Additional stabilization of stem bromelain coupled to a thermosensitive polymer by uniform orientation and using polyclonal antibodies

Stem bromelain was covalently coupled to a thermosensitive polymer of N-isopropylacrylamide (p(NIPAm)) either through the amino groups of the enzyme (randomly coupled) or via the lone oligosaccharide chain (uniformly coupled). The enzyme coupled via the oligosaccharide chain exhibited better access to the substrate casein as compared to the preparation in which the amino groups formed the point of contact between the enzyme and the polymer. Native bromelain exhibited a pH optimum of 8.0 and a broad pH-activity profile. The polymer-coupled preparations exhibited broader pH-activity profiles and shifting of pH optimum to 10.0 at 35°C. At 25°C, the shifting of pH optimum was observed for the randomly coupled enzyme only. The temperature-activity profiles of bromelain coupled to p(NIPAm) also showed appreciable broadening and the preparations retained greater fraction of maximum activity above the temperature optimum. The optimum temperature of the uniformly oriented preparation also rose to 70°C. Inactivation rates of the polymer-coupled bromelain were remarkably low at 60°C as compared to the native protease, and binding of antibromelain antibodies improved the resistance to inactivation of the polymer-coupled preparations. The cleavage patterns of hemoglobin and IgG by the native bromelain and the polymer-coupled preparations were comparable. Published in Russian in Biokhimiya, 2007, Vol. 72, No. 3, pp. 375–382.     

Metal chelate affinity precipitation: a new approach to protein purification

Metal chelate affinity precipitation of proteins, a method combining metal–protein interaction and affinity precipitation is being discussed as a selective separation process for proteins. The technique utilizes a flexible soluble–insoluble thermo-responsive polymer with a covalently linked ligand loaded with metal ions. The affinity binding of the target protein varies with different metal ions. Copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide with 1-vinylimidazole loaded with Cu(II) ions are designed as a potential carriers for affinity purification and proved to be successful for purification of protein inhibitors from a variety of cereals. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

链霉亲和素及其亲和系统的蛋白质进化

链霉亲和素/生物素（Streptavidin/Biotin）体系作为目前已知的最高亲和力作用体系,已在生物学研究中获得广泛应用。本文针对Streptavidin/Biotin和Strep-Tactin/Strep-tag两个相关系统的演化,分别从链霉亲和素蛋白的结构改造、亲和肽标签优化等方面进行了较为详细的归纳。通过对链霉亲和素蛋白各种突变体的优缺点的比较,有助于实际应用中选择合适的Streptavidin突变体。本文通过对链霉亲和素蛋白质进化的综述,可帮助更准确地理解市场上各种链霉亲和素蛋白的功能和用途,并为深入研究链霉亲和素蛋白的进化提供参考。     

Affinity ultrafiltration: effects of ligand binding on selectivity and process optimization.

The effective design of affinity ultrafiltration processes using a selective macroligand requires a detailed understanding of the effects of ligand-binding interactions on product yield and purification. Theoretical calculations were performed to evaluate the performance of affinity diafiltration separations with both competitive and independent binding interactions for the product and impurity. The intrinsic selectivity for independent binding decreased during the diafiltration due to the increase in fractional impurity binding as the impurity is selectively removed. The opposite behavior was seen for competitive binding because the strongly bound product displaces the impurity from the binding sites. Purification-yield diagrams were used to examine the effects of affinity-ligand concentration and binding constants on the separation. Model calculations were in excellent agreement with experimental data for the separation of tryptophan isomers using bovine serum albumin as the steroselective macroligand. Simulations with a fixed number of diavolumes show a clear optimum in product yield and purification factor at an intermediate ligand concentration due to the competing effects of the intrinsic selectivity and the rate of impurity removal. These results provide an appropriate framework for the design and optimization of affinity ultrafiltration systems.     

中华稻蝗谷胱甘肽S-转移酶的分离纯化

采用硫酸铵沉淀法和GSH-agarose亲和层析法,对中华稻蝗Oxya chinensis(Thunberg)5龄若虫谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(glutathione S-transferases,GSTs)进行了分离纯化.结果表明:经硫酸铵沉淀,饱和度在60%-80%下沉淀中GSTs比活力较高,饱和度90%时比活力达到最高...     

