转移缓冲液对蛋白质印迹的影响

利用三种转移缓冲液,分别以半干和湿转法,检测癌基因产物Bcl-2, 并获得不同强度的印迹结果.不含SDS的转移缓冲液转移效果明显优于含SDS的转移缓冲液,且SDS含量越高印迹带越弱;此外,半干转移与湿转相比,可大大缩短转移时间,但转移效果不及湿转理想且稳定性较差.     

Problems with Multiple Use of Transfer Buffer in Protein Electrophoretic Transfer

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) and SDS-PAGE are the two most useful methods in protein separation. Proteins separated by 2DE or SDS-PAGE are usually transferred to membranes using a variety of methods, such as electrophoretic transfer, heat-mediated transfer, or nonelectrophoretic transfer, for specific protein detection and/or analysis. In a recent study, Pettegrew et al.¹ claim to reuse transfer buffer containing methanol for at least five times for transferring proteins from SDS-PAGE to polyvinylidene difluoride. They add 150–200 ml fresh transfer solution each time for extended use as a result of loss of transfer buffer. Finally, they test efficiency of each protein transfer by chemiluminescence detection. Here, we comment on this report, as we believe this method is not accurate and useful for protein analysis, and it can cause background binding as well as inaccurate protein analysis.     

Identification of membrane proteins from mammalian cell/tissue using methanol-facilitated solubilization and tryptic digestion coupled with 2D-LC-MS/MS

The core prerequisites for an efficient proteome-scale analysis of mammalian membrane proteins are effective isolation, solubilization, digestion and multidimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This protocol is for analysis of the mammalian membrane proteome that relies on solubilization and tryptic digestion of membrane proteins in a buffer containing 60% (vol/vol) methanol. Tryptic digestion is followed by strong cation exchange (SCX) chromatography and reversed phase (RP) chromatography coupled online with MS/MS for protein identification. The use of a methanol-based buffer eliminates the need for reagents that interfere with chromatographic resolution and ionization of the peptides (e.g., detergents, chaotropes, inorganic salts). Sample losses are minimized because solubilization and digestion are carried out in a single tube avoiding any sample transfer or buffer exchange between these steps. This protocol is compatible with stable isotope labeling at the protein and peptide level, enabling identification and quantitation of integral membrane proteins. The entire procedure--beginning with isolated membrane fraction and finishing with MS data acquisition--takes 4-5 d.     

蛋白免疫印迹法检测小分子蛋白的实验条件优化研究

目的:蛋白免疫印迹法自发明以来被广泛应用于现代生物学研究中的蛋白质定性和半定量分析。为了提高蛋白免疫印迹法的检测效率,需针对不同蛋白的特性调节相关的实验条件参数。本文旨在探讨免疫印迹法不同参数对小分子蛋白检测效果的影响,从而优化并获得最佳实验条件。方法:比较不同转膜电压和时间、转移缓冲液甲醇含量、不同化学发光剂对小分子蛋白的检测效果。结果:选择20 V、10 min转膜电压和时间所获得的信号显著高于10 V、25 min转膜条件,选择含20%甲醇转移缓冲液所获得的信号显著高于无甲醇转移缓冲液,选择飞克级化学发光剂所获得的信号显著高于纳克级化学发光剂。结论:选用高电压、短时间组合,选择含20%甲醇转移缓冲液和飞克级化学发光剂信号均有助于小分子蛋白免疫印迹检测。     

Immunoblotting of hydrophobic integral membrane proteins

For diagnosis and research purposes it is frequently desirable to measure by immunoblotting small amounts of proteins in complex mixtures such as tissue biopsy homogenates. Standard immunoblot procedures that give excellent results for soluble proteins unexpectedly gave low and irreproducible signals with some hydrophobic membrane proteins. We found that this was due to inefficient electrophoretic transfer to nitrocellulose, which could be corrected by modification of the transblot buffer. Hydrophobic integral membrane proteins of peroxisomes as well as other rat and human liver proteins were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred to nitrocellulose filters. The nitrocellulose-bound proteins were detected both by staining and by immunoblotting with an antiserum against the 22-kDa integral membrane protein of peroxisomes plus 125I-labeled protein A. A modified transblot buffer with 0.7 M glycine and 25 mM Tris (pH 7.7) but no methanol allowed use of a much shorter transfer time and strikingly improved the electrophoretic transfer of membrane proteins such that a peroxisomal integral membrane protein could be easily detected in human liver biopsy homogenates.     

