[A cystine-containing short-chain peptide as a potential cystine source for parenteral nutrition]

For the first time, in vivo utilization of two highly soluble and stable cystine containing synthetic short chain peptides, N,N'-bis-L-alanyl-L,L-cystine and N,N'-bis-glycyl-L,L-cystine, was investigated in adult rats. Within 5 min after an intravenous bolus, blood samples were drawn (inferior vena cava) and plasma amino acid and peptide levels were determined using RP-HPLC (precolumn derivatization with 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulfonylchloride). Both peptides were rapidly cleared from plasma (estimated elimination time: 4 min for the glycyl peptide and less than 2 min for the alanyl peptide). The initial high amounts of N-L-alanyl-L,L-cystine and N-glycyl-L,L-cystine as well as the prompt increase of the constituent free amino acids alanine, glycine and cystine strongly suggest that the peptide disappearance is mainly due to a very fast two-step hydrolysis in the extracellular compartment, presumably catalyzed by soluble and/or plasma membrane bound peptidases. The observed rapid hydrolysis may serve as first evidence that short chain peptides with C-terminal cystine residue may represent efficient sources of free cystine in parenteral nutrition.