Abstract
Bioactive peptides are protein fragments with health-promoting effects released through enzymatic hydrolysis. Human milk caseins (α-S1, β, and κ) may generate peptides with diverse activities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, antihypertensive, immunomodulatory, and anticancer effects. However, neonatal digestion is limited by gastric pH and breast milk inhibitors. This study evaluated the bioactive potential of human caseins using an in silico approach. Protein sequences from UniProtKB were digested with PeptideCutter (pepsin, pH > 2.0). Resulting peptides were screened against the BIOPEP-UWM database and analyzed with predictive platforms for general bioactivity, toxicity, and specific functions. β-casein, and to a lesser extent κ-casein, emerged as promising sources of bioactive peptides with low predicted toxicity. Identified fragments displayed multiple potential activities, partly consistent with experimental data, though most require in vitro validation. These findings highlight human caseins as valuable precursors of functional peptides with potential health applications.
Presenters
Diego Arturo Zavala TrejoStudent, PhD in Biotechnological Processes, University Center of Exact Sciences and Engineering, University of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Ariana Rodríguez Arreola
Researcher, Pharmacobiology, Universidad de Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Blanca Rosa Aguilar Uscanga
Research Professor, Pharmacobiology, Universidad de Guadalajara, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías, Jalisco, Mexico Josué Raymundo Solís Pacheco
Profesor, Pharmacobiology, Universidad de Guadadalajara, Mexico
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
In silico, Casein, Bioactivity, Peptides
