Application of <i>in silico</i> methods for targeted hydrolysis of whey proteins

Abstract

Relevance. On the one hand, whey is a waste product of the dairy industry, generated in large volumes. On the other hand, this raw material is a valuable source of complete protein and a precursor to protein hydrolysates containing bioactive peptides. The technology for the targeted production of certain bioactive peptides from protein hydrolysis can be improved using in silico methods. Methods. The objects of research using the in silico method were whey proteins — β-lactoglobulin and α-lactalbumin. The BIOPEP-UWM database was used to analyze the effects of enzymes on the biotechnological properties of whey proteins. Results. The conducted in silico studies of whey proteins made it possible to identify the most effective enzymes for hydrolysis in order to obtain bioactive peptides. The use of protein databases made it possible to identify enzymes that do not break down the proteins being studied. In general, in silico methods contribute to the improvement of enzymatic hydrolysis technology and, at the development stage, make it possible to predict the production of given active peptides by regulating the choice of enzyme.