The family of bile acids includes a group of molecular species of acidic steroids with very peculiar physical-chemical and biological characteristics.They are synthesized by the liver from cholesterol through several ...The family of bile acids includes a group of molecular species of acidic steroids with very peculiar physical-chemical and biological characteristics.They are synthesized by the liver from cholesterol through several complementary pathways that are controlled by mechanisms involving finetuning by the levels of certain bile acid species.Although their best-known role is their participation in the digestion and absorption of fat,they also play an important role in several other physiological processes.Thus,genetic abnormalities accounting for alterations in their synthesis,biotransformation and/or transport may result in severe alterations,even leading to lethal situations for which the sole therapeutic option may be liver transplantation.Moreover,the increased levels of bile acids reached during cholestatic liver diseases are known to induce oxidative stress and apoptosis,resulting in damage to the liver parenchyma and,eventually,extrahepatic tissues.When this occurs during pregnancy,the outcome of gestation may be challenged.In contrast,the physical-chemical and biological properties of these compounds have been used as the bases for the development of drugs and as pharmaceutical tools for the delivery of active agents.展开更多
Biomacromolecules including protein and nucleic acids are considered as promising chiral selectors in the fields of enantioselective separation, owing to their inherent chirality, polymorphous structures, stable physi...Biomacromolecules including protein and nucleic acids are considered as promising chiral selectors in the fields of enantioselective separation, owing to their inherent chirality, polymorphous structures, stable physicochemical properties, good biocompatibility as well as susceptible modification and regulation. In this review, firstly,enantioselective recognition mechanism of proteins and nucleic acids toward different enantiomers is discussed,as well as their potential applications on the chiral separation of racemic compounds. Secondly, preparative enantioseparation adopting biomolecule-modified hybrid materials including porous microspheres, magnetic nanoparticles and affinity membranes, are introduced respectively. Finally, novel chiroptical materials constructed on the basis of chiral induction, transfer, amplification and transcription, are recognized as promising candidates in future applications.展开更多
基金Supported by The Junta de Castilla y Leon(Grants GR75-2008,SA033A08,SA03508 and SA03608)Ministerio de Cienciae Innovacion(Grants BFU2006-12577,MAT2001-2911,MAT2004-04606 y BFU2007-30688-E/BFI)
文摘The family of bile acids includes a group of molecular species of acidic steroids with very peculiar physical-chemical and biological characteristics.They are synthesized by the liver from cholesterol through several complementary pathways that are controlled by mechanisms involving finetuning by the levels of certain bile acid species.Although their best-known role is their participation in the digestion and absorption of fat,they also play an important role in several other physiological processes.Thus,genetic abnormalities accounting for alterations in their synthesis,biotransformation and/or transport may result in severe alterations,even leading to lethal situations for which the sole therapeutic option may be liver transplantation.Moreover,the increased levels of bile acids reached during cholestatic liver diseases are known to induce oxidative stress and apoptosis,resulting in damage to the liver parenchyma and,eventually,extrahepatic tissues.When this occurs during pregnancy,the outcome of gestation may be challenged.In contrast,the physical-chemical and biological properties of these compounds have been used as the bases for the development of drugs and as pharmaceutical tools for the delivery of active agents.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21206107)the National High-tech R&D Program of China(2012AA03A609)Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University(IRT1161)
文摘Biomacromolecules including protein and nucleic acids are considered as promising chiral selectors in the fields of enantioselective separation, owing to their inherent chirality, polymorphous structures, stable physicochemical properties, good biocompatibility as well as susceptible modification and regulation. In this review, firstly,enantioselective recognition mechanism of proteins and nucleic acids toward different enantiomers is discussed,as well as their potential applications on the chiral separation of racemic compounds. Secondly, preparative enantioseparation adopting biomolecule-modified hybrid materials including porous microspheres, magnetic nanoparticles and affinity membranes, are introduced respectively. Finally, novel chiroptical materials constructed on the basis of chiral induction, transfer, amplification and transcription, are recognized as promising candidates in future applications.