Inhibition of microtubule assembly and cytotoxic effect of graphene oxide on human colorectal carcinoma cell HCT116.

Nanomaterials, such as graphene oxide (GO), are increasingly being investigated for their suitability in biomedical applications. Tubulin is the key molecule for the formation of microtubules crucial for cellular function and proliferation, and as such an appealing target for developing anticancer drug. Here we employ biophysical techniques to study the effect of GO on tubulin structure and how the changes affect the tubulin/microtubule assembly. GO disrupts the structural integrity of the protein, with consequent retardation of tubulin polymerization. Investigating the anticancer potential of GO, we found that it is more toxic to human colon cancer cells (HCT116), as compared to human embryonic kidney epithelial cells (HEK293). Immunocytochemistry indicated the disruption of microtubule assembly in HCT116 cells. GO arrested cells in the S phase with increased accumulation in Sub-G1 population of cell cycle, inducing apoptosis by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. GO inhibited microtubule formation by intervening into the polymerization of tubulin heterodimers both in vitro and ex vivo, resulting in growth arrest at the S phase and ROS induced apoptosis of HCT116 colorectal carcinoma cells. There was no significant harm to the HEK293 kidney epithelial cells used as control. Our report of pristine GO causing ROS-induced apoptosis of cancer cells and inhibition of tubulin-microtubule assembly can be of interest in cancer therapeutics and nanomedicine.

Molecular features of interaction involving hen egg white lysozyme immobilized on graphene oxide and the effect on activity.

Nanomaterials, such as graphene oxide (GO) are being studied to decipher their suitability in biomedical applications. This study investigate the effect on structure and function of hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) adsorbed on GO, using various biophysical techniques. In spite of there being not much change in the structure, the catalytic activity is reduced significantly. Fluorescence quenching indicates complex formation. Fluorescence lifetime measurement suggests that GO binds at or near the active site close to Trp62 and Trp108. Heat change associated with HEWL-GO interaction suggests hydrogen bond along with van der Waals and electrostatic interactions are involved in the HEWL-GO complex. Molecular docking indicates binding of GO at the active site corroborating experimental findings. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the blocking of the active site affects the flexibility of the surrounding residues and contribute to the reduction of the activity. Unfolding experiments indicate that HEWL is more prone to thermal instability in presence of GO. Together, the results obtained established molecular details of HEWL-GO interaction and might be useful in eventual biomedical applications of GO.

The antimicrobial activity of ZnO nanoparticles against Vibrio cholerae: Variation in response depends on biotype.

The potency of zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPs), with a core size of ~7-10nm, to inhibit cholera disease was investigated by demonstrating the effect on two biotypes (classical and El Tor) of O1 serogroup of Vibrio cholerae-El Tor was more susceptible both in planktonic and in biofilm forms. Interaction with ZnO NP results in deformed cellular architecture. Increased fluidity and depolarization of membrane, and protein leakage further confirmed the damages inflicted on Vibrio by NP. NP was shown to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induce DNA damage. These results suggest that the antibacterial mechanism of ZnO action is most likely due to generation of ROS and disruption of bacterial membrane. The antimicrobial efficacy of NP has been validated in animal model. The synergistic action of NP and antibiotic suggests an alternative for the treatment of cholera.

Self-assembly of a nine-residue amyloid-forming peptide fragment of SARS corona virus E-protein: mechanism of self aggregation and amyloid-inhibition of hIAPP.

Molecular self-assembly, a phenomenon widely observed in nature, has been exploited through organic molecules, proteins, DNA, and peptides to study complex biological systems. These self-assembly systems may also be used in understanding the molecular and structural biology which can inspire the design and synthesis of increasingly complex biomaterials. Specifically, use of these building blocks to investigate protein folding and misfolding has been of particular value since it can provide tremendous insights into peptide aggregation related to a variety of protein misfolding diseases, or amyloid diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, type-II diabetes). Herein, the self-assembly of TK9, a nine-residue peptide of the extra membrane C-terminal tail of the SARS corona virus envelope, and its variants were characterized through biophysical, spectroscopic, and simulated studies, and it was confirmed that the structure of these peptides influences their aggregation propensity, hence, mimicking amyloid proteins. TK9, which forms a beta-sheet rich fibril, contains a key sequence motif that may be critical for beta-sheet formation, thus making it an interesting system to study amyloid fibrillation. TK9 aggregates were further examined through simulations to evaluate the possible intra- and interpeptide interactions at the molecular level. These self-assembly peptides can also serve as amyloid inhibitors through hydrophobic and electrophilic recognition interactions. Our results show that TK9 inhibits the fibrillation of hIAPP, a 37 amino acid peptide implicated in the pathology of type-II diabetes. Thus, biophysical and NMR experimental results have revealed a molecular level understanding of peptide folding events, as well as the inhibition of amyloid-protein aggregation are reported.