“Bottom up” strategy for the identification of novel soybean peptides with ACE-inhibitory activity

IAVPTGVA (Soy1) and LPYP are two soybean peptides, which display a multifunctional behavior showing in vitro hypocholesterolemic and hypoglicemic activities. A preliminary screening of their structures using BIOPEP suggested that they might be potential angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Therefore, a bottom up-aided approach was developed in order to clarify the in vitro hypotensive activity. Soy1 and LPYP dropped the intestinal and renal ACE enzyme activity with IC50 values equal to 14.7±0.28 μM and 5.0±0.28 μM (Caco-2 cells), and 6.0±0.35 and 6.8±0.20 μM (HK-2 cells), respectively. In parallel, a molecular modeling study suggested their capability to act as competitive inhibitors of this enzyme. Finally, in order to increase both their stability and hypotensive properties, a suitable strategy for the harmless control of their release from a nanomaterial was developed through their encapsulation into the RADA16 assembling peptide.