Oxidative modification of a proline-rich gliadin peptide

Prolamins are proline-rich proteins occurring in cereal grains. Prolamins of wheat, barley and rye, or gluten protein, can cause coeliac disease in individuals not tolerating gluten. Degrading harmful prolamins can reduce their toxicity. A model peptide sequenced in α-gliadin, 33-mer (LQLQPFPQPQLPYPQPQLPYPQPQLPYPQPQPF), was chosen for our study. The metal-catalysed oxidation of 33-mer was studied, instead of enzymatic hydrolysis. Peptide 33-mer was treated in several oxidative systems. Iron-catalysed hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidation showed the greatest modification of 33-mer. Carbonyl groups and dityrosine cross-links were readily formed. At best, the immunological activity of 33-mer was reduced to 18% of its initial level after 24 h of oxidation. Oxidative treatment can be further applied for the modification of cereal prolamin proteins, since it appears to be a potential alternative for reduction of coeliac immunological activities in gluten proteins.