Prasannalakshmi Acharya

Citation

Thesis Title
Gastrointestinal Endogenous Proteins as a Source of Bioactive Peptides

Read article at Massey Research Online:

The possibility that like dietary proteins, the digestion of gastrointestinal endogenous proteins (GEP) may also produce bioactive peptides, has not been considered to date. Ms Acharya’s research involved the use of sequential in silico, in vitro and in vivo techniques to understand whether GEP may be a hidden source of bioactive peptides in the gut. Her research revealed that GEP contain abundant encrypted bioactive peptide sequences with numerous bioactivities. She found that these bioactive peptides were released during both simulated in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and actual in vivo digestion in growing pigs. Her findings demonstrate for the first time that GEP are an important source of gut-modulatory bioactive peptides that augment the dietary supply of bioactive peptides. A paper co-authored by Ms Acharya with Distinguished Professor Paul James Moughan, as part of her doctoral thesis, has been recognised as a Key Scientific Article by the prestigious Global Medical Discovery series.

Supervisors
Distinguished Professor Paul Moughan
Dr Maria Hayes
Dr Carlos Montoya