Immunodetection after complete destaining of coomassie blue-stained proteins on immobilon-PVDF.

A technique that simplifies the localization of an immunodetectable protein in relation to the other electrophoresed proteins is described. Proteins are transblotted onto a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane and visualized by staining with Coomassie brilliant blue R-250, and a photograph of the protein pattern is taken. The Coomassie blue-stained PVDF membrane is then completely destained using a 25% acetic acid/50% methanol solution that allows subsequent immunostaining on the same membrane. The technique uses common laboratory reagents, is rapid, and has been shown to be applicable for a variety of proteins using both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies and a variety of transblots.     

Mass spectrometric peptide fingerprinting of proteins after Western blotting on polyvinylidene fluoride and enhanced chemiluminescence detection

The combined use of sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and mass spectrometry has become a powerful and widely used tool in proteome studies. Following separation by electrophoresis, proteins can be transferred to an inert support such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or nitrocellulose (NC) for the visualization of individual or specific classes of proteins by immunochemical detection methods. We developed a method that allows the mass spectrometric analysis of peptides derived from proteins detected by Western blotting on PVDF. Proteolysis buffer containing either dimethyl formamide (DMF) or Triton X-100 to recover peptides amenable to mass spectrometry was investigated. Although either one can be used, the buffer containing DMF required less sample handling prior to mass spectrometry. The approach was tested using commercially available proteins and serine-phosphorylated proteins from an HEK-293 nuclear extract.     

Eliminating the interferences from TRIS buffer and SDS in protein analysis by fused-droplet electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Multiply charged protein ions were detected from the solutions containing a high concentration of tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane buffer (TRIS) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) using fused-droplet electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (FD-ESI/MS). The sample aerosols were generated at ambient temperature with a pneumatic nebulizer commonly used to produce sample aerosols in an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source. The aerosols were carried by nitrogen gas to the tip of a capillary where charged methanol droplets had been continuously generated by electrospraying an acidic methanol solution. The neutral sample aerosols then fused with the charged methanol droplets and electrospray ionization proceeded from the newly formed fused droplets to generate multiply charged protein ions. Because of its low solubility in methanol, TRIS molecules (concentration as high as 1 M) were efficiently excluded from the newly formed droplets and the protein ion signals were detected and observed in the mass spectra. To remove the interferences from SDS, equal moles of positively charged cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was added into the SDS containing sample solution to form the dodecyl sulfate-cetyltrimethylammonium ion pair (DS-CTA). The DS-CTA ion pair has a low polarity and solubility in methanol and is excluded from the fused droplet. Protein ions were still detected from the solution containing 10(-2) M of SDS.     

Specific protein-DNA complexes: immunodetection of the protein component after gel electrophoresis and Western blotting

A method is described to determine the presence and the relative amount of proteins within specific protein-DNA complexes. The system studied is the LexA repressor from Escherichia coli and its interaction with the operator of the caa gene encoding the bacterial toxin colicin A. After separation of the free and the complexed 32P-labeled DNA on a native polyacrylamide gel, the bound proteins are transferred on a polyvinylidine difluoride (PVDF) membrane after sodium dodecyl sulfate denaturation. Development of the protein on the membrane was achieved on reaction with an anti-LexA antibody and the use of a second anti-antibody crosslinked with alkaline phosphatase. The phosphatase activity is monitored using 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate as a substrate and 4-nitroblue tetrazolium salt. A quantitation by densitometry of both the stained protein bands on the PVDF membrane and the DNA on autoradiograms allowed us to assign the relative stoichiometry of the two different complexes formed between LexA and the caa operator. The method should allow unraveling of complicated band shift patterns arising from the presence of several binding sites for a same protein, as in our case, or from the presence of different proteins binding to a same DNA fragment.     

