Cover Image, Volume 107, Issue 10
Recombinant DNA technology and protein engineering techniques provide a path to increase structural and functional complexity of natural biopolymers for tissue engineering and broader biomaterial applications. Tijana Z. Grove et al. present the bacterial expression, purification and solution characterization of the human hair keratins K31 and K81. Investigations of homopolymerization processes and solution behavior of K31 and K81 reveal new zero‐ and one‐dimensional nanostructures. Although homooligomeric structures have not been observed in nature, and are likely aberrant structures in natural materials, their existen...
Source: Biopolymers - September 1, 2017 Category: Biochemistry Tags: COVER IMAGE Source Type: research
Structural and functional study of a simple, rapid, and label ‐free DNAzyme‐based DNA biosensor for optimization activity
This study can be divided into 3 stages. First, the characteristics of DNAzyme were studied by Circular Dichroism technique and UV–Vis spectroscopy to find out DNAzyme's optimum activity. It is worth to note that some divalent cations were used to form G‐quadruplex, in addition to common monovalent cations. Furthermore, the hemin incubation was also optimized. Secondly, the structural and functional properties of two types of split DNAzyme were compared with DNAzyme. Thirdly, the hybridization of DNA target was monitored. The results revealed that peroxidase activities of split types decreased by half without any speci...
Source: Biopolymers - September 1, 2017 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Narges Shahbazi, Saman Hosseinkhani, Khosro Khajeh, Bijan Ranjbar Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
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(Source: Biopolymers)
Source: Biopolymers - September 1, 2017 Category: Biochemistry Tags: ISSUE INFORMATION Source Type: research
Synthesis and gelation of copolypept(o)ides with random and block structure
Abstract
Copolypept(o)ides of polysarcosine (PSar) and poly(N‐isopropyl‐L‐glutamine) (PIGA) with random and block sequence structures were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of sarcosine N‐carboxyanhydrides (Sar‐NCA) and γ‐benzyl‐l‐glutamate N‐carboxyanhydrides (BLG‐NCA) and post modification. With different distribution of Sar along the main chain, H‐bonding pattern and secondary structure of polypeptides were turned, as well as aggregation and gelation behavior. Both copolypept(o)ides formed hydrogels above their critical gelation concentrations (CGCs) without thermo‐sensitivity, ...
Source: Biopolymers - August 18, 2017 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Yan Xiao, Jianqiang Wang, Jun Zhang, Andreas Heise, Meidong Lang Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
Homo ‐ and heteropolymer self‐assembly of recombinant trichocytic keratins
Abstract
In the past two decades, keratin biomaterials have shown impressive results as scaffolds for tissue engineering, wound healing, and nerve regeneration. In addition to its intrinsic biocompatibility, keratin interacts with specific cell receptors eliciting beneficial biochemical cues. However, during extraction from natural sources, such as hair and wool fibers, natural keratins are subject to extensive processing conditions that lead to formation of unwanted by‐products. Additionally, natural keratins suffer from limited sequence tunability. Recombinant keratin proteins can overcome these drawbacks while maintai...
Source: Biopolymers - July 24, 2017 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Rachael N. Parker, Kristina L. Roth, Christina Kim, Jennifer P. McCord, Mark E. Van Dyke, Tijana Z. Grove Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research
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(Source: Biopolymers)
Source: Biopolymers - July 24, 2017 Category: Biochemistry Tags: ISSUE INFORMATION Source Type: research
Cover Image, Volume 107, Issue 9
The ability to generate robust and versatile hydrogel microfibers is desirable for bottom‐up assembly of biological tissues and for broader biomaterial applications. David L. Kaplan et al. describe a method to produce silk hydrogel microfibers with superior strength, extensibility and long‐term stability compared to those described in the existing literature. Post‐processing enzymatically crosslinked silk fibres by subjecting them to methanol or autoclaving facilitates the ability to control the morphology and structure. The mechanical properties of the final silk hydrogel microfibers are therefore tunable, making th...
Source: Biopolymers - July 24, 2017 Category: Biochemistry Tags: COVER IMAGE Source Type: research
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(Source: Biopolymers)
Source: Biopolymers - June 21, 2017 Category: Biochemistry Tags: ISSUE INFORMATION Source Type: research
Cover Image, Volume 107, Issue 8
Light chain amyloidosis is a misfolding disease characterized by the polymerization of immunoglobulins as amyloid fibers. Lambda 6a Ig light chain domains are highly frequent among patients with this disorder. Valdés‐García et al. describe how the mutants R24G (red backbone) and P7S (green backbone) push the germline protein (blue backbone) into an amyloidogenic pathway through a convergent mechanism. Both mutations, despite being at different locations, promote the dislodgment of the same anti‐aggregation motif. The results point to the beginning of an amyloidogenic pathway and may be helpful when designing drugs to...
Source: Biopolymers - June 21, 2017 Category: Biochemistry Tags: COVER IMAGE Source Type: research
Fabrication of Elastomeric Silk Fibers
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Biopolymers)
Source: Biopolymers - May 27, 2017 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Sarah A. Bradner, Benjamin P. Partlow, Peggy Cebe, Fiorenzo G. Omenetto, David L. Kaplan Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Structural and functional study of a simple, rapid and label ‐free DNAzyme‐based DNA biosensor for optimization activity
This study can be divided into 3 stages. First, the characteristics of DNAzyme were studied by Circular Dichroism (CD) technique and UV‐Vis spectroscopy to find out DNAzyme's optimum activity. It is worth to note that some divalent cations were used to form G‐quadruplex, in addition to common monovalent cations. Furthermore, the hemin incubation was also optimized. Secondly, the structural and functional properties of two types of split DNAzyme were compared with DNAzyme. Thirdly, the hybridization of DNA target was monitored. The results revealed that peroxidase activities of split types decreased by half without any ...
Source: Biopolymers - May 20, 2017 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Narges Shahbazi, Saman Hosseinkhani, Khosro Khajeh, Bijan Ranjbar Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Convergent mechanisms favor fast amyloid formation in two lambda 6a Ig light chain mutants
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Biopolymers)
Source: Biopolymers - May 16, 2017 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Gilberto Vald és‐García, Cesar Millan‐Pacheco, Nina Pastor Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Tau peptides and tau mutant protein aggregation inhibition by cationic polyethyleneimine and polyarginine
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Biopolymers)
Source: Biopolymers - April 29, 2017 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Keerthi Nadimidla, Tania Ismail, Mathumai Kanapathipillai Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
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(Source: Biopolymers)
Source: Biopolymers - April 22, 2017 Category: Biochemistry Tags: ISSUE INFORMATION Source Type: research
Cover Image, Volume 107, Issue 7
Many of the important genomic regions consist of sequences with the potential to form i‐motifs: four‐stranded DNA secondary structures. Sarika Saxena et al. investigate the effect of Mg2+ and Ca2+ on the structure of three C‐rich oligonucleotides in physiological ionic conditions and cell‐mimicking molecular crowding conditions. The sequences form an i‐motif at acidic pH in the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+, as well as at neutral pH in the presence of Mg2+. Cell‐mimicking molecular crowding promoted i‐motif formation for all three oligonucleotides. The work suggests that intracellular conditions where hydration b...
Source: Biopolymers - April 22, 2017 Category: Biochemistry Tags: COVER IMAGE Source Type: research
