Valorization of brewer's spent yeast: Comprehensive sensory evaluation, molecular docking, and receptor binding insights into umami peptides.

Sijia Li, Guohua Zhao, Damao Wang

Journal: Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.) 2026;241():119782

PMID: 42562541

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Low-molecular-weight peptides (<3 kDa) were enriched from brewer's spent yeast (BSY) by sequential ultrafiltration, gel filtration, and RP-HPLC. Five peptides (TDPGW, AGFTGPD, GPNYVPG, GVDYQPG, EAYPGD) were synthesized and evaluated by sensory analysis, electronic tongue analysis, and preliminary CCK-8 cell viability assays. GPNYVPG showed the strongest umami perception with the lowest detection thresholds. Molecular docking and 100 ns MD/FEL analyses revealed GVDYQPG formed the most compact, low-energy complex with T1R1/T1R3 via hydrogen bonds/electrostatics with key residues (Arg54, Asp108, Thr60). This experimental-computational divergence suggests that taste intensity depends not only on static affinity but also on multi-modal cues (e.g., solution behavior and co-modality). Altogether, BSY is a sustainable source of umami peptides, and GPNYVPG (sensory) together with GVDYQPG (thermodynamics) provide complementary leads for flavor design.

Address: Yibin Academy of Southwest University, Yibin 644000, China; College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.; Yibin Academy of Southwest University, Yibin 644000, China; College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Life Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610101, China.; Yibin Academy of Southwest University, Yibin 644000, China; College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2026.119782

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MeSH Terms: Molecular Docking Simulation, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Taste, Peptides, Humans, Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled, Bioactive Peptides, Dietary, Hydrogen Bonding, Taste Perception, Flavoring Agents, Electronic Nose