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Francis D, Chacko AM, Anoop A, Nadimuthu S, Venugopal V. Evolution of biosynthetic human insulin and its analogues for diabetes management. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2024; 142:191-256. [PMID: 39059986 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2024.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Hormones play a crucial role in maintaining the normal human physiology. By acting as chemical messengers that facilitate the communication between different organs, tissues and cells of the body hormones assist in responding appropriately to external and internal stimuli that trigger growth, development and metabolic activities of the body. Any abnormalities in the hormonal composition and balance can lead to devastating health consequences. Hormones have been important therapeutic agents since the early 20th century, when it was realized that their exogenous supply could serve as a functional substitution for those hormones which are not produced enough or are completely lacking, endogenously. Insulin, the pivotal anabolic hormone in the body, was used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder due to the absence or intolerance towards insulin, since 1921 and is the trailblazer in hormone therapeutics. At present the largest market share for therapeutic hormones is held by insulin. Many other hormones were introduced into clinical practice following the success with insulin. However, for the six decades following the introduction the first therapeutic hormone, there was no reliable method for producing human hormones. The most common source for hormones were animals, although semisynthetic and synthetic hormones were also developed. However, none of these were optimal because of their allergenicity, immunogenicity, lack of consistency in purity and most importantly, scalability. The advent of recombinant DNA technology was a game changer for hormone therapeutics. This revolutionary molecular biology tool made it possible to synthesize human hormones in microbial cell factories. The approach allowed for the synthesis of highly pure hormones which were structurally and biochemically identical to the human hormones. Further, the fermentation techniques utilized to produce recombinant hormones were highly scalable. Moreover, by employing tools such as site directed mutagenesis along with recombinant DNA technology, it became possible to amend the molecular structure of the hormones to achieve better efficacy and mimic the exact physiology of the endogenous hormone. The first recombinant hormone to be deployed in clinical practice was insulin. It was called biosynthetic human insulin to reflect the biological route of production. Subsequently, the biochemistry of recombinant insulin was modified using the possibilities of recombinant DNA technology and genetic engineering to produce analogues that better mimic physiological insulin. These analogues were tailored to exhibit pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the prandial and basal human insulins to achieve better glycemic control. The present chapter explores the principles of genetic engineering applied to therapeutic hormones by reviewing the evolution of therapeutic insulin and its analogues. It also focuses on how recombinant analogues account for the better management of diabetes mellitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dileep Francis
- Department of Life Sciences, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
| | - Aksa Mariyam Chacko
- Department of Life Sciences, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Anagha Anoop
- Department of Life Sciences, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Subramani Nadimuthu
- Department of Life Sciences, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Vaishnavi Venugopal
- Department of Life Sciences, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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Popovic M, Tadić V, Mihailović M. From genotype to phenotype with biothermodynamics: empirical formulas, biosynthesis reactions and thermodynamic properties of preproinsulin, proinsulin and insulin molecules. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-13. [PMID: 37695630 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2256880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Insulin was discovered 100 years ago and has been well studied from the perspectives of life and biomedical sciences. This paper reports chemical and biothermodynamic properties of biosynthesis of insulin. This paper reports for the first time the molecular and empirical formulas, biosynthesis reactions, and thermodynamic properties of molecules and their biosynthesis for human preproinsulin, proinsulin, insulin chain A, insulin chain B, insulin, signal peptide and intermediate peptide (C-peptide). Based on these, metabolic reactions were formulated for conversion of preproinsulin to insulin and their thermodynamic feasibility was analyzed.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Popovic
- Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vojin Tadić
- Department for Experimental Testing of Precious Metals, Mining and Metallurgy Institute, Bor, Serbia
| | - Marija Mihailović
- Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Szukiewicz D. Molecular Mechanisms for the Vicious Cycle between Insulin Resistance and the Inflammatory Response in Obesity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9818. [PMID: 37372966 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24129818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The comprehensive anabolic effects of insulin throughout the body, in addition to the control of glycemia, include ensuring lipid homeostasis and anti-inflammatory modulation, especially in adipose tissue (AT). The prevalence of obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2, has been increasing worldwide on a pandemic scale with accompanying syndemic health problems, including glucose intolerance, insulin resistance (IR), and diabetes. Impaired tissue sensitivity to insulin or IR paradoxically leads to diseases with an inflammatory component despite hyperinsulinemia. Therefore, an excess of visceral AT in obesity initiates chronic low-grade inflammatory conditions that interfere with insulin signaling via insulin receptors (INSRs). Moreover, in response to IR, hyperglycemia itself stimulates a primarily defensive inflammatory response associated with the subsequent release of numerous inflammatory cytokines and a real threat of organ function deterioration. In this review, all components of this vicious cycle are characterized with particular emphasis on the interplay between insulin signaling and both the innate and adaptive immune responses related to obesity. Increased visceral AT accumulation in obesity should be considered the main environmental factor responsible for the disruption in the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in the immune system, resulting in autoimmunity and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariusz Szukiewicz
