Modulating of cholesterol biosynthesis and absorption by peptides from cowpea bean (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)

• Grant number: 13/09304-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2013
• End date: July 18, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Principal Investigator: José Alfredo Gomes Arêas
• Grantee: Marcelo Rodrigues Marques
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Very recently, proteins and protein sources, gained prominence within the study of bioactive foods because they are described as suppliers of bioactive peptides involved in several metabolic processes after this digestion by natural or synthetic enzymes. The cowpea bean (Vigna unguiculata l. Walp) is one of the main subsistence crops and a brazilian exportation product. Recent surveys have shown sufficient evidence that cowpea protein is able to reduce total cholesterol and improve LDL/HDL profile in humans, however, the mechanism of action is not yet clear. Thus, this study proposes to investigate the mechanisms by which the peptides from cowpea are possibly able to modulate the biosynthesis and cholesterol absorption. After an in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis of isolated protein fractions smaller than 3 kDa will be incubated in Caco-2 cell cultures and their permeated isolated and sequenced. After the permeation, evaluated the effect of hydrolysates on the gene expression of receptors NPC1L1, ABCG5, ABCA1 and ABCG1, ABCG8 of Caco-2. The bioavailable peptides identified and sequenced from permeation will be incubated together with Hep-G2 cells to assess the gene expression of LDL receptor and HMGCR. This research is expected to clarify the possible mechanisms related to the hypocholesterolemic capacity of cowpea, using in vitro models of intestinal and hepatic lineage cells.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MARQUES, MARCELO RODRIGUES; CERDA, ALVARO; FONTANARI, GUSTAVO GUADAGNUCCI; PIMENTA, DANIEL CARVALHO; SOARES-FREITAS, ROSANA MANOLIO; HIRATA, MARIO HIROYUKI; CRESPO HIRATA, ROSARIO DOMINGUEZ; GOMES AREAS, JOSE ALFREDO. Transport of cowpea bean derived peptides and their modulator effects on mRNA expression of cholesterol-related genes in Caco-2 and HepG2 cells. Food Research International, v. 107, p. 165-171, MAY 2018. (12/15900-4, 13/09304-2)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MARQUES, Marcelo Rodrigues. Cowpea bean peptides (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) and cholesterol: micellar interaction, cellular permeation and genic expression. 2017. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP/CIR) São Paulo.