Use of recombinant biotinylated aequorin in microtiter and membrane-based assays: purification of recombinant apoaequorin from Escherichia coli.

Aequorin is a calcium-dependent bioluminescent protein isolated from the hydromedusan Aequorea victoria. The gene for aequorin has been cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli [Prasher et al. (1985) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 126, 1259; Prasher et al. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 1326]. Higher levels of expression have recently been obtained by subcloning aequorin cDNA into the pRC23 plasmid vector such that its expression is under control of the lambda PL promoter [Cormier et al. (1989) Photochem. Photobiol. 49, 509]. Purification of recombinant apoaequorin from E. coli containing this new recombinant plasmid (pAEQ1.3) was accomplished by a two-step procedure involving gel filtration and anion-exchange chromatography on Sephadex G-100 and DEAE-Sepharose, respectively. Typically, 400-500 mg of recombinant protein was obtained from 100 L of fermentation culture. The purified recombinant apoaequorin could be converted to aequorin in high yield upon incubation with synthetic coelenterate luciferin, dissolved oxygen, and a thiol reagent with a photon yield similar to the native photoprotein. Detection of recombinant aequorin in the Dynatech ML1000 Microplate luminometer was linear between 10(-18) and 10(-12) mol, and little loss of specific activity was observed when the protein was derivatized with biotin. The biotinylated derivative was stable when frozen, lyophilized, or stored at 4 degrees C. The feasibility of using biotinylated aequorin as a nonradioactive tag was established by its application in a variety of solid-phase assay formats using the high-affinity streptavidin/biotin interaction. A microtiter-based bioluminescent immunoassay (BLIA) using biotinylated aequorin and the ML1000 luminometer was developed for the detection of subnanogram amounts of a glycosphingolipid (Forsmann antigen). In addition, nanogram to subnanogram quantities of protein antigens and DNA, immobilized on Western and Southern blots, respectively, were detected on instant and X-ray films using biotinylated aequorin.     

Monitoring gene expression in Chinese hamster ovary cells using secreted apoaequorin.

A luminescence method for monitoring gene expression in Chinese hamster ovary cells using apoaequorin as a secreted reporter enzyme is described. In this method, the cell is not disrupted prior to assay as in the earlier aequorin procedure and in the firefly method. The apoaequorin secretion vector is constructed by fusing the DNA fragment of the signal peptide sequence of human follistatin to the apoaequorin gene. Transfection of Chinese hamster ovary cells with the vector causes the apoaequorin to be secreted directly into the culture medium. Assay is carried out by removing a small aliquot of the culture medium, incubating it with coelenterazine, and adding Ca2+ to trigger light emission from the regenerated aequorin. The light intensity is measured with a photomultiplier photometer and is proportional to the amount of apoaequorin present. The method is highly specific and sensitive and can be carried out in a relatively short period of time.     

时间分辨荧光分析法在DNA探针检测中的初步应用

应用时间分辨荧光技术进行核酸杂交分析,选用自制整合剂异硫氰酸苯基-EDTA将铕离子标记连接于链霉亲和素分子中,通过光化学反应制备生物素标记pUC118DNA探针,与固定在聚苯乙烯微滴板中的靶DNA杂交后,以铕离子Eu(3+)标记的链霉亲和素为检测物,检测靶DNA的含量,可检测到30pg的靶DNA．     

Rapid detection and identification of biological and chemical agents by immunoassay, gene probe assay and enzyme inhibition using a silicon-based biosensor

A rapid biosensor assay procedure that utilizes biotin streptavidin mediated filtration capture onto nitrocellulose membrane, in conjunction with a silicon-based light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) was developed for detection and identification of biological and chemical threat agents. Sandwich immunoassays, nucleic acid hybridization assays and enzyme inhibition assays are described. For immunoassays, the lower limits of detection (LOD) per 100-microl sample were approximately 5 pg/ml for protein (Staphylococcal enterotoxin B), 2 ng/ml for virus (Newcastle disease virus), and 20 ng/ml for vegetative bacteria (Brucella melitensis). In a dual gene probe assay format, the LOD was 0.30 fmol (1.8 x 10(8) copies per 60-microl) of single stranded target DNA. Enzyme inhibition assays on the LAPS using acetylcholinesterase were able to detect soman and sarin in aqueous samples at 2 and 8 pg (100 and 600 pM), respectively. The assays were easy to perform and required a total time equal to the reaction period plus about 15 min for filtering, washing and sensing. The assay format is suitable for detection of a wide range of infectious and toxic substances. New assays can be developed and optimized readily, often within 1 or 2 days.     

