Current Chemical Biology - Volume 8, Issue 2, 2014

Snake toxins consist of different pharmacologically lively peptides and proteins. These hemorrhagic proteins are metalloproteinases with molecular weights between 20 to 100 kDa. SVMPs are zinc-dependent types and with a multidomain association. SVMPs consist of only the proteinase type of domain, while some contain other types such as cysteine, lectin and disintegrins. They are analogous with both MMP and ADAMs group. SVMPs are 30% of the total protein of snake' venoms. Hemorrhagic activity and the stimulation of local and systemic bleeding generally are due to SVMPs. Necrosis, skin damage, inflammatory reaction, arthritis and are responsible for causing paralysis. These proteinase types also hold diverse functions such as the disruption of hemostasis, platelet aggregation and pro-inflammatory activities. This short review focuses on the most prominent effects induced by SVMPs.

Plant cytosolic glutathione transferases (GSTs) belong to an ancient enzyme superfamily with multiple and diverse functions which are important in counteracting biotic and abiotic stress. GSTs catalyze the conjugation of xenobiotics and endogenous electrophilic compounds with glutathione (GSH), leading to their detoxification. GSTs not only catalyze detoxification reactions but they are also involved in GSH-dependent isomerization reactions, in GSH-dependent reduction of organic hydroperoxides, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and exhibit thioltransferase and dehydroascorbate reductase activity. The applications of ‘omics’ technologies have allowed the classification of GSTs and the study of their evolution and sequence diversity, while enzymology has provided powerful insights into their catalytic role. This review focuses on plant GSTs, and attempts to give an overview of the new insights into their catalytic function and biological role in biotic and abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms in plants.

Approximately 8 to 14 % of women diagnosed with a pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) at their first ultrasound are subsequently found to have an ectopic pregnancy (EP). EP is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the first trimester and therefore the diagnosis of EP without delay in women with a PUL is important in the prevention of the serious complications associated with this condition. However, follow up for women with a PUL (i.e. repeat blood tests +/- ultrasounds) is costly and contributes to maternal anxiety. Recent research has centered on identifying a biochemical serum marker that can distinguish between early intra- and extra- uterine pregnancies. The identification of such a biomarker(s) may result in a reduction in both the healthcare costs and maternal morbidity associated with the delayed diagnosis of EP. This review covers the recently published literature examining the search for an accurate biomarker(s) for the diagnosis of EP in women with a PUL. Although there is not a single biomarker to identify EPs in the PUL population, diagnostic strategies using serum hCG ratios either alone or incorporated into logistic regression models seem to have the best diagnostic performance in case of EP.

Copper has two key properties that are being exploited in consumer and medical device products in the last decade. On the one hand, copper has potent biocidal properties. On the other hand, copper is involved in numerous physiological and metabolic processes critical for the appropriate functioning of almost all tissues in the human body. In the skin, copper is involved in the synthesis and stabilization of extracellular matrix skin proteins and angiogenesis. This manuscript reviews clinical studies that show that the use of textile consumer and medical device products, embedded with microscopic copper oxide particles, improve the well-being of the skin. These include studies showing a) cure of athlete's foot infections and improvement in skin elasticity, especially important for individuals suffering from diabetes; b) reduction of facial fine line and wrinkles; and c) enhancement of wound healing; by copper oxide embedded socks, pillowcases and wound dressings, respectively. The manuscript also reviews and discusses the mechanisms by which the presence of copper in these products improves skin well-being.

Regenerated celluloses from Kraft wood pulps (from hardwoods and softwoods) were hydrolysed by means of cellulase of Trichoderma reesei. Our results highlighted that a 75% hydrolysis yield was reached for hardwood regenerated cellulose (HRC) and 90% for softwood regenerated cellulose (SRC). Crystallinity indices from X-Ray diffraction patterns were used to measure hydrolysis rate of crystalline and amorphous regions. Addition of β-glucosidase to the enzymatic complex of Trichoderma reesei was confirmed to enhance yields of hydrolysis.

Several dipeptides with an N-benzyloxycarbonyl or an N-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl) α-aminoisobutyric acid residue and a β-hydroxyamino acid methyl ester were subjected to dehydration to form dehydrodipeptide derivatives. N-Ethylation of these dipeptides using triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate with potassium tert-butoxide as auxiliary base led to complex mixtures that failed to render pure products. However, when the 4-nitrophenylsulfonyl protecting group was substituted for the benzyloxycarbonyl or tert-butyloxycarbonyl groups and N,N-diisopropylethylamine was substituted for potassium tert-butoxide, the dehydrodipeptide derivatives were selectively N-alkylated at the amino terminal nitrogen in fair to high yields. Alternatively, N-ethylation can be carried out prior to dehydration. Thus, through a combination of dehydration and N-ethylation procedures, it was possible to obtain dipeptides with α-aminoisobutyric acid and dehydroamino acid residues, which are N-alkylated at the amino terminal nitrogen.