Nanoparticles Mediated Protein Stability in Comparison with Osmolytes: in vivo Approach

Abstract

The native three-dimensional structure of protein is quite unstable under critical destabilizing conditions. In order to enhance the stability and activity for a proper folded environment of a protein, many stabilizing materials are added such as nanoparticles and osmolytes to an unfolded state of protein. Osmolytes are the important group of molecules which are engaged by the cell as an adaption in the severe conditions. In this communication, a comparative in vivo study is reported for imparting the status of stability and folding ability of zebrafish dihydrofolate reductase (zDHFR) protein with gold nanoparticles and various osmolytes (glycerol, glucose and betain). Present observations revealed that the interaction of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with bacteria at the cellular level helps in maintaining the stability of protein more effectively than osmolytes which could be used for many biological and pharmacological approaches although glycerol as an osmolyte also stabilizes the protein at a significant level.