In vitro digestibility of the cancer-preventive soy peptides lunasin and BBI

Lunasin and BBI (Bowman Birk protease inhibitor) are bioactive soy peptides that have been shown to be effective suppressors of carcinogenesis in in vitro and in vivo model systems. Since they are subject to digestion in the gastrointestinal tract, we investigated here the stabilities of lunasin and BBI to digestion in vitro by simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) and simulated gastric fluid (SGF). Samples containing lunasin and BBI of varying purities were subjected to in vitro digestion by SIF and SGF at different times and analyzed by Western blot. While the pure BBI reaction is stable after SIF and SGF digestions, the purified lunasin from soybean and synthetic lunasin are easily digested after 2 min in both in vitro digestions. In contrast, lunasin from soy protein containing BBI is comparatively stable after SIF and SGF digestions. Both lunasin and BBI are able to internalize into the cell and localize in the nucleus even after digestion, suggesting that some of the peptides are intact and bioactive. These data suggest that BBI plays a role in protecting lunasin from digestion when soy protein is consumed orally. The role of other soy protease inhibitors such as Kunitz Trypsin Inhibitor (KTI) cannot be excluded from these experiments.     

模糊评判优化水酶法提取膨化大豆油脂和蛋白

针对水酶法同时提取大豆油与蛋白时,两种目标对工艺参数的优化有差别,因此应用模糊综合评判法对工艺参数进行双目标综合优化,得到同时兼顾高油脂提取率与高蛋白提取率的酶解工艺参数。其结果为：加酶量1.85%,酶解温度50℃,酶解时间3.6 h,料液比1︰6,pH值为9。此时,油脂提取率为92.76%左右,蛋白提取率为93.81%左右。利用扫描电子显微镜、能谱分析以及显微切片分别就蛋白水解状态对油脂释放影响机理进行了研究。通过研究可知,挤压膨化再粉碎后的大豆粉水解过程中油脂的释放取决于蛋白水解状态,经过挤压膨化后大豆细胞结构已经被较充分破坏,而大豆油脂与蛋白的作用没有被完全破坏,所以需要把蛋白充分水解才能使油脂释放聚集,因此挤压膨化后水酶法可以兼顾得到高油脂提取率和高蛋白提取率。     

Bowman-Birk and Kunitz Protease Inhibitors among Antinutrients and Bioactives Modified by Germination and Hydrolysis in Brazilian Soybean Cultivar BRS 133

Soybean contains constituents that have antinutritional and bioactive properties. Enzymatic hydrolysis and germination can enhance the biological activity of these compounds in soybean. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of germination, Alcalase (protease) hydrolysis, and their combination on the concentrations of antinutritional and bioactive compounds in Brazilian soybean cultivar BRS 133. A combination of germination and Alcalase hydrolysis resulted in the degradation of Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI), Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI), and lunasin by 96.9, 97.8, and 38.4%. Lectin was not affected by any of the processing treatments when compared to nongerminated and nonhydrolyzed soy protein extract. Total isoflavones (ISF) and total saponins (SAP) increased by 16.2 and 28.7%, respectively, after 18 h of germination, while Alcalase hydrolysis led to the reduction of these compounds. A significant correlation was found between concentrations of BBI and KTI, BBI and lunasin, BBI and ISF, KTI and lunasin, KTI and ISF, KTI and SAP, lunasin and ISF, and ISF and SAP. Germination and Alcalase hydrolysis interacted in reducing BBI, ISF, and SAP. This study presents a process of preparing soy flour ingredients with lower concentrations of antinutritional factors and with biologically active constituents, important for the promotion of health associated with soybean consumption. In conclusion, 18 h of germination and 3 h of Alcalase hydrolysis is recommended for elimination of protease inhibitors, while bioactives are maintained by at least 50% of their original concentrations.     

Contents and bioactivities of lunasin, bowman-birk inhibitor, and isoflavones in soybean seed

It has been previously demonstrated that lunasin is a novel and promising cancer preventive peptide from soybean. The Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor (BBI) and isoflavones are well-studied substances from soy. This study evaluated the levels and bioactivities of these three compounds as affected by stages of seed development and sprouting under light and dark conditions. BBI and lunasin appear at 7 and 6 weeks, respectively, after flowering and increase as the seed matures. Daidzein and genistein both decrease during seed maturation. During sprouting under light, BBI increases up to the 6th day and decreases thereafter, disappearing at the 9th day after soaking. Under dark conditions, BBI increases up to the 7th day after soaking and decreases thereafter, disappearing at the 10th day. Lunasin starts to decrease at 2 days after soaking and disappears completely at 7 days under light and dark conditions. Daidzein and genistein increase continuously during the 10 days of soaking, and both increase more in the dark than under light conditions. Protein extracts from early seed development (2-5 weeks after flowering) suppress cell viability to a greater degree than those from later stages (6-9 weeks). Inhibition of foci formation by protein extracts from later stages is greater than those from earlier stages. Lunasin and BBI suppress foci formation more than the isoflavones. Sprouting decreases lunasin and BBI contents but increases isoflavones. Protein extracts from early soaking times inhibit foci formation more and suppress cell viability less than those from later soaking times. Light and dark conditions have no influence on the bioactivities of protein extracts. These data are useful in the preparation of soy fractions enriched in lunasin, BBI, and isoflavones and in making dietary recommendations.     

