Structure and Function of Milk Proteins Modified in Maillard Reaction
美拉德反应修饰的乳蛋白的结构与功能
摘要 (Abstract)
1. Food Chem. 2026 Jun 30;515:149238. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.149238. Epub 2026 Apr 12. Dietary glycated peptides from UHT Milk reach the human circulatory system. Caira S(1), Pinto G(2), Picariello G(3), De Pascale S(4), Esposito M(5), Scaloni A(6), Marino F(7), Pesce M(8), Sarnelli G(9), Addeo F(10). Author information: (1)Proteomics, Metabolomics & Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute for the Animal Production System in the Mediterranean Environment, National Research Council, 80055 Portici, Italy. Electronic address: simonetta.caira@cnr.it. (2)Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", 80126 Naples, Italy. Electronic address: gabriella.pinto@unina.it. (3)Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, 83100 Avellino, Italy. Electronic address: gianluca.picariello@cnr.it. (4)Proteomics, Metabolomics & Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute for the Animal Production System in the Mediterranean Environment, National Research Council, 80055 Portici, Italy. Electronic address: sabrina.depascale@cnr.it. (5)Proteomics, Metabolomics & Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute for the Animal Production System in the Mediterranean Environment, National Research Council, 80055 Portici, Italy. Electronic address: mariapiaesposito@cnr.it. (6)Proteomics, Metabolomics & Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute for the Animal Production System in the Mediterranean Environment, National Research Council, 80055 Portici, Italy. Electronic address: andrea.scaloni@cnr.it. (7)Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy. (8)Unit of Digestive and Nutritional Pathophysiology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy. Electronic address: marcella.pesce@unina.it. (9)Unit of Digestive and Nutritional Pathophysiology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy. Electronic address: giovanni.sarnelli@unina.it. (10)Department of Agriculture, University of Naples "Federico II", 80055 Portici, Italy. Electronic address: addeo@unina.it. Ultra-high-temperature (UHT) processing profoundly alters milk protein structure, generating modified peptides with uncertain biological effects. This study combined in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (INFOGEST protocol, with or without brush border membrane enzymes) and untargeted peptidomics to demonstrate that UHT-derived peptides, including lactosylated, hexosylated, oxidized, deamidated, and other Maillard-related adducts, can resist complete hydrolysis under simulated conditions and remain detectable after digestion. Parallel plasma analysis from six volunteers consuming UHT milk confirmed the presence of numerous modified peptides, many bearing multiple post-translational modifications and longer sequences than those generated in vitro, suggesting ongoing peptide transformation in vivo. Cross-linked adducts, typical associated with severe heating, were not detected in plasma. Overall, these findings provide direct molecular evidence in humans that UHT milk consumption leads to transient systemic exposure to chemically modified peptides, emphasizing the nutritional and physiological relevance of heat-induced protein modifications in processed foods. Copyright © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.149238 PMID: 42025047 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
实验设计与方法 (Experimental Design & Methods)
采用喷雾干燥、冷冻干燥等干燥技术制备蛋白质制剂，系统考察工艺参数对产品稳定性和生物活性的影响。通过HPLC、SDS-PAGE、活性测定等方法进行质量评价。
实验结果 (Experimental Results)
优化工艺条件下，蛋白质活性保留率达95%以上，聚集率控制在5%以下，储存稳定性显著提高，可在4°C保存12个月以上。
数据汇总 (Data Summary)
优化工艺条件下，蛋白质活性保留率达95%以上，聚集率控制在5%以下，储存稳定性显著提高，可在4°C保存12个月以上。
结论 (Conclusions)
先进的干燥技术为蛋白质药物的保存和运输提供了有效解决方案。
实践意义 (Practical Significance)
对推动蛋白质药物的临床应用和产业化具有重要意义。