Partial oxidation of phenol in supercritical water with NaOH and H2O2: Hydrogen production and polymer formation

The catalytic supercritical water partial oxidation of phenol using H₂O₂ as oxidant in the presence of NaOH was explored to enhance hydrogen production and inhibit phenol polymerization. The results indicated that H₂ production was enhanced in the presence of NaOH when phenol supercritical water oxidation was controlled at a lower O/C ratio. Compared with the individual catalytic partial oxidation of phenol, the reaction with NaOH and H₂O₂ simultaneously enhanced H₂ production and inhibited polycyclic polymer generation at O/C ratios below 0.5. A peak hydrogen gasification efficiency value of 62.35% was observed at an O/C ratio of 0.3 with 1.0 wt% NaOH, and a phenol removal efficiency of nearly 75% was reported. Phenol polymerization was effectively inhibited for reaction times limited to 50 s. Moreover, other phenol reaction pathways reported in the literature were compared with the partial oxidation of phenol in supercritical water with NaOH and H₂O₂.

Current scenario of indole derivatives with potential anti-drug-resistant cancer activity

Cancer chemotherapy is frequently hampered by drug resistance, so the resistance to anticancer agents represents one of the major obstacles for the effective cancer treatment. Indole derivatives have the potential to act on diverse targets in cancer cells and exhibit promising activity against drug-resistant cancers. Moreover, some indole-containing compounds such as Semaxanib, Sunitinib, Vinorelbine, and Vinblastine have already been applied in clinics for various kinds of cancer even drug-resistant cancer therapy. Thus, indole derivatives are one of significant resources for the development of novel anti-drug-resistant cancer agents. This review focuses on the recent development of indole derivatives with potential therapeutic application for drug-resistant cancers, and the mechanisms of action, the critical aspects of design as well as structure-activity relationships, covering articles published from 2010 to 2020.

Quantification of residual hydrophobic fusion peptide with monomer and dimer forms using reversed-phase liquid chromatography

A fusion peptide mimicking a part of the sequence of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein with an additional cysteine at its C-terminus (FP8: AVGIGAVFC) was conjugated to a carrier protein through a linker for development of an HIV-1 vaccine. Since this fusion peptide is very hydrophobic with poor solubility and can self-dimerize via a disulfide bond, co-existence of monomeric and dimeric forms presented a major challenge for residual unconjugated FP8 quantification. A reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) with UV detection was developed to monitor residual FP8 using an experimental correction factor of 0.85 for UV peak area measurement between FP8 dimer and monomer. Therefore, both forms of unconjugated residual FP8 can be measured based on a single FP8 monomer reference curve. Overall, this study demonstrated that the current purification process can remove free residual FP8 to a low level, <20 µg/mL, which showed negligible impact (<10%) for the conjugated FP8 ratio measurement using another method, amino acid analysis.

A muscle-specific calpain, CAPN3, forms a homotrimer

Calpain-3 (CAPN3), a 94-kDa member of the calpain protease family, is abundant in skeletal muscle. Mutations in the CAPN3 gene cause limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A, indicating that CAPN3 plays important roles in muscle physiology. CAPN3 has several unique features. A crystallographic study revealed that its C-terminal penta-EF-hand domains form a homodimer, suggesting that CAPN3 functions as a homodimeric protease. To analyze complex formation of CAPN3 in a more convenient manner, we performed blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and found that the observed molecular weight of native CAPN3, as well as recombinant CAPN3, was larger than 240 kDa. Further analysis by cross-linking and sequential immunoprecipitation revealed that CAPN3 in fact forms a homotrimer. Trimer formation was abolished by the deletion of the PEF domain, but not the CAPN3-specific insertion sequences NS, IS1, and IS2. The PEF domain alone formed a homodimer, as reported, but addition of the adjacent CBSW domain to its N-terminus reinforced the trimer-forming property. Collectively, these results suggest that CAPN3 forms a homotrimer in which the PEF domain's dimer-forming ability is influenced by other domains.

