![Facilitated Diffusion of Proline across Membranes of Liposomes and Living Cells by a Calix[4]pyrrole Cavitand](https://i0.wp.com/bioxone.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cell-3089947_640.jpg?fit=640%2C325&ssl=1)
Parnad Basu, Amity University Kolkata
The metabolism of cells, transporting amino acids across the cell’s membrane is an integral part of the process. Many pieces of research suggest that serious diseases like cancer (abnormal cell division), cystic fibrosis (a hereditary disease affecting the lungs and digestive system), aminoaciduria (urine contains a high number of amino acids), neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s) happens because of defective amino acid transport systems.
In a recent study, done by ICIQ’s Ballester group and IRBBarcelona’s Palacin group, scientists were able to combine fundamental and applied research. The former concentrated on molecule making and studying their interactions while the latter focused on transporting the amino acids and diseases. For instance, synthetic carrier like calix[4]pyrrole cavitand (container shaped molecule that engages in host-guest chemistry) can transport amino acids across liposome and cell membranes. In the study, cavitand embedded liposomes reported a 30x increase in L-proline (secondary amine) transport activity as opposed to the passive diffusion of the amino acid of liposomes and cavitand’s selectivity for L-proline. L-proline complemented calix[4]pyrrole cavitand in terms of the size of the cavity, shape, and also functional group.
Scientists even used incubated calix[4]pyrrole infused synthetic vesicles in HeLa (Henrietta Lacks) cultured cells to incorporate cavitand in their membranes to study the impact of cavitand on proline transport in living cells. As a result, it was revealed that the diffusion of proline at high extracellular amino acid concentrations increased in presence of the cavitand. However, while comparing with the already carried out transport by cell’s proteins, it represented a moderate increase only.
Further studies on this matter might help us to apply calix[4]pyrrole as a therapeutic tool to treat amino acid metabolism diseases much more efficiently.
Also read: Can PRESENCEOF HYALURONAN be used as a treatment option in COVID19 patients?
Source: “Facilitated Diffusion of Proline across Membranes of Liposomes and Living Cells by a Calix[4]pyrrole Cavitand” Luis Martínez-Crespo, Jia Liang Sun-Wang, Andres Felipe Sierra, Gemma Aragay, Ekaitz Errasti-Murugarren, Paola Bartoccioni, Manuel Palacín, P. Ballester. Chem, 2020; DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2020.08.018
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