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International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2023High molecular weight (MW), highly repetitive protein polymers are attractive candidates to replace petroleum-derived materials as these protein-based materials (PBMs)... (Review)
Review
High molecular weight (MW), highly repetitive protein polymers are attractive candidates to replace petroleum-derived materials as these protein-based materials (PBMs) are renewable, biodegradable, and have outstanding mechanical properties. However, their high MW and highly repetitive sequence features make them difficult to synthesize in fast-growing microbial cells in sufficient amounts for real applications. To overcome this challenge, various methods were developed to synthesize repetitive PBMs. Here, we review recent strategies in the construction of repetitive genes, expression of repetitive proteins from circular mRNAs, and synthesis of repetitive proteins by ligation and protein polymerization. We discuss the advantages and limitations of each method and highlight future directions that will lead to scalable production of highly repetitive PBMs for a wide range of applications.
Topics: Polymers; Molecular Weight; Proteins; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
PubMed: 37047388
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076416 -
Journal of the American Chemical Society Jun 2022Low molecular weight gels are formed by the self-assembly of small molecules into anisotropic structures that form a network capable of immobilizing the solvent. Such... (Review)
Review
Low molecular weight gels are formed by the self-assembly of small molecules into anisotropic structures that form a network capable of immobilizing the solvent. Such gels are common, with a huge number of different examples existing, and they have many applications. However, there are still significant gaps in our understanding of these systems and challenges that need to be addressed if we are to be able to fully design such systems. Here, a number of these challenges are discussed.
Topics: Gels; Molecular Weight; Solvents
PubMed: 35713375
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c02096 -
Drug Discovery Today May 2019We present a novel crystallographic screening methodology (MiniFrags) that employs high-concentration aqueous soaks with a chemically diverse and... (Review)
Review
We present a novel crystallographic screening methodology (MiniFrags) that employs high-concentration aqueous soaks with a chemically diverse and ultra-low-molecular-weight library (heavy atom count 5-7) to identify ligand-binding hot and warm spots on proteins. We propose that MiniFrag screening represents a highly effective method for guiding optimisation of fragment-derived lead compounds or chemical tools and that the high screening hit rates reflect enhanced sampling of chemical space.
Topics: Crystallography; Drug Design; Ligands; Molecular Weight; Small Molecule Libraries
PubMed: 30878562
DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.03.009 -
International Journal of Biological... Jul 2023Structural features affect the bioactivity, physical property, and application of plant and microbial polysaccharides. However, an indistinct structure-function... (Review)
Review
Structural features affect the bioactivity, physical property, and application of plant and microbial polysaccharides. However, an indistinct structure-function relationship limits the production, preparation, and utilization of plant and microbial polysaccharides. Molecular weight is an easily regulated structural feature that affects the bioactivity and physical property of plant and microbial polysaccharides, and plant and microbial polysaccharides with a specific molecular weight are important for exerting their bioactivity and physical property. Therefore, this review summarized the regulation strategies of molecular weight via metabolic regulation; physical, chemical, and enzymic degradations; and the influence of molecular weight on the bioactivity and physical property of plant and microbial polysaccharides. Moreover, further problems and suggestions must be paid attention to during regulation, and the molecular weight of plant and microbial polysaccharides must be analyzed. The present work will promote the production, preparation, utilization, and investigation of the structure-function relationship of plant and microbial polysaccharides based on their molecular weight.
Topics: Molecular Weight; Polysaccharides; Plants
PubMed: 37321440
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125360 -
Toxins Jan 2022Here, we report the current status of the bioactive peptides isolated and characterized from mushrooms during the last 20 years, considering 'peptide' a succession from... (Review)
Review
Here, we report the current status of the bioactive peptides isolated and characterized from mushrooms during the last 20 years, considering 'peptide' a succession from to 2 to 100 amino acid residues. According to this accepted biochemical definition, we adopt ~10 kDa as the upper limit of molecular weight for a peptide. In light of this, a careful revision of data reported in the literature was carried out. The search revealed that in the works describing the characterization of bioactive peptides from mushrooms, not all the peptides have been correctly classified according to their molecular weight, considering that some fungal proteins (>10 kDa MW) have been improperly classified as 'peptides'. Moreover, the biological action of each of these peptides, the principles of their isolation as well as the source/mushroom species were summarized. Finally, this review highlighted that these peptides possess antihypertensive, antifungal, antibiotic and antimicrobial, anticancer, antiviral, antioxidant and ACE inhibitory properties.
