Aarya, Anna Sebastian, Kavya P, Supratik Sen Mojumdar
{"title":"Probing the Self-Aggregation of l-Tryptophan into Spherical Microstructures and Their Selective Interactions with Bilirubin.","authors":"Aarya, Anna Sebastian, Kavya P, Supratik Sen Mojumdar","doi":"10.1021/acsabm.4c01486","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aggregation of proteins, peptides and amino acids has been a keen subject of interest owing to their implications in metabolic disorders. In this work, we investigated the self-aggregation of the unmodified aromatic amino acid l-tryptophan (Trp) into unusual spherical microstructures. Using fluorescence spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), we detail the time-dependent transformation of monomeric tryptophan into spherical aggregates with distinct fluorescence characteristics (λ<sub>ex</sub> = 345 nm, λ<sub>em</sub> = 430 nm) compared to the monomer. Notably, the fluorescence intensity of these aggregates is selectively quenched in the presence of bilirubin, demonstrating exceptional sensitivity in the picomolar concentration range. The developed assay proved applicable and reliable for real sample analysis. Thermodynamic parameters derived from temperature-dependent fluorescence intensity measurements indicated that the aggregation process is spontaneous and driven by noncovalent interactions. Further evidence of bilirubin's strong association with the aggregates was obtained through competitive interaction studies with human serum albumin (HSA). This work offers insights into the aggregation behavior of single aromatic amino acids and their potential applications in detecting critical analytes.</p>","PeriodicalId":2,"journal":{"name":"ACS Applied Bio Materials","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"ACS Applied Bio Materials","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.4c01486","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MATERIALS SCIENCE, BIOMATERIALS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The aggregation of proteins, peptides and amino acids has been a keen subject of interest owing to their implications in metabolic disorders. In this work, we investigated the self-aggregation of the unmodified aromatic amino acid l-tryptophan (Trp) into unusual spherical microstructures. Using fluorescence spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), we detail the time-dependent transformation of monomeric tryptophan into spherical aggregates with distinct fluorescence characteristics (λex = 345 nm, λem = 430 nm) compared to the monomer. Notably, the fluorescence intensity of these aggregates is selectively quenched in the presence of bilirubin, demonstrating exceptional sensitivity in the picomolar concentration range. The developed assay proved applicable and reliable for real sample analysis. Thermodynamic parameters derived from temperature-dependent fluorescence intensity measurements indicated that the aggregation process is spontaneous and driven by noncovalent interactions. Further evidence of bilirubin's strong association with the aggregates was obtained through competitive interaction studies with human serum albumin (HSA). This work offers insights into the aggregation behavior of single aromatic amino acids and their potential applications in detecting critical analytes.
期刊介绍:
ACS Applied Bio Materials is an interdisciplinary journal publishing original research covering all aspects of biomaterials and biointerfaces including and beyond the traditional biosensing, biomedical and therapeutic applications.
The journal is devoted to reports of new and original experimental and theoretical research of an applied nature that integrates knowledge in the areas of materials, engineering, physics, bioscience, and chemistry into important bio applications. The journal is specifically interested in work that addresses the relationship between structure and function and assesses the stability and degradation of materials under relevant environmental and biological conditions.