from: smalltimes 4 (2), 36 - 37 (2004)

Useful links and references:

Nanotechnology definition: National Nanotechnology Initiative ( http://www.nano.gov/omb_nifty50.htm )

Nanotechnology definition at http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/N/nanotechnology.html

Nanotechnology created by dr. Ralph Merkle at http://www.zyvex.com/nano/

Nanotechnology glossary at: http://nanotech-now.com/nanotechnology-glossary.htm

Nanomedicine book site at http://www.nanomedicine.com/

Fullerenes at  http://buckminster.physics.sunysb.edu/

Nanotubes( or buckytubes ) at http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/N/nanotube.html

The nanotube site at  http://www.pa.msu.edu/cmp/csc/nanotube.html

Quantum dot at http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/Q/quantum_dot.html

Dendrimer definition at http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/dendrimer.html

Veterinary applications of nanotechnology by Jose Feneque at http://nanotech-now.com/Veterinary-Applications-Nanotechnology.htm

Nanotechnology and friction at http://www.plantservices.com/Web_First/PS.nsf/ArticleID/CBOH-5MRSF3?OpenDocument&Click=  ( Harnessing nanotechnology for better lubrication - Research shows nano-balls reduce friction better than plates - Dr. Menachem Genut )

Design of a Primitive Nanofactory by Chris Phoenix at: http://www.jetpress.org/volume13/Nanofactory.htm Journal of evolution and technology at:  http://www.jetpress.org/

Nanotechnology and Life Extension by Chris Phoenix at http://xenophilia.org/nano_life_extension.html

"Opportunities at the intersection of nanoscience, biology and computation" by Ellen Williams et al (November 2002)

Nanotechnology and global security  - Adm. David E. Jeremiah, USN at: http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/nano4/jeremiahPaper.html

Relinquishment or Regulation: dealing with apocalyptic technological threats by J. Hughes

Intracellular telephone wires - " Nanotubular Highways for Intercellular Organelle Transport" by Amin Rustom, Rainer Saffrich, Ivanka Markovic, Paul Walther, and Hans-Hermann Gerdes, Science 303 (5660) 1007-1010 (2004)

Crucial physical and informational technologies http://www.e-drexler.com

Hyperdictionary at http://www.hyperdictionary.com/

see also the links reported at The Trade Resource Center (section Biotechnology)

Nanoparticles for multiplexed bioassays at http://www.nanoplextech.com   (at Nanoplex Technologies, Inc. , Menlo Park, CA, U.S.A.)

Market research on public attitudes to nanotecnology (BMRB's results and analysis) ( Nanotechnology study website    http://www.nanotec.org.uk/MR1.htm )

" Construction of a viral nanomotor derived by a synthetic RNA " by Peixuan Guo at Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S.A.) ( http://www.vet.purdue.edu/PeixuanGuo/ )  [ "Construction of viral DNA-Packaging Nano-motor of phi29 " by Peixuan Guo et al. - 10th Forensic Conference on Molecular Nanotechnology (October 11 - 13, 2002)]

The energy currency for the cell

"Reactions in the body do not occur without energy currency"

Compounds  such as ATP, GTP, NADP, etc, can serve as "energy currencies" that can store, transport and release amounts of energy that makes the extraordinary variety of biomolecules possible.

References:

"ATP: The Perfect Energy Currency for the Cell"  by Jerry Bergman at

• http://www.trueorigin.org/atp.asp
• http://www.creationresearch.org/crsq/articles/36/36_1/atp.html
• http://www.purlife.com/atpenergy.htm

"Energy for the Body:Oxidative Phosphorylation" by Rachel Casiday, Carolyn Herman, and Regina Frey at http://www.chemistry.wustl.edu/~edudev/LabTutorials/Cytochromes/cytochromes.html

"Biology web site references for student and teachers- Cell Chemistry" at: http://hoflink.com/~house/cellchem.html

