Insight into the mechanisms of milk protein synthesis via peptides derived from Micropterus salmoides

Breast milk is widely acknowledged as the safest food for infants. However, current breastfeeding rates fall below the guidelines established by the World Health Organization. This study aimed to investigate the impact of Micropterus salmoides peptides (MS) on lactation in human mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A cells) and to elucidate its mechanism. The MCF-10A cells were exposed to different concentrations of MS (0 μg/mL, 25 μg/mL, 50 μg/mL and 100 μg/mL). The findings revealed that the addition of MS significantly enhanced the synthesis of milk protein. According to the RNA-seq analysis, 57 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 33 up-regulated and 24 down-regulated genes. Further results demonstrated that peptides derived from Micropterus salmoides exert their effects via the mTOR signaling pathway. Based on the current understanding, it is hypothesized that these peptides promote lactation by enhancing cap-dependent translation through a reduction in EIF4EBP1 levels.