Evaluation of a competitive binding assay for cortisol using horse transcortin

A non-chromatographic competitive binding assay (CBA) using horse transcortin has been employed in the routine measurement of cortisol in plasma, urine and amniotic fluids. Comparing the values with those of a radioimmunoassay (RIA) or a fluorimetric method (FM) an excellent correlation between the three methods both in plasma and urine has been calculated in normal subjects and in patients with various endocrine disorders. In amniotic fluids, however, there were discrepancies between CBA and RIA. Whereas CBA showed no differences, RIA gave significantly higher values in amniotic fluids of female than of male fetuses. Elevated free plasma cortisol levels observed in patients with prostatic cancer after diethyl stilboestrol diphosphate therapy did not correlate with unconjugated urinary cortisol concentration as measured with CBA and FM. In newborns, a relatively high plasma level found 12 hours after birth was followed by a nadir on the 2nd and 3rd day of life and by an increase until levels of adults on the 5th day of life were reached.     

1H NMR determination of base-pair lifetimes in oligonucleotides containing single base mismatches

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is employed to characterize the kinetics of base-pair opening in a series of 9mer duplexes containing different single base mismatches. The imino protons from the different mismatched, as well as fully matched, duplexes are assigned from the imino-imino region in the WATERGATE NOESY spectra. The exchange kinetics of the imino protons are measured from selective longitudinal relaxation times. In the limit of infinite exchange catalyst concentration, the exchange times of the mismatch imino protons extrapolate to much shorter lifetimes than are commonly observed for an isolated GC base pair. Different mismatches exhibit different orders of base-pair lifetimes, e.g. a TT mismatch has a shorter base-pair lifetime than a GG mismatch. The effect of the mismatch was observed up to a distance of two neighboring base pairs. This indicates that disruption in the duplex caused by the mismatch is quite localized. The overall order of base-pair lifetimes in the selected sequence context of the base pair is GC > GG > AA > CC > AT > TT. Interestingly, the fully matched AT base pair has a shorter base-pair lifetime relative to many of the mismatches. Thus, in any given base pair, the exchange lifetime can exhibit a strong dependence on sequence context. These findings may be relevant to the way mismatch recognition is accomplished by proteins and small molecules.     

A single-step competitive binding assay for mapping of single DNA molecules

Optical mapping of genomic DNA is of relevance for a plethora of applications such as scaffolding for sequencing and detection of structural variations as well as identification of pathogens like bacteria and viruses. For future clinical applications it is desirable to have a fast and robust mapping method based on as few steps as possible. We here demonstrate a single-step method to obtain a DNA barcode that is directly visualized using nanofluidic devices and fluorescence microscopy. Using a mixture of YOYO-1, a bright DNA dye, and netropsin, a natural antibiotic with very high AT specificity, we obtain a DNA map with a fluorescence intensity profile along the DNA that reflects the underlying sequence. The netropsin binds to AT-tetrads and blocks these binding sites from YOYO-1 binding which results in lower fluorescence intensity from AT-rich regions of the DNA. We thus obtain a DNA barcode that is dark in AT-rich regions and bright in GC-rich regions with kilobasepair resolution. We demonstrate the versatility of the method by obtaining a barcode on DNA from the phage T4 that captures its circular permutation and agrees well with its known sequence.     

Generating thermostabilized agonist-bound GPR40/FFAR1 using virus-like particles and a label-free binding assay

Elucidating the detailed mechanism of activation of membrane protein receptors and their ligand binding is essential for structure-based drug design. Membrane protein crystal structure analysis successfully aids in understanding these fundamental molecular interactions. However, protein crystal structure analysis of the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) remains challenging, even for the class of GPCRs which have been included in the majority of structure analysis reports among membrane proteins, due to the substantial instability of these receptors when extracted from lipid bilayer membranes. It is known that increased thermostability tends to decrease conformational flexibility, which contributes to the generation of diffraction quality crystals. However, this is still not straightforward, and significant effort is required to identify thermostabilized mutants that are optimal for crystallography. To address this issue, a versatile screening platform based on a label-free ligand binding assay combined with transient overexpression in virus-like particles was developed. This platform was used to generate thermostabilized GPR40 [also known as free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1)] for fasiglifam (TAK-875). This demonstrated that the thermostabilized mutant GPR40 (L42A/F88A/G103A/Y202F) was successfully used for crystal structure analysis.     

