Preliminary evaluation of urinary estrone-3-glucuronide (E1-3G)LIA measurement for monitoring induction of ovulation in an in vitro fertilization programme (FIVET)

This study compares urinary E1-3G and serum E2 measurements in monitoring ovulation induction in an in vitro fertilization programme (FIVET). We used an RIA kit, ESTR.CTK2 (Sorin, Italy), for the daily determination of serum E2, and an LA kit, Fertilux (Bouty, Milan), for the determination of E1-3G in early morning urine samples using a timed and measured volume urine collection procedure. A significant correlation was found between serum E2 as measured by RIA and urinary E1-3G as measured by LIA. Considering the RIA disadvantages (the short half-life of the reagents, the hazards of handling radioactive materials, the inconvenience of frequent venepuncture for the patients) the LIA measurement seems to be a useful method in a FIVET programme.     

Screening cDNA expression libraries with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies using an amplified biotin-avidin-peroxidase technique

A chromogenic method using biotinylated secondary antibodies and peroxidase-coupled avidin for screening cDNA expression libraries is described. This method offers increased sensitivity over peroxidase-coupled secondary antibodies and rapid processing of samples, and avoids preparation and handling of radioactive materials. All materials for the chromogenic assay are available commercially and the method offers a fast and easy way to screen lambda and plasmid expression libraries with mono- and polyclonal antibodies.     

Cell cultures in microsystems: Biocompatibility aspects

Bio‐Micro‐Electro‐Mechanical Systems (BioMEMS) are a new tool in life sciences, supporting cell biology research by providing reproducible and miniaturized experimental platforms. In order to cultivate cells in such systems, appropriate microenvironmental conditions are required. Due to the multitude and variety of microbioreactors and cultivated cell types available, standardized cell handling methods and comprehensive biocompatibility data are sparse. The bioreactor developed at Ilmenau University of Technology features BioMEMS consisting of silicon, glass, and polymers, supplied by peripheral components. To verify the system's suitability for cell cultivation, it was necessary to prove whether materials and surfaces are biocompatible. Custom‐tailored biocompatibility test procedures along with adequate cell seeding and handling methods had to be developed. According to this, proper positive and negative control samples had to be identified. The cultivation procedures were carried out using osteoblast‐like murine fibroblasts (MC3T3‐E1) and primary human osteoblasts (hOB). We could provide evidence that cultivation of these cells in our BioMEMS is feasible. In this context the relevant materials and the system's structure can be regarded as to be biocompatible. We could show that cell seeding and handling methods possess a strong impact on growth, development, and cellular activity of cell cultures in BioMEMS. Statistical biocompatibility data for the materials used is given. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011; 108:687–693. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

大肠杆菌中利用苏云金芽胞杆菌强启动子p1Ac指导Cry1Ac蛋白表达的特性分析

对利用苏云金芽胞杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt)强启动子——cry1Ac基因启动子p1Ac指导cry基因在大肠杆菌中的表达进行了研究。结果显示,大肠杆菌中由启动子p1Ac指导表达的Cry1Ac蛋白与苏云金芽胞杆菌来源的Cry1Ac蛋白在碱溶性、胰蛋白酶活化、杀虫活性等方面有较好的一致性,从而解决了目前商业化载体大肠杆菌表达cry基因时形成不易溶解的包涵体问题。同时,还对p1Ac指导的cry1Ac基因在大肠杆菌中表达的发酵条件进行了初步探索。     

Streamlining plant sample preparation: the use of high-throughput robotics to process echinacea samples for biomarker profiling by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Several species in the genus Echinacea are beneficial herbs popularly used for many ailments. The most popular Echinacea species for cultivation, wild collection, and herbal products include E. purpurea (L.) Moench, E. pallida (Nutt.) Nutt., and E. angustifolia (DC). Product adulteration is a key concern for the natural products industry, where botanical misidentification and introduction of other botanical and nonbotanical contaminants exist throughout the formulation and production process. Therefore, rapid and cost-effective methods that can be used to monitor these materials for complex product purity and consistency are of benefit to consumers and producers. The objective of this continuing research was to develop automated, high-throughput processing methods that, teamed with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis, differentiate Echinacea species by their mass profiles. Small molecules, peptide, and proteins from aerial parts (leaf/stem/flowers), seeds, and roots from E. purpurea and E. angustifolia; seeds and roots from E. pallida; and off-the-shelf Echinacea supplements were extracted and analyzed by MS using methods developed on the ProPrep liquid handling system (Genomic Solutions). Analysis of these samples highlighted key MS signal patterns from both small molecules and proteins that characterized the individual Echinacea materials analyzed. Based on analysis of pure Echinacea samples, off-the-shelf products containing Echinacea could then be evaluated in a streamlined process. Corresponding analysis of dietary supplements was used to monitor for product composition, including Echinacea species and plant materials used. These results highlight the potential for streamlined, automated approaches for agricultural species differentiation and botanical product evaluation.     

Evaluation of Escherichia coli cell disruption and inclusion body release using nucleic acid binding fluorochromes and flow cytometry

Many types of commercially valuable recombinant proteins produced by fermentation are expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli. Often, high-level expression in the host results in the formation of insoluble inclusion bodies. The release of these intracellular inclusion bodies from E. coli following cell disruption is a requirement for further downstream recovery. The ability to discern between intact unruptured cells and granules released from broken cells can provide valuable information for improving recovery yields in downstream purification. This paper describes a rapid and sensitive cytometry-based method that allows the simultaneous measurement of intact heat-killed E. coli and inclusion bodies using staining with nucleic acid binding fluorochromes.     

A Simple Method for Handling Grids

A simple method for handling electron microscope grids is described here. While assuring their identification and safety, this method provides improved handling, temporary storage, and identification of grids bearing ultra-thin sections, and in addition, provides a novel method for preparing bulk samples. Grids are attached at their edges to the weakly adhesive surface of a “Post-it” note pad which sits in a petri dish. The grids are safely immobilized on the pad, classified based on their location, and identified by convenient pad notation. Grid manipulation and identification are simplified using this device, which is easily assembled from readily available and inexpensive materials.     

蛇毒神经毒素类似物的免疫学分析

选取眼镜蛇蛇毒和银环蛇蛇毒中 1 0个差异较大的神经毒素类似物 ,通过麦芽糖融合表达系统使它们在大肠杆菌中得到高效可溶性表达 .通过 Amylose- Sepharose6B亲和树脂纯化这些融合蛋白 .分别制备这 1 0种融合蛋白多克隆抗体 .同时将这 1 0种神经毒素类似物进行硫氧还蛋白融合表达 ,表达产物基本上都是包涵体 .以硫氧还蛋白融合表达产物为抗原和上述 1 0种神经毒素类似物抗血清进行 Western blotting.结果显示 ,大多数神经毒素类似物之间没有免疫交叉反应 ,表明这些神经毒素类似物的抗原性差别较大 ,可能存在不同的分类和进化     

Characterization and Intracellular Distribution of Pea Phytochrome I Polypeptides Expressed in E. coli

The pea phytochrome I (PI) cDNA clone, pPP1001, was expressedin E. coli. The plasmid pPP1001 contains pea PI cDNA which coversthe entire coding region with the Shine-Dalgarno consensus sequencejoined upstream of the cDNA in an expression vector pNUT6. ThepPP1001 transformants formed typical inclusion bodies when culturedat 32?C. However, when cultured at 37?C or in the presence ofisopropyl-ß-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) at 32?C,the bacteria lysed before inclusion body formation. Immuno-stainingwith anti-PI monoclonal antibody, mAP5, of transformants fixedby cold methanol showed that stainable materials were distributedin whole cytoplasmic region. When the inclusion bodies wereobserved clearly, the regions corresponding to the inclusionbodies became difficult to stain. Western blot analysis, however,showed that a ca. 100 kDa PI polypeptide was detected in thefraction from inclusion bodies and a ca. 90 kDa PI polypeptidefrom the soluble fraction. The amino acid sequence analysisof purified 100 kDa PI sample indicated that its amino terminusis blocked. However, minor signals in one experiment yieldeda sequence corresponding to the expected amino terminus of peaPI except for the initiation methionine. One of the anti-peaPI monoclonal antibodies, mAP9, that recognizes the near N-terminusof pea phytochrome was reactive to the 100 kDa polypeptide. (Received June 22, 1990; Accepted November 18, 1990)     

Post-translational modification(s) and cell distribution of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces aureofaciens</Emphasis> translation elongation factor Tu overproduced in<Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

We cloned EF-Tu from Streptomyces aureofaciens on a pET plasmid and overproduced it using the T7 RNA polymerase system in Escherichia coli. Streptomyces EF-Tu represented more than 40% of the total cell protein and was stored mostly in inclusion bodies formed apically at both ends of E. coli cells. Analysis of the inclusion bodies by transmission and scanning electron microscopy did not reveal any internal or surface ultrastructures. We developed the method for purification of S. aureofaciens EF-Tu from isolated inclusion bodies based on the ability of the protein to aggregate spontaneously. EF-Tu present in inclusion bodies was not active in GDP binding. Purified protein showed a similar charge heterogeneity as EF-Tu isolated from the mycelium of S. aureofaciens and all of the isoforms reacted with EF-Tu antibodies. All isoforms also reacted with monoclonal antibodies against O-phosphoserine and O-phosphothreonine.     

