title: The use of supramolecular structures as protein ligands.
abstract: Congo red dye as well as other eagerly self-assembling organic molecules which form rod-like or ribbon-like supramolecular structures in water solutions, appears to represent a new class of protein ligands with possible wide-ranging medical applications. Such molecules associate with proteins as integral clusters and preferentially penetrate into areas of low molecular stability. Abnormal, partly unfolded proteins are the main binding target for such ligands, while well packed molecules are generally inaccessible. Of particular interest is the observation that local susceptibility for binding supramolecular ligands may be promoted in some proteins as a consequence of function-derived structural changes, and that such complexation may alter the activity profile of target proteins. Examples are presented in this paper.
authors.affiliation: Medical Biochemistry, Jagiellonian University - Medical College, Kopernika 7, 31-034, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stopa
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jagusiak
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Konieczny
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Piekarska
authors.forename: Janina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rybarska
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zemanek
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Król
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piwowar
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roterman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000737:chemistry; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D003224:Congo Red / Q000737:chemistry*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008024:Ligands; D011506:Proteins; D003224:Congo Red