ABSTRACT
Being one of the main proteins in the human body and many animal species, albumin plays a decisive role in the transport of various ions-electrically neutral and charged molecules-and in maintaining the colloidal osmotic pressure of the blood. Albumin is able to bind to almost all known drugs, as well as many nutraceuticals and toxic substances, largely determining their pharmaco- and toxicokinetics. Albumin of humans and respective representatives in cattle and rodents have their own structural features that determine species differences in functional properties. However, albumin is not only passive, but also an active participant of pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic processes, possessing a number of enzymatic activities. Numerous experiments have shown esterase or pseudoesterase activity of albumin towards a number of endogeneous and exogeneous esters. Due to the free thiol group of Cys34, albumin can serve as a trap for reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, thus participating in redox processes. Glycated albumin makes a significant contribution to the pathogenesis of diabetes and other diseases. The interaction of albumin with blood cells, blood vessels and tissue cells outside the vascular bed is of great importance. Interactions with endothelial glycocalyx and vascular endothelial cells largely determine the integrative role of albumin. This review considers the esterase, antioxidant, transporting and signaling properties of albumin, as well as its structural and functional modifications and their significance in the pathogenesis of certain diseases.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/metabolism , Esterases/metabolism , Protein Transport/physiology , Serum Albumin/metabolism , Signal Transduction/physiology , Animals , Humans , Oxidation-ReductionABSTRACT
Internalization of membrane proteins plays a key role in many physiological functions; however, highly sensitive and versatile technologies are lacking to study such processes in real-time living systems. Here we describe an assay based on bioluminescence able to quantify membrane receptor trafficking for a wide variety of internalization mechanisms such as GPCR internalization/recycling, antibody-mediated internalization, and SARS-CoV2 viral infection. This study represents an alternative drug discovery tool to accelerate the drug development for a wide range of physiological processes, such as cancer, neurological, cardiopulmonary, metabolic, and infectious diseases including COVID-19.
Subject(s)
Drug Discovery/methods , Membrane Proteins , Protein Transport/physiology , Spectrometry, Fluorescence/methods , COVID-19 , Drug Development/methods , HEK293 Cells , Humans , Luciferases/genetics , Luciferases/metabolism , Membrane Proteins/chemistry , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Microscopy, Fluorescence , Nanotechnology , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled , SARS-CoV-2/chemistry , SARS-CoV-2/metabolism , Virus InternalizationABSTRACT
The integral membrane protein ATG9A plays a key role in autophagy. It displays a broad intracellular distribution and is present in numerous compartments, including the plasma membrane (PM). The reasons for the distribution of ATG9A to the PM and its role at the PM are not understood. Here, we show that ATG9A organizes, in concert with IQGAP1, components of the ESCRT system and uncover cooperation between ATG9A, IQGAP1 and ESCRTs in protection from PM damage. ESCRTs and ATG9A phenocopied each other in protection against PM injury. ATG9A knockouts sensitized the PM to permeabilization by a broad spectrum of microbial and endogenous agents, including gasdermin, MLKL and the MLKL-like action of coronavirus ORF3a. Thus, ATG9A engages IQGAP1 and the ESCRT system to maintain PM integrity.
Subject(s)
Autophagy-Related Proteins/metabolism , Cell Membrane/metabolism , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Vesicular Transport Proteins/metabolism , Autophagosomes/metabolism , Autophagy-Related Proteins/genetics , HEK293 Cells , HeLa Cells , Humans , Immunoblotting , Immunoprecipitation , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Microscopy, Confocal , Protein Transport/physiology , Vesicular Transport Proteins/geneticsABSTRACT
The ongoing SARS-CoV2 outbreak has developed into a global pandemic. Despite previous outbreaks of SARS-CoV and the related MERS-CoV in recent years, neither a vaccine nor any other medication for an effective treatment are currently available. Endo-lysosomal two-pore cation channels have now emerged as potential novel targets for SARS-CoV treatment.