The binding of benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol to bacteriophage phi X174 DNA

A solute enhanced phase partition method is described for the measurement of the binding of drugs to nucleic acids. The inclusion of a solute which acts as a phase transfer reagent allows one to enhance the solubility of charged molecules in organic solvents by as much as three orders of magnitude. This development increases the utility of partition analysis as a general method for studying the interaction of small molecules with macromolecules. Solute enhanced partition analysis (SEPA) has been used to measure the DNA binding of positively charged drugs at very low levels of drug binding, where we have observed cooperative binding of daunorubicin to calf thymus DNA.     

Extending the dynamic range of label-free mass spectrometric quantification of affinity purifications

Affinity purification (AP) of protein complexes combined with LC-MS/MS analysis is the current method of choice for identification of protein-protein interactions. Their interpretation with respect to significance, specificity, and selectivity requires quantification methods coping with enrichment factors of more than 1000-fold, variable amounts of total protein, and low abundant, unlabeled samples. We used standardized samples (0.1-1000 fmol) measured on high resolution hybrid linear ion trap instruments (LTQ-FT/Orbitrap) to characterize and improve linearity and dynamic range of label-free approaches. Quantification based on spectral counts was limited by saturation and ion suppression effects with samples exceeding 100 ng of protein, depending on the instrument setup. In contrast, signal intensities of peptides (peak volumes) selected by a novel correlation-based method (TopCorr-PV) were linear over at least 4 orders of magnitude and allowed for accurate relative quantification of standard proteins spiked into a complex protein background. Application of this procedure to APs of the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.1 as a model membrane protein complex unambiguously identified the whole set of known interaction partners together with novel candidates. In addition to discriminating these proteins from background, we could determine efficiency, cross-reactivities, and selection biases of the used purification antibodies. The enhanced dynamic range of the developed quantification procedure appears well suited for sensitive identification of specific protein-protein interactions, detection of antibody-related artifacts, and optimization of AP conditions.     

A MALDI-TOF MS method for the simultaneous and quantitative analysis of neutral and sialylated glycans of CHO-expressed glycoproteins

The development of a MALDI-TOF MS method for the quantitative analysis of the glycosylation of CHO-expressed biotherapeutic glycoproteins shall be presented. The method utilizes a well-established chemistry, reductive amination of glycans, to derivatize glycans with either a light analog ((12)C(7) anthranilic acid) or a heavy analog ((13)C(7) anthranilic acid) to allow for the direct comparison of the alternately-labeled glycans by MALDI-TOF MS. The method allows for the simultaneous analysis of neutral and sialylated glycans and displays a linear dynamic range over two orders of magnitude with sub-picomolar sensitivity. Additionally, because the glycans are derivatized with anthranilic acid, which is a very sensitive fluorophore, the glycans can be analyzed by chromatography with fluorescence detection. The need for this type of method is highlighted by the biotechnology/biopharmaceutical industry's continuous drive towards fully understanding process control. By providing this type of quantitative data, glycosylation changes of the expressed protein can be easily observed thereby helping to further advance the understanding of a major aspect of the biopharmaceutical process.     

Overcoming the dynamic range problem in mass spectrometry-based shotgun proteomics

Protein profiling using mass spectrometry technology has emerged as a powerful method for analyzing large-scale protein-expression patterns in cells and tissues. However, a number of challenges are present in proteomics research, one of the greatest being the high degree of protein complexity and huge dynamic range of proteins expressed in the complex biological mixtures, which exceeds six orders of magnitude in cells and ten orders of magnitude in body fluids. Since many important signaling proteins have low expression levels, methods to detect the low-abundance proteins in a complex sample are required. This review will focus on the fundamental fractionation and mass spectrometry techniques currently used for large-scale shotgun proteomics research.     

Overcoming the dynamic range problem in mass spectrometry-based shotgun proteomics

Protein profiling using mass spectrometry technology has emerged as a powerful method for analyzing large-scale protein-expression patterns in cells and tissues. However, a number of challenges are present in proteomics research, one of the greatest being the high degree of protein complexity and huge dynamic range of proteins expressed in the complex biological mixtures, which exceeds six orders of magnitude in cells and ten orders of magnitude in body fluids. Since many important signaling proteins have low expression levels, methods to detect the low-abundance proteins in a complex sample are required. This review will focus on the fundamental fractionation and mass spectrometry techniques currently used for large-scale shotgun proteomics research.     

Use of competitive inhibition for driving sensitivity and dynamic range of urea ENFETs

An urea biosensor based on urease-BSA (bovine serum albumin) membrane immobilised on the surface of an ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) has been studied in a mix buffer solution composed of potassium phosphate, Tris, citric acid and sodium tetraborate. In this mix buffer, the biosensor showed a dynamic larger than the one observed in a phosphate or Tris buffer. Investigation of the individual effect of each component of the buffer solution on the biosensor response has shown that tetraborate anion acts as a strong competitive inhibitor for the hydrolysis reaction of urea catalysed by urease. The biosensor response was investigated in a phosphate buffer with different concentrations of tetraborate anion. The results showed that the apparent constant of Michaelis-Menten, K(m(app)), increases from 4.3 to 79.3 mM, for experiments realised without and with 0.5 mM sodium tetraborate, respectively. The mean value, determined graphically, for the inhibition constant, K(i), was 29 microM. The graphical representation of biosensor calibration curves in semilogarithmic co-ordinates showed that the linear range of the biosensor can be extended up to three orders of magnitude, allowing an urea detection in a concentration range 0-100 mM.     

Constant denaturant capillary electrophoresis (CDCE): a high resolution approach to mutational analysis.

Using a zone of constant temperature and denaturant concentration in capillary electrophoresis, we have devised a simple, rapid, and reproducible system for separating mutant from wild type DNA sequences with high resolution. Important to the success of this method, which we call Constant Denaturant Capillary Electrophoresis (CDCE), has been the use of linear polyacrylamide at viscosity levels that permit facile replacement of the matrix after each run. For a typical 100 bp fragment, point mutation-containing heteroduplexes are separated from wild type homoduplexes in less than 30 minutes. Using laser-induced fluorescence to detect fluorescent-tagged DNA, the system has an absolute limit of detection of 3 x 10(4) molecules with a linear dynamic range of six orders of magnitude. The relative limit of detection at present is 3 x 10(-4), i.e. 10(5) mutant sequences are recognized among 3 x 10(8) wild type sequences. The new approach should be applicable to the identification of low frequency mutations, to mutational spectrometry and to genetic screening of pooled samples for detection of rare variants.     

Quantification of proteins using data-independent analysis (MSE) in simple andcomplex samples: a systematic evaluation

A MS‐based method for the quantification of proteins termed data‐independent analysis (or MS^E) has been introduced recently. Although this method has been applied to the analysis of various types of biological samples, a thorough evaluation to assess the performance of this approach has yet to be conducted. Presented here is the first systematic and comprehensive study investigating the MS^E approach for quantitative analysis of low‐, medium‐, and high‐complexity samples. We demonstrate that this method has a linear dynamic range spanning three orders of magnitude with a limit of quantification of 61 amol/uL in low‐complexity samples and 488 amol/uL in high‐complexity samples. In addition, comprehensive sequence coverage was obtained and accurate quantification achieved for expression ratios ranging from 1:1.5 to 1:6. However, underestimation of ratios was detected independent of sample type, consistent with other quantitative proteomic methods. The present study provides validation of the MS^E approach for accurate quantitative proteomic analysis of biological samples while, at the same time, proving high sequence coverage of target proteins.     

Comparison of ovalbumin quantification using forward-phase protein microarrays and suspension arrays

We employed ovalbumin (a simulant used for ricin and botulism toxins in biodefense applications) and its high affinity polyclonal antibody as a model system to examine the sensitivity, dynamic range, linearity, and reproducibility of forward-phase array results in comparison to suspension arrays. It was found that protein microarrays had a dynamic range of 4 orders of magnitude and a sensitivity of less than 1 pg/mL, respectively. The dynamic range and sensitivity of suspension arrays were close to 2 orders of magnitude and 0.25 ng/mL, respectively. The sensitivity we observed for the suspension arrays is comparable to that reported for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in the literature. We used ovalbumin samples with two different purities, 38.0% and 76.0% (w/w), as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). These samples were used to evaluate the effect of impure samples on detection. The data obtained from the forward-phase protein arrays gave values that were consistent with the PAGE data. The data from the suspension arrays were not as consistent and may indicate that this format may not give as reliable data with impure samples. Knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of the two proteomic methods would allow their more rational use in clinical diagnosis.     

Dynamic analysis of flutter in disk type mechanical heart valve prostheses

Parametric study of the low frequency oscillations occasionally observed in certain types of disc type prosthetic heart valves (PHV) are carried out using a finite element technique. The analysis is performed to determine the frequencies of the dynamic fluttering with the help of the 'ANSYS' computer program. The results show that the frequencies of the dynamic fluttering for both the circular occluders and the semi-circular occluders are at least two orders of magnitude higher than that observed in vivo. It is thus concluded that the clinically observed leaflet oscillations should not be a dynamic flutter phenomenon. Rather, the vortex shedding has been assumed to be the cause of these oscillations.     

Quantitation of secreted proteins using mCherry fusion constructs and a fluorescent microplate reader

Traditional assays for secreted proteins include methods such as Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection of the protein in the cell culture medium. We describe a method for the detection of a secreted protein based on fluorescent measurement of an mCherry fusion reporter. This microplate reader-based mCherry fluorescence detection method has a wide dynamic range of 4.5 orders of magnitude and a sensitivity that allows detection of 1 to 2 fmol fusion protein. Comparison with the Western blot detection method indicated greater linearity, wider dynamic range, and a similar lower detection threshold for the microplate-based fluorescent detection assay of secreted fusion proteins. An mCherry fusion protein of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), a secreted glycoprotein, was created and expressed by transfection of human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. The cell culture medium was assayed for the presence of the fluorescent signal up to 32 h after transfection. The secreted MMP-9–mCherry fusion protein was detected 6 h after transfection with a linear increase in signal intensity over time. Treatment with chloroquine, a drug known to inhibit the secretion of many proteins, abolished the MMP-9–mCherry secretion, demonstrating the utility of this method in a biological experiment.     

