Synthetic amino acid transporters in living cells: new perspectives to treat diseases
The transport of amino acids and other molecules through the cell membrane is an essential process in cell metabolism. According to some studies, pathologies such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, aminoacidurias and neurodegenerative diseases could be affected by anomalies in the transport of amino acids in the cell membrane.
The transport of amino acids and other molecules through the cell membrane is an essential process in cell metabolism. According to some studies, pathologies such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, aminoacidurias and neurodegenerative diseases could be affected by anomalies in the transport of amino acids in the cell membrane.
An article published in the journal Chem describes how a synthetic transporter -calix[4]pyrrole cavitand- can transport amino acids through the cell membranes and liposomes. The study, which sheds light on the design of future therapies, is led by the researchers Manuel Palacín, professor from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine at the Faculty of Biology of the UB, and Pau Ballester, ICREA professor and member of the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ).
As part of the BIST Ignite CALIX4TRANS project, the research team assessed the properties of the calix[4]pyrrole cavitand -a container-shaped molecule- in the transport of amino acid Proline through the cell membranes and liposomes. “With this study, we hope to drive the development of artificial carriers to treat efficiently those diseases of amino acid metabolism”, notes Professor Manuel Palacín, head of the Amino Acid Transporters and Disease Lab at IRB Barcelona and member of the Rare Diseases Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBERER).