Blood-pressure-lowering peptide (LAPSTIK)
Blocks ACE, the enzyme that pushes blood pressure up, to help bring it down; experimental, not an approved drug.
A researcher, an agent, or an algorithm wrote down the sequence and picked a target to hit.
An AI model like OpenFold3 or AlphaFold built a 3D structure and scored how well it fits the binding site.
A second contributor repeated the computation on their own hardware and the scores matched.
Literature-extracted sequence peptide — synthesized for bioassay as documented in linked reference(s)
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Activity measured in linked reference(s) — IC50/MIC/cytotoxicity data
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Research directions for this peptide, selected from the current sources — hypotheses you can explore and model. None of it is proven yet; tap any one to see the full thinking.
Does the last piece of a peptide determine how well it blocks the enzyme that raises blood pressure?
If this holds, it would explain why LAPSTIK is less potent than some other food-derived peptides at blocking ACE, the enzyme that tightens blood vessels. That knowledge could guide researchers to swap one amino acid and make the next insect-protein ingredient significantly more effective for people managing hypertension.
If only the tail end of a peptide does the real work, could you cut it down and keep the benefit?
If true, a stripped-down four-amino-acid version could block the same blood-pressure enzyme at a similar level, and shorter peptides are cheaper to produce and more easily absorbed from food. This could matter for anyone interested in a blood-pressure-supporting functional ingredient derived from insects or other protein sources.
If a peptide was created by stomach-like enzymes in the lab, does that mean it could survive a real stomach?
Most food peptides that look promising in lab tests never reach the bloodstream because stomach and gut enzymes destroy them first. LAPSTIK was discovered precisely by running those same enzymes on insect protein, so it may already be naturally resistant. If that holds up, it could be a rare candidate for a genuine oral functional food ingredient for blood pressure support.
Could a single peptide from insect protein help with two of the most common problems in metabolic syndrome?
High blood pressure and type 2 diabetes often come together, and managing both usually means separate drugs or supplements. If LAPSTIK turns out to meaningfully slow the enzyme that drives post-meal blood sugar spikes on top of its blood-pressure effects, it could become a compelling ingredient for functional foods aimed at people dealing with both conditions at once.
▸full evidence table2 metrics
| metric | value | tool |
|---|---|---|
| ipTM | 0.7961453795433044 | boltz-2 |
| ranking score | 0.8494510650634766 | boltz-2 |
▸structural qualityopenfold3
| metric | value | note |
|---|---|---|
| gpde | 1.305 | global PDE — lower = better |
| disorder | NaN | fraction disordered |
▸3-letter notation
▸recipeboltz-2 1.0
| parameter | value |
|---|---|
| model | boltz-2 1.0 |
| weights | — |
| hardware | nvidia_nim_api |
| mlx version | — |
| python | — |
| random seed | — |
| msa strategy | none |
| diffusion samples | 1 |
| runtime | — |
| predicted by | mlx@peptide |
| predicted at | 2026-04-24 |
▸citationbibtex
@peptide{pep04777,
sequence = {LAPSTIK},
target = {ace},
author = {peptidemodel},
year = {2026},
status = {bioassayed}
}