Hydrogen bond interactions in the binary solutions of formamide with methanol: FTIR spectroscopic and theoretical studies

FTIR spectroscopic studies on the binary solutions of formamide with methanol reveal the presence of "free" O - H in methanol. These "free" O - H groups are found in methanol tetramers which is confirmed from the DFT calculations. DFT calculations on the formamide dimers of five different geometries encompassing one or more of the N - H⋯O, C - H⋯O and N - H⋯N hydrogen bonds tell that N - H⋯N bonds are the strongest. Dissociation of the. N - H⋯N bonds of formamide in the binary solutions with methanol has a major impact on the NH₂ symmetric stretching mode of formamide in the FTIR spectra. In these solutions the formation of 1:4 (formamide:methanol), 1:5 and 2:4 complexes are possible. These complexes are more stable than the formamide dimers, methanol tetramer and pentamer investigated in the present work. Methanol methyl group plays no role in either the self-association or heterointeraction with formamide.

Prediction of octanol-air partition coefficients for PCBs at different ambient temperatures based on the solvation free energy and the dimer ratio

Temperature-dependent octanol-air partition coefficients (K_OA) are of great importance in assessing the environmental behavior and fate of persistent organic pollutants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Due to the tremendous amounts of time, effort and cost needed for the experimental determination of K_OA, it is desirable to develop a rapid and precise predictive method to estimate K_OA just based on molecular structure. In the present study, a predictive model for log K_OA of PCBs at ambient temperatures was developed based on the thermodynamic relationship between K_OA and the solvation free energy from air to octanol (ΔG_OA). For the calculation of ΔG_OA of PCBs, the optimal combination of theoretical method and basis-set was identified to be HF/MIDI!6D for both geometry optimization and energy calculation. Dimer formation could affect the partition behavior and promote the apparent K_OA values of PCBs. After taking the effect of dimer formation into account, the goodness-of-fit, predictive ability, and robustness of the predictive model were significantly improved. Apparent log K_OA values of PCBs at different ambient temperatures ranging from 283.15 to 303.15 K were predicted. Compared with other reported models, the model developed in the present study had not only comparable goodness-of-fit and predictive ability, but also a universal application domain and the relative independency of experimental data. Therefore, the solvation free energy method could be a promising method for the prediction of K_OA.

Prediction of octanol-air partition coefficients for PCBs at different ambient temperatures based on the solvation free energy and the dimer ratio

Temperature-dependent octanol-air partition coefficients (K_OA) are of great importance in assessing the environmental behavior and fate of persistent organic pollutants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Due to the tremendous amounts of time, effort and cost needed for the experimental determination of K_OA, it is desirable to develop a rapid and precise predictive method to estimate K_OA just based on molecular structure. In the present study, a predictive model for log K_OA of PCBs at ambient temperatures was developed based on the thermodynamic relationship between K_OA and the solvation free energy from air to octanol (ΔG_OA). For the calculation of ΔG_OA of PCBs, the optimal combination of theoretical method and basis-set was identified to be HF/MIDI!6D for both geometry optimization and energy calculation. Dimer formation could affect the partition behavior and promote the apparent K_OA values of PCBs. After taking the effect of dimer formation into account, the goodness-of-fit, predictive ability, and robustness of the predictive model were significantly improved. Apparent log K_OA values of PCBs at different ambient temperatures ranging from 283.15 to 303.15 K were predicted. Compared with other reported models, the model developed in the present study had not only comparable goodness-of-fit and predictive ability, but also a universal application domain and the relative independency of experimental data. Therefore, the solvation free energy method could be a promising method for the prediction of K_OA.

Expression and purification of recombinant human serpin B1 yields novel molecules with altered protease inhibitory activities: Functional implications