Topics: Agaricales; Fungal Proteins; Molecular Weight
PubMed: 35202112
DOI: 10.3390/toxins14020084 -
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton,... 2022Glycosaminoglycan samples are usually polydisperse, consisting of molecules with differing length and differing sequence. Methods for measuring the molecular weight of...
Glycosaminoglycan samples are usually polydisperse, consisting of molecules with differing length and differing sequence. Methods for measuring the molecular weight of heparin have been developed to assure the quality and consistency of heparin products for medicinal use, and these methods can be applied in other laboratory contexts. In the method described here, high-performance gel permeation chromatography is calibrated using appropriate heparin molecular weight markers or a single broad standard calibrant and used to characterize the molecular weight distribution of polydisperse samples or the peak molecular weight of monodisperse, or approximately monodisperse, heparin fractions. The same technology can be adapted for use with other glycosaminoglycans.
Topics: Chromatography, Gel; Glycosaminoglycans; Hematologic Tests; Heparin; Heparitin Sulfate; Molecular Weight
PubMed: 34626382
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1398-6_18 -
Thrombosis Research Jan 2019
Topics: Anticoagulants; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; Humans; Molecular Weight; Thrombosis
PubMed: 30528079
DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2018.11.028 -
Chemistry, An Asian Journal Apr 2021The analysis of low molecular weight (LMW) compounds is of great interest to detect small pharmaceutical drugs rapidly and sensitively, or to trace and understand... (Review)
Review
The analysis of low molecular weight (LMW) compounds is of great interest to detect small pharmaceutical drugs rapidly and sensitively, or to trace and understand metabolic pathways. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) plays a central role in the analysis of high molecular weight (bio)molecules. However, its application for LMW compounds is restricted by spectral interferences in the low m/z region, which are produced by conventional organic matrices. Several strategies regarding sample preparation have been investigated to overcome this problem. A different rationale is centred on developing new matrices which not only meet the fundamental requirements of good absorption and high ionization efficiency, but are also vacuum stable and "MALDI silent", i. e., do not give matrix-related signals in the LMW area. This review gives an overview on the rational design strategies used to develop matrix systems for the analysis of LMW compounds, focusing on (i) the modification of well-known matrices, (ii) the search for high molecular weight matrices, (iii) the development of binary, hybrid and nanomaterial-based matrices, (iv) the advance of reactive matrices and (v) the progress made regarding matrices for negative or dual polarity mode.
Topics: Molecular Structure; Molecular Weight; Organic Chemicals; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
PubMed: 33657276
DOI: 10.1002/asia.202100044 -
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton,... 2021Low-molecular-weight hydrogels (LMWG) can be formed by electrochemical methods. Unique to the electrochemical method, gelation is localized on the electrode surface;...
Low-molecular-weight hydrogels (LMWG) can be formed by electrochemical methods. Unique to the electrochemical method, gelation is localized on the electrode surface; therefore, thin hydrogel films can be prepared in seconds while thicker gels can be prepared in minutes. Furthermore, hydrogels are suitable for use in a range of characterization methods. Here, we describe techniques to form hydrogels using cyclic voltammetry and potentiometry.
Topics: Electrochemical Techniques; Electrodes; Hydrogels; Molecular Weight
PubMed: 32856263
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0928-6_12 -
Carbohydrate Polymers Jul 2023Low molecular weight (LWM) hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) have a wide range of applications. To determine their molecular weight (MW), we developed a...
Low molecular weight (LWM) hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) have a wide range of applications. To determine their molecular weight (MW), we developed a gel permeation chromatography (GPC) method, which is calibrated based on serrated peaks in the chromatograms. MW calibrants were obtained from the enzymolysis of HA and CS using hyaluronidase. The identical structure of calibrants and samples ensured the soundness of the method. The highest confidence MWs were up to 14,454 and 14,605 for HA and CS, respectively, and the standard curves showed very high correlation coefficients. Thanks to the changeless relationship between MW and its contribution to the GPC integral, the second calibration curves could be derived via one GPC column, also embodied correlation coefficients of >0.9999. The discrepancies of MW values were minuscule, and the measurement of a sample could be conducted in <30 min. The accuracy of the method was verified using LWM heparins, and the measured Mw values showed a 1.2 %-2.0 % error relative to pharmacopeia results. The MW results obtained for LWM-HA and LWM-CS samples were also consistent with the results obtained by multiangle laser light scattering. The method was also verified be able to measure the very low MWs.
Topics: Hyaluronic Acid; Chondroitin Sulfates; Molecular Weight; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; Chromatography, Gel
PubMed: 37028853
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.120488