CalibraCurve: A Tool for Calibration of Targeted MS‐Based Measurements

Targeted proteomics techniques allow accurate quantitative measurements of analytes in complex matrices with dynamic linear ranges that span up to 4–5 orders of magnitude. Hence, targeted methods are promising for the development of robust protein assays in several sensitive areas, for example, in health care. However, exploiting the full method potential requires reliable determination of the dynamic range along with related quantification limits for each analyte. Here, a software named CalibraCurve that enables an automated batch‐mode determination of dynamic linear ranges and quantification limits for both targeted proteomics and similar assays is presented. The software uses a variety of measures to assess the accuracy of the calibration, namely precision and trueness. Two different kinds of customizable graphs are created (calibration curves and response factor plots). The accuracy measures and the graphs offer an intuitive, detailed, and reliable opportunity to assess the quality of the model fit. Thus, CalibraCurve is deemed a highly useful and flexible tool to facilitate the development and control of reliable SRM/MRM‐MS‐based proteomics assays.     

A Quantitative Microtiter Plate Nuclease Assay Based on Ethidium/DNA Fluorescence

A microtiter plate assay was developed to quantitate the nuclease activity of the extracellularSerratia marcescensendonuclease under different buffer conditions. Substrate cleavage was followed as decrease in ethidium/DNA fluorescence using a uv-transilluminator and a video documentation system. Time courses of DNA cleavage were recorded and cleavage rates determined very precisely within a factor of 1.2. The assay has a linear dynamic range covering three orders of magnitude of nuclease activity and can be carried out very quickly within a few minutes. It can also be used with RNA as substrate. With appropriate modifications it should be possible to adapt this assay for other enzymatic reactions which are accompanied by changes in absorbance or fluorescence.     

Simulating and validating proteomics data and search results

The computational simulation of complete proteomic data sets and their utility to validate detection and interpretation algorithms, to aid in the design of experiments and to assess protein and peptide false discovery rates is presented. The simulation software has been developed for emulating data originating from data-dependent and data-independent LC-MS workflows. Data from all types of commonly used hybrid mass spectrometers can be simulated. The algorithms are based on empirically derived physicochemical liquid and gas phase models for proteins and peptides. Sample composition in terms of complexity and dynamic range, as well as chromatographic, experimental and MS conditions, can be controlled and adjusted independently. The effect of on-column amounts, gradient length, mass resolution and ion mobility on search specificity will be demonstrated using tryptic peptides from human and yeast cellular lysates simulated over five orders of magnitude in dynamic range. Initial justification of the simulated data sets is achieved by comparing and contrasting the in silico simulated data to experimentally derived results from a 48 protein mixture, spanning a similar magnitude of five orders of magnitude. Additionally, experimental data from replicate and dilutions series experiments will be utilized to determine error rates at the peptide and protein level with respect to mass, area, retention and drift time. The data presented reveal a high degree of similarity at the ion detection, peptide and protein level when analyzed under similar conditions.     

Use of peptide analogue diversity library beads for increased depth of proteomic analysis: application to cerebrospinal fluid

Biological samples can contain proteins with concentrations that span more than 10 orders of magnitude. Given the limited dynamic range of analysis methods, observation of proteins present at the lower concentrations requires depletion of high-abundance proteins, or other means of reducing the dynamic range of concentrations. Hexapeptide diversity library beads have been used to bind proteins in a complex sample up to a given saturation limit, effectively truncating the maximum concentration of proteins at a desired level. To avoid the potential problem of susceptibility of the hexapeptides to cleavage by proteases in the sample and/or bacterial degradation, peptide analogues that exhibit similar binding characteristics to peptides can be used in place of peptides. We report here the use of hexameric peptoid diversity library beads to reduce the dynamic range of protein concentrations in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Using this method in conjunction with 2D LC/MS/MS analyses, we identified 200 unique proteins, about twice the number identified in untreated CSF.     

High sensitive approach for point mutation detection based on electrochemiluminescence

An electrochemiluminescence-polymerase chain reaction (ECL-PCR) method for point mutation detection has been developed. The target is amplified using a tris (bipyridine) ruthenium (TBR)-labeled forward and a biotinylated reverse primer. The amplification products are digested with specific restriction enzyme, then captured onto streptavidin-coated paramagnetic beads, and detected by measuring the ECL signal of the TBR label. The established technique was further applied to detect a specific point mutation in H-ras oncogene in T24 cell line. The results show that the system has a low detection limit of 100 fmol and a linear range of more than 3 orders of magnitude for H-ras amplicon; the two genotypes can be reliably discriminated. In summary, the mutant specific ECL-PCR method can be used to detect a point mutation that creates or destroys a restriction site in any gene. It is useful in single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and mutation detection due to its safety, high sensitivity and simplicity.