Amyloid fibril formation by bovine α1-acid glycoprotein in a reducing environment: The role of disulfide bridges on the observed aggregation kinetics.

Bovine α1-acid glycoprotein (bAGP), a thermostable counterpart of its human homologue, is a positive acute phase protein involved in binding and transportation of a large number of bio-active molecules and drugs across the body. We have investigated the effect of low pH and reducing conditions on the structure of the protein and found that it aggregates at high temperatures. The aggregates show a fibrillar structure when observed with electron microscopy.

Highly stable atropisomers by electrophilic amination of a chiral γ-lactam within the synthesis of an elusive conformationally restricted analogue of α-methylhomoserine.

Starting from chiral-protected 4-hydroxymethyl pyrrolidin-2-ones, the otherwise elusive 3,4-trans-3,3,4-trisubstituted isosteres of α-methyl homoserine, tethered on a γ-lactam ring, were prepared exploiting stereoselective electrophilic aminations. These reactions led to the isolation and characterization of a novel type of atropisomers, exceedingly stable at room temperature, that were directly converted to the desired products by a novel non-reductive N-N bond cleavage reaction.

Bovine α₁-acid glycoprotein, a thermostable version of its human counterpart: insights from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and in silico modelling.

α1-Acid glycoprotein (AGP) is a plasma protein and a member of the acute phase response. AGP is known to bind and carry several biologically active compounds, as well as to down-modulate the immune system activities. In this work, the structure of bovine AGP has been investigated by Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopy.