title: Novel application of hydrophobin in medical science: a drug carrier for improving serum stability.
abstract: Multiple physiological properties of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) ensure that it is a promising drug candidate for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, the in vivo half-life of GLP-1 is short because of rapid degradation by dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) and renal clearance. The poor serum stability of GLP-1 has significantly limited its clinical utility, although many studies are focused on extending the serum stability of this molecule. Hydrophobin, a self-assembling protein, was first applied as drug carrier to stabilize GLP-1 against protease degradation by forming a cavity. The glucose tolerance test clarified that the complex retained blood glucose clearance activity for 72 hours suggesting that this complex might be utilized as a drug candidate administered every 2-3 days. Additionally, it was found that the mutagenesis of hydrophobin preferred a unique pH condition for self-assembly. These findings suggested that hydrophobin might be a powerful tool as a drug carrier or a pH sensitive drug-release compound. The novel pharmaceutical applications of hydrophobin might result in future widespread interest in hydrophobin.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Liqiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Haijin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Dongmin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xiangxiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Mingqiang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin, China.|Department of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.|University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; C042807:DPP4 protein, human; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4