Collagen family proteins are the predominant components of extracellular matrices existing in all multicellular animals. They provide mechanical strength to tissues, and maintain structural integrity of organs. Also, collagens regulate various biological events, including cell attachment, migration, tissue regeneration and animal development. The specific functions of collagens are generally elicited by interactions of collagen-binding molecules (membrane receptors, soluble factors and other matrix components) with certain amino acid sequences displayed on the collagen triple helices. To date, numbers of functional sequences have been identified from the triple helical domains. Collagen is also acknowledged as one of useful biomaterials in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. In this review, I summarize challenges made for the development of safer and highly-functional collagen surrogates by means of self-assembly of synthetic collagen-like peptides. I also describe other possible applications of collagen-like peptides in drug delivery focusing on the particular biophysical properties of the triple helical structure.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.12-00239-6 | DOI Listing |
Matrix Biol
February 2025
Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada. Electronic address:
Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) are the end result of the irreversible, non-enzymatic glycation of proteins by reducing sugars. These chemical modifications accumulate with age and have been associated with various age-related and diabetic complications. AGEs predominantly accumulate on proteins with slow turnover rates, of which collagen is a prime example.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSSNA-1 is a fibrillar protein localized at the area where dynamic microtubule remodeling occurs including centrosomes. Despite the important activities of SSNA1 to microtubules such as nucleation, co-polymerization, and lattice sharing microtubule branching, the underlying molecular mechanism have remained unclear due to a lack of structural information. Here, we determined the cryo-EM structure of SSNA-1 at 4.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Biol Macromol
January 2025
College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, PR China. Electronic address:
This study investigated the effects of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii polysaccharides (CRPs) on retarding the retrogradation of japonica rice starch (JS) and glutinous rice starch (GS). Structure characterization revealed that CRPs, with an average molecular weight of 505 kDa, mainly consisted of glucose, mannose, and galactose and featured a triple-helix structure. CRPs could reduce the storage modulus increment of JS during the cooling process by interacting with amylose, thereby inhibiting gel network formation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Mater Chem B
January 2025
Centre for 3D Models of Health and Disease, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
The significance of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting in the domain of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering is readily apparent. To create a multi-functional bioinspired structure, 3D bioprinting requires high-performance bioinks. Bio-inks refer to substances that encapsulate viable cells and are employed in the printing procedure to construct 3D objects progressive through successive layers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Am Chem Soc
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, P. R. China.
Chirality epitomizes the sophistication of chemistry, representing some of its most remarkable achievements. Yet, the precise synthesis of chiral structures from achiral building blocks remains a profound and enduring challenge in synthetic chemistry and materials science. Here, we demonstrate that achiral colloidal nanocrystals, including Au and Ag nanocrystals, can assemble into long-range-ordered helical assemblies with the assistance of chiral molecules.
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