Article
Engineering, Chemical
Timon R. Heyn, Maximilian J. Uttinger, Arno Kwade, Wolfgang Peukert, Julia K. Keppler, Karin Schwarz
Summary: Whey protein fibrils act as excellent emulsifiers, but their size and functionality can be significantly altered during the emulsification process. This study investigated the impact of stress levels and the presence of oil on the size reduction of different amyloid fibril aggregates. The results showed differences in size reduction mechanisms between semi-flexible fibrils and flexible amyloid-like aggregates during emulsification.
JOURNAL OF FOOD ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Laura Fitzner, Mario Hasler, Timon R. Heyn, Karin Schwarz, Julia Katharina Keppler
Summary: Unfolding, with or without acid hydrolysis, is necessary for the formation of functional amyloid or amyloid-like β-lactoglobulin aggregates induced by temperature treatment at pH 2-4. UVB radiation can be used as a conformational perturbing treatment to promote protein aggregation by destabilizing the protein structure. UV-treated BLG exhibited accelerated worm-like aggregation at pH 3.5 and decelerated fibril formation at pH 2. The UV-induced conformational destabilization enhanced the unfolding process during thermal treatment, favoring the formation of covalent and non-covalent intermolecular interactions and resulting in worm-like aggregates. Oxidative degradation of UV-treated BLG hindered peptide assembly by altering fibrillation-prone protein regions.
Article
Biology
Min Zhang, Henrik Pinholt, Xin Zhou, Soren Bohr, Luca Banetta, Alessio Zaccone, Vito Fodera, Nikos Hatzakis
Summary: Real-time super-resolution microscopy analysis was used to study the growth kinetics, morphology, and abundance of human insulin amyloid spherulites with different growth pathways. The study revealed that even microscopically identical aggregates can follow distinct growth pathways.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jacqueline Lux, Timon R. Heyn, Ingo Kampen, Karin Schwarz, Julia K. Keppler, Anja Steffen-Heins
Summary: The study developed a method using Site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) to label beta-lactoglobulin (beta-lg) for characterizing amyloid aggregation. The spin labels used did not alter the secondary protein structure and successfully analyzed the aggregation process.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Amelie Boersig, Nevzat Konar, Sevim Dalabasmaz
Summary: Polyphenol-protein reactions in beta-lactoglobulin model solutions incubated with (-)-epicatechin were analyzed using microLC-timsTOF Pro-MS/MS combined with bioinformatics strategies. The addition of (-)-epicatechin resulted in changes in tryptic peptide profiles and covalent bond formation between (-)-epicatechin o-quinones and beta-LG. The study also identified significant oxidation promoted by the incubation of beta-LG with (-)-epicatechin, and the presence of (-)-epicatechin o-quinone in milk chocolate samples. This study has important implications for comprehensive food profiling strategies.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Xin Li, Shuangwen Fei, Xiuling Xie, Ping Tong, Juanli Yuan, Zhihua Wu, Anshu Yang, Yong Wu, Hongbing Chen
Summary: The study investigated the aggregation of beta-lactoglobulin induced by four divalent cations and found that Cu2+ promoted the highest levels of dimer formation with increased thermal stability. The aggregates induced by Mg2+, Zn2+, and Ca2+ were connected by disulfide bonds, while Cu2+-induced aggregates involved additional bonds along with disulfide bonds. Particularly, Cu2+-induced dimer showed reduced allergenicity and a shift in immune response from Th2 to Th1, offering a potential method to alleviate the allergenicity of bovine beta-lactoglobulin.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Timon R. Heyn, Marcel Schrader, Ingo Kampen, Arno Kwade, Karin Schwarz, Julia K. Keppler
Summary: In this study, beta-lactoglobulin solutions were mechanically stressed using glass beads at high temperatures and low pH value to investigate the effect of mechanical stressing and surfaces on amyloid aggregation kinetics. The findings provide valuable insights into the role of specific mechanical factors in facilitating the assembly of building blocks for efficient production of functional amyloid aggregates. The use of different diameters of glass beads and shaking frequencies allowed for the manipulation of mechanical stress energy, which was quantified using CFD-DEM simulations. Surface effects were examined by modifying the hydrophobicity and surface roughness of the glass beads. The analysis of amyloid aggregates and bead surfaces was performed using ThT-assay, AFM, and ATR-FTIR techniques.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Mehri Karbasi, Antoni Sanchez-Ferrer, Jozef Adamcik, Gholamreza Askari, Ashkan Madadlou, Raffaele Mezzenga
