Sequential liquid-liquid extraction of d-amino acid oxidase from Trigonopsis variabilis

A method for isolation of d-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) from disrupted Trigonopsis variabilis cells has been developed. In an aqueous two-phase system consisting of PEG6000 (220 g l^–1), potassium phosphate (110 g l^–1, K₂HPO₄ + KH₂PO₄ = 10.1:1, mol mol^–1) and dl-methionine (11 g l^–1), the major portion of cellular proteins (87%) was partitioned into the salt phase. By sequential extraction, 48% of DAAO was recovered in PEG phase, giving a yield of 211 U mg protein^–1.     

Identification of a Conserved Calmodulin-Binding Motif &;#x220A; the Sequence of F<Subscript>0</Subscript>F<Subscript>1</Subscript>ATPsynthase Inhibitor Protein

The natural inhibitor proteins IF₁ regulate mitochondrial F₀F₁ATPsynthase in a wide range of species. We characterized the interaction of CaM with purified bovine IF₁, two bovine IF₁ synthetic peptides, as well as two homologous proteins from yeast, namely IF₁ and STF₁. Fluorometric analyses showed that bovine and yeast inhibitors bind CaM with a 1:1 stoichiometry in the pH range between 5 and 8 and that CaM-IF₁ interaction is Ca²⁺-dependent. Bovine and yeast IF₁ have intermediate binding affinity for CaM, while the K_d (dissociation constant) of the STF₁-CaM interaction is slightly higher. Binding studies of CaM with bovine IF₁ synthetic peptides allowed us to identify bovine IF₁ sequence 33–42 as the putative CaM-binding region. Sequence alignment revealed that this region contains a hydrophobic motif for CaM binding, highly conserved in both yeast IF₁ and STF₁ sequences. In addition, the same region in bovine IF₁ has an IQ motif for CaM binding, conserved as an IQ-like motif in yeast IF₁ but not in STF₁. Based on the pH and Ca²⁺ dependence of IF₁ interaction with CaM, we suggest that the complex can be formed outside mitochondria, where CaM could regulate IF₁ trafficking or additional IF₁ roles not yet clarified.     

Protein mass transfer studies on a spray column using the PEG-Reppal PES 100 aqueous two-phase system

The characterization of Bovine Serum Albumin mass transfer mechanisms in a spray column using an aqueous two-phase system composed of poly(ethylene glycol) and a modified starch-Reppal PES 100-is done. The poly(ethylene glycol) rich phase is used as the dispersed phase and protein transfer takes place from the dispersed phase to the continuous phase. The effect of dispersed phase superficial velocity, system composition, continuous phase height and distribution system design on either overall protein mass transfer coefficient or column hold-up is described. It is shown that continuous phase superficial velocity and phase composition are the main controlling factors for protein transfer. It is also observed that, with the tested system, only at very low dispersed phase superficial velocities is it possible to operate the spray column as an extraction column. In this system the upper operating limit of the dispersed phase velocity is ten times smaller than in other aqueous two-phase systems.List of Symbols ATPS Aqueous Two-Phase System - BSA Bovine Serum Albumin - C _i kg m^–3 inlet dispersed phase protein concentration - C ₀ kg m^–3 outlet dispersed phase protein concentration - C _d kg m^–3 dispersed phase protein concentration - C _c kg m^–3 continuous phase protein concentration - D m column internal diameter - H hold-up - h, h _d m dispersion height - h ₀ m initial dispersion height (initial continuous phase height) - k _da s^–1 overall mass transfer coefficient - m protein partition coefficient - n number of holes of distribution system - PEG Poly(ethylene glycol) - Q m³ s^–1 dispersed phase volumetric flow rate - S m² column internal area - V m³ dispersion volume A. Venâncio was supported by a JNICT (Junta Nacional de Investigaçäo Científica e Tecnológica) grant.     

