Potential dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory oligopeptides from sorghum kafirin were developed using in silico and in vitro methodologies for the management of diabetes. Twenty-eight peptides with 5-10 residues were identified from the papain hydrolysates of sorghum kafirin. Sixteen nontoxic DPP-IV inhibitory peptides were screened with a computer method based on molecular docking. Molecular docking revealed that LPFYPQ (LP6), GPVTPPILG (GP9), and LPFYPQGV (LP8) effectively inactivated DPP-IV by binding to its active sites with a low interaction energy. An in silico analysis of these three inhibitory oligopeptides indicated that they were all bound to the S1 and S2 active pockets of DPP-IV through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. The in vitro inhibitory activity was also verified. The DPP-IV inhibitory activities of LP6 and LP8 decreased after gastric digestion and remained stable after intestinal digestion, and the GP9 inhibitory activity remained stable after gastrointestinal digestion. Experimental results from Caco-2 cells showed further inhibitory effects of oligopeptides on DPP-IV. The results are relevant to the exploration of biofunctional DPP-IV inhibitory peptides from sorghum as a treatment for patients with diabetes or in medical research.
Keywords: DPP-IV inhibitory peptide; Sorghum kafirin; gastrointestinal digestion; in silico methodology; molecular docking.