A label-free assay of exonuclease activity using a pyrosequencing technique

Enzymes with 3′-5′ exonuclease activities are important in promoting the accuracy of DNA replication and DNA repair by proofreading. The alteration of the function of these enzymes by endogenous or exogenous effectors could, therefore, have a considerable impact on DNA replication and ultimately on genome integrity. We have developed a label-free high-throughput screening method for quantifying the effects of different reagents on exonuclease activity. The assay is based on a hairpin-forming biotinylated oligonucleotide substrate that contains one or more exonuclease-resistant phosphorothioate nucleotides. The activity and specificity of the selected 3′-5′ exonuclease is determined indirectly using a sensitive pyrosequencing reaction after cleanup of the samples. In this pyrosequencing step, the amount of nucleotides filled into each position of the exonucleolytically degraded 3′ end of the substrate can be recorded quantitatively and equals the amount of the nucleotides removed by the exonuclease. This system allows the estimation of both processivity and efficiency of the exonuclease activity. We have employed compounds reported in the literature to inhibit the exonuclease activities of either exonuclease III or the large fragment of polymerase I (Klenow fragment) to evaluate the assay.     

Determination of calmodulin by competitive binding assay

Calmodulin levels in tissue or cellular extracts can be determined by competition with 125I-calmodulin in a filtration-based direct binding assay. The method is rapid, uses readily available stable components, and possesses a selectivity and sensitivity comparable to that observed with immunoassay and phosphodiesterase activation. This assay provides a tool to readily probe changes in calmodulin levels in cells and tissues as a function of pathophysiologic state.     

Measurement of a progestational and antiandrogenic compound by a competitive protein binding assay

Medrogestone (MDG), viz. 6,17-dimethy1-4,6-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (Colprone®) is a compound with progestational and antiandrogenic properties. A simple method based on competitive protein binding is described for the determination of piasma MDG concentration. The method involves extraction with petroleum ether of a small volume of human plasma (50–200 μ1) containing an internal standard of 3_H-progesterone for the correction of procedural losses. Sample MDG is used to displace ³H-progesterone bound to pregnant quinea pig serum. Free and bound ³H-progesterone are separated by the use of Florisil. The precision, accuracy, reproducibility and specificity of the assay were evaluated and shown to be satisfactory for the measurement of MDG in human male plasma. The concentration of MDG in blood after oral administration was determined in male dogs and humans. The compound was rapidly absorbed; partially micronized MDG produced higher blood levels than the non-micronized compound.     

Development of a quantitative competitive PCR assay for detection and quantification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 cells.

A quantitative competitive PCR (QC-PCR) assay was developed to detect and quantify Escherichia coli O157:H7 cells. From 10(3) to 10(8) CFU of E. coli O157:H7 cells/ml was quantified in broth or skim milk, and cell densities predicted by QC-PCR were highly related to viable cell counts (r(2) = 0.99 and 0.93, respectively). QC-PCR has potential for quantitative detection of pathogenic bacteria in foods.     

A competitive protein binding assay for allopurinol and oxipurinol

A competitive protein binding assay for allopurinol or oxipurinol has been developed based on the tight binding of these drugs to reduced xanthine oxidase. Free drug is separated from that bound to xanthine oxidase by absorption with dextran-albumin coated charcoal. This assay can detect as little as 0.1 μm allopurinol or oxipurinol in water, serum, plasma, or urine. Competitive analogs such as hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uric acid require concentrations 100- to 1000-fold greater than those of allopurinol or oxipurinol to cause significant interference with the assay. This assay is simple and rapid with the ability to assay 20–30 samples within 2 h. Measurement of oxipurinol levels in clinical samples shows good correlation with published results using more complex analytical techniques.     

A reexamination of the chelex competitive calcium binding assay

The chelex competitive calcium binding assay has been examined as a tool for the analysis of the kinetic parameters of calcium binding substances. Scatchard analysis of calcium binding demonstrates that chelex binds calcium with apparent negative cooperativity or with more than one class of calcium binding sites, and therefore, cannot be used to provide accurate estimations of the dissociation constant or total number of binding sites on an unknown ligand. Results presented in this study indicate that the chelex assay can be effectively used for the qualitative detection of calcium binding substances in tissue extracts or biological fluids.     

