Simonetta Caira

Peptides surviving the simulated gastrointestinal digestion of milk proteins: Biological and toxicological implications

Resistance to proteases throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a prerequisite for milk-derived peptides to exert biological activities. In this work an in vitro multi-step static model to simulate complete digestion of the bovine milk proteins has been developed. The experimental set-up involved the sequential use of: (i) pepsin, (ii) pancreatic proteases, and (iii) extracts of human intestinal brush border membranes, in simulated gastric, duodenal and jejuneal environments, respectively. Enzymatic concentrations and reaction times were selected in order to closely reproduce the in vivo conditions. The aim was to identify the peptide candidates able to exhibit significant bioactive effects. Casein and whey protein peptides which survived the in vitro GI digestion have been identified by the combined application of HPLC and mass spectrometry techniques. While the permanence of the main potentially bioactive peptides from both casein and whey proteins was found of limited physiological relevance, the high resistance to proteolysis of specific regions of beta-lactoglobulin (beta-Lg), and especially that of the peptide beta-Lg f125-135, could have implications for the immunogenic action of beta-Lg in the insurgence of cows milk allergy.

The primary structure of water buffalo alpha(s1)- and beta-casein identification of phosphorylation sites and characterization of a novel beta-casein variant.

The primary structure of water buffalo αs1-casein and of β-casein A and B variants has been determined using a combination of mass spectrometry and Edman degradation procedures. The phosphorylated residues were localized on the tryptic phosphopeptides after performing a β-elimination/thiol derivatization. Water buffalo αs1-casein, resolved in three discrete bands by isoelectric focusing, was found to consist of a single protein containing eight, seven, or six phosphate groups. Compared to bovine αs1-casein C variant, the water buffalo αs1-casein presented ten amino acid substitutions, seven of which involved charged amino acid residues. With respect to bovine βA2-casein variant, the two water buffalo β-casein variants A and B presented four and five amino acid substitutions, respectively. In addition to the phosphoserines, a phosphothreonine residue was identified in variant A. From the phylogenetic point of view, both water buffalo β-casein variants seem to be homologous to bovine βA2-casein.

Use of phytochemomics to evaluate the bioavailability and bioactivity of antioxidant peptides of soybean β-conglycinin

This research investigates how in vitro digestion contributes to the release of antioxidant peptides crypted in soybean β‐conglycinin (7S) and its deglycosylated form (D7S). It also investigates the uptake of the bioactive peptides by human intestinal Caco‐2 cells using a bicameral system, and their effect on the antioxidant cell defense. Phytochemomics is used as a tool for achieving this goal. The peptides are obtained by mimicking human physiological gastrointestinal digestion conditions. The antioxidant capacity of the peptides is tested by ABTS•+ radical cation decolorization (2,2′‐azinobis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS)) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assays. The antioxidant power of the peptides recovered from the basolateral chamber is also evaluated by an analysis of biomarkers of cellular oxidative stress such as cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase, and secretion of nitric oxide, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase and catalase. Peptides from D7S were more active than those of 7S in the modulation of the cell proliferation, oxidative status and differentiation of Caco‐2 cells treated with H2O2. Differences in the bioactivity of the peptides of both proteins can be explained by analysis of the structural data obtained by mass spectrophotometry. Our findings support the bioavailability of antioxidant peptides of 7S. The antioxidant properties of 7S soy protein were influenced by events such as glycosylation, digestion, and absorption. Deglycosylation seems to be an innovative strategy for improving the properties of 7S. Deglycosylation might enhance 7S antioxidant power and reduce its immunoreactivity. The combined use of advanced analytical techniques and biochemical analyses (phytochemomics) has been a key part of this study.

Mass spectrometry-based procedure for the identification of ovine casein heterogeneity