A solution for stripping antibodies from polyvinylidene fluoride immunoblots for multiple reprobing

Available protocols for stripping antibodies from immunoblots involve the use of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or low-pH buffers. SDS was shown to remove transferred proteins from membranes, and low-pH buffer was shown to inefficiently strip off antibodies. A solution containing 6 M guanidine hydrochloride, 0.2% nondenaturing detergent, and a reducing agent can rapidly strip off tightly bound antibodies from aged polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) immunoblots at room temperature without removing significant amounts of transferred protein.     

A modification of determination for glucosamine and galactosamine in glycoprotein with the amino acid analyzer: Application to total acid hydrolyzate of rat renal glomerular basement membrane

A procedure was described for the rapid determination of glucosamine and galactosamine in total acid hydrolyzate of rat renal glomerular basement membrane (GBM) by the use of amino acid analyzer. Glucosamine and galactosamine, as well as other amino acids in glycoprotein hydrolyzate, were well identified and estimated simultaneously by using a short column of HITACHI I-PF-B spherical resin, eluted with a pH 6.09 buffer containing 8% methanol at 38°C.Total time consumed for elution of galactosamine was 60 min. This method is ideal for the separation of small amount of galactosamine from hydroxylysine-rich materials.     

Secretome analysis of Magnaporthe oryzae using in vitro systems

Magnaporthe oryzae is a devastating blast fungal pathogen of rice (Oryza sativa L.) that causes dramatic decreases in seed yield and quality. During the early stages of infection by this pathogen, the fungal spore senses the rice leaf surface, germinates, and penetrates the cell via an infectious structure known as an appressorium. During this process, M. oryzae secretes several proteins; however, these proteins are largely unknown mainly due to the lack of a suitable method for isolating secreted proteins during germination and appressoria formation. We examined the secretome of M. oryzae by mimicking the early stages of infection in vitro using a glass plate (GP), PVDF membrane, and liquid culture medium (LCM). Microscopic observation of M. oryzae growth revealed appressorium formation on the GP and PVDF membrane resembling natural M. oryzae-rice interactions; however, appresorium formation was not observed in the LCM. Secreted proteins were collected from the GP (3, 8, and 24 h), PVDF membrane (24 h), and LCM (48 h) and identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) followed by tandem mass spectrometry. The GP, PVDF membrane, and LCM-derived 2D gels showed distinct protein patterns, indicating that they are complementary approaches. Collectively, 53 nonredundant proteins including previously known and novel secreted proteins were identified. Six biological functions were assigned to the proteins, with the predominant functional classes being cell wall modification, reactive oxygen species detoxification, lipid modification, metabolism, and protein modification. The in vitro system using GPs and PVDF membranes applied in this study to survey the M. oryzae secretome, can be used to further our understanding of the early interactions between M. oryzae and rice leaves.     

Production and specificity of monoclonal antibodies against calmodulin from Dictyostelium discoideum

Monoclonal antibodies were raised against calmodulin purified from Dictyostelium discoideum. To increase its antigenicity, the calmodulin was conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin; mice were immunized with the conjugate. Hybridomas producing antibodies against calmodulin were identified by screening culture supernatants with calmodulin coupled to bovine serum albumin. The specificity of antibodies from hybridoma culture supernatants was tested by Western blot of Dictyostelium cell lysates. For the purpose, methods were developed that permitted sensitive detection of calmodulin bound to membranes. The key elements of the blotting protocol were used of PVDF membrane, transfer conducted in phosphate buffer, and glutaraldehyde fixation after transfer. These methods permitted detection of as little as 0.1 ng of calmodulin spotted directly onto the membrane, or 10 ng transferred from an SDS polyacrylamide gel. Ten calmodulin-specific antibodies were identified; most of these reacted preferentially with the calcium-containing form of Dictyostelium calmodulin. Several of the monoclonal antibodies cross-reacted with calmodulin from bovine brain.     

