Chapter 3 - Novel technologies in bioactive peptides production and stability

Abstract

Bioactive peptides (BAPs) are encrypted sequences within a parent protein and are key ingredients in functional foods. These peptides are released during food processing, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, or through gastrointestinal tract. In addition to their nutrition role, biopeptides have been shown to have the potential to be health-promoting agents in fighting chronic diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, inflammatory processes, and cancer. Since BAPs become from plant or animal sources, they could be obtained from their original source. However, their presence in the market is still relatively scarce because their production and extraction methods can be expensive, nonconsistent, and difficult to scale-up. Furthermore, the stability and bioavailability of BAPs in food formulations are issues that are yet to be addressed. In this chapter a protocol for the production of a synthetic antihypertensive and an antiangiogenic recombinant peptides using a bacterial system as a feasible platform for the production of peptides with biological activity is presented.