Screening and Identification of Antioxidant Peptides from Sea Cucumber Gonad Proteins and Their Activation of Superoxide Dismutase

Authors

• Zhiqin Zhang, Ludong UniversityFollow
• Jingxuan Wang, Ludong UniversityFollow
• Yongke Deng, Ludong UniversityFollow
• Yugui Wang, University of KentuckyFollow
• Peipei Dou, University of KentuckyFollow
• Hongbing Fan, University of KentuckyFollow
• Xiangquan Zeng, Agronomy Dep.Follow
• Xinguang Fan, Ludong UniversityFollow
• Lili Zhang, Ludong UniversityFollow
• Haimei Liu, Ludong UniversityFollow
• Qin Zhao, Ludong UniversityFollow

Abstract

The gonad is one of the major byproducts of sea cucumber. Four novel antioxidant peptides (NPWGQ, PGHPF, VPYPR and ATGPQGPAGQRGPAGPTGPTGPAG) were isolated and identified from sea cucumber gonad proteins through enzymatic hydrolysis and antioxidant activity-guided fractionation, bioinformatics approaches and in silico screening. These peptides demonstrated great free radical (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS))-scavenging activity and notable superoxide dismutase (SOD)-activation capacity. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation data suggested that these peptides could form strong binding with SOD through hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions. Among these peptides, NPWGQ displayed the most potent antioxidant and SOD-activating effects. Through searching known databases, these peptides did not show potential toxicity and are generally considered safe. The present study provides crucial theoretical support for comprehensively utilizing sea cucumber (Holothuroidea) gonad by-products and generating high-value functional food ingredients or dietary supplements.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2025

Notes/Citation Information

Publisher Copyright: © 2025 by the authors.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3390/foods14223848

Archival?

Archival

Repository Citation

Zhang, Zhiqin; Wang, Jingxuan; Deng, Yongke; Wang, Yugui; Dou, Peipei; Fan, Hongbing; Zeng, Xiangquan; Fan, Xinguang; Zhang, Lili; Liu, Haimei; and Zhao, Qin, "Screening and Identification of Antioxidant Peptides from Sea Cucumber Gonad Proteins and Their Activation of Superoxide Dismutase" (2025). Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications. 109.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/animalsci_facpub/109