Identification of a novel peptide that activates alcohol dehydrogenase from crucian carp swim bladder and how it protects against acute alcohol-induced liver injury in mice

Alcoholism is a severe threat to public health, and there are no adequate treatments for alcoholic liver disease. The aim of this study was to identify bioactive peptides derived from natural proteins that prevent acute alcohol-induced liver injury. We identified a peptide with the sequence Gly-Leu-hydroxyproline-Gly-Glu-Arg (GLpGER) from the hydrolysate of crucian carp swim bladder using size-exclusion chromatography and reversed-phase chromatography. The in vitro EC50 value of GLpGER to activate alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) was 137.9 ± 9 µM. Molecular docking experiments indicated that the mechanism by which GLpGER activates ADH may be related to the formation of stable complexes with ADH active pockets through hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Oral administration of GLpGER one hour before acute alcohol ingestion significantly increased alcohol metabolism, manifesting as reduced incidence of the loss of righting reflex, increased alcohol tolerance time, shortened sobering time, and decreased blood alcohol concentration level. GLpGER restored liver ADH activity, maintained the typical morphology of hepatocytes, and reduced serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. These findings suggest that GLpGER might reduce acute alcohol-induced liver injury and may have the potential to be developed as an anti-inebriation ingredient.