February

(ds)DNA-cellulose chromatography - DNA (double stranded) cellulose chromatography may provide a useful tool for separating proteins which induce the maturation of the human myeloid precursor cells to granulocytes from other proliferative inducing proteins also present in the same conditioned medium. ( Figure 1 , Figure 2 )

Chemical modification of proteins

• Amino acid analysis with specific reference to problem amino acids
• Methionine, Methionine sulfone, Methionine sulfoxide, Tryptophan, Proline, 3-Hydroxyproline, 4-Hydroxyproline, Tyrosine sulphate, Homoserine, Homoserine lactone
• Preparation of peptides / proteins for hydrolysis
• Acid / Basic hydrolysis of proteins
• The use of D-amino acid oxidase, L-amino acid oxidase
• About hydrolysis for Trp detection (to assess the Tryptophan content in peptides / proteins :
• (i) samples for amino acid analyses were hydrolysed for 16 h at 110 C in 4 N methanesulphonic acid [containing 0.2% 3-(2aminoethyl)indole] [comparisonwith an identical sample submitted to hydrolysis with 6N HCl (constant boiling and containing 0.2% phenol)] - Detection with ninhydrin, OPA / FMOC derivatives,
• (ii) Spectrophotometric titration of the tryptophyl residues [ H. Edelhoch  Biochemistry 6, 1948 - 1954, (1967)]
• Complete enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins (with the use of soluble and insoluble enzymes; treatment with aminopeptidase M and carboxypeptidases to demonstrate that all the amino acid residues were in the L-form within the structure)
• Peptidic material visualized with
• Ninhydrin reagent (0,1% ninhydrin in 95% ethanol containing 2% sym-collidine)
• Cl ₂ (followed by spraying with 0.5% starch in 0.5% KI)  [H.N. Rydon & P.W.G. Smith Nature 169, 922 - 923 (1952)]
• Specific color-reactions for amino acids
• p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (Ehrlich's reagent) for tryptophan
• Pauli 's reagent for histidine
• isatin reagent for proline [J. Smith  Nature 171, 43 - 44 (1953)]
• isatin reagent followed by the Ehrlich's reagent for 4-hydroxyproline [ C.E. Dangliesh Biochem J. 52, 3 - 14 (1952);  J.B. Jepson & I. Smith Nature 172 , 1100 - 1101 (1953); T. Nakajima & B.E. Volcani Science 164 , 1400 - 1401 (1969)]; characterization of 3-hydroxyproline from 4-hydroxyproline
• Sakaguchi's  reagent for arginine [J.B. Jepson &  I. Smith Nature 172, 1100- 1101 (1953)]
• a-nitroso- b-naphtol reagent for tyrosine [ C.W. Easley  Biochim. Biophys. Acta 107, 386 - 388 (1965)]
• platinic-iodide reagent for methionine[ G. Toennies & J.J. Kolb Anal. Chem. 23, 823 - 826 (1951)]
• Fluorescamine (0,0002% fluorescamine in acetone) [J. Vanderkerckhove & M. Van Montagu European J. Biochem 44, 279 - 288 (1974)]
• The o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) derivatives of the amino acids
• The 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl chloride (FMOC) derivatives of the amino acids
• Spectrophotometric titration of the tyrosyl residues [ T. Flatmark Acta Chem. Scand. 18, 1796 - 1798 (1964)]
• Separation of amino acids on 2D HVPE (high voltage paper electrophoresis) / chromatography, thin layer chromatography, chromatography on polyamide sheets )
• Analysis and calculation
• End-group methods
• Sequential degradation and determination of amino-terminal residues  [ manual Edman degradation      , automatic Edman degratation, RP-HPLC systems for PTH-AA analysis ( "N-terminal sequence of some ribosome-inactivating proteins" by P.C. Montecucchi et al, Int. J. Peptide Protein Res . 33, 263 - 267 (1989)]
• Dansylation (dansyl, 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulphonyl)
• Removal of the N-terminal amino acid residues  by the action of  leucine amino-peptidase, amino-peptidase M
• Anomalous degradation from the N-terminal end of peptides with amino-peptidase M: diketopiperazine formation (the removal of the N-terminal amino acid residue is followed by the simultaneous elimination of the adjacent dipeptide by diketopiperazine formation
• L-pyroglutamyl-peptide hydrolase ( the bond <Glu - Pro-... is resistant to the enzymatic treatment )
• De-blocking peptides [ <Glu - Pro-...] using partial acid hydrolysis (0.01M HCl at 100 C for 6 hr); the peptide was then submitted to Edman degradation
• The N-terminus <Glu - Pro-... : treatment with a proline specific endopeptidase (from Seikagaku Kogyo CO. Ltd., Japan), for example  in the structure elucidation of eledoisin <Glu-Pro-Ser-Lys-Asp-Ala-Phe-Ile-Gly-Leu-Met-NH₂
• Determination of COOH-terminal sequences
• by enzymatic methods (carboxypeptidase A, B and Y )
• by chemical methods [hydrazinolysis, partial acid hydrolysis (with 0.03N HCl at 100 C for 6h), hydrazynolysis after partial acid hydrolysis]
• by isolation of the C-terminal amide fragments (Met-NH₂ , Val-NH₂), their conversion into the fluorescent dansyl derivatives and subsequent identification by thin - layer chromatography on polyamide sheets , after extraction with ethyl acetate / water mixtures as described by Tatemoto and Mutt  on Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75, 4115 - 4119 (1978);
• by field desorption mass spectrophotometric analysis (Molecular and quasi-molecular ion peaks were always obtained, often accompanied by the MNa ⁺ peak) ;
• by electrophoretic migration (HVPE. High voltage Paper Electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing technique)

