A rapid colorimetric assay for gamma-glutamyl hydrolase (conjugase).

A simple procedure for the measurement of gamma-glutamyl hydrolase (conjugase) activity is described. Glutamic acid released from pteroylpenta-gamma-glutamate by hog kidney and chicken pancreas conjugases was quantitated using the dye 4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)benzophenone hydrazone. The procedure involves hydrolysis of the folylpoly-gamma-glutamate substrate by conjugase, conversion of glutamate to alpha-ketoglutarate by L-glutamate dehydrogenase and colorimetric measurement of the BDBH derivative of alpha-ketoglutarate. The release of as little as one nmol of glutamic acid from the substrate can be measured by this procedure, which is well suited for the assay of a variety of conjugase preparations. In addition, the method should provide a general assay for the enzymatic hydrolysis of various folate and antifolate polyglutamates.     

Endogenous folate of normal fibroblasts using high-performance liquid chromatography and modified extraction procedure

The endogenous levels of the various folate monoglutamate compounds in cultured human fibroblasts were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography for the separation of folate monoglutamate. Endogenous folates were converted to monoglutamate forms using conjugase enzyme present in rat serum and incubation was carried out at pH 6.5. This minimized folate coenzyme interconversion during processing. Using methanol for precipitation of protein instead of heat minimized degradation of labile folates. Recovery of all folates except 10-formyltetrahydrofolic acid (10-CHO H4PteGlu) using this procedure was more than 90%. Disruption of cells by boiling appeared to cause less postextraction changes of cell folates than did freezing and thawing or sonication. When heat to release endogenous folate, conjugase treatment with rat serum at pH 6.5, and precipitation of protein with methanol were used, more than half of the intracellular folate of normal fibroblasts in confluent growth was 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5-CH3 H4PteGlu), and 10-CHO H4PteGlu and tetrahydrofolic acid (H4PteGlu) comprised 29 and 6%, respectively.     

Quantitation of 5-Methyltetrahydrofolic Acid in Dried Blood Spots and Dried Plasma Spots by Stable Isotope Dilution Assays

Because of minimal data available on folate analysis in dried matrix spots (DMSs), we combined the advantages of stable isotope dilution assays followed by LC-MS/MS analysis with DMS sampling to develop a reliable method for the quantitation of plasma 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid in dried blood spots (DBSs) and dried plasma spots (DPSs) as well as for the quantitation of whole blood 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid in DBSs. We focused on two diagnostically conclusive parameters exhibited by the plasma and whole blood 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid levels that reflect both temporary and long-term folate status. The method is performed using the [²H₄]-labeled isotopologue of the vitamin as the internal standard, and three steps are required for the extraction procedure. Elution of the punched out matrix spots was performed using stabilization buffer including Triton X-100 in a standardized ultrasonication treatment followed by enzymatic digestion (whole blood only) and solid-phase extraction with SAX cartridges. This method is sensitive enough to quantify 27 nmol/L whole blood 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid in DBSs and 6.3 and 4.4 nmol/L plasma 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid in DBSs and DPSs, respectively. The unprecedented accurate quantification of plasma 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid in DBSs was achieved by thermal treatment prior to ultrasonication, inhibiting plasma conjugase activity. Mass screenings are more feasible and easier to facilitate for this method in terms of sample collection and storage compared with conventional clinical sampling for the assessment of folate status.     

Malabsorption of Folate Polyglutamates in Tropical Sprue

Malabsorption of folate polyglutamates prepared from yeast has been shown in eight patients with untreated tropical sprue and in three out of six patients receiving therapy for sprue. The absorptive defect for folate polyglutamates among these 14 patients occurred more frequently and in all but one patient more severely than for folic acid.Folate polyglutamates, the principal dietary form of folate, probably require deconjugation by the jejunal enzyme, folate conjugase, before absorption. The mean concentration of jejunal folate conjugase of 21 patients with untreated sprue and of 13 patients with sprue receiving therapy were both significantly less than the mean concentration in a control group. Nevertheless, all but five of the 34 patients had jejunal folate concentrations within the control range. There was no correlation in the individual patients between the jejunal folate conjugase concentration measured in vitro and the ability to absorb folate polyglutamates—nine patients having normal jejunal folate conjugase levels despite showing malabsorption of folate polyglutamates.     

