Bioactivity of an antihypertensive peptide expressed in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

•The recombinant protein produced in C. reinhardtii containing VLPVP peptides can reduce the systolic blood pressure in spontaneous hypertensive rats.•After in vitro digestion of biomass of a recombinant C. reinhardtii strain, the VLVPV peptide was identified and quantified by HPLC.•This is the first study that indicates the potential of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii producing an antihypertensive peptide.

In this study, we developed a transplastomic C. reinhardtii strain that accumulates anti-hypertensive peptides. Tandem repeats of VLPVP peptide were included. PCR analysis confirmed the presence of the transgene in the modified strains. After in vitro digestion of biomass of a recombinant C. reinhardtii strain the VLVPV peptide was identified and quantified by HPLC. The highest expression line produced 0.292 mg of recombinant protein per mg of freeze-dried biomass. Intragastric administration of the genetically modified strain to spontaneous hypertensive rats at a dose of 30 mg/kg of body weight of recombinant protein significantly reduced systolic blood pressure. At the same dose, the recombinant protein exerts an ACE-inhibitory effect. This is the first study that indicates the potential of this microalga producing an antihypertensive peptide as a dietary supplement for hypertension patients.