Conservative chemical modification of proteins to study the effects of a single protein property on partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems

Relatively conservative modifications of three proteins were carried out to alter their surface properties. The protein properties modified were hydrophobicity and charge. This was done by acylation of amino groups with anhydrides. For the hydrophobic modification experiments, two proteins (beta-lactoglobulin and bovine serum albumin [BSA]) and four anhydrides (hexanoic, butyric, succinic, acetic) were used. For the modification of surface charge the protein thaumatin was selected and various proportions of the free amino groups were blocked with acetic anhydride to give a series of proteins with differing isoelectric points. Detailed characterization and purification of selected modified proteins was carried out including molecular weight measurements and conformational analysis. The criteria used for selecting the modified proteins for subsequent investigation of their partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) is described. With a judicious choice of starting material it was found that limited chemical modifications to proteins could effectively alter surface hydrophobicity or charge almost independently, with little effect on other molecular properties. It appears, however, that the method for chemical modification and the reaction conditions must also be carefully controlled. (c) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

EFFECT OF ACETYLATION AND METHYLATION ON THE SWEETNESS INTENSITY OF THAUMATIN I

The lysine residues in thaumatin I were chemically modifiedby acetylation with acetic anhydride and by reductive methylation,under various conditions. The acetylated and methylated thaumatinswere isolated by ion-exchange chromatography. The number ofremaining free amino groups was determined by trinitrophenylation. At least four acetylated thaumatins with either one, two, threeor four acetylated amino groups were obtained as well as onemethylated thaumatin with six dimethyl lysine residues and onemonomethyl lysine residue. The sweetness intensity of the acetylated thaumatins decreasedwith the increasing number of acetylated amino groups; the sweettaste had disappeared completely when four amino groups wereacetylated. The methylated thaumatin with seven modified lysineresidues had a sweetness intensity practically equal to thatof the original thaumatin. The total net change, i.e. the isoelectric point of thaumatin,might play a role in the physiological behaviour of thaumatincausing a sweet taste sensation.     

Chemical modification of a cerebral sodium-plus-potassium ion-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase preparation

1. A particulate Na(+)+K(+)-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase preparation obtained by treatment of bovine cerebral microsomes with a sodium iodide reagent has been further treated with acid anhydrides likely to convert amino groups into acidic derivatives. 2. The extent of acylation of amino groups was determined by reaction of the remaining amino groups with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid. The unmodified preparation contains about 1.2 muequiv. of amino groups/mg of protein of which only about 0.5 muequiv. are accounted for by protein amino groups. Kinetics of the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid reaction with the unmodified preparation are complex and are altered by ATP or ouabain. 3. The compounds examined cause loss of Na(+)+K(+)-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase activity when relatively few amino groups are modified but ATP was found to afford partial protection against inactivation by methylmaleic anhydride. Na(+)+K(+)-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase activity is partly restored to the dimethylmaleylated preparation by hydrolysis of the dimethylmaleyl-amide bonds but not if more than about 20% of the amino groups have been acylated. 4. Supernatants obtained by high-speed centrifugation of the dimethylmaleylated preparation contained up to 45% of the total protein with less than 10% of the total phospholipid. Methylmaleyl and benzenetricarboxylyl derivatives of the enzyme preparation behaved similarly but tetrafluorosuccinylated material was almost entirely deposited by centrifugation.     

Amino-modified probes with immobilized linkers and proteins for atomic force microscopy

Functionalized by bovine serum albumin (BSA) probes for atomic force microscopy (AFM) which can be used for molecular recognition studies has been obtained. Modification and functionalization procedure of AFM probe includes three stages. First, amino probes were obtained by modification in vapors of amino silane derivative. Then surface amino groups of the amino probe interacted with homobifunctional amino reactive crosslinker. And finally, the probe with covalently attached crosslinker was functionalized by BSA molecules. Obtained AFM probes were characterized on the different stages of the modification by force measurements and the adhesion forces were determined. Process of modification was confirmed by visualization of BSA and supercoiled pGEMEX DNA molecules immobilized on the standard amino mica and amino mica modified by crosslinker.     

