Affinity Purification and Molecular Characterization of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE)-Inhibitory Peptides from Takifugu flavidus

An affinity chromatography filler of CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B-immobilized ACE was used to purify ACE-inhibitory peptides from Takifugu flavidus protein hydrolysate (<1 kDa). Twenty-four peptides with an average local confidence score (ALC) ≥ 80% from bounded components (eluted by 1 M NaCl) were identified by LC-MS/MS. Among them, a novel peptide, TLRFALHGME, with ACE-inhibitory activity (IC(50) = 93.5 µmol·L(−1)) was selected. Molecular docking revealed that TLRFALHGME may interact with the active site of ACE through H-bond, hydrophobic, and electrostatic interactions. The total binding energy (ΔGbinding) of TLRFALHGME was estimated to be −82.7382 kJ·mol(−1) by MD simulations, indicating the favorable binding of peptides with ACE. Furthermore, the binding affinity of TLRFALHGME to ACE was determined by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with a Kd of 80.9 µmol, indicating that there was a direct molecular interaction between them. TLRFALHGME has great potential for the treatment of hypertension.