Quantitative measurement of binding kinetics in sandwich assay using a fluorescence detection fiber-optic biosensor

Fiber-optic biosensors have been studied intensively because they are very useful and important tools for monitoring biomolecular interactions. Here we describe a fluorescence detection fiber-optic biosensor (FD-FOB) using a sandwich assay to detect antibody-antigen interaction. In addition, the quantitative measurement of binding kinetics, including the association and dissociation rate constants for immunoglobulin G (IgG)/anti-mouse IgG, is achieved, indicating 0.38 × 10⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for k_a and 3.15 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ for k_d. These constants are calculated from the fluorescence signals detected on fiber surface only where the excited evanescent wave can be generated. Thus, a confined fluorescence-detecting region is achieved to specifically determine the binding kinetics at the vicinity of the interface between sensing materials and uncladded fiber surface. With this FD-FOB, the mathematical deduction and experimental verification of the binding kinetics in a sandwich immunoassay provide a theoretical basis for measuring rate constants and equilibrium dissociation constants. A further measurement to study the interaction between human heart-type fatty acid-binding protein and its antibody gave the calculated kinetic constants k_a, k_d, and K_D as 8.48 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹, 1.7 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹, and 2.0 nM, respectively. Our study is the first attempt to establish a theoretical basis for the florescence-sensitive immunoassay using a sandwich format. Moreover, we demonstrate that the FD-FOB as a high-throughput biosensor can provide an alternative to the chip-based biosensors to study real-time biomolecular interaction.     

Quantitative study of aluminum binding to human serum albumin and transferrin by a chelex competitive binding assay

Binding of aluminum to human serum albumin and transferrin was investigated using a competitive binding assay incorporating a cation exchange resin, chelex. Both albumin and transferrin were found to produce linear Scatchard plots of aluminum binding data over the aluminum and protein concentration ranges found in humans. Binding constants measured for albumin and transferrin were 1.96 and 0.515 microM, respectively.     

Detection and quantification of tau aggregation using a membrane filter assay

Aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein tau contributes to the formation of neurofibrillary lesions in Alzheimer's disease and is a useful marker of disease progression. Although filter trap assays have been employed to assess the extent of tau aggregation in cells and tissues as well as in vitro, their performance relative to other assay modalities has not been reported. To clarify this issue, the ability of the filter trap approach to quantify aggregation of purified recombinant full-length tau protein in vitro was examined as a function of membrane chemistry in a 96-well format. Results showed that nitrocellulose yielded the greatest assay sensitivity relative to polyvinylidene fluoride or cellulose acetate at equal membrane porosity. However, all combinations of filter chemistries, porosities, and monoclonal detection antibodies yielded nonlinear correlations between signal intensity and analyte concentration. When corrected for nonlinearity, the filter trap assay determined a value for the critical monomer concentration for tau aggregation that was statistically identical to determinations made by electron microscopy assay. The data suggest conditions under which filter trap assays can be used to estimate tau aggregation kinetics.     

Real-time colorimetric detection of target DNA using isothermal target and signaling probe amplification and gold nanoparticle cross-linking assay

We describe a facile gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-mediated colorimetric method for real-time detection of target DNA in conjugation with our unique isothermal target and signaling probe amplification (iTPA) method, comprising novel ICA (isothermal chain amplification) and CPT (cycling probe technology). Under isothermal conditions, the iTPA simultaneously amplifies the target and signaling probe through two displacement events induced by a combination of four specially designed primers, the strand displacement activity of DNA polymerase, and the RNA degrading activity of RNase H. The resulting target amplicons are hybridized with gold nanoparticle cross-linking assay (GCA) probes having a DNA-RNA-DNA chimeric form followed by RNA cleavage by RNase H in the CPT step. The intact GCA probes were designed to cross-link two sets of DNA-AuNPs conjugates in the absence of target DNA, inducing aggregation (blue color) of AuNPs. On the contrary, the presence of target DNA leads to cleavage of the GCA probes in proportion to the amount of amplified target DNA and the solution remains red in color without aggregation of AuNPs. Relying on this strategy, 10(2) copies of target Chlamydia trachomatis plasmid were successfully detected in a colorimetric manner. Importantly, all the procedures employed up to the final detection of the target DNA were performed under isothermal conditions without requiring any detection instruments. Therefore, this strategy would greatly benefit convenient, real-time monitoring technology of target DNA under restricted environments.     