长半衰期重组人超氧化物歧化酶的研制及性质

一种双亲有机化合物聚苯乙烯马来酸丁酯(SMA)经酰胺键与重组人铜锌超氧化物歧化酶(rhCu/Zn SOD)共价交联,制得修饰酶.当42%游离氨基被修饰时,保留酶活力为88%.酶蛋白主链结构在修饰前后变化不大.与天然酶相比,修饰酶的生物半衰期延长了22倍,抗蛋白水解酶能力亦有所增强.     

Reductive unfolding of serum albumins uncovered by Raman spectroscopy

The reductive unfolding of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) induced by dithiothreitol (DTT) is investigated using Raman spectroscopy. The resolution of the S-S Raman band into both protein and oxidized DTT contributions provides a reliable basis for directly monitoring the S-S bridge exchange reaction. The related changes in the protein secondary structure are identified by analyzing the protein amide I Raman band. For the reduction of one S-S bridge of BSA, a mean Gibbs free energy of -7 kJ mol(-1) is derived by studying the reaction equilibrium. The corresponding value for the HSA S-S bridge reduction is -2 kJ mol(-1). The reaction kinetics observed via the S-S or amide I Raman bands are identical giving a reaction rate constant of (1.02 +/- 0.11) M(-1) s(-1) for BSA. The contribution of the conformational Gibbs free energy to the overall Gibbs free energy of reaction is further estimated by combining experimental data with ab initio calculations.     

Partial replacement of dietary protein nitrogen with dispensable amino acids in diets of Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

Eighteen groups of 40 juvenile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were fed five experimental diets in which crude protein (30% dry matter) was replaced at a level of 25% by dispensable amino acids (DAA) in the free form, given singly (alanine, glutamic acid or glycine) or as a mixture and at a level of 50% by DAA mixture. At the 25% substitution level, irrespective of the nature of the DAA, growth was slightly reduced (10%), while glycaemia, nitrogen retention and excretion were unaffected. A 50% substitution with the DAA mixture resulted in a marked reduction in growth (50%), a modified pattern of glycaemia and a lower nitrogen retention associated with a higher nitrogen excretion. Results suggest that DAA should not account for more than 60% of the total amino acid supply in tilapia diets.     

Functionalization of amino-modified probes for atomic force microscopy

The probes for atomic force microscopy (AFM) functionalized with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were obtained; they can be used for molecular recognition studies. The procedure of modification and functionalization of the AFM probe included three stages. First, amino probes were obtained by modification in vapors of an amino silane derivative. Then, a covalent bond was formed between the surface amino groups of the probe and a homobifunctional aminoreactive crosslinker. Finally, the probe with a covalently attached crosslinker was functionalized with BSA molecules. The AFM probes were characterized by force measurements at different stages of the modification; the adhesion force and the work of adhesion force were determined. The modification process was confirmed by visualization of BSA and supercoiled pGEMEX DNA molecules immobilized on the standard amino mica and on amino mica modified with a crosslinker.     

Nonenzymatic glycation of bovine serum albumin by fructose (fructation). Comparison with the Maillard reaction initiated by glucose

Nonenzymatic glycation by glucose (glucation) was compared with glycation by fructose (fructation). The rate and extent of protein-bound fluorescence generation upon fructation was about 10 times that upon glucation. In contrast, nonenzymatically glucated bovine serum albumin (BSA) released about twice as much formaldehyde upon periodate oxidation as did nonenzymatically fructated BSA. However, the rate of blocking of amino groups was similar in both proteins. Periodate oxidation of borohydride-reduced glycated BSA led to regeneration of amino groups with preservation of fluorescence. From the ratio between the decrease in formaldehyde-releasing ability and the regenerated amino groups, formaldehyde molar yields of 0.47 and 0.8 were computed for fructose- and glucose-derived Amadori groups, respectively. This is consistent with participation of both carbon 1 and carbon 3 in the Amadori rearrangement from fructose. The formaldehyde releasing ability of nonenzymatically fructated BSA attains asymptotic maximum values earlier than that of nonenzymatically glucated BSA. Thus, the higher rate of fluorescence generation in nonenzymatically fructated BSA could be explained by a faster conversion of its Amadori groups. Since fluorescence generation through the Maillard reaction has been correlated with long term complications of diabetes mellitus, the participation of nonenzymatic fructation in this pathological state deserves further exploration. This is especially relevant in tissues where fructose levels increase in diabetes as a result of the operation of the sorbitol pathway.     

