An electrophoretic and immunoelectrophoretic study of serum proteins during the life cycle of the lamprey, Petromyzon marinus L

Serum proteins of upstream migrants, parasitic adults, early and late metamorphosing animals, and ammocoetes of Petromyzon marinus L. were examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and crossed-immunoelectrophoresis. The electrophoretic patterns for two proteins, SDS-1 and CB-III, were found to change during the life cycle. quantitative measurements of these two proteins showed that they continued to increase until in the adult they together constituted approx. 85% of the total serum protein. Evidence was obtained for a protein present in ammocoetes and metamorphosing animals, but not in upstream migrants.     

Crossed immunoelectrophoresis from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels into antibody-containing agarose: an improved method for evaluation of the number of immunochemical determinants in polypeptides, with reference to spectrin.

A simple method is described for performing crossed immunoelectrophoresis into antibody-containing agarose when the first-dimension gel contains peptides separated by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. Artifacts produced by sodium dodecyl sulfate are avoided by incorporation of Triton X-100 in the agarose layer. Peptides are located by prestaining (before SDS-acrylamide electrophoresis) with the cycloheptylamylose complex of fluorescamine. Injection of ink into prestained peptide bands produces a line extending from the peptide band location to its precipitin arc, thereby allowing unambiguous assignment of arcs to peptides in situations where peptide bands are not widely separated. The utility of this procedure is illustrated for the erythrocyte membrane protein spectrin.     

Isolation of the terminal complement complex from target sheep erythrocyte membranes.

(1) Membranes from sheep erythrocytes lysed with antibody and human complement were solubilized in Triton X-100 and subjected to isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels containing 1% Triton X-100. Membrane-bound serum proteins were located in the gels by subsequent immunoelectrophoresis against antisera to human serum proteins. Monospecific antisera against C9 and C5 were used to locate the terminal complement complex, which is not dissociated by Triton X-100. The complex focused between pH 5.8 and pH 6.5 and was separated from the bulk of other membrane-bound serum proteins, which focused at pH ranges below than 6.0. (2) In a second step, proteins electrophoretically eluted from the gel sections containing the terminal complement complex were chromatographed on Sepharose 6B equilibrated with 0.05% Triton X-100. Fused rocket immunoelectrophoresis was used to monitor separations. This step separated the terminal complement complex from the remaining contaminating proteins. The complex eluted in a broad peak corresponding to a molecular weight range of 800000-4000000. (3) The terminal complement complex thus obtained migrated with alpha-mobility and yielded a single precipitation arc in crossed immunoelectrophoresis using polyvalent antisera to human serum proteins. A distinct precipitate was obtained with monospecific anti-C9. The presence of C5 and C6, in complex with one another and with C9 was demonstrable by immuno-double-diffusion. No immunoprecipitate was obtained with antisera to sheep erythrocyte membrane proteins. (4) Dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis of the complex revealed seven protein bands of 190000, 160000, 115000, 93000, 85000, 68000 and 60000 daltons. Planimetric quantitation of densitometric scans gave a molar ratio of approx. 0.7:0.3:1:1:1:2:1 for these bands, respectively. All bands stained faintly with periodate-Schiff. Two-dimensional dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis showed that the first two bands (190000 and 160000 daltons, probably C5b and C5c) represented proteins possessing more than one peptide chain linked by disulfide bonds. The main subunit for both bands was a protein of approximately 68000 daltons. Band 5 (83000 daltons, probably C8alpha) was split into two peptide chains of approximately 68000 and 15000 daltons. The other components were not affected by dithiothreitol treatment. (5) The dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoretograms obtained were very similar to that described by Kolb and Müller-Eberhard (Kolb, W.P. and Müller-Eberhard, H.J. (1975) J. Exp. Med. 141, 724-735) for the terminal complement complex isolated from inulin-activated serum. However, certain minor but consistent deviations were observed. A preliminary correction of the electrophoretograms is presented.     

