Researchers from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have uncovered how natural sugar-like molecules in the human body can alter the behaviour of a protein responsible for bone formation and repair.
The findings, can be used for advanced treatments in bone and cartilage regeneration, improved implants, and more effective protein-based medicines.
From building tissues and supporting chemical reactions to acting as signals between cells, proteins carry out various functions in the human body. However, for the best productivity, they need to be folded or unfolded into precise three-dimensional shapes.
Understanding why and how proteins unfold is a major goal in biology, with implications for medicine, biotechnology, and drug delivery.
In this context, Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (BMP-2) plays a crucial role in forming bones and cartilage, healing injuries, and guiding stem cells to become bone-forming cells, said the team from NIT. However, in the human body, this protein interacts with different Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), special sugar-like molecules found in connective tissues and joint fluids.
The team investigated how these different GAGs affect BMP-2 when it is exposed to “stress” in the form of urea-induced chemical denaturation.
They observed that BMP-2 unfolded faster in the presence of Sulfated Hyaluronic Acid (SHA)- a type of GAG compared to regular hyaluronic acid or without additives.
The researchers found that SHA binds directly to BMP-2 protein, gently altering its structure and making it unfold in a more controlled manner.
“These insights allow scaffold designs to actively preserve BMP-2’s functional conformation, prolong bioactivity, lower dosage needs, and reduce side effects. (IANS)
