Ligand-Binding Cooperativity Effects in Polymer-Protein Conjugation.

We present an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic characterization of structural and dynamic effects that stem from post-translational modifications of bovine serum albumin (BSA), an established model system for polymer-protein conjugation. Beyond the typical drug delivery and biocompatibility aspect of such systems, we illustrate the causes that alter internal dynamics and therefore functionality in terms of ligand-binding to the BSA protein core. Uptake of the paramagnetic fatty acid derivative 16-doxyl stearic acid by several BSA-based squaric acid macroinitiators and polymer-protein conjugates was studied by EPR spectroscopy, aided by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential measurements. The conjugates were grafted from oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA), forming an overall core-shell-like structure. It is found that ligand-binding and associated parameters such as binding affinity, cooperativity, and the number of binding sites of BSA change drastically with the extent of surface modification. In the course of processing BSA, the ligands also change their preference for individual binding sites, as observed from a comparative view of their spatial alignments in double electron electron resonance (DEER) experiments. The protein-attached polymers constitute a diffusion barrier that significantly hamper ligand uptake. Moreover, zeta potentials (ζ) decrease linearly with the degree of surface modification in protein macroinitiators and an effective dielectric constant can be estimated for the polymer layer in the conjugates. All this suggests that ligand uptake characteristics in BSA can be fine-tuned by the extent and nature of such post-translational modifications (PTMs). We show that EPR spectroscopy is suitable for quantifying these subtle PTM-based functional effects from self-assembly of substrate and ligand.

Beyond poly(ethylene glycol): linear polyglycerol as a multifunctional polyether for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.

Polyglycerols (sometimes also called "polyglycidols") represent a class of highly biocompatible and multihydroxy-functional polymers that may be considered as a multifunctional analogue of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Various architectures based on a polyglycerol scaffold are feasible depending on the monomer employed. While polymerization of glycidol leads to hyperbranched polyglycerols, the precisely defined linear analogue is obtained by using suitably protected glycidol as a monomer, followed by removal of the protective group in a postpolymerization step. This review summarizes the properties and synthetic approaches toward linear polyglycerols (linPG), which are at present mainly based on the application of ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether (EEGE) as an acetal-protected glycidol derivative. Particular emphasis is placed on the manifold functionalization strategies including, e.g., the synthesis of end-functional linPGs or multiheterofunctional modifications at the polyether backbone. Potential applications like bioconjugation and utilization as a component in degradable biomaterials or for diagnostics, in which polyglycerol acts as a promising PEG substitute are discussed. In the last section, the important role of linear polyglycerol as a macroinitiator or as a highly hydrophilic segment in block co- or terpolymers is highlighted.

Changes in the hepatic mitochondrial and membrane proteome in mice fed a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis inducing diet.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) accounts for a large proportion of cryptic cirrhosis in the Western societies. Nevertheless, we lack a deeper understanding of the underlying pathomolecular processes, particularly those preceding hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. In order to gain novel insights into early NASH-development from the first appearance of proteomic alterations to the onset of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, we conducted a time-course analysis of proteomic changes in liver mitochondria and membrane-enriched fractions of female C57Bl/6N mice fed either a mere steatosis or NASH inducing diet. This data was complemented by quantitative measurements of hepatic glycerol-containing lipids, cholesterol and intermediates of the methionine cycle. Aside from energy metabolism and stress response proteins, enzymes of the urea cycle and methionine metabolism were found regulated. Alterations in the methionine cycle occur early in disease progression preceding molecular signs of inflammation. Proteins that hold particular promise in the early distinction between benign steatosis and NASH are methyl-transferase Mettl7b, the glycoprotein basigin and the microsomal glutathione-transferase.

Early changes in the liver-soluble proteome from mice fed a nonalcoholic steatohepatitis inducing diet.

Despite the increasing incidence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with the rise in lifestyle-related diseases such as the metabolic syndrome, little is known about the changes in the liver proteome that precede the onset of inflammation and fibrosis. Here, we investigated early changes in the liver-soluble proteome of female C57BL/6N mice fed an NASH-inducing diet by 2D-DIGE and nano-HPLC-MS/MS. In parallel, histology and measurements of hepatic content of triglycerides, cholesterol and intermediates of the methionine cycle were performed. Hepatic steatosis manifested itself after 2 days of feeding, albeit significant changes in the liver-soluble proteome were not evident before day 10 in the absence of inflammatory or fibrotic signs. Proteomic alterations affected mainly energy and amino acid metabolism, detoxification processes, urea cycle, and the one-carbon/S-adenosylmethionine pathways. Additionally, intermediates of relevant affected pathways were quantified from liver tissue, confirming the findings from the proteomic analysis.

Oligo(glycerol) methacrylate macromonomers.

Linear, protected ω-methoxy oligo(glycerol) methacrylate (OGly(P)MA) macromonomers are synthesized via anionic ring-opening polymerization of ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether (EEGE) followed by termination with methacrylic acid anhydride (DP(n) = 3-11, PDI < 1.30). The covalently bound methacrylate moiety allows the homopolymerization of OGly(P)MA as well as copolymerization with low molecular weight comonomers. In homopolymerizations, macromonomers are polymerized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) yielding well-defined graft polymers (M(n) = 20,000-30,000 g mol(-1)). Acidic hydrolysis of the protecting groups releases water-soluble polyhydroxy-functional structures. First results on the copolymerization with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) are given in the final part of this work.