Isolation and partial characterization of a alpha 2-beta 1-glycoprotein from horse plasma

A alpha 2-beta 1-glycoprotein was isolated from horse plasma by classical methods. The final product appeared homogeneous by agarose gel and pore limit SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis and crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The protein moved in agarose gel electrophoresis just above the beta 1 region and seemed composed of a single polypeptide chain. A highly heterogenic banding pattern, focused between pH 5.1 and 6.5 was revealed by isoelectric focusing. The molecular weights determined by gel filtration on Sephadex G100 and by a pore limit polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in presence of SDS were 65,000 and 82,300 dalton, respectively. No serological relation was found between the horse alpha 2-beta 1-glycoprotein and human and bovine plasma proteins.     

Quantitative immunoelectrophoresis of proteins in human erythrocyte membranes. Analysis of protein bands obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

1. We have defined conditions that permit quantitative immunoelectrophoresis in agarose gels of dodecyl sulfate-solubilized erythrocyte membrane proteins. 2. Using human serum albumin, transferrin, MN-glycoprotein (glycophorin) and crude spectrin as test proteins, we found that accurate analyses are possible if samples and gels are 1% in non-ionic detergent (Berol EMU-043) or Triton X-100) and if no more than 100 nmol free dodecyl sulfate is applied per sample. 3. Dodecyl sulfate treated membranes analyzed by crossed immunoelectrophoresis using rabbit antibodies against membrane material yielded optimal precipitation patterns in gels containing 1% of non-ionic detergent. 4. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis in the presence of 1% of Berol revealed precipitates when 10 protein bands defined and isolated by preparative dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were run against anti-membrane antibodies. Seven of these bands showed more than one precipitation arc, indicating the presence of more than one antigenic component. 5. Crossed-line immunoelectrophoresis showed that dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis bands 1, 2 and 2.1 shared common antigenic components. The MN-glycoprotein was present in bands 3, 4A, 4B and 5, where antigenic components of the major intrinsic erythrocyte membrane protein, band 3, were also found. 6. After absorption of the anti-membrane antibody with intact erythrocytes, immunoelectrophoresis showed the disappearance of the MN-glycoprotein precipitates. An increase in the area below the precipitate corresponding to the major intrinsic protein (band 3) was also observed, indicating exposure of some antigens of this protein on the outer surface of intact cells. 7. After absorption of the antibody preparation with washed erythrocyte membranes, immunoprecipitates were not seen in any experiments, indicating that all antigenic determinants observed are exposed at one or both surfaces of the membrane. 8. Our analyses indicate that the peptide moieties of serum lipoproteins do not constitute a significant component of erythrocyte membranes.     

Heterogeneity of human alpha-fetoprotein as revealed by isoelectric focusing in urea-containing gels.

The heterogeneity of human alpha-fetoprotein has been studied by analytical isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel slabs in the presence of 8 M urea. Six major isoelectric variants could be identified over a pH range of 6.0--6.2. Verification of their identity was achieved by crossed immunoelectrophoresis into agarose gel containing monospecific antiserum to human alpha-fetoprotein. Complete desialylation of the protein did not abolish the heterogeneity; a complex pattern of major alpha-fetoprotein bands persisted over a more alkaline pH range. We have been able to correlate the pattern of alpha-fetoprotein heterogeneity seen following extended agarose gel electrophoresis with that obtained during isoelectric focusing in the presence of urea. The quantity of certain alpha-fetoprotein charge isomers in various alpha-fetoprotein isolates may be important in considering certain biological functions of this protein.     

Iron-binding activity of female-specific serum proteins of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) and chum salmon (Oncorhyncus keta).

The differences of serum proteins between mature male and female rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) and chum salmon (Oncorhyncus keta) were studied electrophoretically and immunologically. Female-specific serum proteins were seen only in females of both species, in the same region as beta-globulin on cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis and agarose gel immunoelectrophoresis. One of the female-specific serum proteins bound radioactive iron. This protein was partially purified by precipitation by lowering the ionic strength of the serum. The purified material also showed the iron-binding property.     

Synthesis of salt-soluble proteins in barley. Pulse-labeling study of grain filling in liquid-cultured detached spikes

The accumulation of salt-soluble proteins in the endosperm of developing barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grains was examined. Detached spikes of barley were cultured at different levels of nitrogen nutrition and pulse-labeled with [¹⁴C] sucrose at specific times after anthesis. Proteins were extracted from isolated endosperms and separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Fluorography revealed an early, middle and late synthesis of specific proteins during grain filling. Synthesis of proteins appearing at the later stages responded to increased nitrogen nutrition. Two major components, -amylase and protein Z in particular, had a synthesis profile almost identical to that of the endosperm storage protein, hordein.Abbreviations CIE Crossed immunoelectrophoresis - SDSPAGE Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

Fluorography of tritium-labelled proteins in immunoelectrophoresis

A method is described for detecting 3H-labelled proteins in immunoelectrophoretic systems performed on agarose gels. The method is based on the incorporation of a polyacrylamide gel into the agarose gel after the electrophoresis. This mixed gel has the characteristics of a polyacrylamide gel, making it possible to use fluorography as has been described for polyacrylamide gels. The applicability of the fluorography method is demonstrated by analyzing 3H-labelled human serum albumin and 3H-labelled pig intestinal brush border proteins by quantitative immunoelectrophoresis.     

An antigen common to a wide range of bacteria. I. The isolation of a 'common antigen' from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In crude water-soluble extracts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 64 antigens can be demonstrated by crossed immunoelectrophoresis in agarose with polyvalent Pseudomonas-immunoglobulin. One of these antigens cross-reacts with antigens prepared from bacteria of a wide range of taxonomic groups. Monospecific immunoglobulins to this antigen (Common Antigen) were produced by immunization with the appropriate immunocomplex extracted from agarose. Common Antigen was purified by the combination of two fractionation methods: Precipitation of the crude extract with 18% (w/v) sodium sulfate, followed by gel filtration of the supernatant on a Sephadex G-200 column. By this method, 35% of Common Antigen from the crude extract was recovered, more than half of the fractions electrophoretically pure. Electrophoresis of reduced Common Antigen on a dodecyl sodium sulfate polyacrylamide gel revealed two protein bands with apparent molecular weights of 59-62 000 and 62-65 000, respectively. The untreated antigen, however, passed a column of Sephadex G-200 with the void volumen, indicating a substance of high molecular weight (> 4-600 000).     

Utility of immobilon-bound phosphoproteins as substrates for protein phosphatases from neutrophils.

Immobilon-bound phosphoproteins labeled with 32P were utilized as substrates to study the enzymes in neutrophils that are active against the major products of protein kinase C. The labeled proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and transferred electrophoretically to immobilon-P membranes. Both particulate and soluble phosphatases were found to be active against the blotted phosphoproteins. Reactions were followed by autoradiography as the loss of 32P from individual protein bands. The tumor promoter okadaic acid and the hepatoxin microcystin-LR inhibited these reactions in a manner consistent with the enzymes being type 1 and/or 2A protein phosphatases.     

Human alpha 1-antitrypsin genetic polymorphism: PI N subtypes

Three new genetic variants (PI types) of alpha 1-antitrypsin are described. They have been compared to previously described phenotypes by several techniques including narrow pH range isoelectric focusing in ultrathin polyacrylamide gels. In this system, the relevant alpha 1-antitrypsin gel bands, identified by crossed immunoelectrophoresis, focused between PI M2, the most cathodal PI M subtype, and PI P BUD, the most anodal PI P subtype. They were therefore considered to be PI N subtypes. Two of them, PI N GRO and PI N YER, could not be separated by isoelectric focusing, but gave a different pattern in agarose gel electrophoresis. None of the new alleles seemed to be associated with disease. The high resolving power of isoelectric focusing is emphasized with respect to the information it may provide concerning amino acid substitutions, while the use of other techniques proved to be of utmost importance in the differentiation of other variants showing similar isoelectric points.     