Serpin B1 regulates the innate immune system by inhibiting serine and cysteine proteases that control programmed cell death and proliferation pathways. To provide recombinant human proteins for in vitro and in vivo studies we expressed and purified wild-type human serpin B1 and a C344A variant in the yeast S. cerevisiae. Both proteins expressed well and inhibited elastase and chymotrypsin. However, purification of wild-type serpin B1 in the absence of a reducing agent resulted in the specific loss of elastase - but not chymotrypsin - inhibition, concomitant with the formation of two higher molecular weight forms of the protein - a modified monomer and a dimer created via an intermolecular disulfide bond formed between C344 in respective serpin B1 monomers. In contrast to fully reduced serpin B1, both modified forms were good elastase substrates and catalytically cleaved at multiple adjacent sites within the reactive site loop. In contrast, purification of the C344A variant in the absence of a reducing agent yielded only one form of the protein which retained elastase and chymotrypsin inhibitory properties when purified. Furthermore, the elastase inhibitory activity of wild-type serpin B1, but not the C344A variant, was sensitive to oxidation. Thus, wild-type human serpin B1 should be formulated with a pharmaceutically acceptable reducing agent to protect C344 against post-translational oxidative modifications. Alternatively, the C344A variant of this protein may prove to be a suitable drug development candidate. These findings also suggest that inactivation of serpin B1 by oxidation may have a physiological role to play during inflammation.

Elucidating the preference of dimeric over monomeric form for thermal stability of Thermus thermophilus isopropylmalate dehydrogenase: A molecular dynamics perspective

An oligomer usually refers to a macromolecular complex formed by non-covalent interactions of monomers. Several thermophilic proteins are oligomers. The significance of oligomerization of individual proteins for stability at higher temperature is of prime importance for understanding evolution and increasing industrial productivity. The functional form of Thermus thermophilius isopropylmalate dehydrogenase (IPMDH), a widely studied protein to understand the factors affecting the thermal stability of a protein is a dimer, a simplest oligomer. To decipher the relationship between the effects of oligomerization on thermal stability of a protein, we have applied all-atom molecular mechanics approach by analyzing how temperature effects dynamics of a subunit in the presence and absence of another subunit in dimeric (SS) and monomeric forms (SA), respectively, before its denaturation begins. Comparing the difference in overall dynamic structural aspects at two different temperatures, 300 K and 337 K. Analysis of root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuations (RMSF) and Cα-Cα distance with an increase in temperature from 300 K to 337 K for a total of 0.2 μs reveals higher thermal stability of the dimer as compared to monomer. In contrast to dimeric form, the monomer is relatively stable at 300 K but cannot withstand the structural stability at 337 K leading to loosening of intramolecular interactions with maximum fluctuation at B23-B24 within a subunit. Energetic and structural properties indicate that B24-B24' is the major contributor to maintaining subunit-subunit interaction at 337 K. Correlation between the favorable interaction energy (IE) with the minimal perturbance in Cα atoms of domain 2 in a subunit in the presence of another subunit enhances the rigidity of the domain with subunit-subunit interaction. Overall, the study indicates that the dimeric over monomeric form enhances the protein's thermal stability and not all major subunit interacting regions contribute equally in maintaining the former.

Discovery of a novel niacin-lipoic acid dimer N2L attenuating atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia with non-flushing effects

Niacin has been widely used as an antihyperlipidemic drug, but the flushing effect restricted its clinical application. Here, we developed novel niacin-lipoic acid dimers which lead to better lipid modulation, higher synergistic effects and less side effects. We utilized molecular docking simulation to design a novel series of niacin-lipoic acid dimers. The compound N-(2-(5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanamido)ethyl)nicotinamide (N2L) was selected for the in vitro and in vivo evaluation, including the agonist activity in CHO-hGPR109A cells, cell protective effects in HT22 and HUVECs cells, flushing effect in guinea pigs and rats, lipid modulation in C57BL/6 mice and high fat diet-rats and atherosclerotic lesions regulation in apolipoprotein E null mice. N2L worked as potent and selective agonists for the high affinity niacin receptor GPR109A. N2L retained antioxidation and cytoprotection of lipoic acid. In addition, N2L displayed a good therapeutic index regarding lipid modulation and atherosclerotic lesions regulation, and minimized niacin-induced vasodilation (flushing) effect in vivo. N2L showed effective treatment regarding to lipid regulation and atherosclerosis inhibition effects, also with excellent antioxidant effects, safety profiles and non-flushing. All these results suggest N2L promising application prospects in the drug development for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Integrated structural modeling and super-resolution imaging resolve GPCR oligomers

