Identification, Screening and Mechanism Analysis of Anti-Parkinson's Disease Peptides from Rapana venosa Protein...

At present, there is still a lack of effective treatments to slow the progression of Parkinson's disease. Naturally derived active substances, valued for their safety and multi-target potential, have become an important direction in anti-PD drug development, with marine organisms representing a valuable source of bioactive peptides. This study aimed to isolate and identify anti-PD peptides from Rapana venosa protein hydrolysates. Through bioactivity-guided screening combined with an MPTP-induced zebrafish PD model, three novel active peptides-KSTELLI, FLVKLPMFM, and SDSLSEILIS-were successfully identified. The study showed that these peptides significantly alleviated dopaminergic neuron loss, improved the cerebral vascular system, restored motor and sensory function, and alleviated oxidative stress. Molecular docking confirmed their stable binding to key PD targets (DDC, α-synuclein, and MAO-B). Further transcriptomic and gene expression analyses revealed that their neuroprotective effects involve the regulation of pathways related to metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, with the three peptides exhibiting distinct mechanistic emphases. The research demonstrates that these marine-derived peptides exert neuroprotective effects through a synergistic multi-target mechanism, laying a foundation for the development of novel lead compounds against Parkinson's disease.