The interaction of chromium with nucleic acids

Native and denatured calf thymus DNA, and homopolyribonucleotides were compared with respect to chromium and protein binding after an in vitro incubation with rat liver microsomes, NADPH, and chromium(VI) or chromium(III). A significant amount of chromium bound to DNA when chromium(VI) was incubated with the native or the denatured form of DNA in the presence of microsomes and NADPH. For both native and denatured DNA the amount of protein bound to DNA increased with the amount of chromium bound to DNA. Denatured DNA had much higher amounts of chromium and protein bound than native DNA. There was no interaction between chromium(VI) and either form of DNA in the absence of the complete microsomal reducing system. The binding of chrornium(III) to native or denatured DNA was small and relatively unaffected by the presence of microsomes and NADPH. The binding of chromium and protein to polyriboadenylic acid (poly(A)), polyribocytidylic acid (poly(C), polyri-boguanylic acid (poly(G)) and polyribouridylic acid (poly(U)) was determined after incubation with chromium(VI) in the presence of microsomes and NADPH. The magnitude of chromium and protein binding to the ribo-polymers was found to be poly(G) ? poly(A) ? poly(C) ? poly(U). These results suggest that the metabolism of chromium(VI) is necessary in order for chromium to interact significantly with nucleic acids. The metabolically-produced chromium preferentially binds to the base guanine and results in DNA-protein cross-links. These findings are discussed with respect to the proposed scheme for the carcinogenicity of chromium(VI). Keywords: DNA-protein cross-links — Chromium-guanine interaction-Microsomal reduction of chromate     

可内化的人源抗Met基因工程抗体Fab的亲和力成熟与特性分析

应用噬菌体展示技术制备抗Met(HGF受体,一个与肿瘤发生、侵袭和转移相关原癌基因产物)特异性、高亲和力的全人Fab片段.Fab基因分三步合成,以从错配PCR突变库中筛选出的Fab基因可变区为模板,扩增VH和VL基因,分别与CH1、CL基因融合,合成Fd和L基因,再拼接合成Fab基因,克隆于pComb3XSS中,构建Fab次级抗体库.经细胞筛选和固相筛选,获得高亲和力阳性克隆.工程菌经IPTG诱导表达,SDS-PAGE和蛋白质印迹分析,在25ku和27ku出现预期大小蛋白质条带.Fab分子经流式细胞术、免疫沉淀、细胞免疫荧光检测,结果表明,Fab能够与S114和MKN45细胞膜上的Met胞外区特异性结合,而与阴性细胞NIH3T3不结合.抗体内化分析显示,Fab能够与标记肥皂草毒素(ZAP)的抗人IgG结合,并进入细胞内,抑制Met阳性细胞的生长,揭示该抗体能够与Met特异性结合,并且被细胞内化.该抗体有望成为肿瘤临床诊断或治疗的候选分子.     

Immunological studies on the interaction of polyadenylic acid and human liver ribonuclease

The effect of polyadenylic acid, a potent inhibitor of mammalian and bacterial RNAses, on the binding of human liver RNAse to its antibody was studied. To do this, a human liver RNAse antibody was immobilized on Sepharose 4B. Examination of the ability of the enzyme to bind to the immobilized anti-RNAse in the presence or absence of polyadenylic acid indicated that enzyme-antibody binding was more sensitive to the presence of polyadenylic acid than was enzyme activity. Furthermore, the effect of polyadenylic acid on enzyme-antibody binding was specific since neither polycytidylic acid nor polyuridylic acid had much effect on the antigenicity of the enzyme. The metal cation, Mg2+, and the polyamine, spermidine, but not putrescine, readily reversed the effects of polyadenylic acid on enzyme-antibody binding.     

Attachment and detachment of bacteria on surfaces with tunable and switchable wettability

Controlling accumulations of unwanted biofilms requires an understanding of the mechanisms that organisms use to interact with submerged substrata. While the substratum properties influencing biofilm formation are well studied, those that may lead to cellular or biofilm detachment are not. Surface-grafted stimuli-responsive polymers, such as poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) release attached cells upon induction of environmentally-triggered phase changes. Altering the physicochemical characteristics of such polymeric systems for systematically studying release, however, can alter the phase transition. The physico-chemical changes of thin films of PNIPAAm grafted from initiator-modified self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of ω-substituted alkanethiolates on gold can be altered by changing the composition of the underlying SAM, without affecting the overlying polymer. This work demonstrates that the ability to tune such changes in substratum physico-chemistry allows systematic study of attachment and release of bacteria over a large range of water contact angles. Such surfaces show great promise for studying a variety of interactions at the biointerface. Understanding of the source of this tunability will require further studies into the heterogeneity of such films and further investigation of interactions beyond those of water wettability.     