• Chemical cleavage of peptides and proteins
• Cyanogen bromide cleavage (cleavage of the bond ...-Trp-Pro-...by CNBr in formic acid)
• Tyrosine - directed cleavage (with N-bromosuccinimide)
• Tyrosine nitration with tetranitromethane (TNM) [to identify Tyr and Ty(SO₃H) residues in protein sequences]
• Arginine - directed trypsin cleavage (with citraconic anhydride)
• Partial acid hydrolysis
• Chemical modifications of proteins
• Tyrosine nitration with tetranitromethane (TNM) [to identify Tyr and Ty(SO₃H) residues in protein sequences]
• The influence of thiol blocking on the resolution of basic proteins by two-dimensional electrophoresis
• Diastereoisomers separation
• thin layer chromatography
• column of the amino acid analyzer (for diastereoisomeric dipeptides)
• Fingerprint technique: The high voltage paper electrophoresis (HVPE) was  run at pH 1.2 in the first direction at 1500 V for 90 min. The electrophoretically separated zones were further purified by ascending chromatography in the second direction using the solvent system n-butanol / pyridine / glacial acetic acid / water (4:1:1:1 by vol.). The spots were visualized for elution generally by staining with 0.0002% fluorescamine in acetone. The elution of the spots was made with 50% ethanol.

March

Mitocondrial DNA (mtDNA) and crime investigation - http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~jwells/mtDNA.htm

"Control region"  (or "D-Loop": a non coding sequence (about 1100 bp) with the ipervariable segments HV1 and HV2.

References:

The role of DNA analysis on crime investigation

Forensic mitocondrial DNA analysis

RNA interference

Nature Reviews Genetics is pleased to present an animation on RNA interference - a result of a unique collaboration with Arkitek Studios, visual specialists for science and technology. RNA interference (RNAi) is a form of post-transcriptional gene silencing in which short double-stranded RNAs induce degradation of
the homologous endogenous transcripts, mimicking the effect of the reduction, or loss, of gene activity. A series of three stunning movies show you the steps that lead to siRNA-mediated transcript degradation, siRNA generation and amplification. - For free access to the Animation on RNA interference, visit
http://info.nature.com/cgi-bin24/DM/y/eNqr0BgKQk0Cy0HoY0AO

References:

Concocting a Knock-Out Punch for HIV-1 (Investigators probe RNA interference as a possible therapeutic strategy against HIV-1 infection by Aileen Constans on The Scientist 18 (6), 28 - 29 (2004)

RNAi inches toward the clinic by Amy Adams on The Scientist 18 (6), 32 - 35 (2004)

RNAi applications in mammalian cells by Lisa Scherer and john J. Rossi on BioTechniques 36 (4), 557 -561 (2004)

April

Codice di guerra per i militari in Iraq by Pier Carlo Montecucchi on Analisi difesa 5 (44) 2004 - Lettera http://www.analisidifesa.it/numero44/lett-lettere.htm

A new application of nanotechnology for the ARMY - Army Scientists develop Liquid Body Armor By Tonya Johnson Army News Service April 21, 2004 - ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,usa3_042104.00.html

Liquid armor for Kevlar vests is one of the newest technologies being developed at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory to save Soldiers' lives.

This type of body armor is light and flexible, which allows soldiers to be more mobile and won't hinder an individual from running or aiming his or her weapon.

The key component of liquid armor is a shear thickening fluid. STF is composed of hard particles suspended in a liquid. The liquid, polyethylene glycol, is non-toxic, and can withstand a wide range of temperatures. Hard, nano-particles of silica are the other components of STF. This combination of flowable and hard components results in a material with unusual properties.

"During normal handling, the STF is very deformable and flows like a liquid. However, once a bullet or frag hits the vest, it transitions to a rigid material, which prevents the projectile from penetrating the Soldier's body," said Dr. Eric Wetzel, a mechanical engineer from the Weapons and Materials Research Directorate who heads the project team.

To make liquid armor, STF is soaked into all layers of the Kevlar vest. The Kevlar fabric holds the STF in place, and also helps to stop the bullet. The saturated fabric can be soaked, draped, and sewn just like any other fabric.

Wetzel and his team have been working on this technology with Dr. Norman J. Wagner and his students from the University of Delaware for three years.

"The goal of the technology is to create a new material that is low cost and lightweight which offers equivalent or superior ballistic properties as compared to current Kevlar fabric, but has more flexibility and less thickness," said Wetzel. "This technology has a lot of potential."

Liquid armor is still undergoing laboratory tests, but Wetzel is enthusiastic about other applications that the technology might be applied to.

"The sky's the limit," said Wetzel. "We would first like to put this material in a soldier's sleeves and pants, areas that aren't protected by ballistic vests but need to remain flexible. We could also use this material for bomb blankets, to cover suspicious packages or unexploded ordnance. Liquid armor could even be applied to jump boots, so that they would stiffen during impact to support Soldiers' ankles."

In addition to saving Soldiers' lives, Wetzel said liquid armor in Kevlar vests could help those who work in law enforcement.

"Prison guards and police officers could also benefit from this technology," said Wetzel. "Liquid armor is much more stab resistant than conventional body armor. This capability is especially important for prison guards, who are most often attacked with handmade sharp weapons."

For their work on liquid armor, Wetzel and his team were awarded the 2002 Paul A. Siple Award, the Army's highest award for scientific achievement, at the Army Science Conference.

May

Protein synthesis

• Non-ribosomal peptide synthesis
• Non ribosomal protein synthesis
• Ribosomal peptide synthesis
• Ribosomal protein synthesis

Now, for the first time, Rockefeller University professor Vincent Fischetti and his colleagues Sung Lee and Vijaykumar Pancholi have discovered an essential group A streptococcal enzyme also lacking a corresponding gene. This enzyme, called LPXTGase, attaches surface proteins to a bacterium's cell wall [ J. Biol, Chem. 277 (49) , 46912 - 46922 (2002)].

