Antibody purification with protein A attached supermacroporous poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) cryogel

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) purification from human plasma with protein A attached supermacroporous poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [PHEMA] cryogel has been studied. PHEMA cryogel was prepared by bulk polymerization which proceeds in aqueous solution of monomer frozen inside a plastic syringe (cryo-polymerization). After thawing, the PHEMA cryogel contains a continuous matrix having interconnected pores of 10–200 μm size. Protein was covalently attached onto the PHEMA cryogel via cyanogen bromide (CNBr) activation. The maximum IgG adsorption on the PHEMA/protein A cryogel was found to be 83.2 mg/g at pH 7.4 from aqueous solutions. The non-specific IgG adsorption onto the PHEMA cryogel was about 0.38 mg/g. The macropore size of the cryogel makes it possible to process blood cells without blocking the column. Higher adsorption capacity was observed from human plasma (up to 88.1 mg/g). Adsorbed IgG was eluted using 0.1 M glycine–HCl buffer (pH 3.5) with a purity of 85%. PHEMA–protein A cryogel was used for repetitive adsorption/desorption of IgG without noticeable loss in IgG adsorption capacity after 10 cycles. PHEMA–protein A cryogel showed several advantages such as simpler preparation procedure, good selectivity for IgG purification from human plasma and good stability throughout repeated adsorption–desorption cycles.     

Purification of catechol siderophores by boronate affinity chromatography: Identification of chrysobactin from Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora

Catechols are co-planar cis-diols known to form stable, isolable complexes with borate under weakly basic conditions. We exploited this chemistry and developed a boronate affinity chromatography for isolating catechol siderophores. The method was applied to the isolation of chrysobactin, enterobactin, and an unknown catechol siderophore produce by Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora W3C105. Yields of chrysobactin and enterobactin purified by boronate affinity chromatography were at least two-fold greater than those achieved through alternate methods. The unknown catechol produced by E. carotovora subsp. carotovora W3C105 was isolated by boronate affinity chromatography and shown to be identical to chrysobactin. Boronate affinity chromatography enabled separation of catechol from its rust-colored decomposition products, and simultaneous isolation of catechol and hydroxamate siderophores. Boronate affinity chromatography is a rapid and efficient method for purifying catechol siderophores from bacterial culture supernatants     

Discovery of potent BACE-1 inhibitors containing a new hydroxyethylene (HE) Scaffold: Exploration of P1′ alkoxy residues and an aminoethylene (AE) central core

In a preceding study we have described the development of a new hydroxyethylene (HE) core motif displaying P1 aryloxymethyl and P1′ methoxy substituents delivering potent BACE-1 inhibitors. In a continuation of this work we have now explored the SAR of the S1′ pocket by introducing a set of P1′ alkoxy groups and evaluated them as BACE-1 inhibitors. Previously the P1 and P1′ positions of the classical HE template have been relatively little explored due to the complexity of the chemical routes involved in modifications at these positions. However, the chemistries developed for the current HE template renders substituents in both the P1 and P1′ positions readily available for SAR exploration. The BACE-1 inhibitors prepared displayed K_i values in the range of 1–20 nM, where the most potent compounds featured small P1′ groups. The cathepsin D selectivity which was high for the smallest P1′ substituents (P1′ = ethoxy, fold selectively >1500) dropped for larger groups (P1′ = benzyloxy, fold selectivity of 3). We have also confirmed the importance of both the hydroxyl group and its stereochemistry preference for this HE transition state isostere by preparing both the deoxygenated analogue and by inverting the configuration of the hydroxyl group to the R-configuration, which as expected resulted in large activity drops. Finally substituting the hydroxyl group by an amino group having the same configuration (S), which previously have been described to deliver potent BACE-1 inhibitors with advantageous properties, surprisingly resulted in a large drop in the inhibitory activity.     

