Detection of chitinase activity after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Commercial Streptomyces griseus and Serratia marcescens chitinases and purified wheat germ W1A and hen egg white lysozymes were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under native conditions at pH 4.3. After electrophoresis, an overlay gel containing 0.01% (W/V) glycol chitin as substrate was incubated in contact with the separation gel. Lytic zones were revealed by uv illumination with a transilluminator after staining for 5 min with 0.01% (W/V) Calcofluor white M2R. As low as 500 ng of purified hen egg lysozyme could be detected after 1 h incubation at 37 degrees C. One band was observed with W1A lysozyme and several bands with the commercial microbial chitinases. The same system was also used with native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 8.9. Several bands were detected with the microbial chitinases. The same enzymes were also subjected to denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in gradient gels containing 0.01% (W/V) glycol chitin. After electrophoresis, enzymes were renatured in buffered 1% (V/V) purified Triton X-100. Lytic zones were revealed by uv after staining with Calcofluor white M2R as for native gels. The molecular weights of chitinolytic enzymes could thus be directly estimated. In denaturing gels, as low as 10 ng of purified hen egg white lysozyme could be detected after 2 h incubation at 37 degrees C. Estimated molecular weights of St. griseus and Se. marcescens were between 24,000 and 72,000 and between 40,500 and 73,000, respectively. Some microbial chitinases were only resistant to denaturation with sodium dodecyl sulfate while others were resistant to sodium dodecyl sulfate and beta-mercaptoethanol.     

Field inversion gel electrophoresis in denaturing polyacrylamide gels.

The velocities of single stranded DNA molecules in denaturing polyacrylamide gels during symmetric and asymmetric field inversion were measured at different pulse times and gel concentrations. Under the conditions chosen in our study, pulse times as short as a few milliseconds lead to a retardation of DNA molecules larger than 400 bases. We found that a field inversion with an electric field in the forward direction of about double the strength of that applied in the backward direction is a good compromise between the degree of retardation, the temperature control requirements and the run time of the gel.     

Detection of laccase activity in polyacrylamide gels after electrophoresis under denaturing conditions

Summary Specific laccase activity was detected on SDS-PAGE using 2,2-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), guaiacol and syringaldazine as substrates. Enzyme activity was detected immediately following electrophoresis, after the detergent diffused from the gel into a renaturation buffer and subsequent Coomassie blue staining. Identification of laccase in a protein mixture and estimation of its molecular weight were done simultaneously.     

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of membrane proteins

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) is one of the most powerful separation techniques for complex protein solutions. The proteins are first separated according to their isoelectric point, driven by an electric field across a pH gradient. The pH gradient necessary for the separation according to isoelectric point (pL) is usually established by electrophoresing carrier ampholytes prior to and/or concomitantly with the sample. The second dimension is usually a separation according to molecular size. Mostly this separation is performed after complete denaturation of the proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate and 2-mercaptoethanol (SDS-PAGE). This standard method has considerable disadvantages when relatively hydrophobic membrane proteins are to be separated: cathodic drift, resulting in nonreproducible separation, and the denaturation of the protein, mostly making it impossible to detect native properties of the proteins after separation (e.g., enzymatic activity, antigenicity, intact multimers, and so on). The protocols presented here take care of most of these obstacles. However, there is probably no universal procedure that can guarantee success at first try for any mixture of membrane proteins; some experimentation will be necessary for optimization. Two procedures are each presented: a denaturing (with urea) and a nondenaturing method for IEF in immobilized pH gradient gels using Immobilines, and a denaturing (with SDS and 2-mercaptoethanol) and a nondenaturing technique (with CHAPS) for the second dimension. Essential tips and tricks are presented to keep frustrations of the newcomer at a low level.     

Improvements in allelic discrimination of microsatellite markers using denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Poor resolution, retarded progress of DNA through gels, and variable sizing of DNA fragments between and within gels hinder accurate genotyping of some simple sequence length polymorphism (SSLP) markers with the Perkin Elmer Applied Biosystems 377 Sequenator. These problems are similar to renaturation related problems observed in DNA sequencing gels. PCR products especially susceptible to these problems are shown to have higher melting temperatures (T_m) than others. Gels containing increased concentrations of denaturants allow greater accuracy in allelic discrimination. This is especially beneficial where quantification is necessary. Received: 7 February 2000 / Accepted: 16 March 2000     

Micro-scale two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of ribosomal proteins

Summary A specially designed apparatus and conditions are described for the rapid analysis of ribosomal proteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis on a micro scale. The resolution of proteins in electropherograms is comparable to that obtained with other systems, but because of miniaturization, only 0.5 to 1 g of each protein is required, and the entire procedure, including electrophoresis in both dimensions, and staining and destaining can be completed in 6 to 7 hours.     

The rapid electrophoresis of proteins on polyacrylamide gel

A system for express electrophoretic separation of proteins in a thin layer of polyacrylamide gel covalently attached to a glass base has been proposed. A technology of covalent attachment of gel to a glass base has been developed and a small-scale instrument has been constructed which allows to carry out the separation, staining and electrophoregram washing off for 60 min. The quality of the cleaved protein mixtures is not worse than the electrophoregrams obtained using the "Phase System T. M." instrument of "Pharmacia".     

