Rostellularia procumbens (L.) Nees is a traditional Chinese herb
commonly used to treat a variety of ailments — from sore throats to
backaches or eczema. Most notably, some studies have shown that
extracts from this herb can decrease platelet aggregation.
Until recently, the herb's mechanism of action and molecular
target have remained elusive. In this study, researchers sought to
identify not only the active ingredients but also what molecule
or molecules these active ingredients interact with and the
characteristics of such interactions.
Data collected utilizing a variety of techniques identified Integrin αIIbβ3
as a potential target of inhibition by two active molecules produced by
Rostellularia procumbens (L.) Nees: chinensinaphthol methyl ether and
neojusticin B. The researchers confirmed interaction and subsequently
quantified the binding affinity of Integrin αIIbβ3 with both compounds
using MST. Additionally, they used nanoDSF to conduct thermal
unfolding curves for Integrin αIIbβ3, which enabled them to identify
optimal buffer conditions for both binding experiments and protein
storage conditions.
Identify active compounds and
understand how they interact
with their target
1
Molecular
interactions
studied
Target: Membrane glycoprotein
Ligand: Compounds with
organic aromatic hydrocarbons
Methods
MST using Monolith
nanoDSF using Prometheus
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