Application in nutrition: mineral binding

Minerals are essential to different biological processes in living beings. Likewise, free transition metals such as copper and iron promote the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROSs). However, metal-binding peptides obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins or synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis avoid ROS formation catalyzed by free transition metals. Interactions between metals and mineral-binding peptides (MBPs) are usually studied using spectroscopic techniques, isothermal titration calorimetry, and more recently by surface plasmon resonance and switchSENSE. Through electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, the changes in the binding affinities can be studied. MBPs can be purified using immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography, and its process simulation. Various cellular models are used to investigate the health effects of MBPs.