Summary: The surface modification of beta-lactoglobulin amyloid fibrils was achieved by Maillard reaction with maltodextrin, resulting in improved colloidal stability and reduced turbidity. Prolonged heat treatment, however, led to hydrolysis of attached polysaccharide, reducing fibril height and hydrophilicity.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tonghui Jin, Mohammad Peydayesh, Mingqin Li, Yang Yao, Di Wu, Raffaele Mezzenga
Summary: The study demonstrates a method of improving the performance of solid surfaces through multifunctional surface coatings, including wettability, oil-water separation, antifouling, and antifogging, with the potential for biocatalytic activities by immobilizing enzymes.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Kerstin Schild, Frank D. Soennichsen, Dierk Martin, Vasil M. Garamus, Atze Jan Van der Goot, Karin Schwarz, Julia K. Keppler
Summary: The non-covalent interactions between phenolics and proteins are difficult to identify, leading to contradictory results in the literature. In this study, we use advanced methods to clarify the interactions between tea phenolics (EGCG, epicatechin, and gallic acid) and whey protein ll-lactoglobulin. The results show that all rings of EGCG can interact with native ll-lactoglobulin, indicating a multidentate binding. However, specific interactions were found for epicatechin only at higher protein:epicatechin molar ratios, and no evidence of interaction was found for gallic acid. Therefore, gallic acid and epicatechin can be added to native BLG without causing modification.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Deepika Singla, Mily Bhattacharya
Summary: Protein aggregation mediated by noncovalent interactions is important for various fields and understanding the roles of these interactions is crucial for designing effective strategies. A combination of spectroscopic and microscopic tools was used to reveal that surfactant-mediated protein aggregation can be modulated by hydrophobic and electrostatic effects. Furthermore, the unique role of salt as a disaggregation inducer alters electrostatic interactions and dissolves preformed protein aggregates, offering a potential strategy for designing electrostatically targeted inhibitors.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Priscila Baltazar Goncalves, Fernando L. Palhano, Yraima Cordeiro, Ana Carolina Renno Sodero
Summary: The misfolding and aggregation of α-synuclein is a pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) can prevent the formation of toxic aggregates and remodel existing toxic fibrils into non-toxic aggregates. Through molecular docking and dynamics simulations, the study investigates the interactions of oxidized EGCG and Thioflavin T with mature α-syn fibrils.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kiryl Zhaliazka, Mikhail Matveyenka, Dmitry Kurouski
Summary: Abrupt aggregation of amyloid beta(1-42) (Aβ) peptide is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and lipids have been found to uniquely alter the rate and structure of Aβ(1-42) aggregation. In this study, the effect of phosphatidylcholine (PC), cardiolipin (CL), and cholesterol (Chol) on Aβ(1-42) aggregation was investigated. The results showed that these lipids significantly accelerated the rate of fibril formation and modified the secondary structure of Aβ(1-42) aggregates.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Michael C. Wilson, Maryssa A. Beasley, Kenan P. Fears, Elizabeth A. Yates, Christopher R. So
Summary: Nature utilizes protein aggregates for strong adhesion in extreme environments, but the role of amyloids in wet adhesion is not well understood. This study demonstrates that proper protein selection and controlled aggregation extent are necessary for successful underwater adhesion. Amyloid-enriched adhesive showed superior strength and stability underwater compared to non-amyloid adhesive.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Shiyu Pan, Zhihui Zhai, Kai Yang, Yao Xiang, Shoufeng Tang, Yating Zhang, Tifeng Jiao, Qingrui Zhang, Deling Yuan
Summary: In this study, Fe(III) was loaded on beta-Lactoglobulin amyloid fibrils for efficiently activating peroxydisulfate (PDS) to remove organics in water. The synthesized material exhibited excellent stability and applicability for degradation of organic pollutants.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Cristina Lemorini, Ernesto Santucci, Isabella Caricola, Alessandro Nucara, Stella Nunziante-Cesaro
