Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
  • 2 Department of Food, Nutrition and Health, College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
  • 3 Analytical Biochemistry Research Centre (ABrC), University of Science, Malaysia, 11800 USM, Penang, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Food, Nutrition and Health, College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Electronic address: sajid.m@uaeu.ac.ae
  • 5 Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Electronic address: mayoub@uaeu.ac.ae
J Dairy Sci, 2021 Jan;104(1):61-77.
PMID: 33162074 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18627

Abstract

The molecular basis of the anti-diabetic properties of camel milk reported in many studies and the exact active agent are still elusive. Recent studies have reported effects of camel whey proteins (CWP) and their hydrolysates (CWPH) on the activities of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and the human insulin receptor (hIR). In this study, CWPH were generated, screened for DPP-IV binding in silico and inhibitory activity in vitro, and processed for peptide identification. Furthermore, pharmacological action of intact CWP and their selected hydrolysates on hIR activity and signaling and on glucose uptake were investigated in cell lines. Results showed inhibition of DPP-IV by CWP and CWPH and their positive action on hIR activation and glucose uptake. Interestingly, the combination of CWP or CWPH with insulin revealed a positive allosteric modulation of hIR that was drastically reduced by the competitive hIR antagonist. Our data reveal for the first time the profiling and pharmacological actions of CWP and their derived peptides fractions on hIR and their pathways involved in glucose homeostasis. This sheds more light on the anti-diabetic properties of camel milk by providing the molecular basis for the potential use of camel milk in the management of diabetes.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.