Screening for lysine-specific demethylase-1 inhibitors using a label-free high-throughput mass spectrometry assay

Posttranslational modifications on the N terminus of histone H3 act in a combinatorial fashion to control epigenetic responses to extracellular stimuli. Lysine-specific demethylase-1 (LSD1) represents an emerging epigenetic target class for the discovery of novel antitumor therapies. In this study, a high-throughput mass spectrometry (HTMS) assay was developed to measure LSD1-catalyzed demethylation of lysine-4 on several H3 substrates. The assay leverages RapidFire chromatography in line with a triple stage quadrupole detection method to measure multiple LSD1 substrate and product reactions from an assay well. This approach minimizes artifacts from fluorescence interference and eliminates the need for antibody specificity to methylated lysines. The assay was robust in a high-throughput screen of a focused library consisting of more than 56,000 unique chemical scaffolds with a median Z′ of 0.76. Validated hits from the primary screen were followed up by successive rounds of virtual and HTMS screening to mine for related structures in a parent library consisting of millions of compounds. The screen resulted in the rapid discovery of multiple chemical classes amenable to medicinal chemistry optimization. This assay was further developed into a generic platform capable of rapidly screening epigenetic targets that use the N-terminal tail of histone H3 as a substrate.     

A label-free nanoparticle aggregation assay for protein complex/aggregate detection and study

The detection, analysis, and understanding of protein complexes/aggregates and their formation process are extremely important for biomolecular research, diagnosis, and biopharmaceutical development. Unfortunately, techniques that can be used conveniently for protein complex/aggregate detection and analysis are very limited. Using gold nanoparticle immunoprobes coupled with dynamic light scattering (DLS), we developed a label-free nanoparticle aggregation immunoassay (NanoDLSay) for protein aggregate detection and study. Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a protein target used routinely in Western blot as a loading control, is demonstrated here as an example. Through this study, we discovered that GAPDH has a strong tendency to form large aggregates in certain buffer solutions at a concentration range of 10-25 μg/ml. The strong light scattering property of gold nanoparticles immunoprobes greatly enhanced the sensitivity of the dynamic light scattering for protein complex/aggregate detection. In contrast to fluorescence techniques for protein complex and aggregation study, the protein targets do not need to be labeled with fluorescent probe molecules in NanoDLSay. NanoDLSay is a very convenient and sensitive tool for protein complex/aggregate detection and study.     

Flow cytometric competitive binding assay for determination of actinomycin-D concentrations

A single step, separation free competitive binding reaction between the fluorescent antibiotic mithramycin and actinomycin-D for common binding sites on DNA coated 10 microns diameter microspheres is described. The fluorescence of the microspheres is measured with a flowcytometer. In the presence of a constant amount of mithramycin, the microsphere fluorescence is inversely proportional to actinomycin-D concentration.     

Mutational analysis of a sequence-specific ssDNA binding lupus autoantibody

11F8 is a murine anti-ssDNA monoclonal autoantibody isolated from a lupus prone autoimmune mouse. This mAb binds sequence specifically, and prior studies have defined the thermodynamic and kinetic basis for sequence-specific recognition of ssDNA (Ackroyd, P. C., et al. (2001) Biochemistry 40, 2911-2922; Beckingham, J. A. and Glick, G. D. (2001) Bioorg. Med. Chem. 9, 2243-2252). Here we present experiments designed to identify the residues on 11F8 that mediate sequence-specific, noncognate, and nonspecific recognition of ssDNA and their contribution to the overall binding thermodynamics. Site-directed mutagenesis of an 11F8 single-chain construct reveals that six residues within the complementarity determining regions of 11F8 account for ca. 80% of the binding free energy and that there is little cooperativity between these residues. Germline-encoded aromatic and hydrophobic side chains provides the basis for nonspecific recognition of single-stranded thymine nucleobases. Sequence-specific recognition is controlled by a tyrosine in the heavy chain along with a somatically mutated arginine residue. Our data show that the manner in which 11F8 achieves sequence-specific recognition more closely resembles RNA-binding proteins such as U1A than other types of nucleic acid binding proteins. In addition, comparing the primary sequence of 11F8 with clonally related antibodies that differ by less than five amino acids suggests that somatic mutations which confer sequence specificity may be a feature that distinguishes glomerulotrophic pathogenic anti-DNA from those that are benign.