Cooperative assembly of Zn cross-linked artificial tripeptides with pendant hydroxyquinoline ligands.

An artificial peptide with three pendant hydroxyquinoline (hq) ligands on a palindromic backbone was designed and used to form multimetallic assemblies. Reaction of the tripeptide with zinc acetate led to a highly fluorescent tripeptide duplex with three Zn(II) coordinative cross-links. The binding process was monitored using spectrophotometric absorbance and emission titrations; NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry confirmed the identity and stoichiometry of the product structure. Titrations monitoring duplex formation of the zinc-tripeptide structure had a sigmoidal shape, equilibrium constant larger than the monomeric analogue, and a Hill coefficient >1, all of which indicate positive cooperativity. Photophysical characterization of the quantum yield, excited state lifetime, and polarization anisotropy are compared with the monometallic zinc-hq analogue. A higher than expected quantum yield for the trimetallic complex suggests a structure in which the central chromophore is shielded from solvent by π-stacking with neighboring Zn(II) complexes.

Proteomic analysis reveals presence of platelet microparticles in endothelial progenitor cell cultures.

The concept of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) has attracted considerable interest in cardiovascular research, but despite a decade of research there are still no specific markers for EPCs and results from clinical trials remain controversial. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, we analyzed the protein composition of microparticles (MPs) originating from the cell surface of EPC cultures. Our data revealed that the conventional methods for isolating mononuclear cells lead to a contamination with platelet proteins. Notably, platelets readily disintegrate into platelet MPs. These platelet MPs are taken up by the mononuclear cell population, which acquires "endothelial" characteristics (CD31, von Willebrand factor [VWF], lectin-binding), and angiogenic properties. In a large population-based study (n = 526), platelets emerged as a positive predictor for the number of colony-forming units and early outgrowth EPCs. Our study provides the first evidence that the cell type consistent with current definitions of an EPC phenotype may arise from an uptake of platelet MPs by mononuclear cells resulting in a gross misinterpretation of their cellular progeny. These findings demonstrate the advantage of using an unbiased proteomic approach to assess cellular phenotypes and advise caution in attributing the benefits in clinical trials using unselected bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMCs) to stem cell-mediated repair.

The HBS1L-MYB intergenic region on chromosome 6q23.3 influences erythrocyte, platelet, and monocyte counts in humans.

Common sequence variants situated between the HBS1L and MYB genes on chromosome 6q23.3 (HMIP) influence the proportion of F cells (erythrocytes that carry measurable amounts of fetal hemoglobin). Since the physiological processes underlying the F-cell variability are thought to be linked to kinetics of erythrocyte maturation and differentiation, we have investigated the influence of the HMIP locus on other hematologic parameters. Here we show a significant impact of HMIP variability on several types of peripheral blood cells: erythrocyte, platelet, and monocyte counts as well as erythrocyte volume and hemoglobin content in healthy individuals of European ancestry. These results support the notion that changes of F-cell abundance can be an indicator of more general shifts in hematopoietic patterns in humans.