Concentration of Virus from Water by Electro-Osmosis and Forced-Flow Electrophoresis

A Canalco Model CF-3 Electrophoretic Filter/Concentrator (modified ter Bier) was used to concentrate Type 1 polio virus from water using ectro-osmotic and forced-flow electrophoretic principles. Using2 ectro-osmosis water can be removed at a rate of up to 0.8 ral/hr/cm membrane area. Under conditions of 12–14 V/cm (5–6 amps) and adjusted mping rates, 20 fold concentration, without virus loss, can be achieved. ring forced-flow electrophoresis, the virus, which is negatively charged an alkaline buffer, moves toward the positive pole. At 20 V/cm and th adjusted pumping rates, the best that could be achieved was a 3 fold ncentration of virus and a 10 fold dehydration. Virus spill-over at e cathode and/or virus adsorption at the anode accounted for the poor suits, but theoretically this can be overcome by adjustment of the V/cm upled with adjustment of the pumping rates. Voltage (30 V/cm) and rrent (6 amps) have no detrimental effects on viral stability. These chniques appear to be more rapid and gentle than other methods for ncentration of virus and could be scaled up for practical use.     

嗜热脂肪芽孢杆菌的β—半乳糖苷酶合成低聚兰乳糖动力学模型

根据反应机理和产物的化学结构,建立了嗜热脂肪芽孢来源的β－半乳糖苷酶催化乳糖水解和转半乳糖苷反应偶合的动力学模型,模型中包含了低聚三糖和低聚四糖的生成。通过优化计算,估算反应动力学参数,结果表明该模型能较好地与实验结果相吻合。     

Novel grafted agar disks for the covalent immobilization of β‐D‐galactosidase

Novel grafted agar disks were prepared for the covalent immobilization of β‐D‐galactosidase (β‐gal). The agar disks were activated through reacting with ethylenediamine or different molecular weights of Polyethyleneimine (PEI), followed by glutaraldehyde (GA). The modification of the agar gel and the binding of the enzyme were verified by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and elemental analysis. Moreover, the agar's activation process was optimized, and the amount of immobilized enzyme increased 3.44 folds, from 38.1 to 131.2 U/g gel, during the course of the optimization process. The immobilization of β‐gal onto the activated agar disks caused its optimum temperature to increase from 45°C to 45–55°C. The optimum pH of the enzyme was also shifted towards the acidic side (3.6–4.6) after its immobilization. Additionally, the Michaelis‐Menten constant (K_m) increased for the immobilized β‐gal as compared to its free counterpart whereas the maximum reaction rate (V_max) decreased. The immobilized enzyme was also shown to retain 92.99% of its initial activity after being used for 15 consecutive times. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 103: 675–684, 2015.     

Enzyme catalysis in ionic liquids

Ionic liquids offer new possibilities for the application of solvent engineering to biocatalytic reactions. Although in many cases ionic liquids have simply been used to replace organic solvents, they have often led to improved process performance. Unlike conventional organic solvents, ionic liquids possess no vapor pressure, are able to dissolve many compounds, and can be used to form two-phase systems with many solvents. To date, reactions involving lipases have benefited most from the use of ionic liquids, but the use of ionic liquids with other enzymes and in whole-cell processes has also been described. In some cases, remarkable results with respect to yield, (enantio)selectivity or enzyme stability were observed.     

Mechanism of action of the HIV-1 integrase inhibitory peptide LEDGF 361-370

The HIV-1 integrase protein (IN) mediates integration of the viral cDNA into the host genome and is a target for anti-HIV drugs. We have recently described a peptide derived from residues 361-370 of the IN cellular partner protein LEDGF/p75, which inhibited IN catalytic activity in vitro and HIV-1 replication in cells. Here we performed a comprehensive study of the LEDGF 361-370 mechanism of action in vitro, in cells and in vivo. Alanine scan, fluorescence anisotropy binding studies, homology modeling and NMR studies demonstrated that all residues in LEDGF 361-370 contribute to IN binding and inhibition. Kinetic studies in cells showed that LEDGF 361-370 specifically inhibited integration of viral cDNA. Thus, the full peptide was chosen for in vivo studies, in which it inhibited the production of HIV-1 RNA in mouse model. We conclude that the full LEDGF 361-370 peptide is a potent HIV-1 inhibitor and may be used for further development as an anti-HIV lead compound.     

Lentiviral gene delivery to CNS by spinal intrathecal administration to neonatal mice

BACKGROUND: Direct injection of lentivectors into the central nervous system (CNS) mostly results in localized parenchymal transgene expression. Intrathecal gene delivery into the spinal canal may produce a wider dissemination of the transgene and allow diffusion of secreted transgenic proteins throughout the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Herein, we analyze the distribution and expression of LacZ and SEAP transgenes following the intrathecal delivery of lentivectors into the spinal canal. METHODS: Four weeks after intrathecal injection into the spinal canal of newborn mice, the expression of the LacZ gene was assessed by histochemical staining and by in situ polymer chain reaction (PCR). Following the spinal infusion of a lentivector carrying the SEAP gene, levels of enzymatically active SEAP were measured in the CSF, blood serum, and in brain extracts. RESULTS: Intrathecal spinal canal delivery of lentivectors to newborn mice resulted in patchy, widely scattered areas of beta-gal expression mostly in the meninges. The transduction of the meningeal cells was confirmed by in situ PCR. Following the spinal infusion of a lentivector carrying the SEAP gene, sustained presence of the reporter protein was detected in the CSF, as well as in blood serum, and brain extracts. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that intrathecal injections of lentivectors can provide significant levels of transgene expression in the meninges. Unlike intracerebral injections of lentivectors, intrathecal gene delivery through the spinal canal appears to produce a wider diffusion of the transgene. This approach is less invasive and may be useful to address those neurological diseases that benefit from the ectopic expression of soluble factors impermeable to the blood-brain barrier.     

2′5′-Phosphodiesterase Activity Studies with Xyloadenosine Analogs of 2–5A Cores

Abstract

Sequential substitution of xyloadenosine into the trimeric and tetrameric 2–5A cores¹ allows evaluation of the importance of the 3′ hydroxyl groups to 2′5′-phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity.