scholarly journals Self-Dividing Micelles: A Mechanistic Look with Evolutionary and Clinical Implications

2021 ◽  
pp. 8-20
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Laboratory Testing ◽  
Prebiotic Chemistry ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Mass Spec ◽  
First Time ◽  
Division Mechanism ◽  
Viable Treatment

Micellar therapy has become a usefully viable treatment arm in various fields, ranging from oncology to bioimaging. As such, research leading to any improvements or adaptations in administration and techniques can have far-reaching consequences. Potential aspects of prebiotic chemistry may also be explored in such research as well. To that end, proof-of-concept experiments were performed to elucidate a possible mechanism of action for prebiotic protocell division. Representative potentially prebiotically plausible biomolecules, i.e., a fatty acid, amino acid, and nucleotide were mixed and heated in water and subjected to microscopic examination for observation of possible self-division and laboratory testing for the presence of polypeptides and polynucleotides (Biuret, MALDI mass-spec, etc.) with and without the presence of nucleotide. The results are presented for the first time here and a mechanism is proposed that best fits the data obtained. The evolutionary, e.g., prebiotic biomolecular cooperativity, and clinical, e.g., potential antineoplastic micellar/vesicular therapy, ramifications are discussed as well. Keywords: Micelle; Liposome; Protocell; MRNA; Self-division; Mechanism; Solid tumors

Single Amino Acid Based Self-Assemblies of Cysteine and Methionine

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nidhi Gour ◽  
Bharti Koshti ◽  
Chandra Kanth P. ◽  
Dhruvi Shah ◽  
Vivek Shinh Kshatriya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acids ◽  
Neutral Condition ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Binding Assays ◽  
Human Neuroblastoma ◽  
Cytotoxicity Assays ◽  
First Time

We report for the very first time self-assembly of Cysteine and Methionine to discrenible strucutres under neutral condition. To get insights into the structure formation, thioflavin T and Congo red binding assays were done which revealed that aggregates may not have amyloid like characteristics. The nature of interactions which lead to such self-assemblies was purported by coincubating assemblies in urea and mercaptoethanol. Further interaction of aggregates with short amyloidogenic dipeptide diphenylalanine (FF) was assessed. While cysteine aggregates completely disrupted FF fibres, methionine albeit triggered fibrillation. The cytotoxicity assays of cysteine and methionine structures were performed on Human Neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells which suggested that aggregates are not cytotoxic in nature and thus, may not have amyloid like etiology. The results presented in the manuscript are striking, since to the best of our knowledge,this is the first report which demonstrates that even non-aromatic amino acids (cysteine and methionine) can undergo spontaneous self-assembly to form ordered aggregates.

scholarly journals Characterization of design grammar of peptides for regulating liquid droplets and aggregates of FUS

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyoto Kamagata ◽  
Rika Chiba ◽  
Ichiro Kawahata ◽  
Nanako Iwaki ◽  
Saori Kanbayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Electrostatic Interactions ◽  
Amyloid Fibrils ◽  
Droplet Formation ◽  
Liquid Droplets ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Aggregate Formation ◽  
Fused In Sarcoma ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

AbstractLiquid droplets of aggregation-prone proteins, which become hydrogels or form amyloid fibrils, are a potential target for drug discovery. In this study, we proposed an experiment-guided protocol for characterizing the design grammar of peptides that can regulate droplet formation and aggregation. The protocol essentially involves investigation of 19 amino acid additives and polymerization of the identified amino acids. As a proof of concept, we applied this protocol to fused in sarcoma (FUS). First, we evaluated 19 amino acid additives for an FUS solution and identified Arg and Tyr as suppressors of droplet formation. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that the Arg additive interacts with specific residues of FUS, thereby inhibiting the cation–π and electrostatic interactions between the FUS molecules. Second, we observed that Arg polymers promote FUS droplet formation, unlike Arg monomers, by bridging the FUS molecules. Third, we found that the Arg additive suppressed solid aggregate formation of FUS, while Arg polymer enhanced it. Finally, we observed that amyloid-forming peptides induced the conversion of FUS droplets to solid aggregates of FUS. The developed protocol could be used for the primary design of peptides controlling liquid droplets and aggregates of proteins.

Access to 2-Arylquinazolines via Catabolism/Reconstruction of Amino Acids with Insertion of Dimethyl Sulfoxide

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Tian Ma ◽  
Li-Sheng Wang ◽  
Zhi Chai ◽  
Xin-Feng Chen ◽  
Bo-Cheng Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dimethyl Sulfoxide ◽  
Nitrogen Source ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
First Time

Quinazoline skeletons are synthesized by amino acids catabolism/reconstruction combined with dimethyl sulfoxide insertion/cyclization for the first time. The amino acid acts as a carbon and nitrogen source through HI-mediated catabolism...

scholarly journals Spiny-Cheek Crayfish, Faxonius limosus (Rafinesque, 1817), as an Alternative Food Source

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Natalia Śmietana ◽  
Remigiusz Panicz ◽  
Małgorzata Sobczak ◽  
Przemysław Śmietana ◽  
Arkadiusz Nędzarek
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Saturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Essential Amino Acids ◽  
Chemical Score ◽  
Very High ◽  
Acid Index

The aim of the study was to present a comprehensive characterisation of crayfish meat, which is crucial to assess its potential usefulness in the food industry. To this end, we assessed the yield, basic chemical composition (protein, fat, minerals), nutritional value (amino acid and fatty acid profiles, essential amino acid index (EAAI), chemical score of essential amino acids (CS), hypocholesterolaemic/hypercholesterolaemic ratio (h/H), atherogenicity (AI) and thrombogenicity (TI) indices), as well as culinary value (lab colour, texture, sensory characteristics, structure) of the meat of spiny-cheek crayfish (Faxonius limosus) (n = 226) from Lake Sominko (Poland) harvested in May–September 2017. Crayfish meat, especially that from the abdomen, was shown to have high nutritional parameters. It is lean (0.26% of fat), with a favourable fatty acid profile and a very high quality of fat (PUFA (sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids):SFA (sum of saturated fatty acids), n-6/n-3, h/H, AI, TI) and protein (high CS and EAAI). It is also a better source of Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, and Cu than meat from slaughter animals. Hence, crayfish meat can be an alternative to livestock meat in the human diet. Owing to its culinary value (delicateness, weak game flavour, and odour), it meets the requirements of the most demanding consumers, i.e., children and older people.

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