Here, we characterize the activities
of two depeptidyl peptidase-IV
(DPP-IV) inhibitory peptides, VLATSGPG and LDKVFER, using the Caco-2
monolayer model for the intestine. VLATSGPG and LDKVFR inhibited the
DPP-IV in the cells via a mixed-type inhibition mode,
with in situ IC50 values of 207.3 and
148.5 μM, respectively. Furthermore, VLATSGPG and LDKVFR were
transported intact across the cells, with P
app values of 2.41 ± 0.16 and 4.23 ± 0.29 × 10–7 cm/s, respectively. Fragmented peptides were identified in the basolateral
side of the membrane. Two of these, GPG and VLA, exhibited high inhibitory
activities of 83.6 ± 3.3 and 58.5 ± 2.5%, respectively,
at 100 μM concentration. Although 3 mM VLATSGPG and LDKVFR were
transported across the epithelium in a concentration-dependent manner,
their transport did not damage the tight junction proteins, ZO-1 and
occludin. This study demonstrates that the two peptides potentially
regulate DPP-IV activity in the intestine.