Chemical probes of extended biological structures: Synthesis and properties of the cleavable protein cross-linking reagent [35S]dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate)

The synthesis and properties of a new cleavable protein cross-linking reagent, [³⁵S]dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate), are detailed. Free primary and secondary aliphatic amino groups are quantitatively acylated by the reagent in either organic or aqueous media within two minutes at 23 °C. By contrast, the half-time for hydrolysis of the active ester termini in buffer at pH 7 is four to five hours, so that protein cross-linkage can be optimized by application of low concentrations of reagent. Accessible amino groups of hemoglobin are acylated with extreme rapidity of 0 °C in pH 7 buffer when [³⁵S]dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate) is applied in 0.4 to 9-fold molar excess. Submicrogram quantities of the cross-linked hemoglobin subunits which result are detectable by monitoring the ³⁵S distribution in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. In addition to amine acylation, two of the six thiol groups in hemoglobin, tentatively located at cysteine 93 of the β chains, are reversibly modified at 0 °C by mercaptan-disul-fide interchange with the reagent or its bis amide analogs. This equilibrium-controlled, pH-dependent reaction occurs at a slower rate than acylation, and is blocked by short preincubation of the protein with N-ethylmaleimide or by addition of 3,3′- dithiodipropionamide (or other disulfides) to the reaction mixture. Disulfides introduced into hemoglobin by acylation and interchange are quantitatively cleaved by reduction for 30 minutes at 37 °C with 10 mm-dithioerythritol buffered at pH 8.5.The properties of high reactivity under mild conditions, long solution half-life, and the radioactive label make [³⁵S]dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate) a particularly useful and versatile probe of extended structures in a variety of biological systems.     

Sulfhydryl-selective, covalent labeling of biomolecules with transition metallocarbonyl complexes. Synthesis of (eta5-C5H5)M(CO)3(eta1-N-maleimidato) (M = Mo, W), X-ray structure, and reactivity studies

The photochemical reaction of (eta5-C5H5)Mo(CO)3I with maleimide in the presence of diisopropylamine yielded complex (eta5-C5H5)Mo(CO)3(eta1-N-maleimidato) 4 in 52% yield. The single-crystal X-ray structure of this complex was determined and shows unusual interactions between oxygen atoms of the maleimidato ligand and carbon atoms of the cis-CO ligands. The tungsten analogue of 4, (eta5-C5H5)W(CO)3(eta1-N-maleimidato) 5, was synthesized in 37% yield by the reaction of (eta5-C5H5)W(CO)3I with the thallium(I) salt of maleimide. Complexes 4 and 5 reacted with cysteine ethyl ester and glutathione to afford products of the addition of the sulfhydryl group to the ethylenic bond of the maleimidato ligand. The reaction of 4 and 5 with glutathione proceeded faster than the reaction of the analogous complex (eta5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2(eta1-N-maleimidato) (3). However, all these complexes react with glutathione more slowly than N-ethylmaleimide. Complexes 4 and 5 were used for labeling of bovine serum albumin (BSA), enriched in thiol groups by reaction with Traut's reagent. Reaction of thiolated BSA containing 7.4 SH groups with 4 and 5 gave bioconjugates bearing 6.9 and 6.4 metallocarbonyl moieties, respectively. Under the same conditions, reaction with 3 afforded a BSA conjugate containing 7.6 metallocarbonyl moieties. Labeling was presumed to be site-specific, as the number of metallocarbonyl entities matched very well with the initial number of SH groups measured for the thiolated BSA sample. IR spectra of BSA labeled with 4 and 5 show intense nu(C[triple bond]O)) bands (2042 and 1948 cm(-1) in the latter case), enabling sensitive detection of the bioconjugates in biological samples. Complexes 4 and 5 (especially the latter) should be of interest as heavy atom phasing reagents for protein X-ray crystallography.     