Summary: This article examines the interaction between hominins and elephants in the Late Lower Paleolithic period through the discovery of a nearly complete carcass of Palaeoloxodon antiquus surrounded by lithic tools at a archaeological site in Rome. The study reveals that hominins exploited the carcass for food and materials, and used the area around the carcass as a workshop for lithic production.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL METHOD AND THEORY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Valerio C. A. Ficca, Carlo Santoro, Ernesto Placidi, Fabrizio Arciprete, Alexey Serov, Plamen Atanassov, Barbara Mecheri
Summary: The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for the conversion of energy in fuel cells, and platinum group metal-free (PGM-free) electrocatalysts show promise as alternatives to Pt/C electrocatalysts. However, evaluating the performance of PGM-free catalysts requires specific activity descriptors, and differentiating between the primary and secondary sites of these catalysts can be challenging. In this study, a method for evaluating the interaction between probing molecules and primary and secondary sites of PGM-free electrocatalysts was proposed, with the results suggesting the exchange current density as an effective tool for discriminating poisoning of specific active sites.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nicola Forlano, Raffaella Bucci, Alessandro Contini, Mariano Venanzi, Ernesto Placidi, Maria Luisa Gelmi, Raffaella Lettieri, Emanuela Gatto
Summary: This study describes the self-assembly properties of an alpha,beta-peptide, which can self-organize into a fascinating supramolecular rope on surfaces. The material was characterized by AFM, electronic conduction and fluorescence measurements. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that this peptide can self-assemble into an antiparallel beta-sheet layer, which can further self-assemble into many side-by-side layers. The presence of aromatic residues promoted by the alternation of alpha,beta-amino-acids in the primary sequence endorses the formation of a super-secondary structure with good electron conduction properties.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Williane da Silva Freitas, Alessandra D'Epifanio, Carmelo Lo Vecchio, Irene Gatto, Vincenzo Baglio, Valerio C. A. Ficca, Ernesto Placidi, Barbara Mecheri
Summary: Fe-N-C catalysts were synthesized using a Zn-based zeolitic imidazolate framework and thermal treatment. The pyrolysis temperature during synthesis affected the formation of Fe-based catalytic sites and the removal of Zn. Increasing the pyrolysis temperature resulted in higher ORR activity and better performance durability. The Fe-N-C-1000 catalyst showed competitive performance in fuel cells compared to Pt/C, even demonstrating higher ORR activity and tolerance to high concentrations of methanol.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luca Bertini, Valeria Libera, Francesca Ripanti, Francesca Natali, Marco Paolantoni, Andrea Orecchini, Alessandro Nucara, Caterina Petrillo, Lucia Comez, Alessandro Paciaroni
Summary: Telomeric G-quadruplexes (G4s) exhibit structural polymorphism and the dynamics of G4s are affected by conformation and complexation. In this study, the dynamics of Tel22 in different conformations and complexed with BRACO19 ligand were investigated. The results showed that hydration water played a role in mediating the effect of polymorphism and complexation on the fast dynamics of G4s.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
S. Botticelli, R. Chiaraluce, V. Consalvi, G. La Penna, A. Pasquo, M. Petrosino, O. Proux, G. C. Rossi, F. Stellato, S. Morante
Summary: In this study, it is demonstrated that Zn2+ ions are involved in the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 virus evading immune response mediated by the BST2-tetherin host protein, supported by sequence analysis, molecular dynamics simulations, and X-ray absorption experiments.
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL PLUS
(2023)
Article
Electrochemistry
Beatrice Ricciardi, Barbara Mecheri, Williane da Silva Freitas, Valerio C. A. Ficca, Ernesto Placidi, Irene Gatto, Alessandra Carbone, Andrea Capasso, Alessandra D'Epifanio
Summary: High-performance platinum group metal-free (PGM-free) electrocatalysts were prepared from porous organic polymers (POPs) precursors with highly-porous structures and adjustable surface area. The effect of Fe content on the material's structure, surface chemistry, and electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was elucidated through electrochemical and spectroscopical characterization. The Fe-N-C catalysts with different iron contents showed promising ORR activity, with further advancement prospects for fuel cell applications.
