The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of any drug will depend, largely, on the interaction that it has with human serum albumin (HSA), the most abundant plasma protein. The interaction between newly synthesized Pd(II) complexes, 2,2'-bipyridin octyl dithiocarbamato Pd(II) nitrate (Octpd), 2,2'-bipyridin butyl dithiocarbamato Pd(II) nitrate (ButPd), 2,2'-bipyridin ethyl dithiocarbamato Pd(II) nitrate (EtPd), antitumor components, with human serum albumin, a carrier protein, were studied at different temperatures of 27 and 37 degrees C by fluorescence spectroscopy, far UV circular dichroism (CD), and spectrophotometric and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. By the analysis of fluorescence intensity, it was observed that Pd(II) complexes have strong abilities to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA through a dynamic quenching procedure. The binding parameters were evaluated by the fluorescence quenching method. The thermodynamic parameters, including DeltaH degrees , DeltaS degrees , and DeltaG degrees , were calculated by the fluorescence quenching method and indicated that hydrophobic forces play a major role in the interaction of Pd(II) complexes with HSA. Far-UV-CD results represented that Pd(II) complexes induced a decrease in content of the alpha helical structure of protein. The binding of newly designed drugs (Pd(II) complexes) on the blood carrier protein of HSA resulted in significant alterations on the structure and conformation of protein via decreasing stability of HSA by decreasing the T(m), a red shift in maximum fluorescence intensity, a decrease in content of the alpha-helical structure, and the increase of the nonpolar or accessible hydrophobic surface of HSA to solvent.
The Ral (Ras‐Like) signaling pathway plays an important role in the biology of cells. A plethora of effects is regulated by this signaling pathway and its prooncogenic effectors. Our team has demonstrated the overactivation of the RalA signaling pathway in a number of human malignancies including cancers of the liver, ovary, lung, brain, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Additionally, we have shown that the activation of RalA in cancer stem cells is higher in comparison with differentiated cancer cells. In this article, we review the role of Ral signaling in health and disease with a focus on the role of this multifunctional protein in the generation of therapies for cancer. An improved understanding of this pathway can lead to development of a novel class of anticancer therapies that functions on the basis of intervention with RalA or its downstream effectors.
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