Supermacroporous hydrophobic affinity cryogels for protein chromatography

N-Methacryloyl-l-tryptophan (MATrp) containing poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) based supermacroporous cryogel [PHEMATrp] was prepared for lysozyme purification form chicken egg white. MATrp was synthesized by reacting methacryloyl chloride with l-tryptophan methyl ester and provided hydrophobic functionality to the cryogel. PHEMATrp cryogel with 60–100 μm pore size was obtained by free radical polymerization of HEMA and MATrp having a specific surface area of 50 m²/g. PHEMATrp cryogel was characterized by swelling studies, FTIR and SEM. The equilibrium swelling ratios of the cryogels were 7.18 g H₂O/g for PHEMA and 6.99 g H₂O/g for PHEMATrp. Lysozyme adsorption experiments were investigated under different conditions in continuous system (i.e., medium pH, flow-rate, protein concentration, temperature, salt type). Lysozyme adsorption capacity of PHEMA and PHEMATrp cryogels from aqueous solutions was estimated as 2.9 and 46.8 mg/g (0.49 and 7.85 mg/mL), respectively. Lysozyme molecules were desorbed with 0.5 M ethylene glycol solution with 91% recovery. It was observed that PHEMATrp cryogel can be used without significant decrease in lysozyme adsorption capacity after five adsorption–desorption cycles. PHEMATrp cryogel was used for the purification of lysozyme from chicken egg white. Purity of lysozyme was estimated by SDS-PAGE. Possible denaturation of purified lysozyme was checked with fluorimetric measurements. Specific activity of the purified lysozyme was found as 43,140 U/mg using Micrococcus lysodeikticus as substrate.     

Structure-activity relationships and molecular docking of thirteen synthesized flavonoids as horseradish peroxidase inhibitors

For the first time, the structure–activity relationships of thirteen synthesized flavonoids have been investigated by evaluating their ability to modulate horseradish peroxidase (HRP) catalytic activity. Indeed, a modified spectrophotometrically method was carried out and optimized using 4-methylcatechol (4-MC) as peroxidase co-substrate.The results show that these flavonoids exhibit a great capacity to inhibit peroxidase with Ki values ranged from 0.14 ± 0.01 to 65 ± 0.04 mM. Molecular docking has been achieved using Auto Dock Vina program to discuss the nature of interactions and the mechanism of inhibition. According to the docking results, all the flavonoids have shown great binding affinity to peroxidase. These molecular modeling studies suggested that pyran-4-one cycle acts as an inhibition key for peroxidase. Therefore, potent peroxidase inhibitors are flavonoids with these structural requirements: the presence of the hydroxyl (OH) group in 7, 5 and 4′ positions and the absence of the methoxy (O–CH₃) group. Apigenin contributed better in HRP inhibitory activity.The present study has shown that the studied flavonoids could be promising HRP inhibitors, which can help in developing new molecules to control thyroid diseases.     

Synthesis and cytotoxic potential of heterocyclic cyclohexanone analogues of curcumin

A series of 18 heterocyclic cyclohexanone analogues of curcumin have been synthesised and screened for their activity in both adherent and non-adherent cancer cell models. Cytotoxicity towards MBA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, as well as ability to inhibit NF-κB transactivation in non-adherent K562 leukemia cells were investigated. Three of these analogues 3,5-bis(pyridine-4-yl)-1-methylpiperidin-4-one B1, 3,5-bis(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzylidene)-1-methylpiperidin-4-one B10, and 8-methyl-2,4-bis((pyridine-4-yl)methylene)-8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one C1 showed potent cytotoxicity towards MBA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and SkBr3 cell lines with EC₅₀ values below 1 μM and inhibition of NF-κB activation below 7.5 μM. The lead drug candidate, B10, was also able to cause 43% of MDA-MB-231 cells to undergo apoptosis after 18 h. This level of activity warrants further investigation for the treatment of ER-negative breast cancer and/or chronic myelogenous leukemia as prototypical cellular models for solid and liquid tumors.     

Purification of histidine-tagged nucleocapsid protein of Nipah virus using immobilized metal affinity chromatography

Nucleocapsid (N) protein of Nipah virus (NiV) is a potential serological marker used in the diagnosis of NiV infections. In this study, a rapid and efficient purification system, HisTrap? 6 Fast Flow packed bed column was applied to purify recombinant histidine-tagged N protein of NiV from clarified feedstock. The optimizations of binding and elution conditions of N protein of NiV onto and from Nickel Sepharose? 6 Fast Flow were investigated. The optimal binding was achieved at pH 7.5, superficial velocity of 1.25 cm/min. The bound N protein was successfully recovered by a stepwise elution with different concentration of imidazole (50, 150, 300 and 500 mM). The N protein of NiV was captured and eluted from an inlet N protein concentration of 0.4 mg/ml in a scale-up immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) packed bed column of Nickel Sepharose? 6 Fast Flow with the optimized condition obtained from the method scouting. The purification of histidine-tagged N protein using IMAC packed bed column has resulted a 68.3% yield and a purification factor of 7.94.     

