Regulation of H2O2-induced cells injury through Nrf2 signaling pathway: An introduction of a novel cysteic acid-modified peptide

Bioorg Chem. 2021 May:110:104811. doi: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.104811. Epub 2021 Mar 9.

Abstract

A novel peptide (Cya-Phe-Leu-Ala-Pro, SCP) was formulated through non-protein amino acid-cysteic acid (Cya) modification of collagen peptide (Phe-Leu-Ala-Pro, CP) from Acaudina molpadioides. Introduction of this Cya showed remarkable improvement in the scavenging activities of OH·. SCP exhibited stronger effects than CP in preventing H2O2-induced oxidative damage due to lower levels of ROS and MDA, and higher activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as SOD, GSH-Px, HO-1, and NQO1. It was speculated that SCP could significantly increase the expression level of Nrf2 compared to CP, thereby activating the expression of downstream ARE genes. The expression levels of p38 in the upstream pathway to regulate Nrf2 content were significantly higher in both the CP and SCP-treated groups, while a higher level of JNK was observed only in the SCP-treated groups. The present study provided insights towards the application of cysteic acid modified peptide in protecting cell from oxidative damage through the JNK/Nrf2 pathway.

Keywords: Antioxidant peptide; Cysteic acid-modified; Nrf2/ARE; Oxidative stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cysteic Acid / chemistry
  • Cysteic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / metabolism*
  • Molecular Structure
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / genetics
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / metabolism*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Sea Cucumbers / chemistry
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2
  • NFE2L2 protein, human
  • Peptides
  • Cysteic Acid
  • Hydrogen Peroxide