Homogeneous assay for biotin based on Aequorea victoria bioluminescence resonance energy transfer system

Here we describe a homogeneous assay for biotin based on bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) between aequorin and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The fusions of aequorin with streptavidin (SAV) and EGFP with biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP) were purified after expression of the corresponding genes in Escherichia coli cells. Association of SAV-aequorin and BCCP-EGFP fusions was followed by BRET between aequorin (donor) and EGFP (acceptor), resulting in significantly increasing 510 nm and decreasing 470 nm bioluminescence intensity. It was shown that free biotin inhibited BRET due to its competition with BCCP-EGFP for binding to SAV-aequorin. These properties were exploited to demonstrate competitive homogeneous BRET assay for biotin.     

Electrochemical genosensors for biomedical applications based on gold nanoparticles

Two gold nanoparticles-based genomagnetic sensors designs for detection of DNA hybridization are described. Both assays are based on a magnetically induced direct electrochemical detection of gold tags on magnetic graphite-epoxy composite electrodes. The first design is a two strands assay format that consists of the hybridization between a capture DNA strand which is linked with paramagnetic beads and another DNA strand related to BRCA1 breast cancer gene used as a target which is coupled with streptavidin-gold nanoparticles. The second genomagnetic sensor design is a sandwich assay format with more application possibilities. A cystic fibrosis related DNA strand is used as a target and sandwiched between two complementary DNA probes: the first one linked with paramagnetic beads and a second one modified with gold nanoparticles via biotin-streptavidin complexation reactions. The electrochemical detection of gold nanoparticles by differential pulse voltammetry was performed in both cases. The developed genomagnetic sensors provide a reliable discrimination against noncomplementary DNA as well against one and three-base mismatches. Optimization parameters affecting the hybridization and analytical performance of the developed genosensors are shown for genomagnetic assays of DNA sequences related with the breast cancer and cystic fibrosis genes.     

High-level expression and purification of apoaequorin.

A fairly rapid and improved method for producing large amounts of highly pure apoaequorin, the apoprotein of aequorin which emits light on binding Ca2+, is described. The method consists of fusing the gene of the outer membrane protein A (ompA) secretion signal peptide of Escherichia coli to the apoaequorin gene and expressing the fused gene in the bacterium. The expressed protein is correctly cleaved in the process of being secreted across the cell membrane into the culture medium. The apoaequorin is subsequently purified by acid precipitation and DEAE-cellulose chromatography, yielding a product of greater than 95% purity. The availability of pure apoaequorin makes possible detailed studies of the physical-chemical properties of this Ca2(+)-binding protein and allows for the preparation of pure aequorin for use in highly specific and sensitive assays for Ca2+.     

Non-radioactive hybridization probes prepared by the chemical labelling of DNA and RNA with a novel reagent, photobiotin.

A photo-activatable analogue of biotin, N-(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)-N'-(N-d-biotinyl-3-aminopropyl)-N'-methyl-1,3- propanediamine (photobiotin), has been synthesized and used for the rapid and reliable preparation of large amounts of stable, non-radioactive, biotin-labelled DNA and RNA hybridization probes. Upon brief irradiation with visible light, photobiotin formed stable linkages with single- and double-stranded nucleic acids yielding probes which were purified from excess reagent by 2-butanol extraction and ethanol precipitation. Using single-stranded phage M13 DNA probes chemically labelled with one biotin per 100-400 residues and dot-blot hybridization reactions on nitrocellulose, as little as 0.5 pg (6 X 10(-18) mol) of target DNA was detected colorimetrically by avidin or streptavidin complexes with acid or alkaline phosphatase from three commercial sources. The sensitivity of detection of target RNA in dot-blots and Northern blots was equivalent to that obtained with 32p-labelled DNA probes. Photobiotin was also used for the labelling of proteins with biotin.     