Cell separation using cryogel-based affinity chromatography

In cell affinity chromatography, type-specific cell separation is based on the interaction between cell-surface receptors and an immobilized ligand on a stationary matrix. This protocol describes the preparation of monolithic polyacrylamide and polydimethylacrylamide cryogel affinity matrices that can be used as a generic type-specific cell separation approach. The supermacroporous monolithic cryogel has highly interconnected large pores (up to 100 μm) for convective migration of large particles such as mammalian cells. In this protocol, they are functionalized to immobilize a protein A ligand by a two-step derivatization of epoxy-containing cryogel monolith (reaction with ethylenediamine and glutaraldehyde). Target cells were labeled with specific antibodies and then they were captured in the cryogel through affinity with protein A. These specifically captured cells were recovered in high yields while retaining their viability by mechanical squeezing of the spongy and elastic cryogel matrices. The suggested cell separation protocol takes < 30 min for complete separation on a preprepared protein A-immobilized cryogel column.     

Development of robust in vitro RNA-dependent RNA polymerase assay as a possible platform for antiviral drug testing against dengue

NS5 is the largest and most conserved protein among the four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes. It has been the target of interest for antiviral drug development due to its major role in replication. NS5 consists of two domains, the N-terminal methyltransferase domain and C-terminal catalytic RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain. It is an unstable protein and is prone to inactivation upon prolonged incubation at room temperature, thus affecting the inhibitor screening assays. In the current study, we expressed and purified DENV RdRp alone in Esherichia coli (E. coli) cells. The N-terminally His-tagged construct of DENV RdRp was transformed into E. coli expression strain BL-21 (DE3) pLysS cells. Protein expression was induced with isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) at a final concentration of 0.4 mM. The induced cultures were then grown for 20 h at 18 °C and cells were harvested by centrifugation at 6000 x g for 15 min at 4 °C. The recombinant protein was purified using HisTrap affinity column (Ni-NTA) and then the sample was subjected to size exclusion chromatography, which successfully removed the degradation product obtained during the previous purification step. The in vitro polymerase activity of RdRp was successfully demonstrated using homopolymeric polycytidylic acid (poly(rC)) RNA template. This study describes the high level production of enzymatically active DENV RdRp protein which can be used to develop assays for testing large number of compounds in a high-throughput manner. RdRp has the de novo initiation activity and the in vitro polymerase assays for the protein provide a platform for highly robust and efficient antiviral compound screening systems.     

Mogoltacin enhances vincristine cytotoxicity in human transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) cell line

Bladder cancer is the second common cancer of the genitourinary system throughout the world and intravesical chemotherapy is usually used to reduce tumour recurrence and progression. Human transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is an epithelial-like adherent cell line originally established from primary bladder carcinoma.Here we report the effect of mogoltacin, a sesquiterpene coumarin from Ferula badrakema on TCC cells. Mogoltacin was isolated from the fruits of F. badrakema, using silica gel column chromatography and preparative thin layer chromatography. Mogoltacin did not have any significant cytotoxicity effect on neoplastic TCC cells at 16, 32, 64, 128, 200 and 600 μg ml^?1 concentrations. In order to analyse its combination effect, TCC cells were cultured in the presence of various combining concentrations of mogoltacin and vincristine. Cells were then observed for morphological changes (by light microscopy) and cytotoxicity using MTT assay. The effect of mogoltacin on vincristine toxicity was studied after 24, 48 and 72 h of drug administration. The results of MTT assay showed that mogoltacin can significantly enhance the cytotoxicity of vincristine and confirmed the morphological observations. Results revealed that combination of 40 μg ml^?1 vincristine with 16 μg ml^?1 mogoltacin increased the cytotoxicity of vincristine after 48 h by 32.8%.     

Isolation,chemical characterization and antioxidant activities of two polysaccharides from the gel and the skin of Aloe barbadensis Miller irrigated with sea water