- Department of Biophysics, Physiology & Pathophysiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland
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Luft FC. Sixty Years of Confronting Diabetes and Kidney Disease. Semin Nephrol 2023; 43:151426. [PMID: 37862743 DOI: 10.1016/j.semnephrol.2023.151426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
The good old days were not good, at least in terms of treating patients with type 2 diabetes. In the 1960s, the development of a radioimmunoassay for insulin permitted determination of the distinguishing features of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The latter was treated with sulfonylureas and then phenformin, although the mechanisms of action at the time were unknown. The University Group Diabetes Program was a randomized controlled trial experienced by my medical generation, and the results were dramatic, both medically and legally. Next came the thiazolidinediones. All compounds were associated with weight gain and any end point benefits were uncertain. Nevertheless, basic science explained how glucose is sensed and even found a home for sulfonylureas in some patients. Next came the boom in renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade, sacred ground for many, albeit the benefits were less than astounding. Other wonder drugs came and went. Over the decades, great strides were made in defining the pathology of diabetic renal disease, which is appropriate because the condition has become a primary cause of end-stage renal failure. Nonetheless, recent advances have turned around a depressing situation and are reasons for optimism. We now have compounds that actually could help patients with type 2 diabetes. One hundred years after insulin's introduction, it is high time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friedrich C Luft
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Charité Medical Faculty, Berlin, Germany.
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Soete M, Mertens C, Badi N, Du Prez FE. Reading Information Stored in Synthetic Macromolecules. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:22378-22390. [PMID: 36454647 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c10316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The storage of information in synthetic (macro)molecules provides an attractive alternative for current archival storage media, and the advancements made within this area have prompted the investigation of such molecules for numerous other applications (e.g., anti-counterfeiting tags, steganography). While different strategies have been described for storing information at the molecular level, this Perspective aims to provide a critical overview of the most prominent approaches that can be utilized for retrieving the encoded information. The major part will focus on the sequence determination of synthetic macromolecules, wherein information is stored by the precise arrangement of constituting monomers, with an emphasis on chemically aided strategies, (tandem) mass spectrometry, and nanopore sensing. In addition, recent progress in utilizing (mixtures of) small molecules for information storage will be discussed. Finally, the closing remarks aim to highlight which strategy we believe is the most suitable for a series of specific applications, and will also touch upon the future research avenues that can be pursued for reading (macro)molecular information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Soete
- Polymer Chemistry Research Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Chiel Mertens
- Polymer Chemistry Research Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nezha Badi
- Polymer Chemistry Research Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Filip E Du Prez
- Polymer Chemistry Research Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Gorai B, Vashisth H. Progress in Simulation Studies of Insulin Structure and Function. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:908724. [PMID: 35795141 PMCID: PMC9252437 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.908724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Insulin is a peptide hormone known for chiefly regulating glucose level in blood among several other metabolic processes. Insulin remains the most effective drug for treating diabetes mellitus. Insulin is synthesized in the pancreatic β-cells where it exists in a compact hexameric architecture although its biologically active form is monomeric. Insulin exhibits a sequence of conformational variations during the transition from the hexamer state to its biologically-active monomer state. The structural transitions and the mechanism of action of insulin have been investigated using several experimental and computational methods. This review primarily highlights the contributions of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in elucidating the atomic-level details of conformational dynamics in insulin, where the structure of the hormone has been probed as a monomer, dimer, and hexamer. The effect of solvent, pH, temperature, and pressure have been probed at the microscopic scale. Given the focus of this review on the structure of the hormone, simulation studies involving interactions between the hormone and its receptor are only briefly highlighted, and studies on other related peptides (e.g., insulin-like growth factors) are not discussed. However, the review highlights conformational dynamics underlying the activities of reported insulin analogs and mimetics. The future prospects for computational methods in developing promising synthetic insulin analogs are also briefly highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Harish Vashisth
