Abstract
Aging research has made significant progress over recent years, particularly after the formulation of ‘Oxidative stress theory of aging’. According to this theory, aging and its associated abnormalities may be prevented, at least to some extent, by application of certain antioxidants. Cyanobacterial phycobiliproteins (PBPs), the major light harvesting pigment proteins are widely characterized for their in vivo and in vitro antioxidant activity. Since, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are considered as important factors to cause aging, PBPs can be used as an effective free radical scavengers and be a potent candidate to develop the anti-aging drug. The use of PBPs in preventing the oxidative stress mediated abnormalities or aging is rationally debated. The present review enlightens the recent advances in the field of antioxidant function of PBPs and major challenges in the application of these pigment proteins in anti-aging research. Also included is the possible mechanism behind the anti-aging capacity of these ecologically as well as economically important biomolecules.
Highlights
In contemporary scenario, oxidative stress and its effect on life attracts attention of many researchers due to substantial increase in the occurrence of oxidative stress related diseases such as atherosclerosis, arthritis, diabetes and cancer [1]
Our research group is working on the topic - ‘Is PBP’s antioxidant virtue can be explored to alleviate aging and associated abnormalities?’ We have reported that the PE, one of the PBPs having antioxidant nature, efficiently moderates the progression in physiological dysfunctions and molecular mechanism associated with aging in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) [6,40]
Since the amino acid sequences of PBPs vary among different species/strains of cyanobacteria, an extensive research is needed to explore the various chemical natures of different PBPs from different cyanobacteria
Summary
Oxidative stress and its effect on life attracts attention of many researchers due to substantial increase in the occurrence of oxidative stress related diseases such as atherosclerosis, arthritis, diabetes and cancer [1]. Protein and peptides of marine origin are widely studied and found to have potential biomedical applications [3] Such wide range of application is credited in account of plenty of essential amino acids present in their constitution [4]. PBPs are reported to chelate as well as reduce the ferrous ion very efficiently [6] This indicated the combined involvement of both electron donating and metal ion chelating ability of the PBP-constituting amino acids in expressing antioxidant activity. PE showed lower chelating ability and higher reducing power in comparison with PC and APC This indicated the leading role of redox potential of PE in its antioxidant activity. Establishment of antioxidant nature of PBPs will be of great importance in therapeutics of ROS-associated disorders
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