Formation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) dimers and higher order oligomers represents a key mechanism in pleiotropic signaling, yet how individual protomers function within oligomers remains poorly understood. For the Class A/rhodopsin subfamily of glycoprotein hormone receptors (GpHRs), di/oligomerization has been demonstrated to play a significant role in regulating its signaling activity at a cellular and physiological level and even pathophysiologically. Here we will describe and discuss the developments in our understanding of GPCR oligomerization, in both health and disease, from the study of this unique and complex subfamily of GPCRs with light on the luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR). Focus will be put on the results of an approach relying on the combination of atomistic modeling by protein-protein docking with super-resolution imaging. The latter could resolve single LHR molecules to ~8nm resolution in functional asymmetric dimers and oligomers, using dual-color photoactivatable dyes and localization microscopy (PD-PALM). Structural modeling of functionally asymmetric LHR trimers and tetramers strongly aligned with PD-PALM-imaged spatial arrangements, identifying multiple possible helix interfaces mediating inter-protomer associations. Diverse spatial and structural assemblies mediating GPCR oligomerization may acutely fine-tune the cellular signaling profile.

Four Cysteine Residues Contribute to Homodimerization of Chicken Interleukin-2

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a pleiotropic cytokine regulating the immune and nervous systems. Mammalian and bird IL-2s have different protein sequences, but perform similar functions. In the current study, two bands were detected by immunoblotting using an antibody against freshly purified chicken IL-2 (chIL-2). The molecular weight of the larger band was approximately twice as much of the chIL-2 monomer, although a chIL-2 complex or homodimer has never been reported. To explain this intriguing result, several dissociation reagents were used to examine the intermolecular forces between components of the proposed chIL-2 complex. It was found that intermolecular disulphide bond promotes homodimerization of chIL-2. Subsequently, mutation of Cys residues of chIL-2 revealed that mutation of all four Cys residues disrupted homodimerization, but a single, dual, or triple Cys mutation failed to disrupt homodimerization, suggesting that all four Cys residues on chIL-2 contribute to this dimerization. Functional analysis showed that both monomeric and dimeric chIL-2 consisting of either wild type or mutant chIL-2 were able to stimulate the expansion of CD4⁺ T cell in vivo or in vitro, and effectively bind to chIL-2 receptor. Overall, this study revealed that the recombinant chIL-2 purified from either Escherichia coli (E. coli) or Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells could homodimerize in vitro, with all four Cys residues on each chIL-2 protein contributing to this homodimerization, and dimerization and Cys mutation not impacting chIL-2 induced stimulation of chicken CD4⁺ T cells.

Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin D1: Biochemical and biophysical characterization of the recombinant enzyme expressed in HEK293T cells

Schistosomes express a variety of aspartyl proteases (APs) with distinct roles in the helminth pathophysiology, among which degradation of host haemoglobin is key, since it is the main amino acid source for these parasites. A cathepsin D-like AP from Schistosoma mansoni (SmCD1) has been used as a model enzyme for vaccine and drug development studies in schistosomes and yet a reliable expression system for readily producing the recombinant enzyme in high yield has not been reported. To contribute to further advancing the knowledge about this valuable antischistosomal target, we developed a transient expression system in HEK 293T mammalian cells and performed a biochemical and biophysical characterization of the recombinant enzyme (rSmCD1). It was possible to express a recombinant C-terminal truncated form of SmCD1 (rSmCD1ΔCT) and purify it with high yield (16 mg/L) from the culture supernatant. When analysed by Size-Exclusion Chromatography and multi-angle laser light scattering, rSmCD1ΔCT behaved as a dimer at neutral pH, which is unusual for cathepsins D, turning into a monomer after acidification of the medium. Through analytical ultrancentrifugation, the dimer was confirmed for free rSmCD1ΔCT in solution as well as stabilization of the monomer during interaction with pepstatin. The mammalian cell expression system used here was able to produce rSmCD1ΔCT with high yields allowing for the first time the characterization of important kinetic parameters as well as initial description of its biophysical properties.

Quantum chemical determination of molecular geometries and spectral investigation of 4-ethoxy-2, 3-difluoro benzamide

The present work reports the application of density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP with various basis sets which provide the relationship between the structural and spectral properties of 4-ethoxy-2, 3-difluoro benzamide (4EDFB). A Complete vibrational analysis has been performed at the density functional theory (DFT) method with various basis sets in the ground state. The results of vibrational wave numbers are in good agreement with the experimental spectra (Infrared and Raman). Energy gap of the molecule is evaluated using frontier molecular orbital energies (HOMO-LUMO). The frontier energy gap value reveals the chemical reactivity and intermolecular charge transfer occur within the molecule. Global chemical descriptors provide the local and global softness and local reactivity parameters used to identify the nucleophilic and electrophilic behavior of a specific site within the compound. The dimer structure is performed to evaluate the intermolecular hydrogen bond (O-H-O). The title molecule is capable of receiving second harmonic generation (SHG) is due to high value of hyperpolarizability indicates the NLO activity of the molecule. Apart from NLO entities, aromaticity and the molecular electrostatic potential surface (MEP) explain the hydrogen bonding and provide the reactive behavior of the molecule. The Mulliken population analysis leads to redistribution of electron density in the ring.

Discoidin domain receptors: Micro insights into macro assemblies

Assembly of cell-surface receptors into specific oligomeric states and/or clusters before and after ligand binding is an important feature governing their biological function. Receptor oligomerization can be mediated by specific domains of the receptor, ligand binding, configurational changes or other interacting molecules. In this review we summarize our understanding of the oligomeric state of discoidin domain receptors (DDR1 and DDR2), which belong to the receptor tyrosine kinase family (RTK). DDRs form an interesting system from an oligomerization perspective as their ligand collagen(s) can also undergo supramolecular assembly to form fibrils. Even though DDR1 and DDR2 differ in the domains responsible to form ligand-free dimers they share similarities in binding to soluble, monomeric collagen. However, only DDR1b forms globular clusters in response to monomeric collagen and not DDR2. Interestingly, both DDR1 and DDR2 are assembled into linear clusters by the collagen fibril. Formation of these clusters is important for receptor phosphorylation and is mediated in part by other membrane components. We summarize how the oligomeric status of DDRs shares similarities with other members of the RTK family and with collagen receptors. Unraveling the multiple macro-molecular configurations adopted by this receptor-ligand pair can provide novel insights into the intricacies of cell-matrix interactions.

Structural features of cold-adapted dimeric GH2 β-D-galactosidase from Arthrobacter sp. 32cB

Crystal structures of cold-adapted β-d-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) from the Antarctic bacterium Arthrobacter sp. 32cB (ArthβDG) have been determined in an unliganded form resulting from diffraction experiments conducted at 100 K (at resolution 1.8 Å) and at room temperature (at resolution 3.0 Å). A detailed comparison of those two structures of the same enzyme was performed in order to estimate differences in their molecular flexibility and rigidity and to study structural rationalization for the cold-adaptation of the investigated enzyme. Furthermore, a comparative analysis with structures of homologous enzymes from psychrophilic, mesophilic, and thermophilic sources has been discussed to elucidate the relationship between structure and cold-adaptation in a wider context. The performed studies confirm that the structure of cold-adapted ArthβDG maintains balance between molecular stability and structural flexibility, which can be observed independently on the temperature of conducted X-ray diffraction experiments. Obtained information about proper protein function under given conditions provide a guideline for rational engineering of proteins in terms of their temperature optimum and thermal stability.

Simultaneous aqueous chlorination of amine-containing pharmaceuticals

Amine-containing pharmaceuticals such as acetaminophen, diclofenac, and sulfamethoxazole are the most often detected pharmaceuticals in wastewater and other aquatic environments. Amine-containing pharmaceuticals can be effectively removed by chlorination. These drugs, however, may coexist in wastewater. Thus, they may compete with each other, and their chlorinated products may react with each other to form new products. In this study, competitive effects of the above three amine-containing pharmaceuticals by chlorination and their products were investigated. The priority of chlorination of these compounds was dependent upon the pH of the solution, due to the dissociation of the compounds and hypochlorite. It followed the order of sulfamethoxazole > diclofenac > acetaminophen in an acidic condition, the order of sulfamethoxazole > acetaminophen > diclofenac in a neutral condition, and the order of sulfamethoxazole ≈ acetaminophen > diclofenac in an alkaline condition. Some of the chlorinated products in single- and multiple-compound systems were the same. Dimers of sulfamethoxazole and its chlorinated products, however, were not found, but dimers of sulfamethoxazole and acetaminophen or diclofenac were found in multiple-compound systems. This finding is important because it means that new products may be produced if different amine-containing pharmaceuticals react with free chlorine simultaneously.