Analysis of folate cofactor levels in tissues using high-performance liquid chromatography

A method for the isolation and concentration of the monoglutamate forms of folate cofactors from tissues and for their subsequent separation and quantitation using HPLC coupled with uv detection at 284 nm is described. A chromatographic procedure utilizing Dowex 50 has been developed for the separation of the folate monoglutamates from a large portion of the nonfolate-related material following digestion of the polyglutamated froms with a highly purified preparation of rat liver conjugase. This chromatographic procedure combined with concentration of the Dowex eluate by lyophilization eliminates uv-absorbing material, which interferes with the detection and quantitation of the folate cofactors and makes possible uv measurement of the individual folates. Reverse-phase paired-ion chromatography on μBondapak C₁₈ coupled with uv detection allows direct quantitation of the folates in the nanogram range.     

Human jejunal brush border folate conjugase. Characteristics and inhibition by salicylazosulfapyridine

Human jejunal brush border folate conjugase (EC 3.4.22.-) was partially purified and characterized. Three drugs known to be associated with clinical folate deficiency were tested for inhibition of the partially purified enzyme. Using jejunal mucosa from obese patients undergoing intestinal bypass surgery, brush border folate conjugase was purified 50-80-fold by centrifugation, Triton X-100 solubilization and DEAE-Sephadex and Sephacryl S-200 chromatography. Using synthetic pteroyldiglutamyl[14C]glutamate as substrate, the enzyme was found to have a pH optimum of 6.5 and an apparent Km of 1.6 micro M. Incubation of the enzyme with synthetic pteroyl[14C]glutamylhexaglutamate resulted in a spectrum of shorter-chain 14C-labeled pteroylglutamates at 60 min. Pteroyl[14C]glutamate was the major product at 120 min, with quantitative recovery of free glutamate in the incubation medium. Salicylazosulfapyridine was a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme (Ki = 0.13 mM), while ethanol, diphenylhydantoin and salicylazosulfapyridine metabolites had no effect. These data suggest that brush border folate conjugase is an exopeptidase which progressively hydrolyzes glutamyl units from pteroylpolyglutamate, leaving pteroylmonoglutamate as the folate form available for intestinal transport. Inhibition of brush border folate conjugase by salicylazosulfapyridine provides a mechanism for folate malabsorption and deficiency in chronic users of this drug.     

Distribution of Folates in Ochromonas malhamensis

SYNOPSIS. Ochromonas malhamensis contains folate derivatives active for Streptococcus faecalis, Pediococcus cerevisiae and Lactobacillus casei. These activities increase about 6-, 4- and 3-fold, respectively, on treatment with chicken liver conjugase, establishing the presence of polyglutamyl folates in the organism. The nature of the folate derivatives as well as their functional groups has been ascertained by chromatography on DEAE cellulose columns and assay of the activities of the eluted fractions, before and after the conjugase treatment, using differential microbiologic assay technic. The folate complex has been resolved into 7 fractions corresponding to N¹⁰-formyltetrahydrofolic acid, N⁵-formyltetrahydrofolic acid, unsubstituted tetrahydrofolic acid, and 4 polyglutamyl folates. The implications of these findings are indicated.     

Plasmodium berghei: folic acid levels in mouse erythrocytes

Folate levels of parasitized whole blood increased over fourfold above noninfected controls based on microbiological assays with Lactobacillus casei. Most of this increase is attributed to oxidized forms of folate (mono-, di-, and triglutamates) and/or N⁵-methyltetra-hydropteroyl mono-, di-, and triglutamates. Assays with Pediococcus cerevisiae showed that levels of tetrahydro-forms of folate polyglutamates doubled during parasitization of mouse erythrocytes. The folate activity for Lactobacillus casei after conjugase treatment was about 1.5 times as high for infected as for uninfected blood. During the malarial infection there was more a change in the form of folate than in its overall level.     