Swiss Protein Knowledgebase: http://www.expasy.ch/sprot

June

Biomimetics in the industrial arena - Biomimetics is the study of the structure and function of biological materials for the purpose of analogous synthetic design and manufacturing.

The benefit of mimicking nature's designs

References:

"Researchers release betas of biomimetics after a few billion years in development" by David Pescovitz in smalltimes 4 (2), 64 (2004)

The Biomimetics Network for Industrial Sustainability (BIONIS) at http://www.extra.rdg.ac.uk/eng/BIONIS/current_issues.htm

"Biomimetics and the Bug Man"  by David Pescovitz on Popular Science (May 2004)  ( http://www.popsci.com )

"Fibre-optical features of a glass sponge" by Vikram C. Sundar et al on Nature 424 (6951), 899 (2003)

"Biomimetic ratcheting motion of a soft, slender, sessile gel" by L. Mahadevan et al. PNAS , E-pub ahead of print dec 17, 2003, 10.1073/pnas.2637051100  (2003)

"Next Generation Biofactories" by Harvey Black on The Scientist  17 (15), 26 - 27 (2003)

"Biomimetics: Materials fabrication through biology" by Mehmet Sarikaya on PNAS  96 (25), 14183 - 14185 (1999)

July

Biological Diversity and Environment

The study of biological diversity may become the method of choice to monitor the  environment. The approch is the genomic sequencing of selected species of animals and plants (including microorganisms)

On the path to synthetic biology: from high-affinity receptors to biocatalysis

Artificial proteins with tailored catalytic activities, by the use of computer-based rational protein design, combined with directed evolution (random mutagenesis with in vivo selection). It is possible to predict mutations that can introduce a desired biocatalytic activity into a protein that normally lacks enzyme activity.  Dwyer et al. have introduced triose phosphate isomerase (TIM) activity into the bacterial ribose-binding protein (RBP), a periplasmatic receptor that has no known catalytic activity. In addition, the ability by Kuhlman et al  "to design a new protein fold makes possible the exploration of the large regions of the protein universe not yet explored in nature." (The design of a 93-residue alpha / beta protein called Top7 with a novel sequence and topology). As reported by Sterner and Schmid,  these results would be "amilestone on the path to synthetic biology, with enormous potential for applications in medicine and biotechnology".

Bioengineers try to create microbes from off-the-shelf parts.

Craig Venter plans to create microbes for pollution control. [a microbe with a syntheic genome [genomic skeleton (regulatory & functional genes) to be used for solving environmental problems, geochemical processes under microbial control]

Nevertheless, the synthetic biology design could lead to the accidental or deliberate creation of pathogenic biological components, as reported by dr. George M. Church (Genetics, Harvard Medical School, MA, U.S.A.).

References:

"Computational design of a biologically active enzyme" by Mary A. Dwyer, Loren L. Looger, Homme W. Hellinga on Science 304 , 1967 - 1971 (2004)

"De Novo design of an enzyme" by Reinhard Sterner and Franz X. Schmid on Science 304, 1916 - 1917 (2004) - The authors have "predicted mutations that introduce triose phosphate isomerase activity into ribose-binding protein, a receptor that normally lacks enzyme activity".

"Experts worry that synthetic biology may spawn biohackers" by Chappell Brown, EE Times (June 29, 2004) http://www.eet.com/at/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=22102744

"Microbes made to order" by Dan Ferber on Science 303, 158 - 161 (2004)

"Synthetic Life: Overview / Synthetic Biology" by W. Wayt Gibbs on Scientifc American, April 26, 2004

"Cells by design - The potential for synthetic biology" by Pamela Silver and Jeffrey Way on The Scientist, 18 (18), 30 - 31 (2004)

About BioBricks:

