Short anti-aging peptides from edible microalgae using a multi-targets virtual screening strategy combined with...

The rapid aging of the global population underscores the critical need for novel anti-aging agents. Microalgae are a significant sustainable source of protein, yet research and development on their anti-aging peptides remain limited. This study employed the Caenorhabditis elegans model combined with a multi-targets virtual screening strategy to rapidly identify anti-aging peptides from edible microalgae Spirulina platensis and Dunaliella salina. It's the first time to report 7 anti-aging peptides, including WFP, YPF, VFGF, NFF, WLG, YFP, and RLF, which prolonged the lifespan of C. elegans by 14.27%, 18.67%, 15.01%, 14.61%, 20.56%, 24.74%, and 18.01%, respectively. The isomeric tripeptides YPF and YFP significantly enhanced both the health span and stress resistance of the nematodes. Our results also suggest that neutral protease hydrolysis is beneficial for producing anti-aging peptides from microalga-derived protein, and hydrophobic amino acids play an important role in the anti-aging effects of functional peptides. This research provides a new approach for the rapid discovery of anti-aging peptides and lays a theoretical foundation for developing functional foods and pharmaceuticals targeting aging.