Lectinas e peptídeos derivados com potencial terapêutico: avaliação de risco da lectina de abelmoschus esculentus e predição in silico de peptídeos inibidores da ECA-I e DPP-IV

Abstract

Lectins comprise a heterogeneous class of proteins that have a wide range of therapeutic properties. In this context, the lectin isolated from okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) seeds, named “A. esculentus lectin” (AEL), has stood out as a promising therapeutic agent in view of its anti inflammatory, anticancer and antinociceptive properties. Also in the context of therapeutic proteins, peptides encrypted in bioactive protein sequences have been shown to be promising tools for application in the treatment of various diseases, including diabetes and hypertension. Thus, lectins (including AEL) can be investigated as potential sources of inhibitory peptides of the angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE-I) and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV).