The effect of water dynamics on conformation changes of albumin in pre-denaturation state:photon correlation spectroscopy and simulation

Water is essential for protein three-dimensional structure, conformational dynamics, and activity. Human serum albumin (HSA) is one of major blood plasma proteins, and its functioning is fundamentally determined by the dynamics of surrounding water. The goal of this study is to link the conformational dynamics of albumin to the thermal motions in water taking place in the physiological temperature range. We report the results of photon correlation spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations of HSA in aqueous solution. The experimental data processing produced the temperature dependence of the HSA hydrodynamic radius and its zeta potential. Molecular dynamics reproduced the results of experiments and revealed changes in the secondary structure caused by the destruction of hydrogen bonds in the macromolecule's globule

Level of overall hemostasis potential in donor and patient plasma in pathology

Coagulation potential (CP), overall hemostasis potential (OHP) and fibrinolysis potential (FP) in plasma of donors and patients with myocardial infarction (MI), stroke (St) and hip joint diseases (HJD) have been investigated using M. Blomback’s global hemostasis assay. Plasma samples of the patients were analyzed with APTT reagent in the presence or absence of t-PA. It was found that the ratio of values of СP, OHP and FP in plasma of patients to those of donors plasma were 78, 60 and 123% at MI; 157, 155 and 162% at St; 128, 131 and 124% at HJD. CP to FP ratio that indicated balance between coagulation and fibrinolytic systems activities were 4.13, 2.5, 4.0 and 4.26 in plasma of donors and MI, St and HJD patients, respectively. These results are evidence of increased fibrinolytic activity in plasma of MI patients. Lag-periods of plasma clotting of MI, St and HJD patients were prolonged by 2.3, 7.2 and 1.5-fold, respectively. Pearson’s correlation analysis between parameters, obtained in vitro studies using global hemostasis assay, and concentrations of the molecular markers (soluble fibrin and D-dimer), which formed in vivo in plasma of MI, St and HJD patients, did not reveal any relationship between them