Padlock oligonucleotides as a tool for labeling superhelical DNA

Labeling of a covalently closed circular double-stranded DNA was achieved using a so-called ‘padlock oligonucleotide’. The oligonucleotide was targeted to a sequence which is present in the replication origin of phage f1 and thus in numerous commonly used plasmids. After winding around the double-stranded target DNA sequence by ligand-induced triple helix formation, a biotinylated oligonucleotide was circularized using T4 DNA ligase and in this way became catenated to the plasmid. A gel shift assay was developed to measure the extent of plasmid modification by the padlock oligonucleotide. A similar assay showed that a modified supercoiled plasmid was capable of binding one streptavidin molecule thanks to the biotinylated oligonucleotide and that this binding was quantitative. The catenated complex was visualized by electron and atomic force microscopies using streptavidin conjugates or single strand-binding proteins as protein tags for the padlock oligonucleotide. This method provides a versatile tool for plasmid functionalization which offers new perspectives in the physical study of supercoiled DNA and in the development of improved vectors for gene therapy.     

Transient expression of apoaequorin in zebrafish embryos: extending the ability to image calcium transients during later stages of development

When aequorin is microinjected into cleavage-stage zebrafish embryos, it is largely used up by ~24 hours. Thus, it is currently not possible to image Ca(2+) signals from later stages of zebrafish development using this approach. We have, therefore, developed protocols to express apoaequorin, i.e., the protein component of aequorin, transiently in zebrafish embryos and then reconstitute intact aequorin in vivo by loading the coelenterazine co-factor into the embryos separately. Two types of apoaequorin mRNA, aeq-mRNA and aeq::EGFP-mRNA, the latter containing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) sequence, were in vitro transcribed and when these were microinjected into embryos, they successfully translated apoaequorin and a fusion protein of apoaequorin and EGFP (apoaequorin-EGFP), respectively. We show that aeq::EGFP -mRNA was more toxic to embryos than equivalent amounts of aeq-mRNA. In addition, in an in vitro reconstitution assay, apoaequorin-EGFP produced less luminescence than apoaequorin, after reconstitution with coelenterazine and with the addition of Ca(2+). Furthermore, when imaging intact coelenterazine-loaded embryos that expressed apoaequorin, Ca(2+ )signals from ~2.5 to 48 hpf were observed, with the spatio-temporal pattern of these signals up to 24 hpf, being comparable to that observed with aequorin. This transient aequorin expression approach using aeq-mRNA provides a valuable tool for monitoring Ca(2+ )signaling during the 2448 hpf period of zebrafish development. Thus, it effectively extends the aequorin-based Ca(2+) imaging window by an additional 24 hours.     

A simplified lysis method allowing the use of biotinylated probes in colony hybridization

A method is described for the lysis of bacterial cells grown on nitrocellulose filters which allows the use of nonradioactive (biotin labeled) probes in colony hybridization. Used in conjunction with a colorimetric assay involving streptavidin and alkaline phosphatase this lysis method allows the detection of clones containing a target nucleic acid sequence. Sites of positive hybridization produce dark blue-purple signals, while nonreacting clones give very light blue signals. The occurrence of false-positive and background signals is minimal. With pBR322 as the target sequence it was possible to detect approximately 20 clones in the presence of 10(5) plasmid-free cells. It was also possible to detect low-frequency plasmid-free cells in a population of clones containing the target sequence.     

Purification of CD47‐streptavidin fusion protein from bacterial lysate using biotin–agarose affinity chromatography

CD47 is a widely expressed transmembrane glycoprotein that modulates the activity of a plethora of immune cells via its extracellular domain. Therefore, CD47 plays important roles in the regulation of immune responses and may serve as targets for the development of immunotherapeutic agents. To make sure CD47 functionality is intact under the process of protein conjugation, CD47‐streptavidin fusion protein was expressed and purified because it can easily bind to biotin‐tagged materials via the unique biotin–streptavidin affinity. In this study, gene sequences of CD47 extracellular domain (CD47ECD) and core streptavidin (coreSA) with a total 834 bp were inserted into pET20b plasmid to construct recombinant plasmid encoding CD47‐SA fusion gene. After bacteria transformation, the CD47‐SA fusion protein was expressed by isopropyl‐β‐d ‐thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) induction. The collected bacteria lysate was loaded on biotinylated agarose to proceed the purification of CD47‐SA fusion protein. Due to the unexpected high affinity between biotin and coreSA, standard washing and elution approaches (e.g., varying pH, using biotin, and applying guanidine hydrochloride) reported for biotin–streptavidin affinity chromatography were not able to separate the target fusion protein. Instead, using low concentration of the non‐ionic detergent Triton X‐100 followed with alkaline buffer could efficiently weaken the binding between biotin and coreSA, thereby eluting out CD47‐SA fusion protein from the biotin agarose column. The purified CD47‐SA fusion protein was further characterized by molecular biology methods and its antiphagocytic functionality was confirmed by the phagocytosis assay. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:949–958, 2016     

Biotin protein ligase from Candida albicans: expression, purification and development of a novel assay

Biotin protein ligase (BPL) is an essential enzyme responsible for the activation of biotin-dependent enzymes through the covalent attachment of biotin. In yeast, disruption of BPL affects important metabolic pathways such as fatty acid biosynthesis and gluconeogenesis. This makes BPL an attractive drug target for new antifungal agents. Here we report the cloning, recombinant expression and purification of BPL from the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. The biotin domains of acetyl CoA carboxylase and pyruvate carboxylase were also cloned and characterised as substrates for BPL. A novel assay was established thereby allowing examination of the enzyme’s properties. These findings will facilitate future structural studies as well as screening efforts to identify potential inhibitors.     

Affinity capture-facilitated preparation of aequorin- oligonucleotide conjugates for rapid hybridization assays

We report a general procedure for the preparation of biomolecular conjugates that combine the molecular recognition properties of oligonucleotides with the high detectability of the photoprotein aequorin. Central to the conjugation protocols is the use of recombinant aequorin fused to a hexahistidine tag. In one protocol, an amino-modified oligonucleotide was treated with a homobifunctional cross-linker carrying two N-hydroxysuccinimide ester groups, and the derivative was allowed to react with (His)(6)-aequorin. A second strategy involved the introduction of protected sulfhydryl groups into (His)(6)-aequorin and subsequent reaction with a heterobifunctional linker containing a N-hydroxysuccinimide and a maleimide group. The strong, but reversible, binding of (His)(6)-aequorin to Ni(2+)-nitrilotriacetic acid agarose enabled the rapid and effective removal of the unreacted oligonucleotide, which otherwise diminishes the performance of the hybridization assay by competing with the conjugate for the complementary target sequence. Aequorin-oligo conjugates prepared by affinity capture showed similar performance with those purified by anion-exchange HPLC. The conjugates were applied to the development of rapid bioluminometric hybridization assays. The analytical range extended from 2 to 2000 pmol/L of target DNA. The reproducibility was less than 10%. The conjugate obtained from a reaction of 10 nmol of (His)(6)-aequorin is sufficient for about 5000 hybridization assays. The proposed conjugation strategy is general because a variety of reporter proteins can be fused to hexahistidine tag by using suitable vectors that are commercially available.     

Facile SNP detection using bifunctional, cross-linking oligonucleotide probes

A facile, sensitive method for detecting specific sequences of oligonucleotides was developed. Detection of DNA sequences with single nucleotide discrimination is achieved by combining the selectivity of hybridization with an efficient cross-linking reaction. Readily synthesized bifunctional oligonucleotide probes containing a modified pyrimidine that is capable of forming interstrand cross-links under mild oxidative conditions internally, and biotin at their 5′-termini were used to discriminate between 16-nt long sites in plasmid DNA that differ by a single nucleotide. The target sequence was detected via fluorescence spectroscopy by utilizing conjugates of avidin and horseradish peroxidase in a microtiter plate assay. The method is able to detect as little as 250 fmol of target without using PCR and exhibits single nucleotide discrimination that approaches 200:1. In principle, this method is capable of probing any target sequence containing a 2′-deoxyadenosine.     

Bioluminescent assays using glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase: application to biotin and streptavidin detection

A streptavidin-glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) conjugate was synthesized and its properties were studied, along with those of biotin-G6PDH conjugates. Two bioluminescent assays were used. Streptavidin was assayed in two steps: streptavidin samples were first incubated with a small amount of biotin-G6PDH and then with biotinylated rabbit gamma-globulins. The complex was immobilized on a bioluminescent immunoadsorbent. In the single-step biotin assay, free biotin was allowed to compete with biotin linked to rabbit gamma-globulins for binding to streptavidin-G6PDH in the presence of the bioluminescent immunoadsorbent. Neither assay required washing or separation steps and the sensitivity was 0.2 ng for streptavidin and 100 fg for biotin. Different applications are described: studies of biotin reactivity when linked to probes in solution or immobilized, and quantitation of biotin in biotinylated DNA probes and oligonucleotides.     

A ribosomal DNA fragment of Listeria monocytogenes and its use as a genus-specific probe in an aqueous-phase hybridization assay.

cDNAs were prepared from the total RNA of Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19118 and used as probes to screen a genomic library of the same strain. Four clones were identified which contained ribosomal DNA fragments. Recombinant DNA from one of them was fractionated and differentially hybridized with the cDNA probes to RNA of L. monocytogenes and Kurthia zopfii. The resulting hybridization pattern revealed an HpaII fragment of 0.8 kb that was specific for the L. monocytogenes strain. The nucleotide sequence of this fragment showed 159 bases of the 3' end of the 16S rRNA gene, 243 bases of the spacer region, and 382 bases of the 5' end of the 23S rRNA gene. In dot blot hybridization assays, the 32P-labeled 784-bp fragment was specific only for Listeria species. Dot blot assays revealed that the 32P-labeled fragment can easily detect > or = 10 pg of total nucleic acids from pure cultures of L. monocytogenes, which corresponds to approximately 300 bacteria. This fragment was also used as a probe in an assay named the heteroduplex nucleic acid (HNA) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In this system, the biotinylated DNA probe is hybridized in the aqueous phase with target RNA molecules and then specific HNAs are captured by HNA-specific antibodies. Captured HNA molecules are revealed with an enzyme conjugate of streptavidin. In a preliminary HNA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the 784-bp fragment maintained its specificity for Listeria spp. and could detect 5 x 10(2) cells in artificially contaminated meat homogenate.     

Colorimetric competitive inhibition method for the quantification of avidin, streptavidin and biotin.

A colorimetric competitive inhibition assay for avidin, streptavidin and biotin was developed. The method for avidin or streptavidin was based on the competitive binding between avidin or streptavidin and a streptavidin-enzyme conjugate for biotinylated dextrin immobilized on the surface of a microtitre plate. For biotin quantitation the competition is between free biotin and the immobilized biotin for the streptavidin-enzyme conjugate. The limits of detection which was determined as the concentration of competitor required to give 90% of maximal absorbency (100% inhibition) was approximately 20 ng/100 microl per assay for avidin and streptavidin and 0.4 pg/100 microl per assay for biotin. The methods are simple, rapid, highly sensitive and adaptable to high throughput analysis.     

Overexpression and purification of the recombinant Ca2+-binding protein, apoaequorin

The small, monomeric Ca2+-binding photoprotein, aequorin, emits blue light by an intramolecular reaction when mixed with Ca2+. The photoprotein is made up of coelenterazine and molecular oxygen, bound noncovalently to apoaequorin (apoprotein). The chemical steps leading to light emission, involving the oxidative degradation of coelenterazine, have been studied extensively, but little is known about the active site and how the molecule catalyzes the oxidation of coelenterazine. The three-dimensional structure of the protein has not been determined and therefore answers to these questions have remained unavailable. The present paper describes a procedure for preparing fairly large amounts of apoaequorin and aequorin for X-ray crystallographic studies. It consists of fusing the apoaequorin cDNA to the signal peptide coding sequence of the outer membrane protein A of Escherichia coli, which is under the control of the lipoprotein promoter. When the cDNA was expressed in E. coli, a large excess of the recombinant protein was produced and released into the culture medium. Purification of the protein was accomplished by acid precipitation and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The procedure yielded 7.4 mg of recombinant apoaequorin with a purity greater than 95% from 200 ml of culture medium. On regeneration with coelenterazine, the recombinant aequorin was fully active with Ca2+.