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, United States
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Sair AT, Liu RH. Molecular regulation of phenolic compounds on IGF-1 signaling cascade in breast cancer. Food Funct 2022; 13:3170-3184. [PMID: 35253808 DOI: 10.1039/d1fo03283f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is a highly aggressive and heterogeneous disease with complex features that remains a major health problem and undermines the span and quality of life of women worldwide. Primary literature has shown the role of phenolic compounds in controlling the onset of breast cancer. The mechanism of action of phenolic compounds can be explained by their interaction with signal transduction pathways that regulate cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. One of the targets of phenolic compounds is the insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling cascade, which plays a significant role in the growth and development of mammary tissues by leading proliferative and anti-apoptotic events. Increasing research evidence points to the function of the IGF-1 cascade system in the commencement, progression, and metastasis of breast tissue malignancy. In this review, we mainly discuss the function of the IGF-1 system, and the role of phenolic compounds in regulating the IGF-1 signaling cascade and curbing breast malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Tahir Sair
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, 245 Stocking Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
| | - Rui Hai Liu
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, 245 Stocking Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
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Harrison VS, Khan MH, Chamberlain CE, Harlan DM. The Noble and Often Nobel Role Played by Insulin-Focused Research in Modern Medicine. Diabetes Care 2022; 45:23-27. [PMID: 34986255 PMCID: PMC9004313 DOI: 10.2337/dci21-0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Since diabetes was first described over 3,000 years ago, clinicians and scientists alike have sought ever improving treatments en route to a cure. As we approach the 100th anniversary of insulin's first therapeutic use, this article will recount the glorious history associated with research surrounding insulin's isolation, purification, cloning, and subsequent modification. The discovery path we will relate tells the story of many relentless and passionate investigators pursuing ground-breaking research. The fruits of their labor include several Nobel Prizes, new technology, and, more importantly, ever improving treatments for one of humankind's greatest medical scourges.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christine E. Chamberlain
- Division of Pharmacovigilance, Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
| | - David M. Harlan
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, Department of Medicine, UMass Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, MA
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Jarosinski MA, Dhayalan B, Chen YS, Chatterjee D, Varas N, Weiss MA. Structural principles of insulin formulation and analog design: A century of innovation. Mol Metab 2021; 52:101325. [PMID: 34428558 PMCID: PMC8513154 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The discovery of insulin in 1921 and its near-immediate clinical use initiated a century of innovation. Advances extended across a broad front, from the stabilization of animal insulin formulations to the frontiers of synthetic peptide chemistry, and in turn, from the advent of recombinant DNA manufacturing to structure-based protein analog design. In each case, a creative interplay was observed between pharmaceutical applications and then-emerging principles of protein science; indeed, translational objectives contributed to a growing molecular understanding of protein structure, aggregation and misfolding. SCOPE OF REVIEW Pioneering crystallographic analyses-beginning with Hodgkin's solving of the 2-Zn insulin hexamer-elucidated general features of protein self-assembly, including zinc coordination and the allosteric transmission of conformational change. Crystallization of insulin was exploited both as a step in manufacturing and as a means of obtaining protracted action. Forty years ago, the confluence of recombinant human insulin with techniques for site-directed mutagenesis initiated the present era of insulin analogs. Variant or modified insulins were developed that exhibit improved prandial or basal pharmacokinetic (PK) properties. Encouraged by clinical trials demonstrating the long-term importance of glycemic control, regimens based on such analogs sought to resemble daily patterns of endogenous β-cell secretion more closely, ideally with reduced risk of hypoglycemia. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS Next-generation insulin analog design seeks to explore new frontiers, including glucose-responsive insulins, organ-selective analogs and biased agonists tailored to address yet-unmet clinical needs. In the coming decade, we envision ever more powerful scientific synergies at the interface of structural biology, molecular physiology and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Jarosinski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, 46202, IN, USA
| | - Balamurugan Dhayalan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, 46202, IN, USA
| | - Yen-Shan Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, 46202, IN, USA
| | - Deepak Chatterjee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, 46202, IN, USA
| | - Nicolás Varas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, 46202, IN, USA
| | - Michael A Weiss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, 46202, IN, USA; Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, 47405, IN, USA; Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, 47907, IN, USA.
