Commercial processed soy-based food product contains glycated and glycoxidated lunasin proteoforms

Recent advances in exploring and exploiting soybean functional peptides-a review

Soybeans are rich in proteins and phytochemicals such as isoflavones and phenolic compounds. It is an excellent source of peptides with numerous biological functions, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antidiabetic activities. Soy bioactive peptides are small building blocks of proteins that are released after fermentation or gastrointestinal digestion as well as by food processing through enzymatic hydrolysis, often in combination with novel food processing techniques (i.e., microwave, ultrasound, and high-pressure homogenization), which are associated with numerous health benefits. Various studies have reported the potential health benefits of soybean-derived functional peptides, which have made them a great substitute for many chemical-based functional elements in foods and pharmaceutical products for a healthy lifestyle. This review provides unprecedented and up-to-date insights into the role of soybean peptides in various diseases and metabolic disorders, ranging from diabetes and hypertension to neurodegenerative disorders and viral infections with mechanisms were discussed. In addition, we discuss all the known techniques, including conventional and emerging approaches, for the prediction of active soybean peptides. Finally, real-life applications of soybean peptides as functional entities in food and pharmaceutical products are discussed.

Lunasin as a Promising Plant-Derived Peptide for Cancer Therapy

Cancer has become one of the main public health problems worldwide, demanding the development of new therapeutic agents that can help reduce mortality. Lunasin is a soybean peptide that has emerged as an attractive option because its preventive and therapeutic actions against cancer. In this review, we evaluated available research on lunasin’s structure and mechanism of action, which should be useful for the development of lunasin-based therapeutic products. We described data on its primary, secondary, tertiary, and possible quaternary structure, susceptibility to post-translational modifications, and structural stability. These characteristics are important for understanding drug activity and characterizing lunasin products. We also provided an overview of research on lunasin pharmacokinetics and safety. Studies examining lunasin’s mechanisms of action against cancer were reviewed, highlighting reported activities, and known molecular partners. Finally, we briefly discussed commercially available lunasin products and potential combination therapeutics.

An applicable method for extraction of whole seeds protein and its determination through Bradford's method

Analysis of protein content of food is necessary for quality control and is essential for precise labeling. Protein analysis is an issue of great economic and social fondness. Cereals are one of the most important sources of protein in food, livestock and poultry feed. In this article, the technique of extracting protein in 4 types of grains and measuring it by the Bradford method is discussed. The results obtained from this method are compared with the data obtained by the Kjeldahl method. This comparison showed that the Bradford method is more accurate in measuring proteins. Extraction of protein using NaOH at pH 13 can be used as a modified method to release proteins in soybean meal and consequently a Fast and accurate high-performance laboratory determination method for protein content via the Bradford method. The optimum pH value was identified as that of 13 in optimum temperature 40 °C for maximum protein extraction yield (43.6%, w/w). The new method used in this paper has resulted in the measurement of grain protein in the shortest time and with the least toxicity and the highest accuracy.

Paeonol inhibits inflammatory response and protects chondrocytes by upregulating sirtuin 1

Paeonol is the bioactive component in Paeonia lactiflora Pall., Cynanchum paniculatum and Paeonia × suffruticosa Andr. Paeonol has been previously demonstrated to inhibit the release of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interluekin 6 (IL-6) in chondrocytes. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is downregulated in degraded cartilage and paeonol could induce nuclear accumulation of SIRT1. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the possible role of paeonol in chondrocyte inflammation and cartilage protection in osteoarthritis (OA) as well as its regulation of SIRT1. Primary chondrocytes from rat knee joints were transfected with short hairpin (sh) - SIRT1 and (or) paeonol prior to IL-1β exposure, and then inflammatory response, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation in the cells were evaluated concurrent with the activation of the nuclear factor κβ (NF-κβ) signaling pathway. Increased levels of TNF-α, IL-17, IL-6, matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), MMP-3, and MMP-13 along with decreased tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 and type II collagen levels were found in IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes. Chondrocyte apoptosis was elevated and the NF-κβ signaling pathway was activated in response to IL-1β treatment. Paeonol enhanced SIRT1 expression to inactivate the NF-κβ signaling pathway, thereby ameliorating inflammatory cytokine secretion, ECM degradation, and chondrocyte apoptosis. In conclusion, the results of the present study confirm the potential of paeonol as a candidate OA drug.

