Amino Acid Bitterness: Characterization and Suppression.

Amino acids are necessary for life, and many must be consumed because they cannot be endogenously synthesized. Typically, we eat them as proteins and peptides, which have little taste. However, we also directly ingest free amino acids, several of which are aversive because they elicit bitterness.

Solvation free energy in governing equations for DNA hybridization, protein-ligand binding, and protein folding.

This work examines the thermodynamics of model biomolecular interactions using a governing equation that accounts for the participation of bulk water in the equilibria. In the first example, the binding affinities of two DNA duplexes, one of nine and one of 10 base pairs in length, are measured and characterized by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) as a function of concentration. The results indicate that the change in solvation free energy that accompanies duplex formation (ΔG) is large and unfavorable.

Ribonucleotides differentially modulate oral glutamate detection thresholds.

The savory or umami taste of the amino acid glutamate is synergistically enhanced by the addition of the purines inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) and guanosine 5'-monophosphate (GMP) disodium salt. We hypothesized that the addition of purinergic ribonucleotides, along with the pyrimidine ribonucleotides, would decrease the absolute detection threshold of (increase sensitivity to) l-glutamic acid potassium salt (MPG). To test this, we measured both the absolute detection threshold of MPG alone and with a background level (3 mM) of 5 different 5'-ribonucleotides.

Bitter Taste Receptors (T2Rs) are Sentinels that Coordinate Metabolic and Immunological Defense Responses.

In addition to being responsible for bitter taste, type 2 taste receptors (T2Rs) regulate endocrine, behavioral, and immunological responses. T2R agonists include indicators of incoming threats to metabolic homeostasis, pathogens, and irritants. This review will provide an overview of T2R-regulated processes throughout the body that function defensively.

Promoting P450 BM3 heme domain dimerization with a tris(5-iodoacetamido-1,10-phenanthroline)Ru(II) complex.

Protein dimerization often occurs in many biological systems as to provide structural and functional advantages. A tris(5-iodoacetamido-1,10-phenanthroline)Ruthenium(II) complex was shown to promote the covalent dimerization of a P450 BM3 heme domain mutant containing a surface exposed non-native single cysteine residue. The formation of homodimeric species was confirmed by protein gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry and UV-Vis spectroscopy.

Effects of topical application of silver sulfadiazine cream, triple antimicrobial ointment, or hyperosmolar nanoemulsion on wound healing, bacterial load, and exuberant granulation tissue formation in bandaged full-thickness equine skin wounds.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of 3 topically applied treatments (1% silver sulfadiazine cream [SSC], triple antimicrobial ointment [TAO], and hyperosmolar nanoemulsion [HNE]) on microbial counts, exuberant granulation tissue (EGT) development, and reepithelialization of contaminated wounds at the distal aspect of the limbs of horses. ANIMALS 8 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES A 2.