The efficiency of reversed-phase HPLC, capillary electrophoresis (CE), PAGE and isoelectric focusing with immunoblotting in separating ovine caseins has been evaluated. The assessment was carried out by employing electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight as reference tools for identifying protein components. Ovine casein was fractionated by HTPC into four major peaks. With ESI-MS, each peak contained components belonging to only one of the four casein families. On-line liquid chromatography-ESI-MS allowed us to determine each fractions composition by detecting thirteen alphas1-, eleven alphas2-, seven beta-, and three kappa-casein (CN) components. The alphas1-CN and alphas2-CN consisted of eight and two protein chains respectively of lengths differing through the deletion of one or more peptide sequences; they were also discretely phosphorylated as kappa-CN and beta-CN. By CE at pH 2.5, each casein fraction was as heterogeneous as that resulting from ESI-MS for the single HPLC-derived fractions. The separation of alphas1-CN and alphas2-CN proved to be excellent, with the exception of a co-migration of kappa0-CN with a minor alphas1-CN component and of a glycosylated kappa-CN for with low-phosphorylated = alphas1-CN and beta-CN components. Dephosphorylation of whole casein was used to reduce the heterogeneity of the native fractions and by applying currently used analytical techniques it was possible to visualize the protein moiety difference along the CE profile. CE, HPLC, and immunoblotting were all equally capable of effecting an accurate separation of the four dephosphorylated casein families. The spectra obtained by ESI-MS directly on dephosphorylated whole ovine casein samples contained the signals of the four casein families and the relative alphas1-CN variants, the non-allelic alphas1-CN and alphas2-CN forms, dimeric kappa-CN and other newly formed peptides. We suggest using this procedure for rapid characterization of whole casein.

Fast isoelectric focusing and antipeptide antibodies for detecting bovine casein in adulterated water buffalo milk and derived mozzarella cheese.

Plasmin hydrolysis of water buffalo casein (CN) can liberate a peptide comigrating with bovine gamma(2)-CN. Occurrence of this peptide may lead to false-positive detection of cows milk for a genuine water buffalo cheese when it is analyzed by applying a fast version of the European official method for detecting bovine casein in water buffalo cheese. After isoelectric focusing of CN plasminolysates, performed according to the official method, immunoblot analysis with antipeptide antibodies was assayed to distinguish between gamma(2)-CN and the interfering bovine gamma(2)-CN-like peptide. Small, synthetic peptides containing partial sequences of bovine gamma(2)-CN were used as immunogens for antipeptide antibodies raised in rabbits. The antibody preparation directed toward the synthetic peptide containing the first five amino acid residues of gamma(2)-CN cross-reacted with native and in vitro generated gamma(2)-CN from bovine and water buffalo CN, but it did not recognize the bovine gamma(2)-CN-like band in the electrophoretic profile of pure water buffalo CN.

Primary structure of water buffalo α-lactalbumin variants A and B

: A novel electrophoretic alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-la) variant was detected in the Italian water buffalo breed. The isoelectric point of the variant, labelled A, was lower than the most frequent variant B. It presented an allelic frequency of 0.5% compared with the 97.1% of the BB allele. From Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization/Mass spectrometry, the molecular mass of the two alpha-la A and B variants were measured as 14,235.1+/-0.8 and 14,236.1+/-0.9 Da, respectively. The two proteins were sequenced and differentiated from one another by a single amino acid substitution, Asn45(B)-->Asp45(A). As this amino acid substitution altered the N-glycosylation sequence consensus Asn45-X-Ser46 it may be deduced that the protein glycosylation level of the alpha-la A would decrease.

Lactosylated casein phosphopeptides as specific indicators of heated milks

AbstractCasein phosphopeptides (CPP) were identified in small amounts in milks heated at various intensities by using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry. CPP selectively concentrated on hydroxyapatite (HA) were regenerated using phosphoric acid mixed in the matrix. Unphosphorylated peptides not retained by HA were removed by buffer washing. This procedure enhanced the MALDI signals of CPP that are ordinarily suppressed by the co-occurrence of unphosphorylated peptides. CPP, belonging to the β-casein (CN) family, i.e., (f1-29) 4P, (f1-28) 4P, and (f1-27) 4P, and the αs2-CN family, i.e., (f1-21) 4P and (f1-24) 4P, were observed in liquid and powder milk. The lactosylated counterparts were specific to intensely heated milks, but absent in raw and thermized/pasteurized milk. Most CPP with C-terminal lysines probably arose from the activity of plasmin; an enzyme most active in casein hydrolysis. A CPP analogue was used as the internal standard. The raw milk signature peptide β-CN (f1-28) 4P constituted ~4.3% of the total β-CN. Small amounts of lactosylated peptides, which varied with heat treatment intensity, were detected in the milk samples. The limit of detection of ultra-high-temperature milk adjunction in raw or pasteurized milk was ~10%. FigureSchematic representation of the procedure for phosphoprotein/phosphopeptide enrichment using hydroxyapatite (HA). Native and lactosylated casein phosphopeptides are captured by HA, while non-phosphorylated peptide was washed out by the loading buffer. Signature peptides of UHT milk are detected through direct analysis by MALDI-TOF

Hydroxyapatite as a concentrating probe for phosphoproteomic analyses.

