Two-dimensional gel systems for rapid histone analysis for use in minislab polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Two two-dimensional polyacrylamide minislab gel systems were devised for the rapid analysis of histone modified species and variants. The first system consisted of an acetic acid-urea or acetic acid-urea-Triton X-100 minislab gel for the first-dimension electrophoresis followed by a polyacrylamide-sodium dodecyl sulfate minislab gel for the second-dimension electrophoresis. The second system consisted of a polyacrylamide-sodium dodecyl sulfate minislab gel for the first-dimension electrophoresis followed by either an acetic acid-urea or an acetic acid-urea-Triton X-100 minislab gel for second-dimension electrophoresis. Both systems offer distinct advantages for rapid high-resolution analysis of modified histone species and variants.     

An Edible-to-insects Calcium Alginate Gel as a Carrier for Entomopathogenic Nematodes

A carrier for entomopathogenic nematodes based on an edible-to-insects calcium alginate gel was developed. The alginate system was produced by external setting through an interaction between an aqueous sodium alginate mixture and calcium ions under acidic conditions. Sodium hexa-metaphosphate was used to control gel formation. Yeast extract used in the gel as a phagostimulant for Spodoptera littoralis larvae improved the insect's relative consumption rate and digestibility. The nematodes in the gel effectively controlled the larvae in a 24-h leaf bioassay, although nematode survival in the gel was ~ 50%. Gels subjected to 31% relative humidity (RH) prior to larval feeding became desiccated and were inedible to insects. However, gels at 61% RH supported larval feeding, although the water loss from the gel due to evaporation from 200-400-mg gel cubes at this humidity exceeded 50%. The gel might be a useful delivery system for nematodes against insects infesting the plant canopy in greenhouses.     

Apparatus and method for preparative gel electrophoresis

A new apparatus for preparative gel electrophoresis with continuous elution which includes a miniaturized electrode and elution chamber system is described. The design provides high resolution, high yield, applicability for small and large amounts of peptide material, and easy operation. Furthermore, the apparatus enables a very accurate gel column or gel gradient to be formed. A method for preparative gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate which allows the purification of peptides and proteins without concurrently modifying tryptophane residues or blocking N-terminal α-amino groups is also described.     

Formulation and Evaluation of Lidocaine Lipid Nanosystems for Dermal Delivery

The objective of the present investigation was to formulate solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) for improving the dermal delivery of a local anesthetic agent lidocaine (LID). SLN and NLC were characterized for particle size distribution, polydispersity index, entrapment efficiency, X-ray powder diffraction pattern (XRD), thermal behavior by differential scanning colorimeter (DSC) and surface morphology by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). LID-loaded SLN and NLC were formulated into hydrogels for topical application. The in vitro permeation profiles of LID SLN gel, LID NLC gel, and a marketed LID formulation (Xylocaine® gel) were evaluated by using guinea pig skin. The in vivo efficacy of LID SLN gel, LID NLC gel, and a marketed LID formulation (Xylocaine® gel) gel was evaluated on guinea pig using pinprick test. LID SLN showed a particle size of 78.1 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.556, whereas LID NLC showed a particle size of 72.8 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.463. The entrapment efficiency of LID in both SLN and NLC was 97% and 95.9%, respectively. The TEM studies revealed the almost spherical nature of LID SLN and NLC formulations. The XRD and DSC studies of LID SLN suggested amorphization of drug in the carrier system. The SLN formulation was stable with respect to particle size, polydispersity, and entrapment efficiency for 6 months at 40°C/75% relative humidity (RH). Negligible leakage was observed for the NLC formulation when stored for 1 month at 40°C/75% RH. In vitro permeation studies indicated that LID SLN gel and LID NLC gel significantly sustained the LID release compared to that of Xylocaine® gel. The in vivo efficacy results supported the results of the in vitro permeation studies wherein the LID SLN gel and LID NLC gel resulted in fivefold and sixfold increase in duration of anesthesia, respectively, compared to that of Xylocaine® gel.     