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Ergun-Longmire B, Clemente E, Vining-Maravolo P, Roberts C, Buth K, Greydanus DE. Diabetes education in pediatrics: How to survive diabetes. Dis Mon 2021; 67:101153. [PMID: 33541707 DOI: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2021.101153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is the most common abnormal carbohydrate metabolism disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by hyperglycemia as a result of ß-cell destruction or dysfunction by both genetic and environmental factors. Over time chronic hyperglycemia leads to microvascular (i.e., retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy) and macrovascular (i.e., ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease) complications of diabetes. Diabetes complication trials showed the importance of achieving near-normal glycemic control to prevent and/or reduce diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. There is a staggering rate of increased incidence of diabetes in youth, raising concerns for future generations' health, quality of life and its enormous economic burden. Despite advancements in the technology, diabetes management remains cumbersome. Training individuals with diabetes to gain life-long survival skills requires a comprehensive and ongoing diabetes education by a multidisciplinary team. Diabetes education and training start at the time of diagnosis of diabetes and should be continuous throughout the course of disease. The goal is to empower the individuals and families to gain diabetes self-management skills. Diabetes education must be individualized depending on the individual's age, education, family dynamics, and support. In this article, we review the history of diabetes, etiopathogenesis and clinical presentation of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children as well as adolescents. We then focus on diabetes management with education methods and materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berrin Ergun-Longmire
- Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, USA.
| | - Ethel Clemente
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
| | - Patricia Vining-Maravolo
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
| | - Cheryl Roberts
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
| | - Koby Buth
- Western Michigan University, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
| | - Donald E Greydanus
- Professor, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI United States
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Shobako N, Ohinata K. Anti-Hypertensive Effects of Peptides Derived from Rice Bran Protein. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12103060. [PMID: 33036355 PMCID: PMC7600238 DOI: 10.3390/nu12103060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for arteriosclerosis. Anti-hypertensive peptides derived from animal proteins, such as milk, eggs and fish, are well studied. Anti-hypertensive peptides have also been identified from plant proteins such as soybeans. Rice bran, a byproduct of white rice polishing, is rich in protein and its high protein efficiency ratio is well known. This review discusses the anti-hypertensive peptides identified from rice bran protein and their mechanisms. In addition, we describe protease-digested rice bran from which functional peptides have not been isolated.
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Strauss BS. Martynas Yčas: The "Archivist" of the RNA Tie Club. Genetics 2019; 211:789-795. [PMID: 30846543 PMCID: PMC6404253 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.301754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Between about 1951 and the early 1960s, the basic structure of molecular biology was revealed. Central to our understanding was the unraveling of the various roles of RNA, culminating in the identification of messenger RNA (mRNA) and the deciphering of the genetic code. We know a great deal about the role of Brenner, Crick, Jacob, and Nirenberg in these discoveries, but many others played important supporting parts. One of these is a little-known scientist, Martynas Yčas, who appears in histories, generally without explanation, as the "archivist of the RNA Tie Club." Yčas was born in Lithuania. His father helped write the Lithuanian Constitution in 1919. He studied Roman Law and served in the Lithuanian army before escaping from the Russians in 1940. The records of correspondence of Yčas with the physicist George Gamow and with Francis Crick throw some light on the genesis of our understanding of the role of mRNA. The story of the "RNA Tie Club" illustrates the difficulty in assigning credit for important discoveries and underscores the importance of a free exchange of information, even (or especially) among competitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard S Strauss
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, The University of Chicago, Illinois 60637
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Manne SR, Chandra J, Mandal B. Synthesis of o-Nitroarylamines via Ipso Nucleophilic Substitution of Sulfonic Acids. Org Lett 2019; 21:636-639. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.8b03730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Srinivasa Rao Manne
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India 781039
| | - Jyoti Chandra
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India 781039
| | - Bhubaneswar Mandal
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India 781039
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Toxvaerd S. The start of the Abiogenesis: Preservation of homochirality in proteins as a necessary and sufficient condition for the establishment of the metabolism. J Theor Biol 2018; 451:117-121. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Mikiewicz D, Bierczyńska-Krzysik A, Sobolewska A, Stadnik D, Bogiel M, Pawłowska M, Wójtowicz-Krawiec A, Baran PA, Łukasiewicz N, Romanik-Chruścielewska A, Sokołowska I, Stadnik J, Borowicz P, Płucienniczak G, Płucienniczak A. Soluble insulin analogs combining rapid- and long-acting hypoglycemic properties - From an efficient E. coli expression system to a pharmaceutical formulation. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172600. [PMID: 28296883 PMCID: PMC5351984 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of insulin led to a revolution in diabetes management. Since then, many improvements have been introduced to insulin preparations. The availability of molecular genetic techniques has enabled the creation of insulin analogs by changing the structure of the native protein in order to improve the therapeutic properties. A new expression vector pIBAINS for production of four recombinant human insulin (INS) analogs (GKR, GEKR, AKR, SR) was constructed and overexpressed in the new E. coli 20 strain as a fusion protein with modified human superoxide dismutase (SOD). The SOD gene was used as a signal peptide to enhance the expression of insulin. SOD::INS was manufactured in the form of insoluble inclusion bodies. After cleavage of the fusion protein with trypsin, the released insulin analogs were refolded and purified by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Elongation of chain A, described here for the first time, considerably improved the stability of the selected analogs. Their identity was confirmed with mass spectrometric techniques. The biological activity of the insulin derivatives was tested on rats with experimental diabetes. The obtained results proved that the new analogs described in this paper have the potential to generate prolonged hypoglycemic activity and may allow for even less frequent subcutaneous administration than once-a-day. When applied, all the analogs demonstrate a rapid onset of action. Such a combination renders the proposed biosynthetic insulin unique among already known related formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Mikiewicz
- Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Starościńska 5, 02–516 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Agnieszka Sobolewska
- Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Starościńska 5, 02–516 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dorota Stadnik
- Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Starościńska 5, 02–516 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Monika Bogiel
- Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Starościńska 5, 02–516 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Monika Pawłowska
- Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Starościńska 5, 02–516 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Piotr A. Baran
- Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Starościńska 5, 02–516 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Łukasiewicz
- Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Starościńska 5, 02–516 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Iwona Sokołowska
- Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Starościńska 5, 02–516 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jacek Stadnik
- Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Starościńska 5, 02–516 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Borowicz
- Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Starościńska 5, 02–516 Warsaw, Poland
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Brahmkhatri VP, Prasanna C, Atreya HS. Insulin-like growth factor system in cancer: novel targeted therapies. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:538019. [PMID: 25866791 PMCID: PMC4383470 DOI: 10.1155/2015/538019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2014] [Revised: 10/13/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are essential for growth and survival that suppress apoptosis and promote cell cycle progression, angiogenesis, and metastatic activities in various cancers. The IGFs actions are mediated through the IGF-1 receptor that is involved in cell transformation induced by tumour. These effects depend on the bioavailability of IGFs, which is regulated by IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs). We describe here the role of the IGF system in cancer, proposing new strategies targeting this system. We have attempted to expand the general viewpoint on IGF-1R, its inhibitors, potential limitations of IGF-1R, antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and IGFBP actions. This review discusses the emerging view that blocking IGF via IGFBP is a better option than blocking IGF receptors. This can lead to the development of novel cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chinmayi Prasanna