Affinity capture of a biotinylated retrovirus on macroporous monolithic adsorbents: towards a rapid single-step purification process

A streptavidin derivitised macroporous monolith was developed to enable single-step capture of chemically biotinylated Moloney Murine Leukaemia Virus (MoMuLV) from crude, unclarified cell culture supernatant. Monoliths were prepared by aqueous cryopolymerisation of acrylamide with N,N'-methylene-bis (acrylamide) and glycidyl methacrylate (Arvidsson et al. [2003] J Chrom A 986:275-290). Streptavidin was immobilised to the epoxy functionalised monoliths. Particulate-containing cell culture supernatant was passed through the monolith without preclarification of the feedstock and adsorption capacities of 2 x 10(5) cfu/ml of adsorbent were demonstrated (cf. Fractogel streptavidin, at 3.9 x 10(5) cfu/ml of adsorbent). The specific titre of the recovered fraction was increased by 425-fold; however, recoveries of less than 8% were achieved. Adsorption of nonbiotinylated MoMuLV on the streptavidin-coated monolith was not observed.     

Mutational analysis of the interaction between albumin-binding domain from streptococcal protein G and human serum albumin

Streptococcal protein G (SpG) is a bacterial cell surface receptor exhibiting affinity to both human immunoglobulin (IgG) and human serum albumin (HSA). Interestingly, the serum albumin and immunoglobulin-binding activities have been shown to reside at functionally and structurally separated receptor domains. The binding domain of the HSA-binding part has been shown to be a 46-residue triple alpha-helical structure, but the binding site to HSA has not yet been determined. Here, we have investigated the precise binding region of this bacterial receptor by protein engineering applying an alanine-scanning procedure followed by binding studies by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The secondary structure as well as the HSA binding of the resulting albumin-binding domain (ABD) variants were analyzed using circular dichroism (CD) and affinity blotting. The analysis shows that the HSA binding involves residues mainly in the second alpha-helix.     

基于适体技术的桔青毒素检测方法的建立

桔青毒素（citrinin,CTN）是以玉米、谷物、奶酪等为主要成分的食品和动物饲料中常见的、由桔青霉菌产生的酮类真菌毒素,可引起人和动物的慢性中毒或癌症,一直缺少灵敏的快速检测方法。本文通过指数富集适体系统进化技术（简称SELEX）对可能与CTN结合的特异性适体进行了筛选,经过15轮循环,得到17条适体。通过二级结构分析、亲和力检测发现适体13（Apt-13）对CTN有较好的亲和度,解离常数Kd为0.06μmol/L。进一步利用非荧光标记染料PicoGreen,利用其与双链DNA结合的原理,建立了桔青毒素非标记荧光检测方法,30min完成检测,最低检测限达到国家标准（50ppb）且与其他毒素无交叉反应。本研究建立的基于适体的桔青毒素检测技术成本低,可以替代传统的基于抗体的检测方法,为霉菌毒素的精准检测技术的开发提供了实验证据。     

Variations in the coordination environment of Co, Cu and Zn complexes prepared from a tridentate (imino)pyridine ligand and their structural comparisons

The variations in the coordination environment of Co(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes with the neutral, tridentate ligand bis[1-(cyclohexylimino)ethyl]pyridine (BCIP) are reported. Analogous syntheses were carried out utilizing either the M(BF₄)₂ · xH₂O or MCl₂ · xH₂O metal salts (where M = Co(II), Cu(II) or Zn(II)) with one equivalent of BCIP. When the hydrated metal starting material was used, cationic, octahedral complexes of the type [M(BCIP)₂]²⁺ were isolated as the tetrafluoroborate salt (4, 5). Conversely, when the hydrated chloride metal salt was used as the starting material, only neutral, pentacoordinate [M(BCIP)Cl₂] complexes (1-3) formed. All complexes were characterized by X-ray diffraction studies. The three complexes that are five coordinate have distortions due mainly to the pyridine di-imine bite angle. The [Cu(BCIP)Cl₂] (2) also exhibits deviations in the Cu(II)-Cl bond distances with values of 2.4242(9) and 2.2505(9) Å, which are not seen in the analogous Zn(II) and Co(II) structures. Similarly, the two six coordinate complexes (5, 6) are also altered by the ligand frame bite angle giving rise to distorted octahedral geometries in each complex. The [Cu(BCIP)₂](BF₄)₂ (6) also exhibits Cu(II)-N_imine bond lengths that are on average 0.14 Å longer than those found in the analogous 5 coordinate complex, [Cu(BCIP)Cl₂]. In addition to X-ray analysis, all complexes were also characterized by UV/Vis and IR spectroscopy with ¹H NMR spectroscopy being used for the analysis of the Zn(II) analogue (3).     

