The structure of CMS2MS2, a mitogenic protein isolated from Carica candamarcensis.

In a recent study we showed that two proteinases (CMS2MS2 and CMS2MS3) from Carica candamarcensis enhance mammalian cell proliferation. The aim of the present study is the determination of the primary structure of CMS2MS2 and prediction of its three-dimensional structure. The protein contains 214 residues, including the catalytic triad composed of Cys(25), His(159), and Asn(175). A phylogenetic tree analysis demonstrated that CMS2MS2 ranks closer to chymopapain than to papain. The overall predicted three-dimensional structure is similar to proteinases from the papain family. These results suggest that minor structural differences within CMS2MS2 must account for its proliferative action.

Physico-chemical characterization of benzocaine-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes.

Local anesthetics are able to induce pain relief by binding to the sodium channel of excitable membranes, blocking the influx of sodium ions and the propagation of the nervous impulse. Benzocaine (BZC) is a local anesthetic whose low water-solubility limits its application to topical formulations. The present work focuses on the characterization of inclusion complexes of BZC in beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD). Differential scanning calorimetry and electron microscopy gave evidences of the formation and the morphology of the complex. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed a BZC/beta-CD 1:1 stoichiometry. Phase-solubility diagrams allowed the determination of the association constants between BZC and beta-CD (549 M(-1)) and revealed that a three-fold increase in BZC solubility can be reached upon complexation with beta-CD. The details of BZC/beta-CD molecular interaction were analyzed by 1H 2D NMR allowing the proposition of an inclusion model for BZC into beta-CD where the aromatic ring of the anesthetic is located near the head of the beta-CD cavity. Moreover, in preliminary toxicity studies, the complex seems to be less toxic than BZC alone, since it induced a decrease in the in vitro oxidation of human hemoglobin. These results suggest that the BZC/beta-CD complex represents an effective novel formulation to enhance BZC solubility in water, turning it promising for use outside its traditional application, i.e., in infiltrative anesthesia.