- NMR Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Hanudatta S. Atreya
- NMR Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
- Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
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17
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Ribatti D. Edelman's view on the discovery of antibodies. Immunol Lett 2015; 164:72-5. [PMID: 25712466 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2015.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Revised: 02/08/2015] [Accepted: 02/15/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Gerald M. Edelman began working to the structure of antibodies when joined as graduate student the laboratory of Henry Kunkel in 1958 at the "Rockefeller University" in New York, obtaining his doctorate in 1960. Edelman's focus on the structure of antibodies led to the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine along with Rodney R. Porter. Edelman and Porter decided to approach the problem of antibodies structure by splitting. In 1959, Porter published a report in which he used the enzyme papain to cleave the antibody molecule into three pieces of about 50,000 Da, corresponding to the two Fab (antigen-binding) and constant Fc (crystallizable) fragments. In the same year, Edelman showed that reduction of the disulfide bonds of antibodies in the presence of denaturizing agents led to dissociation of the molecule into smaller pieces, now known to be the light (L) and heavy (H) chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Ribatti
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy; National Cancer Institute "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy.
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18
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Vashisth H. Theoretical and computational studies of peptides and receptors of the insulin family. MEMBRANES 2015; 5:48-83. [PMID: 25680077 PMCID: PMC4384091 DOI: 10.3390/membranes5010048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Synergistic interactions among peptides and receptors of the insulin family are required for glucose homeostasis, normal cellular growth and development, proliferation, differentiation and other metabolic processes. The peptides of the insulin family are disulfide-linked single or dual-chain proteins, while receptors are ligand-activated transmembrane glycoproteins of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) superfamily. Binding of ligands to the extracellular domains of receptors is known to initiate signaling via activation of intracellular kinase domains. While the structure of insulin has been known since 1969, recent decades have seen remarkable progress on the structural biology of apo and liganded receptor fragments. Here, we review how this useful structural information (on ligands and receptors) has enabled large-scale atomically-resolved simulations to elucidate the conformational dynamics of these biomolecules. Particularly, applications of molecular dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulation methods are discussed in various contexts, including studies of isolated ligands, apo-receptors, ligand/receptor complexes and intracellular kinase domains. The review concludes with a brief overview and future outlook for modeling and computational studies in this family of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harish Vashisth
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Hampshire, 33 Academic Way, Durham, NH 03824, USA.
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19
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Graham MR, Baker JS, Davies B. Causes and consequences of obesity: epigenetics or hypokinesis? Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes 2015; 8:455-60. [PMID: 26396538 PMCID: PMC4577274 DOI: 10.2147/dmso.s82629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Julien S Baker
- Exercise Science Research Laboratory, Institute of Clinical Exercise and Health Science, School of Science, University of the West of Scotland, Hamilton, UK
- Correspondence: Julien S Baker, Exercise Science Research Laboratory, Institute of Clinical Exercise and Health Science, School of Science, University of the West of Scotland, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland ML3 OJB, UK, Email
| | - Bruce Davies
- Science Department, University of South Wales, Newport, UK
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20
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Ragan MA, Bernard G, Chan CX. Molecular phylogenetics before sequences: oligonucleotide catalogs as k-mer spectra. RNA Biol 2014; 11:176-85. [PMID: 24572375 PMCID: PMC4008546 DOI: 10.4161/rna.27505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
From 1971 to 1985, Carl Woese and colleagues generated oligonucleotide catalogs of 16S/18S rRNAs from more than 400 organisms. Using these incomplete and imperfect data, Carl and his colleagues developed unprecedented insights into the structure, function, and evolution of the large RNA components of the translational apparatus. They recognized a third domain of life, revealed the phylogenetic backbone of bacteria (and its limitations), delineated taxa, and explored the tempo and mode of microbial evolution. For these discoveries to have stood the test of time, oligonucleotide catalogs must carry significant phylogenetic signal; they thus bear re-examination in view of the current interest in alignment-free phylogenetics based on k-mers. Here we consider the aims, successes, and limitations of this early phase of molecular phylogenetics. We computationally generate oligonucleotide sets (e-catalogs) from 16S/18S rRNA sequences, calculate pairwise distances between them based on D2 statistics, compute distance trees, and compare their performance against alignment-based and k-mer trees. Although the catalogs themselves were superseded by full-length sequences, this stage in the development of computational molecular biology remains instructive for us today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Ragan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, and ARC Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics; The University of Queensland; Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Guillaume Bernard