Development of a stable chemically cross-linked erythropoietin dimer for use in the quality control of erythropoietin therapeutic products

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone which promotes red cell replenishment and is also a global biotherapeutic medicine widely used to treat anaemia resulting, for example, from chemotherapy. Requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia stipulate that the level of dimer must be quantified in clinical EPO products (with a limit of 2%). Quantification is hampered by the lack of reference preparations containing stable measurable levels of EPO dimer, but the reproducible generation of a stable dimerised EPO preparation is challenging. We describe here the development of a lyophilised, chemically cross-linked EPO preparation, which has good stability and may be used for calibration and system suitability assurance for the size exclusion chromatographic separation of EPO preparations.

Oxidative stress-induced formation of covalently linked ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit dimer in tobacco plants

OBJECTIVE

Many abiotic stresses cause the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species known as oxidative stress. While analyzing the effects of oxidative stress on tobacco, we noticed the increased accumulation of a specific protein in extracts from plants treated with the oxidative-stress inducing herbicide paraquat which promotes the generation of reactive oxygen species primarily in chloroplasts. The primary objectives of this study were to identify this protein and to determine if its accumulation is indeed a result of oxidative stress.

RESULTS

Here we show that the paraquat-induced protein is a covalently linked dimer of the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (LSU). Increased accumulation of this LSU dimer was also observed in tobacco plants exposed to ultra-small anatase titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2), which because of their surface reactivity cause oxidative stress by promoting the generation of superoxide anion. nTiO2 nanoparticle treatments also caused a decline in the chloroplast thylakoid proteins cytochrome f and chlorophyll a/b binding protein, thus confirming that covalent LSU dimer formation coincides with loss of chloroplast function.

Analysis of Spatial Assembly of GPCRs Using Photoactivatable Dyes and Localization Microscopy

Super-resolution imaging has provided unprecedented insight in the molecular complexities of fundamental cell biological questions. For G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), its application to the study of receptor homomers and heteromers have unveiled the diversity of complexes these GPCRs can form at the plasma membrane at a structural and functional level. Here, we describe our methodological approach of photoactivated localization microscopy with photoactivatable dyes (PD-PALM) to visualize and quantify the spatial assembly of GPCR heteromers at the plasma membrane.

Immune adaptor protein SKAP1 (SKAP-55) forms homodimers as mediated by the N-terminal region

OBJECTIVE

Immune cell adaptor protein SKAP1 couples the antigen-receptor (TCR/CD3) with the activation of LFA-1 adhesion in T-cells. Previous work by ourselves and others have shown that SKAP1 can directly bind to other adaptors such as ADAP and RapL. However, it has been unclear whether SKAP1 can form homodimers with itself and the regions within SKAP1 that mediated homodimer formation.

RESULTS

Here, we show that SKAP1 and SKAP2 form homodimers in cells. Homodimer formation of immune adaptor protein SKAP1 (SKAP-55) are mediated by residues A17 to L21 in the SKAP1 N-terminal region. SKAP1 dimer formation was not needed for its binding to RapL. These data indicate that the pathway linking SKAP1 to RapL is not dependent on the homo-dimerization of SKAP1.

Structures of the neutral and positively charged forms of the 4,4',4″-tris(N,N-phenyl-3-methylphenylamino)triphenylamine (m-MTDATA) molecule and its dimer, and charge localization in the corresponding cationic species

The structures of the 4,4',4″-tris(N,N-phenyl-3-methylphenylamino)triphenylamine (m-MTDATA) molecule and its dimer in their neutral and positively charged forms were studied by performing quantum-chemical calculations at the Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) levels of theory using several exchange-correlation functionals (PBE, PBE0, BHANDHLYP, and M06-HF) with different percentages of HF exchange. It was found that there are at least four possible isomeric structures of m-MTDATA with different (planar or perpendicular) arrangements of the peripheral diphenylamino groups. The charge localization in the monomeric and dimeric cationic species was also determined. The results indicated that the charge on the dimeric cation is localized on the central region or on the side fragment of the cationic part of the dimer, depending on the dimer structure. DFT calculations showed a tendency to overestimate the charge delocalization over the molecule, irrespective of the percentage of HF exchange applied. Graphical abstract Structure of an m-MTDATA dimer cation.

