Use of proline specific endoproteases to hydrolyse peptides and proteins

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the proteolytic hydrolysis of a peptide or a polypeptide, said peptide or polypeptide comprising 4 to 40, preferably 5 to 35, amino acid residues and said peptide or polypeptide is not hydrolysable by subtilisin whereby said peptide or polypeptide is hydrolysed by a proline specific endo protease at a pH of 6.5 or lower, preferably 5.5 or lower and more preferably 5.0 or lower to hydrolyse said peptide or polypeptide.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A process for proteolytic hydrolysis of a peptide or a polypeptide,
 wherein said peptide or polypeptide comprising 4 to 40, preferably 5 to 35, amino acid residues, and   wherein said peptide or polypeptide is not hydrolysable by subtilisin,   said process comprising the step of:   hydrolyzing said peptide or polypeptide with a proline specific endo protease at a pH of 6.5 or lower, preferably 5.5 or lower and more preferably 5.0 or lower to hydrolyse said peptide or polypeptide.   
     
     
         21 . A process for the proteolytic hydrolysis of a peptide or a polypeptide,
 wherein said peptide or polypeptide comprising 4 to 40, preferably 5 to 35 amino acid residues, and   wherein said peptide or polypeptide comprises the tripeptide motif Glu-Xxx-Pro, Gln-Xxx-Pro, Tyr-Pro-Phe or Tyr-Pro-Trp   said process comprising the step of:   hydrolyzing said peptide or polypeptide by a proline specific endo protease at a pH of 6.5 or lower, preferably 5.5 or lower and more preferably 5.0 or lower to hydrolyse said peptide or polypeptide.   
     
     
         22 . A process for proteolytic hydrolysis of a peptide or a polypeptide,
 wherein said peptide or polypeptide comprises 4 to 40, preferably 5 to 35 amino acid residues,   wherein the amino acid residues of the peptide or polypeptide comprises for at least 30%, preferably at least 40%, proline and/or glutamine residues,   said process comprising the step of:   hydrolyzing said peptide or polypeptide by a proline specific endo protease at a pH of 6.5 or lower, preferably 5.5 or lower and more preferably 5.0 or lower to hydrolyse said peptide or polypeptide with the proviso that the peptide or polypeptide comprises at least 10% of proline residues.   
     
     
         23 . A process according to any one of  claims 20  to  22  whereby the peptide or polypeptide comprises the tripeptide motif Glu-Xxx-Pro or Gln-Xxx-Pro and comprises 9 or more amino acid residues. 
     
     
         24 . A process according to  claim 23  whereby said peptide or polypeptide is hydrolyzed into a peptide containing 8 or less amino acid residues. 
     
     
         25 . A process according  claim 21   wherein the peptide or polypeptide comprises the motif Tyr-Pro-Phe or Tyr-Pro-Trp, and   wherein a peptide bond between Pro and Phe or between Pro and Trp of the Tyr-Pro-Phe or Tyr-Pro-Trp motif is hydrolyzed.   
     
     
         26 . A process according to any one of the  claims 20  to  22  wherein said proline specific endo protease is derived from  Aspergillus  or belongs to the S28 family of serine proteases. 
     
     
         27 . A process according to any one of the  claims 20  to  22 , whereby the peptide or polypeptide are brought in relation with disorders selected from the group consisting of: autism, schizophrenia, ADHD, bipolar mood disorder, depression, celiac disease linked disorder, autoimmune disorder, type 1 diabetes, dermatitis herpetiformis, autoimmune thyroiditis, collagen diseases, autoimmune alopecia, autoimmune hepatitis, IBS and combinations thereof.