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, and ARC Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics; The University of Queensland; Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Cheong Xin Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, and ARC Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics; The University of Queensland; Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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21
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Chakraborty C, Roy SS, Hsu MJ, Agoramoorthy G. Can computational biology improve the phylogenetic analysis of insulin? COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2012; 108:860-872. [PMID: 22265574 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2011.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2011] [Revised: 11/02/2011] [Accepted: 12/01/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Using computational biology, we have depicted the insulin phylogenetics. We have also analyzed the sequence alignment and sequence logos formation for both the insulin chain A and B for three groups namely, the mammalian group, vertebrates group and fish group. We have also analyzed cladograms of insulin for the mammalian group. In accordance with that path lengths, matrix for distance analysis, matching representation of nodes of the cladogram and dissimilarity between two nodes have been performed for both of the A and B chains of the mammalian group. Our results show that 12 amino acid residues (GlyA1, IleA2, ValA3, TyrA19, CysA20, AsnA21, LeuB6, GlyB8, LeuB11, ValB12, GlyB23 and PheB24) are highly conserved for all groups and among them some (GlyA1, IleA2, ValA3);(TyrA19, CysA20, AsnA21) are continuous. This study shows a rapid method to calculate the amino acid sequences in terms of evolutionary conservation rates as well as molecular phylogenetics.
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22
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Robson Marsden H, Kros A. Self-assembly of coiled coils in synthetic biology: inspiration and progress. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2010; 49:2988-3005. [PMID: 20474034 DOI: 10.1002/anie.200904943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Biological self-assembly is very complex and results in highly functional materials. In effect, it takes a bottom-up approach using biomolecular building blocks of precisely defined shape, size, hydrophobicity, and spatial distribution of functionality. Inspired by, and drawing lessons from self-assembly processes in nature, scientists are learning how to control the balance of many small forces to increase the complexity and functionality of self-assembled nanomaterials. The coiled-coil motif, a multipurpose building block commonly found in nature, has great potential in synthetic biology. In this review we examine the roles that the coiled-coil peptide motif plays in self-assembly in nature, and then summarize the advances that this has inspired in the creation of functional units, assemblies, and systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Robson Marsden
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
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23
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Revers L, Furczon E. An Introduction to Biologics and Biosimilars. Part I: Biologics: What are They and Where Do They Come from? Can Pharm J (Ott) 2010. [DOI: 10.3821/1913-701x-143.3.134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Leigh Revers
- From the Master of Biotechnology Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. Contact
| | - Eva Furczon
- From the Master of Biotechnology Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. Contact
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24
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Robson Marsden H, Kros A. Selbstorganisation von Coiled-Coils in der synthetischen Biologie: Inspiration und Fortschritt. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2010. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.200904943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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25
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García-Sancho M. A new insight into Sanger's development of sequencing: from proteins to DNA, 1943-1977. JOURNAL OF THE HISTORY OF BIOLOGY 2010; 43:265-323. [PMID: 20665230 DOI: 10.1007/s10739-009-9184-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Fred Sanger, the inventor of the first protein, RNA and DNA sequencing methods, has traditionally been seen as a technical scientist, engaged in laboratory bench work and not interested at all in intellectual debates in biology. In his autobiography and commentaries by fellow researchers, he is portrayed as having a trajectory exclusively dependent on technological progress. The scarce historical scholarship on Sanger partially challenges these accounts by highlighting the importance of professional contacts, institutional and disciplinary moves in his career, spanning from 1940 to 1983. This paper will complement such literature by focusing, for the first time, on the transition of Sanger's sequencing strategies from degrading to copying the target molecule, which occurred in the late 1960s as he was shifting from protein and RNA to DNA sequencing, shortly after his move from the Department of Biochemistry to the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, both based in Cambridge (U.K.). Through a reinterpretation of Sanger's papers and retrospective accounts and a pioneering investigation of his laboratory notebooks, I will claim that sequencing shifted from the working procedures of organic chemistry to those of the emergent molecular biology. I will also argue that sequencing deserves a history in its own right as a practice and not as a technique subordinated to the development of molecular biology or genomics. My proposed history of sequencing leads to a reappraisal of current STS debates on bioinformatics, biotechnology and biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel García-Sancho
- Department of Science, Technology and Society Spanish National Research Council, Calle Albasanz, 26-28 28037 Madrid, Spain.
