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PubMed1986

Mechanical properties of polymeric membranes obtained by radiation cast-polymerization of hydroxyalkyl and hydroxypolyethyleneglycol methacrylate monomers.

Polymeric membranes have been prepared by radiation cast-polymerization of hydroxyalkyl and hydroxypolyethyleneglycol methacrylate monomers, and the mechanical properties of the membranes before and after swelling have been studied as a function of the molecular structure of the monomers. The degree of hydration of the polymers from hydroxypolyethyleneglycol methacrylate monomers increased with increasing the number of ethyleneglycol units in the monomers, and that from hydroxyalkyl methacrylate monomers decreased with an increase in the number of methylene units. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tear strength, Young's modulus, and elongation at break varied with the length of the methylene and ethyleneglycol units in the monomers. It was found that flexible polymeric membranes having various properties for medical applications could be obtained by radiation cast-polymerization of hydroxyalkyl and hydroxypolyethyleneglycol methacrylate monomers.

Acrylates↗
PubMed1991

Osmotic effects of protein polymerization: analysis of volume changes in sickle cell anemia red cells following deoxy-hemoglobin S polymerization.

Polymerization-depolymerization of proteins within cells and subcellular organelles may have powerful osmotic effects. As a model to study these we analyzed the predicted volume changes following hemoglobin (Hb) S polymerization in sickle cell anemia (SS) red cells with different initial volumes. The theoretical analysis predicted that dehydrated SS red cells may sustain large polymerization-induced volume shifts whose direction would depend on whether or not small solutes were excluded from polymer-associated water. Experiments with SS cells from promptly fractionated venous blood showed oxygenation-induced swelling, maximal in the densest cells, in support of nonexclusion models. The predicted extent of cell dehydration on polymerization was strongly influenced by factors such as the dilution of residual soluble Hb and the increased osmotic contribution of Hb in cells dehydrated by salt loss, largely overlooked in the past. The osmotic effects of polymer formation may thus play an important part in microcirculatory infarction by dense SS cells, as they become even denser and stiffer during deoxygenation in the capillaries.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗
PubMed1985

Polymerization properties of two normally circulating fibrinogens, HMW and LMW. Evidence that the COOH-terminal end of the a-chain is of importance for fibrin polymerization.

The plasma fibrinogen fractions HMW (mw 340,000) and LMW (mw 305,000) were prepared from purified (beta-alanine precipitated) fibrinogen by step-wise precipitation with ammonium sulfate. The thrombin clotting times were 14" and 20" respectively. The enzymatic phase of coagulation, measured as release of fibrinopeptide-A during incubation with thrombin, was found to be identical for HMW and LMW. Polymerization was studied by light scattering (at 605 nm) using preformed monomers (des-AA and des-AABB) prepared from HMW and LMW in the presence of 3.3 M urea by incubation with thrombin (100 NIH U/ml final conc.) and reptilase (1 U/ml final conc.). The HMW-monomers polymerised at a substantially higher rate than the corresponding LMW-monomers. Thus, the prolonged clotting time of LMW was explained by retarded polymerization. It is suggested that the -COOH terminal end of the a-chain, containing the molecular difference between HMW and LMW, is of importance for polymerization. Furthermore, the release of fibrinopeptide B (des-AABB-monomers) improved polymerization properties in HMW as well as in LMW, and all types of monomers polymerised more rapidly in the presence of Ca++.

Fibrin↗
PubMed2004

Synthesis of tethered-polymer brush by atom transfer radical polymerization from a plasma-polymerized-film-coated quartz crystal microbalance and its application for immunosensors.

This study synthesizes a tethered surface-grafted poly(acrylic acid) with quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) surfaces and provides detailed analysis of their properties and application. A tethered polyelectrolyte brush of poly(acrylic acid) is generated by first covering the substrate with a plasma-polymerized allyl alcohol (pp-AA) film, changing the polymerization initiators (bromination), and then grafting through atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of tert-butyl acrylate (t-BA); these initiators are immobilized on a surface and exposed to a monomer. Finally, we convert the poly(t-BA) brush into poly(acrylic acid) through hydrolysis. We use the QCM technique to measure configuration change of the tethered poly(acrylic acid) grafted chains with two different degrees of polymerization (DP=50,200) in aqueous solutions at three different pH values (4.0, 4.8, and 5.4). The tethered poly(acrylic acid) grafted QCM shows that repeatable frequency responses are induced by pH change of solution. These frequency responses of large DP for pH are 20 times larger than responses of lower DP for pH. The frequency response of antibody immobilization on tethered poly(acrylic acid) grafted QCM (DP=200) and its frequency response of immunoreaction are 10 times larger than conventional immobilization methods by cysteamine with glutalaldehyde coupling of the antibody. The tethered poly(acrylic acid) grafted QCM can increase the frequency response for pH, the immobilization amount of antibody, and immunosensor response.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed1997

Free radical induced polymerization of synthetic peptides into polymeric immunogens.

Free radical induced polymerization of vinyl monomers such as the acryloyl peptides described here is a facile and rapid reaction used routinely, for example, in the polymerization of acrylamide and bisacrylamide for the assembly of polyacrylamide gels. The technology allows the incorporation of many of the same or different peptide determinants into a single polymer chain. In this study large polymers containing multiple copies of peptides representing T- and B-cell determinants of influenza haemagglutinin were constructed. The determinants retained antigenicity after the polymerization procedure and the polymers were highly immunogenic; the levels of antibody obtained after a single dose of polymeric immunogen were at least as great as those achieved only after repeated doses of the equivalent monomeric peptide. The technology has a wide range of potential applications, not the least significant of which is the construction of designer immunogens for third generation vaccine candidates.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Localization of an effective fibrin beta-chain polymerization site: implications for the polymerization mechanism.

To examine whether fibrin N-terminal Aalpha 17-23 and Bbeta 15-25 may contain high-affinity polymerization sites, GPRVVER and GHRPLDKKREE analogs were prepared, and their abilities to inhibit fibrin monomers from repolymerizing were compared in turbidity and clottability assays. Within Aalpha 17-23, GPR is the most active site (IC30 of 0.95-1.36 mM). Its extension into GPRVVER (IC30 of 1.75-2.3 mM) reduced activity. Within Bbeta 15-25, acyl-DKKREE (IC30 of 0.30-0.53 mM) can account for GHRPLDKKREE activity (IC30 of 0. 33-0.44 mM). Comparison of the assays showed that calcium, whose presence induces thick fibrin fibers, elicited a higher turbidity than clottability inhibition. Similarly, the lateral-association-promoting GHRP (IC30 of 1.25-1.43 mM) gave a high turbidity vs clottability inhibition ratio (137%). In contrast, low ratios were found for the linear-association-initiating GPR (73%) and for acyl-DKKREE (34%). Structure-activity correlation showed that fibrinogen-like acyl-GPRP and acyl-GHRP could inhibit D. E association at the millimolar range, but in a manner different from fibrin-related GPR peptides did, which required the NH2 as well as Arg presence. To explain Bbeta 20-25 masking, it is proposed that DKKREE in fibrinogen may engage in ionic and hydrogen bonds with KDSDW, the Aalpha 29-33 sequence implicated in thrombin binding. To explain acyl-GPRP and acyl-GHRP inhibition of D.E association, it is proposed that fibrinogen packing may be mediated by E domain association with alphaC (Aalpha 220-609) fragments of adjacent molecules, and by alphaC-alphaC association. A modified polymerization mechanism is deduced by taking into account fibrinogen N-terminal conformation as well as E domain binding to thrombin vs alphaC fragments. This model proposes the following. (1) Upon thrombin binding to fibrinogen KDSDW, DKKREE may become exposed. (2) Fibrinopeptide A cleavage further unmasks the NH2 and Arg group of GPR, leading to DKKREE and GPR initiation of polymerization. (3) The micromolar-effective thrombin-fibrin(ogen) binding may initiate a partial alphaC repulsion. Subsequent DKKREE and GPR binding to D domains of other fibrin(ogen) will lead to the formation of the trimer and bring additional molecules to fibrin N-terminal region, and the combined steric congestion may lead to a complete alphaC repulsion from the overcrowded E domain. (4) Repulsion of the large Aalpha 220-609 fragments may unmask multiple polymerization sites beyond the fibrin N-terminal region.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Tandem chain walking polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization for efficient synthesis of dendritic nanoparticles for bioconjugation.

