Structural and thermodynamic behavior of cytochrome c assembled with glutathione-covered gold nanoparticles

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Drymaria cordata and Their Biocompatibility with Hemoglobin: A Therapeutic Potential Approach

In this study, we present the synthesis and characterization of AgNPs using Drymaria cordata along with an assessment of their antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidiabetic activities. Antibacterial activities using four bacterial strains, free radical scavenging assays (DPPH and ABTS), and carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzyme inhibition assays were done to examine the therapeutic efficacy of AgNPs. Additionally, herein, we also evaluated the biocompatibility of the AgNPs using hemoglobin (Hb) as a model protein. A comprehensive analysis of Hb and AgNP interactions was carried out by using various spectroscopic, imaging, and size determination studies. Spectroscopic results showed that the secondary structure of Hb was not altered after its interaction with AgNPs. Furthermore, the thermal stability was also well maintained at different concentrations of nanoparticles. This study demonstrated a low-cost, quick, and eco-friendly method for developing AgNPs using D. cordata, and the biocompatible nature of AgNPs was also established. D. cordata-mediated AgNPs have potential applications against bacteria and diabetes and may be utilized for targeted drug delivery.

Preferential Binding of Cytochrome c to Anionic Ligand-Coated Gold Nanoparticles: A Complementary Computational and Experimental Approach

Membrane-bound proteins can play a role in the binding of anionic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to model bilayers; however, the mechanism for this binding remains unresolved. In this work, we determine the relative orientation of the peripheral membrane protein cytochrome c in binding to a mercaptopropionic acid-functionalized AuNP (MPA-AuNP). As this is nonrigid binding, traditional methods involving crystallographic or rigid molecular docking techniques are ineffective at resolving the question. Instead, we have implemented a computational assay technique using a cross-correlation of a small ensemble of 200 ns long molecular dynamics trajectories to identify a preferred nonrigid binding orientation or pose of cytochrome c on MPA-AuNPs. We have also employed a mass spectrometry-based footprinting method that enables the characterization of the stable protein corona that forms at long time-scales in solution but remains in a dynamic state. Through the combination of these computational and experimental primary results, we have established a consensus result establishing the identity of the exposed regions of cytochrome c in proximity to MPA-AuNPs and its complementary pose(s) with amino-acid specificity. Moreover, the tandem use of the two methods can be applied broadly to determine the accessibility of membrane-binding sites for peripheral membrane proteins upon adsorption to AuNPs or to determine the exposed amino-acid residues of the hard corona that drive the acquisition of dynamic soft coronas. We anticipate that the combined use of simulation and experimental methods to characterize biomolecule-nanoparticle interactions, as demonstrated here, will become increasingly necessary as the complexity of such target systems grows.

Glutathione: Antioxidant Properties Dedicated to Nanotechnologies

Which scientist has never heard of glutathione (GSH)? This well-known low-molecular-weight tripeptide is perhaps the most famous natural antioxidant. However, the interest in GSH should not be restricted to its redox properties. This multidisciplinary review aims to bring out some lesser-known aspects of GSH, for example, as an emerging tool in nanotechnologies to achieve targeted drug delivery. After recalling the biochemistry of GSH, including its metabolism pathways and redox properties, its involvement in cellular redox homeostasis and signaling is described. Analytical methods for the dosage and localization of GSH or glutathiolated proteins are also covered. Finally, the various therapeutic strategies to replenish GSH stocks are discussed, in parallel with its use as an addressing molecule in drug delivery.

Alkaline transition of horse heart cytochrome c in the presence of ZnO nanoparticles

The effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on cytochrome c (cyt c) in alkaline pH was studied with absorption spectroscopy and UV circular dichroism (CD). Spectral data from UV-vis spectroscopy and circular dichroism indicate only small changes in the native structure of the protein at neutral pH after the interaction with ZnO nanoparticles. The stability around the heme crevice of cyt c and therefore the switch of the axial ligand Met80 to Lys which occurs in conditions of higher pH was proven following the interaction of cytochrome c with ZnO nanoparticles. The formation of cyt c-ZnO NPs complex based on electrostatic attraction was accompanied by a significant increase in the apparent pKa constant of the alkaline transition of cyt c.

Interaction of cytochrome c with zinc oxide nanoparticles

The influence of pH on the interaction between horse heart ferricytochrome c (cyt c) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) has been studied by a small angle scattering as well as UV-vis and FTIR spectroscopy. The observations showed that the optimal pH for the association of protein with nanoparticles is in pH range 5.0-8.0. Almost no significant change in structure and thermodynamic stability of cytochrome c after the association with 60 nm ZnO NPs was performed by UV-vis and by a circular dichroism spectroscopy.

Ionic liquid templated porous nano-TiO2 particles for the selective isolation of cytochrome c

Porous nano-titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) particles with anatase framework were prepared by using an effective template of hydrophobic ionic liquid, i.e., N, N-bis [2-methylbutyl] imidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([PPim][PF(6)]). The nano-TiO(2) particles were characterized with TEM and BET, resulting in the distribution of the pore diameters centering at 7.3 nm and 26.2 nm, attributed to the template effect of the ionic liquid and the aggregation of the TiO(2) particles, respectively. A much improved surface area of 68.31 m(2) g(-1) and a pore volume of 0.2814 cm(3) g(-1) were obtained with respect to 15.16 m(2) g(-1) and 0.0402 cm(3) g(-1) achieved by the non-templated nano-TiO(2) counterpart. The porous nano-TiO(2) particles were used as adsorbent for selective adsorption and isolation of cytochrome c (cyt-c) at certain conditions. An adsorption efficiency of 87% was achieved for 150 microg ml(-1) cyt-c in 1.0 ml of sample solution at pH 9.0 by using 2.0 mg of the nano-TiO(2) particles, in comparison to 30% obtained by the non-templated nano-TiO(2). In addition, an adsorption capacity of 112.6 microg mg(-1) was derived for the porous nano-TiO(2) with respect to 25.1 microg mg(-1) for the normal ones. The absorbed cyt-c could be readily recovered by stripping with a 0.1 mol l(-1) Na(3)PO(4) solution, giving rise to a recovery of ca. 90%. The porous nano-TiO(2) particles have been used for the isolation of cyt-c from human whole blood, achieving satisfactory results by assay with SDS-PAGE.