2 research outputs found
Metal Ions as Cofactors for Aggregation of Therapeutic Peptide Salmon Calcitonin
The effects of multivalent metal ions (Cu<sup>2+</sup>/Zn<sup>2+</sup>/Al<sup>3+</sup>) on the aggregation of salmon calcitonin
(sCT)î—¸a
therapeutic peptide used worldwide in the treatment of osteoporosis
and Paget’s diseasehave been studied <i>in vitro</i> using NMR (both solution state and solid state), TEM, ThT-fluorescence,
and FT-IR spectroscopy. Overall, the various results indicated that
the metal-ions-induced conformational transitions in the peptideî—¸mostly
toward the β-sheetfacilitate the aggregation of sCT
in solution. First, the solution NMR has been used to check the interaction
between the peptide and the metal ions. Following this, the formation
and characterization of calcitonin aggregates has been performed using
TEM, solid state NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The TEM and ThT-fluorescence
results revealed that the sCT peptide incubated with Cu<sup>2+</sup> and Zn<sup>2+</sup> metal ions (in aqueous environment) forms globular
aggregates, while that with Al<sup>3+</sup> ions forms fibrils. The
solid state NMR and FT-IR studies revealed the presence of a substantial
amount of β-sheet content in sCT aggregates (formed in the presence
of these metal ions) compared to the monomeric sCT, indicating that
the metal binding is concomitant with conformational changes. The
present study becomes crucial while prescribing this drug peptide
under physio-pathological conditions associated with an abnormal accumulation
of metal ions (Cu<sup>2+</sup>/Zn<sup>2+</sup>/Al<sup>3+</sup>) in
the body (i.e., abnormal metal ion homeostasis)
Comprehensive metabolite profiling in distinct chemotypes of <i>Commiphora wightii</i>
<p><i>Commiphora wightii</i> (Arn.) Bhandari, known as guggul, produces a medicinally important gum resin which is used extensively by Ayurvedic physicians to treat various ailments. However, most of the studies on <i>C. wightii</i> have been limited to its gum resin. Comprehensive metabolic profiling of leaves, stem and gum resin samples was undertaken to analyse aqueous and non-aqueous metabolites from three distinct chemotypes (NBRI-101, NBRI-102 and NBRI-103) shortlisted from different agro-climatic zones. GC-MS, HPLC and NMR spectroscopy were used for comprehensive metabolomics. Multivariate analysis showed characteristic variation in quinic and citric acids, <i>myo</i>-inositol and glycine (aqueous metabolites) and 2,6-di-<i>tert</i>-butyl-phenol, <i>trans</i>-farnesol and guggulsterones (non-aqueous metabolites) amongst the three chemotypes. Quinic acid, citric acid and <i>myo</i>-ionositol were detected in substantial quantities from leaves and stem samples which provide opportunities for novel nutraceutical and pharmaceutical formulations. Quinic acid, from the leaves, was identified as a marker metabolite for early selection of high guggulsterones-yielding cultivars.</p