Abstract
The main objective of this study was to propose a novel methodology to approach challenges in molecular biology. Akirin/Subolesin (AKR/SUB) are vaccine protective antigens and are a model for the study of the interactome due to its conserved function in the regulation of different biological processes such as immunity and development throughout the metazoan. Herein, three visual artists and a music professor collaborated with scientists for the functional characterization of the AKR2 interactome in the regulation of the NF-κB pathway in human placenta cells. The results served as a methodological proof-of-concept to advance this research area. The results showed new perspectives on unexplored characteristics of AKR2 with functional implications. These results included protein dimerization, the physical interactions with different proteins simultaneously to regulate various biological processes defined by cell type-specific AKR–protein interactions, and how these interactions positively or negatively regulate the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling pathway in a biological context-dependent manner. These results suggested that AKR2-interacting proteins might constitute suitable secondary transcription factors for cell- and stimulus-specific regulation of NF-κB. Musical perspective supported AKR/SUB evolutionary conservation in different species and provided new mechanistic insights into the AKR2 interactome. The combined scientific and artistic perspectives resulted in a multidisciplinary approach, advancing our knowledge on AKR/SUB interactome, and provided new insights into the function of AKR2–protein interactions in the regulation of the NF-κB pathway. Additionally, herein we proposed an algorithm for quantum vaccinomics by focusing on the model proteins AKR/SUB.
Highlights
Biology and art have collaborated before for communication in areas such as human physiology and evolution [1,2,3,4], even proposing that art may have biological basis [5]
A professor of music and musical education was invited to participate in this research to further develop and apply a musical algorithm developed by us back in 1995 to the study of AKR evolution [8]. The results of these musical representations served to inspire scientists to propose the possibility of using this approach to further characterize AKR–protein interactions, which was faced by the artist resulting in additional support for the results presented in the paper
The collaboration between scientists and artists provided two main methodological outcomes: (a) the suggestion by visual artists of the scientific characterization of previously unexplored properties of AKR/SUB and (b) the application of an algorithm using musical ensembles based on AKR/SUB and interacting protein sequences as a new method to predict protein–protein interactions (Table 2)
Summary
Biology and art have collaborated before for communication in areas such as human physiology and evolution [1,2,3,4], even proposing that art may have biological basis [5]. Art visual and musical representations translate into complex or unrecognized concepts and provide a way to better understand and approach scientific challenges [8,9,10]. Art contributes to highlighting social concerns addressed by scientists [4]. In this way, art and science converge in the purpose of moving society forward, and both benefit from the learning process [9,10,11]. We provided a perspective of the combined scientific and artistic approach to the interactome using as a model the regulatory protein Akirin, from the Japanese “akiraka ni suru”
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