Studies on factor VIII-related protein. I. Ultrastructural and electrophoretic heterogeneity of human factor VIII-related protein.

Human factor VIII-related protein precipitates with specific heterologous anti-bodies directed against purified factor VIII and supports ristocetin-induced aggregation of washed platelets. We purified human factor VIII from cryoprecipitate by subsequent gel filtration on crosslinked large-pore agarose. Factor VIII-related protein appeared as a large aggregate following electrophoresis on 3% polyacrylamide gels in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The same material was separated into multiple bands (molecular weight in excess of several millions) following electrophoresis on SDS-1% agarose gels. After complete disulfide reduction of factor VIII-related protein and electrophoresis on SDS-5% polyacrylamide gels a single subunit chain (Mr approximately equal to 200 000) was revealed. Analysis of this protein, in its non-reduced state, by negative contrast electron microscopy showed filaments of markedly variable size. The calculated molecular weight of such filaments ranged from about 0.6.10(6) to 20.10(6). We conclude that size heterogeneity is an essential feature of human factor VIII-related protein.     

New variants of alpha 1-antitrypsin: comparison of Pi typing techniques.

Four new rare inherited variants (Pi types) of alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-protease inhibitor) are described. Each variant has been compared with previously reported genetic variants by several techniques used for Pi typing: isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel, starch gel electrophoresis, and agarose gel electrophoresis. Some variants are identical or very similar by one technique but can be clearly distinguished by another technique. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis and gel immunofixation have been used to identify the gel bands as alpha 1-antitrypsin.     

Isolation and partial characterization of rabbit plasma alpha1-antitrypsin.

Alpha1-Antitrypsin was isolated from rabbit plasma by salting out with (NH4)2SO4 followed by ion-exchange chromatography either on DEAE-Sephadex or DEAE-cellulose (each at pH8.8 and 6.5), and affinity chromatography on Sepharose-Cibacron Blue and Sepharose-concanavalin A. The protein thus obtained was homogeneous during crossed immunoelectrophoresis by using an antiserum to whole rabbit plasma, but it migrated as two broad bands when electrophoresed in alkaline polyacrylamide gels. Under optimal loading conditions, two or three subcomponents could be distinguished in each band. The two major forms of rabbit alpha1-antitrypsin, designated components F and S, were separated by preparative polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, and some of their physico-chemical properties were established. Both forms reacted with trypsin at a molar ratio of 1:1. Their elution volumes from a Sephadex G-200 column were identical, corresponding to a mol.wt. of 58000; however, some heterogeneity was observed after sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel in a pH 4-6 gradient revealed a multiple-band pattern for each form in the range of pH4.4-4.9. The two forms of rabbit alpha1-antitrypsin possessed the same N-terminal amino acid (glutamic acid) and had very similar amino acid and carbohydrate compositions.     

Isolation and immunochemical characterization of fractions from membranes of Aspergillus fumigatus with protease activity

Two fractions exhibiting acid protease activity (AFPI and AFPII) were isolated by extraction of membrane vesicles of Aspergillus fumigatus with Triton X-100. These two fractions produced single bands in both polyacrylamide and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and showed apparent molecular weights of 73,000 and 43,000, respectively. Molecular weights determined by gel filtration in the absence and presence of Triton X-100 and sedimentation velocities in analytical ultracentrifugation indicated hydrophobic characteristics, since both fractions readily aggregated and complexed with Triton X-100; both exhibited elevated enzyme activities in the presence of Triton X-100. Carbohydrate content was 93% for AFPI and 85% for AFPII. The enzymatic fractions demonstrated different pH optima in the acid range as well as different temperature stabilities. Both protease fractions cross reacted in double immunodiffusion, while in crossed immunoelectrophoresis both demonstrated five precipitin peaks, each with similar patterns. AFPI demonstrated two additional precipitin peaks in crossed immunoelectrophoresis. As determined by crossed immunoaffinoelectrophoresis, the protease fractions demonstrated galactose and mannose residues. In biotin-avidin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay both fractions reacted with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and aspergilloma sera. It can be concluded that two fractions with protease activity of A. fumigatus reported here may be of significance in Aspergillus-induced diseases.     