Cometabolic Degradation of Trichloroethylene by Single- and Two-Phase Systems

The cometabolic degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) by Pseudomonas putida F1 (strain ATCC 700007) at different concentrations was studied in single- and two-phase systems using 2-undecanone as the second organic phase. Toluene vapors were used as the primary growth substrate for Pseudomonas putida F1. The effects of the biomass concentration and the phase ratio on the biodegradation process were investigated. The best biomass concentration and the most suitable phase ratio were found to be 0.462 and 0.025 g/L (v_org/v_aq), respectively. In the single-phase system, 36.5 mg/L TCE was degraded completely in 15 hours and only 78% of 55 mg/L TCE was degraded in 27 hours, while in the two-phase system 55 mg/L TCE was degraded completely in 14 hours. The use of the two-phase system not only decreased the biodegradation time of TCE but also prevented the inhibition effect of high concentrations of TCE on the microbial biomass.     

两相法分离纯化橡胶树树皮质膜

橡胶树树皮质膜H~+-ATPase在橡胶树产排胶过程中扮演着重要角色,制备高纯度及高活性的质膜是研究质膜H~+-ATPase特性和功能的必要条件。该研究以一年生巴西橡胶树(Hevea brasiliensis)树皮为材料,利用差速离心法获得粗膜微粒体,通过两相分配法分离纯化质膜,并研究两相体系中不同浓度聚合物(5.9%、6.1%、6.3%、6.5%、6.7%,W/W)和KCl(2、5、8、11、14 mmol·L~(-1))对质膜蛋白得率和纯化效率的影响。通过Bradford法对质膜蛋白得率进行检测,同时采用酶活性检测法对质膜纯度进行检测,分析结果表明选用6.4%(W/W)聚合物浓度和5mmol·L~(-1)KCl组成的两相体系可获得较高纯度和得率的橡胶树树皮质膜。通过电镜观察法在形态学上对质膜纯度进一步评价,利用铅铀能侵染全部膜组分使其染色,而磷钨酸只能专一性地侵染质膜并使其染色这一特性,分别使用铅铀和磷钨酸对切片进行染色,并通过透射电镜对切片染色程度进行直接观察,结果表明提取的粗膜微粒体中质膜组分较少,存在大量的细胞器膜污染,而纯化后的质膜膜组分较单一,其他膜组分污染较少,而且质膜大小较均一,可以用于进行后续橡胶树树皮质膜H~+-ATPase特性和功能的研究。     

Phenol and 2-naphthol production by toluene 4-monooxygenases using an aqueous/dioctyl phthalate system

A two-phase system is developed here for converting: (1) benzene to phenol and (2) naphthalene to 2-naphthol, using whole cells expressing wild-type toluene 4-monooxygenase (T4MO) and the alpha subunit variant TmoA I100A from Pseudomonas mendocina KR1. Using the T4MO TmoA I100A variant, the solubility of naphthalene was enhanced and the toxicity of the naphthols was prevented by the use of a water/dioctyl phthalate (80:20, vol%) system which yielded 21-fold more 2-naphthol. More than 99% 2-naphthol was extracted to the dioctyl phthalate phase, dihydroxynaphthalene formation was prevented, 92% 2-naphthol was formed, and 12% naphthalene was converted. Similarly, using 50 vol% dioctyl phthalate, an initial concentration of 3.0 g l⁻¹ (39 mM), and wild-type T4MO, a 51±9% conversion of benzene was obtained and phenol was produced at a purity of 97%. Relative to the one-phase system, there was a 12-fold reduction in the formation of the byproduct catechol.     

Partition of membrane particles in aqueous two-polymer phase system and its practical use for purification of plasma membranes from plants

A simplified method for the isolation of a plasma membrane-enriched fraction from plants utilizing an aqueous two-polymer phase system is outlined. Mainly, the plant used was Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.). The two-phase system consisted of 5.6% (w/w) of dextran T500 and 5.6% (w/w) of polyethyleneglycol 4000 in 0.5 molar sorbitol-15 millimolar Tris-maleate (pH 7.3), and 30 millimolar NaCl. In this system, the plasma membranes and the other membranes were preferentially partitioned into the top phase and into the lower phase, respectively. The purity of the isolated plasma membrane was sufficiently high even after a single partition (i.e. about 85% purity) and more than 90% purity was obtained after repeating the partition in a newly prepared lower phase. The plasma membrane was identified with the aid of phosphotungstic acid-chromic acid stain and the association of vanadate-sensitive Mg²⁺-ATPase. The plasma membrane-associated ATPase had a pH optimum at 6.5 and showed a high specificity for Mg²⁺ and ATP. KCl stimulation was low (6% stimulation) at the pH optimum, but a relatively high stimulation (23%) occurred at pH 5.5. This method for plasma membrane isolation may be applicable to a wide variety of plants and plant tissue including green leaves.     

Preparation of highly enriched photosystem II membrane vesicles by a non-detergent method

An improved, non-detergent, method for preparative isolation of PS II membrane vesicles from spinach chloroplasts is presented. Thylakoids (chlorophyll (Chl) a/b ratio 2.8, Chl/P700 435) were fractionated by Yeda press treatment and aqueous two-phase partition to yield inside-out vesicles (1) (chl a/b 2.2, chl/P700 700). These vesicles were subjected a sonication — phase partitioning procedure; steps of sonication of inside-out vesicles, while still present in a dextran-polyethylene glycol two-phase system were alternated by phase partition. These steps selectively removed P700-containing membrane fragments from the inside-out vesicles and yielded a membrane fraction with improved PS II purity (Chl a/b ratio 1.9, Chl/P700 1500) and retained oxygen evolving capacity (295 mol O₂ mg Chl^-1 h^-1).     

Coenzyme Q<Subscript>10</Subscript> production directly from precursors by free and gel-entrapped <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphingomonas</Emphasis> sp. ZUTE03 in a water-organic solvent,two-phase conversion system

In a water-organic solvent, two-phase conversion system, CoQ₁₀ could be produced directly from solanesol and para-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHB) by free cells of Sphingomonas sp. ZUTE03 and CoQ₁₀ concentration in the organic solvent phase was significantly higher than that in the cell. CoQ₁₀ yield reached a maximal value of 60.8 mg l⁻¹ in the organic phase and 40.6 mg g⁻¹-DCW after 8 h. CoQ₁₀ also could be produced by gel-entrapped cells in the two-phase conversion system. Soybean oil and hexane were found to be key substances for CoQ₁₀ production by gel-entrapped cells of Sphingomonas sp. ZUTE03. Soybean oil might improve the release of CoQ10 from the gel-entrapped cells while hexane was the suitable solvent to extract CoQ₁₀ from the mixed phase of aqueous and organic. The gel-entrapped cells could be re-used to produce CoQ₁₀ by a repeated-batch culture. After 15 repeats, the yield of CoQ₁₀ kept at a high level of more than 40 mg l⁻¹. After 8 h conversion under optimized precursor’s concentration, CoQ₁₀ yield of gel-trapped cells reached 52.2 mg l⁻¹ with a molar conversion rate of 91% and 89.6% (on PHB and solanesol, respectively). This is the first report on enhanced production of CoQ₁₀ in a two-phase conversion system by gel-entrapped cells of Sphingomonas sp. ZUTE03.     

Preparative separation of alkaloids from Nelumbo nucifera leaves by conventional and pH-zone-refining counter-current chromatography

Two modes of high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) were successfully applied to the separation of alkaloids from crude extract of Nelumbo nucifera leaves. The conventional HSCCC separations were performed with a two-phase solvent system composed of tetrachloromethane–CHCl₃–methanol–0.1 M HCl at a volume ratio of 1:3:3:2 (v/v/v/v), and 120 mg crude extract could be successfully separated. pH-Zone-refining CCC was performed with a two-phase solvent system composed of petroleum ether (60–90 °C)–ethyl acetate–methanol–water (5:5:2:8, v/v/v/v) where triethylamine (10 mM) was added to the upper organic stationary phase as a retainer and hydrochloric acid (5 mM) to the aqueous mobile phase as an eluent. From 4.0 g of the crude extract, 120 mg N-nornuciferine, 1020 mg nuciferine and 96 mg roemerine were obtained in a single run each with a purity of over 98% as determined by HPLC. The structures of the isolated compounds were identified by ESI-MS, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR.     

