BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR ROLE OF A MIXTURE OF WHEY POWDER AND CHITOSAN IN THE PROCESSES OF PROTEIN SYNTHESIS AND DNA AND RNA REPLICATION

Whey proteins and chitosan are biologically active components that significantly affect cellular metabolism, protein synthesis, and genetic processes. The richness of whey proteins in essential amino acids, especially leucine, activates cellular protein synthesis through the mTORC1 signaling pathway. Chitosan, on the other hand, is a deacetylated derivative of chitin, and due to its cationic nature, it forms stable polyelectrolyte complexes with proteins and nucleic acids. The complex systems formed as a result of the mixture of whey powder and chitosan can modulate the bioavailability of amino acids, cellular entry processes, and the protection and functional activity of DNA and RNA. This article systematically analyzes the effects of whey-chitosan mixtures on protein synthesis, DNA and RNA replication processes based on biochemical and molecular mechanisms.