Microsequence analysis of electroblotted proteins. I. Comparison of electroblotting recoveries using different types of PVDF membranes.

The most effective protein purification method of low picomole amounts for sequence analysis involves polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by electroblotting to polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes. Since a critical factor in this procedure is the protein recovery at the blotting step, different types of PVDF membranes were systematically evaluated for their ability to bind proteins during electrotransfer. Differences in electroblotting recoveries occurred between types of PVDF membranes for some proteins. Some variability persisted even when optimized electroblotting procedures were used which reduce the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration in the gel and improve protein-PVDF binding. The membranes which were evaluated could be grouped as either "high retention" membranes (ProBlott, Trans-Blot, and Immobilon-PSQ) or "low retention" membranes (Immobilon-P and Westran). The high retention membranes showed higher protein recoveries under most conditions tested, especially for small proteins or peptides. These high retention membranes were also less sensitive to the exact electroblotting conditions, especially those factors which affect the amount of SDS present during either electrotransfer or direct adsorption from protein solutions. High retention PVDF membranes are therefore preferred in most cases for optimal protein or peptide recovery prior to direct sequence analysis. In contrast, low retention membranes are preferred for procedures where subsequent extraction of the proteins from the membranes is required. Even under identical conditions, substantial protein-to-protein variation for both adsorption and subsequent extraction is routinely observed for both groups of membranes, indicating that the nature of protein-PVDF interactions is more complex than simple hydrophobic interactions.     

Protein Adsorption on Erythrocytic Membranes and Its Effect on Erythrocyte Rheology in Athletes during Competition Exercise

The adsorption of high-molecular-weight plasma proteins on erythrocyte membranes was studied in athletes after prolonged exercise under competition conditions. The adsorption of individual high-molecular-weight protein fractions depended on their concentration. The adsorption index changed biphasically at submaximum exercise. The adsorption of plasma high-molecular-weight protein fractions was associated with the fluidity of concentrated erythrocyte suspensions. The adsorbed high-molecular-weight globulins and fibrinogen had different effects on the parameters of erythrocyte rheology.     

Properties of microfiltration membranes: flux loss during constant pressure permeation of bovine serum albumin

An experimental study of permeation of dilute BSA solutions (filtration) at microfiltration membranes has been carried out. Most measurements were made with capillary pore aluminum oxide membranes, with some comparative measurements with tortuous and capillary pore polymeric membranes. In all cases, a continuous and substantial decrease in the rate of permeation with time was observed. This decrease in permeation with time was observed. This decrease in permeation rate was due neither to concentration polarization nor to protein adsorption alone. However, it could be quantified using the standard blocking filtration law, which describes a decrease in pore volume due to deposition of protein on the walls of the pore. The maximum calculated thickness of the deposited layers was 55nm on the walls of 200-nm diameter pores. This phenomenon is quite different to adsorption of protein at such surfaces, this latter giving only sub-monolayer or monolayer protein coverage under the conditions studied.     

Effect of cytochrome c on the phase behavior of charged multicomponent lipid membranes

We studied the effect of submicromolar concentrations of cytochrome c (cyt c) on the phase behavior of ternary lipid membranes composed of charged dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol, egg sphingomyelin and cholesterol. The protein was found to induce micron-sized domains in membranes belonging to the single-fluid-phase region of the protein-free ternary mixture and, as a result, to expand the region of coexistence of liquid ordered (L_o) and liquid disordered (L_d) phases. Direct observations on individual vesicles revealed that protein adsorption increases the area of L_d domains. Measurements using a fluorescent analog of cyt c showed that the protein preferentially adsorbs onto domains belonging to the L_d phase. The adsorption was quantitatively characterized in terms of partitioning ratios between the L_d and the L_o phases. The protein was also found to induce vesicle leakage even at relatively low concentrations. In eukaryotic cells under normal physiological conditions, cyt c is localized within the intermembrane space of mitochondria. During cell apoptotis, cyt c is released into the cytosol and its adsorption to intracellular membranes may strongly perturb the lipid distribution within these membranes as suggested by our results.     

Specificity of interaction of hexokinase isozyme II with mitochondrial membranes

Study on the mechanism of hexokinase isozyme II adsorption on mitochondrial membranes in the presence of 10 mM MgCl2 demonstrated that 0.16% of the total proteins of the soluble fraction and the total hexokinase pool are capable of reversible binding to the membrane. The plot for the dependence of the degree of enzyme adsorption on Mg2+ concentration is hyperbolic. Under these conditions, hexokinase competes favourably for the binding sites with lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase. Analysis of the adsorption capacity of natural and artificial phospholipid membranes showed that hexokinase isozyme II is adsorbed in much the same way on inner and outer mitochondrial membranes as well as on a mixture of membranes obtained from various sources and on lecithin liposomes. The adsorption properties of hexokinase isozyme II and of its functional analog--isozyme I--point to marked differences in the mechanism of their interaction with the membrane. In contrast with isozyme I, isozyme II of hexokinase undergoes kinetic alterations. Besides, it was found that mild autolysis of isozyme II is accompanied by a loss of the enzyme ability to bind to mitochondrial membranes. The data obtained suggest that the specificity of hexokinase isozyme II adsorption depends on the structural peculiarities of the protein but not on those of the mitochondrial membrane.     

Adsorption of the uremic toxin p-cresol onto hemodialysis membranes and microporous adsorbent zeolite silicalite

Para-cresol CH3C6H4OH is a protein-bound solute which is not eliminated efficiently by hemodialysis systems. In this study, we present adsorption of p-cresol as a complementary process to hemodialysis. The kinetics and isotherms of adsorption onto cellulose-based membranes (cellulose diacetate and triacetate), synthetic membranes (polyamide, polysulfone, polyacrylonitrile and polymethylmethacrylate) and microporous zeolite silicalite (MFI), have been evaluated in static conditions. The results indicate that p-cresol has a low affinity to all membranes but polysulfone and polyamide and that the times to reach equilibrium conditions are slow. In contrast, equilibration time on silicalite is fast (2 min to eliminate 90%) while adsorption levels are high (maximum adsorption about 106 mg g(-1)). Adsorption onto microporous adsorbents could be a novel way to eliminate uremic toxins from blood.     

Cooperative adsorption of ezrin on PIP2-containing membranes

By means of the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and scanning force microscopy (SFM), the adsorption of ezrin, a member of the ezrin/radixin/moesin protein family, on l-alpha-phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)) containing solid-supported membranes was investigated. An increase in the PIP(2) content in 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) membranes resulted in an increased amount of bound ezrin strongly supporting the crucial role of PIP(2) for ezrin recruitment to membranes. No ezrin adsorption to membranes composed of pure POPC was detected. To characterize the binding process in more detail, the kinetics and reversibility of ezrin adsorption were investigated by the QCM technique, showing that the protein remains partly bound after rinsing with pure buffer, which we suspected to be a result of lateral interactions between the proteins. SFM images revealed the formation of two-dimensional ezrin clusters on PIP(2)-doped POPC membranes. Time-elapsed SFM images show that the growth of protein domains occurs from a few nucleation sites. The QCM data in conjunction with the results obtained by SFM led us to propose that the binding process of ezrin occurs in a positive cooperative manner. When lateral interactions of the proteins on the membrane were taken into account, we were able to simulate the kinetics obtained from time-resolved QCM readouts by employing a model developed by Minton. On the basis of the kinetic analysis, we were also able to reconstruct the adsorption isotherm.     

Dynamic behavior of adsorber membranes for protein recovery

In recent years there has been a considerable interest in developing membrane chromatography systems that function as a short, wide chromatographic column in which the adsorptive packing consists of one or more microporous membranes. This study reports the use of new adsorber membranes prepared by the incorporation of various types of ion exchange resins into an EVAL porous membrane for protein recovery. The obtained heterogeneous matrixes composed of solid particles surrounded by the polymeric film possess a good accessibility for the protein to the adsorptive sites. Furthermore, small particles can be embedded into porous polymeric structures without the disadvantages of classical chromatographic columns (high pressure drop, fouling and plugging sensitivity, low flow rate), but with the advantages of membrane technology (easy scale-up, low-pressure drop, high flow rate). The adsorptive membranes feature high static as well as dynamic protein adsorption capacities for operating flow rates ranging from 200 to 400 L h bar per m(2) and ionic strength of 20-200 mM. In a sequential desorption step by changing the pH and/or the ionic strength of the eluent, up to 90% protein recovery was obtained. Next to the separation, the mixed matrix adsorber membrane functions as a concentration medium since the protein can be concentrated up to 20-fold in the eluent. The adsorber membranes can be reused in multiple adsorption/desorption cycles with good adsorption performances.     

