Phoenix effect: Resurrected proteins double their natural activity

Denatured proteins often pile up to form toxic aggregates, which is the underlying reason for many illnesses such as Alzheimer, Parkinson and Huntington. Therefore the investigation of denaturation and renaturation mechanisms cannot be overestimated.

In a new study, David Avnir, professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and Vladimir Vinogradov, head of the International Laboratory of Solution Chemistry of Advanced Materials and Technologies at ITMO University, found that bringing proteins back to life is not only possible, but can be carried out with an improvement over their original activity. This strange phenomenon owes to a new technique of protein renaturation based on combining thermally denatured proteins (carbonic anhydrase) with a colloid solution of inorganic aluminum oxide nanoparticles.

As the solution turns into a gel, the nanoparticles start binding together, exerting mechanical pressure on the protein molecules. As a result, each molecule ends up entrapped in its own individual porous shell, which prevents the malign process of protein aggregation and eventually restores their original spatial structure. Having compared the level of activity of proteins before denaturation and after renaturation, the chemists discovered that the resurrected ones were 180 percent more active than their native predecessors.

"Every protein molecule has its active center, which allows the molecule to interact with the environment. The active center, however, constitutes only 5 -- 10 percent of the molecule surface," explains Vladimir Vinogradov. "During renaturation we deal with a long unfolded molecule containing an active center and several extending tails. The active center and nanoparticles have similar charges and will repel, while the tails have an opposite charge and will gravitate towards the nanoparticles. In the end, when a shell forms around the molecule, the active center will be as far away from the wall of the shell as possible. Instead, the active center will be directed right into the pore in the shell, thus increasing the protein's chances to interact with the substrate."

Researchers say that this technique only works with unfolded denatured proteins. The orientation of native proteins within the shell cannot be controlled in the same way, because the active center can find itself anywhere, including facing the wall, which entirely excludes the possibility of interacting with the substrate.

As professor David Avnir explains, one possible application of the discovery could help optimize the fabrication of drugs based on active proteins:

"Some of the most effective drugs are based on active proteins that are harvested from cell cultures. However, from all proteins grown in such a way only 20 percent are native and suitable for use, while the remaining 80 percent are the so-called inclusion bodies, that is, non-functioning denatured proteins. Obviously, knowing how to convert denatured proteins to their native state, and on top of it with increased level activity, would allow pharmaceutical companies to lower the price of many drugs making them more affordable."