Characterization of bovine serum albumin glycated with glucose, galactose and lactose

The non-enzymatic reaction between reducing sugars and proteins, known as glycation, has received increased attention from nutritional and medical research. In addition, there is a large interest in obtaining glycoconjugates of pure well-characterized oligosaccharides for biological research. In this study, glycation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) by d-glucose, d-galactose and d-lactose under dry-heat at 60 degrees C for 30, 60, 120, 180 or 240 min was assessed and the glycated products studied in order to establish their biological recognition by lectins. BSA glycation was monitored using gel electrophoresis, determination of available amino groups and lectin binding assays. The BSA molecular mass increase and glycation sites were investigated by mass spectrometry and through digestion with trypsin and chymotrypsin. Depending on time and type of sugar, differences in BSA conjugation were achieved. Modified BSA revealed reduction of amino groups' availability and slower migration through SDS/PAGE. d-galactose was more reactive than d-glucose or d-lactose, leading to the coupling of 10, 3 and 1 sugar residues, respectively, after 120 minutes of reaction. BSA lysines (K) were the preferred modified amino acids; both K256 and K420 appeared the most available for conjugation. Only BSA-lactose showed biological recognition by specific lectins.     

Activation of prothrombin, modified by maleic anhydride, some properties of N-maleyl-thrombin with free alpha-amino groups]

Conditions for the acylation of bovine prothrombin by maleic anhydride are worked out. The reaction is shown to modify not more than 95% of amino groups. The changes in hydrodynamic and electrophoretic properties testify about structural changes of prothrombin as a result of the modification of free amino groups. The activation of maleyl-prothrombin to maleyl-thrombin took place in 25% sodium citrate only in the presence of thrombin and the Xa factor. The increase of modified amino groups in prothrombin resulted in the decrease of the activity of generated maleyi-thrombin. The main fraction of maleyl-thrombin with free alpha-amino groups had a sedimentation coefficient of 2.1 S and possessed a residual esterase activity.     

The effect of various acylating agents on the catalytic properties and structure of aspartate aminotransferase]

Changes of quaternary structure and conformation of molecule concomitant with inactivation were observed in the course of aspartate transaminase acylation by maleic, citraconic, dimethylmaleic and succinic anhydrides. It was established that acylation of 10-12 xi-amino groups of lysine did not induce the dissociation of transaminase into subunits. Further acylation of amino groups (2 groups if dimethylmaleic anhydrade was used as acylating agent) induced dissociation of transaminase dimer into subunits. These data were obtained by sedimentation analysis. The dissociation was accompanied with a sharp decrease of correlation time (from 18 nsec to 9 nsec) of the paramagnetic label covalently bound to the protein. The obtained results allow us to distinguish three types of xi-aminogroups of aspartate transaminase: exposed (about 12 residues), "contact" (2 residues) located in the vicinity to complementary surfaces of subunits and buried (about 6 residues). The stepwise inactivation occurred during the acylation as a result of conformational changes or appearance of sterical hindrances in the cataytic site of the enzyme. The thiol groups were not modified in transaminase molecule under experimental conditions used. Aspartate transaminase treated with citraconic or dimethylmaleic anhydride may be deacylated under mild conditions. After reacylation the quaternary structure was reconstituted and catalytic activity was almost fully restored.     

利用荧光手性试剂（S）—TBMB甲酸分析氨基糖的D—和L—构型

D、L型氨基糖经荧光手性试剂 (S) ( ) 2 叔丁基 2 甲基 苯并 1 ,3 二氧杂环戊烷 4 甲酸 [(S) TBMB甲酸 ]标记、完全乙酰基化得到非对映的氨基糖完全乙酰基化N (S) TBMB羧酸衍生物。其1 HNMR图谱 ,特别是强的叔丁基及甲基信号峰被用于分析氨基糖的D、L构型。此外 ,还利用反相HPLC及同样的荧光标识方法创立了简便的高灵敏度氨基糖D、L构型分析方法。其全部分析操作时间在 2h内 ,检测极限为 0 .2 pmol     