Editorial Material
Infectious Diseases
Eleonora Nicolai
Article
Infectious Diseases
Paola Cerini, Francesca Rita Meduri, Flaminia Tomassetti, Isabella Polidori, Marta Brugneti, Eleonora Nicolai, Sergio Bernardini, Massimo Pieri, Francesco Broccolo
Summary: The World Health Organization has identified three categories of pathogens based on the need for new antibiotics: critical, high, and medium priority. The prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria, such as CPO, MRSA, and VRE, has increased from 2019 to 2022 in both nosocomial and community patients. This highlights the importance of implementing preventive and control measures to reduce the spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Valentina Carpenella, Claudia Fasolato, Diego Di Girolamo, Jessica Barichello, Fabio Matteocci, Caterina Petrillo, Danilo Dini, Alessandro Nucara
Summary: Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites have received significant attention as cost-effective and high-performance photovoltaic materials. This study investigates the effects of illumination on these materials by analyzing their response to above-bandgap radiation, and reveals the influence of polaron dynamics on molecular orientation.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Salma Younes, Eleonora Nicolai, Duaa W. Al-Sadeq, Nadin Younes, Nader Al-Dewik, Haissam Abou-Saleh, Bushra Y. Abo-Halawa, Ali Hussein Eid, Massimo Pieri, Na Liu, Hanin I. Daas, Hadi M. Yassine, Parveen B. Nizamuddin, Laith J. Abu-Raddad, Gheyath K. Nasrallah
Summary: This study compared antibody responses between vaccinated individuals and naturally infected individuals over a 10-month period. The vaccinated individuals showed significantly higher antibody responses in the first 6 months compared to the naturally infected individuals. However, antibody responses started to decline after the 7th month in the vaccinated group. These findings have important implications for the development of long-lasting protection strategies.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michele Basilicata, Massimo Pieri, Giulia Marrone, Eleonora Nicolai, Manuela Di Lauro, Vincenza Paolino, Flaminia Tomassetti, Ilaria Vivarini, Patrizio Bollero, Sergio Bernardini, Annalisa Noce
Summary: Saliva is a complex fluid that plays a crucial role in various physiological processes and functions, including oral health, taste, digestion, and immunological defenses. The composition of saliva and the oral microbiome can be influenced by factors such as diet and smoking habits, and changes in these factors can lead to the development of systemic illnesses. This review explores the potential of saliva as a new tool for early detection of conditions such as oral diseases and chronic non-communicable diseases, including chronic kidney disease. The correlation between oral and systemic diseases as well as oral and gut microbiota dysbiosis is also examined. Salivary parameters could serve as a new device for detecting oral and systemic pathologies, and modulating oral and gut microbiota through prebiotics, postbiotics, or symbiotics may offer a new approach for managing oral diseases and chronic kidney disease.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Eleonora Nicolai, Serena Sarubbi, Martina Pelagalli, Valerio Basile, Alessandro Terrinoni, Marilena Minieri, Oreste Cennamo, Sandro Grelli, Sergio Bernardini, Massimo Pieri
Summary: Infectious diseases like HIV and HBV have a global impact on public health and healthcare costs. Timely diagnosis plays a central role in controlling the spread of these infections. This study compared the performance of the Abbott system and the new analyser Mindray 1200i in detecting HBV and HIV infections. Clinical serum samples from randomly selected patients were tested and compared with the routine instrument, Abbott Architect. The results showed that the Mindray CL-1200i platform offers high-level performance with accurate and consistent test results, making it a valuable tool for routine analysis.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Valerio C. A. Ficca, Carlo Santoro, Ernesto Placidi, Fabrizio Arciprete, Alexey Serov, Plamen Atanassov, Barbara Mecheri
Summary: The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for energy conversion in fuel cells, but requires an electrocatalyst. Platinum group metal-free (PGM-free) electrocatalysts are a promising alternative to Pt/C, but their evaluation requires specific activity descriptors. This study proposes a method for evaluating the chemisorption interaction of probing molecules with PGM-free primary and secondary sites to effectively evaluate site density. The results identify the exchange current density as a tool for discriminating specific site poisoning.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Eleonora Nicolai, Malgorzata Wrzesien
Summary: This article reviews the risk factors associated with radiation cataract in workers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation, especially nuclear medicine workers. It highlights the specific issues in nuclear medicine and the difficulties in monitoring eye lens exposure. The article also discusses other risk factors that may play a key role in cataract damage. The review serves as a foundation for the development of new studies to introduce protocols based on specific nutrient intake to reduce the absorbed dose and onset of cataracts in nuclear medicine workers.