Comparison of pteroylpolyglutamate hydrolase (folate conjugase) from porcine and human intestinal brush border membrane

1. A comparative study of pteroylpolygluatamte hydrolase (folate conjugase) of brush border membrane vesicles from human and porcine intestine was conducted. 2. The enrichment of conjugase activity during membrane isolation was 5-fold greater for the human than the pig. 3. Porcine and human conjugases exhibited similar Km values and could completely hydrolyze pteroyltriglutamate (PteGlu3) to PteGlu1 via an exohydrolytic process. 4. Pteroic acid, PteGlu1 and anionic polysaccharides did not inhibit human or porcine conjugase. 5. Apparent mol. wts for detergent-enzyme complexes were 237,000 (pig) and greater than 500,000 (human). 6. These results indicate similar kinetic properties and mode of action but differences in physical behavior between the intestinal brush border folate conjugases of human and pig.     

Utilization of yeast polyglutamate folates in man.

Ingestion by healthy humans of small amounts of polyglutamate folates from yeast, equivalent to 300 mug of monoglutamate folate and containing 30 mug of "free folate," resulted in an appreciable elevation of the serum folate corresponding to 300 mug of synthetic pteroylmonoglutamate (PGA). Ingestion of higher amounts of polyglutamate folate did not result in higher serum folate elevations than did 300 mug. It is concluded that small amounts of polyglutamate folate from yeast are fully utilized, presumably by deconjugation in the gut prior to absorption. The relative ineffectiveness of larger doses of polyglutamate folates from yeast may be due to limiting conjugase activity in the gut, unfavorable conditions for its activity (such as unsuitable pH) or to an inhibitor of the enzyme present in impure preparations.     

Additional food folate derived exclusively from natural sources improves folate status in young women with the MTHFR 677 CC or TT genotype

The effectiveness of additional food folate in improving folate status in humans is uncertain particularly in people with the common genetic variant (677 C-->T) in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene. To examine the effect of a doubling of food folate consumption on folate status response variables, women (n=32; 18-46 years) with the MTHFR 677 CC or TT genotype consumed either 400 (n=15; 7 CC and 8 TT) or 800 (n=17; 8 CC and 9 TT) microg/day of dietary folate equivalents (DFE) derived exclusively from naturally occurring food folate for 12 weeks. A repeated measures two-factor ANOVA was used to examine the effect of the dietary treatment, the MTHFR C677T genotype and their interactions on serum folate, RBC folate and plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) during the last 3 weeks of the study. Consumption of 800 microg DFE/day resulted in serum folate concentrations that were 67% (P=.005) higher than consumption of 400 microg DFE/day (18.6+/-2.9 vs. 31.0+/-2.7 nmol/L, respectively) and RBC folate concentrations that were 33% (P=.001) higher (1172+/-75 vs. 1559+/-70 nmol/L, respectively). Serum folate (P=.065) and RBC folate (P=.022) concentrations were lower and plasma tHcy was higher (P=.039) in women with the MTHFR 677 TT genotype relative to the CC genotype. However, no genotype by dietary treatment interaction was detected. These data suggest that a doubling of food folate intake will lead to marked improvements in folate status in women with the MTHFR 677 CC or TT genotype.     

Trace enrichment of biological folates on solid-phase adsorption cartridges and analysis by high-pressure liquid chromatography

A procedure involving solid-phase adsorption on bonded silica has been developed for trace enrichment and selective recovery of folate monoglutamates from liver tissue. A variety of reverse-phase (ethyl, octyl, octadecyl, phenyl) and anion-exchange (aminopropyl, quaternary amine, primary/secondary amine) cartridges were tested for their potential to adsorb and elute folate monoglutamates from standard solutions (50 nmol each of H4-pteroylglutamic acid (H4PteGlu), 5-CHO-H4PteGlu, 10-CHO-H4PteGlu, PteGlu, and 5-CH3-H4PteGlu). Quantitative recoveries were obtained from aminopropyl (-NH2) and all reverse-phase cartridges. For the analyses of rat liver folates, 20 ml of clear supernatant obtained from 5 g of tissue was treated with conjugase, which released folate monoglutamates from endogenous stores. Folate monoglutamates were then separated from nonfolate material by selective adsorption and recovery from -NH2 extraction cartridges. The procedure also provided a 10-fold concentrate, which allowed direct analysis by HPLC, using C-18 reverse-phase ion-pair columns coupled with uv detection (290 nm). Experiments with standard folates (n = 3) mixed with liver tissue and carried through the extraction, incubation, and trace-enrichment steps showed the following recoveries: 10-CHO-H4PteGlu, 55 +/- 5.0%; H4PteGlu, 80 +/- 5.0%; 5-CHO-H4PteGlu, 123 +/- 12.0%; and 5-CH3-H4PteGlu, 89 +/- 3.0%. Endogenous compositions of liver folates (n = 5) were as follows: 10-CHO-H4PteGlu, 1.03 +/- 0.3 nmol/g (6.7%); H4PteGlu, 5.70 +/- 1.0 (36.4%); 5-CHO-H4Pte Glu, 1.34 +/- 0.4 (8.7%); and 5-CH3-H4PteGlu, 7.34 +/- 1.2 (48.0%). Chromatographic peaks were identified by their retention times and by comparing their spectral profiles (obtained by a diode array detector) with respective pure folates. We found trace enrichment of biological folates on solid-phase extraction cartridges to be rapid and quantitative. The method allowed, for the first time, direct analysis of tissue folates by HPLC/uv methods.     

The identification of the folate conjugates found in rat liver 48 h after the administration of radioactively labelled folate tracers.

About 70% of the radioactivity retained in the livers of rats dosed 48 h earlier with radioactively labelled folate was incorporated into two folate conjugates. The major derivative was purified and isolated by Sephadex G-15, DEAE-cellulose and DEAE-Sephadex ion-exchange column chromatography and paper chromatography. It was identified as 10-formylpteroylpentaglutamate by a combination of spectral, microbiological, chemical and chromatographic techniques. The minor conjugate, though less well characterized, exhibited similar properties and was assigned the structure 10-formylpteroyltetraglutamate. 10-Formylpteroylpentaglutamate (2.0nmol/g) and 10-formylpteroyltetraglutamate (0.25nmol/g) comprised about 20% of the total endogenous hepatic folate as determined by microbiological assay (Lactobacillus casei after conjugase treatment.     

Folates of rat tissue: Bioassay of tissue folypolyglutamates and a relationship of liver folypolyglutamates to nutritional folate sufficiency

The folate content of young rat tissues extracted into boiling ascorbate was assayed by Lactobactillus casei both without and after treatment by a folate-free preparation of conjugase. The total folate content of various tissues was: liver, 8.9 μg/g; kidney, 2.6; adrenal, 2.6; bone marrow, 2.4; spleen, 0.9; erythrocytes, 0.8; small intestinal mucosa, 0.7; small intestinal smooth muscle, 0.8; heart, 0.6; brain, 0.4, and skeletal muscle, 0.1 μg/g tissue. For most tissues, with the exception of muscle and kidney, approximately 80% of the total folates assayed as longer chain length folylpolyglutamates.When liver folates were analyzed from rats fed folate-supplemented, control and folate-deficient diets, a relationship was found between folate nutrition and distribution of folylpolyglutamates. The proportion of total folates in the form of longer chain length folylpolyglutamates was greatest in the livers of folate-deficient rats and least in the livers of folate-supplemented rats.     

A rapid and inexpensive method for isolation of total DNA from dehydrated plant tissue

We describe an inexpensive method for dehydration of plant tissue and extraction of high molecular weight DNA. Tissue is dried for 12 to 24 hours in a food dehydrator and subsequently powdered for DNA extraction. Dicot tissue can be powdered in centrifuge tubesen masse using a commercial paint mixer and glass beads. With the use of the paint mixer, tissue never touches common surfaces that might lead to cross contamination, a potential benefit when the DNA is to be used for PCR reactions. The DNA is of a quality equal to that obtained from either lyophilized or fresh frozen tissue (commonly used in many labs). The advantages of the described procedure are that it is fast, does not require expensive equipment (e.g., lyophilizer) and can be used in situations where large numbers of samples must be extracted.     

