Neurite outgrowth-stimulating peptide derived from bovine kappa-casein.

We found a novel peptide that stimulates neurite outgrowth in Neuro-2a mouse neuroblastoma cells, from the pepsin-pancreatin digest of bovine kappa-casein. The amino acid sequence of this peptide is Phe-Leu-Pro-Tyr-Pro-Tyr (FLPYPY), corresponding to peptidic sequence 76-81 of bovine kappa-casein. The neurite outgrowth-stimulating activity of FLPYPY was seen over 10(-9) M.