Bioactive Peptides from Yellowfin Tuna By-Products: Structural Characterization and Neuro-Related Activities in PC12...

Area of Science:

• Marine biotechnology
• Biochemistry
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Marine-derived bioactive peptides are valuable functional ingredients.
• Yellowfin tuna processing by-products represent an underutilized resource.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize bioactive peptides from yellowfin tuna by-products.
• To evaluate the neuro-related biological activity of fractionated peptides.

Main Methods:

• Peptide preparation and Sephadex G-25 gel filtration.
• Physicochemical analyses (TGA/DSC, FTIR, CD) and morphological characterization.
• Peptidomic profiling, in silico analysis, and cell-based assays (PC12 cells, CCK-8).

Main Results:

• Fractionated peptides (TBP-MF) showed improved homogeneity, thermal stability, and ordered secondary structure (β-sheet enrichment).
• TBP-MF formed uniform assemblies and was enriched in short peptides with neuro-related motifs.
• TBP-MF demonstrated cytocompatibility, enhanced cellular metabolic activity, and increased neurochemical factors (BH4, 5-HT, GABA) in PC12 cells.

Conclusions:

• Yellowfin tuna by-products are a promising source of bioactive peptides.
• Fractionation enhances peptide structure and neuro-related biological activity.
• Marine by-product peptides have potential as functional ingredients in health-related applications.