Analysis of estrogen receptor dinucleotide polymorphism by capillary gel electrophoresis with a population genetic study in 180 Finns.

We developed a suitable method for analysing dinucleotide repeats found in the upstream of human alpha-estrogen receptor (ER) gene by applying capillary electrophoresis and automatic analysis. This method omits the gel-casting step as well as difficult handling of long polyacrylamide sequencing gels. Use of radioactive materials is also avoided. Using this method, the frequency distribution of ER alleles, determined in 180 Finnish individuals showed two peaks at 12 and 14 repeats (166 and 168 bp) and also at 22 and 24 repeats (184 and 186 bp). The overall distribution of alleles seemed to be similar to that found among Italian and Japanese populations.     

Active inclusion body formation using Paenibacillus polymyxa PoxB as a fusion partner in Escherichia coli

Overexpression of Paenibacillus polymyxa PoxB in Escherichia coli induced the formation of inclusion bodies. An enzyme assay showed that the inclusion bodies exhibited PoxB activity, indicating that they were biologically active. Fusion of GFP and Bacillus subtilis AmyE to the C-terminus of the PoxB also induced the formation of biologically active aggregates when they were overexpressed in E. coli. Therefore, P. polymyxa PoxB can be used as a fusion partner to promote the formation of active inclusion bodies in E. coli.     

Refolding of protein inclusion bodies directly from E. coli homogenate using expanded bed adsorption chromatography

To avoid the intrinsic problem of aggregation associated with the traditional solution-phase refolding process, we proposed a solid-phase refolding method integrated with the expanded bed adsorption chromatography. The model protein was a fusion protein of recombinant human growth hormone and a glutathione S-transferase fragment. It was demonstrated that the inclusion body proteins in the cell homogenate could be directly refolded with higher yield. To verify the applicability of this method, we have tested with success three types of the starting materials, i.e., rhGH monomer, inclusion bodies containing the fusion protein, and the E. coli cell homogenate. This direct refolding process could reduce the number of the renaturation steps required and allow the refolding at a higher concentration, approximately 2 mg fusion protein per ml resin. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

β-环糊精包合雨生红球藻皂化产物可行性研究

本文以雨生红球藻皂化产物中虾青素含量为评价指标,对β-环糊精包合雨生红球藻皂化产物可行性进行了实验研究。试验结果表明,当雨生红球藻粉在优选的实验条件下皂化产物经β-环糊精包合后,HPLC检测主要成分组成未见明显变化,包合率可达到90%。于温度40℃,湿度75%条件下进行稳定性加速实验,结果表明,经皂化后包合物中虾青素稳定性较好,达到了药物和保健食品原料的稳定性要求,说明该方法可行。     

重组刺桐胰蛋白酶抑制剂a在大肠杆菌中的表达和纯化

为了大量制备重组刺桐胰蛋白酶抑制剂a(rETIa) ,对构建的基因工程菌株E .coliBL2 1(DE3)pET2 2b mETIa进行了表达条件的优化 .用摇瓶培养 ,rETIa蛋白占菌体总蛋白 4 0 %以上 .经破碎菌体 洗涤包涵体 溶解包涵体 复性初步纯化后 ,再经二步柱层析纯化获得电泳纯的rETIa蛋白 .测定了rETIa对胰蛋白酶、胰凝乳蛋白酶、组织型纤溶酶原激活因子缺失突变体 (NTA)的抑制活性 .     