半干式蛋白质电泳印迹的影响因素及条件优化

采用蛋白质分子量标准物和纯化的重组蛋白质进行半干式蛋白质印迹,探讨半干式电泳印迹的多种因素对印迹效果的影响。结果表明:在不同电转移条件下,均存在不同程度的蛋白质透膜转移现象,当电流强度恒定时,电转移时间过长和上样量过大是造成实验中透膜转移而丢失的主要原因,可根据待测蛋白质的分子量和表达丰度确定恰当的电转移时间和上样量。     

Fast electrotransfer of human serum proteins in their native state from polyacrylamide thin gradient gels reinforced by textiles to polyvinylidene difluoride membranes. Rapid electrotransfer from thin gradient gels reinforced by textiles.

A fast electroblotting technique of native molecules electrophoretically separated in thin (0.25 to 0.5 mm) gradient gels, onto a high capacity membrane of polyvinylidene difluoride is described. Omitting methanol during transfer, the equilibration step is avoided and the same buffer is used in electrophoresis and transfer. As the gel reinforced by fabric never swells nor shrinks, and as all the bands are blotted, the transfer matrix exactly reflects the protein pattern of the original gel. Autoradiography is enhanced and electroelution is homogeneous in all parts of the gels. Significant improvement is noticed in binding proteins of molecular weight from about 20 kDa to more than 700 kDa, as suggested by complete electroelution of all native serum components.     

Staining of proteins on SDS polyacrylamide gels and on nitrocellulose membranes by Alta, a colour used as a cosmetic

We describe here the use of Alta, a pre-existing scarlet-red stain of cosmetic use, for staining proteins on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gels, as well as for a single step staining of gels and nitrocellulose membranes during Western blot analysis. This stain, which is composed of 0.8% Crocein scarlet (brilliant crocein) and 0.2% Rhodamine B, is inexpensive, easy to use and nearly as sensitive as Coomassie Brilliant Blue (CBB) R-250. The gels can be stained in 10% Alta (2 h) and can be destained effectively only with 7% acetic acid as opposed to the conventional destainer (methanol/acetic acid/water) required for CBB-stained gels. In an alternative procedure, the proteins can be stained on the gel while electrophoresis by simply using 5% Alta in the top tank buffer and the stain can be viewed under UV-transilluminator. This procedure can also be used for Western blot analysis, as a single step procedure for staining of proteins on the gel as well as on the nitrocellulose membrane, as the stain is retained on the membrane after protein transfer. Thus, this staining procedure allows monitoring of proteins after each step in the Western blot, thereby eliminating the need to run separate gels for staining and Western blot analysis, and also the need for Ponceau Red S staining of the nitrocellulose membrane during Western blot analysis.     

Amino acid analysis on polyvinylidene difluoride membranes

A procedure for the amino acid analysis of proteins electrotransferred to polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes is described. The proteins are first separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and then electroblotted onto a PVDF membrane. After staining with Coomassie brilliant blue, the visualized protein bands are excised from the membrane. Each band is placed in a vial and subjected to gas-phase hydrolysis in 6 N HCl in a vacuum desiccator at 110 degrees C. The amino acids are extracted from the membrane into 0.1 N HCl/30% CH3OH and analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC using postcolumn o-phthalaldehyde-derivatizing reagent. The method was shown to give reproducible and reasonably accurate compositions for several proteins, as well as to provide an estimate of protein content. As little as 10 pmol of a 67-kDa protein can be determined.     

