Chaperone potential of Pulicaria undulata extract in preventing aggregation of stressed proteins

AAPS PharmSciTech. 2014 Jun;15(3):658-64. doi: 10.1208/s12249-014-0090-2. Epub 2014 Mar 6.

Abstract

This study examined the effect of an aqueous extract of Pulicaria undulata on the 1,4-dithiothreitol (DTT)-induced aggregation of proteins. The effects of the chaperone properties of P. undulata extract on protein aggregation were determined by measuring light scattering absorption, fluorescence, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The aqueous extract of P. undulata possesses good chaperone properties but the protection effect was varied in different protein. The extract showed a higher level of protection in high molecular weight proteins than in those of low molecular weight. Using a fluorescence study, the present study provides information on the hydrophobic area of proteins interacting with the P. undulata extract. In fact, by increasing the concentration of the P. undulata extract, the hydrophic area of the protein decreased. CD spectroscopy also revealed that DTT caused changes in both the tertiary and the secondary structure of the proteins, while in the presence of P. undulata extract, there was little change. Our finding suggests the possibility of using P. undulata extract for the inhibition of aggregation and the deposition of protein in disease.

MeSH terms

  • Circular Dichroism
  • Conalbumin / chemistry
  • Dithiothreitol / chemistry
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Insulin / chemistry
  • Lactalbumin / chemistry
  • Light
  • Molecular Chaperones / chemistry*
  • Molecular Chaperones / isolation & purification
  • Molecular Weight
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Protein Aggregates
  • Protein Folding
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Pulicaria* / chemistry
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Insulin
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • Plant Extracts
  • Protein Aggregates
  • Proteins
  • Conalbumin
  • Lactalbumin
  • Dithiothreitol