Lactococcal Bacteriophages Require a Host Cell Wall Carbohydrate and a Plasma Membrane Protein for Adsorption and Ejection of DNA

The mechanism of the initial steps of bacteriophage infection in Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis C2 was investigated by using phages c2, ml3, kh, l, h, 5, and 13. All seven phages adsorbed to the same sites on the host cell wall that are composed, in part, of rhamnose. This was suggested by rhamnose inhibition of phage adsorption to cells, competition between phage c2 and the other phages for adsorption to cells, and rhamnose inhibition of lysis of phage-inoculated cultures. The adsorption to the cell wall was found to be reversible upon dilution of the cell wall-adsorbed phage. In a reaction step that apparently follows adsorption to the cell wall, all seven phages adsorbed to a host membrane protein named PIP. This was indicated by the inability of all seven phages to infect a strain selected for resistance to phage c2 and known to have a defective PIP protein. All seven phages were inactivated in vitro by membranes from wild-type cells but not by membranes from the PIP-defective, phage c2-resistant strain. The mechanism of membrane inactivation was an irreversible adsorption of the phage to PIP, as indicated by adsorption of [³⁵S] methionine-labeled phage c2 to purified membranes from phage-sensitive cells but not to membranes from the resistant strain, elimination of adsorption by pretreatment of the membranes with proteinase K, and lack of dissociation of ³⁵S from the membranes upon dilution. Following membrane adsorption, ejection of phage DNA occurred rapidly at 30°C but not at 4°C. These results suggest that many lactococcal phages adsorb initially to the cell wall and subsequently to host cell membrane protein PIP, which leads to ejection of the phage genome.     

Quantification of fibronectin adsorption to silicone-rubber cell culture substrates

As the role of mechanical force in cellular signaling gained recognition, investigators designed a number of devices to deliver controlled regimens of mechanical force to cultured cells. One type of device uses thin silicone-rubber membranes to support monolayer cell adhesion and to transmit mechanical force in the form of biaxial strain. We have observed that cell attachment and spreading are impaired on these membranes compared to polystyrene, even when both are passively coated with identical amounts of extracellular matrix. The purpose of these studies was to quantify the efficiency and stability of passive matrix adsorption onto commercially available elastic culture substrates. A theoretically saturating density (1 microg/cm2) of fibronectin was added to each well, and the initial efficiency of adsorption to the walls and elastic membranes was found to be 31 +/- 2% of the protein added. Strikingly, when the protein adsorbed specifically to the membranes was quantified after seven days, only 10-26 ng/cm2 fibronectin were present, revealing that most of the adsorption is to the sides of the wells. These results indicate that the adsorption of matrix proteins to silicone-rubber substrates is relatively inefficient and that investigators who use these systems must be aware of this fact and design their experiments accordingly.     

Purification of hepatocyte growth factor using polyvinyldiene fluoride-based immobilized metal affinity membranes: equilibrium adsorption study

Polyvinyldiene fluoride (PVDF)-based affinity membranes with immobilized copper ions were developed in this study. The resulting membranes were tested for their adsorption properties using a model protein, lysozyme, in batch mode. First, different lengths of diamine were utilized as spacer arms to immobilize the metal ions onto the membranes. It was found that the application of 1,8-diaminooctane as the spacer arm led to the highest adsorption capacity. Moreover, the effects of pH and salt concentration were investigated to distinguish the proportion of specific and nonspecific interactions. A big fraction of lysozyme adsorption capacity for the immobilized metal affinity membranes was considered to come from nonspecific electrostatic interactions, which could be reduced by increasing salt concentration. Lastly, the purification of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) from insect cell supernatant was performed using the immobilized metal affinity membranes in batch mode. HGF was found in the elution condition using EDTA, indicating the successful purification of HGF.     

