Preparation and Identification of the Novel Umami Peptides from Sea Cucumber Viscera Hydrolysate

TL;DR

Researchers identified new umami peptides from sea cucumber viscera that could enhance flavor naturally without high sodium.

Contribution

The study introduces novel umami peptides from sea cucumber viscera by-products with potential as low-sodium flavor enhancers.

Findings

Synergistic dual-enzyme hydrolysis produced a hydrolysate with a 1.75-fold higher umami signal than single-enzyme methods.

Thirty-three umami peptides were identified, with two (DFLDDGPG and SDTGNFGF) showing strong binding to the umami receptor T1R1/T1R3.

Peptide DFLDDGPG enhanced umami flavor in salty systems, validated by sensory panels and statistical analysis.

Abstract

Sea cucumber viscera by-products are abundant but remain underutilized. Although the development of umami peptides from marine by-products has been well-reported, sea cucumber viscera have received less attention. In this study, an umami-rich hydrolysate was prepared from sea cucumber viscera through synergistic dual-enzyme hydrolysis. Under optimal conditions, the co-hydrolysis using Flavourzyme and aminopeptidase yielded extraction rates of 69.38% for solids, 67.29% for protein, and 66.96% for total sugar, and produced a 1.75-fold higher umami signal intensity (electronic tongue) than the single-enzyme (Flavourzyme) hydrolysate. The target umami fraction was enriched through sensory-guided separation combined with ultrafiltration and ion-exchange chromatography. Thirty-three umami peptides, predominantly derived from actin hydrolysis, were identified in this fraction via peptidomics and virtual screening. Based on docking simulations against the umami receptor T1R1/T1R3, two peptides (DFLDDGPG and SDTGNFGF) with the lowest docking scores were selected. The predictions revealed that two peptides bind to the T1R3 subunit via hydrogen bonds and π-related interactions. The umami-enhancing effect of peptide DFLDDGPG in salty systems was demonstrated by a trained panel (n = 10) across concentration ranges of 0.1–1.0 mg/mL peptide and 0.1–1.0% NaCl, with a positive correlation validated by RSM and ANOVA (p < 0.05). This study identified novel umami peptides from sea cucumber by-products as promising candidates for natural, low-sodium flavor enhancers.

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