Investigation of the interaction between Tc85-11 protein and antibody anti-T cruzi by AFM and amperometric measurements

This present work reports on development of an amperometric immunosensor for the diagnosis of Chagas' disease using a specific glycoprotein of the trypomastigote surface, which belongs to the Tc85-11 protein family of Trypanosoma cruzi (T cruzi). An atomically flat gold surface on a silicon substrate and gold screen-printed electrodes were functionalized with cystatrine and later activated with glutaraldehyde (GA), which was used to form covalent bonds with the purified recombinant antigen (Tc85-11). The antigen reacts with the antibody from the serum, and the affinity reaction was monitored directly using atomic force microscopy or amperometry through a secondary antibody tagged to peroxidase (HRP). Surface imaging allowed to us to differentiate the modification steps and antigen-antibody interaction allowed to distinguish the affinity reactions. In the amperometric immunosensor, peroxidase catalyses the L-2 formation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodide, and the reduction current intensity was measured at a given potential with screen-printed electrodes. The immunosensor was applied to sera of chagasic patients and patients having different systemic diseases. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reduced pancreatic β-cell mass is associated with decreased FoxO1 and Erk1/2 protein phosphorylation in low-protein malnourished rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Increased pancreatic islet mass is accompanied by activation of the insulin receptor substrate-2/serine-threonine kinase pathway and augmented cyclin D(2) protein levels in insulin-resistant rats

It is well known that glucocorticoids induce peripheral insulin resistance in rodents and humans. Here, we investigated the structural and ultrastructural modifications, as well as the proteins involved in beta-cell function and proliferation, in islets from insulin-resistant rats. Adult male Wistar rats were made insulin resistant by daily administration of dexamethasone (DEX; 1mg/kg, i.p.) for five consecutive days, whilst control (CTL) rats received saline alone. Structure analyses showed a marked hypertrophy of DEX islets with an increase of 1.7-fold in islet mass and of 1.6-fold in islet density compared with CTL islets (P < 0.05). Ultrastructural evaluation of islets revealed an increased amount of secreting organelles, such as endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus in DEX islets. Mitotic figures were observed in DEX islets at structural and ultrastructural levels. Beta-cell proliferation, evaluated at the immunohistochemical level using anti-PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen), showed an increase in pancreatic beta-cell proliferation of 6.4-fold in DEX islets compared with CTL islets (P < 0.0001). Increases in insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS-2), phosphorylated-serine-threonine kinase AKT (p-AKT), cyclin D(2) and a decrease in retinoblastoma protein (pRb) levels were observed in DEX islets compared with CTL islets (P < 0.05). Therefore, during the development of insulin resistance, the endocrine pancreas adapts itself increasing beta-cell mass and proliferation, resulting in an amelioration of the functions. The potential mechanisms that underlie these events involve the activation of the IRS-2/AKT pathway and activation of the cell cycle, mediated by cyclin D(2). These adaptations permit the maintenance of glycaemia at near-physiological ranges.

Adsorption of Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes on a silica gel surface chemically modified with 2-mercaptoimidazole

The isotherms of adsorption of MeX2 (Me = Cu2+, Co2+; X = Cl-, Br-, ClO4-) by silica gel chemically modified with 2-mercaptoimidazole (SiMI) were studied in acetone and ethanol solutions, at 25 degrees C. Covalently attached 2-mercaptoimidazole molecule to silica gel surface adsorbs MeX2 from solvent by forming a surface complex. The metal is bonded to the surface through the nitrogen atom of attached 2-mercaptoimidazole. At low loading, the electronic and ESR spectral parameters indicated that the Cu2+ complexes are in a distorted-tetragonal symmetry field. The d-d electronic transition spectra showed that for Cu(ClO4)(2) complex, the peak of absorption did not change for any degree of metal loading and for Cl- and Br- complexes, the peak maxima shifted to higher energy with lower metal loading. The CoX2(X = Cl-, Br-, ClO4-) analogues possess a distorted-tetrahedral field.

Study of copper complexes adsorbed on a silica gel surface chemically modified with 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole

The isotherms of adsorption of CuX2 (X=Cl-, Br-, ClO4-) by silica gel chemically modified with 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole were studied in acetone and ethanol solutions: at 298 K. The following equilibria constants (in 1 mol(-1)) were determined: (a) CuCl2: 3.5 x 10(3) (ac), 2.0 x 10(3) (eth); (b) CuBr2: 2.8 x 10(3) (ac), 2.0 x 10(3) (eth); (c) Cu(ClO4)(2): 1.8 x 10(3) (ac), 1.0 x 10(3) (eth); ac = acetone, eth = ethanol. The electron spin resonance spectra of the surface complexes indicated a tetragonal distorted structure in the case of lower degrees of metal loading on the chemically modified surface. The d-d electronic transition spectra showed that for the ClO4-, complex, the peak of absorption did not change for any degree of metal loading, and for Cl- and Br- complexes, the peak maxima shifted to a higher energy region with a lower metal loading. (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of copper complexes absorbed on a silica gel surface chemically modified with 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol

The isotherms of adsorption of CuX2 (XCl-, Br-, ClO4-) by silica gel chemically modified with 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol were studied in acetone and ethanol solutions, at 25 degrees C. The following equilibria constants (in L mol(-1)) were determined: (a) CuCl2, 3.2 x 10(3) (ac), 2.5 x 10(3) (eth); (b) CuBr2, 2.9 x 10(3) (ac), 2.3 x 10(3) (eth); (c) Cu(ClO4)(2), 1.8 x 10(3) (ac), 1.2 x 10(3) (eth); ac, acetone; eth, ethanol. The electron spin resonance spectra of the surface complexes indicated a tetragonal-distorted structure in the case of lower degrees of metal loading on the chemically modified surface. The d-d electronic transition spectra showed that for the ClO4- complex, the peak of absorption did not change for any degree of metal loading and for Cl- and Br- complexes, the peak maxima shifted to higher energy with lower metal loadings. (C) 1998 Academic Press.

Adsorption of CuX2 (X = Cl-, Br-, and ClO4-) on a silica gel surface chemically modified with thiazolidine-2-thione from acetone and ethanol solutions

The isotherms of adsorption of CuX2 (X = Cl-, Br, ClO4-,) by silica gel chemically modified with thiazolidine-2-thione were studied in acetone (ac) and ethanol (eth) solutions at 25 degrees C. The following equilibrium constants (in 1 mol(-1)) were determined: a) CuCl2, 1.9 x 10(3) (ac), 1.6 x 10(3) (eth); b) CuBr2, 1.7 x 10(3) (ac), 1.2 x 10(3) (eth); c) Cu(ClO4)(2), 1.1 x 10(3) (ac), 1.0 x 10(3) (eth). The electron spin resonance spectra of the surface complexes indicate a tetragonal distorted structure in the case of lower degrees of metal loading on the chemically modified surface. The d-d electronic transition spectra show that for the ClO4- complex, the peak of absorption did not change for any degree of metal loading, and for Cl- and Br complexes, the peak maxima shift to higher energy with lower metal loading.

Adsorption of copper(II) and cobalt(II) complexes on a silica gel surface chemically modified with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole

The isotherms of adsorption of MX2 (M = Cu2+, Co2+; X = Cl-, Br-, ClO4) by silica gel chemically modified with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (SiATR) were studied in acetone and ethanol solutions, at 25 degrees C. The 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole molecule, covalently bound to the silica gel surface, adsorbs MX2 from solvent by forming a surface complex. At low loading, the electronic and electron spin resonance spectral parameters indicated that the Cu2+ complexes have distorted tetragonal symmetry. The CoX2 (X = Cl-, Br-) analogues exhibit a distorted-tetrahedral geometry, whilstthe (SiATR)mCo)ClO4)(2) complex has a tetragonally distorted octahedral geometry, with four equatorial nitrogen atoms around the cobalt. (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

A marker-and-cell approach to free surface 2-D multiphase flows

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Structural insights for fatty acid binding in a Lys49-phospholipase A(2): crystal structure of myotoxin II from Bothrops molojeni complexed with stearic acid

The crystal structure of dimeric Lys49-phospholipase A2 myotoxin-II from Bothrops moojeni (MjTX-II) co-crystallized with stearic acid (C18H36O2) has been determined at a resolution of 1.8 angstrom. The electron density maps permitted the unambiguous inclusion of six stearic acid molecules in the refinement. Two stearic acid molecules could be located in the substrate-binding cleft of each monomer in positions, which favor the interaction of their carboxyl groups with active site residues. The way of binding of stearic acids to this Lys49-PLA(2)s is analogous to phospholipids and transition state analogues to catalytically active PLA(2)s. Two additional stearic acid molecules were located at the dimer interface region, defining a hitherto unidentified acyl-binding site on the protein surface. The strictly conserved Lys122 for Lys49-PLA(2)s may play a fundamental role for stabilization of legend-protein complex. The comparison of MjTX-II/satiric acid complex with other Lys-PLA(2)s structures whose putative fatty acids were located at their active site is also analysed. Molecular details of the stearic acid/protein interactions provide insights to binding in croup I/II PLA(2)s and to the possible interactions of Lys49-PLA(2)s with target membranes. (c) 2004 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Identification of continuous interaction sites in PLA(2)-based protein complexes by peptide arrays

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Gastroprotective mechanisms of Citrus lemon (Rutaceae) essential oil and its majority compounds limonene and beta-pinene: Involvement of heat-shock protein-70, vasoactive intestinal peptide, glutathione, sulfhydryl compounds, nitric oxide and prostaglandin E-2

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)