A heptameric peptide purified from Spirulina sp. gastrointestinal hydrolysate inhibits angiotensin I-converting enzyme- and angiotensin II-induced vascular dysfunction in human endothelial cells

Int J Mol Med. 2017 May;39(5):1072-1082. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2017.2941. Epub 2017 Apr 4.

Abstract

In this study, a marine microalga Spirulina sp.-derived protein was hydrolyzed using gastrointestinal enzymes to produce an angiotensin I (Ang I)-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide. Following consecutive purification, the potent ACE inhibitory peptide was composed of 7 amino acids, Thr-Met‑Glu‑Pro‑Gly‑Lys-Pro (molecular weight, 759 Da). Analysis using the Lineweaver-Burk plot and molecular modeling suggested that the purified peptide acted as a mixed non-competitive inhibitor of ACE. The inhibitory effects of the peptide against the cellular production of vascular dysfunction-related factors induced by Ang II were also investigated. In human endothelial cells, the Ang II-induced production of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species was inhibited, and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) was downregulated when the cells were cultured with the purified peptide. Moreover, the peptide blocked the activation of p38 mitogen‑activated protein kinase. These results indicated that this Spirulina sp.-derived peptide warrants further investigation as a potential pharmacological inhibitor of ACE and vascular dysfunction.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Angiotensin II / pharmacology*
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / isolation & purification
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Binding Sites
  • Blood Vessels / drug effects*
  • Blood Vessels / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydrolysis
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Weight
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / isolation & purification
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / chemistry
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Spirulina* / metabolism

Substances

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Peptides
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Angiotensin II
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A