scholarly journals Quantitative and structural analysis of isotopically labelled natural crosslinks in type I skin collagen using LC-HRMS and SANS

Author(s):  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Rafea Naffa ◽  
Christopher J. Garvey ◽  
Catherine A. Maidment ◽  
Sujay Prabakar

Abstract Collagen structure in biological tissues imparts its intrinsic physical properties by the formation of several covalent crosslinks. For the first time, two major crosslinks in the skin dihydroxylysinonorleucine (HLNL) and histidinohydroxymerodesmosine (HHMD), were isotopically labelled and then analysed by liquid-chromatography high-resolution accurate-mass mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The isotopic labelling followed by LC-HRMS confirmed the presence of one imino group in both HLNL and HHMD, making them more susceptible to degrade at low pH. The structural changes in collagen due to extreme changes in the pH and chrome tanning were highlighted by the SANS contrast variation between isotopic labelled and unlabelled crosslinks. This provided a better understanding of the interaction of natural crosslinks with the chromium sulphate in collagen suggesting that the development of a benign crosslinking method can help retain the intrinsic physical properties of the leather. This analytical method can also be applied to study artificial crosslinking in other collagenous tissues for biomedical applications. Graphical abstract

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helan Xiao ◽  
Guoping Cai ◽  
Mingyao Liu

Extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in cell differentiation, growth, migration and apoptosis. Collagen is the most abundant protein familyin vivo, but its function has still not been clearly defined yet. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have a central role in oxidative cell stress. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy indicates that type I collagen could uniquely scavenge hydroxyl radicals in dose- and time-dependent manner; whereas BSA and gelatin (a denatured collagen) have no such an effect. However, the mechanism by which type I collagen scavenges hydroxyl radicals is different from that of GSH, a well-known free radical scavenger. Using a new method, two-dimensional FTIR correlation analysis, for the first time, we show that the order of functional group changes of type I collagen in this process is amide I earlier than amide II than amide III than –CH– thanν(C=O). The results indicates that the structure of the main chain of collagen changed first, followed by more residue groupν(C=O) exposed to hydroxyl radicals. The reaction with the carbonyl group in collagen causes the hydroxyl free radicals to be scavenged. Therefore, ECM can effectively scavenge ROS under normal physiological conditions. When the proteins of ECM were denatured in the same way as gelatin, they lost their function as a free radical scavenger. All of these results provide new insight into therapy or prevention of oxidative stress, apoptosis and ageing.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vihang S. Thite ◽  
Anuradha S. Nerurkar

Abstract After chemical pretreatment, improved amenability of agrowaste biomass for enzymatic saccharification needs an understanding of the effect exerted by pretreatments on biomass for enzymatic deconstruction. In present studies, NaOH, NH4OH and H2SO4 pretreatments effectively changed visible morphology imparting distinct fibrous appearance to sugarcane bagasse (SCB). Filtrate analysis after NaOH, NH4OH and H2SO4 pretreatments yielded release of soluble reducing sugars (SRS) in range of ~0.17–0.44%, ~0.38–0.75% and ~2.9–8.4% respectively. Gravimetric analysis of pretreated SCB (PSCB) biomass also revealed dry weight loss in range of ~25.8–44.8%, ~11.1–16.0% and ~28.3–38.0% by the three pretreatments in the same order. Release of soluble components other than SRS, majorly reported to be soluble lignins, were observed highest for NaOH followed by H2SO4 and NH4OH pretreatments. Decrease or absence of peaks attributed to lignin and loosened fibrous appearance of biomass during FTIR and SEM studies respectively further corroborated with our observations of lignin removal. Application of commercial cellulase increased raw SCB saccharification from 1.93% to 38.84%, 25.56% and 9.61% after NaOH, H2SO4 and NH4OH pretreatments. Structural changes brought by cell wall degrading enzymes were first time shown visually confirming the cell wall disintegration under brightfield, darkfield and fluorescence microscopy. The microscopic evidence and saccharification results proved that the chemical treatment valorized the SCB by making it amenable for enzymatic saccharification.


Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 819
Author(s):  
Nicolai Rügen ◽  
Timothy P. Jenkins ◽  
Natalie Wielsch ◽  
Heiko Vogel ◽  
Benjamin-Florian Hempel ◽  
...  

Assassin bug venoms are potent and exert diverse biological functions, making them potential biomedical goldmines. Besides feeding functions on arthropods, assassin bugs also use their venom for defense purposes causing localized and systemic reactions in vertebrates. However, assassin bug venoms remain poorly characterized. We collected the venom from the assassin bug Rhynocoris iracundus and investigated its composition and bioactivity in vitro and in vivo. It caused lysis of murine neuroblastoma, hepatoma cells, and healthy murine myoblasts. We demonstrated, for the first time, that assassin bug venom induces neurolysis and suggest that it counteracts paralysis locally via the destruction of neural networks, contributing to tissue digestion. Furthermore, the venom caused paralysis and melanization of Galleria mellonella larvae and pupae, whilst also possessing specific antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, but not Listeria grayi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A combinatorial proteo-transcriptomic approach was performed to identify potential toxins responsible for the observed effects. We identified neurotoxic Ptu1, an inhibitory cystin knot (ICK) toxin homologous to ω-conotoxins from cone snails, cytolytic redulysins homologous to trialysins from hematophagous kissing bugs, and pore-forming hemolysins. Additionally, chitinases and kininogens were found and may be responsible for insecticidal and cytolytic activities. We demonstrate the multifunctionality and complexity of assassin bug venom, which renders its molecular components interesting for potential biomedical applications.


Author(s):  
Shuo Zhang ◽  
Frederieke A. M. van der Mee ◽  
Roel J. Erckens ◽  
Carroll A. B. Webers ◽  
Tos T. J. M. Berendschot

AbstractIn this report we present a confocal Raman system to identify the unique spectral features of two proteins, Interleukin-10 and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme. Characteristic Raman spectra were successfully acquired and identified for the first time to our knowledge, showing the potential of Raman spectroscopy as a non-invasive investigation tool for biomedical applications.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1094
Author(s):  
Allan Radaic ◽  
Nam E. Joo ◽  
Soo-Hwan Jeong ◽  
Seong-II Yoo ◽  
Nicholas Kotov ◽  
...  

Prostate and breast cancer are the current leading causes of new cancer cases in males and females, respectively. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an essential lipid that mediates macrophage efferocytosis and is dysregulated in tumors. Therefore, developing therapies that selectively restore PS may be a potential therapeutic approach for carcinogenesis. Among the nanomedicine strategies for delivering PS, biocompatible gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have an extensive track record in biomedical applications. In this study, we synthesized biomimetic phosphatidylserine-caped gold nanoparticles (PS-AuNPs) and tested their anticancer potential in breast and prostate cancer cells in vitro. We found that both cell lines exhibited changes in cell morphology indicative of apoptosis. After evaluating for histone-associated DNA fragments, a hallmark of apoptosis, we found significant increases in DNA fragmentation upon PS-AuNP treatment compared to the control treatment. These findings demonstrate the use of phosphatidylserine coupled with gold nanoparticles as a potential treatment for prostate and breast cancer. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a phosphatidylserine-capped AuNP has been examined for its therapeutic potential in cancer therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 502 (3) ◽  
pp. 3294-3311
Author(s):  
Yuanming Wang ◽  
Artem Tuntsov ◽  
Tara Murphy ◽  
Emil Lenc ◽  
Mark Walker ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We present the results from an Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder search for radio variables on timescales of hours. We conducted an untargeted search over a 30 deg2 field, with multiple 10-h observations separated by days to months, at a central frequency of 945 MHz. We discovered six rapid scintillators from 15-min model-subtracted images with sensitivity of $\sim\! 200\, \mu$Jy/beam; two of them are extreme intra-hour variables with modulation indices up to $\sim 40{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ and timescales as short as tens of minutes. Five of the variables are in a linear arrangement on the sky with angular width ∼1 arcmin and length ∼2 degrees, revealing the existence of a huge plasma filament in front of them. We derived kinematic models of this plasma from the annual modulation of the scintillation rate of our sources, and we estimated its likely physical properties: a distance of ∼4 pc and length of ∼0.1 pc. The characteristics we observe for the scattering screen are incompatible with published suggestions for the origin of intra-hour variability leading us to propose a new picture in which the underlying phenomenon is a cold tidal stream. This is the first time that multiple scintillators have been detected behind the same plasma screen, giving direct insight into the geometry of the scattering medium responsible for enhanced scintillation.