• "BioBricks ho help reverse-engineer life" by Chappell Brown, EETimes (Advanced Technology, An EE Times Community), June 11, 2004 at http://www.eetimes.com
• MIT Registry of Standard Biological Parts (This site provides access to the MIT BioBricks Database) at http://parts.mit.edu
• BioBricks Glossary at http://rosalind.csail.mit.edu
• BioBricks alpha Logic Guide at http://rosalind.csail.mit.edu

Mesoplasma florum project information: http://www.broad.mit.edu/annotation/microbes/mesoplasma_florum/background.html ; http://www.syntheticbiology.org/projects.html : http://www.broad.mit.edu/annotation/microbes/mesaplasma_florum/

"Design of a novel globular protein fold with atomic-level accuracy" by Brian Kuhlman et al. on Science 302 (5649), 1364 - 1368 (2003)

"Tinker, tailor: can Venter stitch together a Genome from Scratch?" by Carl Zimmer on Science 299 (5609), 1006 - 1007 (2003)

"Microbial geoengineers" by Lesley  A. Warren and Mary E. Kauffman on  Science 299 (5609), 1027 - 1029 (2003)

"Biosensor design" by William F. DeGrado on Nature 423 (6936) , 132 - 133 (2003)

"Computational design of receptor and sensor proteins with novel functions" by Loren L. Looger, Mary A. Dwyer, James J. Smith & Homme W. Hellinga on Nature 423 (6936) , 185 - 190 (2003) (The systematic manipulation of binding sites, using a structure-based computational method; the construction of soluble receptors that bind trinitrotoluene, L-Lactate or serotonine with high selectivity and affinity).

Biological Simplicity and Complexity: The LEGO connector protocol at http://www.cds.caltech.edu/~doyle/CmplxNets/LegoPics.pdf

Nanoscale magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by directly detecting the faint magnetic signal from a single electron buried inside a solid sample (magnetic resonance force microscopy, MRFM) by Daniel Rugar, John Mamim, Raffi Budakian and Benjamain Chui at IBM's Almaden Research Center in San Jose, CA, U.S.A. ( New York Times , July 14, 2004). Applying MRFM to protein structures would be of particular interest to understand the folded atomic configuration.i

September

Primary structure determination of peptides and proteins: enzymatic cleavage methods

October

Primary structure determination of peprides and proteins: chemical cleavage methods

November

Stress-regulating peptides in vertebrates

Definition of stress: mental or physical tension that results from physical, emotional, or chemical causes (from: http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/stress

Peptides with corticotropin-releasing activity and their role in the hypothalamic - pituitary - adrenal axis (HPA axis)

.

December

The characterization of a LH release-inhibiting factor (LH RIF), extracted from rat hypothalamus

This work has been made by Pier Carlo Montecucchi in the laboratory of Prof. Marc Freeman at the Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL, U.S.A.)

A factor that suppresses GnRH-stimulated LH release from dispersed rat anterior pituitary cells was purified from rat hypothalami by gel filtration on Sephadex G- 25, and  G-100, DEAE Sephadex A-50 chromatography and RP-HPLC chromatography. The inhibitor appeared to be very hydrophilic, with acid character and possessing a molecular weight in the range of 1000 - 2000 dalton. After treatment with proteolytic enzymes (trypsin, chymotrypsin), the biological activity, as tested, disappeared; these observations seems to confirm the peptidic nature of the purified material.

Our results do not correspond to those previously reported in the same laboratory [ "Partial purification of a hypothalamic factor that inhibits gonadotropin-releasing hormone-stimulated luteinizing hormone release" by Hwan JC, Freeman ME (1987) Endocrinology 120 (2):483-490;  "A physiological role for luteinizing hormone release-inhibiting factor of hypothalamic origin" by Hwan JC, Freeman ME (1987) Endocrinology 121 (3):1099-1103 ]. Should our data be confirmed, the luteinizing hormone release-inhibiting factor isolated  would represent an additional example of natural  "negative mini bio-regulators".

