Protein microarrays: Reduced autofluorescence and improved LOD

In protein microarray performance, the choice of an appropriate surface is a crucial factor. Three‐dimensional substrates like nitrocellulose are known to have higher binding capacities than planar surfaces. Furthermore, they can enable the immobilization of proteins in a functional manner. One disadvantage of today's nitrocellulose‐based microarrays is the high background fluorescence, which can interfere with the detection of low‐abundance proteins. We have developed an innovative black nitrocellulose membrane‐based protein microarray that exhibits low autofluorescence in combination with increased sensitivity and improved LOD (limit of detection). The applicability of the novel material was demonstrated with main focus on reversed‐phase microarray experiments. In comparison to various commercially available microarrays, a higher sensitivity in regard to the spotted protein was achieved. In contrast to other porous nitrocellulose‐based microarrays, the black nitrocellulose provides a significant lower autofluorescence and background intensity.     

An improved ELISA method for the detection of Salmonella typhimurium

The applicability of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of salmonellas in foodstuffs was investigated. Several factors affecting the sensitivity of the ELISA, such as the type of protein used for plate post-coating, the method of antibody labelling, and accelerators for antigen-antibody and enzyme-substrate reactions, were studied. Labelling of the antibody with horseradish peroxidase and the use of o-phenylenediamine as substrate in the detection system were demonstrated to be most suitable for the enzyme assay. Based on these findings, an improved ELISA method was developed for the detection of Salmonella typhimurium. The improved technique was able to detect as few as 5 x 10(4)-10(5) cell/ml of salmonellas, and about 24 h were required to enrich the bacteria in food samples and to perform the test. With some modifications, the ELISA assay could reach a very high level of sensitivity and provide excellent reproducibility.     

Immunoaffinity layering enhances the sensitivity of antigen detection on nitrocellulose strips

A simple strategy to remarkably increase the sensitivity of detection of antigens applied as dot or western blot on nitrocellulose membrane using human serum albumin as model antigen has been described. This involves subjecting the antigen bearing nitrocellulose strips to multiple incubation cycles with primary antibody and enzyme conjugated secondary antibody prior to staining for enzyme activity. The sensitivity of detection could be increased up to a thousand fold after three incubation cycles. Aggregation of human serum albumin could be detected by the multiple incubation procedure at very low protein concentration after electrophoresis and transfer onto nitrocellulose.     

Non-radioactive labeling and detection of nucleic acids. I. A novel DNA labeling and detection system based on digoxigenin: anti-digoxigenin ELISA principle (digoxigenin system)

A novel highly sensitive non-radioactive DNA labeling and detection system based on the ELISA principle has been developed. DNA is modified with the cardenolide-hapten digoxigenin by enzymatic incorporation of digoxigenin-labeled deoxyuridine-triphosphate with Klenow enzyme. Digoxigenin is linked to dUTP via an 11-atom linear spacer (Dig-[11]-dUTP). Following hybridization of membrane-bound target-DNA with a digoxigenin-labeled probe, the hybrids are detected by an ELISA reaction using digoxigenin-specific antibodies covalently coupled to the marker enzyme alkaline phosphatase [(Dig):CIAP]. This binding of antibody: marker enzyme-conjugate is followed by an enzyme-catalysed coupled redox reaction with the colour substrates 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate (BCIP) and nitroblue tetrazolium salt (NBT) giving rise to a deep-blue coloured, water-insoluble precipitate directly adhering to the membrane. The digoxigenin system allows the detection of 0.1 pg homologous DNA within 16 h in dot- and Southern-blots on nitrocellulose or nylon membranes avoiding any significant background even after a prolonged period of color development. Due to its high sensitivity and specificity, the new system is appropriate for detection of single-copy genes in genomic blots as well as for Northern, slot, colony, plaque and in situ hybridizations.     

An improved ELISA method for the detection of Salmonella typhimurium

The applicability of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of salmonellas in foodstuffs was investigated. Several factors affecting the sensitivity of the ELISA, such as the type of protein used for plate post-coating, the method of antibody labelling, and accelerators for antigen-antibody and enzyme-substrate reactions, were studied. Labelling of the antibody with horseradish peroxidase and the use of o -phenylenediamine as substrate in the detection system were demonstrated to be most suitable for the enzyme assay.
Based on these findings, an improved ELISA method was developed for the detection of Salmonella typhimurium. The improved technique was able to detect as few as 5×10⁴-10⁵ cell/ml of salmonellas, and about 24 h were required to enrich the bacteria in food samples and to perform the test. With some modifications, the ELISA assay could reach a very high level of sensitivity and provide excellent repro-ducibility.     

Functional heterogeneity of monoclonal antibodies obtained using different screening assays

Two alternate screening methods have enabled the detection of monoclonal antibodies with different specificities toward the lysosomal enzyme alpha-mannosidase of Dictyostelium discoideum. Spleen/myeloma hybrid cell cultures were screened for antibody production by separate assays: an indirect enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) based on the antibody binding to enzyme adsorbed on plastic, and a direct assay of the antibodies' ability to precipitate enzyme activity with fixed Staphylococcus aureus cells (Pansorbin). Fourteen stable antibody-producing cell lines resulted from a single fusion; these fell into three distinct classes based on their screening characteristics. A group of eight were positive in both assays, and these immunoprecipitated a 140,000 Mr precursor form of alpha-mannosidase in addition to the 58,000 and 60,000 Mr mature enzyme subunits from [35S]methionine-labeled total secreted protein preparations. Two of the antibodies were positive only in the immunoprecipitation assay; these failed to precipitate the 140,000 Mr precursor. The third class consisted of four antibodies that were positive only in the ELISA method. These exclusively recognized an altered conformation of the enzyme (precursor and mature forms) that was immobilized either on plastic or on nitrocellulose paper. In addition, only members of this class were able to bind to immobilized fragments of protease-treated enzyme. The implications of these findings for the general design of monoclonal antibody screenings and for the alternative structures of this enzyme are discussed.     

Antibody-linked polymerase assay on protein blots: a novel method for identifying polymerases following SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

We describe a method for correlating polymerase activity with a particular polypeptide band in an SDS-polyacrylamide gel which does not require renaturation of the SDS-denatured enzyme. The method involves the following steps: (i) transfer of proteins from an SDS-polyacrylamide gel onto nitrocellulose; (ii) incubation with excess antiserum raised against a partially purified polymerase preparation to link one Fab site of an antibody molecule to the denatured enzyme on the nitrocellulose; (iii) binding of native polymerase to the other Fab site of the antibody molecule in the immune complex to generate a specific polymerase 'sandwich'; (iv) assaying of the nitrocellulose filter for antibody-linked native polymerase activity using an appropriate template and a radioactive substrate followed by treatment with trichloroacetic acid to precipitate in situ the radioactive product. The essential feature of this method is that the use of both non-specific anti-polymerase serum and a partially purified enzyme preparation is sufficient to allow identification of a specific protein following SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This antibody-linked polymerase assay has been developed to identify a 130,000-dalton RNA-dependent RNA polymerase from cowpea leaves. Possible applications of this type of assay as a tool for identifying a wide variety of proteins are discussed.     

Production of a monoclonal antibody specific for Salmonella spp.

A monoclonal antibody (MAb) specific for heat-treated Salmonella spp. which shows no cross-reactivity with other enteric bacteria when tested by an ELISA system, has been developed. The MAb isotype is IgG2a and has been successfully purified using protein A. Preliminary work suggests that the MAb recognizes a protein present in the Boivin lipopolysaccharide extracts of Salmonella spp.     

Signal amplification of microarray-based immunoassay by optimization of nanoliposome formulations

The use of microarray-based immunoassay is often limited by its sensitivity. To increase the sensitivities of such an immunoassay, liposome encapsulation was explored. Two different liposome formations and several preparation methods were examined to optimize encapsulation and signal-enhancing efficacy for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and antibody array. The signal amplification by liposome encapsulation was demonstrated through a detection for foodborne pathogenic Listeria. In plate-trapped antigen (PTA) ELISA, horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-loaded liposome increased signal 9-fold more than the control. Limits of detection (LODs) of HRP-encapsulated liposome were 6.4×10(5) and 5.5×10(6)CFU/ml in sandwich ELISA and antibody array, respectively. Furthermore, when chromogenic 4-chloro-1-naphthol (4-CN) substrate was used for signal development in the antibody array, the signal could be detected with the naked eye. These results suggest that the liposome encapsulation technique can have great potential for signal amplification and, therefore, for increasing assay sensitivity for various formats of immunoassay, especially microarray-based format.     

应用基因重组Epstein-Barr病毒早期抗原P83蛋白检测鼻咽癌患者血清中的IgA/EA抗体

将pUCB质粒表达的P83蛋白应用于免疫印迹法(IB)和ELISA中,检测了85例鼻咽癌(NPC)患者和100例健康人血清,同时与免疫酶法(IE)作比较。结果表明,免疫印迹法对NPC患者血清阳性检出率为94％;ELISA法阳性检出率为88％;而IE法阳性率为64％。三种方法检测健康人血清出现低水平IgA/EA抗体的阳性率分别为4％、3％及2％。用IE法检测IgA/EA抗体为阴性的NPC患者血清,用IB法检测的阳性率达87％,ELISA法阳性检出率为77％。IB法与ELISA法之间具有较好的正相关(r=0.67,P<0.01)。     

Location of a fibronectin domain involved in newt epidermal cell migration

The interaction of migrating newt epidermal cells with the extracellular matrix protein, fibronectin, was studied. Pieces of nitrocellulose coated with intact human plasma fibronectin or proteolytically derived fragments were implanted into wounded limbs so that the coated nitrocellulose served as wound bed for migrating epidermal cells as they attempted to form a wound epithelium. Epidermal cells migrated very poorly on nitrocellulose pieces coated with (a) a 27-kD amino-terminal heparin-binding fragment, (b) a 46-kD gelatin-binding fragment, (c) a combined 33- and 66-kD carboxy-terminal heparin-binding preparation representing peptide sequences in the A and B chains, respectively, or (d) a 31-kD carboxy-terminal fragment from the A chain, containing a free sulfhydryl group. In contrast, epidermal cells readily migrated onto nitrocellulose coated with a mixture of fragments from the middle of the molecule (80-125kD) that bind neither heparin nor gelatin. Attempts to block migration on fibronectin-coated nitrocellulose using IB10, a monoclonal antibody that blocks Chinese hamster ovary cell attachment to fibronectin, were unsuccessful despite saturation of the epitope against which IB10 is directed. In contrast, a polyclonal anti-fibronectin antibody did inhibit migration. These results show that the ability of fibronectin to support newt epidermal cell migration is not shared equally by all regions of the molecule, but is restricted to a domain in the middle third. They also suggest that the site supporting migration is separate and distinct from the site mediating Chinese hamster ovary cell attachment.     

Antigenic determinant and interspecies cross-reactivity of a monoclonal antibody to poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase

A monoclonal antibody (1F4) was prepared against calf thymus poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase. It was classified as IgG1/kappa and its antigenic determinant was localized on the 46 kDa portion of the enzyme molecule which contains the site for the binding of DNA. When calf thymus DNA-binding proteins were subjected to immunostaining after electrophoresis and transblotting to a nitrocellulose filter, the native enzyme (120 kDa) and its endogenous degradation products (80, 64 and 32 kDa) were detected. When the interspecies cross-reactivity was examined using DNA-binding proteins from 6 different sources, 1F4 reacted with the 120- and 32-kDa protein bands in HeLa cells, mouse testis and chicken liver as in the case of calf thymus. These results indicate that the antigenic structures of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase and its degradation products are highly conserved in various animal cells.     

Detection of antigens on nitrocellulose paper immunoblots with monoclonal antibodies

A very sensitive method for the detection of antigen-antibody complexes on nitrocellulose paper immunoblots is described. The protein antigens are separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by their electrophoretic transfer onto a nitrocellulose sheet (“Western blot”). The protein antigens bound to the nitrocellulose paper are exposed to the monoclonal antibody and the antibody-antigen complexes are detected on the paper by an immunoenzymatic reaction. The improved sensitivity of this method is the result of (i) the use of the detergent Tween 20 in blocking the nonspecific binding of the antibodies to the nitrocellulose paper, (ii) the use of a peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) reaction, and (iii) the intensification of the diaminobenzidine reaction product with nickel and cobalt ions in phosphate buffer.     

Generation of a polyclonal antibody that simultaneously detects multiple Ser/Thr protein kinases

In order to obtain a polyclonal antibody that recognizes various protein kinases, a peptide corresponding to an amino acid sequence of a highly conserved subdomain (subdomain VIB) of the protein kinase family was synthesized and used for immunization. When the synthetic peptide, CVVHRDLKPENLLLAS, was coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and used to immunize rabbits, polyclonal antibodies that detected multiple protein kinases on a Western blot were generated. One of the antibodies obtained, KI98, detected a variety of purified Ser/Thr protein kinases, such as calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM-kinase II), calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaM-kinase IV), cAMP-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C, and Erk2. The antibody detected as low as 0.2 ng of protein kinases blotted onto a nitrocellulose membrane by dot-immunobinding assay. When a rat brain extract was analyzed with this antibody, various protein kinases were simultaneously detected. The present anti-peptide antibody with a broad spectrum of cross-reactivity to multiple protein kinases may be a powerful tool for comprehensive analysis focused on protein kinases.     

蛋白质双向电泳、印迹转移及蛋白质合成无细胞体系技术在小鼠腹水细胞EF-3研究中的应用

本文应用近年发展起来的生化技术――蛋白质双向电泳（其第一向为等电聚焦,第二向为SDS凝胶电泳）,将小鼠腹水细胞核糖体蛋进行了指纹分离。并利用蛋白质印迹转移（Western blotting）,将转移后的硝酸纤维膜与交联了碱性磷酸酶的第二抗体和抗酵母EF-3抗体反应,证实该核糖体蛋白含有EF-3同源片段,进而制备了蛋白质合成无细胞体系。通过测定PolyU指导下3 H-phe掺入活力的免疫失活实验,初步证实此同源片段是小鼠腹水细胞蛋白质合成所必需。 The ribosomal proteins of H22a cell,were separated with the method of two-D gel electrophoresis (the first dimention is isoelectric focus and the second is SDS PAGE).Then the Western blotting was used,the transferred nitrocellulose sheet was treated with antiyeast EF-3 antibody and the second antibody bonded with alklinephosphoesterase.The result shows that the ribosomal proteins have a homologous fragment to yeast EF-3 factor.The cell-free system of protein synthesis was also established.By determing the activity of polyU direeted 3H-phe intervention in immunodeactivitive experiment,it is primaril confirmed that this fragment is the esscntial for the protein biosynthesis in H22a cell.     

The use of gold reagents to quantitate antibodies eluted from nitrocellulose blots: application to electron microscopic immunocytochemistry

An assay is described in which gold reagents were used to quantitate nanogram amounts of antibody that had been eluted from antigens immobilized on nitrocellulose paper. Standard curves were generated by the application of rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) to nitrocellulose sheets assembled in a dot blot matrix apparatus. Blots were stained using either colloidal gold or immunogold, enabling quantitation of IgG concentration by scanning densitometry. Linear and reproducible standard curves were obtained. As little as 1 ng IgG/dot could be quantified using either gold reagent. In contrast to colloidal gold, immunogold could be used specifically to quantitate rabbit IgG regardless of the presence of bovine serum albumin or antigen coeluted from the nitrocellulose blot. The applicability of the immunogold assay was demonstrated by fractionating a complex rabbit antiserum raised against the RIM protein of frog retinal rod outer segments. Anti-RIM antibody was affinity-purified, quantitated by the immunogold assay, and subsequently employed in immunocytochemical studies using thin sections of retina embedded in a hydrophilic plastic, LR-Gold.     