A novel method for the selective enrichment of casein phosphoproteins/phosphopeptides (CPP) from complex mixtures is reported herein. This method employs ceramic hydroxyapatite (HA) as a solid-phase adsorbent to efficiently capture phosphoproteins and CPP from complex media. Casein was chosen as the model phosphoprotein to test the protocol. CPP immobilized on HA microgranules formed a complex that was included in the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI) matrix before desorbing directly from the well plate. Casein fractions with different levels of phosphorylation were desorbed based upon the specific concentration of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) included in the MALDI matrix. The HA-bound casein enzymolysis was performed in situ with trypsin to remove non-phosphorylated peptides and isolate the immobilized CPP. The latter were recovered by centrifugation, dried, and co-crystallized with a 1% phosphoric acid (PA) solution in the matrix that was appropriate for detecting CPP in MALDI-MS spectra. This approach for the selection of casein/CPP resulted in the identification of 32 CPP by MALDI-time of flight (TOF). The analytical process involved two steps requiring ∼2h, excluding the time required for the enzymatic reaction. The alkaline phosphatase (AP)-assisted de-phosphorylation of tryptic CPP allowed the phosphorylation level of peptides to be calculated concurrently with MALDI-TOF MS and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). The effectiveness of the extraction procedure assayed on eggshell phosphoproteins resulted in the identification of 5 phosphoproteins and 14 derived phosphopeptides with a phosphoprotein global recovery of ∼70% at least.

Faox enzymes inhibited Maillard reaction development during storage both in protein glucose model system and low lactose UHT milk

Fructosamines, also known as Amadori products, are formed by the condensation of glucose with the amino group of amino acids or proteins. These compounds are precursors of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that can be formed either endogenously during aging and diabetes, and exogenously in heat-processed food. The negative effects of dietary AGEs on human health as well as their negative impact on the quality of dairy products have been widely described, therefore specific tools able to prevent the formation of glycation products are needed. Two fructosamine oxidase enzymes isolated from Aspergillus sp. namely, Faox I and Faox II catalyze the oxidative deglycation of Amadori products representing a potential tool for inhibiting the Maillard reaction in dairy products. In this paper, the ability of recombinant Faox I and II in limiting the formation of carboxy-methyl lysine (CML) and protein-bound hydroxymethyl furfurol (b-HMF) in a commercial UHT low lactose milk and a beta-lactoglobulin (β-LG) glucose model system was investigated. Results show a consistent reduction of CML and b-HMF under all conditions. Faox effects were particularly evident on b-HMF formation in low lactose commercial milk. Peptide analysis of the β-LG glucose system identified some peptides, derived from cyanogen bromide hydrolysis, as suitable candidates to monitor Faox action in milk-based products. All in all data suggested that non-enzymatic reactions in dairy products might be strongly reduced by implementing Faox enzymes.

Fast screening and quantitative evaluation of internally deleted goat αs1-casein variants by mass spectrometric detection of the signature peptides

Currently, the internally deleted caprine alphas1-casein (alphas1-CN) variants F and G, associated with low casein expression, are detected by means of ordinary descriptive techniques. No relevant procedure is available to detect internally deleted goat alphas1-CN in bulk milks. The availability of full-length and alphas1-CN F and G variants allowed us to further investigate this issue. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS and ESI-MS/MS, tryptic signature peptides alphas1-CN F f59-63/f43-63, alphas1-CN G f4-20/f4-21, alphas1-CN B2 f4-22 Pro16 and alphas1-CN A f4-22 Leu16 were identified. This also helped to solve the interesting question of how the casein variants contribute to the composition of goats bulk milk. Synthetic peptide analogues with ionization efficiency equivalent to that of tryptic junction peptides were used as internal standards to evaluate alphas1-CN variants, either individually or globally, using bulk milk from a single goat breed as a model system. Here, alphas1-CN F accounted for 0.15+/-0.08% and the alphas1-CN G variant was missing or below the 0.10% detection limit. The analysis of six samples confirmed that alphas1-CN G was missing and that alphas1-CN F occurred at a low frequency in hybrid and local breed bulk milks from Mediterranean areas. In conclusion, a quantitative MS-based application of the signature peptides for full-length and internally deleted variants in goats casein is provided. The strategy is also suggested for the determination of splice variants in any biological sample.