Two polysaccharides, GAPS-1 and SAPS-1, were isolated from the gel and the skin of Aloe barbadensis Miller irrigated with sea water for 3.5 years through a combination of anion-exchange column chromatography and repeated gel chromatography and their chemical characterization and antioxidant activities in vitro were investigated. GAPS-1 and SAPS-1 were composed of Man:Glc:Gal in a ratio of 120:2:3 and 296:36:1 with their molecular weight 1.74 × 10⁵ and 3.97 × 10⁴ Da, respectively. IR and ¹³C NMR study of GAPS-1 and SAPS-1 demonstrated that the main skeletons of GAPS-1 was β-(1 → 4)-D linkaged mannose with acetylation at C-6 and C-3 of manopyranosyl and SAPS-1 was β-(1 → 4)-D linkaged galactoglucomannan with acetylation at C-6 of pyranosyl. In a concentration-dependent manner, GAPS-1 and SAPS-1 were demonstrated to have strong scavenging activities against superoxide radical, moderate ferrous chelating effect, moderate scavenging activities of hydroxyl radical, moderate reductive power and moderate inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, GAPS-1 exhibited moderate scavenging activity of hydrogen peroxide, while SAPS-1 exhibited weak scavenging activity of hydrogen peroxide. GAPS-1 demonstrated more effective antioxidant activities than SAPS-1. The more acetyl group in GAPS-1 molecules probably contributes to the activities.     

Structure–activity relationships of truncated adenosine derivatives as highly potent and selective human A3 adenosine receptor antagonists

On the basis of potent and selective binding affinity of truncated 4′-thioadenosine derivatives at the human A₃ adenosine receptor (AR), their bioisosteric 4′-oxo derivatives were designed and synthesized from commercially available 2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-erythrono lactone. The derivatives tested in AR binding assays were substituted at the C2 and N⁶ positions. All synthesized nucleosides exhibited potent and selective binding affinity at the human A₃ AR. They were less potent than the corresponding 4′-thio analogues, but showed still selective to other subtypes. The 2-Cl series generally were better than the 2-H series in view of binding affinity and selectivity. Among compounds tested, compound 5d (X = Cl, R = 3-bromobenzyl) showed the highest binding affinity (K_i = 13.0 ± 6.9 nM) at the hA₃ AR with high selectivity (at least 88-fold) in comparison to other AR subtypes. Like the corresponding truncated 4′-thio series, compound 5d antagonized the action of an agonist to inhibit forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase in hA₃ AR-expressing CHO cells. Although the 4′-oxo series were less potent than the 4′-thio series, this class of human A₃ AR antagonists is also regarded as another good template for the design of A₃ AR antagonists and for further drug development.     

The chromatography of RNA and oligoribonucleotides on boronate-substituted agarose and polyacrylamide

Several boronate-containing supports for the separation of oligo- or polyribonucleotides, on the basis of their content vs lack of cis-diol groups, have been described in the literature; boronate cellulose (DBAE-cellulose) and boronate polyacrylamide are available commercially. Boronate cellulose binds macromolecular RNA, but often is not useful for trace amounts of material because of nonspecific adsorption. We have found that boronate polyacrylamide and boronate agarose (not yet commercially available) both display very low levels of nonspecific adsorption. Boronate polyacrylamide specifically binds cis-diol-containing mononucleotides or short oligonucleotides, but does not retain polyribonucleotides sufficiently tenaciously for preparative use. In contrast, boronate agarose proved suitable for the fractionation of trace amounts of macromolecular RNA, but not for mononucleotides.     

Exploration of a potential difluoromethyl-nucleoside substrate with the fluorinase enzyme

The investigation of a difluoromethyl-bearing nucleoside with the fluorinase enzyme is described. 5′,5′-Difluoro-5′-deoxyadenosine 7 (F₂DA) was synthesised from adenosine, and found to bind to the fluorinase enzyme by isothermal titration calorimetry with similar affinity compared to 5′-fluoro-5′-deoxyadenosine 2 (FDA), the natural product of the enzymatic reaction. F₂DA 7 was found, however, not to undergo the enzyme catalysed reaction with l-selenomethionine, unlike FDA 2, which undergoes reaction with l-selenomethionine to generate Se-adenosylselenomethionine. A co-crystal structure of the fluorinase and F₂DA 7 and tartrate was solved to 1.8 Å, and revealed that the difluoromethyl group bridges interactions known to be essential for activation of the single fluorine in FDA 2. An unusual hydrogen bonding interaction between the hydrogen of the difluoromethyl group and one of the hydroxyl oxygens of the tartrate ligand was also observed. The bridging interactions, coupled with the inherently stronger C–F bond in the difluoromethyl group, offers an explanation for why no reaction is observed.     

