Uptake and phosphorylation of gamma-conglutin, a hypoglycaemic lupin seed protein, by HepG2 cells

gamma-Conglutin, a lupin seed glycoprotein, positively influences glucose uptake in model cells and reduces glycaemia in animal models and human subjects. In particular, gamma-conglutin can activate different signaling pathways, in differentiating myocyte, that closely resembled those of insulin. gamma-Conglutin was transcytosed through a CaCo2 cell monolayer and crossed an ex-vivo intestinal barrier in an intact form. Beside, the protein displays strong resistance to endogenous and exogenous proteolytic enzymes. These findings encouraged us to further study the molecular mechanisms of action of this bioactive protein, which are still not completely elucidated.