酶解法制备豆粕水解肽工艺优化

为制备苦味低且生物活性高的豆粕水解肽,本试验在综合考虑水解酶酶切位点后选取7种酶组合对低温豆粕进行水解,以蛋白质转化率、水解度、分子量分布及智能感官评价等作为水解肽的评价指标,比较不同酶组合的作用效果。结果表明,优化得到豆粕水解肽的最佳酶法制备工艺条件:复合酶的最佳组合为碱性蛋白酶+中性蛋白酶+脱苦蛋白酶,酶解pH值依次为8.5、7.5、7.5,反应温度保持55℃,反应时间分别为3、2、2 h,经最佳酶组合制得的水解肽水解度为16%,分子量≤1 000 Da的水解肽可达89.8%,制备的水解肽理化性质及口感更优。本研究结果为豆粕资源开发及功能性肽产品的应用奠定了理论基础。     

Amino-N compounds found in soil organic matter hydrolysates of a loamy sand using an immobilized protease reactor column

Summary Soil organic matter (OM) from seven different fertility plots of a loamy sand was extracted and fractionated into high- and low-molecular-weight (HMW, LMW) fractions using gel filtration. The fractions were acid-hydrolyzed to determine the amino sugar and amino acid contents. The same fractions were hydrolyzed with an immobilized protease reactor column. Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to identify the soil amino-N compounds. With the HMW fraction as substrate, the enzyme released less than 1% of 11 amino-N compounds determined by acid hydrolysis. Phenylalanine and leucine, however, were recovered in quantities of 2% and 4%, respectively. Immobilized protease hydrolysis of the LMW fraction recovered considerably more amino-N compounds compared with acid hydrolysis of the same fractions. Each system of hydrolysis produced some amino-N compounds not found in the other. We conclude that an immobilized enzyme reactor column will allow a researcher to perform time-course hydrolysis, so that hydrolysis intermediates, e.g. peptides, can be separated and identified.     

粗酶水解全脂豆粉提取油脂和蛋白

水酶法提取大豆油和蛋白是一项可替代溶剂浸提制油工艺的绿色环保技术,但是商品酶的价格较高且酶活易受外界环境影响,使水酶法制油技术的应用受到限制。该试验在优化过的培养基中接种枯草芽孢杆菌发酵培养42 h,所得发酵液经测定含有碱性和中性两种蛋白酶,所得粗酶经透析浓缩后,在碱性蛋白酶活为(2?000±200) U/mL,中性蛋白酶活为(1?500±200) U/mL时,在酶液中接入挤压膨化豆粉水解。通过对酶解条件的优化,试验证实在温度55℃,料液比1∶8 g/mL,起始pH值为10的条件下水解6 h,总油提取率有最大值,达到了94.2%,总蛋白提取率为90.1%,跟商品Alcalase碱性蛋白酶提取相比,总油提取率增加了1.9%,总蛋白提取率降低了2%。通过对粗酶和商品Alcalase酶水解豆粉过程产生的乳状液破乳后油的品质分析,发现二者所得油的性能指标没有明显区别,品质均优于浸提法制油,粗酶提取的水解蛋白比用Alcalase碱性蛋白酶水解的分子量更小,范围分布更广。     

Enzyme-assisted extraction of moniliformin from extruded corn grits

Water has been known to be the ideal solvent for moniliformin but is not suitable to extract this toxin from cooked matrices due to instant swelling upon addition of the solvent. In this study, an improved method to extract moniliformin from extruded corn grits using alpha-amylase was developed. In an effort to optimize the method, the efficacy of using a protease was also studied. Treatment with alpha-amylase resulted in a clear solution with decreased suspended solid content as measured by transmittance (%T), which improved from 0 to 96% in 10 min. The detected level of moniliformin from extruded corn grits was increased to 4.02 mug/g when extracted with 1% tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate following alpha-amylase treatment compared to 2.56 microg/g when it was extracted with 90% acetonitrile without enzyme treatment. The average recovery of moniliformin from extruded corn grits was 96% when alpha-amylase was used in the extraction procedure. Overall, the amounts of moniliformin detected in extruded corn grits increased significantly by using enzyme hydrolysis. Chromatographic separation was also benefited by lesser interference and improved peaks.     