Surface functionalization of porous polypropylene membranes with polyaniline for protein immobilization

Commercial porous polypropylene membranes were chemically modified with polyaniline (PANI) using ammonium persulfate as the oxidizer. The influence of polymerization conditions on the membrane properties was studied by adsorption analysis and membrane permeability. The PANI-coated polypropylene (PANI/PP) membranes possessed high affinity toward the proteins, which can be immobilized onto the membrane surface through physical adsorption or covalent immobilization. The quantity of immobilized horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and its activity depended on the quantity and quality (oxidation level) of PANI. The storage conditions for PANI/PP membranes containing immobilized HRP were studied. HRP immobilized on the PANI/PP membrane was shown to retain 70% of its activity after 3-month storage at +5 degrees C, suggesting that this material can be used for practical application, such as in bioreactors as enzyme membranes.     

Interaction of recombinant surfactant protein D with lipopolysaccharide: conformation and orientation of bound protein by IRRAS and simulations

Effective innate host defense requires early recognition of pathogens. Surfactant protein D (SP-D), shown to play a role in host defense, binds to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) component of Gram-negative bacterial membranes. Binding takes place via the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) of SP-D. Recombinant trimeric neck+CRDs (NCRD) have proven valuable in biophysical studies of specific interactions. Although X-ray crystallography has provided atomic level information on NCRD binding to carbohydrates and other ligands, molecular level information about interactions between SP-D and biological ligands under physiologically relevant conditions is lacking. Infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) provides molecular structure information from films at the air/water interface where protein adsorption to LPS monolayers serves as a model for protein-lipid interaction. In the current studies, we examine the adsorption of NCRDs to Rd 1 LPS monolayers using surface pressure measurements and IRRAS. Measurements of surface pressure, Amide I band intensities, and LPS acyl chain conformational ordering, along with the introduction of EDTA, permit discrimination of Ca (2+)-mediated binding from nonspecific protein adsorption. The findings support the concept of specific binding between the CRD and heptoses in the core region of LPS. In addition, a novel simulation method that accurately predicts the IR Amide I contour from X-ray coordinates of NCRD SP-D is applied and coupled to quantitative IRRAS equations providing information on protein orientation. Marked differences in orientation are found when the NCRD binds to LPS compared to nonspecific adsorption. The geometry suggests that all three CRDs are simultaneously bound to LPS under conditions that support the Ca (2+)-mediated interaction.     

Protein-Induced Membrane Curvature Alters Local Membrane Tension

Adsorption of proteins onto membranes can alter the local membrane curvature. This phenomenon has been observed in biological processes such as endocytosis, tubulation, and vesiculation. However, it is not clear how the local surface properties of the membrane, such as membrane tension, change in response to protein adsorption. In this article, we show that the partial differential equations arising from classical elastic model of lipid membranes, which account for simultaneous changes in shape and membrane tension due to protein adsorption in a local region, cannot be solved for nonaxisymmetric geometries using straightforward numerical techniques; instead, a viscous-elastic formulation is necessary to fully describe the system. Therefore, we develop a viscous-elastic model for inhomogeneous membranes of the Helfrich type. Using the newly available viscous-elastic model, we find that the lipids flow to accommodate changes in membrane curvature during protein adsorption. We show that, at the end of protein adsorption process, the system sustains a residual local tension to balance the difference between the actual mean curvature and the imposed spontaneous curvature. We also show that this change in membrane tension can have a functional impact such as altered response to pulling forces in the presence of proteins.     

Protein-Induced Membrane Curvature Alters Local Membrane Tension

Adsorption of proteins onto membranes can alter the local membrane curvature. This phenomenon has been observed in biological processes such as endocytosis, tubulation, and vesiculation. However, it is not clear how the local surface properties of the membrane, such as membrane tension, change in response to protein adsorption. In this article, we show that the partial differential equations arising from classical elastic model of lipid membranes, which account for simultaneous changes in shape and membrane tension due to protein adsorption in a local region, cannot be solved for nonaxisymmetric geometries using straightforward numerical techniques; instead, a viscous-elastic formulation is necessary to fully describe the system. Therefore, we develop a viscous-elastic model for inhomogeneous membranes of the Helfrich type. Using the newly available viscous-elastic model, we find that the lipids flow to accommodate changes in membrane curvature during protein adsorption. We show that, at the end of protein adsorption process, the system sustains a residual local tension to balance the difference between the actual mean curvature and the imposed spontaneous curvature. We also show that this change in membrane tension can have a functional impact such as altered response to pulling forces in the presence of proteins.     

