title: DEVD-based hydrogelator minimizes cellular apoptosis induction.
abstract: Herein, we report the rational design of a DEVD-based heptapeptide hydrogelator 1 which is susceptible to caspase-3 (CASP3), and its isomeric control hydrogelator 2 with a DEDV-based heptapeptide sequence. Self-assembly of 1 in water results in flexuous, long nanofibers to form supramolecular hydrogel I with higher mechanical strength than that of hydrogel II which is composed of rigid, short nanofibers of 2. In vitro enzymatic analysis indicated that 1 is susceptive to CASP3 while 2 is not. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and Western blot analyses indicated that DEDV-based hydrogelator 2 induces cell death via apoptotic pathway while the DEVD-based hydrogelator 1 minimizes cellular apoptosis induction.
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
authors.forename: An-Ming
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Wei-Juan
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Wang-Lai
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Mian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Gao-Lin
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C110772:benzoylcarbonyl-aspartyl-glutamyl-valyl-aspartyl-fluoromethyl ketone; D053148:Caspase 3