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26
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Abstract
Protein sequence databases do not contain just the sequence of the protein itself but also annotation that reflects our knowledge of its function and contributing residues. In this chapter, we will discuss various public protein sequence databases, with a focus on those that are generally applicable. Special attention is paid to issues related to the reliability of both sequence and annotation, as those are fundamental to many questions researchers will ask. Using both well-annotated and scarcely annotated human proteins as examples, it will be shown what information about the targets can be collected from freely available Internet resources and how this information can be used. The results are shown to be summarized in a simple graphical model of the protein's sequence architecture highlighting its structural and functional modules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Rebhan
- Head Bioinformatics Support, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
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27
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Heller S, Kozlovski P, Kurtzhals P. Insulin's 85th anniversary--An enduring medical miracle. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2007; 78:149-58. [PMID: 17482306 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2007.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2006] [Accepted: 04/02/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
In 1922, the discovery of insulin led to a revolution in diabetes management. Since then, many improvements have been made to insulin preparations: early preparations of bovine and porcine insulins were purified and their duration of action prolonged, giving rise to the introduction of Neutral Protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin and monocomponent insulins. Then, with the advances in genetic engineering in the 1980s, it became possible to produce recombinant human insulin. Nowadays, modern molecular biology techniques enable the production of insulin analogues, which have several advantages over human insulin preparations including a reduced risk of hypoglycaemia. Insulin delivery is still predominantly via subcutaneous injections, but alternative routes of insulin administration are being investigated. Pulmonary delivery has emerged as the most feasible option thus far but oral delivery is an ultimate goal, although basic problems of insulin stability in the gut and absorption from the gastrointestinal tract still need to be resolved. The availability of a true artificial pancreas by means of a closed-loop system, linking continuous glucose monitoring with insulin-pump technology, would also constitute a significant advance, but major technological problems still need to be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Heller
- Academic Unit of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2JF, UK.
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28
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Yanofsky C. The favorable features of tryptophan synthase for proving Beadle and Tatum's one gene-one enzyme hypothesis. Genetics 2005; 169:511-6. [PMID: 15731515 PMCID: PMC1449131 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/169.2.511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Charles Yanofsky
- Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-5020, USA.
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29
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Ingram VM. Sickle-cell anemia hemoglobin: the molecular biology of the first "molecular disease"--the crucial importance of serendipity. Genetics 2005; 167:1-7. [PMID: 15166132 PMCID: PMC1470873 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.167.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Vernon M Ingram
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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30
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Schnell C, Reif M, Scharnagl C, Friedrich J. Local compressibilities in insulin as determined from pressure tuning hole burning experiments and MD simulations. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2005; 7:2217-24. [DOI: 10.1039/b502056p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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31
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald M Edelman
- Neurosciences Institute and the Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, California 92121, USA.
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32
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidney Altman
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06020, USA.
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