A tandem polymerization methodology, chain walking polymerization (CWP) followed by atom transfer radical polymerization, was developed for efficient synthesis of nanoparticles for bioconjugation. Using the chain walking palladium-alpha-diimine catalyst (catalyst 1), dendritic polymers bearing multiple initiation sites were synthesized and used as macroinitiators for subsequent Cu(I)-mediated ATRP. Control of molecular weight and size of the water-soluble core-shell polymeric nanoparticles was achieved by tuning reaction conditions. Addition of an N-acryloyloxysuccinamide (NAS) monomer at the end of the ATRP afforded NHS-activated polymer nanoparticles. Conjugation with both small dye molecules and protein (ovalbumin) yielded nanoparticle conjugates with relatively high dye or protein per particle ratio. With the efficient synthesis and good biocompatibility, these nanoparticles may find many potential applications in bioconjugation.

Copper↗
PubMed2006

In situ hydrogenation of terminal halogen in poly(methyl methacrylate) by ruthenium-catalyzed living radical polymerization: direct transformation of "polymerization catalyst" into "hydrogenation catalyst".

An in situ, selective, and quantitative hydrogenation of the terminal chlorine (alpha-haloester) in living PMMA-Cl into PMMA-H was achieved via direct transformation of a "polymerization catalyst" into a "hydrogenation catalyst" in the Ru(II)-catalyzed living radical polymerization, where the polymerization mixture of MMA was directly treated in situ with K2CO3 as a base and 2-propanol as a hydrogen donor. The reaction terminated the polymerization and, more importantly, the terminal chlorine was quantitatively hydrogenated, as confirmed by SEC, 1H NMR, and MALDI-TOF MS.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

Synthesis of alkoxy-substituted diaryl compounds and correlation of ring separation with inhibition of tubulin polymerization: differential enhancement of inhibitory effects under suboptimal polymerization reaction conditions.

A number of cytostatic compounds (2-4, 7, and 8), which can be described as "diaryl", inhibit tubulin polymerization, cause cells to accumulate in mitotic arrest, and competitively inhibit the binding of colchicine to tubulin. They differ, however, in the separation of the two aryl moieties. To attempt to understand this variability we prepared a series of analogues modeled on 3 and 4 ("benzodioxole series") and on 7 and 8 ("combretastatin series") which differed only in the number of methylene units (ranging from none to four) separating the aryl moieties. These compounds were evaluated for their effects on tubulin polymerization, colchicine binding, and the growth of L1210 murine leukemia cells. In terms of inhibitory effects on tubulin polymerization, for the combretastatin series there was an optimal separation of the two phenyl rings by a two-carbon bridge (compound 24), with progressively decreasing inhibitory activity when the separation was by one carbon (20), three carbons (25), or four carbons (28) (the biphenyl analogue 16 was inactive). The benzodioxole series, however, did not permit us to generalize this finding, because the least active agents prepared (39 and 40) had a two-carbon bridge, while those with one- (5 and 6) and three-carbon (46 and 47) bridges were nearly equivalent in potency. Submicromolar IC50 values for inhibition of L1210 cell growth were only obtained for compounds 20 (IC50, 0.2 microM), 24 (0.07 microM), and 25 (0.4 microM). While evaluating the effects of these agents on tubulin polymerization, we noted with the combretastatin series and with several standard agents that apparent potency (in terms of IC50 values) was always lower if the reaction was performed at 30 degrees C, with 0.25 mM MgCl2, than at 37 degrees C, with 1.0 mM MgCl2. This enhancement of IC50 values in the former system as compared with the latter was particularly dramatic for the less active agents (e.g., 28) as compared with the more active (e.g. 24).

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Synthesis of nanometer-scale polymeric structures on surfaces from template assisted admicellar polymerization: a comparative study with protein adsorption.

A novel method for the formation of nanometer-scale polymer structures via template assisted admicellar polymerization (TAAP) is described. Admicellar polymerization uses a surfactant layer adsorbed on a surface to localize monomer to the surface prior to polymerization of the monomer. Nanostructures are formed by restricting adsorption to the uncovered sites of an already-templated surface, in this case to the interstitial sites between adsorbed latex spheres. Unlike most other process that form polymer nanostructures, polymer dimensions can be significantly smaller than the interstitial size because of sphere-surfactant interactions. Protein adsorption in the interstitial sites of colloidal arrays was also studied for three different proteins, and the results were compared with those obtained via admicellar polymerization.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1998

Anionic Polymerization of 1,3-Cyclohexadiene with Alkyllithium/Amine Systems. Characteristics of n-Butyllithium/N,N,N',N'-Tetramethylethylenediamine System for Living Anionic Polymerization.

The n-butyllithium (n-BuLi)/N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) system (with the molar ratio of TMEDA to n-BuLi higher than 4/4) has been found to polymerize 1,3-cyclohexadiene to produce "living" polymer having a narrow molecular weight distribution with well-controlled polymer chain length. The rate of polymerization and polymer yield increased with increasing of the ratio of TMEDA to n-BuLi. The molecular weight distribution of obtained polymers became narrower with the ratio of TMEDA to n-BuLi. The formation of benzene generated by termination reaction was found to decrease with the ratio of TMEDA to n-BuLi. In contrast to 1,3-cyclohexadiene, low yield and broad molecular weight distribution were observed in the polymerization of 1,3-hexadiene and 2,4-hexadiene initiated by the n-BuLi/TMEDA (4/5) system. The microstructure of poly(1,3-cyclohexadiene) was determined by 2D-NMR. A high content of 1,2-units was found in the polymerization initiated by the alkyllithium/TMEDA system, while the high content of 1,4-units was observed in the cases of alkyllithium or alkyllithium/1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane system. The 7Li NMR signals of the n-BuLi/TMEDA systems and poly(1,3-cyclohexadienyl)lithium /TMEDA were in higher magnetic field than the signals of n-BuLi and poly(1,3-cyclohexadienyl)lithium, respectively, indicating the disaggregation of the lithium species.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Role of actin DNase-I-binding loop in myosin subfragment 1-induced polymerization of G-actin: implications for the mechanism of polymerization.

Proteolytic cleavage of actin between Gly(42) and Val(43) within its DNase-I-binding loop (D-loop) abolishes the ability of Ca-G-actin to spontaneously polymerize in the presence of KCl. Here we show that such modified actin is assembled into filaments, albeit at a lower rate than unmodified actin, by myosin subfragment 1 (S1) carrying the A1 essential light chain but not by S1(A2). S1 titration of pyrene-G-actin showed a diminished affinity of cleaved actin for S1, but this could be compensated for by using S1 in excess. The most significant effect of the cleavage, revealed by measuring the fluorescence of pyrene-actin and light-scattering intensities as a function of actin concentration at saturating concentrations of S1, is strong inhibition of association of G-actin-S1 complexes into oligomers. Measurements of the fluorescence of dansyl cadaverine attached to Gln(41) indicate substantial inhibition of the initial association of G-actin-S1 into longitudinal dimers. The data provide experimental evidence for the critical role of D-loop conformation in both longitudinal and lateral, cross-strand actin-actin contact formation in the nucleation reaction. Electron microscopic analysis of the changes in filament-length distribution during polymerization of actin by S1(A1) and S1(A2) suggests that the mechanism of S1-induced polymerization is not substantially different from the nucleation-elongation scheme of spontaneous actin polymerization.

Actins↗
PubMed1997

Effect of composite type, light intensity, configuration factor and laser polymerization on polymerization contraction forces.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of composite type, light intensity, configuration factor and laser polymerization on polymerization contraction force. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Glass rods (10 pairs/group) were etched with HF acid, silanated, unfilled resin applied and light cured for 20 s. Rods were held vertically in chucks on a Zwick machine. A cylindrical matrix was filled with Silar chemical cure, Silux Plus microfill or Z-100 hybrid composite and the crosshead of the UTM positioned at an inter-rod distance corresponding to a specific ratio of bound to unbound composite surface area (configuration factor or C). Exposure time with the Demetron 401 conventional visible light curing unit (D401) was 40 s/side (80 s total). Exposure times for the ILT Model D5500 air cooled laser (LAC) and Model 5500ABL water cooled laser (LWC) was 20 s/side (40 s total). Experimental groups, n = 10 with constant factors in parentheses, included: (1) Silar chemical-cured (C = 3); (2) Z-100 hybrid (C = 3, D401, 100% intensity); (3) Silux Plus microfill (C = 3, D401, 100% intensity); (4) D401 100% light intensity = 476 mW (Z-100, C = 3, D401); (5) D401 50% intensity = 238 mW (Z-100, C = 3, D401); (6) D401 25% intensity = 119 mW (Z-100, C = 3, D401); (7-9) C = 5, 3 & 1 respectively (Z-100, D401, 100% intensity); (10) D401 with 13 mm tip = 391 mW/cm2 (Z-100, C = 3; D401); (11) D401 with Turbo Tip = 811 mW/cm2 (Z-100, C = 3; D401); (12) LAC = 265 mW, 689 mW/cm2 (Z-100, C = 3); (13) LWC = 365 mW, 1100 mW/cm2 (Z-100, C = 3). One Way ANOVA and Duncan's Multiple Range Test (alpha = 0.05) were performed separately for each variable. RESULTS: Homogeneous subsets by variable were: composite type Group 1 (25N) < Group 3 (65.8N) < Group 2 (90.4N); intensity Group 6 (73.9N) = Group 5 (77.7N) < Group 4 (90.4N); C-Factor Group 7 (81.8N) < Group 8 (90.4N) < Group 9 (103.4N); light source Group 12 (77.4N) = Group 13 (79.1N) < Group 10 (90.4N) = Group 11.(89.4N). The chemical-cured composite had the lowest maximum polymerization contraction force, the microfill was intermediate and the hybrid composite had the highest recorded force. Increases in light intensity increased the maximum force on the force/time curve. Maximum forces were inversely related to C-factor (C5 < C3 < C1) and directly related to composite volume in a non-rigid system which allowed compliance. Maximum force was not significantly different with the two tips tested on the conventional curing light. Forces obtained with laser polymerization were similar for the two laser groups, which were both statistically lower than the conventional light tested.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1998

Antibody against the human J chain inhibits polymeric Ig receptor-mediated biliary and epithelial transport of human polymeric IgA.

To emphasize the requirement for a J chain in native polymeric immunoglobulins for their selective transport into exocrine secretions, IgG, purified from two different antisera specific for the human J chain, was shown to: (i) bind in vitro to human polymeric IgA (pIgA) by density gradient ultracentrifugation; (ii) inhibit binding in vitro of rat secretory component to human pIgA; (iii) inhibit hepatic transport of human pIgA into rat bile in vivo; and (iv) inhibit apical transcytosis of pIgA in vitro by polarized human polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR)-expressing Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Inhibition of biliary transport increased with the molar ratio of anti-J chain antibodies against pIgA and their incubation time. Anti-J chain F(ab')2 and Fab fragments also inhibited biliary transport, excluding a role for phagocytic clearance or excessive size of the immune complexes. Anti-human-Fc alpha Fab, bound to human pIgA in complexes of larger size than those with anti-J chain Fab, did not inhibit biliary transport of human pIgA. Propionic acid-denatured human pIgA, although containing J chains, was very poorly transported into rat bile. Altogether, our data strongly support, now also by in vivo experiments, the crucial role of the J chain of native pIgA in its selective pIgR-mediated transport into secretions, as suggested long ago by in vitro data only. Recent data on J chain-knockout mice, with low IgA levels in bile and feces, cannot explain the role of the J chain in contributing to the secretory component/pIgR-binding site of normal pIgA, but otherwise agree with our study.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

A new assay system for detection of polymeric immunoglobulin A-polymeric immunoglobulin receptor binding.

A new system for detection of polymeric immunoglobulin A (pIgA)-polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) binding was established. Cell lysates of a mouse pIgR cDNA transfectant, 2S9.1, were incubated with mouse polymeric immunoglobulin A (pIgA) or immunoglobulin G (IgG). The resulting immunocomplexes were precipitated with protein G-Sepharose and blotted with polyclonal anti-mouse pIgR antibody. The mouse pIgR molecule was specifically precipitated with pIgA, indicating successful detection of the pIgA-pIgR complex. Using this system, the role of N-glycosylation in pIgA-pIgR binding was examined. The pIgR molecule (molecular mass 100 kDa) after complete deglycosylation by tunicamycin treatment was still able to bind to pIgA, indicating that N-glycosylation of pIgR is not necessary for pIgA-pIgR binding. This novel system will be useful for detecting pIgA-pIgR complexes containing intact pIgR molecules.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Suspension polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate in the presence of polymeric diluents: a novel route to spherical highly porous beads for biomedical applications.

