Study of Resveratrol’s Interaction with Planar Lipid Models: Insights into its Location in Lipid Bilayers

Resveratrol, a polyphenolic molecule found in edible fruits and vegetables, shows a wide range of beneficial effects on human health, including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-aging properties. Due to its poor water solubility and high liposome-water partition coefficient, the biomembrane seems to be the main target of resveratrol, although the mode of interaction with membrane lipids and its location within the cell membrane are still unclear. In this study, using electrophysiological measurements, we study the interaction of resveratrol with planar lipid membranes (PLMs) of different composition. We found that resveratrol incor-porates into POPC and POPC:Ch PLMs and forms conductive units unlike those found in DOPS:DOPE PLMs. The variation of the biophysical parameters of PLMs in the presence of resveratrol provides information on its location within a lipid double layer, thus contributing to an understanding of its mechanism of action

Choline Modulation of the Aβ P1-40 Channel Reconstituted into a Model Lipid Membrane

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), implicated in memory and learning, in subjects affected by Alzheimer's disease result altered. Stimulation of α7-nAChRs inhibits amyloid plaques and increases ACh release. β-amyloid peptide (AβP) forms ion channels in the cell and model phospholipid membranes that are retained responsible in Alzheimer disease. We tested if choline, precursor of ACh, could affect the AβP1-40 channels in oxidized cholesterol (OxCh) and in palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC):Ch lipid bilayers. Choline concentrations of 5 × 10−11 M–1.5 × 10−8 M added to the cis- or trans-side of membrane quickly increased AβP1-40 ion channel frequency (events/min) and ion conductance in OxCh membranes, but not in POPC:Ch membranes. Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy shows that after 24 and 48 hours of incubation with AβP1-40, choline stabilizes the random coil conformation of the peptide, making it less prone to fibrillate. These actions seem to be specific in that ACh is ineffective either in solution or on AβP1-40 channel incorporated into PLMs

Effects of n-Octyl-β-D-Glucopyranoside on Human and Rat Erythrocyte Membrane Stability against Hemolysis

The practical importance for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries of the interactions between biological membranes and surfactant molecules has led to intensive research within this area. The interactions of non-ionic surfactant n-octyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (OG) with the human and rat erythrocyte membranes were studied. The in vitro hemolytic and antihemolytic activities were determined by employing a method in which both erythrocytes were added to the hypotonic medium containing OG at different concentrations, and the amount of haemoglobin released was determined. n-octyl-β-D-glucopyranoside was found to have a biphasic effect on both types of erythrocyte membrane. We also investigated the interactions of OG with the erythrocyte membrane in isotonic medium; the dose-dependent curves show similar behaviour in both human and rat erythrocytes. Our results showed that OG has greater antihemolytic potency on rat than on human erythrocytes; furthermore, rat erythrocytes were more sensitive than human erythrocytes to hypotonic shock. How the different lipoprotein structure of these erythrocytes determines a difference in antihemolytic activity is discussed

Evidence of cadmium and mercury involvement in the Aβ42 aggregation process

Ab42 is a small peptide formed from 42 aminoacids that presents a great propensity to aggregate until it forms fibrils. Ab42 aggregation and fibrillation are very complex processes whose molecular mechanisms seem to depend on characteristics intrinsic to the peptide molecule, as well as extrinsic factors. Peptide concentration, mean pH and several substances, including metal ions, are principal extrinsic factors for the oligomerization process. Different metals affect the aggregation of the Ab42 molecule, and their toxicity favours the misfolding and aggregation of the peptide. In this study, we evaluate the effect of different concentrations of Cd2+ and Hg2+ on the Aβ42 peptide in solution by different methods. The toxicity of Aβ42 was evaluated with the MTT assay, while the aggregation process was monitored by single-channel measurements, electrophoresis and western blot. Cd2+ and Hg2+ seem to favour the formation of high-molecular-weight aggregates, to decrease ion channel turnover inside the membrane and to significantly increase Aβ42 toxicity

Levels of Mercury, Methylmercury and Selenium in Fish: Insights into Children Food Safety

Total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg), and selenium (Se) concentrations were measured in various commercially important fish species. The benefit–risk binomial associated with these chemicals was assessed in children through the probability of exceeding the provisional tolerable weekly intakes (PTWIs) of the contaminants and the Se recommended dietary allowance (RDA). The Se:Hg molar ratios, selenium health benefit values (HBVSe), and monthly consumption rate limits (CRmm) for each species were also calculated. THg and Se were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Shimadzu, Milan, Italy), while MeHg was determined by Trace Ultra gas chromatograph connected with a PolarisQ MS (Thermo Fisher Scientific,Waltham, MA, USA). None of the analyzed fish had Hg levels above the European Community regulatory limits, while most large predators had MeHg levels over the threshold concentration set by US EPA. The estimated weekly intakes of THg and MeHg exceeded in many cases the PTWIs and the Se estimated daily intakes were provided from 0.71% to 2.75% of the RDA. Se:Hg molar ratios above 1 and positive HBVSe index suggested that Se in fish could be enough to alleviate the potential toxic effect of Hg. However, high-risk groups as children should consume fish in moderation because a large consumption pattern, especially of swordfish and tunas, might be of concern for health