Thiolation of chitosan. Attachment of proteins via thioether formation

Chitosan has a variety of biological functions through conjugating of other compounds to their amino and hydroxyl groups. To further expand applicability of chitosan, we have modified the amino group of chitosan with 2-iminothiolane to bestow thiol groups and obtained about 20% yield, which is equivalent to 913 microequiv SH/g chitosan or 457 nequiv SH/nmol chitosan. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was reacted with N-(epsilon-maleimidocaproyloxy)sulfosuccinimide ester (sulfo-EMCS), and maleimide-modified BSA (MalN-BSA) was obtained. The yield of sulfo-EMCS addition was 12.8-36.8 mol MalN/mol BSA. When the chitosan-SH was reacted with MalN-BSA via thioether, 97.8% of the maleimide group was reacted, and 37.2% of the SH group was consumed. The remaining SH group was quenched by bromoacetamide. This is the first report of covalent conjugation of a protein to chitosan. Our method should find many applications in developing new chitosan-based biomedical materials containing other components such as growth factors and cell adhesion molecules, known to be crucial to cells. Our thiolated chitosan will facilitate conjugation of such biomedical components to provide new types of materials for tissue engineering.     

Covalent binding of phospholipids to protein globule in a system of reverse micelles

Acylation of protein amino groups by N'-hydroxysuccinimide ester of N-succinyl phosphatidylethanolamine in reverse micelles of diisooctylsulphosuccinate in hexane was studied. The experiment in a model system (glycine solution in reverse micelles) showed rate of acylation of amino groups to be by over an order of magnitude higher than rate of hydrolysis. Water-soluble proteins (alpha-chymotrypsin and IgG), modified by means of this method, can effectively bind liposomes without disturbing the integrity of liposomal membrane.     

Selective acylation of primary amines in peptides and proteins

N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) esters are derivatizing agents that target primary amine groups. However, even a small molar excess of NHS may lead to acylation of hydroxyl-containing amino acids as a side reaction. We report a straightforward method for the selective removal of ester-linked acyl groups after NHS ester-mediated acylation of peptides and proteins. It is based on incubation in a boiling water bath and does not require a change in pH or the addition of chemicals. It is therefore particularly suited for proteomics samples that are often small in volume and contain low amounts of peptides. The method was optimized and evaluated with two peptides and one protein that were acetylated at a high excess of NHS-acetate. While the large molar excess resulted in complete acylation of all primary amines, hydroxyl-containing amino acids were shown to react as well. By incubating the peptide or protein solutions in a boiling water bath, acetyl-ester bonds were hydrolyzed, whereas acetyl-amide bonds remained stable. The reaction was also performed in 6 M guanidine-HCl, which prevented protein precipitation. In conclusion, the present method allows the selective acylation of primary amines by NHS esters and constitutes a valuable alternative to the treatment with hydroxylamine under alkaline conditions.     

Use of heavy-metal clusters in the design of N-succinimidyl ester acylation reagents for side-chain-specific labeling of proteins.

New heavy transition metal carbonyl markers for protein labeling, containing an "Mn(CO)11" (M = Ru, Os, n = 3; M = Ir, n = 4) moiety, were prepared by reaction of "lightly stabilized" clusters with an N-succinimidyl ester functionalized phosphine, namely N-succinimidyl 3-diphenylphosphine-propionate (DPPS). The reaction of Os3(CO)11(DPPS) with the model amino acid beta-alanine was performed and led to the expected amide. From the reaction of Mn(CO)11(DPPS) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) in mixed organic/aqueous medium, conjugates bearing a fairly high number of metal carbonyl fragments were obtained, thus demonstrating the usefulness of this class of reagents for the selective and covalent graft of heavy metal clusters to side chain of proteins.     

Moisture excluding efficiency and dimensional stability of wood improved by acylation

The dimensional stability and moisture excluding efficiencies (MEEs) of wood after acetylation, butyrylation, and hexanoylation, were evaluated in this study. After three acylation treatments, an excellent antiswelling efficiency of modified wood specimens was obtained. All the equilibrium moisture contents of acylated wood at three relative humidities (RHs) (33% RH, 65% RH, and 93% RH) were significantly reduced, as compared to those of untreated wood in the same RH, and the MEEs of acylated wood were greatly improved. Acylated wood has consistent MEE at each of the different RHs. With the same percentage of substituted hydroxyl groups, the decreasing order of the MEE of modified wood was hexanoylation > butyrylation > acetylation. This indicates that the molecular volume or hydrophobic property of the substituted acyl groups also has the influence on the MEE of modified wood, in addition to the degree of substitution of the hydroxyl groups.