beta-Conglycinins among sources of bioactives in hydrolysates of different soybean varieties that inhibit leukemia cells in vitro

Soybean is a complex matrix containing several potentially bioactive components. The objective was to develop a statistical model to predict the in vitro anticancer potential of soybean varieties based on the correlation between protein composition and bioactive components after simulated gastrointestinal enzyme digestion with their effect on leukemia mouse cells. The IC 50 values of the hydrolysates of soy genotypes (NB1-NB7) on L1210 leukemia cells ranged from 3.5 to 6.2 mg/mL. Depending on genotype, each gram of soy hydrolysates contained 2.7-6.6 micromol of total daidzein, 3.0-4.7 micromol of total genistein, 0.5-1.3 micromol of glycitein, 2.1-2.8 micromol of total saponins, 0.1-0.2 micromol of lunasin, and 0.1-0.6 micromol of Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI). The IC 50 values calculated from a partial least-squares (PLS) analysis model correlated well with experimental data ( R (2) = 0.99). Isoflavones and beta-conglycinin positively contributed to the cytotoxicity of soy on L1210 leukemia cells. Lunasin and BBI were potent L1210 cell inhibitors (IC 50 = 13.9 and 22.5 microM, respectively), but made modest contributions to the activity of defatted soy flour hydrolysates due to their relatively low concentrations. In conclusion, the data demonstrated that beta-conglycinins are among the major protein components that inhibit leukemia cell growth in vitro. Furthermore, it was feasible to differentiate soybean varieties on the basis of the biological effect of their components using a statistical model and a cell-based assay.     

Enzymatic extractability of soybean meal proteins and carbohydrates: heat and humidity effects

To study the incomplete enzymatic extractability of proteins and carbohydrates of thermally treated soybean meals, one unheated and three heat-treated soybean meals were produced. To obtain truly enzyme-resistant material, the meals were extracted by a repeated hydrolysis procedure using excessive concentrations of different combinations of commercial protease and carbohydrase preparations. The water extractability of protein from the different meals varied considerably (13-67%). For all soybean meals, enzymatic treatment extracted most of the original protein (89-94%). Carbohydrase preparations did not improve protein extraction. High-humidity heat treatment led to a more effective enzymatic extraction, which seemed to correlate with the extent of protein denaturation. Results with purified proteins indicated that the soybean meal matrix affects the enzymatic extraction of protein from the meals. Interactions between protein and other components (e.g., cellulose) may explain the incomplete enzymatic extractability of protein from the meals.     

瘤胃微生物Fosmid文库蛋白酶活性克隆的筛选与序列分析

在日粮蛋白质的降解过程中,蛋白酶是把蛋白质水解为肽或氨基酸的关键酶,由于受到纯培养技术的影响,瘤胃内产生蛋白酶活性的细菌和各种蛋白酶的遗传信息知之甚少。本实验旨在利用蛋白酶选择性培养基从瘤胃微生物 Fosmid 文库中筛选出含蛋白酶活性的克隆子,通过生物信息学分析获得这些克隆子的遗传信息。应用脱脂乳粉和大豆蛋白粉两种蛋白酶选择性培养基,从 30 000 个克隆中筛选得到 14 个具有蛋白酶活性的活性克隆。利用福林酚试剂法检测 14 个蛋白酶克隆子的酶活力,结果表明,每个克隆子分别具有不同的蛋白质分解能力。以酪蛋白为底物的克隆子酶活力介于 0.59~2.74 U/mg 之间,以大豆蛋白粉为底物的克隆子酶活力在 0.70~7.19 U/mg 之间,而且同一克隆对于不同的底物所表现的酶活力也不同。随机挑选 10 个活性克隆进行末端测序(GenBank 登录号:JY084410~JY084429),经 Blast 比对后发现,45%的基因序列与已知编码基因无法匹配,pro10F 末端序列与金属肽酶匹配度为 54%,属于肽酶 M13 家族,且该克隆蛋白酶最适 pH 值为 7.0,为下一步研究该克隆的酶学性质和序列特征分析提供了基础资料。     

Imbibition of soybean seeds in warm water results in the release of copious amounts of Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor, a putative anticarcinogenic agent