Characteristics of spontaneously transformed human endothelial ECV304 cell line: II. Functional responses of ECV304 cells

The functional peculiarities of spontaneously transformed human endothelial ECV304 cell line were studied to estimate its adequacy as an endothelial cell model for studying angiogenesis and signal transduction. The dependence of the proliferative activity of this line on the presence of growth factors was shown. The absence of serum in the nutrition medium leads to the blockage of cells in the G₁ phase of cell cycle, which is not characteristic of tumor cell lines. Low doses of beta particles emitted during the decay of the [³H]-thymidine blocked, dose-dependent proliferation of these cells in the G₂/M phase. The incubation of the cells in medium with another source of β particles, ³H₂O, resulted in the predominant accumulation of cells in the S phase under conditions of equal specific tritium activities. The different efficiency of β particles of tritium as a part of the H₂O molecule or thymidine demonstrates that different mechanisms are responsible for different checkpoints. The checkpoint of G₁/S is absent, which agrees with the presence of the deletion of chromosome 9 at locus p21. The level of NO produced by the constitutive form of NO synthase in ECV304 cells was relatively low and not modified by inducible NO-synthase inhibitors. The data obtained suggest that the ECV304 line cells retained properties of the initial spontaneously transformed cell line obtained from the human umbilical vein (HUVEC) and can be used as a model system for further studies of properties of the vascular endothelium.     

Enhanced methane production in a two-phase anaerobic digestion plant, after CO2 capture and addition to organic wastes

Cost-effective technologies are needed to reach the international greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets in many fields, including waste and biomass treatment. This work reports the effects of CO₂ capture from a combustion flue gas and its use in a newly-patented, two-phase anaerobic digestion (TPAD) process, to improve energy recovery and to reduce CO₂ emissions. A TPAD process, fed with urban wastewater sludge, was successfully established and maintained for several months at pilot scale. The TPAD process with injection of CO₂ exhibits efficient biomass degradation (58% VSS reduction), increased VFA production during the acidogenic phase (leading to VFA concentration of 8.4 g/L) and high biomethane production (0.350 Sm³/kg_SSV; 0.363 Sm³/m³_react·d). Moreover, CO₂ intake in the acid phase has a positive impact on the overall GHG balance associated to biomethane production, and suggests an improved solution for both emission reduction and biomass conversion into biomethane.     

Trypsin complexed with α1-proteinase inhibitor has an increased structural flexibility

Mutant rat trypsin Asp¹⁸⁹Ser was prepared and complexed with highly purified human α₁-proteinase inhibitor. The complex formed was purified to homogeneity and studied by N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis and limited proteolysis with bovine trypsin. As compared to uncomplexed mutant trypsin, the mutant enzyme complexed with α₁-proteinase inhibitor showed a highly increased susceptibility to enzymatic digestion. The peptide bond selectively attacked by bovine trypsin was identified as the Arg¹¹⁷-Val¹¹⁸ one of trypsin. The structural and mechanistic relevance of this observation to serine proteinase-substrate and serine proteinase-serpin reactions are discussed.     

Quantitation of plasmid DNA in aqueous two-phase systems by fluorescence analysis

The development of aqueous two-phase systems for plasmid purification from Escherichia coli cell lysates requires a reliable DNA quantitation method. Plasmid DNA was quantified by fluorescence using PicoGreen nucleic acid stain. Linearity was obtained up to 40 ng plasmid ml^–1. Two polyethyleneglycol (PEG)/salt systems were studied, PEG 600/K₂HPO₄ and PEG 300/K₂HPO₄. The average plasmid recovery was 41% in the bottom phase of the first system and 35% in the top phase of the second system. This method has proved to be simple and reproducible.     

