Search for health functional ingredients in red algae, a low-use resource; protein and peptide
トピックアウトライン
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We are conducting research on northern red algae, with a focus on the low-use red alga Dulse from Hokkaido. We have found that red algae such as dulse and other red algae, which have been removed as waste from kelp cultivation, are rich in a variety of useful biochemical components. Through these studies, we hope to contribute to the development of food sources for hunger, and to the development of functional food ingredients to improve people's health.
The United Nations has designated the decade starting in 2021 as the "Decade of Ocean Science," with the aim of contributing to the SDGs.
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What ‘s red alga
Red alga is a group of seaweeds that can be obtained in many areas near Japan. However, most of them are unused. Many red alga are rich in protein, especially phycobiliproteins which have pigments.
Purpose
In this study, focusing on red alga proteins, we searched for its health function. The purposewas to lead to effective use of marine waste by searching for added value.
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Phycobiliprotein
Phycobiliprotein is a general term for light collecting proteins involved in photosynthesis. Cyanobacteria and red alga have them. In living organisms, α and β chains form hexamers, forming the complex phycobilisomes shown above. These have pigments that are the red origin of red algae. Here we searched the health functions of these proteins and pigments.
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ACE inhibitory effect of red alga proteins and peptides
Red algae proteolysates contain peptides that inhibit the activity of the blood pressure-enhancing enzyme “ACE”.
Result of Antihypertensive Activity
Antihypertensive effect was showed stronger effect in the peptides than the proteins, regardless of water extraction or heterologous expression. Based on this result, we predicted the structure of a functional peptide that most strongly inhibits ACE activity among several types of peptides produced by proteases.
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