Efficacy of protein A-HRP in an immunological study of black rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli Higendorf) humoral immune responses

The efficacy of protein A-horse radish peroxidase (HRP), as compared to that of mouse polyclonal antibody raised against purified Ig, in detection of black rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli Higendorf) immunoglobulin (Ig) was examined. Protein A affinity chromatography successfully purified Ig from black rockfish serum; the purified-Ig could be visualised as two protein bands (MW 70 and 25kDa) following resolution with sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under reducing conditions. In SDS-PAGE immunoblot profiles of the purified-Ig, the mouse polyclonal antibody recognised both the light chain and heavy chains of rockfish Ig, whereas protein A-HRP immunostained only the heavy chain of rockfish Ig. These results suggest that protein A-HRP may be used to detect rockfish antibody-antigen complexes in immunoassays. In a 2-DE immunoblot assay for exploring antigenic profiles of Lactococcus garvieae KG9408, protein A-HRP successfully detected specific antibodies to antigenic proteins of L. garvieae in the rockfish Ig. In addition, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed a high correlation between the results obtained for positivity of L. garvieae when protein A-HRP and the mouse polyclonal antibody-was used to analyse samples from 25 diseased rockfish. These results collectively indicate that protein A-HRP has a high affinity for Ig, and may be useful for new investigations into the humoral immune responses of rockfish.     

Arginine-specific cysteine proteinase from porphyromonas gingivalis as a convenient tool in protein chemistry.

RgpB, a cysteine proteinase produced by Porphyromonas gingivalis, exhibits proteolytic activity selectively directed against peptide bonds containing an arginine residue in the P1 position. Here we show that this enzyme can be used for very efficient and specific protein cleavage. RgpB is highly active even at high concentrations of denaturing agents, including urea (up to 6 M) and SDS (0.1%), both of them being commonly used for solubilization of insoluble proteins and peptides. Moreover, RgpB is able to digest polypeptide chains in buffers supplemented with 1% Triton X-100, 1% octyl or decylpyranoside, detergents employed for the enzymatic digestion of proteins transferred onto nitrocellulose membranes. These features render RgpB a suitable tool for use in protein chemistry.     

人GST-AWP1融合蛋白的原核表达及其抗体制备

为进一步研究人的一新蛋白———蛋白激酶C相关激酶 1相关蛋白 (AWP1)的结构、功能及与其相互作用的蛋白而进行GST AWP融合蛋白表达载体的构建、原核表达、纯化及其抗体的制备 .采用逆转录PCR(RT PCR)法从人ECV30 4内皮细胞中扩增AWP1cDNA编码区 ,并将其重组于谷胱甘肽硫转移酶 (GST)融合蛋白表达质粒pGEX KG中 .经酶切、序列鉴定分析后 ,用该重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL2 1,并经异丙基 β D 硫代半乳糖苷 (IPTG)诱导产生GST AWP1融合蛋白 ,继而纯化获得了分子量约 5 6kD的融合蛋白 .将此融合蛋白免疫新西兰兔 ,经ELISA和Western印迹检测获得了效价高、免疫活性强的兔抗人多克隆抗体 .结果表明成功构建了GST AWP1融合蛋白表达载体 ,在大肠杆菌高效表达了GST AWP1融合蛋白 ,并获得高效多抗 ,为下阶段深入AWP1功能研究提供了重要的基础     

检测人血清中SARS冠状病毒IgG抗体的ELISA方法建立及其应用

为了建立方便、敏感和特异的SARS病毒血清学诊断方法,利用PQE30表达系统在大肠杆菌M15中分段高效表达了SARS病毒N蛋白.通过金属鏊合亲和层析纯化了目的蛋白N-1和N-2,Western blot结果显示,两个表达蛋白均具有较好的抗原性.然后将N-1和N-2蛋白共同包被,建立了检测人血清中SARS病毒IgG抗体的间接ELISA法.用此方法检测120例临床诊断为SARS的病人和244个不同年龄组正常人血清IgG抗体,结果120例SARS病人的第一份血清IgG抗体总阳性率为60.0%,发病第0～7、8～10、11～14、15～27和28天后的血清中,SARS病毒IgG抗体阳性率分别为0、11.1%、60.0%、60.5%和70.3%;而244份正常人血清检测结果均为阴性,包括100份14岁以下儿童血清也未发现假阳性.结果表明,利用大肠杆菌表达的N蛋白完全能够替代全病毒灭活抗原,所建立的间接ELISA方法简单,价格低廉,能保证生物安全,对SARS可疑病例的确诊和排除具有重要的实际应用价值,可用于SARS高危人群的血清流行病学监测,SARS疫情的控制和预防,以及SARS病毒蛋白功能的研究.