Treatment of high-concentration gaseous benzene streams using a novel bioreactor system

A continuous treatment system combining a packed-bed column and a two-phase partitioning bioreactor has been designed to treat high-concentration benzene-containing gas streams. 1-Octadecene was used in a closed loop as an absorbant to scrub benzene in the counter-current column, after which it was transferred to the two-phase partitioning bioreactor to partition benzene into the 1 l aqueous phase for degradation by Klebsiella sp. The solvent was then recirculated back to the absorber. A gas stream containing 20 mg l^–1 benzene at a flow rate of 60 l h^–1 was introduced to the system, and the benzene was degraded at a biological removal efficiency of 87% at steady state.     

Physical characterisations of a single-stage Kühni-type aqueous two-phase extraction column

The main parameters which influence the behaviour of phase separation in a single-stage Kühni-type aqueous two-phase extraction column containing polyethylene (PEG) and di-potassium hydrogen phosphate were characterised. Two aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) composed of 12% (w/w) PEG 1450 and 12% (w/w) di-potassium hydrogen phosphate (designated as 12/12) and 12% (w/w) PEG 1450 and 11% (w/w) di-potassium hydrogen phosphate (designated as 12/11) were chosen in this study. The hold-up ɛ_D increased with increasing impeller speeds and mobile phase flow rates. Phase separation for the 12/11 system was slower than that for the 12/12 system, which resulted in higher dispersed phase hold-up values for the 12/11 system. For 12/12 system, mass transfer of plasmid DNA (pDNA) from the dispersed mobile phase to the stationary phase increased rapidly with increasing impeller speeds of 130, 160 and 200 rpm which was reflected in the decreased values for C_T/C_To. The degree of back-mixing quantified by the axial dispersion coefficient D_ax was estimated to be 2.7 × 10⁻⁶ m² s⁻¹.     

P450<Subscript>BM-3</Subscript>-catalyzed whole-cell biotransformation of α-pinene with recombinant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> in an aqueous–organic two-phase system

A recombinant Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) strain overexpressing a variant of P450_BM-3 (V26T/R47F/A74G/F87V/L188K; abbreviated: BL21 (P450_BM-3 QM)) oxyfunctionalizes the bicyclic monoterpene α-pinene to α-pinene oxide, verbenol, and myrtenol. To address the low water solubility and the toxicity of terpenoids, an aqueous–organic two-phase bioprocess was developed. Diisononyl phthalate was selected as a biocompatible organic carrier solvent capable of masking the toxic effects mediated by α-pinene and of efficiently extracting the products enabling scale-up to the bioreactor. With an aqueous to organic phase ratio of 3:2 and 30% (v/v) of α-pinene in the organic phase, a biocatalytic product formation period of more than 4 h was achieved. A comparison of the biotransformation performance of BL21 (P450_BM-3 QM) and a strain with an additional heterologous NADPH regeneration system comprising glucose facilitator and dehydrogenase, but only expressing half the amount of P450_BM-3 QM, shows comparable product concentrations of 1,020 ± 144 and 800 ± 61 mg l_Aq⁻¹, respectively. The total product yields Y _P/P450 (μmol μmol_P450⁻¹) were 80% higher when the strain with the cofactor regeneration system was used. A total product concentration of over 1 g l_Aq⁻¹, corresponding to the highest value reported for microbial α-pinene oxyfunctionalization so far, marks a promising step forward toward a future application of recombinant microorganisms for the selective oxidation of terpenoids to value-added products.     

