Atherosclerosis linked to aberrant amino acid metabolism and immunosuppressive amino acid catabolizing enzymes

This work is part of the collaboration between the Laboratory of Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. The research was funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia and by the KAUST grant OSR#4129 (E.R.I I TG). T.G. was supported by the KAUST Base Research Funds BAS/1/1059-01-01, respectively, while M.E. was supported by the KAUST Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) grant no. FCC/1/1976-17-01.Cardiovascular disease is the leading global health concern and responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other type of disorder. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease in the arterial wall, which underpins several types of cardiovascular disease. It has emerged that a strong relationship exists between alterations in amino acid (AA) metabolism and the development of atherosclerosis. Recent studies have reported positive correlations between levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) such as leucine, valine, and isoleucine in plasma and the occurrence of metabolic disturbances. Elevated serum levels of BCAAs indicate a high cardiometabolic risk. Thus, BCAAs may also impact atherosclerosis prevention and offer a novel therapeutic strategy for specific individuals at risk of coronary events. The metabolism of AAs, such as L-arginine, homoarginine, and L-tryptophan, is recognized as a critical regulator of vascular homeostasis. Dietary intake of homoarginine, taurine, and glycine can improve atherosclerosis by endothelium remodeling. Available data also suggest that the regulation of AA metabolism by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and arginases (1 and 2) are mediated through various immunological signals and that immunosuppressive AA metabolizing enzymes are promising therapeutic targets against atherosclerosis. Further clinical studies and basic studies that make use of animal models are required. Here we review recent data examining links between AA metabolism and the development of atherosclerosis.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Supramolecular Perspective of Coordination Effects on Fluorine Interactions

Coordination effects have been considered through the most common interactions in the crystal structures of fluoro compounds (C-H/F and F/F interactions). The supramolecular profile of these effects is based on quantum-chemical calculations for the assessment of the interaction strength and electrostatic potential maps, which provide a qualitative insight into the examined effect. Coordination of aliphatic fluorides leads to an increase of the negative potential of the F atoms, and, hence, an increase in the hydrogen-bonding acceptor ability (strengthening of C-H/F interactions) and a weakening of the F/F interactions, due to an increase in repulsive interactions between the F atoms. There is no significant change in the potential of the F atoms due to coordination of C-6-aromatic fluorides, as in the case of aliphatic ones. This results in slight changes in the strengths of the C-H/F and F/F interactions (coupled with parallel interaction at large offsets, PILO), in a noticeable enhancement of stacking interactions, as well as in a significant enhancement of interactions involving the pi-system (F/pi - and C-H/pi interactions). It has also been shown that a decrease in the charge of the metal ions leads to a decrease in the negative potential of the F atom and also that the nature of the metal ion has a significant influence on the value of the potential of the F atoms