Conformational Disorder Analysis of the Conditionally Disordered Protein CP12 from Arabidopsis thaliana in Its Different Redox States

CP12 is a redox-dependent conditionally disordered protein universally distributed in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. It is primarily known as a light-dependent redox switch regulating the reductive step of the metabolic phase of photosynthesis. In the present study, a small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis of recombinant Arabidopsis CP12 (AtCP12) in a reduced and oxidized form confirmed the highly disordered nature of this regulatory protein. However, it clearly pointed out a decrease in the average size and a lower level of conformational disorder upon oxidation. We compared the experimental data with the theoretical profiles of pools of conformers generated with different assumptions and show that the reduced form is fully disordered, whereas the oxidized form is better described by conformers comprising both the circular motif around the C-terminal disulfide bond detected in previous structural analysis and the N-terminal disulfide bond. Despite the fact that disulfide bridges are usually thought to confer rigidity to protein structures, in the oxidized AtCP12, their presence coexists with a disordered nature. Our results rule out the existence of significant amounts of structured and compact conformations of free AtCP12 in a solution, even in its oxidized form, thereby highlighting the importance of recruiting partner proteins to complete its structured final folding

Inclusion of new 5-fluorouracil amphiphilic derivatives in liposome formulation for cancer treatment

Correction for 'Inclusion of new 5-fluorouracil amphiphilic derivatives in liposome formulation for cancer treatment' by M. Petaccia et al., Med. Chem. Commun., 2015, 6, 1639–1642

Lignin nanoparticles as sustainable photoprotective carriers for sunscreen filters

Sunscreen filters may be degraded after prolonged UV exposure with loss of their shielding property and generation of harmful radical species. They are contained in cosmetic formulations in high concentrations, so the improvement of photostability is of relevance for safety concerns. We report here that lignin nanoparticles are sustainable carriers and photostabilizers of two common UV chemical filters, namely, avobenzone and octyl methoxycinnamate. These compounds have been encapsulated by nanoprecipitation into kraft lignin nanoparticles using eco-certified dimethyl isosorbide as a primary solvent and deionized water as an antisolvent. After the encapsulation, both compounds significantly prolonged the half-life stability against UV irradiation. The stabilizing properties of lignin nanoparticles were further improved by coencapsulation of avobenzone and octyl methoxycinnamate with hydroxytyrosol, a natural phenol with antioxidant activity recovered from olive oil wastes and characterized by skin regenerative properties

Biosynthesis and physico-chemical characterization of high performing peptide hydrogels@graphene oxide composites

Hydrogels based on short peptide molecules are interesting biomaterials with wide present and prospective use in biotechnologies. A well-known possible drawback of these materials can be their limited mechanical performance. In order to overcome this problem, we prepared Fmoc-Phe3self-assembling peptides by a biocatalytic approach, and we reinforced the hydrogel with graphene oxide nanosheets. The formulation here proposed confers to the hydrogel additional physicochemical properties without hampering peptide self-assembly. We investigated in depth the effect of nanocarbon morphology on hydrogel properties (i.e. morphology, viscoelastic properties, stiffness, resistance to an applied stress). In view of further developments towards possible clinical applications, we have preliminarily tested the biocompatibility of the composites. Our results showed that the innovative hydrogel composite formulation based on FmocPhe3 and GO is a biomaterial with improved mechanical properties that appears suitable for the development of biotechnological applications

Valoración de la sustentabilidad de sistemas de labranza: estudio de caso en el so bonaerense

El objetivo del trabajo es valorar la sustentabilidad a escala predial de sistemas de laboreo alternativos: siembra directa versus laboreo convencional, incorporando la cuantificación económica de impactos ambientales sobre la calidad del suelo. El análisis se desarrolla en un caso de estudio del sudoeste bonaerense, para el período 1986-2008. Se calcularon costos y beneficios ambientales a partir del balance de nutrientes por el método del costo de reposición; y se valoraron los servicios ambientales de ambas técnicas mediante la función de producción ajustada, atendiendo sus rendimientos físicos. Finalmente se realizó un análisis multicriterio con indicadores representativos de las dimensiones de la sustentabilidad (ecológica, económica y social) de modo de comparar con una visión sistémica e integral los sistemas de labranza. Se concluye que la siembra directa presenta un mejor desempeño desde las perspectivas estudiadas. Asimismo, la valoración de la sustentabilidad por su complejidad, requiere un tratamiento interdisciplinario y no se agota en la aplicación de un solo método.Publicado en las Actas de las III Jornadas Nacionales de Suelos de Ambientes Semiáridos

Poly (diglycerol adipate) variants as enhanced nanocarrier replacements in drug delivery applications