Renaturation and ligand blotting of the major subunit of the rat asialoglycoprotein receptor after denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Rat hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGP-Rs) bind terminalclustered galactosyl or N-acetylgalactosaminyl residues withhigh affinity. The affinity-purified ASGP-R consists of threesubunits designated RHL1, RHL2, and RHL3. The ligand-bindingactivity of individual subunits was investigated by ligand blotting,after separation of subunits by SDS-PAGE under nonreducing conditions,electrotransfer to nitrocellulose, and incubation with ¹²⁵I-asialo-orosomucoid(ASOR). No ligand-binding to any subunits could be detectedwhen proteins such as BSA, casein, gelatin, or fat-free drymilk were used as blocking agents. However, subsequent incubationof BSA-blocked nitrocellulose blots with some nonionic detergentsresulted in renaturation of RHL1. ¹²⁵I-ASOR-binding to RHL2or RHL3 was weaker and could be detected only after longer exposure.Similarly, direct use of detergents such as Tween 20, NonidetP-40, or Triton X-100 as blocking agents also preserved theASOR-binding activity of RHL1. Ionic detergents tested did notshow any ability to renature the ligand-binding activity ofRHL subunits. Among nonionic detergents tested, Tween 20, Tween85, Lubrol PX, Nonidet P-40, and Triton X-100 were more effectivethan Tween 40, Tween 65, Tween 80, or Brij 35, whereas SPAN,digito-nin, or octyl-glucoside showed no effect. Weak ¹²⁵I-ASORbinding to RHL2 or RHL3 could be detected only when the Tweenseries or Lubrol PX were used. Incubation of blots with dithiothreitolcaused a dose-dependent loss of binding activity. The carbohydraterecognition domain (CRD) of RHL1, isolated after subtilisindigestion of ASGP-R bound to ASOR-Sepharose, retained ligand-bindingactivity as assessed by its binding to ASOR-Sepharose and byligand blotting. ¹²⁵I-ASOR binding to electroblotted CRD afterSDS-PAGE was also dependent on the presence of nonionic detergents.We conclude that restoration of ligand-binding activity of RHL1after SDS-PAGE by some nonionic detergents is not dependenton the presence of the cytoplasmic, transmembrane, or stalkdomains of this subunit. asialoglycoprotein receptor Ligand blotting detergent renaturation RHL1     

A specific stain for sulfhydryl groups in proteins after separation by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

A new method is described for specifically staining protein sulfhydryl groups after the proteins have been separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in slab gels. The stain will detect as little as 0.25 microgram of lysozyme and 1 microgram of most other proteins; the range of sensitivity for a specific protein depending on its sulfhydryl content. Proteins with no cysteine residues (type I collagen) and glycoproteins do not cause spurious staining.     

Comparison of spiroplasmas by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of cell proteins

Pseudomonas oxalaticus utilized sodium acetate or fructose, in addition to sodium formate known to be assimilated via the reductive pentose phosphate pathway. The generation time during growth on fructose (2 h, 10 min) was considerably shorter than observed for other pseudomonads, which sequentially utilize a phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system and 1-phosphofructoninase during growth on fructose. In contrast, extracts prepared from fructose-grownP. oxalaticus contaned enzyme activities indicative of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, while 1-phosphofructokinase was not found. Our studies indicate thatP. oxalaticus may be useful as a model organism for studies of CO₂ fixation.     

Subpicogram analysis of sweat proteins using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Sweat collected from six normal volunteers was analyzed to determine if reproducible protein patterns could be obtained using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of ¹²⁵I-labeled sweat proteins. This method has the capability of easily detecting picogram quantities of protein. Once the methods of collection of the sweat had been standardized, reproducible patterns were obtained from these volunteers. Over 100 discrete spots were revealed by a combination of fluorography and rare earth screen radioautography of dried two-dimensional gels. This method will allow analysis of sweat for qualitative and quantitative variations in protein content in pathologic conditions such as cystic fibrosis, renal failure, and diabetes.     

Analysis of ribosomal proteins and ribosomal subunits of pea seeds by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel]

The amino acid composition of overall protein of ribosomes and ribosomal subunits of pea seeds has been found typical of ribosomal protein. Electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel demonstrates that proteins extracted by the solution of 3 M LiCl-4 M urea from purified ribosomes of pea seeds move towards the cathode at pH 2.2 and separate into 41 components. Electrophoresis in a tris-glycine buffer at pH 9.2 does not reveal any substance corresponding to acid proteins. Similar distribution patterns are observed when ribosomal particles are isolated with or without triton (0,5%). The treatment of ribosomes by deoxycholate results in some changes, depending on the detergent concentration. All the protein components detected in ribosomes, except one, are present in the subunits. Proteins of large and small ribosome subunits produced 26 and 21 components respectively in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The distribution patterns of proteins of the two subunits appear to be different. The majority of the components of the large and small subunits differ in mobility. The data obtained suggest considerable specificity of the protein composition of 60S and 40S subunits of 80S ribosomes in higher plants.     

Detection and characterization of epidermal proteinases by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Electrophoresis of cornified cell extracts of 2-day-old rats, using SDS polyacrylamide gels copolymerized with alpha-casein or gelatin with or without plasminogen, was performed. Both Tris-HCl buffer soluble protein and KSCN solubilized protein contained a number of hydrolases for alpha-casein and/or gelatin, but PA (mol. wts 57 and 50K) was found only in the KSCN extract. The pH dependency, substrate specificity and mol. wt of plasminogen-independent proteinases were comparatively determined and DFP inhibition tested. This simple technique helped to identify the presence of several proteinases and to characterize them in partially purified epidermal extracts.