Research on the mechanism of action of functional enzymes at the cellular and molecular levels
Abstract
With the increasing incidence of metabolic diseases (e.g. diabetes mellitus), exploring safe and effective blood glucose regulation strategies has become a hot research topic in the field of functional foods and precision nutrition. This study focuses on the multiple biological activities and molecular mechanisms of composite plant enzymes in metabolic regulation, especially their efficacy in blood glucose regulation. By combining physicochemical characterisation and enzyme kinetic studies, the study reveals the mechanism of action of composite plant enzymes in sugar metabolism. The study showed that during the pre-fermentation phase, the significant fluctuation of sugar concentration reflected the efficient enzymatic reaction and metabolic activity of the microorganisms; during the post-fermentation phase, the system entered into a metabolic steady state. These dynamic changes demonstrated the role of enzymes in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and may also affect the cell membrane mechanical environment and signalling mechanisms. In addition, the composite plant enzymes exhibited non-competitive inhibition of α-amylase, which helped to control postprandial blood glucose levels by slowing down the hydrolysis of starch to glucose by reducing the reaction rate; whereas, the inhibition of α-glucosidase was competitive, which significantly enhanced the competitiveness for substrate binding as the enzyme concentration increased. The multi-target regulatory potential of composite plant enzymes in blood glucose regulation can be applied to nutritional intervention of metabolic diseases and functional food development, providing an important direction for future research.
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