Studies on molecular mechanism of the sensing system of novel orally active neuromodulating peptides

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26292070
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Food science
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: OHINATA KOUSAKU 京都大学, (連合)農学研究科(研究院), 准教授 (00361147)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: ペプチド / 中鎖 / 腸－脳軸 / 情動調節 / 食欲 / グレリン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A number of molecules are produced from food composed of various components after digestion by enzymes present in the gastrointestinal tract. We found many bioactive peptides derived from enzymatic digests of food proteins based on structure-activity relationship of functional peptides. In this study, we found that orally administered mid-size peptide exhibits potent neuromodulating effect. The neuromodulating effect was blocked by vagotomy, and it increased c-Fos positive cell in the NTS, where the input from the vagus nerve is known to be received. There results suggest that the mid-size peptide acts on the gastrointestinal tract, and thereafter, the peptide signal from the gut is transferred to the central nervous system. Thus, we revealed that mid-size peptides derived from food proteins act via the novel gut-brain communication.

Free Research Field

食品生理機能学