Influence of cholesterol on human calcitonin channel formation. Possible role of sterol as molecular chaperone

The interplay between lipids and embedded proteins in plasma membrane is complex. Membrane proteins affect the stretching or disorder of lipid chains, transbilayer movement and lateral organization of lipids, thus influencing biological processes such as fusion or fission. Membrane lipids can regulate some protein functions by modulating their structure and organization. Cholesterol is a lipid of cell membranes that has been intensively investigated and found to be associated with some membrane proteins and to play an important role in diseases. Human calcitonin (hCt), an amyloid-forming peptide, is a small peptide hormone. The oligomerization and fibrillation processes of hCt can be modulated by different factors such as pH, solvent, peptide concentration, and chaperones. In this work, we investigated the role of cholesterol in hCt incorporation and channel formation in planar lipid membranes made up of palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine in which no channel activity had been found. The results obtained in this study indicate that cholesterol promotes hCt incorporation and channel formation in planar lipid membranes, suggesting a possible role of sterol as a lipid target for hCt

Effect of calcium ions on human calcitonin. Possible implications for bone resorption by osteoclasts

Calcium ions (Ca2+) are indispensable for life and are involved in important physiological actions, which makes maintaining a constant level of blood Ca2+ essential. Ca2+ is mainly stored in bones which serve as a reservoir and its homeostasis is modulated by various hormones. Human Calcitonin (hCt) is a small peptide hormone that exerts its physiological effect on Ca2+ metabolism by means of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption inhibition. Most of these actions are mediated through peptide/receptor interaction that acts via a second messenger. However, in-vitro studies have shown that hCt can interact with membrane lipids to form ion channels in membrane models. This ability is due to the peptide’s secondary structure and aggregation state, that can be modulated by different molecules. In our study, we evaluated the effect of Ca2+, at different concentrations, both on the hCt ion channel incorporated into a planar lipid membrane made up of phosphatidylcholine containing 15% phosphatidylglycerol and on the secondary structure of hCt in an aqueous environment. Ca2+ is able to interact with the hCt peptide by acting on the channel incorporated into the membrane as well as on the peptide in solution, both by increasing hCt channel frequency and in solution promoting -helix formation, that counteracts the fibrillating process. These experimental observations, suggesting that hCt senses Ca2+ concentration variations, strengthen the hypothesis that channel formation represents an extra source of Ca2+ entry into osteoclasts in addition to the well-known interaction of the monomer with the specific receptor

Evidence of the different effect of mercury and cadmium on the {hIAPP} aggregation process

hIAPP is a hormone consisting of 37 aminoacids that shows a strong tendency to self-assemble into ll-sheet-rich aggregates, which evolve to form insoluble aggregates that seem to be associated with ll-cell degeneration in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Numerous factors, intrinsic and extrinsic to the peptide molecule, appear to influence the hIAPP aggregation process. Different metal ions are able to interact with the hIAPP molecule, modulating its secondary structure and subsequently the peptide's capacity to aggregate. In this study, the effect of Hg2+ and Cd2+ on the hIAPP aggregation process was evaluated using direct and indirect methods. The kinetics and morphology of amyloid aggregate formation were respectively evaluated with Thioflavin T assays and electron microscopy, while the ability of the peptide to incorporate into POPC PLMs and form ion channels was monitored by single-channel current measurements. Hg2+ and Cd2+ each seem to modulate the peptide's ability to aggregate in a different way, suggesting a different mechanism of hIAPP toxicity.Superscript/Subscript Availabl

Choline modulation of the ABP1-40 channel reconstituited into a model lipid membrane

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), implicated in memory and learning, in subjects affected by Alzheimer’s disease result altered. Stimulation of α7-nAChRs inhibits amyloid plaques and increases ACh release. β-amyloid peptide (AβP) forms ion channels in the cell and model phospholipid membranes that are retained responsible in Alzheimer disease. We tested if choline, precursor of ACh, could affect the AβP1-40 channels in oxidized cholesterol (OxCh) and in palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC):Ch lipid bilayers. Choline concentrations of 5 × 10−11 M–1.5 × 10−8M added to the cis- or trans-side of membrane quickly increased AβP1-40 ion channel frequency (events/min) and ion conductance in OxCh membranes, but not in POPC:Ch membranes. Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy shows that after 24 and 48 hours of incubation with AβP1-40, choline stabilizes the random coil conformation of the peptide, making it less prone to fibrillate. These actions seem to be specific in that ACh is ineffective either in solution or on AβP1-40 channel incorporated into PLMs