Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the deposition of amyloid β-peptide (A-Beta) in the brain. Transthyretin (TTR) is a tetrameric protein of about 55 kDa mainly produced in the liver and choroid plexus of the brain. The known physiological functions of TTR are the transport of thyroid hormone T4 and retinol, through binding to the retinol binding protein. TTR has also been established as a cryptic protease able to cleave ApoA-I in vitro. It has been described that TTR is involved in preventing A-Beta fibrilization, both by inhibiting and disrupting A-Beta fibrils, with consequent abrogation of toxicity. We further characterized the nature of the TTR/A-Beta interaction and found that TTR, both recombinant or isolated from human sera, was able to proteolytically process A-Beta, cleaving the peptide after aminoacid residues 1, 2, 3, 10, 13, 14,16, 19 and 27, as determined by mass spectrometry, and reversed phase chromatography followed by N-terminal sequencing. A-Beta peptides (1–14) and (15–42) showed lower amyloidogenic potential than the full length counterpart, as assessed by thioflavin binding assay and ultrastructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy. A-Beta cleavage by TTR was inhibited in the presence of an αAPP peptide containing the Kunitz Protease Inhibitor (KPI) domain but not in the presence of the secreted αAPP derived from the APP isoform 695 without the KPI domain. TTR was also able to degrade aggregated forms of A-Beta peptide. Our results confirmed TTR as a protective molecule in AD, and prompted A-Beta proteolysis by TTR as a protective mechanism in this disease. TTR may prove to be a useful therapeutic agent for preventing or retarding the cerebral amyloid plaque formation implicated in AD pathology.

AIP56 (apoptosis-inducing protein of 56 kDa) is a major virulence factor of Photobacterium damselae piscicida (Phdp), a Gram-negative pathogen that causes septicemic infections, which are among the most threatening diseases in mariculture. The toxin triggers apoptosis of host macrophages and neutrophils through a process that, in vivo, culminates with secondary necrosis of the apoptotic cells contributing to the necrotic lesions observed in the diseased animals. Here, we show that AIP56 is a NF-κB p65-cleaving zinc-metalloprotease whose catalytic activity is required for the apoptogenic effect. Most of the bacterial effectors known to target NF-κB are type III secreted effectors. In contrast, we demonstrate that AIP56 is an A-B toxin capable of acting at distance, without requiring contact of the bacteria with the target cell. We also show that the N-terminal domain cleaves NF-κB at the Cys39-Glu40 peptide bond and that the C-terminal domain is involved in binding and internalization into the cytosol.

Two-cysteine peroxiredoxins are ubiquitous peroxidases that play various functions in cells. In Leishmania and related trypanosomatids, which lack catalase and selenium-glutathione peroxidases, the discovery of this family of enzymes provided the molecular basis for peroxide removal in these organisms. In this report the functional relevance of one of such enzymes, the mitochondrial 2-Cys peroxiredoxin (mTXNPx), was investigated along the Leishmania infantum life cycle. mTXNPx null mutants (mtxnpx−) produced by a gene replacement strategy, while indistinguishable from wild type promastigotes, were found unable to thrive in a murine model of infection. Unexpectedly, however, the avirulent phenotype of mtxnpx− was not due to lack of the peroxidase activity of mTXNPx as these behaved like controls when exposed to oxidants added exogenously or generated by macrophages during phagocytosis ex vivo. In line with this, mtxnpx− were also avirulent when inoculated into murine hosts unable to mount an effective oxidative phagocyte response (B6.p47phox−/− and B6.RAG2−/− IFN-γ−/− mice). Definitive conclusion that the peroxidase activity of mTXNPx is not required for parasite survival in mice was obtained by showing that a peroxidase-inactive version of this protein was competent in rescuing the non-infective phenotype of mtxnpx−. A novel function is thus proposed for mTXNPx, that of a molecular chaperone, which may explain the impaired infectivity of the null mutants. This premise is based on the observation that the enzyme is able to suppress the thermal aggregation of citrate synthase in vitro. Also, mtxnpx− were more sensitive than controls to a temperature shift from 25°C to 37°C, a phenotype reminiscent of organisms lacking specific chaperone genes. Collectively, the findings reported here change the paradigm which regards all trypanosomatid 2-Cys peroxiredoxins as peroxide-eliminating devices. Moreover, they demonstrate, for the first time, that these 2-Cys peroxiredoxins can be determinant for pathogenicity independently of their peroxidase activity.