System-wide molecular dynamics of endothelial dysfunction in Gram-negative sepsis

Background

Inflammation affecting whole organism vascular networks plays a central role in the progression and establishment of several human diseases, including Gram-negative sepsis. Although the molecular mechanisms that control inflammation of specific vascular beds have been partially defined, knowledge lacks on the impact of these on the molecular dynamics of whole organism vascular beds. In this study, we have generated an in vivo model by coupling administration of lipopolysaccharide with stable isotope labeling in mammals to mimic vascular beds inflammation in Gram-negative sepsis and to evaluate its effects on the proteome molecular dynamics. Proteome molecular dynamics of individual vascular layers (glycocalyx (GC), endothelial cells (EC), and smooth muscle cells (SMC)) were then evaluated by coupling differential systemic decellularization in vivo with unbiased systems biology proteomics.

Results

Our data confirmed the presence of sepsis-induced disruption of the glycocalyx, and we show for the first time the downregulation of essential molecular maintenance processes in endothelial cells affecting this apical vascular coating. Similarly, a novel catabolic phenotype was identified in the newly synthesized EC proteomes that involved the impairment of protein synthesis, which affected multiple cellular mechanisms, including oxidative stress, the immune system, and exacerbated EC-specific protein turnover. In addition, several endogenous molecular protective mechanisms involving the synthesis of novel antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory proteins were also identified as active in EC. The molecular dynamics of smooth muscle cells in whole organism vascular beds revealed similar patterns of impairment as those identified in EC, although this was observed to a lesser extent. Furthermore, the dynamics of protein posttranslational modifications showed disease-specific phosphorylation sites in the EC proteomes.

Conclusions

Together, the novel findings reported here provide a broader picture of the molecular dynamics that take place in whole organism vascular beds in Gram-negative sepsis inflammation. Similarly, the obtained data can pave the way for future therapeutic strategies aimed at intervening in specific protein synthesis mechanisms of the vascular unit during acute inflammatory processes.

Lunasin abrogates the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and reduction of type II collagen

Impairment of type II collagen caused by MMPs in response to overproduction of IL-1β is an important step in the pathological progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Lunasin, a well-known peptide present in the soybean, has displayed a positive impact on numerous physiological functions. Little information in the effects of lunasin on cartilage degradation has been sought in clinical research before. Here, we report that lunasin suppressed the increase in MMP-3 and MMP-13 caused by IL-1β. In addition, we found that lunasin could prevent the decrease in TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expressions caused by IL-1β. Notably, lunasin suppressed reduction of type II collagen, the basis for articular cartilage. Lunasin also attenuated activation of the JAK2/STAT1/IRF-1 pathway. These effects of lunasin suggest that it might become a promising therapeutic agent for chondro-protective therapy.

Vascular Bed Molecular Profiling by Differential Systemic Decellularization In Vivo

Objective- Vascular endothelial dysfunction is a key component of several major human diseases, but the molecular basis of this complex disorder has been difficult to determine in vivo. Previous attempts to identify key mediators of vascular endothelial dysfunction in experimental models have been limited by the lack of suitable methods for system-wide analyses of vascular bed biology. Here, we aimed to develop a novel method for investigating vascular endothelial dysfunction pathogenesis that enables system-wide analyses of molecular interactions between endothelial glycocalyx, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells in murine. Approach and Results- We developed a new technique using whole-body differential perfusion with increasing concentrations of detergent buffer to selectively solubilize distinct layers of vascular bed tissue in rodents. When combined with proteomics techniques, our novel approach of differential systemic decellularization in vivo enabled quantitative profiling of vascular beds throughout the body. Initial perfusion with phosphate buffer was used to obtain the endothelial glycocalyx, followed by subsequent extraction of endothelial cell components, and finally by smooth muscle cell constituents with increasing concentrations of detergent. Differential systemic decellularization in vivo has also been successfully applied to characterize molecular events in the vascular bed pathology of lipopolysaccharide-challenged mice. Conclusions- Together, these data indicate that differential systemic decellularization in vivo permits system-wide molecular characterization of vascular bed proteomes in rodent models and can be used to advance our current understanding of vascular endothelial dysfunction pathogenesis and progression in a wide range of disease settings.