Optimised two-dimensional electrophoresis procedures for the protein characterisation of structural tissues

The protein analysis of structural tissues is typically highly problematic. Amniotic membrane displays unique wound healing and anti-scarring properties; however, little is known concerning its active protein content. The structural nature of amniotic membrane necessitated development and extensive optimisation of the entire two-dimensional (2-D) workflow. Proteins were extracted using powerful solubilisation buffers and analysis carried out using 2-D electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry (MS) identification. Preservation and processing resulted in prefractionation of soluble from structural and membrane-associated proteins. Enhanced protein solubility was achieved by cysteine blocking using both N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) alkylation and bis(2-hydroxyethyl) disulphide (HED); an alternative procedure for the effective application of HED is demonstrated. The benefits of precipitation and cup-loading versus in-gel rehydration were also assessed, with procedures for the employment of HED with the latter described. Following optimisation, a representative sample 21 proteins were identified from amniotic membrane using MS verify procedures were MS-compatible. Our results demonstrate that techniques for the reproducible separation of proteins from a proteinaceous structural tissue have been optimised. Briefly, proteins are extracted using a thiourea/urea extraction buffer containing carrier ampholytes, dithiothreitol (DTT), and 3-(cyclohexylamino)-1-propanesulfonic acid (CHAPS). After DMA alkylation, proteins were precipitated (using the 2-D clean-up kit from Amersham Biosciences) and resolubilised in extraction buffer containing a lower concentration of DTT. Samples were either cup-loaded onto rehydrated HED-containing strips or rebuffered into HED-containing buffer followed by in-gel rehydration.     

Quantitative profiling of the detergent-resistant membrane proteome of iota-b toxin induced vero cells

Enzyme-mediated 18O/16O differential labeling of proteome samples often suffers from incomplete exchange of the carboxy-terminus oxygen atoms, resulting in ambiguity in the measurable abundance differences. In this study, an 18O/16O labeling strategy was optimized for and applied to the solution-based comparative analysis of the detergent-resistant membrane proteome (DRMP) of untreated and Iota-b (Ib)-induced Vero cells. Solubilization and tryptic digestion of the DRMP was conducted in a buffer containing 60% methanol. Unfortunately, the activity of trypsin is attenuated at this methanol concentration hampering the ability to obtain complete oxygen atom turnover. Therefore, the incorporation of the 18O atoms was decoupled from the protein digestion step by carrying out the trypsin-mediated heavy atom incorporation in a buffer containing 20% methanol; a concentration at which trypsin activity is enhanced compared to purely aqueous conditions. After isotopic labeling, the samples were combined, fractionated by strong cation exchange and analyzed by microcapillary reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled on-line with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. In total, over 1400 unique peptides, corresponding to almost 600 proteins, were identified and quantitated, including all known caveolar and lipid raft marker proteins. The quantitative profiling of Ib-induced DRMP from Vero cells revealed several proteins with altered expression levels suggesting their possible role in Ib binding/uptake.     

A high-affinity reversible protein stain for Western blots

We describe a reversible staining technique, using MemCode, a reversible protein stain by which proteins can be visualized on nitrocellulose and polyvinylidine fluoride (PVDF) membranes without being permanently fixed to the membrane itself. This allows subsequent immunoblot analysis of the proteins to be performed. The procedure is applicable only to protein blots on nitrocellulose and PVDF membranes. MemCode is a reversible protein stain composed of copper as a part of an organic complex that interacts noncovalently with proteins. MemCode shows rapid protein staining, taking 30s to 1 min for completion. The method is simple and utilizes convenient application conditions that are compatible with the matrix materials and the protein. The stain is more sensitive than any previously described dye-based universal protein staining system. The turquoise-blue-stained protein bands do not fade with time and are easy to photograph compared to those stained with Ponceau S. Absorbance in the blue region of the spectrum offers good properties for photo documentation and avoids interference from common biological chromophores. The stain on the protein is easily reversible in 2 min for nitrocellulose membrane and in 10 min for PVDF membrane with MemCode stain eraser. The stain is compatible with general Western blot detection systems, and membrane treatment with MemCode stain does not interfere with conventional chemiluminescent or chromogenic detection using horseradish peroxide and alkaline phosphatase substrates. The stain is also compatible with N-terminal sequence analysis of proteins.