Protease inhibitors play a protective role against pathogenic microorganisms and herbivorous insects. The two predominant protease inhibitors of soybean seeds are the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI) and Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor (BBI). In this study, we report that soybean seeds incubated in warm water release large amounts of proteins into the surrounding media. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis of the seed exudates resulted in the separation of 93 distinct protein spots out of which 90 spots were identified by LC-MS/MS. The basic 7S globulin and the BBI are the two predominant proteins found in the soybean seed exudates. In addition to 7S and 11S seed storage proteins, others known to protect the seeds against pathogens and pests including KTI, peroxidase, α-galactosidase, and endo-1.3-β-glucanase were also identified in the seed exudates. Soybean seed exudate obtained by incubating the seeds in warm water was also able to inhibit the growth of human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Since soybean seeds release large amounts of enzymatically active BBI when immersed in warm water, our procedure could be exploited as a simplified alternative method for the preparation of BBI concentrate which is being used as a cancer chemoprotective agent.     

Bioactive peptides in amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) seed

Amaranth seeds are rich in protein with a high nutritional value, but little is known about their bioactive compounds that could benefit health. The objectives of this research were to investigate the presence, characterization, and the anticarcinogenic properties of the peptide lunasin in amaranth seeds. Furthermore, to predict and identify other peptides in amaranth seed with potential biological activities. ELISA showed an average concentration of 11.1 microg lunasin equivalent/g total extracted protein in four genotypes of mature amaranth seeds. Glutelin fraction had the highest lunasin concentration (3.0 microg/g). Lunasin was also identified in albumin, prolamin and globulin amaranth protein fractions and even in popped amaranth seeds. Western blot analysis revealed a band at 18.5 kDa, and MALDI-TOF analysis showed that this peptide matched more than 60% of the soybean lunasin peptide sequence. Glutelin extracts digested with trypsin, showed the induction of apoptosis against HeLa cells. Prediction of other bioactive peptides in amaranth globulins and glutelins were mainly antihypertensive. This is the first study that reports the presence of a lunasin-like peptide and other potentially bioactive peptides in amaranth protein fractions.     

Production of cod (Gadus morhua) muscle hydrolysates. Influence of combinations of commercial enzyme preparations on hydrolysate peptide size range

The complement of enzyme activities of a selection of commercial protease preparations were determined using fluorogenic substrates. Alcalase was used in combination with other commercial enzyme preparations to produce cod muscle (Gadus morhua) hydrolysates. Each muscle hydrolysate was characterized with respect to the percentage degree of hydrolysis (DH %), peptide molecular weight range, and free amino acid content. The enzyme preparations containing predominantly protease or endopeptidase activities achieved high DH % and produced significant amounts of peptides below a molecular weight of 3000. Alcalase combined with exopeptidase-rich preparations produced hydrolysates rich in low-molecular-weight peptides. Selecting combinations of enzyme preparations with complementary activity profiles could be used to manipulate the peptide molecular weight profile of hydrolysates.     

Nitrogen lowers the sulfur amino acid content of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) by regulating the accumulation of Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor

Soybeans in general contain 35-40% protein. Efforts are underway to increase further this protein content, thus enhancing their nutritive value. Even though higher protein is a desirable characteristic, whether such an increase will be accompanied by enhanced protein quality is not known. Soybean protein quality could be significantly improved by increasing the concentration of the sulfur-containing amino acids, cysteine and methionine. To ascertain if a correlation existed between protein quantity and quality, a comparison of the amino acids of soybeans differing in protein content was made. Soybeans with higher protein content had a significantly lower percentage of sulfur amino acids, while those with lower protein exhibited a higher content of cysteine and methionine. Nitrogen application elevated the protein content but lowered that of the sulfur amino acids. Transmission electron microscopy examination of thin sections of low protein soybean seeds revealed several protein storage vacuoles that were partially filled with storage proteins. Fluorescence two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis of soybean seed proteins revealed that nitrogen application favored the accumulation of the beta-subunit of beta-conglycinin while decreasing the accumulation of Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor (BBI), a protein rich in cysteine. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of 60% 2-propanol-extracted proteins showed a drastic reduction in the accumulation of BBI with increasing protein content. Northern blot analysis indicated that nitrogen had a negative influence on the expression of the BBI gene. Our results indicate that the negative correlation between total protein and sulfur amino acid content is mostly mediated by the differential accumulation of BBI.     

