Characterization of casein phosphopeptides prepared using alcalase: Determination of enzyme specificity

Abstract

Tryptic casein phosphopeptides containing the cluster sequence-Ser(P)-Ser(P)-Ser(P)-Glu-Glu- have been shown to stablize amorphous calcium phosphate at neutral and alkaline pH and be anticariogenic in various in vitro, animal and human experiments. Furthermore, metal ion complexes of the casein phosphopeptides (CPPs) have potential as dietetic supplements to increase the bioavailability of calcium, iron, and other essential metal ions. In this study, we have used a Ca2+/ethanol selective precipitation procedure to produce a range of phosphopeptides from an alcalase digest of whole casein. The CPPs released by alcalase were truncated relative to those which are released by trypsin. The peptid..