Attenuation of amyloid fibrillation in presence of Warfarin: A biophysical investigation

Exploration of ligand-induced protein conformational alteration, aggregate formation, and its inhibition: A biophysical insight

The association of protein aggregates with plentiful human diseases has fascinated studies regarding the biophysical characterization of protein misfolding and ultimately their aggregate formation mechanism. Protein-ligand interaction, their mechanism, conformational changes by ligands, and protein aggregate formation have been studied upon exploiting experimental techniques and computational methodologies. Such studies for the exploration of ligand-induced conformational changes in protein, misfolding and aggregation, has confirmed drastic progresses in the study of aggregate formation pathways. This review comprises of an inclusive description of contemporary experimental techniques as well as theoretical improvements in the interpretation of the conformational properties of protein. We have also discussed various factors responsible for the microenvironment change around protein that sequentially causes amyloidoses. Biophysical techniques and cell-based assays to gain comprehensive understandings of protein-ligand interaction, protein folding, and aggregation pathways have also been described. The promising therapeutic methods used to inhibit the protein fibrillogenesis have also been discussed.

Investigating the site selective binding of busulfan to human serum albumin: Biophysical and molecular docking approaches

We have studied the binding of busulfan (BN) to human serum albumin (HSA) at physiological pH 7.4 by using fluorescence, UV-vis and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic tools, as well as dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements and molecular simulation approaches. HSA fluorescence quenching experiments showed that BN reduces the HSA native fluorescence intensity through the static mechanism. In addition, a single binding site on the HSA is occupied by BN with a binding constant at 298K of 1.84×10³M^-1. The enthalpy change (ΔH) and entropy change (ΔS) of BN-HSA interaction were calculated as -1.40kcalmol^-1 and +10.14calmol^-1K^-1 respectively, which suggest the possible interaction mode as hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding. Moreover, the secondary structure alteration of HSA following its complexation with BN was studied and showed that α-helical content of HSA gets increased on interacting with BN. Ligand binding site to HSA was further investigated by site-specific markers in fluorescence measurements as well molecular modeling approach which indicated that BN bind to the nearby sudlow site II of HSA through hydrophobic as well as hydrogen bonding interaction. The present study will be helpful for understanding the binding mechanism of BN to human serum albumin.

A review on protein misfolding, aggregation and strategies to prevent related ailments

This review aims to highlight the fundamental mechanism of protein misfolding leading to protein aggregation and associated diseases. It also aims to anticipate novel therapeutic strategies with which to prevent or treat these highly debilitating conditions linked to these pathologies. The failure of a protein to correctly fold de novo or to remain correctly folded can have profound consequences on a living system especially when the cellular quality control processes fail to eliminate the rogue proteins. The core cause of over 20 different human diseases which have now been designated as 'conformational diseases' including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) etc. A comprehensive study on protein misfolding, aggregation, and the outcomes of the effects of cytotoxic aggregates will lead to understand the aggregation-mediated cell toxicity and serves as a foundation for future research in development of promising therapies and drugs. This review has also shed light on the mechanism of protein misfolding which leads to its aggregation and hence the neurodegeneration. From these considerations, one could also envisage the possibility that protein aggregation may be exploited by nature to perform specific physiological functions in differing biological contexts.