Sustainably derived poly(glycerol adipate) (PGA) has been deemed to deliver all the desirable features expected in a polymeric scaffold for drug-delivery, including biodegradability, biocompatibility, self-assembly into nanoparticles (NPs) and a functionalisable pendant group. Despite showing these advantages over commercial alkyl polyesters, PGA suffers from a series of key drawbacks caused by poor amphiphilic balance. This leads to weak drug-polymer interactions and subsequent low drug-loading in NPs, as well as low NPs stability. To overcome this, in the present work, we applied a more significant variation of the polyester backbone while maintaining mild and sustainable polymerisation conditions. We have investigated the effect of the variation of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments upon physical properties and drug interactions as well as self-assembly and NPs stability. For the first time we have replaced glycerol with the more hydrophilic diglycerol, as well as adjusting the final amphiphilic balance of the polyester repetitive units by incorporating the more hydrophobic 1,6-n-hexanediol (Hex). The properties of the novel poly(diglycerol adipate) (PDGA) variants have been compared against known polyglycerol-based polyesters. Interestingly, while the bare PDGA showed improved water solubility and diminished self-assembling ability, the Hex variation demonstrated enhanced features as a nanocarrier. In this regard, PDGAHex NPs were tested for their stability in different environments and for their ability to encode enhanced drug loading. Moreover, the novel materials have shown good biocompatibility in both in vitro and in vivo (whole organism) experiments

Molecular insights into the behaviour of bile salts at interfaces: a key to their role in lipid digestion

Hypotheses. Understanding the mechanisms underlying lipolysis is crucial to address the ongoing obesity crisis and associated cardiometabolic disorders. Bile salts (BS), biosurfactants present in the small intestine, play key roles in lipid digestion and absorption. It is hypothesised that their contrasting functionalities – adsorption at oil/water interfaces and shuttling of lipolysis products away from these interfaces – are linked to their structural diversity. We investigate the interfacial films formed by two BS, sodium taurocholate (NaTC) and sodium taurodeoxycholate (NaTDC), differing by the presence or absence of a hydroxyl group on their steroid skeleton. Experiments. Their adsorption behaviour at the air/water interface and interaction with a phospholipid monolayer – used to mimic a fat droplet interface – were assessed by surface pressure measurements and ellipsometry, while interfacial morphologies were characterised in the lateral and perpendicular directions by Brewster angle microscopy, X-ray and neutron reflectometry, and molecular dynamics simulations. Findings. Our results provide a comprehensive molecular-level understanding of the mechanisms governing BS interfacial behaviour. NaTC shows a higher affinity for the air/water and lipid/water interfaces, and may therefore favour enzyme adsorption, whereas NaTDC exhibits a higher propensity for desorption from these interfaces, and may thus more effectively displace hydrolysis products from the interface, through dynamic exchange

Las fracciones orgánicas del suelo: análisis en los suelos de la Argentina

La materia orgánica (MO) es el indicador utilizado con más frecuencia para evaluar la calidad del suelo; sin embargo, es escaso el conocimiento sobre sus efectos directos e indirectos. La MO es una mezcla heterogénea de compuestos orgánicos con propiedades diferentes. La separación de sus fracciones por métodos físicos, químicos y bioquímicos puede mejorar la comprensión del papel de la MO en el suelo. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar algunos estudios realizados aplicando principalmente métodos de fraccionamiento físico, particularmente en suelos de la Argentina. Las fracciones orgánicas separadas físicamente han demostrado ser indicadores sensibles a los efectos de las diferentes prácticas agronómicas. Debido a la variabilidad de la fracción lábil, el momento de muestreo, las condiciones edafoclimáticas y la metodología aplicada deben ser tenidas en cuenta para interpretar los resultados

Study on Intermicellar Interactions and Micellar Size in Aqueous Solution of Sodium Taurocholate by Measurements of Collective Diffusion and Self-Diffusion Coefficient

Aqueous micellar solutions of sodium taurocholate (NaTC) have been studied by using quasi-elastic lightscattering (QELS) and H-1 pulse-gradient-stimulated-echo NMR (PGSTE-NMR). The collective and selfdiffusion coefficients have been obtained as a function of NaTC concentration (0.05-0.20 M) and the ionic strength of the solution (0-0.8 M NaCl added). The comparison of the two techniques' data in each solution has been performed in the context of micellar growth and intermicellar interactions. The model of monodisperse Brownian particles with hydrodynamic interaction and hard core repulsion gives rise to a satisfactory agreement with the experimental data. The translational diffusion coefficient of the single micellar aggregate has been calculated for each solution. The size of the micellar aggregates depends on the ionic strength and bile salt concentration