2021 ◽  
pp. 074823372110009
Author(s):  
Dalia Abdel Moneim Kheirallah ◽  
Awatef Mohamed Ali ◽  
Salah Eldein Osman ◽  
Amal Mohamed Shouman

Nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs) have advantageous applications in the industry; however, little is known of their adverse effects on biological tissues. In the present study, the ground beetle Blaps polycresta was employed as a sensitive indicator for nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO-NPs) toxicity. Adult male beetles were injected with six dose levels of NiO-NPs (0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, and 0.06 mg/g body weight). Mortality was reported daily over 30 days under laboratory conditions to establish an LD50. Nickel was detected in the testicular tissues of the beetles using X-ray analysis and transmission electronic microscopy. Beetles treated with the sublethal dose of 0.02 mg/g were selected to observe molecular, cellular, and subcellular changes. Gene transcripts of HSP70, HSP90, and MT1 were found to be increased >2.5-, 1.5-, and 2-fold, respectively, in the treated group compared with the controls. Decreased gene expression of AcPC01, AcPC02, and AcPC04 (≤1.5-, ≤2-, and < 2.5-fold, respectively, vs. controls) also were reported in the treated group. Under light microscopy, various structural changes were observed in the testicular tissues of the treated beetles. Ultrastructure observations using scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed severe damage to the subcellular organelles as well as deformities of the heads and flagella of the spermatozoa. Therefore, the present study postulated the impact of NiO-NPs in an ecological model.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dahiana Andrea Avila Salazar ◽  
Peter Bellstedt ◽  
Atsuhiro Miura ◽  
Yuki Oi ◽  
Toshihiro Kasuga ◽  
...  

Phosphate glass dissolution can be tailored via compositional and subsequent structural changes, which is of interest for biomedical applications such as therapeutic ion delivery. Here, solid-state 31P nuclear magnetic resonance...


Macromol ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-172
Author(s):  
Aristeidis Papagiannopoulos

Polyelectrolytes have been at the center of interdisciplinary research for many decades. In the field of polymer science and soft matter, they have provided the dimensions of electrostatic interactions, which opens a vast variety of opportunities for new physical properties and applications. In biological matter, polyelectrolytes are present in many forms, from extracellular polysaccharides to complex DNA molecules and proteins. This review discusses the recent research on polyelectrolytes covering the fundamental level of their conformations and nanostructures, their molecular interactions with materials that have close relevance to bioapplications and their applications in the biomedical field. This approach is motivated by the fact that the polyelectrolyte research is constantly active in all the aforementioned levels and continually affects many critical scientific areas.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gui-Jun Ding ◽  
Stephen F. King ◽  
Cai-Chang Li ◽  
Ye-Ling Zhou

Abstract We consider for the first time level 7 modular invariant flavour models where the lepton mixing originates from the breaking of modular symmetry and couplings responsible for lepton masses are modular forms. The latter are decomposed into irreducible multiplets of the finite modular group Γ7, which is isomorphic to PSL(2, Z7), the projective special linear group of two dimensional matrices over the finite Galois field of seven elements, containing 168 elements, sometimes written as PSL2(7) or Σ(168). At weight 2, there are 26 linearly independent modular forms, organised into a triplet, a septet and two octets of Γ7. A full list of modular forms up to weight 8 are provided. Assuming the absence of flavons, the simplest modular-invariant models based on Γ7 are constructed, in which neutrinos gain masses via either the Weinberg operator or the type-I seesaw mechanism, and their predictions compared to experiment.


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