Antioxidative activity of protein hydrolysates prepared from alkaline-aided channel catfish protein isolates

Antioxidative activity of hydrolyzed protein prepared from alkali-solubilized catfish protein isolates was studied. The isolates were hydrolyzed to 5, 15, and 30% degree of hydrolysis using the protease enzyme, Protamex. Hydrolyzed protein was separated into hydrolysates and soluble supernatants, and both of these fractions were studied for their metal chelating ability, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and their ability to inhibit the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in washed tilapia muscle containing tilapia hemolysate. Both hydrolysates and supernatants were characterized using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Results showed that DPPH radical scavenging ability and reducing power of catfish protein hydrolysates decreased, whereas the ORAC value, metal chelating ability, and ability to inhibit TBARS increased, with an increase in the degree of hydrolysis. Hydrolysate samples showed higher DPPH radical scavenging ability and Fe(3+) reducing ability, and supernatant samples had higher metal chelating ability. In general, low molecular weight (MW) peptides had high ORAC values and high metal chelating ability, and high MW peptides had a higher reducing power (FRAP) and were more effective in scavenging DPPH radicals. In a washed muscle model system, the ability of catfish protein hydrolysates and their corresponding supernatants to inhibit the formation of TBARS increased with an increase in the degree of hydrolysis.     

Barley lunasin suppresses ras-induced colony formation and inhibits core histone acetylation in mammalian cells

Lunasin is a novel peptide originally identified in soybean that suppresses chemical carcinogen-induced transformation in mammalian cells and skin carcinogenesis in mice. Since the lunasin gene was cloned from soybean and the chemically synthesized form of the lunasin peptide has been used in experiments conducted so far, the isolation of lunasin from other natural sources and testing of its biological properties have not been carried out. We report here the isolation, purification, and biological assay of lunasin from barley, a newly found rich source of the peptide. The identity of lunasin was established by Western blot analysis and mass spectrometric peptide mapping of the in-gel tryptic digest of the putative protein band. Lunasin was partially purified with anion exchange and immunoaffinity chromatography. The crude and partially purified lunasin from barley suppressed colony formation in stably ras-transfected mouse fibroblast cells induced with IPTG. These fractions also inhibited histone acetylation in mouse fibroblast NIH 3T3 and human breast MCF-7 cells in the presence of the histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate.     

Amino acid composition of soil peptides chromatographed by high performance liquid chromatography on C18 and C8 columns

Summary Low molecular weight fractions (LMW; <5000 daltons) of organic matter were isolated from three soils by a mild extraction procedure and gel-permeation chromatography. The peptides present in the LMW soil extracts were separated on a Whatman Partisphere C18 and a Beckman Ultrapore C8 column by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The peptide fractions were collected, acid hydrolyzed, and analyzed for amino acid composition. The C8 bonded-phase column gave better separation of the LMW soil peptide material than the C18 column. The total quantities of amino acids released from LMW peptides by acid hydrolysis were greater than the quantities released by immobilized protease hydrolysis (Warman and Isnor 1990). Total soil N present in the form of LMW peptides in these three soils ranged from 4 to 15%. The total recovery of peptide amino acid-N showed little difference between the C18 and C8 columns for two of the soils tested.     

Lunasin concentration in different soybean genotypes, commercial soy protein, and isoflavone products

Lunasin is a unique and novel cancer preventive peptide originally isolated from soy. Information on lunasin concentration of soybean cultivars and commercial soy proteins would be useful in developing lunasin-enriched cultivars and soy products. We report the development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method to identify lunasin and quantify the variations in concentration in 144 selected, diverse soybean accessions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soybean Germplasm Collection, several commercially available soy protein fractions and isoflavone-enriched products. With synthetic lunasin and monoclonal antibody, ELISA shows a linear concentration range of 24-72 ng/mL, good reproducibility, a detection limit of 8 ng/mL, and a recovery of 90% on spiked soy samples. Lunasin concentrations in the tested materials range from 0.10 to 1.33 g/100 g flour. Differences that exceeded 100% have been observed among accessions of similar maturity that were grown in the same environment, indicating that genetic differences in soybeans exist for lunasin. The mean of 23 major ancestral lines of U.S. cultivars is similar to the mean of 16 modern cultivars selected to represent the current diversity of the crop, but the highest values were found within the ancestral and exotic accessions. Soy protein concentrate, isolate, and hydrolyzate contain 2.81 +/- 0.30, 3.75 +/- 0.43, and 4.43 +/- 0.59 g lunasin/100 g flour, respectively, while soy flour and soy flakes contain 1.24 +/- 0.22 g lunasin/100 g flour. Isoflavone-enriched products contain very little or no lunasin. The relative mass (M(r)) of lunasin in the samples is 5.45 +/- 0.25 kDa. The wide range of lunasin concentrations within the Glycine max species indicates that the levels of this important bioactive peptide can be genetically manipulated. Furthermore, soy isolates and hydrolyzed soy proteins contain the highest concentrations of lunasin.