抗HBsAg二硫键稳定性Fv抗体（dsFv）基因的构建与表达

采用ＰＣＲ定点突变方法,成功地构建了抗ＨＢｓＡｇｄｓＦｖ抗体的轻、重链突变基因,ＮｄｅＩ和ＥｃｏＲＩ酶切后分别插入ｐＥＴ２０ｂ表达质粒,经测序证明在重链第４４位氨基酸和轻链第１００位氨基酸已突变形成半胱氨酸（Ｃｙｓ）。ＶＨ和ＶＬ重组质粒分别转化到大肠肝菌ＢＬ２１（ＤＥ３）中,ＩＰＴＧ诱导后,经ＳＤＳＰＡＧＥ电泳表明在１２ｋＤ处有包含体蛋白表达,表达蛋白含量分别为２８％和３５％。ＶＨ和ＶＬ包含体蛋白经ＧｕＨＣｌ变性后,等量混合在复性折叠液中结合,形成了一个约２４ｋＤ并有一定活性的ｄｓＦｖ蛋白。抗ＨＢｓＡｇｄｓＦｖ抗体表达及复性的成功,为今后基因工程抗体的研究及应用奠定了基础。     

Genetic Design of Stable Metal-Binding Biomolecules,Oligomeric Metallothioneins

Metallothionein (MT) is a suitable model for investigating molecular interactions relating to the handling of metals in cells. However, the production of functional MT proteins in microorganisms has been limited because of the instability of MT—the thiol group of cysteine is easily oxidized and proteolysis occurs. To increase the binding ability and to stabilize MT, we designed genes for dimeric and tetrameric MT and the genes were successfully overexpressed in Escherichia coli to generate functional oligomeric MTs. A human MT-II (hMT-II) synthesized with prokaryotic codons, a linker encoding a glycine tripeptide, and Met-deficient hMT-II was ligated to create a dimeric MT, from which a tetrameric MT was then constructed. The increased molecular size of the constructs resulted in improved stability and productivity in E. coli. Cells of E. coli carrying the oligomeric MT genes showed resistance toward Zn and Cd toxicity. The oligomeric proteins formed inclusion bodies, which were dissolved with dithiothreitol, and the purified apo-MTs were reconstituted with Cd or Zn ions under reducing conditions. The dimeric and tetrameric MT proteins exhibited both Cd and Zn binding activities that were, respectively, two and four times higher than those of the hMT-II monomer protein. These stable oligomeric MTs have potential as a biomaterial for uses such as detoxification and bioremediation for heavy metals.     

Estimating dynamic external hand forces during manual materials handling based on ground reaction forces and body segment accelerations

Direct measurement of hand forces during assessment of manual materials handling is infeasible in most field studies and some laboratory studies (e.g., during patient handling). Therefore, this study proposed and evaluated the performance of a novel hand force estimation method based on ground reaction forces (GRFs) and body segment accelerations.     

Use of cyclodextrins as a cosmetic delivery system for fragrance materials: Linalool and benzyl acetate

The aim of this study was to increase the stability and water solubility of fragrance materials, to provide controlled release of these compounds, and to convert these substances from liquid to powder form by preparing their inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins (CDs). For this purpose, linalool and benzyl acetate were chosen as the fragrance materials. The use of beta-cyclodextrin (beta CD) and 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (2-HP beta CD) for increasing the solubility of these 2 fragrance materials was studied. Linalool and benzyl acetate gave a B-type diagram with beta CD, whereas they gave an A(L)-type diagram with 2-HP beta CD. Therefore, complexes of fragrance materials with 2-HP beta CD at 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios (guest:host) were prepared. The formation of inclusion complexes was confirmed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H-NMR) spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The results of the solubility studies showed that preparing the inclusion complex with 2-HP beta CD at a 1:1 molar ratio increased the solubility of linalool 5.9-fold and that of benzyl acetate 4.2-fold, whereas the complexes at a 1:2 molar ratio increased the solubility 6.4- and 4.5-fold for linalool and benzyl acetate, respectively. The stability and in vitro release studies were performed on the gel formulations prepared using uncomplexed fragrance materials or inclusion complexes of fragrance materials at a 1:1 molar ratio. It was observed that the volatility of both fragrance materials was decreased by preparing the inclusion complexes with 2-HP beta CD. Also, in vitro release data indicated that controlled release of fragrances could be possible if inclusion complexes were prepared.     

Detection of Escherichia coli in blood using flow cytometry

A rapid method for the detection of Escherichia coli in blood has been developed. The method employs blood cell lysis, staining of bacteria with ethidium bromide, and detection of stained bacteria using flow cytometry. The detection protocol requires less than 2 h sample handling time and is not dependent on bacterial growth. This method has been applied to human donor blood specimens seeded with various E. coli concentrations and to two rabbit model systems. Bacterial detection is evident from the in vitro human blood studies at levels of 10 E. coli/ml and from in vivo rabbit model studies at less than 100 E. coli/ml.