Chitosan (Ch) is a nontoxic and biocompatible polysaccharide extensively used in biomedical applications. Ch, as a polycation, can be combined with anionic polymers by layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly, giving rise to multilayered complexed architectures. These structures can be used in tissue engineering strategies, as drug delivery systems, or artificial matrices mimicking the extracellular microenvironment. In this work, Ch was combined with poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA). γ-PGA is a polyanion, which was microbially produced, and is known for its low immunogenic reaction and low cytotoxicity. Multilayered ultrathin films were assembled by LbL, with a maximum of six layers. The interaction between both polymers was analyzed by: ellipsometry, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and zeta potential measurements. Ch/γ-PGA polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) revealed no cytotoxicity according to ISO 10993-5. Overall, this study demonstrates that Ch can interact electrostatically with γ-PGA forming multilayered films. Furthermore, this study provides a comprehensive characterization of Ch/γ-PGA PEM structures, elucidating the contribution of each layer for the nanostructured films. These model surfaces can be useful substrates to study cell-biomaterial interactions in tissue regeneration.

The interaction between cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and four citrus pectic fractions was investigated using a combined molecular approach, including isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), magnetic nuclear resonance (NMR) and UV-Visible spectrophotometry. These pectic fractions differed on their type and degree of esterification (amidated (AHG 30%), low (HG 30%) and high methyl esterified fractions (HG 70%)) and on the pattern of esterification (blockwise (HG-B 70%) vrs random (HG-R 70%)). The binding constant (K a ) and the associated thermodynamic parameters determined showed weak noncovalent interactions, particularly due to electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic effect. The degree and the type of esterification of each pectic fractions had a significant effect on the binding constants determined by ITC and NMR experiments. The binding constants ranged from 10 2 to 10 4 M À 1 , with the highest K a value observed for the interaction between cy3glc and low methylesterified fraction, followed by the amidated fraction. Pectic fractions with a higher degree of methyl esterification, resulted on lower binding affinities, with these interactions being mostly driven by hydrophobic effect compared to enthalpy. The different binding affinities could be correlated with anthocyanins colour impact, as a higher red colour intensity could be observed for a cy3glc model solution fortified with a low methylated fraction. However, this colour improvement was not observed for amidated fraction, presumably due to charge repulsive forces, lowering the stability of the flavylium cation.

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Background: RAGE is a multiligand cell surface receptor involved in various human diseases. Results: The solution structure of human sRAGE was determined. sRAGE oligomerization is concentration-and calcium-dependent. Conclusion:The monomer displays a J-like shape; the dimer is elongated and forms through association of two N-terminal domains. Significance: This paves the way for the design of new therapeutic strategies for a large number of pathologies.

The remarkable properties of poly-aminoacids, mainly their biocompatibility and biodegradability, have prompted an increasing interest in these polymers for biomedical applications. Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is one of the most interesting poly-aminoacids with potential applications as a biomaterial. Here we describe the production and characterization of γ-PGA by Bacillus subtilis natto. The γ-PGA was produced with low molecular weight (10-50 kDa), high purity grade (>99 %) and a D: -/L: -glutamate ratio of 50-60/50-40 %. To evaluate the feasibility of using this γ-PGA as a biomaterial, chitosan (Ch)/γ-PGA nanoparticles were prepared by the coacervation method at pH ranging from 3.0 to 5.0, with dimensions in the interval 214-221 nm with a poly-dispersion index of ca. 0.2. The high purity of γ-PGA produced by this method, which is firstly described here, renders this biopolymer suitable for biomedical applications. Moreover, the Ch/γ-PGA nanocomplexes developed in this investigation can be combined with biologically active substances for their delivery in the organism. The fact that the assembly between Ch and γ-PGA relies on electrostatic interactions enables addition of other molecules that can be released into the medium through changes from acidic to physiological pH, without loss in biological activity.