Chemical characterization of bioactive peptides from in vivo digests of casein.

The in vivo formation of biologically active caseinopeptides was studied. It was proved that bioactive peptides were released in the small intestine of minipigs in the course of luminal digestion of diets containing bovine casein. An opioid peptide and a phosphopeptide were isolated from jejunal chyme and were chemically characterized. The opioid peptide has been identified as a fragment of beta-casein (60-70). This peptide, named beta-casomorphin-11, displayed substantial opioid activity in an opiate receptor-binding assay. The caseinophosphopeptide has been shown to be a fragment of alpha s1-casein (66-74). Casein-derived phosphopeptides exhibit a potent ability to form soluble complexes with Ca and trace elements. Evidence exists that casomorphins and caseinophosphopeptides participate in the regulation of nutrient entry.