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Amino Acids 2022 May 18. Epub 2022 May 18.

Federal State Budget Educational Institution of Higher Education, "MIREA-Russian Technological University", Vernadsky Avenue 86, Moscow, 119454, Russia.

The simple and facilitated transfer of tripeptide glutathione across the water/2-nitrophenyl octhyl ether interface was studied via cyclic voltammetry at interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES). The micro-perforated membrane prepared with a laser with a femtosecond pulse was used for mechanical stabilization of the interface. The method of cyclic voltammetry was used to study the passive and facilitated interfacial transfer of glutathione and its complex with the crown ether dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6). Read More

Amino Acids 2022 May 13. Epub 2022 May 13.

University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Sofia, 1756, Bulgaria.

The Alzheimer's disease leads to neurodegenerative processes and affecting negatively million people worldwide. The treatment of the disease is still difficult and incomplete in practice. Galanthamine is one of the most commonly used drugs against the illness. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 May 10. Epub 2022 May 10.

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, MSB 3.140A, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.

We studied the effect of feeding a single probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (LR 17938) on the luminal and plasma levels of amino acids and their derivatives in the suckling newborn mouse, using gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. We found that LR 17938 increased the relative abundance of many amino acids and their derivatives in stool, while it simultaneously significantly reduced the plasma levels of three amino acids (serine, citrulline, and taurine). Many peptides and dipeptides were increased in stool and plasma, notably gamma-glutamyl derivatives of amino acids, following ingestion of the LR 17938. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Apr 30. Epub 2022 Apr 30.

Computational and Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences and Engineering, Netaji Subhas University of Technology, Dwarka, New Delhi, 110078, India.

Molecular mimicry of host proteins by pathogens constitutes a strategy to hijack the host pathways. At present, there is no dedicated resource for mimicked domains and motifs in the host-pathogen interactome. In this work, the experimental host-pathogen (HP) and host-host (HH) protein-protein interactions (PPIs) were collated. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Apr;54(4):481-484

Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Amino Acids 2022 Apr 26. Epub 2022 Apr 26.

Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Sorkhe-Ligeh Street, Kermanshah, Iran.

Recently, we reviewed the important role of carbohydrates and lipids metabolism in different clinical aspects of multiple sclerosis (MS) disease. In the current paper, we aimed to review the contribution of amino acids and their major derivatives to different clinical outcomes of the disease, including etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. In this line, Thr (threonine), Phe (phenylalanine), Glu (glutamate), Trp (tryptophan), and Sero (serotonin) are the main examples of biomolecules that have been suggested for MS therapy. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Apr 22. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH), University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.

The essential amino acid tryptophan (Trp) is metabolized by gut commensals, yielding in compounds that affect innate immune cell functions directly, but also acting on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), thus regulating the maintenance of group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), promoting T helper 17 (T17) cell differentiation, and interleukin-22 production. In addition, microbiota-derived Trp metabolites have direct effects on the vascular endothelium, thus influencing the development of vascular inflammatory phenotypes. Indoxyl sulfate was demonstrated to promote vascular inflammation, whereas indole-3-propionic acid and indole-3-aldehyde had protective roles. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Apr 17. Epub 2022 Apr 17.

Laboratory of Organic Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy.

The recent paleoproteomic studies, including paleo-metaproteomic analyses, improved our understanding of the dietary of ancient populations, the characterization of past human diseases, the reconstruction of the habitat of ancient species, but also provided new insights into the phylogenetic relationships between extant and extinct species. In this respect, the present work reports the results of the metaproteomic analysis performed on the middle part of a trunk, and on the portion of a trunk tip tissue of two different woolly mammoths some 30,000 years old. In particular, proteins were extracted by applying EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate studded with hydrophilic and hydrophobic resins) films to the surface of these tissues belonging to two Mammuthus primigenus specimens, discovered in two regions located in the Russian Far East, and then investigated via a shotgun MS-based approach. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Apr 13. Epub 2022 Apr 13.

Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Heinrichstrasse 28, 8010, Graz, Austria.

Vibrio natriegens is the fastest growing organism identified so far. The minimum doubling time of only 9.4 min, the ability to utilize over 60 different carbon sources and its non-pathogenic properties make it an interesting alternative to E. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Apr 12. Epub 2022 Apr 12.

Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología del CSIC, Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, 3, 38206, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.

The ability of amino acid "customizable units" to generate structural diversity is illustrated by the conversion of 4-hydroxyproline (Hyp) units into a variety of nitrogen heterocycles. After a first common step, where the unit underwent a one-pot decarboxylation-alkylation reaction to afford 2-alkylpyrrolidines with high stereoselectivity, a divergent step was carried out. Thus, the deprotected 4-hydroxy group was used either to initiate a radical scission that afforded aliphatic β-amino aldehydes, or to carry out an elimination reaction, to give 2-alkyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrroles. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Apr 6. Epub 2022 Apr 6.

School of Science and Technology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for kidney and cardiovascular disease. The treatment of hypertensive individuals by selected ACE inhibitors and certain di-and tripeptides halts the progression of renal deterioration and extends life-span. Renal reabsorption of these low molecular weight substrates are mediated by the PEPT1 and PEPT2 cotransporters. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Apr 4. Epub 2022 Apr 4.

Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.

The cationic amino acid transporter 1 (CAT1/SLC7A1) plays a key role in the cellular uptake or export of L-arginine and some of its derivatives. This study investigated the effect of 113 chemically diverse and commonly used drugs (at 20 and 200 µM) on the CAT1-mediated cellular uptake of L-arginine, L-homoarginine, and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). Twenty-three (20%) of the tested substances showed weak inhibitory or stimulatory effects, but only verapamil showed consistent inhibitory effects on CAT1-mediated transport of all tested substrates. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Apr 31;54(4):529-542. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

New England Biolabs, 240 County Rd, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA.

Polyglutamylation is a posttranslational modification (PTM) that adds several glutamates on glutamate residues in the form of conjugated peptide chains by a family of enzymes known as polyglutamylases. Polyglutamylation is well documented in microtubules. Polyglutamylated microtubules consist of different α- and β-tubulin subunits with varied number of added glutamate residues. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 30. Epub 2022 Mar 30.

Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.

A considerable number of studies have reported that maternal protein restriction may disturb fetal growth and organ development due to a lower availability of amino acids. Leucine, one of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) promotes protein synthesis through mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling. Here, we investigated the effects of BCAA supplementation in the dams fed a low-protein diet on serum and hepatic biochemical parameters of protein metabolism of dams and their offspring. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 30. Epub 2022 Mar 30.

Institute of Toxicology, Core Unit Proteomics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30623, Hannover, Germany.

L-Lysine (Lys) and L-arginine (Arg), but not L-homoarginine (hArg), are proteinogenic amino acids. In healthy humans, oral administration of hArg increased the plasma concentration of Lys, suggesting Lys as a metabolite of hArg. In humans and animals, hArg is biosynthesized from Arg and Lys by arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT). Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 29. Epub 2022 Mar 29.

Division of Nephrology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Chief cells are the predominant cells in parathyroid glands of healthy adults; however, parathyroid oxyphil cells, whose function is unknown, increase dramatically in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). Calcitriol and calcimimetics are the most powerful treatments for SHPT, while the mechanisms leading to calcitriol or calcimimetic resistance in oxyphil cell-predominant SHPT are unknown. Here we used transcriptomic and proteomic techniques to characterize oxyphil cells by comparing the differences between chief and oxyphil cell nodules of parathyroid glands in uremic patients. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 19. Epub 2022 Mar 19.

Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua Monteiro Lobato, 80. Caixa Postal: 6121, Campinas, São Paulo, CEP: 13083-862, Brazil.

This study assessed the bioactive peptides content of milk from different species, including humans, camel, bovine, buffalo, donkey, sheep, goat, and horse. The highest and lowest concentrations of total digestion-resistant peptides were estimated in sheep and human milk. Donkey milk casein contains a higher angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory, dipeptidyl peptidase III (DPP-III) inhibitory, DPP-IV inhibitory, and antioxidant peptides. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 19. Epub 2022 Mar 19.

School of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China.

Using 3,4-dihalo-2(5H)-furanones and easily available hemostatic drugs, such as tranexamic acid (TA), 4-aminomethylbenzoic acid (ABA), aminocaproic acid (AA) as starting materials, serial multi-functional molecules 2(5H)-furanonyl amino acids are designed by the combination of different pharmacophores, and successfully synthesized by a transition metal-free Michael addition-elimination reaction. The reaction is carried out under mild conditions with ethanol-dichloromethane as solvent and only stirring at room temperature for 24 h, and the yield can be up to 91%. All products are well characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high-resolution mass spectra (HRMS). Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 18. Epub 2022 Mar 18.

School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.

Sepsis-induced fulminant hepatitis (FH) is a fatal syndrome that has a worse prognosis in clinical practice. Hence, seeking effective agents for sepsis-induced FH treatment is urgently needed. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are vital for tissue homeostasis and damage repair in various organs including the liver. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 18. Epub 2022 Mar 18.

Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, P.O. Box 286, 1519, Budapest, Hungary.

Fluorescent labeling is a broadly utilized approach to assess in vitro and in vivo behavior of biologically active, especially cell-penetrating and antimicrobial peptides. In this communication, far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectra of penetratin (PEN) fluorophore conjugates reported previously have been re-evaluated. Compared to the intrinsically disordered native peptide, rhodamine B and carboxyfluorescein derivatives of free and membrane-bound PEN exhibit extrinsic CD features. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 16. Epub 2022 Mar 16.

Eenheid Algemene Chemie (ALGC), Materials Modeling Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussel, Belgium.

