It has been suggested that peptide inhibitors of prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) may act as anti-amnestic agents. In the hope of finding PEP inhibitors in milk proteins, we synthesized a total of 37 human β-casein peptide fragments containing proline residues. It was found that the peptides with PEP inhibition activity in vitro were located in the region of amino acid residues 49-59 of human β-casein. The most potent inhibitor was Ile-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Val-Glu-Pro-Ile (IC₅₀ = 8μM).

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