Interactions between protein molecules and the virus removal membrane surface: Effects of immunoglobulin G adsorption and conformational changes on filter performance

Membrane fouling commonly occurs in all filter types during virus filtration in protein‐based biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Mechanisms of decline in virus filter performance due to membrane fouling were investigated using a cellulose‐based virus filter as a model membrane. Filter performance was critically dependent on solution conditions; specifically, ionic strength. To understand the interaction between immunoglobulin G (IgG) and cellulose, sensors coated with cellulose were fabricated for surface plasmon resonance and quartz crystal microbalance with energy dissipation measurements. The primary cause of flux decline appeared to be irreversible IgG adsorption on the surface of the virus filter membrane. In particular, post‐adsorption conformational changes in the IgG molecules promoted further irreversible IgG adsorption, a finding that could not be adequately explained by DLVO theory. Analyses of adsorption and desorption and conformational changes in IgG molecules on cellulose surfaces mimicking cellulose‐based virus removal membranes provide an effective approach for identifying ways of optimizing solution conditions to maximize virus filter performance. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:379–386, 2018     

壳聚糖基角膜细胞载体的制备及其细胞相容性

为探讨羟丙基壳聚糖基共混膜作为组织工程技术中角膜细胞培养载体的可行性, 分别制备了羟丙基壳聚糖/硫酸软骨素、羟丙基壳聚糖/明胶/硫酸软骨素以及羟丙基壳聚糖/氧化透明质酸/硫酸软骨素三种共混膜。测定其透光率、含水量和蛋白吸附性能; 在共混膜上培养兔角膜上皮细胞, 通过观察角膜上皮细胞在不同载体膜上的生长状态、贴附情况, 测定细胞活性以及上清液中乳酸脱氢酶的活性, 研究三种壳聚糖基载体膜片与角膜上皮细胞的相容性。膜片理化性质测定结果表明三种共混膜片具有良好的透明度, 适宜的含水量和较强的蛋白吸附性能; 细胞相容性实验结果表明羟丙基壳聚糖/明胶/硫酸软骨素共混膜对细胞的损伤最小, 有利于细胞在膜上的贴附和生长, 表现出良好的细胞相容性, 有望作为角膜细胞载体体外构建组织工程化角膜。     

Intracellular distribution of a 32-KDa calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding protein from human placenta

A 32-KDa calcium dependent phospholipid-binding protein was purified to homogeneity from human placenta by affinity adsorption to polyacrylamide-immobilized phosphatidylserine followed by elution with 5 mM EGTA and ion exchange chromatography. Immunochemical studies using the polyclonal antibody against the 32-KDa protein revealed that this protein was present around the nucleus in the cytoplasm but not clearly associated with cell organelles and cytoskeletons. In KB cells treated with insulin, 32-KDa protein was localized in the ruffling membranes in addition to the cytoplasm. Purified 32-KDa protein was shown to coprecipitate with skeletal muscle actin under polymerizing conditions. These findings suggest that the 32-KDa protein interacts with networks of actin filaments in cells.     

Adsorptive and catalytic properties of cholinesterase on phospholipid monolyers in different oxidation states]

Adsorption isotherm and enzymatic activity of protein interacting with the surface of solid carrier formed by oriented fat lipid chains of differently oxidized phospholipids have been studied. It has been found that the appearance of peroxide groups in fat acid chains results in a twofold decrease of protein limiting adsorption on the lipid monolayer. The data on enzymatic activity of proteins at variously filled suface with protein molecules indicate that the peroxide groups produce an activating effect under the conditions when protein interactions can be neglected. Superoxidation of phospholipid fat acids is suggested to be one of the mechanisms involved in the control of the processes proceeding on the membranes.