Umami peptides screened based on peptidomics and virtual screening from Ruditapes philippinarum and Mactra veneriformis clams

The existing technology used for screening umami peptides is time-consuming and labor-intensive, making it difficult to meet the requirements of rapid screening of peptides. In this study, a high-throughput screening method for umami peptides was established based on peptidomics and virtual screening including the mass spectrometry, iUmami-SCM, PeptideRanker, and T1R1/T1R3 receptor. Subsequently, they were characterized and validated using sensory evaluation and electronic tongue. Results showed that 18 potential umami peptides were screened from two clams. Among them, 16 peptides had umami characteristics with thresholds range 0.123-1.481 mmol/L, and the accuracy of the screening method was about 88.9%. Additionally, active sites such as Tyr143, Gly144, Ser146, Ala145, His121, Ser123, and Glu277 may play a critical role in flavor presentation by molecular docking with T1R1/T1R3. The paper could provide a fast and reliable method for screening umami peptides as well as lay the foundation for novel strategies for evaluating umami taste.