RADIATION PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Trang Van Tran, Hoa Nguyen, Luyen Vu, ChangWoo Lee
Summary: Glutaredoxin 3 (Grx3) is a redox protein that maintains structural integrity and glutathione (GSH) binding capabilities across different temperatures. This study investigates the roles of specific bonds in Grx3's structure and function, and how psychrophilic Grx3 variants adapt to cold environments. The highly conserved Arg51-Asp69 salt bridge and Gln56-His63 hydrogen bond are crucial for stabilizing the structure and catalytic activity of Grx3. Psychrophilic variants of Grx3 have adapted to cold environments by reducing GSH binding and increasing structural flexibility.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amanda Lais de Souza Coto, Arthur Alexandre Pereira, Sabrina Dorta Oliveira, Milene Nobrega de Oliveira Moritz, Arthur Moraes Franco da Rocha, Paulo Roberto Dores-Silva, Noeli Soares Melo da Silva, Ana Rita de Araujo Nogueira, Lisandra Marques Gava, Thiago Vagas Seraphim, Julio Cesar Borges
Summary: J-domain proteins form a large molecular chaperone family involved in proteostasis processes, with hDjC20 playing a vital role in mitochondria and being heavily influenced by the presence of Zn+2.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Meiling Zhang, Jiaxiang Zhang, Yan Liang, Shicheng Tian, Shuyang Xie, Tong Zhou, Qin Wang
Summary: This study determined the crystal structures of RGLG2 VWA domain in Arabidopsis thaliana, revealing that Ca2+ ions act as regulators and affect the conformational change of RGLG2-VWA domain.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexandra Bork, Sander H. J. Smits, Lutz Schmitt
Summary: This study reveals the structure and calcium ion binding properties of CBL1 protein, and proposes a binding model of CBL1 for Ca2+. Additionally, it provides preliminary insights into the formation of the dimer interface of CBL1.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Evgeniia V. Leisi, Andrey V. Moiseenko, Sofia S. Kudryavtseva, Denis V. Pozdyshev, Vladimir I. Muronetz, Lidia P. Kurochkina
Summary: The pathogenesis of prion diseases involves the transformation of prion protein into an insoluble form. This study found that two phage chaperonins can promote the fibrillation of prion protein in an ATP-dependent manner, resulting in the formation of less toxic large clusters. These fibrils differ in morphology and properties from those formed spontaneously in acidic pH with denaturants.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gaurab Chowdhury, Saroj Biswas, Yuthika Dholey, Puja Panja, Sumit Das, Subrata Adak
Summary: Magnesium is an important divalent cation for regulating enzyme activity. The binding of Mg2+ through the PAS domain inhibits phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) activity in LmPAS-PGK at neutral pH, but PGK activity is derepressed at acidic pH. Mutation studies revealed that the Asp-4 residue is crucial for Mg2+ binding at neutral pH.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shima Ghaedizadeh, Majid Zeinali, Bahareh Dabirmanesh, Behnam Rasekh, Khosrow Khajeh, Ali Mohammad Banaei-Moghaddam
Summary: Implementing hyperthermostable carbonic anhydrases into CO2 capture and storage technologies can increase the rate of CO2 absorption from industrial flue gases. This study successfully improved the thermostability of a known hyperthermostable carbonic anhydrase through rational engineering of a single-point mutation.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Khaled A. Elnahriry, Dorothy C. C. Wai, Lauren M. Ashwood, Muhammad Umair Naseem, Tibor G. Szanto, Shaodong Guo, Gyorgy Panyi, Peter J. Prentis, Raymond S. Norton
Summary: Sea anemone venom contains a peptide called Tst2, which shows sequence similarity to peptides that interact with various ion channels. Recombinant Tst2 was successfully produced and its structure and function were studied. The results showed that Tst2 is an inhibitor of the TRPV1 channel.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS
(2024)
