Biomedical subjects

L Franzoni

Publications and source records attributed to L Franzoni.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

The chemical synthesis of N-[1-(2-naphthol)]-phosphatidylethanolamine, a fluorescent phospholipid for excited-state proton transfer studies.

A procedure for the preparation of N-[1-(2-naphthol)]-phosphatidylethanolamine (NAPH-PE) has been developed. The synthesis is based on the Schiff base formation between the NH2 of the phospholipid and the aldehyde moiety of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde. Then selective reduction of the imine is used to obtain the stable secondary amine, NAPH-PE. Formation of the intermediate Schiff base and the final product is confirmed by 13C- and 1H-NMR. Similar to free 2-naphthol, the excited-state pKa (pKa*) of its phospholipid derivative appears to be significantly lower than the ground-state pKa. At pH 7.4, the excitation spectrum of NAPH-PE shows no deprotonated species in the ground-state, while the emission spectrum presents a significant contribution of this species. Thus the fluorescent phospholipid exhibits the typical behavior of excited-state proton-transfer probes. NAPH-PE is found to incorporate in dimyristoyllecithin (DML) vesicles. The emission spectrum of the probe inserted in the liposomes is affected by acetate used as a proton acceptor. These properties should also be manifest in other lipid bilayers (e.g., plasma membranes of cells) and used for excited-state proton transfer studies.

Fluorescence↗

PubMed1991

Fluorescence and CD studies on the conformation of the gastrin releasing peptide in solution and in the presence of model membranes.

The conformation of the heptacosapeptide hormone, gastrin releasing peptide, has been studied in buffer and in the presence of lipids, using static and dynamic fluorescence and CD. The results obtained show that, in buffer, the hormone exists in a collection of flexible, random coil type conformers, characterized by a beta-turn between residues 14-19. On the other hand, organic solvents can induce some degree of ordered secondary structure in the peptide chain. The marked changes, observed in CD and fluorescence spectra upon addition of lysolecitin micelles and dimyristoylphosphatidylserine vesicles, clearly show that the peptide interacts with lipids, assuming a lipid specific configuration. Interestingly, no significative spectroscopic changes are produced by exposure to dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine vesicles both in the gel and liquid-chrystalline phases, suggesting a requirement for negatively charged lipids during the process of hormone-membrane interaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1989

Conformation of bombesin in buffer and in the presence of lysolecithin micelles: NMR, CD, and fluorescence studies.

The conformation of the tetradecapeptide hormone bombesin has been studied in buffer and in the presence of lysolecithin micelles, using static and dynamic fluorescence, CD, and one- and two-dimensional nmr. The results obtained show that in buffer bombesin is present in an extended flexible chain, with no evidence for any ordered secondary structure. A marked change in the CD spectrum is observed changing from buffer to the lipid suspension. Concomitantly, the 1H-nmr spectrum of bombesin, in a D2O lipid dispersion, shows the persistence of resonances due to exchangeable protons and in similar conditions the fluorescence intensity increases. We think therefore that these results strongly support the hypothesis that bombesin interacts with the lipid phase, assuming ordered secondary structure. Finally, the marked dependence of tryptophan fluorescence quantum efficiency and order parameter from the hormone concentration in the presence of lysolecithin but not in buffer leads to the conclusion that bombesin can associate into the lipid matrix.

Bombesin↗

PubMed1989

pH regulation of calcium recognition by an amino acid containing acyclic ionophore.

Calcium ion recognition by a dicarboxylic ionophore containing two (S)-phenylalanine residues joined via an amide bond by a flexible tri-oxa-undecanoyl bridge (Phe-3-O) has been investigated in a wide pH range (from pH 2 to 12). Experiments were performed in methanol and chloroform by 1H and 13C NMR, relaxation times and 2D NMR (COSY, NOESY and J-resolved experiments). Recognition is shown to be regulated by pH, as it occurs in at least three different coordination modes according to the experimental conditions. Even at low pH (pH 2) the ion is already complexed in the compartment created by the ethereal oxygens and the amide carbonyls. At higher pH, it becomes fully encapsulated in a pseudo-cyclic structure and at very basic pH it is localized between the amide carbonyls and the carboxylates. For these peculiar properties Phe-3-O appears to be a very promising ionophore in a trans-membrane pH gradient system.

Calcium↗

PubMed1978

Rat brain ribonucleases.

Rat brain ribonucleases (RNases) were studied. Three types of RNases with maximum activities at pH 5.0, 7.2 and 9.5 were found. The activity of the pH 7.2 enzyme can be detected only by avoiding the interference of a very active inhibitor with p-chlor-mercuri-benzoic acid (PCMB). The effect of bivalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+), Na+ and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) was investigated. The activities studied showed a different subcellular distribution. Changes in RNase activity during postnatal rat brain development were studied. The pH 7.2 and 9.5 enzymes have a similar behavior increasing up to the 15th-20th day and remaining constant thereafter. The pH 5.0 enzyme remains constant from the 5th to the 20th day, decreasing thereafter.

Age Factors↗