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Decrease in pH destabilizes individual vault nanocages by weakening the inter-protein lateral interaction.

ABSTRACT: Vault particles are naturally occurring proteinaceous cages with promising application as molecular containers. The use of vaults as functional transporters requires a profound understanding of their structural stability to guarantee the protection and controlled payload delivery. Previous results performed with bulk techniques or at non-physiological conditions have suggested pH as a parameter to control vault dynamics. Here we use Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to monitor the structural evolution of individual vault particles while changing the pH in real time. Our experiments show that decreasing the pH of the solution destabilize the barrel region, the central part of vault particles, and leads to the aggregation of the cages. Additional analyses using Quartz-Crystal Microbalance (QCM) and Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF) are consistent with our single molecule AFM experiments. The observed topographical defects suggest that low pH weakens the bonds between adjacent proteins. We hypothesize that the observed effects are related to the strong polar character of the protein-protein lateral interactions. Overall, our study unveils the mechanism for the influence of a biologically relevant range of pHs on the stability and dynamics of vault particles.

SUBMITTER: Llauro A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5064368 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Decrease in pH destabilizes individual vault nanocages by weakening the inter-protein lateral interaction.

Llauró Aida A Guerra Pablo P Kant Ravi R Bothner Brian B Verdaguer Núria N de Pablo Pedro J PJ

Scientific reports 20161014

Vault particles are naturally occurring proteinaceous cages with promising application as molecular containers. The use of vaults as functional transporters requires a profound understanding of their structural stability to guarantee the protection and controlled payload delivery. Previous results performed with bulk techniques or at non-physiological conditions have suggested pH as a parameter to control vault dynamics. Here we use Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to monitor the structural evoluti ...[more]

PMID: 27739422

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Project description:Study hypothesis: CRC risk is affected by diet and by genetic polymorphisms leading to inter-individual variation in the metabolism of environmental carcinogens. Our first hypothesis is that these effects may combine to place certain individuals at greatly enhanced risk according to their diet. We shall examine how dietary factors known to affect CRC risk (including meats, fat, fruit and vegetables, cooking methods, dietary supplements and drugs) and genetic polymorphisms implicated in CRC (Glutathione S-transferase: GSTM1, GSTM3, GSTT1; N-acetyl transferase: NAT1, NAT2; and Cytochrome P450: CYP1A1, CYP2D6) combine to affect the prevalence of colorectal polyps, both adenomatous (the precursor lesion of CRC) and metaplastic. Our second hypothesis is that diets associated with increased risk (high red meat, low vegetable and low fibre consumption) may affect DNA damage markers which may be elevated in people with colorectal adenomas. We shall therefore examine the effect of diet on adduct rates (cross sectional) and adduct rates in people with and without colorectal adenomas. We shall examine malondialdehyde adduct rates in relation to anti-oxidant status and carboxymethyl adduct rates and k-ras mutation frequency in relation to meat consumption; and examine the effect of DNA repair enzyme (ATase) activity on any relationship found. In summary the aim of this population based study is to link dietary factors thought to be important in the genesis of colorectal polyps and cancer with genetic polymorphisms and DNA damage markers in rectal mucosa and in blood. Primary outcome(s): We shall perform cross-sectional and case-control analyses of the effect of diet and genetic polymorphisms on the prevalence of adenomatous and metaplastic polyps. Genetic polymorphisms will be examined in isolation and paired combinations and in groups stratified according to diet. We shall examine the effect of diet on MDA adduct rates (concentrating on foods relating to anti-oxidant status) and CBM adduct rates and k-ras mutations (concentrating on meat consumption and cooking methods) by categorical variables; and MDA and CBM adducts and k-ras mutation frequency in people with adenomatous polyps and polyp free controls (case-control). We shall examine the affect of ATase activity on any relationship found and ATase activity in people with adenomatous polyps and polyp free controls (case control). DNA will be stored for future analysis of as yet unrecognised polymorphisms which may be recognised as having a role in CRC. Samples taken from EPIC participants for adduct, ATase and k-ras measurement whose polyps are found to be metaplastic will be stored for possible future analysis: we shall investigate people with adenomatous polyps in the first instance as these are the precursors of colorectal cancer.

Project description:BackgroundRecent studies have demonstrated that microalga has been widely regarded as one of the most promising raw materials of biofuels. However, lack of an economical, efficient and convenient method to harvest microalgae is a bottleneck to boost their full-scale application. Many methods of harvesting microalgae, including mechanical, electrical, biological and chemical based, have been studied to overcome this hurdle.ResultsA new flocculation method induced by decreasing pH value of growth medium was developed for harvesting freshwater microalgae. The flocculation efficiencies were as high as 90% for Chlorococcum nivale, Chlorococcum ellipsoideum and Scenedesmus sp. with high biomass concentrations (>1g/L). The optimum flocculation efficiency was achieved at pH 4.0. The flocculation mechanism could be that the carboxylate ions of organic matters adhering on microalgal cells accepted protons when pH decreases and the negative charges were neutralized, resulting in disruption of the dispersing stability of cells and subsequent flocculation of cells. A linear correlation between biomass concentration and acid dosage was observed. Furthermore, viability of flocculated cells was determined by Evans Blue assay and few cells were found to be damaged with pH decrease. After neutralizing pH and adding nutrients to the flocculated medium, microalgae were proved to maintain a similar growth yield in the flocculated medium comparing with that in the fresh medium. The recycling of medium could contribute to the economical production from algae to biodiesel.ConclusionsThe study provided an economical, efficient and convenient method to harvest fresh microalgae. Advantages include capability of treating high cell biomass concentrations (>1g/L), excellent flocculation efficiencies (≥ 90%), operational simplicity, low cost and recycling of medium. It has shown the potential to overcome the hurdle of harvesting microalgae to promote full-scale application to biofuels from microalgae.

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Decrease in pH destabilizes individual vault nanocages by weakening the inter-protein lateral interaction.

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Decrease in pH destabilizes individual vault nanocages by weakening the inter-protein lateral interaction.

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