Characterization of Human Recombinant Transglutaminase 1 Purified from Baculovirus-infected Insect Cells

Transglutaminase 1 (TGase 1) is required for the formation of a cornified envelope in stratified squamous epithelia. Recombinant human TGase 1 expressed in baculovirus-infected cells was purified in a soluble form at the molecular mass of 92 kDa. Recombinant TGase 1 was susceptible to limited proteolysis by both μ- and m-calpains, the calcium-dependent intracellular cysteine proteases. Although the proteolysis did not induce the elevation of the specific enzyme activity of TGase 1, the requirement of calcium ion in the enzymatic reaction was reduced. Furthermore, the effects of GTP, nitric oxide, and sphingosylphosphocholine, known as regulatory factors for tissue-type isozyme (TGase 2), on the enzymatic activity of TGase 1 were investigated.     

Immunological detection of proteolytically activated epidermal-type transglutaminase (TGase 3) using cleavage-site-specific antibody

Transglutaminase 3 (TGase 3), involved in the cross-linking of structural proteins in the epidermis, is activated by limited proteolysis of zymogen into two fragments during keratinocyte differentiation. Using recombinant TGase 3, the N-terminus sequence of the proteolyzed fragment was analyzed. Antibody against the synthetic peptide corresponding to the cleavage site specifically detected the fragment in the mouse forestomach extract.     

Influence of Transglutaminase (TGase) Enzyme on Mechanical and Bioactive Properties of Crayfish Protein Gels

Functional and bioactive properties of crayfish meat convert their surpluses in an excellent alternative for the development of food products. Thus, protein dispersions were subjected to a thermal treatment, obtaining a protein-based gel. Rheological and antioxidant properties were studied at three different pH values (2.0, 6.5 and 8.0) when the TGase enzyme was used. The pH value exerted a strong influence on the gelation behaviour, as well as on the functional properties and the antioxidant activity of the final gels. The activity of the TGase enzyme is highly influenced by the pH of the protein dispersions. The highest antioxidant activity was obtained against ABTS and the lowest when FC reagent was used, whereas the activity against DPPH was also remarkable. TGase enzyme can be used during the thermal treatment to increase the mechanical properties, which were lost when hydrolysate systems were used.     

Increased Susceptibility to Transglutaminase of Eye Lens Proteins Exposed to Activated Oxygen Species Produced in the Glucose-Glucose Oxidase Reaction

In order to test whether a mild oxidative stress could promote the transglutaminase damaging effect on eye lens proteins, total lens soluble proteins and purified β_L-crystallin have been exposed to H₂O₂: slowly produced by the glucose-glucose oxidase reaction. Soon after the pretreatment, the substrate capacity of the lens proteins for an exogenous transglutaminase has been evaluated. Exposure to the oxidative stress increased the susceptibility of the lens proteins to transglutaminase. When ferrous ions were added to the preincubation medium, in order to convert the H₂O₂ into the hydroxyl radical, the increase was more evident.     

Identification of New Amine Acceptor Protein Substrate Candidates of Transglutaminase in Rat Liver Extract: Use of 5-(Biotinamido) Pentylamine as a Probe

Transglutaminases (TGs) are a family of enzymes that catalyze Ca²⁺-dependent post-translational modification of proteins by introducing protein-protein crosslinks (between specific glutamine and lysine residues), amine incorporation, and site-specific deamidation. In this study, new amine acceptor protein substrates of TG were isolated from rat liver extract and identified using 5-(biotinamido) pentylamine, a biotinylated primary amine substrate, as a probe. TG protein substrate candidates labeled with biotin by endogenous TG activity were isolated and recovered by avidin column chromatography. Proteins with molecular masses of 40, 42, and 45 kDa were the main components of the labeled proteins. Determination of their partial amino acid sequences and immunoblotting analyses were done to identify them. The 45-kDa protein was identical with betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (EC 2.2.2.5), which was identified in our previous study. The 40- and 42-kDa proteins were identified as arginase-I (EC 3.5.3.1) and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (EC 3.1.3.11) respectively. TG catalyzed incorporation of 5-(biotinamido) pentylamine into both arginase-I and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase purified from rat liver was confirmed in vitro. These results suggest that these two enzymes are the new protein substrate candidates of TG and that they can be modified post-translationally by cellular TG.     

Distinct Developmental Functions of Prostasin (CAP1/PRSS8) Zymogen and Activated Prostasin

The membrane-anchored serine prostasin (CAP1/PRSS8) is essential for barrier acquisition of the interfollicular epidermis and for normal hair follicle development. Consequently, prostasin null mice die shortly after birth. Prostasin is found in two forms in the epidermis: a one-chain zymogen and a two-chain proteolytically active form, generated by matriptase-dependent activation site cleavage. Here we used gene editing to generate mice expressing only activation site cleavage-resistant (zymogen-locked) endogenous prostasin. Interestingly, these mutant mice displayed normal interfollicular epidermal development and postnatal survival, but had defects in whisker and pelage hair formation. These findings identify two distinct in vivo functions of epidermal prostasin: a function in the interfollicular epidermis, not requiring activation site cleavage, that can be mediated by the zymogen-locked version of prostasin and a proteolysis-dependent function of activated prostasin in hair follicles, dependent on zymogen conversion by matriptase.     

GTP, an inhibitor of transglutaminases, is hydrolyzed by tissue-type transglutaminase (TGase 2) but not by epidermal-type transglutaminase (TGase 3)

Epidermal-type transglutaminase (TGase 3) is devoid of GTPase activity, but its TGase activity is inhibited by GTP as in the case of tissue-type TGase (TGase 2). In addition, the inhibition was not affected by the presence of higher concentrations of Ca ion. These results indicate that GTP interacts with TGase 3 in a manner different from its action on TGase 2.     

Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) Detection of Diphtheria Toxoid Using Gold Nanoparticle-Monoclonal Antibody Conjugates

Plasmonics - Detection of diphtheria toxin (DT) which is produced by Corynebacterium diphtheria, a zoonotic pathogen and a leading cause of diphtheria, is the critical step in the clinical...     

Characterization of Anopheles gambiae Transglutaminase 3 (AgTG3) and Its Native Substrate Plugin

Male Anopheles mosquitoes coagulate their seminal fluids via cross-linking of a substrate, called Plugin, by the seminal transglutaminase AgTG3. Formation of the “mating plug” by cross-linking Plugin is necessary for efficient sperm storage by females. AgTG3 has a similar degree of sequence identity (∼30%) to both human Factor XIII (FXIII) and tissue transglutaminase 2 (hTG2). Here we report the solution structure and in vitro activity for the cross-linking reaction of AgTG3 and Plugin. AgTG3 is a dimer in solution and exhibits Ca²⁺-dependent nonproteolytic activation analogous to cytoplasmic FXIII. The C-terminal domain of Plugin is predominantly α-helical with extended tertiary structure and oligomerizes in solution. The specific activity of AgTG3 was measured as 4.25 × 10⁻² units mg⁻¹. AgTG3 is less active than hTG2 assayed using the general substrate TVQQEL but has 8–10× higher relative activity when Plugin is the substrate. Mass spectrometric analysis of cross-linked Plugin detects specific peptides including a predicted consensus motif for cross-linking by AgTG3. These results support the development of AgTG3 inhibitors as specific and effective chemosterilants for A. gambiae.     

Epitope Analysis Using Anti-Oligosaccharide (G4) Monoclonal Antibody

A murine monoclonal antibody recognizing (1→6)-β-d -glucopyranosyl laminaritriose (G4) was prepared by immunizing BALB/c mice with G4-bovine serum albumin conjugate and fusing the splenocytes with mouse myeloma cells. The monoclonal antibody (IgM) provoked by the cloned cells showed low reactivity with schizophyllan, an antitumor polysaccharide, but notable reactivity with some low-molecular-weight schizophyllans. This antibody was useful for determination of the epitope of several polysaccharides. The extent of reactivity of this monoclonal antibody was related only to the molecular weight of schizophyllan.     

抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附法测定重组溶葡萄球菌酶研究

用重组溶葡萄球菌酶免疫家兔获得抗血清,经亲和层析纯化后用HRP标记,以双向免疫扩散法确定抗血清效价,以Westernblot鉴定抗体的特异性,建立双抗夹心法标准曲线,鉴定其最小检出限、精确度、回收率。实验显示多克隆抗体能与溶葡萄球菌酶特异性结合,双抗夹心ELISA法检测抗原的最小检出限为0·98ng/mL,标准曲线在0·98~500ng/mL范围内线性良好。3份同批样本分别重复6次测定,平均批内变异系数为6·4%;3份不同批样本分别重复6次测定,平均批间变异系数为6·5%。血清中加入已知量的标准抗原,测得平均回收率为98·6%。此法检测重组溶葡萄球菌酶的可测范围广,灵敏度和精密度高,变异系数较小。结果证实建立的检测血清中重组溶葡萄球菌酶含量的双抗夹心酶联免疫吸附测定法(Enzyme-linkedimmunosorbentassay,ELISA)灵敏、准确、可靠。     

Biochemical characterization of the medaka (Oryzias latipes) orthologue for mammalian tissue-type transglutaminase (TG2)

Transglutaminase is an enzyme family responsible for post-translational modification such as protein cross-linking and the attachment of primary amine and/or deamidation of glutamine-residue in proteins. Medaka (Oryzias latipes), a recently established model fish, has similar functional proteins to those characterized in mammals. Previously, we found the apparent orthologues that correspond to human transglutaminases in medaka. In this study, regarding the medaka orthologue of human tissue-type transglutaminase (OlTGT), recombinant protein was expressed in an active form in bacteria cultured at low temperature. Using the recombinant protein, we biochemically characterized the enzymatic activity and also obtained a monoclonal antibody that specifically recognized OlTGT. Immunochemical analysis revealed that OlTGT was not expressed ubiquitously, unlike its mammalian orthologue, but in primarily limited tissues such as the eye, brain, spinal cord, and gas gland.     

Synthesis and Antibody Mediated Detection of 2,4-Dinitrophenyl (DNP) Labelled Oligonucleotides

Abstract

Different DNP phosphoramidites based on non-nucleoside and nucleoside backbone molecules are developed and used in the multiple labelling of oligonucleotides during the solid phase synthesis. It is demonstrated that the antibody mediated detection of DNP labelled oligonucleotides is comparable to that of digoxigenin, biotin and fluorescein.     

Determining Membrane Protein Topology Using Fluorescence Protease Protection (FPP)

The correct topology and orientation of integral membrane proteins are essential for their proper function, yet such information has not been established for many membrane proteins. A simple technique called fluorescence protease protection (FPP) is presented, which permits the determination of membrane protein topology in living cells. This technique has numerous advantages over other methods for determining protein topology, in that it does not require the availability of multiple antibodies against various domains of the membrane protein, does not require large amounts of protein, and can be performed on living cells. The FPP method employs the spatially confined actions of proteases on the degradation of green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagged membrane proteins to determine their membrane topology and orientation. This simple approach is applicable to a wide variety of cell types, and can be used to determine membrane protein orientation in various subcellular organelles such as the mitochondria, Golgi, endoplasmic reticulum and components of the endosomal/recycling system. Membrane proteins, tagged on either the N-termini or C-termini with a GFP fusion, are expressed in a cell of interest, which is subject to selective permeabilization using the detergent digitonin. Digitonin has the ability to permeabilize the plasma membrane, while leaving intracellular organelles intact. GFP moieties exposed to the cytosol can be selectively degraded through the application of protease, whereas GFP moieties present in the lumen of organelles are protected from the protease and remain intact. The FPP assay is straightforward, and results can be obtained rapidly.     

Synthesis of 1-O-(2′,4′-Dichlorophenoxyacetyl)-d-glucopyranose

1-O-Glucosyl esters of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) were easily prepared from 4,6-O-benzylideneglucose. The configuration of 1-O-ester linkage was affected by pH at the end of the reaction, that is, β-type was a major product at a neutral or acidic condition and α-type at an alkaline condition. Both of the anomers showed the same biological activities as sodium salt of 2,4-D.     

Detection of Bluetongue Virus Group-specific Antigen Using Monoclonal Antibody Based Sandwich ELISA

A monoclonal antibody (MAb) specific for the bluetongue virus (BTV) group specific antigen (VP7) was characterized for its reactivity with purified virus and recombinant BTV VP7 (rVP7) protein and its suitability for use in the sandwich ELISA.The MAb,designated as 5B5 was specific to VP7 and belongs to IgG2a subclass and was selected for the development of the sELISA in this study.The MAb had a titer of 1:25 with BTV and 1:2 with the rVP7 protein.The sELISA is based on capturing of BTV antigen with VP7 spec...     

卵巢癌抗独特型单链抗体的人源化——抗独特型微抗体的构建与表达

为了降低人抗鼠抗体反应 ,获得满意的免疫原性 ,将模拟人卵巢癌抗原的抗独特型单链抗体人源化 .采用重叠PCR和基因工程的技术 ,将 6B11ScFv基因的轻链和重链颠倒 ,成为 6B11VL VH.再与人IgG1铰链区和CH3区的基因进行融合 (VL VH CH3) ,构建抗独特型微抗体的原核表达载体 .转化E .coliBL2 1(DE3)后用IPTG诱导表达 .经SDS PAGE分离显示 ,在 5 0kD左右处有一诱导蛋白带 .不连续非变性凝胶电泳显示 ,表达产物分子量为 10 0kD左右 .采用ELISA、竞争抑制实验、West ern印迹对其进行活性测定 .结果表明 ,人源化的抗独特型微抗体具有特异性双价结合卵巢癌单克隆抗体COC16 6 9和识别人免疫球蛋白IgG1的活性 ,成功地将鼠源的scFv的人源化