A new approach for on-line enrichment in electrophoresis of dilute protein solutions

A method is described for on-line enrichment/zone sharpening of a sample of negatively charged proteins (an analogous method for cationic proteins can be designed). The sample is applied on the top of a 5-mm thick layer of a neutral polyacrylamide gel which rests on another 5-mm thick, large-pore polyacrylamide gel which contains positively charged groups. The latter gel layer is attached to the neutral gel column, used for the electrophoretic separation of the proteins. When a voltage is applied the proteins start migrating and become electrostatically adsorbed at the top of the charged, large-pore gel layer (pH 5.4). With the upper electrode vessel filled with a buffer of a pH higher (pH 7.7) than that employed in the enrichment step and with a voltage between the electrodes, these enriched proteins are released (because the enrichment gel is non-charged at pH 7.7) with zone sharpening and migrate into the 5-cm long column (i.d. 5 mm) of a neutral, large-pore polyacrylamide gel for electrophoretic analysis. Upon the electrophoretic migration from the enrichment gel into the separation gel a second zone sharpening may occur, if the increase in pH from 5.4 to 7.7 in the separation gel is not close to momentary. By employing colored test proteins the efficiency of the enrichment step is visually illustrated by a picture. The principle of the concentration method described has been employed also in chromatographic experiments and can with appropriate modifications also be used in other electrophoretic methods, such as capillary electrophoresis.     

A Novel Method for Localizing Reporter Fluorescent Beads Near the Cell Culture Surface for Traction Force Microscopy

PA gels have long been used as a platform to study cell traction forces due to ease of fabrication and the ability to tune their elastic properties. When the substrate is coated with an extracellular matrix protein, cells adhere to the gel and apply forces, causing the gel to deform. The deformation depends on the cell traction and the elastic properties of the gel. If the deformation field of the surface is known, surface traction can be calculated using elasticity theory. Gel deformation is commonly measured by embedding fluorescent marker beads uniformly into the gel. The probes displace as the gel deforms. The probes near the surface of the gel are tracked. The displacements reported by these probes are considered as surface displacements. Their depths from the surface are ignored. This assumption introduces error in traction force evaluations. For precise measurement of cell forces, it is critical for the location of the beads to be known. We have developed a technique that utilizes simple chemistry to confine fluorescent marker beads, 0.1 and 1 µm in diameter, in PA gels, within 1.6 μm of the surface. We coat a coverslip with poly-D-lysine (PDL) and fluorescent beads. PA gel solution is then sandwiched between the coverslip and an adherent surface. The fluorescent beads transfer to the gel solution during curing. After polymerization, the PA gel contains fluorescent beads on a plane close to the gel surface.     

A large-scale preparative electrophoretic method for the purification of pyridine nucleotide-linked dehydrogenases.

A large-scale preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) method that uses a 1.5- or a 2.0-cm-thick slab gel has been developed for the purification of NAD-dependent dehydrogenases. With the 2.0-cm-thick gel, a maximum volume (up to about 160 ml) of enzyme sample was applied to a gel plate, resulting in the application of a large amount of protein and enzyme. After the electrophoretic run, the enzyme band on the gel was detected by activity staining and recovered from the gel by extraction with a fairly loose-fitting glass-Teflon homogenizer. NAD-dependent alanine dehydrogenase, leucine dehydrogenase, and glycerol dehydrogenase were purified in high yields (more than 80%) by the preparative PAGE method. The method can be carried out using a simple slab gel apparatus, which is modified from the conventional analytical apparatus for the purpose of preparative PAGE under conditions used for routine analytical runs. Thus, the method may be suitable for use in purifying NAD(P)-dependent dehydrogenases and many other enzymes after conventional chromatography such as dye-ligand affinity chromatography or ion-exchange chromatography.     

