Structural changes induced in proteins by therapeutic ultrasounds.
ULTRASONICS 2009;
49:569-576. [PMID:
19278707 DOI:
10.1016/j.ultras.2009.02.003]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2008] [Revised: 02/02/2009] [Accepted: 02/06/2009] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The structural effect induced by therapeutic ultrasound on proteins in aqueous solution has been investigated with FTIR spectroscopy, UV-VIS spectroscopy, circular dichroism and light scattering. Six proteins (cytochrome, lysozyme, myoglobin, bovine serum albumin, trypsinogen, and alpha-chymotrypsinogen A) with different molecular weight and secondary structure have been studied. The experiment has been performed using an ultrasound source at resonant frequency of 1 MHz and sonication times of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min. A different behaviour of proteins under sonication depends on the dominant secondary structure type (alpha-helix or beta-sheets) and on the grade of the ordered structure. The results suggest that the free radicals, produced by water sonolysis, have an important role in the changes of structural order.
Collapse