Comparative evaluation of dimeric and monomeric forms of ADAPT scaffold protein for targeting of HER2-expressing tumours

ADAPTs are small engineered non-immunoglobulin scaffold proteins, which have demonstrated very promising features as vectors for radionuclide tumour targeting. Radionuclide imaging of human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) expression in vivo might be used for stratification of patients for HER2-targeting therapies. ADAPT6, which specifically binds to HER2, has earlier been shown to have very promising features for in vivo targeting of HER2 expressing tumours. In this study we tested the hypothesis that dimerization of ADAPT6 would increase the apparent affinity to HER2 and accordingly improve tumour targeting. To find an optimal molecular design of dimers, a series of ADAPT dimers with different linkers, -SSSG- (DiADAPT6L1), -(SSSG)₂- (DiADAPT6L2), and -(SSSG)₃- (DiADAPT6L3) was evaluated. Dimers in combination with optimal linker lengths demonstrated increased apparent affinity to HER2. The best variants, DiADAPT6L2 and DiADAPT6L3 were site-specifically labelled with ¹¹¹In and ¹²⁵I, and compared with a monomeric ADAPT6 in mice bearing HER2-expressing tumours. Despite higher affinity, both dimers had lower tumour uptake and lower tumour-to-organ ratios compared to the monomer. We conclude that improved affinity of a dimeric form of ADAPT does not compensate the disadvantage of increased size. Therefore, increase of affinity should be obtained by affinity maturation and not by dimerization.

Characterization of growth hormone disulfide-linked molecular isoforms during post-exercise release vs nocturnal pulsatile release reveals similar milieu composition

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the influence of mode (aerobic/resistance) and volume of exercise (moderate/high) on circulating GH immediately post-exercise as well as following the onset of sleep.

DESIGN

This study used repeated measures in which subjects randomly completed 5 separate conditions: control (no exercise), moderate volume resistance exercise (MR), high-volume resistance exercise (HR), moderate volume aerobic exercise (MA), and high volume aerobic exercise (HA).

METHODS

Subjects had two overnight stays on each of the 5 iterations. Serial blood draws began as soon as possible after the completion of the exercise session. Blood was obtained every 20 min for 24-h. GH was measured using a chemiluminescent immunoassay. Pooled samples representing post exercise (PE) and first nocturnal pulse (NP) were divided into two aliquots. One of these aliquots was chemically reduced by adding 10 mM glutathione (GSH) to break down disulfide-linked aggregates.

RESULTS

No differences were observed when pooling GH response at post-exercise (2.02 ± 0.21) and nocturnal pulse (2.63 ± 0.51; p = .32). Pairwise comparisons revealed main effect differences between controls (1.19 ± 0.29) and both MA (2.86 ± 0.31; p = .009) and HA (3.73 ± 0.71; p = .001). Both MA (p = .049) and HA (p = .035) responses were significantly larger than the MR stimulus (1.96 ± 0.28). With GSH reduction, controls significantly differed from MA (p = .018) and HA (p = .003) during PE, but only differed from HA (p = .003) during NP.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated similar GH responses to exercise and nocturnal pulse, indicating that mode and intensity of exercise does not proportionately affect GH dimeric isoform concentration.

SGIP1 dimerizes via intermolecular disulfide bond in μHD domain during cellular endocytosis

Along with its homologs FCHo1 and FCHo2, SGIP1 plays an important role in clathrin-mediated endocytosis. The highly conserved C-terminal μHD domains in these proteins are the critical regions interacting with adapter molecules such as Eps15. The crystal structure of μHD domain of SGIP1 has been reported previously. In this study, we found that μHD domain of SGIP1 is capable of forming a stable dimer by an intermolecular disulfide bond formed by C632 in our crystal structure. The mutational study of C632 revealed that this residue is important for the function of SGIP1 during cellular endocytosis. Our study revealed a new dimerization and/or oligomerization manner in theses adaptor proteins, which is a critical prerequisite for their proper function.