Novel Insights into Ethanol-Soluble Oyster Peptide–Zinc-Chelating Agents: Structural Characterization, Chelation Mechanism, and Potential Protection on MEHP-Induced Leydig Cells
2024
Zhen Lu | Qianqian Huang | Xiaoming Qin | Fujia Chen | Enzhong Li | Haisheng Lin
Numerous studies have reported that mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) (bioactive metabolite of Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) has inhibitory effects on Leydig cells. This study aims to prepare an oyster peptide–zinc complex (PEP-Zn) to alleviate MEHP-induced damage in Leydig cells. Zinc-binding peptides were obtained through the following processes: zinc-immobilized affinity chromatography (IMAC-Zn<sup>2+</sup>), liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry technology (LC-MS/MS) analysis, molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulation, and structural characterization. Then, the Zn-binding peptide (PEP) named Glu—His—Ala—Pro—Asn—His—Asp—Asn—Pro—Gly—Asp—Leu (EHAPNHDNPGDL) was identified. EHAPNHDNPGDL showed the highest zinc-chelating ability of 49.74 ± 1.44%, which was higher than that of the ethanol-soluble oyster peptides (27.50 ± 0.41%). In the EHAPNHDNPGDL-Zn complex, Asn-5, Asp-7, Asn-8, His-2, and Asp-11 played an important role in binding to the zinc ion. Additionally, EHAPNHDNPGDL-Zn was found to increase the cell viability, significantly increase the relative activity of antioxidant enzymes and testosterone content, and decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) content in MEHP-induced TM3 cells. The results also indicated that EHAPNHDNPGDL-Zn could alleviate MEHP-induced apoptosis by reducing the protein level of p53, p21, and Bax, and increasing the protein level of Bcl-2. These results indicate that the zinc-chelating peptides derived from oyster peptides could be used as a potential dietary zinc supplement.
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