Tissue distribution of adoptively transferred adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells assessed by different cell labels

Summary Assessment of the tissue distribution of adoptively transferred adherent lymphokine-activated killer A-LAK) cells by use of⁵¹Cr indicated that these effector cells, after an initial phase in the lungs, distributed in high numbers to liver and spleen (30% and 10% of injected dose, respectively). However, when this experiment was repeated with¹²⁵IdUrd as cell label, fewer than 2% and 0.5% of the injected cells distributed into liver and spleen respectively. To analyse this discrepancy, we compared the tissue distribution of⁵¹Cr- and¹²⁵IdUrd-labelled A-LAK cells with that indicated by alternative direct visual methods for identification of the injected cells, such as fluorescent dyes (rhodamine and H33342) or immunohistochemical staining of asialo-GM₁-positive cells. The number of i. v. injected A-LAK cells found in the liver by all visual methods ranged from 1% to 5% of the injected dose, supporting the data obtained with¹²⁵IdUrd, whereas 25%–30% of the⁵¹Cr label was consistently found in this organ. Autoradiography of the liver 24 h after i. v. injection of⁵¹Cr-labelled cells revealed a background activity that was four- to fivefold higher than the control level, indicating substantial non-specific accumulation in the liver of⁵¹Cr released from A-LAK cells. We conclude that⁵¹Cr cannot be reliably used in investigations of cell traffic to the liver because of non-specific accumulation of the⁵¹Cr label, particularly in this organ. In contrast, labelling with¹²⁵IdUrd or rhodamine and immunohistochemical staining of asialo-GM₁-positive cells appear to be reliable and essentially equivalent methods for investigations of the fate of adoptively transferred A-LAK cells. Using these methods, we found that only few A-LAK cells redistribute to the liver upon i. v., i. e. systemic, injection, whereas 40%–50% of locally (intraportally) injected A-LAK cells remain in the liver for at least 24 h.     

PURIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF HUMAN ALPHA1-ANTITRYPSIN CONCENTRATE BY A NEW IMMUNOAFFINITY CHROMATOGRAPHY

Alpha₁-antitrypsin is a kind of plasma protein that requires a sequence of different fractionation steps to get generally. To report an effective process for isolating and purifying alpha₁-antitrypsin from Cohn Fraction IV based upon a new immunoaffinity chromatography medium, named “Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Select,” characterization of alpha₁-antitrypsin (α1-AT) was performed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Western blot, and tandem mass spectroscopy. Total protein content was determined by the method of Bradford under visible light absorption at 595 nm. Pretreatment process and the immunoaffinity chromatography step achieved a 60.35 ± 1.39% yield. Thus, an overall 71.68 ± 1.32 fold increase in purity and a 41.88 ± 6.98% yield were obtained from plasma. The α1-AT had a specific activity of about 1.00–1.05 PU/mg. This technique will develop an effective process for isolating and purifying, with high purity and specific activity, alpha₁-antitrypsin from Cohn Fraction IV or human whole plasma, which could be an efficient and scaled-up method for alpha₁-antitrypsin products purification.     

Simultaneous biosynthesis and purification of two extracellular Bacillus hydrolases in aqueous two-phase systems

Thermostable a-amylase with temperature optimum at 80 °C, molecular mass 58 kDa and pI point 6.9 was purified from a catabolite resistant Bacillus licheniformis strain. The enzyme was sensitive to inhibition by metal ions and N-bromosuccinimide. The partition behaviour of this enzyme in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) of the polymer-polymer-water type was investigated and some effects of type, molecular weight and concentration of phase components were studied. Up to 100% retention in the bottom phase of polyethylene glycol 10,000—20,000/dextran 200 system was reached. Best partition conditions were obtained in PEG 10,000—20,000/polyvinyl alcohol 200 systems, where the partition coefficient K increased 750 times to 7.5. Simultaneous production and purification of a-amylase and serine proteinase in PEG-polymer-water ATPS were examined. In the system PEG 6,000/ficoll, up to 90% of the amylase was retained in the bottom phase, whereas about 95% of the total protein (K = 22.8) and 60—75% of the proteinase were in the top phase. Similar separation of the enzymes from laboratory supernatant was obtained in system PEG/Na₂SO₄.