Chemical etching of bovine serum albumin-protected Au25 nanoclusters for label-free and separation-free detection of cysteamine.

This study describes a novel Au nanocluster-based fluorescent sensor for label-free, separation-free and selective detection of cysteamine (CSH). The sensing mechanism is based on CSH etching-induced fluorescence quenching of the bovine serum albumin-protected Au25 nanoclusters (BSAGNCs). A series of characterizations is carried out towards a better understanding of the CSH-induced fluorescence quenching of the BSAGNCs. It is found that CSH can etch the Au25 nanoclusters, exhibiting the potent etching activity. Other thiol-containing compounds such as glutathione and cysteine and other 19 natural amino acids do not interfere with such CSH-induced etching process. The decreases in fluorescence intensity of the BSAGNCs allow sensitive detection of free CSH in the range of 500-10,000nM. The detection limit for CSH is 150nM (S/N=3). The spiked human serum samples can be analyzed with satisfactory results.

Transduced human PEP-1-catalase fusion protein attenuates ischemic neuronal damage.

Antioxidant enzymes are considered to have beneficial effects against various diseases mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ischemia is characterized by both oxidative stress and changes in the antioxidant defense system. Catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) are major antioxidant enzymes by which cells counteract the deleterious effects of ROS. To investigate the protective effects of CAT, we constructed PEP-1-CAT cell-permeative expression vectors. When PEP-1-CAT fusion proteins were added to the culture medium of neuronal cells, they rapidly entered the cells and protected them against oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell death. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that PEP-1-CAT prevented neuronal cell death in the hippocampus induced by transient forebrain ischemia. Moreover, we showed that the protective effect of PEP-1-CAT was observed in neuronal cells treated with PEP-1-SOD. Therefore, we suggest that transduced PEP-1-CAT and PEP-1-SOD fusion proteins could be useful as therapeutic agents for various human diseases related to oxidative stress, including stroke.

Human PEP-1-ribosomal protein S3 protects against UV-induced skin cell death.

The consequences of ultraviolet (UV) exposure are implicated in skin aging and cell death. The ribosomal protein S3 (rpS3) is one of the major proteins by which cells counteract the deleterious effects of UV and it plays a role in the repair of damaged DNA. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of PEP-1-rpS3 fusion protein after UV-induced cell injury. A human rpS3 gene was fused with PEP-1 peptide in a bacterial expression vector to produce a genetic in-frame PEP-1-rpS3 fusion protein. The expressed and purified fusion proteins were efficiently transduced into skin cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Once inside the cells, transduced PEP-1-rpS3 fusion protein was stable for 48h. We showed that transduced PEP-1-rpS3 fusion protein increased cell viability and dramatically reduced DNA lesions in the UV exposed skin cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that PEP-1-rpS3 fusion protein efficiently penetrated the epidermis as well as the dermis of the subcutaneous layer when sprayed on animal skin. These results suggest that PEP-1-rpS3 fusion protein can be used in protein therapy for various disorders related to UV, including skin aging and cancer.