An active compound against allergen absorption in hypoallergenic wheat flour produced by enzymatic modification

Hypoallergenic wheat flour produced by modification with cellulase and actinase showed inhibitory activity against ovalbumin permeation in an in vitro model by using the Caco-2 cell monolayer. The activity was found in the cellulase preparation used for producing the flour. An active compound was isolated by HPLC and identified as Trp-Ser-Asn-Ser-Gly-Asn-Phe-Val-Gly-Gly-Lys by 1H-NMR data and Edman degradation. The undecapeptide, some oligopeptides with the N-terminal sequences and Trp ethyl ester showed activity at 10(-7) M, acetyl Trp being active at 10(-2) M. These data suggest that the Trp residue without a free carboxyl group would be required for the inhibitory activity of ovalbumin absorption through the intestinal tract.