Degenerative protein modifications in the aging vasculature and central nervous system: A problem shared is not always halved

Aging influences the pathogenesis and progression of several major diseases affecting both the cardiovascular system (CVS) and central nervous system (CNS). Defining the common molecular features that underpin these disorders in these crucial body systems will likely lead to increased quality of life and improved 'health-span' in the global aging population. Degenerative protein modifications (DPMs) have been strongly implicated in the molecular pathogenesis of several age-related diseases affecting the CVS and CNS, including atherosclerosis, heart disease, dementia syndromes, and stroke. However, these isolated findings have yet to be integrated into a wider framework, which considers the possibility that, despite their distinct features, CVS and CNS disorders may in fact be closely related phenomena. In this work, we review the current literature describing molecular roles of the major age-associated DPMs thought to significantly impact on human health, including carbamylation, citrullination and deamidation. In particular, we focus on data indicating that specific DPMs are shared between multiple age-related diseases in both CVS and CNS settings. By contextualizing these data, we aim to assist future studies in defining the universal mechanisms that underpin both vascular and neurological manifestations of age-related protein degeneration.

Prooxidant modifications in the cryptome of beef jerky, the deleterious post-digestion composition of processed meat snacks

Snacking has traditionally been associated with consumption of foods rich in fats and carbohydrates. However, new dietary trends switched to consumption of protein-rich foods. This study investigates the impact of food processing on the cryptome of one of the most widely consumed meat snacks, beef jerky. We have performed discovery-driven proteome-wide analyses, which identified a significantly elevated presence of reactive prooxidant post-translational modifications in jerky. We also found that these protein decorations impact an important subset of in-silico predicted DNA binding cryptides. Furthermore, we observed cell-dependent reduction in cell viability after prolonged treatments with endogenous-like jerky digests. Collectively these findings uncover the presence of prooxidant modifications in processed dried beef snacks and associate their presence with cytotoxicity. Thus, the findings reported here can pave the way for future studies aimed to establish appropriate dietary recommendations on snacking trends.

Brain-derived and circulating vesicle profiles indicate neurovascular unit dysfunction in early Alzheimer's disease

Vascular factors that reduce blood flow to the brain are involved in apparition and progression of dementia. We hypothesized that cerebral hypoperfusion (CH) might alter the molecular compositions of brain intercellular communication mechanisms while affecting the neurovascular unit in preclinical and clinical human dementias. To test that hypothesis, mice were subjected to bilateral common carotid stenosis (BCAS) and the molecular compositions of brain-derived and circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) were assessed. Murine brain vesicle profiles were then analyzed in parallel with brain EVs from post-mortem subjects affected by preclinical Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and mixed dementias. Brain EVs were identified with molecular mediators of hypoxia responses, neuroprotection and neurotoxicity in BCAS mice, patterns also partially resembled by subjects with preclinical AD and mixed dementias. Together these findings indicate that brain EVs represent a promising source of therapeutic targets and circulating markers of neurovascular insult in idiopathic dementias. Furthermore, the results obtained generate novel and compelling hypotheses about the molecular involvement of the vascular component in the etiology of human dementias.

Recent update on methodologies for extraction and analysis of soybean seed proteins

Soybean is one of the best sources of plant protein. Development of improved soybean cultivars through classical breeding and new biotech approaches is important to meet the growing global demand for soybeans. There is a critical need to investigate changes in protein content and profiles to ensure the safety and nutritional quality of new soybean varieties and their food products. A proteomics study begins with an optimal combination of extraction, separation and detection approaches. This review attempts to provide a summary of current updates in the methodologies used for extraction, separation and detection of protein from soybean, the basic foundations for good proteomic research. This information can be effectively used to investigate modifications in protein content and profiles in new varieties of soybeans and other crops. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Updating the research on the chemopreventive and therapeutic role of the peptide lunasin

