RESUMO
The aim of this work was to design and characterize peptides based on the α-helices h1 and h2 of the ACE2 receptor, forming the interaction interface between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein and the cellular ACE2 receptor. Monomeric and heterodimeric peptides connected by disulfide bonds at different positions were synthesized. Solubility, RBD-binding affinity, and peptide helicity were experimentally measured, and molecular dynamics simulation was performed in various solvents. It was established that the preservation of the helical conformation is a necessary condition for the binding of peptides to RBD. The peptides have a low degree of helicity and low affinity for RBD in water. Dimeric peptides have a higher degree of helicity than monomeric ones, probably due to the mutual influence of helices. The degree of helicity of the peptides in trifluoroethanol is the highest; however, for in vitro studies, the most suitable solvent is a water-ethanol mixture.
Assuntos
Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2 , COVID-19 , Humanos , Simulação de Dinâmica Molecular , Peptídeos , Ligação Proteica , SARS-CoV-2RESUMO
The aim of this study was to create vector superparamagnetic nanoparticles for tumor cell visualization in vivo by magnetic resonance tomography. A method for obtaining superparamagnetic nanoparticles based on ferric oxide with the magnetic nucleus diameter of 12 ± 3 nm coated with BSA and forming stable water dispersions was developed. The structure and size of the nanoparticles were studied by transmissive electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and x-ray phase analysis. Their T2 relaxivity was comparable with that of the available commercial analog. Low cytotoxicity of these nanoparticles was demonstrated by MTT test on primary and immortalized cell cultures. The nanoparticles were vectorized by monoclonal antibodies to connexin 43 (Cx43). Specific binding of vectorized nanoparticles to C6 glioma Cx43-positive cell membranes was demonstrated. Hence, vector biocompatible nanoparticles with high relaxivity, fit for use as MRT contrast for the diagnosis of poorly differentiated gliomas, were created.