Search results for "Biophysics"

On the biochemical classification of yeast trehalases: Candida albicans contains two enzymes with mixed features of neutral and acid trehalase activi…

2009

Abstract Two enzymes endowed with trehalase activity are present in Candida albicans . The cytosolic trehalase (Ntc1p), displayed high activity in exponential phase regardless of the carbon source (glucose, trehalose or glycerol). Ntc1p activity was similar in neutral (pH 7.1) or acid (pH 4.5) conditions, strongly inhibited by ATP, weakly stimulated by divalent cations (Ca 2+ or Mn 2+ ) and unaffected in the presence of cyclic AMP. The Ntc1p activity decreased in stationary phase, except in glycerol-grown cultures, but the catalytic properties did not change. In turn, the cell wall-linked trehalase (Atc1p) showed elevated activity in resting cells or in cultures growing on trehalose or glyc…

Corrigendum to “Biomolecule-corona formation confers resistance of bacteria to nanoparticle-induced killing: Implications for the design of improved …

2020

2019

Water-soluble chlorophyll proteins (WSCP) from Brassicaceae form homotetrameric chlorophyll (Chl)–protein complexes binding one Chl per apoprotein and no carotenoids. Despite the lack of photoprotecting pigments, the complex-bound Chls displays a remarkable stability toward photodynamic damage. On the basis of a mutational study, we show that not only the presence of the phytyls is necessary for photoprotection in WSCPs, as we previously demonstrated, but also is their correct conformation and localization. The extreme heat stability of WSCP also depends on the presence of the phytyl chains, confirming their relevance for the unusual stability of WSCP.

Novel Sortase A Inhibitors to Counteract Gram-Positive Bacterial Biofilms

2019

Sortase A (SrtA) is a membrane enzyme responsible for the covalent anchoring of surface proteins on the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria. Nowadays it is considered an interesting target for the development of new anti-infective drugs which aim to interfere with important Gram-positive virulence mechanisms. Along the years, we studied the anti-staphylococcal and anti-biofilm activity of some natural and synthetic polyhalogenated pyrrolic compounds, called pyrrolomycins. Some of them were active on Gram-positive pathogens at a μg/mL range of concentration (1.5-0.045 μg/mL) and showed a biofilm inhibition in the range of 50-80%. [1-3] In light of these encouraging results, herein we present…

Blood Proteins and Their Interactions with Nanoparticles Investigated Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations

2018

Blood proteins play a fundamental role in determining the response of the organism to the injection of drugs or, more in general, of therapeutic preparations in the blood stream. Some of these proteins are responsible for mediating immune response and coagulation. Nanoparticles, which are being intensely investigated as possible drug nanocarriers, heavily interact with blood proteins and their ultimate fate is determined by these interactions. Here we report the results of molecular dynamics simulations of several blood proteins aimed to determining their possible behavior at the nanoparticle surface. On one hand we investigated the behavior of fibrinogen, a glycoprotein, which polymerizes …

Kultivierung humaner Zellen auf polymerbeschichteten Bioimplantaten?ein neues Konzept zur Verbesserung der Implantateigenschaften

2004

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Calcific degeneration with the resulting need for operative replacement remains the major drawback of bioprostheses. Previous studies have shown that cellular surface seeding decreases calcium uptake in vitro and in vivo, but complete coverage remains difficult to achieve. A new approach is presented, masking glutaraldehyde residues with a covalently bound polymer layer thus facilitating cell seeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate different polymers for their ability to promote surface cell adhesion and formation of complete monolayers. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ten ultrathin polymers, covalently bound to glass and exhibiting different physicochemical characteristi…

Non-linear optical spectra of excitons in polydiacetylene

1992

Abstract Adding long-range Coulomb interactions to the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model makes it possible to investigate excitonic states in conjugated polymers. Various characteristic features due to these states as well as due to the electron-hole continuum can be found in the calculated non-linear optical susceptibilities. In particular the electroabsorption spectrum and the third harmonic generation intensity and its dependence on the system size are examined. Using only moderate interaction strength, various experiments in polydiacetylene can be interpreted in a consistent way.

Relationship between Auxin-Dependent Proton Extrusion and Plasmalemma Redox System in Maize Coleoptile Segments

1988

Abraded coleoptile segments reduce ferricyanide utilizing endogenous substrates. The kinetics of ferricyanide reduction shows an initial rapid rate followed by a slow rate of reduction. The duration of the initial phase is about 5 minutes. The slow phase is observed for more than 30 minutes. A Lineweaver-Burk plot of the slow phase was linear and revealed maximum velocity of the reaction of 42 nmols ferricyanide reduced/hour*coleoptile segment and an apparent Km (ferri) of 2.25mM.

Solid State NMR Structure Analysis of the Antimicrobial Peptide Gramicidin S in Lipid Membranes: Concentration-Dependent Re-alignment and Self-Assemb…

2008

Antimicrobial peptides can kill bacteria by permeabilizing their cell membrane, as these amphiphilicmolecules interact favourably with lipid bilayers. This mechanism of action is attributed eitherto the formation of a peptide “carpet” on the membrane surface, or to a transmembranepore. However, the structure of such a pore has not yet been resolved under relevant conditions.Gramicidin S is a symmetrical cyclic β-sheet decapeptide, which has been previouslyshown by solid state NMR to lie flat on the membrane surface at low peptide:lipid ratios (≤ 1:80).Using highly sensitive 19F-NMR, supported by 15N-labelling,we found that gramicidin S can flip into an upright transmembrane alignment at hig…

MbCO embedded in trehalosyldextrin matrices: thermal effects and protein-matrix coupling

2010

Saccharide-based biopreservation is widely studied because of its scientific importance and possible technological outcomes for food and pharmaceutical industries. Ternary protein/saccharide/water systems have been extensively exploited to model the characteristics of the in vivo biopreservation process. A tight, water dependent, protein–matrix coupling has been shown to occur in various simple saccharide amorphous matrices, which is stronger in trehalose. The efficiency as bioprotectant of trehalose has been ascribed to this tight coupling, since the appearance of damages on biological structures will more involve structural variations of the surrounding matrix. Here we present, as an appl…