Serotonin N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT), which converts serotonin to N-acetylserotonin, is a rate-limiting enzyme for melatonin synthesis. We previously reported that intracellular redox conditions regulate AA-NAT activity by switching an intramolecular disulfide bridge in a glutathione (GSH)-dependent manner
thus, increased GSH levels can activate AA-NAT. Here, we found that commercially available rice peptides increased intracellular GSH levels and attenuated H2O2-induced inactivation of AA-NAT activity in COS7 cells expressing AA-NAT constitutively. Purification of the peptides using a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge and three rounds of reversed-phase HPLC, followed by sequence analysis by mass spectrometry, led to the identification of three peptides. Two of these peptides (Pep2, VVTFGPSGLTTEVK
Pep3, YQQQFQQFLPEGQSQSQK) prevented inactivation of AA-NAT activity by H2O2. Only Pep3 increased intracellular GSH levels and prevented the decrease in the reduced/oxidised GSH ratio induced by H2O2. These results suggest that Pep3 activates AA-NAT by increasing intracellular GSH levels, which switches the intramolecular disulfide bond of AA-NAT.