Improving protein hydrolysis and digestibility in Arthrospira platensis biomass through recombinant peptidases (EC 3.4): Opportunities for monogastric animal diets
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This study investigates the use of recombinant peptidases (EC 3.4) to improve protein hydrolysis and digestibility in Arthrospira platensis , with a focus on addressing the challenge of reduced protein bioavailability for monogastric animals due to resistant protein-pigment formations, such as phycocyanin, and increased digesta viscosity caused by jellification properties. A library of 192 peptidases was generated, from which 142 soluble peptidases were expressed in Escherichia coli and subsequently screened for activity against an A. platensis suspension in vitro . Among these peptidases, six promising candidates were identified for protein and peptide extraction from the microalga. These enzymes were tested individually, and in a mix (MIX6), and compared to commercial trypsin and pancreatin. Protein content was determined using the Bradford method and potential peptide formation was measured via an o -phthaldialdehyde (OPA) assay. The protein solubility and hydrolysis, specifically of two main protein fractions (18–26 kDa and 40–48 kDa) along with minor fractions, were analysed via 14 % sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Results indicated that the enzyme ID 138, a serine-peptidase, significantly increased total peptide formation in the A. platensis supernatant, although it did not outperform other peptidases or enzyme mixtures. Notably, enzymes ID 152, derived from a marine bacterium, and ID 153, another serine-peptidase, exhibited significant improvements in the extraction and hydrolysis of one protein fraction (18–26 kDa), possibly corresponding to a phycocyanin fraction. While no synergistic effects were observed among peptidases, further investigations are warranted to understand the enzyme composition of MIX6, particularly enzymes ID 138, ID 152 and ID 153, and their potential to enhance the bioavailability of A. platensis proteins for monogastric animals when incorporated into dietary formulations.
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Intrinsic and extrinsic factors compromise nutrient release and absorption, including robust cell wall structures, chemical and physical instability of bioactives, and interactions with food matrix components.
“Several intrinsic and extrinsic factors compromise nutrient release and absorption, including the robust cell wall structures that restrict the liberation of intracellular nutrients, the chemical and physical instability of bioactives during processing and gastrointestinal digestion, and interactions with other food matrix components that hinder nutrient solubility and uptake [91,92].”
From Microalgae Bioactives for Functional Food Innovation and Health Promotion (2025) · cites this paper as [92]
The Introduction (page unavailable) says A. platensis’s robust cell wall restricts bioaccessibility and describes protein–pigment complexes that obstruct digestion and absorption. It also notes heat denaturation of certain proteins, but does not establish the broader claim about bioactive instability during gastrointestinal digestion or interactions with other food-matrix components hindering solubility and uptake. (LLM, conf=0.85)
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Microalgae Bioactives for Functional Food Innovation and Health Promotion
Guil-Guerrero, J. L., & Prates, J. A. M. (2025) · Foods · doi:10.3390/foods14122122 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Self-citationPrates, J. A. M. (2025) · Foods · doi:10.3390/foods14091524 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Spínola, M. P., Costa, M. M., Simões, R. S., Fernandes, V. O., Cardoso, V., Pires, V. M. R., Afonso, C., Cardoso, C., Bandarra, N. M., Fontes, C. M. G. A., & Prates, J. A. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Lisbon (PT)
- Universidade do Porto (PT)
- Corresponding author
- Prates, José A.M.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Heliyon
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2025-01
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- e41460
- ISSN
- 2405-8440 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC11742843
- OpenAlex
- W4405791302
- Cited by
- 5
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3
- FWCI
- 0.68
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Heliyon (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (LA/P/0059/2020, UIDB/00276/2020, UI/BD/153071/2022, P2020/17/SI/70114/2019)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Hydrolysis and Bioactive Peptides
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biotechnology › Enzyme Production and Characterization
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Keywords
- Spirulina platensis, proteolysis, protein digestibility, phycocyanin, pigment-protein complexes, digesta viscosity, serine protease, peptide formation, protein extraction, microalgal biomass, enzyme screening
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