A Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Seed Vicilins Hydrolysate Exhibits PPARγ Ligand Activity and Modulates Adipocyte Differentiation in a 3T3-L1 Cell Culture Model

© 2020 by the authors.Legume consumption has been reported to induce beneficial effects on obesity-associated metabolic disorders, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully clarified. In the current work, pea (Pisum sativum L.) seed meal proteins (albumins, legumins and vicilins) were isolated, submitted to a simulated gastrointestinal digestion, and the effects of their hydrolysates (pea albumins hydrolysates (PAH), pea legumins hydrolysates (PLH) and pea vicilin hydrolysates (PVH), respectively) on 3T3-L1 murine pre-adipocytes were investigated. The pea vicilin hydrolysate (PVH), but not native pea vicilins, increased lipid accumulation during adipocyte differentiation. PVH also increased the mRNA expression levels of the adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (aP2) and decreased that of pre-adipocyte factor-1 (Pref-1) (a pre-adipocyte marker gene), suggesting that PVH promotes adipocyte differentiation. Moreover, PVH induced adiponectin and insulin-responsive glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and stimulated glucose uptake. The expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), a key regulator of adipocyte differentiation, were up-regulated in 3T3-L1 cells treated with PVH during adipocyte differentiation. Finally, PVH exhibited PPARγ ligand activity. Lactalbumin or other pea hydrolysates (PAH, PLH) did not exhibit such effects. These findings show that PVH stimulates adipocyte differentiation via, at least in part, the up-regulation of PPARγ expression levels and ligand activity. These effects of PVH might be relevant in the context of the beneficial health effects of legume consumption in obesity-associated metabolic disorders.This work was carried out with financial support from the Spanish MICIIN (PET2008-0311 and AGL2017-83772-R). This research has been also partially supported by the FEDER and FSE funds from the European Union.Peer reviewe

Aspectos de las legumbres nutricionales y beneficiosos para la salud humana

The Leguminosae is one of the most important botanical families from a nutritional perspective, constituting one of the main ingredients in the Mediterranean diet and an essential food in developing countries. Grain legumes like chickpea, lentil, lupin, pea and beans are well known sources of proteins, starch, fiber, vitamins and minerals. In this paper, scientific evidence for the role of legumes in human nutrition, as well as the preventive properties of some of their bioactive components in diseases like type-2 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, obesity, inflammatory diseases and cancer, are considered. Finally, data of consumption in Spanish households was analyzed, where a 60% decrease has been observed over the last decades. This trend must be reversed by implementing policies to promote healthy diet and by adapting to a new market by means of developing novel products oriented to consumer preferences.Las leguminosas constituyen una de las familias botánicas más importantes desde el punto de vista nutricional, siendo un componente importante de la dieta mediterránea y esencial en la de numerosos países en desarrollo. Legumbres tales como garbanzo, lenteja, altramuz, guisante y habas son reconocidas como fuentes de proteínas, almidón, fibra, vitaminas y minerales. En este trabajo, quedan incluidas las evidencias científicas relativas al papel que juegan las legumbres en la nutrición humana así como las propiedades preventivas que ejercen algunos de sus componentes bioactivos en enfermedades tales como la diabetes tipo-2, hipercolesterolemia, hipertensión, obesidad, enfermedades inflamatorias y cáncer. Por último, se analiza los datos de consumo de legumbres en los hogares españoles, los cuales demuestran un descenso superior al 60 % en las últimas décadas. Esto debe ser corregido con políticas de promoción de dieta saludable así como por medidas de adaptación al nuevo mercado con la aparición de nuevos productos que vayan orientados a las preferencias actuales del consumidor

The Na+/H+ exchanger SOS1 controls extrusion and distribution of Na+ in tomato plants under salinity conditions

4 pages, 2 figures, 18 references.Maintaining a high K+/Na+ ratio in the cell cytosol, along with the transport processes implicated in the xylem and phloem loading/unloading of Na+ in plants (long-distance transport) are key aspects in plant salt tolerance. The Ca2+-dependent SOS pathway regulating Na+ and K+ homeostasis and long-distance Na+ transport has been reported in Arabidopsis. However, Arabidopsis might not be the best model to analyze the involvement of the SOS pathway in long-distance Na+ trans- port due to the very short stem of these plants which do not allow a precise dissection of the relative content of Na+ in stem versus leaf. This separation would be critical to assess the role of SOS1 in xylem loading/unloading, Na+ export by roots, retention in stems and the differential distribution/accumulation in old leaves. Towards this goal, tomato might represent a superior model due to its anatomical structure and agricultural significance. We recently demonstrated the key role played by the plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter SlSOS1 in salt tolerance in tomato by maintaining ion homeostasis under salinity stress and in the partitioning of Na+ in plant organs.This work was supported by grants BIO2006-01955 (A. Belver) and BFU2006-06968/BMC (J.M. Pardo) from the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia and by CVI 124 (A. Belver) and CVI 148 (J.M. Pardo) from the Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa, Junta de Andalucía. R. Olías was supported by a grant of Programa Averroes from the Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa, Junta de Andalucía.Peer reviewe

Beneficial effects of legumes in gut health

Proteins and carbohydrates from legumes are major components of the human diet and have been reported to exert beneficial effects in gut health. Proposed health benefits are related to both the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, inflammatory diseases and cancer. Resistance to digestion seems to be a prerequisite to exert their beneficial properties, either at local or systemic level. In vitro and in vivo approaches have demonstrated the potential of Bowman–Birk inhibitors and lunasin as anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic agents within the gastrointestinal tract. On the other hand, resistant carbohydrates to digestion, that comprises soluble and insoluble fibre, resistant starch and oligosaccharides, are major responsible of the low glycemic index of legume foods. Recent findings have demonstrated the key role of these dietary carbohydrates as modulators of intestinal microbiota composition and bowel motility, glucose homeostasis and cholesterolemia.This work has received financial support from projects 201540E085 and 201640E039

Pea seeds lacking anti-nutrition proteins have improved digestibility

Poster presentado en: 7th International Conference on Food Digestion. Cork, Irlanda; 3-5 mayo (2022)The increasing demand on food production to meet the needs of a growing population, coupled to the need to protect the environment, makes it necessary to change the food production system. Legume crops are a great choice as food crops to fulfil many needs, including nurturing the human population and reducing the impact of agriculture on the planet. Peas are an excellent source of proteins, carbohydrates and micronutrients, but the presence of so-called anti-nutritional factors can reduce the bioavailability of nutrients. Among the anti-nutritional proteins are lectin, pea albumin 2 (PA2) and trypsin inhibitors (TI). We have investigated the impact of these proteins on protein digestibility and amino acid availability, using pea seeds lacking these proteins. Three genetic variants were used: i) wild type (WT); ii) seeds lacking trypsin/chymotrypsin inhibitors (TI mutant); and iii) seeds lacking TI, lectin and PA2 (Triple null mutant). In vitro digestions following the INFOGEST protocol were carried out. Significant differences in the degree of hydrolysis, protein profile and amino acid availability were found among pea variants. Proteins resistant to digestion were identified by LC-MS/MS. Our results indicate that pea seeds lacking certain proteins can be used in the development of novel foods with improved digestibility