Exploring the anticancer potential of cricket-derived peptides in human cancer cells; pro-apoptotic effects via a caspase-3 pathway

Abstract

Cricket-derived peptides have emerged as promising candidates in the development of novel anticancer agents. This is due to their unique biological activities and potential therapeutic benefits. The current study explores the anticancer potential of peptides derived from house cricket (Acheta domesticus) protein, specifically evaluating its effects on a range of human cancer cell lines. Three distinct peptides were identified and characterized, P1 (PTFLGMFLYEYAR), P2 (LTFPGMFLYEYAR), and P3 (RSVDSVSSPR). The cytotoxicity of these peptides was assessed through a series of in vitro assays that demonstrated their significant pro-apoptotic effects across various cancer cell types, including a human liver cancer cell line (HepG2), a human breast cancer cell line (HTB26), and a human lung cancer cell line: A549. Apoptotic induction by peptides P1-P3 was confirmed via the intrinsic pathway. This was evidenced by the upregulation of pro-apoptotic factors and the proteolytic cleavage of procaspase-3, leading to the activation of caspase-3, a key executor of apoptosis. Identification of peptide sequences revealed crucial amino acid residues that appear to play a role in enhancing membrane interaction and maintaining conformational flexibility. Additionally, the study investigated the selectivity of these peptides toward cancer cells compared to normal cells, indicating their beneficial therapeutic potential. This study suggests the potential of cricket-derived peptides as effective anticancer agents. Enhancing these properties will be crucial for advancing these peptides from preclinical studies to clinical applications.