Affinity chromatography of neoglycoproteins

Glycoproteins, as a class of biomolecules, exhibit much more heterogeneous structures than non-glycosylated proteins. They present a challenging area of research. Model glycoproteins with well-defined protein and carbohydrate structures are helpful in the search for high-resolution methods for the separation of glycoproteins. Neoglycoproteins, maltose-modified chymotrypsin and lactose-modified chymotrypsin, were synthesised by modifying chymotrypsin with maltose and lactose, respectively, using the reductive amination method. Boronate chromatography was applied to isolate the neoglycoproteins from non-glycosylated substances. The use of Tris–HCl as a shielding reagent during the boronate chromatography proved to be efficient in eliminating unwanted interactions between the boronate ligand and the peptide backbone of chymotrypsin. The retention time of neoglycoproteins on the boronate column was increased with increasing the degree of modification.     

Antioxidant activity and protection of human umbilical vein endothelial cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced injury by DMC,a chalcone from buds of Cleistocalyx operculatus

The aim of this work was to study the antioxidant activity and the protective effect of 2′,4′-dihydroxy-6′-methoxy-3′,5′-dimethylchalcone (DMC), the main compound from the buds of Cleistocalyx operculatus, on human umbilical vein endothelial cells against cytotoxicity induced by H₂O₂. The antioxidant activities of DMC were measured by ABTS assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and protective effects of DMC on human umbilical vein endothelial cells against cytotoxicity induced by H₂O₂ were tested. DMC was found to have high ABTS radical scavenging activity (176.5 ± 5.2 μmol trolox equivalents/500 μmol DMC) and strong ferric reducing antioxidant power (213.3 ± 5.8 μmol trolox equivalents/500 μmol DMC). In addition, DMC scavenged the hydroxyl radicals, with IC₅₀ values of 243.7 ± 6.3 μM, slightly lower than the reference antioxidant ascorbic acid (ASC). Moreover, DMC could protect the human umbilical vein endothelial cells against H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity by decrease intracellular and extracellular ROS levels, reduction in catalase (CAT) activity and increment in malondialdehyde (MDA) level. These results suggested that DMC has the potential to be used in the therapy of oxidative damage.     

Two polymethoxylated flavonoids with antioxidant activities and a rearranged clerodane diterpenoid from the leaf exudates of Microglossa pyrifolia

Three novel compounds; two polymethoxylated flavonoids, 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3,8,3′,5′-tetramethoxyflavone (1), 5,7,3′-trihydroxy-3,8,4′,5′-trimethoxyflavone (2), and a clerodane diterpenoid; 8-acetoxyisochiliolide lactone (3) were characterized from the leaf exudates of Microglossa pyrifolia. In addition, three known polymethoxylated flavonoids including; 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3,8,3′-trimethoxyflavone (4), 5,3′4′-trihydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxyflavone (5), 5,3′4′-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (6) and a clerodane diterpenoid; 7,8-epoxyisocholiolide lactone (7) were identified. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. All the compounds did not exhibit antiplasmodial and antimicrobial activities at 47.6 μg/mL and were not cytotoxic at 5 μg/mL. Compound 6 exhibited modest antileishmanial activity with IC₅₀ value of 13.13 μg/mL with 5 and 7 showing activities with IC₅₀ values of 31.13 and 38.00 μg/mL, respectively, therefore inactive. The flavonoids (quercetin derivatives, 4 and 5) showed similar antioxidant activities, using 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, with IC₅₀ values of 6.2 ± 0.3 μg/mL for 4 (17.3 μM) and 5 (17.8 μM) respectively. These activities were comparable to that of the standard quercetin (IC₅₀ value of 6.0 ± 0.2 μg/mL (19.9 μM)), irrespective of methylation of the characteristic hydroxyl groups expected to be responsible for activity and additional substitution at C-8 in ring A of the flavonoid ring. These studies revealed that the presence of an hydroxyl group at C-4′ positions and oxygenation at C-3 in flavone skeleton, appears to be necessary for good antioxidant activities as encountered in compounds 1, 4 and 5. Substantial reduction in antioxidant activity was shown by methoxylation of the 4′-OH as observed in compound 2 with an IC₅₀ value of 8.79 ± 0.3 μg/mL (24.4 μM).     

Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of fluorinated diphenyloxide derivatives and sulfur analogs as serotonin transporter ligands

As the serotonin transporter (SERT) is involved in several neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders; radiopharmaceuticals to image the SERT by PET would be valuable in studying these diseases. To this end we synthesized diphenyloxide derivatives and sulfide analogs, as new tracers, incorporating a fluorine or oxyalkyl fluorinated group on 4′ or 5′-position on phenyl ring B. Three of these exhibited good to high in vitro affinity (7 < K_i < 8 nM) and selectivity for the SERT over the other monoamine transporters.