Nanotechnology - A new spin on sports

Discussion on the article written buy Kevin Maney (USA TODAY) at :  http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/nano/2004-11-17-nanotechnology-sports_x.htm

Nanotech is just emerging as an industrial force. In 2004, $13 billion worth of products will incorporate nanotechnology, less than 0.1 percent of global output, according to the NanoBusiness Alliance trade group. By 2014, that figure is expected to rise to $2.6 trillion, or 15 percent of that year's manufacturing output

Sauvagine and the neuroimmune endocrine system

Sauvagine (SAU) is a peptide of 40 amino acid residues. Two forms have been isolated and their primary structure is the following:

Sauvagine I (SAU I): pGlu-Gly-Pro-Pro-Ile-Ser-Ile-Asp-Leu-Ser-Leu-Glu-Leu-Leu-Arg-Lys-Met-Ile-Glu-Ile-Glu-Lys-Gln-Glu-Lys-Glu-Lys-Gln-Gln-Ala-Ala-Asn-As n-Arg-Leu-Leu-Leu-Asp-Thr-Ile-NH₂

Sauvagine II (SAU II) or  [Glu ²³ ] SAU IpGlu-Gly-Pro-Pro-Ile-Ser-Ile-Asp-Leu-Ser-Leu-Glu-Leu-Leu-Arg-Lys-Met-Ile-Glu-Ile-Glu-Lys-Glu-Glu-Lys-Glu-Lys-Gln-Gln-Ala-Ala-Asn-A sn-Arg-Leu-Leu-Leu-Asp-Thr-Ile-NH₂

In the present discussion, we are focusing our attention on the inhibitory effect of sauvagine on the prolactin release.

The effect of sauvagine (SAU I)  on prolactin (PRL) levels was studied in vivo and in vitro. Subcutaneous administration of SAU (20 micrograms/kg) reduced plasma PRL levels in normal adult male rats and suppressed the suckling-induced rise of PRL in lactating rats even at doses of 1 and 5 micrograms/kg. Perfusion of isolated and dispersed rat pituitary cells in vitro with increasing doses of SAU (from 5 x 10(-10) to 1.7 x 10(-8)M) induced a significant dose-related decrease of PRL secretion in the eluate. These results indicate that SAU is a potent PRL inhibiting factor and that its action is exerted at the pituitary level. If SAU or a SAU-related peptide is present in the mammalian brain, it can be tentatively hypothesized that this peptide plays an important role in the control of PRL secretion. [

It is well known the effect of prolactin release on the immune system.

Our goal is focused  on the characterization of antagonists and super-agonists involved in the control of prolactin secretion, using the primary structure of sauvagine as a model for the design of new compounds.

Considering the network  among the immune system, the neuroendocrine system, and the olfactory system, these molecules could have a therapeutic applications on the treatment of neuroimmunology disorders  (not excluded the transplant area).

References:

Montecucchi, P.C., Henschen, A. and Erspamer, V. : Structure of sauvagine, a vasoactive peptide from the skin of a frog - Hoppe Seyler's Z. Physiol. Chem. 360, 1170 (1979)

Erspamer V, Melchiorri P, Broccardo M, Erspamer GF, Falaschi P, Improota G, Negri L, Renda T.:  " The brain-gut-skin triangle: new peptides" - Peptides. 2 Suppl 2: 7-16 (1981)

Falaschi, P., D'Urso, R., Negri, L., Rocco, A., Montecucchi, P.C., Henschen, A., Melchiorri, P. and Erspamer, V. : Potent "in vitro" and "in vivo" prolactin inhibiting activity of sauvagine, a frog skin peptide - Endocrinology 111, 693 - 695 (1982)

Prolactin: Structure, Function, and Regulation of Secretion by Marc E. Freeman, Béla Kanyicska, Anna Lerant, and György Nagy - Physiological Reviews, 80, 1523-1631 (2000)

The Technology transfer process - Slides

Christmas Greetings and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year