Proposal for the Modification of Plant Proteins in Order to Release Bioactive Peptides against Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome comprises a cluster of diseases like hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance, among others. Its treatment is based on lifestyle modification; however, this treatment often fails to improve metabolic syndrome indicators over the long term. In this work, sequences of some representative vegetable proteins were explored to find bioactive peptides with activity toward metabolic disorders of metabolic syndrome. Five proteins, i.e., legumin (chickpea), glutelin type A-2 (chickpea), glutelin type B-2 (rice), prolamin PPROL 17 (maize), and glutelin (rice) revealed a high potential to be effective against metabolic syndrome. We designed and evaluated in silico modifications to their amino acid sequence to release bioactive peptides after simulating gastrointestinal digestion (SGD). The approach presented here allows the design of proteins that could combat metabolic syndrome, for later production and study. These proteins can be produced by heterologous expression in bacteria or yeast; in the long term, they could be produced in transgenic plants. In the future, these proteins can be used as functional foods.