Organocyanide coordination chemistry: Syntheses, structural characterisations and magnetic properties of copper (II) complexes with a di-imine/pyridine ligand

The reactions between the copper (II) salts [CuXL]PF₆ (L: 2,6-[1-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridine) (X = Cl 1, X = Br 2) and LiTCNQ, in a DMF/water mixture, or Et₃NH(TCNQ)₂, in acetone, produced the new complexes [CuXL(TCNQ)] (X = Cl 3, X = Br 4). For both compounds, crystallographic studies have clearly evidenced the existence of dimeric complexes [{CuClL}(TCNQ)]₂ owing to π-π overlap between two adjacent TCNQ⁻ radical anions. Compound 1 reacted with Et₄N(C₁₀N₇) to afford the mononuclear derivative [CuClL(C₁₀N₇)] (5), while its reaction with K₂C₁₀N₆ produced the dinuclear complex [(CuClL)₂(C₁₀N₆)] (6). The crystal structures of complexes 5 and 6 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Magnetic studies have revealed that compound 6 displays weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the two metal centres, conversely compounds 3 and 5 exhibit purely paramagnetic behaviours.     

Kinetics of drug-DNA interaction. Dependence of the binding mechanism on structure of the ligand

Kinetic and equilibrium studies of the binding of several phenanthridines and acridines to DNA have been performed to investigate the physical processes underlying the direct ligand transfer mechanism of drug-DNA interaction· Substitution of the 6-phenyl ring of dimidium with a p-carboxyl residue, or complete removal of either the 6-substituent or the 3-amino group, does not prevent the phenanthridine chromophore from transferring directly between binding sites. Loss of the aromatic ring increases association rate constants three- to ninefold and enhances dissociation rates by factors of up to 12; the rates of direct transfer and dissociation from site 1 are the most perturbed. The presence of a phenyl ring stabilizes the site 1 complex and lowers the binding constant to site 2. Introduction of the p-carboxyl group does not affect the equilibrium distribution of bound forms but produces equivalent increases (2·5-fold) in forward and reverse rate constants for binding to site 1 and for the direct transfer step. The 3-amino group greatly stabilizes the site 1 complex. Its removal accelerates all kinetic processes except for the reverse transfer step; the transfer rate is enhanced 25-fold and binding to site 2 is increased 12-fold. The dissociation rate from site 1 rises by a factor of 45 and that from site 2 by a factor of 5·8.10-Methyl-9-aminoacridine binds via the direct transfer pathway with rate and equilibrium constants similar to those of the 3-desamino derivative of ethidium. This compound provides the first fully characterized example of an acridine that utilizes bimolecular transfer. By contrast, rivanol (6,9-diamino-2-ethoxyacridine) interacts with DNA via a two-step sequential mechanism analogous to that seen with proflavine, yet its intrinsic association constant is three times higher. This results from tighter ‘external’ attachment to the helix, together with a decrease in equilibrium constant for the insertion step, which is markedly slower than that of proflavine. There appears to be a simple relation between the apparent enthalpy of binding and the number of extracyclic amino substituents on the intercalating chromophore.We propose that the two bound forms that participate in direct ligand transfer represent molecules intercalated via one or other of the grooves of DNA, and that the transfer pathway corresponds to exchange of drug between the wide groove of one helix and the narrow groove of another. The ability to form strongly bound complexes at the surface of the helix appears to play a major role in determining the mechanism of ligand binding.     

Affinity binding of cells to cryogel adsorbents with immobilized specific ligands: effect of ligand coupling and matrix architecture

The capture of human acute myeloid leukemia KG-1 cells expressing the CD34 surface antigen and the fractionation of human blood lymphocytes were evaluated on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-cryogel beads and dimethyl acrylamide (DMAAm) monolithic cryogel with immobilized protein A. The affinity ligand (protein A) was chemically coupled to the reactive PVA-cryogel beads and epoxy-derivatized monolithic cryogels through different immobilization techniques and the binding efficiency of the cell surface receptors specific antibody-labeled cells to the gels/beads was determined. The binding of cells to monolithic cryogel was higher (90-95%) compared with cryogel beads (76%). B-lymphocytes, which bound to the protein A-cryogel beads, were separated from T-lymphocytes with yields for the two cell types 74 and 85%, respectively. About 91% of the bound B-cells could be recovered without significantly impairing their viability. Our results show differences in the percentage of cell-binding to the immunosorbents caused by ligand density, flow shear forces and bond strength between the cells and the affinity surface once distinct chemical coupling of protein A, size of beads, sequence of antibody binding to protein A adsorbents, morphology and geometry of surface matrices were compared.     

