab. Although false-positive and false-negative results were obtained from some nontarget crustacean species, the proposed PCR methods, when used in conjunction with ELISA tests, would be a useful tool for confirmation of the validity of food allergy labeling and management of processed food safety for allergic patients.     

Toward metrological traceability for DNA fragment ratios in GM quantification. 3. Suitability of DNA calibrants studied with a MON 810 corn model

The quantification of GMOs by real-time PCR relies on an external calibrant. In this paper the suitability of two DNA calibrants, genomic DNA from plant leaves and plasmidic DNA, was investigated. The PCR efficiencies, the correlation coefficients of the calibration curves, and the ratios between PCR efficiencies of transgenic and endogenous sequences were compared for both calibrants using 59 data sets produced by 43 laboratories. There were no significant differences between plasmidic and genomic DNA except for the PCR efficiencies of the calibration curves for the transgene of the construct-specific real-time PCR method. In the GM system investigated, PCR efficiencies of plasmidic calibrants were slightly closer to the PCR efficiencies observed for the unknowns than those of the genomic DNA calibrant. Therefore, plasmidic DNA was the more suitable calibrant for the PCR measurements on genomic DNA extracted from MON 810 seeds. It is shown that plasmidic DNA is an appropriate choice for the calibration of measurements of MON 810 corn with respect to the DNA copy number ratio.     

Qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis for genetically modified maize MON863

Qualitative and quantitative analytical methods were developed for the new event of genetically modified (GM) maize, MON863. One specific primer pair was designed for the qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The specificity and sensitivity of the designed primers were confirmed. PCR was performed on genomic DNAs extracted from MON863, other GM events, and cereal crops. Single PCR product was obtained from MON863 by the designed primer pair. Eight test samples including GM maize MON863 were prepared at 0.01 approximately 10% levels and analyzed by PCR. Limit of detection of the method was 0.01% for GM maize MON863. On the other hand, another specific primer pair and probe were also designed for quantitative method using a real-time polymerase chain reaction. As a reference molecule, a plasmid was constructed from a taxon-specific DNA sequence for maize, a universal sequence for a cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter used in most genetically modified organisms, and a construct-specific DNA sequence for the MON863 event. Six test samples of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0 and 10.0% of GM maize MON863 were quantitated for the validation of this method. At the 3.0% level, the bias (mean vs true value) for MON863 was 3.0%, and its relative standard deviation was 5.5%. Limit of quantitation of the method was 0.5%. These results show that the developed PCR methods can be used to qualitatively and quantitatively detect GM maize MON863.     

Sensitive PCR analysis of animal tissue samples for fragments of endogenous and transgenic plant DNA

An optimized DNA extraction protocol for animal tissues coupled with sensitive PCR methods was used to determine whether trace levels of feed-derived DNA fragments, plant and/or transgenic, are detectable in animal tissue samples including dairy milk and samples of muscle (meat) from chickens, swine, and beef steers. Assays were developed to detect DNA fragments of both the high copy number chloroplast-encoded maize rubisco gene (rbcL) and single copy nuclear-encoded transgenic elements (p35S and a MON 810-specific gene fragment). The specificities of the two rbcL PCR assays and two transgenic DNA PCR assays were established by testing against a range of conventional plant species and genetically modified maize crops. The sensitivities of the two rbcL PCR assays (resulting in 173 and 500 bp amplicons) were similar, detecting as little as 0.08 and 0.02 genomic equivalents, respectively. The sensitivities of the p35S and MON 810 PCR assays were approximately 5 and 10 genomic equivalents for 123 bp and 149 bp amplicons, respectively, which were considerably less than the sensitivity of the rbcL assays in terms of plant cell equivalents, but approximately similar when the higher numbers of copies of the chloroplast genome per cell are taken into account. The 173 bp rbcL assay detected the target plant chloroplast DNA fragment in 5%, 15%, and 53% of the muscle samples from beef steers, broiler chickens, and swine, respectively, and in 86% of the milk samples from dairy cows. Reanalysis of new aliquots of 31 of the pork samples that were positive in the 173 bp rbcL PCR showed that 58% of these samples were reproducibly positive in this same PCR assay. The 500 bp rbcL assay detected DNA fragments in 43% of the swine muscle samples and 79% of the milk samples. By comparison, no statistically significant detections of transgenic DNA fragments by the p35S PCR assay occurred with any of these animal tissue samples.     

PCR Amplification of Wheat Sequences from DNA Extracted During Milling and Baking

DNA‐based analyses are highly sensitive and specific. Because processing steps can have profound effects on the proteins and DNA present in foods, this project examined the effects of breadmaking on wheat DNA size and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based detection of sequences. DNA was extracted from wheat kernels, milling fractions, and flour, and from samples taken at various steps during and after the baking process. Kernels contained primarily high molecular weight DNA (>12,000 base pairs [bp]), whereas flour DNA exhibited a broad range of molecular weights from >12,000 bp to <300 bp. A marked reduction in DNA yield and size occurred after the first 5 min of baking. PCR successfully amplified products of both high and low copy number genes, even from DNA extracted from bread loaves five days after baking. However, successful amplification required that the maximum product size be no more than the average molecular weight of the DNA recovered from the source. The data also demonstrate that PCR can be used to detect the presence of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), a minor ingredient.     

Cloning of Heart-type Fatty Acid-binding Protein (H-FABP ) Gene of Swine and Difference of Its Expression at Different Stages

从1, 30, 50, 70和90 kg左右的杜长大猪肌肉组织中提取基因组RNA，用RT-PCR扩增猪心型脂肪酸结合蛋白(H-FABP）基因，获得1条211 bp的片段，以pGEM-T 为载体，将该基因片段克隆到大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli ) DH5α中。从筛选到的阳性克隆中分离出脂肪酸结合蛋白基因，测定其序列。分析表明,该片段为脂肪酸结合蛋白基因cDNA的部分序列，与已报道的猪肌肉组织中的H-FABP cDNA部分序列同源性达到99%。以H-FABP基因片段的克隆为基础，构建了优化的半定量RT-PCR法，以18S rRNA为内标，研究不同生长阶段猪肌肉组织中H-FABP基因表达的差异。结果表明，从出生到50 kg，猪H-FABP基因表达呈下降趋势；50～90 kg阶段, H-FABP基因的表达又有所上升。     

New method of DNA isolation from two food additives suitable for authentication in polymerase chain reaction assays

Locust bean gum and guar gum are galactomannans used as additives (E 410 and E 412, respectively) in the food industry as stabilizing agents. Analytical discrimination between the two additives in gums and foods is now feasible by molecular techniques. However, only complex and time-consuming DNA isolation protocols are available to date. We have developed simple improved protocols to obtain enough DNA suitable for PCR amplification from a few milligrams of commercial E 410 and E 412 additives (containing more than 75% polysaccharides). The suspension of additives in water or 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.5, efficiently recovers DNA suitable for authentication in PCR assays. However, the Tris method was much more efficient for the extraction of DNA from E 410 than for E 412 additives. Conversely, the water method was the most suitable for detecting DNA extracted from E 412 or from E 410/E 412 mixtures. Combined with the use of the two specific ribosomal primer pairs previously designed, our methods are well-suited for a fast and simple high-throughput sample treatment of commercial gums for molecular certification.     

紫色水稻土水稳性团聚体土壤微生物基因组DNA提取方法探讨

为了找到提取土壤微生物总DNA的最佳方法,通过OD值检验、凝胶电泳、PCR和DGGE分析,比较了Reddy法、基于DNAout kit试剂盒改进的实验方法、以及Kuske修订法、Edgcomb改进法、SDS高盐提取法、Eichner调整法等常用的不同土壤微生物基因组的DNA提取方法在亚热带地区长期免耕紫色水稻土水稳性团聚体0.25～2.0 mm粒径上的提取效果.结果表明,6种方法都可以从团聚体中提取到长度大于23.1 kb的DNA片段,但不同方法提取的DNA的产量存在明显差异,土壤总DNA均不需纯化就可以用于PCR扩增,使用细菌16S rDNA基因V3区的通用引物可扩增得到相应的片段.研究表明,改进的DNAout kit试剂盒法是长期免耕紫色水稻土水稳性团聚体中微生物基因组DNA的最佳提取方法.     

Optimizing angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity of Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) fillet hydrolysate using response surface methodology and ultrafiltration

The in vitro angiotensin I-converting enyzme (ACE) inhibitory activity of Pacific hake hydrolysates was investigated as a function of hydrolysis conditions, starting material variability, and ultrafiltration. Hake fillets were hydrolyzed using Protamex protease under various conditions of pH, hydrolysis time, and enzyme-to-substrate ratio (% E/S) according to a response surface methodology (RSM) central composite design. The hydrolysate produced at pH 6.5, 125 min, and 3.0% E/S had an IC 50 of 165 +/- 9 microg of total solids/mL. ACE-inhibitory activity was not significantly different (P < 0.05) for hydrolysates produced using higher time-enzyme combinations within the model or from fish of different catches. Ultrafiltration (10 kDa molecular mass cutoff) resulted in an IC50 value of 44 +/- 7 microg of peptides/mL, 2.5 times more potent than the commercial product PeptACE Peptides (IC50 = 114 +/- 8 microg of peptides/mL). These results suggest that hydrolysates prepared with minimal fractionation from Pacific hake, an undervalued fish, may be a commercially competitive source of ACE-inhibitory peptides.