Collagen peptides from sturgeon swim bladder prolong the lifespan and healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract BACKGROUND Sturgeon is a popular aquaculture species in many countries. Its swim bladder is rich in collagen but has not yet been exploited scientifically. RESULTS Collagen peptides (CPs) prepared from sturgeon swim bladder by trypsinolysis had an average molecular weight of 528.5 Da and consisted of 407 peptides, 16.1% of the content of which was GFPGADGSAGPK. The CPs at 25 mg mL‐1 extended the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans by 22.6%, which was significantly higher than the extension achieved by other hydrolysis methods and source materials. They also improved fitness‐related traits (body size, motor capacity, oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, and epidermal barrier function), indicating prolonged healthspan. Transcriptome analysis showed that the effect was mediated by the mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway, which enhanced stress resistance, the insulin/IGF‐1 pathway, which inhibited protein aggregation, and the NHR‐80/FAT‐6 pathway, which regulated lipid metabolism. CONCLUSION Collagen peptides from sturgeon swim bladder by trypsinolysis prolonged the lifespan and healthspan in C. elegans, and might be promising anti‐aging agents. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.