Preventing the amyloid-beta peptides accumulation on the cell membrane by applying GHz electric fields: A molecular dynamic simulation

Alzheimer's disease is associated with accumulating different amyloid peptides on the nerve cell membranes. The non-thermal effects of the GHz electric fields in this topic have yet to be well recognized. Hence, in this study, the impacts of 1 and 5 GHz electric fields on the amyloid peptide proteins accumulation on the cell membrane have been investigated, utilizing molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The obtained results indicated that this range of electric fields did not significantly affect the peptide structure. Moreover, it was found that the peptide penetration into the membrane was increased as the field frequency was increased when the system was exposed to a 20 mv/nm oscillating electric field. In addition, it was observed that the protein-membrane interaction is reduced significantly in the presence of the 70 mv/nm electric field. The molecular level results reported in this study could be helpful in better understanding Alzheimer's disease.

Comparative chemical examination of inclusion complexes formed with β-cyclodextrin derivatives and basic amino acids

In this study, we have investigated the host-guest inclusion complexes between β-cyclodextrin (βCD), 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (2-HPβCD), and mono-6-tosyl-β-cyclodextrin (TS-βCD) excipients and two amino acids, such as L-arginine (L-Arg) and L-lysine (L-Lys). The formation of inclusion complexes was detected, and a comparative study was conducted at different pH, density, and viscosity. A physical mixture, comprising equal amount of amino acids was used to prepare the complex in a solid-state form. The experimental parameters, such as apparent molar volume, limiting apparent molar volume, partial molar volume were analyzed by measuring density at infinite dilution. The other quantities, such as dynamic viscosity, kinematic viscosity, relative viscosity, intrinsic viscosity, spatial viscosity, activation energy were determined for amino acid/βCD complexes at various mass fractions of βCDs and different temperatures. Finally, we found moderate (R² > 0.5) and strong (R² > 0.7) linear relationships (p-value < 0.0001) between the dynamic viscosity and the temperature: the temperature evaluation promotes the decrease in dynamic viscosity for amnio acid-βCD (its derivatives) complexes. The results of this study emphasize important properties of analyzed complexes that can be utilized in the development of controlled drug delivery vectors.

Detailed chemical characterization and molecular modeling of serotonin inclusion complex with unmodified β-cyclodextrin

In this study, we analyzed the capability of unmodified β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to form the stable complex with serotonin hydrochloride (SER), as an important neurotransmitter in the brain. The stable β-CD: SER formulation was prepared and characterized using spectroscopic, thermal, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics techniques, revealing the phenomenon of H-bond formations and the domination of hydrophobic forces between the host molecule and its guest via the amine group of SER and the narrow side of β-CD. The complexation mechanism was mainly enthalpy-driven, representing the improvement in SER photo-stability. Overall, the results highlighted the possibility to use this formulation with improved stability in clinical practice for treatment and prevention of various depressive conditions, such as anxiety disorders.

A combined spectroscopic, docking and molecular dynamics simulation approach to probing binding of a Schiff base complex to human serum albumin

The molecular mechanism of a Schiff base complex ((E)-((E)-2-(3-((E)-((E)-3(mercapto (methylthio) methylene)cyclopentylidene) amino) propylimino) cyclopentylidene) (methylthio) methanethiol) binding to Human Serum Albumin (HSA) was investigated by fluorescence quenching, absorption spectroscopy, molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation procedures. The fluorescence emission of HSA was quenched by this Schiff base complex that has been analyzed for estimation of binding parameters. The titration of Schiff base solution by various amount of HSA was also followed by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and the corresponding data were analyzed by suitable models. The results revealed that this Schiff base has an ability to bind strongly to HSA and formed 1:1 complex. Energy transfer mechanism of quenching was discussed and the value of 5.45 ± 0.06 nm was calculated as the mean distance between the bound complex and the Trp residue. This is implying the high possibility of energy transfer from HSA to this Schiff base complex. Molecular docking results indicated that the main active binding site for this Schiff base complex is site III in subdomain IB. Moreover, MD simulation results suggested that this Schiff base complex can interact with HSA, without affecting the secondary structure of HSA but probably with a slight modification of its tertiary structure. MD simulations, molecular docking and experimental data reciprocally supported each other.

Analysis of ligand binding process using binding capacity concept

Binding capacity is the homotropic second derivative of the binding potential with respect to the chemical potential of the ligand. It provides a measure of steepness of the binding isotherm and represents the extent of cooperativity. In the present study, the shape of the binding capacity curve for various systems was investigated and the relation between binding capacity and the extent of cooperativity examined. In this regard, a novel linear graphical method was introduced for binding data analysis. The stoichiometry of binding and the extent of cooperativity can be determined by this method. This method has been successfully applied to various systems such as binding of oxygen to hemoglobin, warfarin to human serum albumin and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide to alpha-amylase.

Statistical Effects of the Binding of Ionic Surfactant to Protein

Two different theories based on a multiple equilibrium model for analysing the binding data for ionic surfactant-protein interactions are investigated and modified, and intrinsic and statistical Gibbs free energies of binding per mole of surfactant are estimated. The characterization of the two models and interpretation of the binding process in terms of intrinsic and statistical binding free energies are discussed. These theories are applied to analysis of sodium n-dodecyl sulfate binding to ribonuclease A and lysozyme. Copyright 1997Academic Press

Mechanism of denaturation of bovine serum albumin by dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation has been extensively studied by different anionic and cationic surfactant. Dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) is a cationic surfactant, and it is suggested that it binds to the C-terminal section of BSA. In the present study, the thermodynamical denaturation of BSA by dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) has been studied with various experimental techniques. Equilibrium dialysis, thermal denaturation, gel electrophoresis, titration microcalorimetry at pH 7, I = 0.005, and different temperatures were all performed. The enthalpy obtained from the van't Hoff relation and calorimetry method as well as electrophoresis results were utilized to explain the BSA tranistion state. Major findings included: the binding isotherm shifts at a low free concentrations of DTAB and at a higher temperature suggest endothermicity for enthalpy of interaction; the calorimetry enthalpy (delta Hcal) of interaction was smaller than the van't Hoff enthalpy (delta HvH) for BSA-DTAB interaction; and the aggregation of BSA increased with increasing DTAB concentration. This study suggests that BSA unfolding induced by DTAB follows a multistate transition model and does not follow the two-state mechanism assumed for most single subunit proteins.