Chronic diseases have become the medical challenge of the 21st century because of their high incidence and mortality rates. Modulation of diet and lifestyle habits is considered as the best strategy for the prevention of these disorders. Health promoting benefits beyond their nutritional effects have been described for multiple dietary compounds. Among these compounds, the peptide lunasin is considered as one of the most promising. Naturally present in soybean, lunasin has been extensively studied in the last two decades because of its potential against chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular and immunological disorders. The purpose of this article is to summarise the evidence on the presence of lunasin in soybean and derived foods, and its bioavailability once it is orally ingested. The protective and therapeutic effects of this peptide against cancer, oxidative stress, inflammation, and high cholesterol levels as well as the molecular mechanisms of action involved in these effects are also described in this review. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Maillard Proteomics: Opening New Pages

Protein glycation is a ubiquitous non-enzymatic post-translational modification, formed by reaction of protein amino and guanidino groups with carbonyl compounds, presumably reducing sugars and α-dicarbonyls. Resulting advanced glycation end products (AGEs) represent a highly heterogeneous group of compounds, deleterious in mammals due to their pro-inflammatory effect, and impact in pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease and ageing. The body of information on the mechanisms and pathways of AGE formation, acquired during the last decades, clearly indicates a certain site-specificity of glycation. It makes characterization of individual glycation sites a critical pre-requisite for understanding in vivo mechanisms of AGE formation and developing adequate nutritional and therapeutic approaches to reduce it in humans. In this context, proteomics is the methodology of choice to address site-specific molecular changes related to protein glycation. Therefore, here we summarize the methods of Maillard proteomics, specifically focusing on the techniques providing comprehensive structural and quantitative characterization of glycated proteome. Further, we address the novel break-through areas, recently established in the field of Maillard research, i.e., in vitro models based on synthetic peptides, site-based diagnostics of metabolism-related diseases (e.g., diabetes mellitus), proteomics of anti-glycative defense, and dynamics of plant glycated proteome during ageing and response to environmental stress.

The synergy between natural polyphenol-inspired catechol moieties and plant protein-derived bio-adhesive enhances the wet bonding strength

Novel soybean meal-based biomimetic (STP) adhesives were fabricated via soybean meal (SM) and enhanced by tannic acid (TA) and polyetheylenimine (PEI) (TAPI) co-crosslinking network based on natural polyphenol-inspired chemistry. The multiple physico-chemical interactions (including intermolecular H-bonding and covalent bonding) between the TAPI co-crosslinking system and SM matrices were examined by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that a dense, robust, and water-resistant adhesive layer was constructed between network-bound catechol moieties in the TAPI and SM system, endowing the STP adhesive with high wet bonding strength for plywood. As expected, TAPI-modified SM adhesives showed a 156.1% increase in wet bonding strength compared to the control SM adhesive. The adhesion meets standard requirements for interior-use plywood. Both the solid content and residual mass analysis also confirmed that the enhancement in the STP adhesive was attributable to the network crosslinking density and stiffness after integrating the TAPI system. Moreover, the thermal stability of the resultant STP adhesive exhibited a significant improvement. The proposed STP adhesive may be a promising cost-effective and wet-resistant bio-adhesive for the application in the wood composites industry.

LERLIC-MS/MS for In-depth Characterization and Quantification of Glutamine and Asparagine Deamidation in Shotgun Proteomics

Characterization of protein deamidation is imperative to decipher the role(s) and potentialities of this protein posttranslational modification (PTM) in human pathology and other biochemical contexts. In order to perform characterization of protein deamidation, we have recently developed a novel long-length electrostatic repulsion-hydrophilic interaction chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LERLIC-MS/MS) method which can separate the glutamine (Gln) and asparagine (Asn) isoform products of deamidation from model compounds to highly complex biological samples. LERLIC-MS/MS is, therefore, the first shotgun proteomics strategy for the separation and quantification of Gln deamidation isoforms. We also demonstrate, as a novelty, that the sample processing protocol outlined here stabilizes the succinimide intermediate allowing its characterization by LERLIC-MS/MS. Application of LERLIC-MS/MS as shown in this video article can help to elucidate the currently unknown molecular arrays of protein deamidation. Additionally, LERLIC-MS/MS provides further understanding of the enzymatic reactions that encompass deamidation in distinct biological backgrounds.