A new affinity matrix for mineralocorticoid receptors

The behavior of mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors of rabbit kidney cytosol was investigated on two affinity gels: a new affinity matrix prepared with a 3-O-derivative of carboxymethyloxime deoxycorticosterone (deoxycorticosterone gel) and a gel linked to a 17 beta-dexamethasone derivative (dexamethasone gel). Deoxycorticosterone gel was highly specific, since it retained mineralocorticoid but not glucocorticoid receptors, and dexamethasone gel exhibited high selectivity for glucocorticoid receptors since it did not bind mineralocorticoid receptors. The use of these two matrices allowed separation of mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors and further characterization of each type of cytosolic receptors after its isolation. Cytosolic mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors stabilized by tungstate were found to have a Stokes radius of approximately 6 nm, as determined by high performance size exclusion chromatography and a sedimentation coefficient of approximately 9 S, determined on a glycerol density gradient containing tungstate, under either high or low salt conditions. The hydrodynamic parameters, binding characteristics, and specificity of mineralocorticoid receptors were the same in the untreated and dexamethasone gel-treated cytosol. Similarly glucocorticoid receptor characteristics remained unchanged after deoxycorticosterone gel treatment, indicating biochemical independence of cytosolic mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors. The [3H]aldosterone receptor complex eluted from deoxycorticosterone gel was recovered with a 30-40% yield and a purification factor of about 1000. Purified mineralocorticoid receptors had the same sedimentation coefficient as cytosolic mineralocorticoid receptors (9 S) but a different Stokes radius (4 versus 6 nm). The decrease in the Stokes radius of the purified mineralocorticoid receptors was probably due to the gel filtration method. These results indicate that the newly synthesized matrix specific for mineralocorticoid receptors constitutes a powerful tool for their extensive purification.     

Nanoemulsion based gel for transdermal delivery of meloxicam: Physico-chemical,mechanistic investigation

AimsThe aim of the present investigation was to develop a nanoemulsion (NE) gel formulation for the transdermal delivery of meloxicam (MLX) in order to ensure maximum controlled and sustained drug release capacity.Main methodsThe MLX containing NE gel was prepared and characterized for particle size, zeta potential, pH, rheology, in vitro drug release, in vitro skin permeation, and in vitro hemolysis. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of MLX-NE gel treated rat skin was performed to investigate the skin permeation mechanism of meloxicam from NE gel. Skin permeation potential of the developed gel formulation was assessed using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The in vivo toxicity of MLX-NE gel was assessed by histopathological examination in rat. The rat paw edema test was performed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of MLX-NE gel.Key findingsPercutaneous absorption studies demonstrated a higher permeation of meloxicam from NE gel, than the drug solution. FTIR and DSC studies supported stratum corneum lipid extraction as a possible penetration enhancer mechanism for MLX-NE gel. CLSM studies confirmed the permeation of the NE gel formulation to the deeper layers of the skin (up to 130 μm). MLX-NE gel turned out to be non-irritant, biocompatible, and provided maximum inhibition of paw edema in rats over 24 h in contrast to MLX solution.SignificanceThe nanoemulsion gel formulation may hold promise as an effective alternative for the transdermal delivery of meloxicam.     

Immobilized salt-tolerant yeasts: application of a new polyethylene-oxide support in a continuous stirred-tank reactor for flavour production

Immobilization of salt-tolerant yeasts considerably decreases the total time required for the flavour development in soy-sauce processes. For immobilization of cells, alginate gel is mostly used as support material. However, alginate is not very suitable for use in soy-sauce processes because alginate is sensitive to abrasion and chemically unstable towards the high salt content of the soy-sauce medium. In contrast, a newly developed polyethylene-oxide gel seems to be more suitable, but this gel has not been used so far for flavour production in a bioreactor with a high salt content. Therefore, this gel was applied with immobilized salt-tolerant yeasts in a continuous stirred-tank reactor, containing more than 12.5% (w/v) salt. In this reactor, the polyethylene-oxide gel particles did not show any abrasion for several days, while alginate gel beads were already destroyed within 1 day. In addition, the polyethylene-oxide gel particles with immobilized salt-tolerant yeasts Candida versatilis and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii showed a good flavour production. From this work, it was concluded that the application of polyethylene-oxide gel in long-term soy-sauce processes is attractive in the case the sticking together of polyethylene-oxide gel particles can be controlled.     

Activity assay for nisin-like acidic bacteriocins using an optimal pH-conditioned gel matrix

A new zymography for detecting nisin-like acidic bacteriocins was developed using a tricine-sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel and an acidic gel matrix (pH 4.0). After electrophoresis, proteins in the tricine gel were electrotransferred to an optimal pH-conditioned gel matrix (OP-CGM). The OP-CGM was overlaid with indicator cells (Bacillus cereus) embedded in nutrient broth soft agar (0.8%, w/v). Antibacterial activity shown as a growth inhibition using B. cereus was detected at approximately 3.8 kDa. Because nisin is unstable in buffers at pH values over 6.0, the common electrophoretic systems, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and tricine gel, are not suitable for detection of nisin-like acidic bacteriocins.     

