Molecular mechanisms of interaction of the flavonoid quercetin in cell membrane model systems extracted from A549 and HEp-2 cancer cells

Abstract

In this scientific initiation project (CI), the phenolic compound quercetin will be evaluated for its property in interacting with lipid membranes derived from human lung (A549) and oropharyngeal (HEp-2) carcinoma. Quercetin is a natural antioxidant compound that contains antiviral activity. However, the mechanisms that induce this effect are still unknown. It is believed that the interaction with plasma membranes is at the origin of these effects, which demands experiments that allow characterizing these interactions at the molecular level. In this project, Langmuir monolayers will be produced from cell membrane extracts (A549 and HEp-2), cells permissive to viral infection, in order to mimic half of the phospholipid bilayer. The characterization of the films will occur through isotherms that associate the surface pressure to the molecular area occupied (À-A). In a later step, quercetin binding sites will be detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), using the Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) film protocol for multilayer fabrication. Thus, the objective of this study will be to evaluate the molecular interactions between cell membranes and quercetin, which may refer to the mechanisms that lead the flavonoid to exert its therapeutic properties. (AU)