Spherical, highly porous beads of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) cross-linked with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDM) were prepared by suspension polymerization of HEMA in concentrated NaCl solutions in presence of toluene, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in toluene, and poly(tetramethylene glycol) (PTMG). Magnesium hydroxide prepared in situ in the dispersion medium gave the best stabilization effect for the monomer droplets. In the presence of PTMG, beads having nearly 1.0 mm in diameter could be prepared, while toluene alone as the diluent produced beads of very small size. Removal of PMMA or PTMG from the beads after polymerization using suitable solvents gave rise to highly porous PHEMA microspsheres. Polymerization in the presence of PTMG produced microspsheres with better spherical geometry as compared to those generated in the presence of PMMA. The effect of various factors such as NaCl concentration, concentration of Mg(OH)2, and the concentration of PMMA or PTMG in the monomer phase on the stability of the suspension and the particle size distribution was investigated.

Cross-Linking Reagents↗
PubMed1986

Kinetics of sickle hemoglobin polymerization. III. Nucleation rates determined from stochastic fluctuations in polymerization progress curves.

The polymerization kinetics of sickle cell hemoglobin are found to exhibit stochastic variations when observed in very small volumes (approximately 10(-10) cm3). The distribution of progress curves has been measured at several temperatures for a 4.50 mM-hemoglobin S sample using a laser-photolysis, light-scattering technique. The progress curves at a given temperature are superimposable when translated along the time axis, showing that the variability of the kinetic progress curves results primarily from fluctuations in the time at which polymerization is initiated. The shapes of the initial part of the progress curves are well-fitted using the functional form I(t) = Io + As exp (Bt), derived from a dual nucleation model. When the distribution of the measured tenth times is broad, the rate of homogeneous nucleation can be obtained by fitting the exponential tail of the distribution. As the distribution sharpen, the rate of homogeneous nucleation can be estimated by modelling the width of the distribution function using a simple Monte-Carlo simulation of the polymerization kinetics. Using the rates of homogeneous nucleation obtained from the distributions, the rates of heterogeneous nucleation and polymer growth can be obtained from the experimental parameters As and B. The resulting nucleation rates are roughly 1000 times greater than those obtained from an analysis of bulk kinetic data. The results provide strong support for the dual-nucleation mechanism and show that the distribution of progress curves provides a powerful independent method for measuring the rate of homogeneous nucleation and thereby obtaining values for the other principal rates of the mechanism.

Hemoglobin, Sickle↗
PubMed2005

Folding and stability of a coiled-coil investigated using chemical and physical denaturing agents: comparative analysis of polymerized and non-polymerized forms of alpha-tropomyosin.

alpha-Tropomyosin (Tm) is a two-stranded alpha-helical coiled-coil protein, which participates in the regulation of muscle contraction. Unlike Tm purified from vertebrate muscle, recombinant Tm expressed in Escherichia coli is not acetylated at the N-terminal residue and loses the capacity to undergo head-to-tail polymerization, to bind actin and to inhibit actomyosin ATPase activity. These functions are restored by fusion of an N-terminal Ala-Ser (AS) dipeptide tail to recombinant Tm. Here, we have employed chemical (guanidine hydrochloride and urea) and physical (elevated hydrostatic pressures and low temperatures) denaturing agents to compare the structural stabilities of polymeric alanine-serine-tropomyosin (ASTm, containing the AS dipeptide) and dimeric "non-fusion" Tm (nfTm, i.e., not containing the AS dipeptide). Binding of the hydrophobic fluorescent dye bis-ANS, circular dichroism and size-exclusion chromatography were used to monitor the stabilities and state of association of both proteins under different solution conditions. Bis-ANS binding was markedly decreased at low concentrations (<1M) of GdnHCl or urea, whereas the secondary structures of both ASTm and nfTm were essentially unaffected in the same range of denaturant concentrations. These results suggest local unfolding of bis-ANS binding domains prior to global unfolding of Tm. In contrast, increased bis-ANS binding was observed when Tm was submitted to high pressures or to low temperatures, implying increased exposure of hydrophobic domains in the protein. Taken together, the different sensitivities of ASTm and nfTm to different denaturing agents support the notion that, at close to physiological conditions, head-to-tail interactions in polymerized ASTm are predominantly stabilized by electrostatic interactions between adjacent Tm dimers, whereas non-polar interactions appear to play a major role in the stability of the coiled-coil structure of individual Tm dimers.

Anilino Naphthalenesulfonates↗