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Numerous natural surfaces have micro/nanostructures that result in extraordinary functionality, such as superhydrophobicity, self‐cleaning, antifogging, and antimicrobial properties. One such example is the cicada wing, where differences in nanopillar geometry and composition among species can impact and influence the degree of exhibited properties. To understand the relationships between surface topography and chemical composition with multifunctionality, the wing properties of Neotibicen pruinosus (superhydrophobic) and Magicicada cassinii (hydrophobic) cicadas are investigated at time points after microwave‐assisted extraction of surface molecules to characterize the chemical contribution to nanopillar functionality. Electron microscopy of the wings throughout the extraction process illustrates nanoscale topographical changes, while concomitant changes in hydrophobicity, bacterial fouling, and bactericidal properties are also measured. Extract analysis reveals the major components of the nanostructures to be fatty acids and saturated hydrocarbons ranging from C17 to C44. Effects on the antimicrobial character of a wing surface with respect to the extracted chemicals suggest that the molecular composition of the nanopillars plays both a direct and an indirect role in concert with nanopillar geometry. The data presented not only correlates the nanopillar molecular organization to macroscale functional properties, but it also presents design guidelines to consider during the replication of natural nanostructures onto engineered substrates to induce desired properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) can impact the reproductive system by interfering with the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Although in vitro testing methods have been developed to screen chemicals for endocrine disruption, extrapolation of in vitro responses to in vivo action shows inconsistent accuracy. The authors describe a tissue coculture of the fathead minnow ( Pimephales promelas) HPG axis and liver (HPG-L) as a tissue explant model that mimics in vivo results. Brain (hypothalamus), pituitary, gonad, and liver tissue explants from adult fish were examined for function both individually and in coculture to determine combinations and conditions that could replicate in vivo behavior. Only cocultures had the ability to respond to an EDC, trenbolone, similarly to in vivo studies, based on estradiol, testosterone, and vitellogenin production trends, where lower exposure doses suppressed hormone production but higher doses increased production, resulting in distinctive U-shaped curves. These data suggest that a coculture system with all components of the HPG-L axis can be used as a link between in vitro and in vivo studies to predict endocrine system disruption in whole organisms. This tissue-based HPG-L system acts as a flexible deconstructed version of the in vivo system for better control and examination of the minute changes in system operation and response on EDC exposure with options to isolate, interrogate, and recombine desired components. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2530-2541. Published 2016 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We describe a general strategy for the design and discovery of affinity peptides for a protein from its natural ligands. Our approach is guided by protein-protein interactions in natural systems and focuses on the hetero-trimeric complex of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), C (cTnC) and T (cTnT). A key premise of this work is that cTnC and cTnT, owing to their innate ability to bind cTnI, are potential templates for the design and discovery of cTnI-binding peptides. Relying only on the knowledge of primary sequences of cTnC and cTnT, we designed a library of short overlapping peptides that span the entirety of cTnC and cTnT and tested them for binding to cTnI. We were successful in identifying several peptides that display high affinity (1-100 n M) for cTnI. The specific implication of this work is that mimicking natural protein-protein interactions is an excellent starting point for the discovery and rational design of peptide ligands. The knowledge of secondary or tertiary structures of the proteins involved is not a necessary precondition for this approach. Nevertheless, we show that structural information can be used to validate the results of a fragment-based peptide design, and can be potentially beneficial for refining the lead candidates. Our approach is broadly applicable to any protein with at least one natural binding ligand with known primary sequence. For protein targets with multiple natural ligands, this approach can potentially yield several distinct affinity peptides capable of simultaneously binding the target protein via orthogonal modes or at complementary interfaces. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 102: 97-106, 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrinsically disordered peptides (IDPs) have recently garnered much interest because of their role in biological processes such as molecular recognition and their ability to undergo stimulus-responsive conformational changes. The block V repeat-in-toxin motif of the Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase is an example of an IDP that undergoes a transition from a disordered state to an ordered beta roll conformation in the presence of calcium ions. In solution, a C-terminal capping domain is necessary for this transition to occur. To further explore the conformational behavior and folding requirements of this IDP, we have cysteine modified three previously characterized constructs, allowing for attachment to the gold surface of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). We demonstrate that, while immobilized, the C-terminally capped peptide exhibits similar calcium-binding properties to what have been observed in solution. In addition, immobilization on the solid surface appears to enable calcium-responsiveness in the uncapped peptides, in contrast to the behavior observed in solution. This work demonstrates the power of QCM as a tool to study the conformational changes of IDPs immobilized on surfaces and has implications for a range of potential applications where IDPs may be engineered and used including protein purification, biosensors, and other bionanotechnology applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]