Mixed Crystals of Threonine and Allothreonine

Study of the soluble proteins of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. cv. Norin 1) roots showed that the major protein had an apparent molecular weight of 25,000, and accounted for 60 ~ 70% of the total soluble protein extracted from fresh tissue. The 25-kDa protein exists in two forms, which can be resolved into two bands by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Immunodiffusion and crossed immunoelectrophoresis showed that these forms are immunologically identical. This protein was identified as the antigenic component A of sweet potato root.¹⁾ It was degraded to proteins of lower molecular weight (9,500 to 20,000) if the tissue was cut or infected by Ceratocystis fimbriata. As almost none of this 25-kDa protein was detected in roots stored for one year at 10 ~ 12°C, it is probably the storage protein of these roots. Another major protein was identified as β-amylase by immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis. The amount of β-amylase did not change appreciably after cutting or infection, but it was present in only trace amounts in the roots stored for one year, Cutting, infection, or storage of root tissue resulted in the production of new isozymes of peroxidase, acid phosphatase, and esterase. Increases in some other proteins in cut and in diseased tissues were detected by gel electrophoresis.     

Separation of the proteins of bovine milk-fat-globule membrane by electrofocusing with retention of enzymatic and immunological activity

1. Proteins of fat-globule membrane from bovine milk were solubilized with the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100 in the presence of protease inhibitors. Approximately 25% of the total membrane protein was solubilized and the extracts were shown to contain a sample of most of the major membrane proteins and glycoproteins. 2. The solubilized proteins were separated in flat-beds of Ultrodex by electrofocusing and the pI values for the major proteins, glycoproteins and certain enzymes determined. Several of the proteins displayed marked heterogeneity indicating the existence of protein variants and isoenzymes. Principal pI values for the enzymes assayed were as follows: xanthine oxidase, 7.35--7.55; NADH2: iodonitrotetrazolium reductase, less than 4.5; 5'-nucleotidase, 7.15--7.4; alkaline phosphatase, 5.4--5.7; phosphodiesterase, 4.6--4.8; gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, 4.4--4.55. 3. Fractions after electrofocusing were analyzed by 'fused rocket' immunoelectrophoresis and crossed immunoelectrophoresis after separation in polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulphate. Major antigens of the membrane include xanthine oxidase and glycoproteins of apparent molecular weights 67 000, 49 500 and 46 000. The latter two components share common antigenic determinants and could not be separated by gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography, lectin-affinity chromatography or preparative electrofocusing.     

Identification of immunologically distinct antigens in pseudorabies virus

Antigenic proteins of pseudorabies viruses (PrV) are poorly understood. Proteins from purified PrV and membrane proteins from these viral infected cells, therefore, have been studied by antigenic analysis, using virus neutralization and agargel immunoelectrophoresis tests and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively. The study of crossed immunoelectrophoresis against specific antiviral serum antibodies revealed four immunologically distinct antigens involved in PrV. According to their electromobilities, these four immunologically distinct antigens were designated as Ag 1, Ag 2, Ag 3 and Ag 4. The study of dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamine gel electrophoresis of a membrane-bound but detergent solubilized viral antigenic complex from PrV infected cells also demonstrated the involvement of four glycoprotein antigens. By interpolations of relative mobilities between known protein markers, the molecular weights of these four glycoproteins were estimated to be 61,500, 68,000, 75,000, and 88,000. Results from two dimentional immunoelectrophoresis seemed to be concordant with those obtained by dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This report, therefore presents results, which strongly suggest antigenic similarities in the virion of PrV and cellular membrane glycoproteins of cells infected by this agent. The molecular weight of these four immunologically distinct antigens, Ag 1, Ag 2, Ag 3 and Ag 4, are presumed to have the following molecular weights of 88,000, 75,000, 68,000 and 61,500, respectively.