A gel transfer tank for immunoblotting and its application for analysis of nuclear protein antigens

The design of a gel transfer tank for immunoblotting is described. It is simple and cheap to make, provides a uniform field and uniform transfer over the whole area of the gel, and can easily be adapted for use with any size of gel. It has been used for transfer of proteins from both sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide and isoelectric focusing gels to nitrocellulose membranes and its application to the analysis of nuclear proteins is described.     

A Technique for High-Throughput Protein Crystallization in Ionically Cross-Linked Polysaccharide Gel Beads for X-Ray Diffraction Experiments

A simple technique for high-throughput protein crystallization in ionically cross-linked polysaccharide gel beads has been developed for contactless handling of crystals in X-ray crystallography. The method is designed to reduce mechanical damage to crystals caused by physical contact between crystal and mount tool and by osmotic shock during various manipulations including cryoprotection, heavy-atom derivatization, ligand soaking, and diffraction experiments. For this study, protein crystallization in alginate and κ-carrageenan gel beads was performed using six test proteins, demonstrating that proteins could be successfully crystallized in gel beads. Two complete diffraction data sets from lysozyme and ID70067 protein crystals in gel beads were collected at 100 K without removing the crystals; the results showed that the crystals had low mosaicities. In addition, crystallization of glucose isomerase was carried out in alginate gel beads in the presence of synthetic zeolite molecular sieves (MS), a hetero-epitaxic nucleant; the results demonstrated that MS can reduce excess nucleation of this protein in beads. To demonstrate heavy-atom derivatization, lysozyme crystals were successfully derivatized with K₂PtBr₆ within alginate gel beads. These results suggest that gel beads prevent serious damage to protein crystals during such experiments.     

Sorbitan ester niosomes for topical delivery of rofecoxib

The aim of the present investigation is to encapsulate rofecoxib in niosomes and incorporate the prepared niosomes into dermal gel base for sustained therapeutic action. Niosomes were prepared by lipid film hydration technique and were analyzed for size, entrapment efficiency and drug retention capacity. Niosomal vesicles were then incorporated into blank carbopol gel to form niosomal gel. The in vitro permeation study across pig skin was performed using Keshary-Chien glass diffusion cell. The size and entrapment efficiency of the niosomal vesicles increased with gradual increase in HLB value of nonionic surfactants used. Maximum drug entrapment was observed with Span 20 with HLB value of 8.6 and drug leakage from vesicles was less at refrigerated condition than at the room temperature. Higher proportion of cholesterol made the niosomal formulation more stable with high drug retention properties. The niosomal gel showed a prolong drug release behavior compared to plain drug gel. Differential scanning calorimetric study of drug loaded gel and pig skin after permeation study confirmed inertness of carbopol gel base toward rofecoxib and absence of drug metabolism in the skin during permeation study, respectively. The niosomal formulations were successfully prepared by lipid film hydration technique using cholesterol and Span as nonionic surfactant. Presence of cholesterol made niosomes more stable with high drug entrapment efficiency and retention properties. The lower flux value of niosomal gel as compared to plain drug gel across pig skin assured the prolong drug release behavior with sustained action.     

All about DIGE: quantification technology for differential-display 2D-gel proteomics

2D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has been the traditional workhorse of proteomics, allowing for the resolution of several thousand proteins in a single gel. Difference gel electrophoresis is an emerging technology that allows for accurate quantification with statistical confidence while controlling for nonbiologic variation, and also increases the dynamic range and sensitivity of traditional 2D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. With inclusion of an internal standard formed from equal amounts of every sample in an experiment, difference gel electrophoresis technology also allows for repetitive measurements and multivariable analyses to be quantitatively analyzed in one co-ordinated experiment, yielding statistically-significant changes in protein expression related to many disease states. This technique promises to be an important tool in clinical proteomics and the study of the mechanism of disease, investigating diagnostic biomarkers and pinpointing novel therapeutic targets.     