Assays of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and methionine synthase activities by monitoring 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and tetrahydrofolate using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

We developed a method for assays of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and methionine synthase activities by monitoring their products of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-CH(3)-H(4)folate) and tetrahydrofolate (H(4)folate) directly, using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Folate derivatives and enzymes were stable in the assay process. No reagents in the assay mixture were found to disturb the separation and detection of both H(4)folate and 5-CH(3)-H(4)folate in our assay system. The detection limit of this method was less than 20 nM H(4)folate or 5-CH(3)-H(4)folate in the enzyme assay system. This analytical method, therefore, has a sensitivity high enough to obtain accurate parameters of Michaelis-Menten kinetics and for assays of crude extracts from various biological samples. In addition, the analytical procedure is very simple and economical; it may be a useful tool for studying methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and methionine synthase activities.     

Solid-phase extraction-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the quantification of folate in human plasma or serum

The measurement of 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5 MT) blood levels is one of several factors used to diagnose folate deficiency in humans. 5 can be selectively purified from either human plasma or human serum via solid-phase extraction procedures and specifically detected and quantified in the extracts with liquid chromatography/isotope-dilution electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry. Two different, yet complementary, solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry methods have been developed and applied to the quantification of 5 MT from such extracts. One method utilizes the high-affinity folate-binding protein from cow's milk coupled with multiple-reaction-monitoring-mode tandem mass spectrometry while the other method utilizes reversed-phase C(18) extraction followed by selected-ion-monitoring-mode mass spectrometry. The accuracy of each method is assessed through a comparative determination of 5 MT levels in homogenous plasma and serum pools. Additionally, each method is compared and evaluated against the "total folate" results provided by routine radioassay and microbiological assay determinations. On the basis of the experimental data presented in this report, it is suggested that both methods have the capacity to serve as potential reference methods for the quantification of circulating 5MT in plasma or serum.     

A comparison of methods for the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from artificially-contaminated dairy products using PCR

Rapid nucleic acid-based methods to detect human pathogens in foods are dependent on the reliability of the DNA or RNA extraction method used. Skim milk, non-fat dry milk, Cheddar and Brie cheese, and reconstituted whey powder were seeded with serially diluted (10(0)-10(7) cfu 10 ml(-1)) Escherichia coli O157:H7 and subjected to DNA extraction (i) directly from the food product using a solvent-based procedure and (ii) using a guanidinium isothiocyanate (GITC) procedure after previous bacterial concentration. Both the efficiency of DNA extraction and the overall PCR detection limits were evaluated. In almost all instances, the total DNA yield using the solvent method was greater than that obtained for the concentration method. However, the purity of the DNA obtained after bacterial concentration was significantly better than that obtained after organic extraction alone. PCR detection limits after each DNA recovery method varied with the specific food, ranging from 10(1) to 10(4) cfu ml(-1) for all products except whey powder. DNA yields and subsequent PCR detection limits for reconstituted whey powder were extremely poor, and neither procedural changes nor the addition of PCR enhancement agents were able to improve recovery and/or detection. It is concluded that the efficiency of DNA extraction is an extremely important and frequently overlooked variable impacting the overall detection limits of PCR-based detection strategies.     

Rapid detection of viruses using electrical biochips and anti-virion sera

AIMS: Rapid detection and quantification of viruses is crucial in clinical practice, veterinary medicine, agriculture, basic research as well as in biotechnological factories. However, although various techniques were described and are currently used, development of more rapid, more sensitive and quantitative methods seems to be still important. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here we describe a method for rapid detection of viruses (using bacteriophages as model viruses), based on electrical biochip array technology with the use of antibodies against capsid proteins. CONCLUSIONS: Using the procedure developed in this work, we were able to detect 2 x 10(4) virions on the chip. The whole assay procedure takes c. 50 min and the assay is quantitative. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This procedure may be useful in various approaches, including detection of bacteriophage contamination in bioreactors and possibly detection of toxin gene-bearing phages or other viruses in food samples.