Effect of cesium on the volume of the helix-coil transition of dA.dT polymers and their ligand complexes

The pressure dependence of the helix–coil transition of poly(dA)∙poly(dT) and poly[d(A-T)]·poly[d(A-T)] in aqueous solutions of NaCl and CsCl at concentrations between 10 and 200 mM is reported and used to calculate the accompanying volume change. We also investigated the binding parameters and volume change of ethidium bromide binding with poly(dA)∙poly(dT) and poly[d(A-T)]·poly[d(A-T)] in aqueous solutions of these two salts. The volume change of helix–coil transition of poly(dA)∙poly(dT) in Cs⁺-containing solutions differs by less than 1 cm³ mol^− 1 from the value measured when Na⁺ is the counter-ion. We propose that this insensitivity towards salt type arises if the counter-ions are essentially fully hydrated around DNA and the DNA conformation is not significantly altered by salt types. Circular dichroism spectroscopy showed that the previously observed large volumetric disparity for the helix–coil transition of poly[d(A-T)]·poly[d(A-T)] in solutions containing Na⁺ and Cs⁺ is likely result of a Cs⁺-induced conformation change that is specific for poly[d(A-T)]·poly[d(A-T)]. This cation-specific conformation difference is mostly absent for poly(dA)∙poly(dT) and EB bound poly[d(A-T)]·poly[d(A-T)].     

Comparison of cultured cell attachment on a temperature-responsive polymer,poly-l-lysine,and collagen using modeling curves and a thermal-controlled quartz crystal microbalance

Journal of Biological Physics - The characteristics of cultured cell attachment onto poly-l-lysine (PLL), collagen, and the thermoresponsive polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) were...     

Conformational Destabilization of Immunoglobulin G Increases the Low pH Binding Affinity with the Neonatal Fc Receptor

Crystallographic evidence suggests that the pH-dependent affinity of IgG molecules for the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) receptor primarily arises from salt bridges involving IgG histidine residues, resulting in moderate affinity at mildly acidic conditions. However, this view does not explain the diversity in affinity found in IgG variants, such as the YTE mutant (M252Y,S254T,T256E), which increases affinity to FcRn by up to 10×. Here we compare hydrogen exchange measurements at pH 7.0 and pH 5.5 with and without FcRn bound with surface plasmon resonance estimates of dissociation constants and FcRn affinity chromatography. The combination of experimental results demonstrates that differences between an IgG and its cognate YTE mutant vary with their pH-sensitive dynamics prior to binding FcRn. The conformational dynamics of these two molecules are nearly indistinguishable upon binding FcRn. We present evidence that pH-induced destabilization in the CH2/3 domain interface of IgG increases binding affinity by breaking intramolecular H-bonds and increases side-chain adaptability in sites that form intermolecular contacts with FcRn. Our results provide new insights into the mechanism of pH-dependent affinity in IgG-FcRn interactions and exemplify the important and often ignored role of intrinsic conformational dynamics in a protein ligand, to dictate affinity for biologically important receptors.     

Eucaryotic DNA Replication Complex: Study of Structure and Function Using the Affinity Modification Technique

Eucaryotic DNA replication complex is now one of the most intensively studied subjects of molecular biology and biochemistry. In addition to detailed studies on the structures and functions of individual DNA polymerases involved in this process, other enzymes and protein factors are also given much attention. The structures and functions of proteins in the replication complexes are studied by various approaches, including X-ray diffraction analysis. At present, this approach provides sufficient information about the structures and functions of individual biopolymers and their complexes with ligands. However, this approach is unsuitable for studies on proteins, which cannot be cloned and isolated in amounts sufficient for X-ray diffraction analysis. Moreover, this approach is inapplicable for studies on multicomponent systems, such as DNA replication and repair complexes. Furthermore, data of X-ray diffraction analysis virtually never characterize the variety of dynamic interactions in enzymatic systems. Affinity modification is an alternative and rather successful approach for studies on structure-functional organization of supramolecular structures. This approach can be used for studies on individual enzymes and their complexes with substrates and also on systems consisting of numerous interacting proteins and nucleic acids. The purpose of this review is to analyze the available data obtained by affinity modification studies on the eucaryotic replication complex.