It is assumed that genetic diseases affecting the metabolism of cysteine and the kidney function lead to two different kinds of pathologies, namely cystinuria and cystinosis whereby generate L-cystine crystals. Recently, the presence of L-cysteine crystal has been underlined in the case of cystinosis. Interestingly, it can be strikingly seen that cystine ([-S-CH-CH-(NH)-COOH]) consists of two cysteine (CHNOS) molecules connected by a disulfide (S-S) bond. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 16. Epub 2022 Mar 16.

Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.

Enterocytes of young pigs are known to use glutamine, glutamate, and glucose as major metabolic fuels. However, little is known about the roles of aspartate, alanine, and fatty acids as energy sources for these cells. Therefore, this study simultaneously determined the oxidation of the amino acids and glucose as well as short- and long-chain fatty acids in enterocytes of developing pigs. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 16. Epub 2022 Mar 16.

Department of General Chemistry, Belarusian State Medical University, Dzerzinskogo 83, Minsk, Belarus.

Intrinsically disordered proteins are frequently involved in important regulatory processes in the cell thanks to their ability to bind several different targets performing sometimes even opposite functions. The PentUnFOLD algorithm is a physicochemical method that is based on new propensity scales for disordered, nonstable and stable elements of secondary structure and on the counting of stabilizing and destabilizing intraprotein contacts. Unlike other methods, it works with a PDB file, and it can determine not only those fragments of alpha helices, beta strands, and random coils that can turn into disordered state (the "dark" side of the disorder), but also nonstable regions of alpha helices and beta strands which are able to turn into random coils (the "light" side), and vice versa (H ↔ C, E ↔ C). Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 16. Epub 2022 Mar 16.

Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Nussallee 11, 53115, Bonn, Germany.

Carnosine and other histidine-containing dipeptides are expected to be important anti-oxidants in vertebrates based on various in vitro and in vivo studies with exogenously administered carnosine or its precursor β-alanine. To examine a possible anti-oxidant role of endogenous carnosine, mice lacking carnosine synthase (Carns1) had been generated and were examined further in the present study. Protein carbonylation increased significantly between old (18 months) and aged (24 months) mice in brain and kidney but this was independent of the Carns1 genotype. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 16. Epub 2022 Mar 16.

Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.

This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that increasing dietary content of glutamate through addition of monosodium glutamate (MSG) enhances milk production by lactating sows and the growth of their offspring. Thirty multiparous sows (Landrace × Large White) were assigned randomly into one of three dietary groups: control (a corn- and soybean meal-based diet), the basal diet + 1% MSG, and the basal diet + 2% MSG. Diets were made isonitrogenous by the addition of appropriate amounts of L-alanine. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 14. Epub 2022 Mar 14.

Department of Biological Sciences, KK Birla, Goa Campus, BITS Pilani, Zuarinagar, Goa, India.

GnRH-I and GnIH are the key neuropeptides that regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in mammals during aging. Polyamines are important aliphatic amines that are expressed in the brain and show variation with aging. The present study demonstrates evidence of variation in the level of expression of polyamines, GnRH-I and GnIH in the hypothalamus of female mice during aging. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 14. Epub 2022 Mar 14.

Department of Spine Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, No 415, Fengyang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, 210000, China.

Autophagy plays an important role in biological evolution and is regulated by many autophagy proteins. Accurate identification of autophagy proteins is crucially important to reveal their biological functions. Due to the expense and labor cost of experimental methods, it is urgent to develop automated, accurate and reliable sequence-based computational tools to enable the identification of novel autophagy proteins among numerous proteins and peptides. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 13. Epub 2022 Mar 13.

Núcleo de Pesquisa em Morfologia e Imunologia Aplicada, NuPMIA, Faculdade de Medicina, FM, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Universidade de Brasília, UnB, Brasília, DF, Brazil.

Bombesin mediates several biological activities in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and central nervous system in mammals, including smooth muscle contraction, secretion of GI hormones and regulation of homeostatic mechanisms. Here, we report a novel bombesin-like peptide isolated from Boana raniceps. Its amino acid sequence, GGNQWAIGHFM-NH, was identified and structurally confirmed by HPLC, MS/MS and 454-pyrosequencing; the peptide was named BR-bombesin. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 3. Epub 2022 Mar 3.

Core Unit Proteomics, Institute of Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.

Hypusination is a unique two-step enzymatic post-translational modification of the N-amino group of lysine-50 of the eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A). We developed a specific and sensitive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for the measurement of biological hypusine (Hyp), i.e. Read More

Amino Acids 2022 Mar 28;54(3):421-432. Epub 2022 Feb 28.

Department of Pharmacology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.

Plasma amino acids reflect the dynamics of amino acids in organs and their levels have clinical significance. Amino acids as clinical indicators have been evaluated as a mixture of D- and L-amino acids because D-enantiomers are believed to be physiologically nonexistent. However, it has become clear that some D-amino acids are synthesized by endogenous enzymes and symbiotic bacteria. Read More