Modifications and additions to the ISO-DALT system for two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Modifications of ISO-DALT devices that further enhance the efficiency and reproducibility of two-dimensional mapping of proteins are described. The principal changes in ISO system devices include the introduction of a gel casting trough with a removable panel to permit the removal of excess gel without introducing air into the electrofocusing gels and the introduction of an upper electrode compartment with a separate watertight septum for each electrofocusing tube to permit tube removal for cleaning and replacement. The principal changes in DALT system devices include the use of modified powder funnels to introduce acrylamide solutions into the slab gel gradient former without aeration; the introduction of a flexible outlet system for the gradient former to facilitate the removal of air bubbles; the introduction of an inexpensive two-part mixing chamber to permit disassembly for cleaning; the use of split gel holders to eliminate deformation and breakage of electrofocusing gels during loading onto slab gels; the introduction of an inexpensive integrated slab gel casting/rotating apparatus; and the introduction of a simple, water-cooled slab gel electrophoresis apparatus to reduce the volume of running buffer used in electrophoresis.     

All about DIGE: quantification technology for differential-display 2D-gel proteomics

2D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has been the traditional workhorse of proteomics, allowing for the resolution of several thousand proteins in a single gel. Difference gel electrophoresis is an emerging technology that allows for accurate quantification with statistical confidence while controlling for nonbiologic variation, and also increases the dynamic range and sensitivity of traditional 2D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. With inclusion of an internal standard formed from equal amounts of every sample in an experiment, difference gel electrophoresis technology also allows for repetitive measurements and multivariable analyses to be quantitatively analyzed in one co-ordinated experiment, yielding statistically-significant changes in protein expression related to many disease states. This technique promises to be an important tool in clinical proteomics and the study of the mechanism of disease, investigating diagnostic biomarkers and pinpointing novel therapeutic targets.     

New procedure for concentration and analytical isoelectric focusing of proteins.

Proteins in aqueous salt solutions (up to 4 mil) were adsorbed by hydrophobic interaction on phenyl-Sepharose gel (0.1 ml) in small columns. After washing out excess salt, gels were applied on the surface of flat bed polyacrylamide gels for isoelectric focusing, which resulted in efficient desorption and transport of protein out of the phenyl-Sepharose gel. There was no difficulty in obtaining a fifty-fold concentration. The following parameters at adsorption of protein were studied: (i) salt concentration in the protein solution; (ii) phenyl-Sepharose gel adsorptive capacity for protein; (iii) suitable volume of washing solution for the phenyl-Sepharose gel. Theoretical aspects on factors promoting adsorption and desorption of proteins on phenyl-Sepharose gel are discussed. Also discussed are earlier used procedures for concentration and/or dialysis. When dilute protein solutions are to be examined for analytical purposes, the proposed procedures seems to be a valuable aid, which does not require expensive equipment, and is quick and simple to perform.     

A sensitive method for detection of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II activity in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel

A procedure for detecting protein kinase activities of the alpha and beta subunits of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is described. After electrophoresis, the gel was immersed in 6 M guanidine HCl for 1 h and then in a buffer containing 0.04% Tween 40 for 16 h at 4 degrees C for renaturation of the resolved polypeptides. The renatured polypeptides in the gel were incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP for phosphorylation of either the substrate included in the polyacrylamide gel or the kinase itself. After removal of the unreacted [gamma-32P]ATP, the protein kinase activities were visualized by autoradiography. Two radioactive protein bands of Mr 50,000 and 60,000, which corresponded to the alpha and beta subunits, were detected only when the phosphorylation was carried out in the presence of Ca2+ and calmodulin. Approximately 0.05 micrograms of the enzyme could be detected on a gel containing no protein substrate. When microtubule-associated protein 2 was included in the gel, the sensitivity of the detection of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in the gel was more than one order of magnitude higher than that in the gel containing no protein substrate.     

Enhancement of sequential zymography technique for the detection of thermophilic lipases and proteases

Analysis of lipases and proteases present in cell-free fractions of thermophilic Bacillus sp. cultures were performed in an enhanced sequential zymography method. After the PAGE run, the gel was electrotransferred to another polyacrylamide gel containing a mixture of glycerol tributyrate, olive oil and gelatin. After transference, this substrate-mix gel was incubated for lipase detection, until bands appeared, and later stained with CBB for protease detection. Assets are, besides detecting two enzymes on a single gel, time and material saving.