PF74 and Its Novel Derivatives Stabilize Hexameric Lattice of HIV-1 Mature-Like Particles.

A major structural retroviral protein, capsid protein (CA), is able to oligomerize into two different hexameric lattices, which makes this protein a key component for both the early and late stages of HIV-1 replication. During the late stage, the CA protein, as part of the Gag polyprotein precursor, facilitates protein-protein interactions that lead to the assembly of immature particles. Following protease activation and Gag polyprotein processing, CA also drives the assembly of the mature viral core.

A simple, high-throughput stabilization assay to test HIV-1 uncoating inhibitors.

Shortly after entering the cell, HIV-1 copies its genomic RNA into double-stranded DNA in a process known as reverse transcription. This process starts inside a core consisting of an enclosed lattice of capsid proteins that protect the viral RNA from cytosolic sensors and degradation pathways. To accomplish reverse transcription and integrate cDNA into the host cell genome, the capsid shell needs to be disassembled, or uncoated.

Stabilization of hyaluronan-based materials by peptide conjugation and its use as a cell-seeded scaffold in tissue engineering.

New materials based on molecules naturally occurred in body are assumed to be fully biocompatible and biodegradable. In our study, we used hyaluronic acid (HA) modified with peptides, which meet all this criterion and could be advantageously used in tissue engineering. Peptides with RGD, IKVAV or SIKVAV adhesive motif were attached to HA-based fiber or non-woven textile through ester bond in the term of solid phase peptide synthesis.

Electronic and vibrational optical activity of several peptides related to neurohypophyseal hormones: disulfide group conformation.

Electronic and vibrational optical activity of the set of neurohypophyseal hormones and their analogs was investigated to clarify the S-S bond solution conformation. The selected compounds include oxytocin (I), lysine vasopressin (II), arginine vasopressin (III), and their analogs (IV-IX), differing widely in their pharmacological properties. We have extended the already known electronic circular dichroism data by new information provided by vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and Raman optical activity (ROA).

Galanin modulating effect on restraint stress-induced short- and long-term behavioral changes in Wistar rats.

The neuropeptide galanin has been recognized as a possible neurotransmitter/neuromodulator, and in addition has been implicated in anxiety- and depression-related behaviors. The present study demonstrates increased locomotion and rearing after galanin (0.3mg/kg) that was given intraperitoneally (i.

Chiral analysis of biogenic D,L-amino acids derivatized by N-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-L-alanyl N-carboxyanhydride using high-performance liquid chromatography.

Nineteen biogenic D,L-amino acids are derivatized with highly reactive N-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-L-alanyl N-carboxyanhydride. Using a 0.5M borate buffer at pH 7.

Chiral analysis of biogenic DL-amino acids derivatized by urethane - protected alpha-amino acid N-carboxyanhydride using capillary zone electrophoresis and micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

A new analytical method for enantioselective separation of DL-amino acids derivatized by N-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-L-alanyl N-carboxyanhydride (FMOC-L-Ala-NCA) using capillary electrophoresis was developed. Separation parameters, such as composition and pH of the background electrolyte, and concentration of gamma-cyclodextrin (in capillary zone electrophoresis) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (in micellar electrokinetic chromatography) were optimized. The separation method was validated and it suits well for purity analysis.