Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Model Protein (model + protein)
Selected AbstractsRemoval of poly-histidine fusion tags from recombinant proteins purified by expanded bed adsorptionBIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 4 2005N. Abdullah Abstract Enzymatic methods have been used to cleave the C- or N-terminus polyhistidine tags from histidine tagged proteins following expanded bed purification using immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). This study assesses the use of Factor Xa and a genetically engineered exopeptidase dipeptidyl aminopeptidase-1 (DAPase-1) for the removal of C-terminus and N-terminus polyhistidine tags, respectively. Model proteins consisting of maltose binding protein (MBP) having a C- or N-terminal polyhistidine tag were used. Digestion of the hexahistidine tag of MBP-His6 by Factor Xa and HT15-MBP by DAPase-1 was successful. The time taken to complete the conversion of MBP-His6 to MBP was 16 h, as judged by SDS,PAGE and Western blots against anti-His antibody. When the detagged protein was purified using subtractive IMAC, the yield was moderate at 71% although the overall recovery was high at 95%. Likewise, a yield of 79% and a recovery of 97% was obtained when digestion was performed with using "on-column" tag digestion. On-column tag digestion involves cleavage of histidine tag from polyhistidine tagged proteins that are still bound to the IMAC column. Digestion of an N-terminal polyhistidine tag from HT15-MBP (1 mg/mL) by the DAPase-I system was superior to the results obtained with Factor Xa with a higher yield and recovery of 99% and 95%, respectively. The digestion by DAPase-I system was faster and was complete at 5 h as opposed to 16 h for Factor Xa. The detagged MBP proteins were isolated from the digestion mixtures using a simple subtractive IMAC column procedure with the detagged protein appearing in the flowthrough and washing fractions while residual dipeptides and DAPase-I (which was engineered to exhibit a poly-His tail) were adsorbed to the column. FPLC analysis using a MonoS cation exchanger was performed to understand and monitor the progress and time course of DAPase-I digestion of HT15-MBP to MBP. Optimization of process variables such as temperature, protein concentration, and enzyme activity was developed for the DAPase-I digesting system on HT15-MBP to MBP. In short, this study proved that the use of either Factor Xa or DAPase-I for the digestion of polyhistidine tags is simple and efficient and can be carried out under mild reaction conditions. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Direct Electrochemistry and Electrocatalysis of Hemoglobin in Lipid Film Incorporated with Room-Temperature Ionic LiquidELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 20 2008Gaiping Li Abstract A facile phospholipid/room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) composite material based on dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim]PF6) was exploited as a new matrix for immobilizing protein. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were adopted to characterize this composite film. Hemoglobin (Hb) was chosen as a model protein to investigate the composite system. UV-vis absorbance spectra showed that Hb still maintained its heme crevice integrity in this composite film. By virtue of the Hb/DMPC/[bmim]PF6 composite film-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE), a pair of well-defined redox peaks of Hb was obtained through the direct electron transfer between protein and underlying GCE. Moreover, the reduction of O2 and H2O2 at the Hb/DMPC/[bmim]PF6 composite film-modified GCE was dramatically enhanced. [source] Disposable Gold Electrode Array for Simultaneous Electrochemical StudiesELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 1 2008Graciela Priano Abstract An efficient and inexpensive eight gold electrode array has been manufactured by a combination of screen printing and gold electrodeposition techniques. Gold electrodeposition was performed in potentiostatic and galvanostatic conditions. Different treatments, involving temperature and polishing control, led to electrodes with different roughness. The electrochemical behavior of the generated gold surface was studied by cyclic voltammetry showing the characteristic response of polycrystalline gold, in contrast with disposable gold electrodes fabricated by screen printing from gold inks. The electrodes were chemically modified through the adsorption of alkanethiols self-assembled monolayers and the coupling of a model protein. Both reactions were followed by cyclic voltammetry and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The electrodes have shown high reproducibility in their electrochemical behavior as well as in their modifications. [source] Poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based microfluidic device with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry interface for protein identificationELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 21 2003Wang-Chou Sung Abstract An easy method to fabricate poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based microfluidic chips for protein identification by tandem mass spectrometry is presented. This microchip has typical electrophoretic microchannels, a flow-through sampling inlet, and a sheathless nanoelectrospray ionization (ESI) interface. The surface of the microchannel was modified with 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS) and the generated electroosmotic flow under acidic buffer condition used for the separation was found to be more stable compared to that generated by the microchannel without modification. The feasibility of the device for flow-through sampling, separation, and ESI-MS/MS analysis was demonstrated by the analysis of a standard mixture composed of three tryptic peptides. Results show that four peaks corresponding to three peptide standards and acetylated products of the standard peptide were well resolved and the deduced sequences were consistent with those expected. Furthermore, the compatibility of this device with other miniaturized devices to integrate the whole process was also explored by connecting a miniaturized enzymatic digestion cartridge and a desalting cartridge in series to the sampling inlet of the microchip for the identification of a model protein, ,-casein. [source] Biogenesis of the yeast frataxin homolog Yfh1pFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 11 2000Tim44-dependent transfer to mtHsp70 facilitates folding of newly imported proteins in mitochondria Tim44 is an essential component of the mitochondrial inner membrane protein import machinery. In this study we asked if Tim44 is of relevance in intramitochondrial protein folding. We investigated the role of Tim44 in the biogenesis of the authentic mitochondrial protein Yfh1p, the yeast homolog of mammalian frataxin, which was recently implicated in Friedreich ataxia. After inactivation of Tim44, binding of mitochondrial heat shock protein (mtHsp)70 to translocating Yfh1p and subsequent folding to the native state was nearly completely blocked. Residual amounts of imported Yfh1p showed an increased tendency to aggregate. To further characterize the functions of Tim44 in the matrix, we imported dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) as a model protein. Depletion of Tim44 allowed import of DHFR, although folding of the newly imported DHFR was delayed. Moreover, the depletion of Tim44 caused a strongly reduced binding of mtHsp70 and Mge1 to the translocating polypeptide. Subsequent dissociation of mtHsp70 from imported DHFR was delayed, indicating that mtHsp70,substrate complexes formed independently of Tim44 differ from the complexes that form under the control of Tim44. We conclude that Tim44 not only plays a role in protein translocation but also in the pathways of mitochondrial protein folding. [source] A modified Ising model for the thermodynamic properties of local and global protein folding,unfolding observed by circular dichroism and small-angle X-ray scatteringJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 2007Ying-Jen Shiu Based on the mean-field approximation, we have applied a modified Ising model to describe general protein unfolding behavior at thermodynamic equilibrium with the free energy contributed by the subgroup units (amino acids or peptide bonds) of the protein. With the thermodynamic properties of the protein, this model can associate the stepwise change of an unfolding fraction ratio profile with the local and global conformation unfolding. Taking cytochrome c (cyt c) as a model protein, we have observed, using small-angle X-ray scattering and circular dichroism (CD), the global and local structure changes for the protein in three kinds of denaturant environments: acid, urea and guanidine hydrochloride. The small-angle X-ray scattering and CD results are mapped to the unfolding fractions as a function of the pH value or denaturant concentration, from which we have extracted local and global unfolding free energies of cyt c in different denaturant environments using a modified Ising model. Based on the characteristics of the thermodynamic properties deduced from the local and global protein folding,unfolding, we discuss the thermodynamic stabilities of the protein in the three denaturant environments, and the possible correlation between the global conformation change of the protein and the local unfolding activities of the S,Fe bond in the Met80-heme and the ,-helices. [source] Characterization of a new tyrosinase from Pycnoporus species with high potential for food technological applicationsJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005S. Halaouli Abstract Aims:, Tyrosinase production by Pycnoporus cinnabarinus and Pycnoporus sanguineus was screened among 20 strains originating from various geographical areas, particularly from tropical environments. The tyrosinase from the most efficient strain was purified and characterized and tested for food additive applications. Methods and Results:, Monophenolase and diphenolase activities of tyrosinase were measured from cell lysate from the 20 Pycnoporus strains, for 8,10 days of cultivation. The strain P. sanguineus CBS 614.73 showed the highest productivity (45·4 and 163·6 U g,1 protein per day for monophenolase and diphenolase respectively). P. sanguineus CBS 614.73 tyrosinase was purified from concentrated cell lysate, anion-exchange, size-exclusion and hydroxyapatite chromatography, with a final yield of 2% and a purification factor of 35,38. The pure enzyme was a monomere with a molecular mass of 45 kDa and it showed four isoforms or isoenzymes with pI between 4·5,5. No N-glycosylation was found. The N-terminal amino acid sequence was IVTGPVGGQTEGAPAPNR. The enzyme was shown to be almost fully active in a pH range of 6,7, in a large temperature range (30,70°C), and was stable below 60°C. The main kinetic constants were determined. The tyrosinase was able to convert p -tyrosol and p -coumaric acid into hydroxytyrosol and caffeic acid, respectively, and it could also catalyse the cross-linking formation of a model protein. Conclusions:, Among the genus Pycnoporus, known for the production of laccase, the strain P. sanguineus CBS 614.73 was shown to produce one other phenoloxidase, a new monomeric tyrosinase with a specific activity of 30 and 84 U mg,1 protein for monophenolase and diphenolase respectively. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This study identified P. sanguineus CBS 614.73 as a potential producer of a tyrosinase which demonstrated effectiveness in the synthesis of antioxidant molecules and in protein cross-linking. [source] Encapsulation efficiency and release behaviors of bovine serum albumin loaded in alginate microspheres prepared by sprayingJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 4 2008Jie Zhang Abstract Spraying and spraying with an electrostatic field (SEF) were employed to prepare alginate microspheres for delivering proteins, especially for intestinal digestive enzymes and cytokines. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) of a model protein [bovine serum albumin (BSA)] at a pH value lower than the isoelectric point was 20% higher than that at a natural pH. Moreover, for the microspheres prepared by SEF, EE improved significantly with increasing electric voltage. The interactions between BSA and the alginate microspheres were identified with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The release profiles in vitro showed a controlled and pH-responsive release manner for the encapsulated BSA. A first-order release equation was postulated and modified to describe the release kinetics with an obviously initial burst release related to the eroded porous matrix. The equation fit the release data well when the pH value and composition of the release media were changed. The analysis of the release kinetics indicated that the drug release rate was in an inverse ratio to the diameter of the microspheres. Increasing the gas flow rate or electric voltage decreased both the mean diameter and size distribution of the microspheres significantly and enhanced the release rate of loaded drugs from alginate microspheres. Sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that BSA kept its structural integrity during the encapsulation and release process. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source] Preparation and adsorption behavior of a cellulose-based, mixed-mode adsorbent with a benzylamine ligand for expanded bed applicationsJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 1 2008Dong Gao Abstract A novel mixed-mode expanded bed adsorbent with anion-exchange properties was explored with benzylamine as the functional ligand. The cellulose composite matrix, densified with stainless steel powder, was prepared with the method of water-in-oil suspension thermal regeneration. High activation levels of the cellulose matrix were obtained with allyl bromide because of the relative inertness of the allyl group under the conditions of the activation reaction. After the formation of the bromohydrin with N -bromosuccinimide and coupling with benzylamine, the activated matrix was derived to function as a mixed-mode adsorbent containing both hydrophobic and ionic groups. The protein adsorption capacity was investigated with bovine serum albumin as a model protein. The results indicated that the prepared adsorbent could bind bovine serum albumin with a high adsorption capacity, and it showed salt tolerance. Effective desorption was achieved by a pH adjustment across the isoelectric point of the protein. The interactions between the cell and adsorbent were studied, and the bioadhesion was shielded by the adjustment of the salt concentration above 0.1M. Stable fluidization in the expanded bed was obtained even in a 2% (dry weight) yeast suspension. The direct capture of target proteins from a biomass-containing feedstock without extra dilution steps could be expected with the mixed-mode adsorbent prepared in this work, and this would be especially appropriate for expanded bed adsorption applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source] Calcium-carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel beads for protein drug delivery systemJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007Zonghua Liu Abstract In this study, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) hydrogel beads were prepared by crosslinking with Ca2+. The pH-sensitive characteristics of the beads were investigated by simulating gastrointestinal pH conditions. As a potential protein drug delivery system, the beads were loaded with a model protein (bovine serum albumin, BSA). To improve the entrapment efficiency of BSA, the beads were further coated with a chitosan/CMC polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) membrane by extruding a CMC/BSA solution into a CaCl2/chitosan gelation medium. Finally, the release studies of BSA-loaded beads were conducted. We found that, the maximum swelling ratios of the beads at pH 7.4 (17,21) were much higher than those at pH 1.2 (2,2.5). Higher entrapment efficiency (73.2%) was achieved in the chitosan-coated calcium-CMC beads, compared with that (44.4%) in the bare calcium-CMC beads. The PEC membrane limited the BSA release, while the final disintegration of beads at pH 7.4 still leaded to a full BSA release. Therefore, the chitosan-coated calcium-CMC hydrogel beads with higher entrapment efficiency and proper protein release properties were a promising protein drug carrier for the site-specific release in the intestine. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3164,3168, 2007 [source] Lyophilization to improve drug delivery for chitosan-calcium phosphate bone scaffold construct: A preliminary investigationJOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 1 2009Benjamin T. Reves Abstract Lyophilization was evaluated in chitosan-calcium phosphate microspheres and scaffolds to improve drug delivery of growth factors and antibiotics for orthopedic applications. The dual delivery of an antibiotic and a growth factor from a composite scaffold would be beneficial for treatment of complex fracture sites, such as comminuted fractures and segmental bone defects. The aim of this investigation was to increase the loading capacity of the composite by taking advantage of the increased porosity, due to lyophilization, and to produce an extended elution profile using a secondary chitosan-bead coating. The physiochemical properties of the composite were investigated, and loading and elution studies were performed with alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), and amikacin. Lyophilization was found to increase the surface area of scaffolds by over 400% and the porosity of scaffolds by 50%. Using ALP as a model protein, the loading capacity was increased by lyophilization from 4.3 ± 2.5 to 24.6 ± 3.6 ,g ALP/mg microspheres, and the elution profile was extended by a supplemental chitosan coating. The loading capacity of BMP-2 for composite microspheres was increased from 74.4 ± 3.7 to 102.1 ± 8.0 ,g BMP-2/g microspheres with lyophilization compared with nonlyophilized microspheres. The elution profiles of BMP-2 and the antibiotic amikacin were not extended with the supplemental coating. Additional investigations are planned to improve these elution characteristics for growth factors and antibiotics. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009 [source] High throughput synthesis and screening of new protein resistant surfaces for membrane filtrationAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 7 2010Mingyan Zhou Abstract A novel high throughput method for synthesis and screening of customized protein-resistant surfaces was developed. This method is an inexpensive, fast, reproducible and scalable approach to synthesize and screen protein-resistance surfaces appropriate for a specific feed. The method is illustrated here by combining a high throughput platform (HTP) approach together with our patented photo-induced graft polymerization (PGP) method developed for facile modification of commercial poly(aryl sulfone) membranes. This new HTP-PGP method was validated by comparison with our previous published results obtained using a bench-scale filtration assay of six well-studied monomers. Optimally-performing surfaces for resisting a model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), were identified from a library of 66 monomers. Surfaces were prepared via graft polymerization onto poly(ether sulfone) (PES) membranes and were evaluated using a protein adsorption assay followed by pressure-driven filtration. Bench-scale verification was conducted for selected monomers using HTP-PGP method; a good correlation with HTP-PGP results was found. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010 [source] An in silico method using an epitope motif database for predicting the location of antigenic determinants on proteins in a structural contextJOURNAL OF MOLECULAR RECOGNITION, Issue 1 2006Vincent Batori Abstract Presently X-ray crystallography of protein,antibody complexes is still the most direct way of identifying B-cell epitopes. The objective of this study was to assess the potential of a computer-based epitope mapping tool (EMT) using antigenic amino acid motifs as a fast alternative in a number of applications not requiring detailed information, e.g. development of pharmaceutical proteins, vaccines and industrial enzymes. Using Gal d 4 as a model protein, the EMT was capable of identifying, in the context of the folded protein, amino acid positions known to be involved in antibody binding. The high sensitivity and positive predictive value of the EMT as well as the relevance of the structural associations suggested by the EMT indicated the existence of amino acid motifs that are likely to be involved in antigenic determinants. In addition, differential mapping revealed that sensitivity and positive predictive value were dependent on the minimum relative surface accessibility (RSA) of the amino acids included in the mapping, demonstrating that the EMTs accommodated for the fact that epitopes are three-dimensional entities with various degrees of accessibility. The comparison with existing prediction scales demonstrated the superiority of the EMT with respect to physico-chemical scales. The mapping tool also performed better than the available structural scales, but the significance of the differences remains to be established. Thus, the EMT has the potential of becoming a fast and simple alternative to X-ray crystallography for predicting structural antigenic determinants, if detailed epitope information is not required. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Probing residue-specific interactions in the stabilization of proteins using high-resolution NMR: A study of disulfide bond compensationJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 6 2010Andria L. Skinner Abstract It is well established that the oxidation state of cysteine residues in proteins is critical to overall physical stability. Disulfide bonds most often impart thermodynamic stability, but in some cases, diminish it. Predicting the circumstances that lead to each outcome is difficult because mechanistic information is lacking. Because the techniques typically used to study protein stability do not provide sufficient detail, high-resolution NMR was used in combination with low-resolution analysis to obtain mechanistic information regarding disulfide bond formation in a model protein. Tm (CD) and Tonset (SLS) for the reduced and oxidized wild type and C104S and C49S mutants were measured. The mutant proteins have altered Tms and Tonsets compared to the reduced wild type, indicating that differences in local interactions of the Cys side chains are important for stability. The NMR spectra clearly show distinct differences in the chemical environment surrounding these Cys residues and the overall tertiary structure. The C49S protein, which is less stable and more aggregation prone than reduced wild type, lacks a hydrogen bond between Y53 and H103. Increased flexibility of the Y53-containing loop is correlated with increased dynamics and unraveling of ,2, which likely leads to edge strand initiated aggregation of the central ,-sheet. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 99: 2643,2654, 2010 [source] Quantitation of protein particles in parenteral solutions using micro-flow imagingJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 9 2009Chi-Ting Huang Abstract The U.S. and European Pharmacopeias require subvisible (,10 and ,25 µm) and visible particulate testing of therapeutics to ensure their safety and suitability for clinical use. The objective of this article is to compare the sizing and counting accuracies of light obscuration, which is the standard technique used to measure subvisible particulate matter, and Micro-Flow Imaging (MFIÔ), a new imaging-based technology. An immunoconjugate was selected as the model protein for this study since it could be induced to form particulate matter in PBS. Light obscuration was performed as described in USP chapter <788> while MFI measurements were conducted per the manufacturer's procedures. The two techniques yielded similar results when polystyrene standards were analyzed. However, the MFI measurements indicated the presence of significantly more particles in the protein-containing solution compared to the light obscuration measurements. The presence of nonspherical protein particles as well as particles that possess a refractive index similar to the solvent that they are in appear to be detected by MFI, but not by light obscuration, leading to the difference in the results. Imaging-based technologies could aid in developing formulations and processes that would minimize the formation of protein particulates. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 98:3058,3071, 2009 [source] Ultrasonic rheology of a monoclonal antibody (IgG2) solution: Implications for physical stability of proteins in high concentration formulationsJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 12 2007Atul Saluja Abstract The purpose of this work was to investigate if physical stability of a model monoclonal antibody (IgG2), as determined by extent of aggregation, was related to rheology of its solutions. Storage stability of the model protein was assessed at 25°C and 37°C for three months in solutions ranging from pH 4.0 to 9.0 and ionic strengths of 4 mM and 300 mM. The rheology of IgG2 solutions has been characterized at 25°C in our previous work and correlation of solution storage modulus (G,) with protein,protein interactions established. The extent of aggregation was consistent with solution rheology as understood in terms of changes in G, with protein concentration. Thermodynamic stability of native IgG2 conformation increased with increasing pH. The correlation between rheology and aggregation was also assessed at increased ionic strengths. The decrease in aggregation was consistent with change in solution rheology profile at pH 7.4 and 9.0. The results provide evidence of a relationship between solution rheology and extent of aggregation for the model protein studied. The implications of this relationship for formulation and physical stability assessment in high concentration protein solutions are discussed. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 96: 3181,3195, 2007 [source] Application of ultrasonic shear rheometer to characterize rheological properties of high protein concentration solutions at microliter volumeJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 6 2005Atul Saluja Abstract The purpose of this work was to conduct preliminary rheological analysis on high protein concentration solutions by using the technique of ultrasonic shear rheometry at megahertz frequencies. The work was aimed at establishing the viability of the technique for analyzing protein solution rheology as well as obtaining an initial understanding of the effect of solution conditions on solution rheology of a model protein. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used for this study, and rheological analysis was conducted at 20 ,L sample volume between pH 2.0 and 9.0 at different ionic strengths at 25°C using 5 and 10 MHz quartz crystals. Significant differences in storage modulus among solutions at pH 5.0, 7.0, and 9.0 could only be detected at 10 MHz, and the errors associated with measurements were smaller as compared to those at 5 MHz for all the solutions studied. Solutions at pH 2.0 and 3.0 showed a time-dependent change in solution rheology. For solutions at pH 5.0, 7.0, and 9.0, which did not show time dependence in solution rheology, loss modulus data at lower concentrations correlated well with the dilute solution data in the literature. At higher concentrations, pH 5.0 solutions exhibited a higher loss modulus than pH 7.0 and pH 9.0 solutions. Storage modulus decreased with increasing ionic strength, unlike loss modulus, which did not show any change, except at pI of protein when no effect was observed. The results show the potential of high frequency rheometry for analyzing subtle differences in rheology of pharmaceutically relevant protein solutions at microliter volume. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 94:1161,1168, 2005 [source] The effects of Tween 20 and sucrose on the stability of anti-L-selectin during lyophilization and reconstitutionJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 10 2001Latoya S. Jones Abstract We have chosen an anti-L-selectin antibody as a model protein to investigate the effects of sucrose and/or Tween 20 on protein stability during lyophilization and reconstitution. Native anti-L-selectin secondary structure is substantially retained during lyophilization in the presence of sucrose (1 or 0.125%). However, aggregation of the protein during reconstitution of lyophilized protein powders prepared without sucrose is not reduced by the presence of sucrose in the reconstitution medium. Aggregate formation upon reconstitution is completely inhibited by freeze drying the protein with sucrose and reconstituting with a 0.1% Tween 20 solution. Tween 20 (0.1%) also partially inhibits loss of native anti-L-selectin secondary structure during lyophilization. However, upon reconstitution the formulations lyophilized with Tween 20 contain the highest levels of aggregates. The presence of Tween in only the reconstitution solution appears to inhibit the transition from dimers to higher order oligomers. Potential mechanism(s) for the Tween 20 effects were investigated. However, no evidence of thermodynamic stabilization of anti-L-selectin conformation (e.g., by Tween 20 binding) could be detected. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 90:1466,1477, 2001 [source] Incorporation of proteins within alginate fibre-based scaffolds using a post-fabrication entrapment methodJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 7 2006Qingpu Hou In this study, a physical entrapment process was explored for the incorporation of proteins within preformed fibrous alginates and the release profile was tuned by varying the processing parameters. The entrapment process was carried out in a series of aqueous solutions at room temperature and involved pre-swelling of the fibrous alginate within a Na+ -rich solution, followed by exposure to the protein of choice and entrapping it by re-establishing cross-links of alginate with BaCl2. Entrapment and release of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA), a model protein, was studied. It was found that a sustained release of the incorporated protein in cell culture medium for about 6 days was achieved. The main factors determining the release profile included the NaCl/CaCl2 ratio in the pre-swelling solution, protein concentration, and the exposure time. To retard protein release, alginate fibres with entrapped FITC-BSA were processed together with poly(d, l -lactide) (PDLLA) into porous alginate fibre/PDLLA composites using supercritical CO2. In this manner, release of the protein for up to 3 months was achieved. [source] Gelatin microspheres crosslinked with genipin for local delivery of growth factorsJOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, Issue 7 2010Luis Solorio Abstract A main challenge in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine is achieving local and efficient growth factor release to guide cell function. Gelatin is a denatured form of collagen that cells can bind to and degrade through enzymatic action. In this study, gelatin microspheres were used to release bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2). Spherical microparticles with diameters in the range of 2,6 µm were created by an emulsification process and were stabilized by crosslinking with the small molecule genipin. The degree of crosslinking was varied by controlling the incubation time in genipin solution. Loading rate studies, using soy bean trypsin inhibitor as a model protein, showed rapid protein uptake over the first 24 h, followed by a levelling off and then a further increase after approximately 3 days, as the microspheres swelled. Growth factor release studies using microspheres crosslinked to 20%, 50% and 80% of saturation and then loaded with BMP2 showed that higher degrees of crosslinking resulted in higher loading efficiency and slower protein release. After 24 h, the concentration profiles produced by all microsphere formulations were steady and approximately equal. Microspheres incubated with adult human mesenchymal stem cells accumulated preferentially on the cell surface, and degraded over time in culture. BMP2-loaded microspheres caused a three- to eight-fold increase in expression of the bone sialoprotein gene after 14 days in culture, with more crosslinked beads producing a greater effect. These results demonstrate that genipin-crosslinked gelatin microspheres can be used to deliver growth factors locally to cells in order to direct their function. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Cofactor effects on the protein folding reaction: Acceleration of ,-lactalbumin refolding by metal ionsPROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 4 2006Natalia A. Bushmarina Abstract About 30% of proteins require cofactors for their proper folding. The effects of cofactors on the folding reaction have been investigated with ,-lactalbumin as a model protein and metal ions as cofactors. Metal ions accelerate the refolding of ,-lactalbumin by lessening the energy barrier between the molten globule state and the transition state, mainly by decreasing the difference of entropy between the two states. These effects are linked to metal ion binding to the protein in the native state. Hence, relationships between the metal affinities for the intermediate states and those for the native state are observed. Some residual specificity for the calcium ion is still observed in the molten globule state, this specificity getting closer in the transition state to that of the native state. The comparison between kinetic and steady-state data in association with the , value method indicates the binding of the metal ions on the unfolded state of ,-lactalbumin. Altogether, these results provide insight into cofactor effects on protein folding. They also suggest new possibilities to investigate the presence of residual native structures in the unfolded state of protein and the effects of such structures on the protein folding reaction and on protein stability. [source] Water-protein interactions in the molten-globule state of carbonic anhydrase b: An NMR spin-diffusion studyPROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 8 2000Victor P. Kutyshenko Abstract We have used the homonuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) to characterize a model protein: carbonic anhydrase B. We have obtained NOE difference spectra for this protein, centering the on-resonance signals either at the methyl-proton or at the water-proton signals. The spin-diffusion spectra obtained as a function of protein concentration and temperature provide direct evidence of much greater protein,water interaction in the molten-globule state than in the native and denatured states. Furthermore, although the protein loses its gross tertiary structure in both the molten-globule and denatured states, it remains almost as compact in its molten-globule state as it is in the native state. The spin-diffusion spectra, obtained as a function of a variable delay time after the saturation pulse, allowed us to measure the relaxation times of several types of proton in the solution. These spectra contain enough information to distinguish between those water molecules solvating the protein and the free ones present as bulk water. [source] Strategy for comprehensive identification of human N -myristoylated proteins using an insect cell-free protein synthesis systemPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 9 2010Takashi Suzuki Abstract To establish a strategy for the comprehensive identification of human N -myristoylated proteins, the susceptibility of human cDNA clones to protein N -myristoylation was evaluated by metabolic labeling and MS analyses of proteins expressed in an insect cell-free protein synthesis system. One-hundred-and-forty-one cDNA clones with N -terminal Met-Gly motifs were selected as potential candidates from ,2000 Kazusa ORFeome project human cDNA clones, and their susceptibility to protein N -myristoylation was evaluated using fusion proteins, in which the N -terminal ten amino acid residues were fused to an epitope-tagged model protein. As a result, the products of 29 out of 141 cDNA clones were found to be effectively N -myristoylated. The metabolic labeling experiments both in an insect cell-free protein synthesis system and in the transfected COS-1 cells using full-length cDNA revealed that 27 out of 29 proteins were in fact N -myristoylated. Database searches with these 27 cDNA clones revealed that 18 out of 27 proteins are novel N -myristoylated proteins that have not been reported previously to be N -myristoylated, indicating that this strategy is useful for the comprehensive identification of human N -myristoylated proteins from human cDNA resources. [source] Glutathione- S -transferase pi as a model protein for the characterisation of chemically reactive metabolitesPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 2 2008Rosalind E. Jenkins Dr. Abstract Chemically reactive metabolites (CRMs) are thought to be responsible for a number of adverse drug reactions through modification of critical proteins. Methods that defined the chemistry of protein modification at an early stage would provide invaluable tools for drug safety assessment. Here, human GST pi (GSTP) was exploited as a model target protein to determine the chemical, biochemical and functional consequences of exposure to the hepatotoxic CRM of paracetamol (APAP), N -acetyl- p -benzoquinoneimine (NAPQI). Site-specific, dose-dependent modification of Cys47 in native and His-tagged GSTP was revealed by MS, and correlated with inhibition of glutathione (GSH) conjugating activity. In addition, the adaptation of iTRAQ labelling technology to define precisely the quantitative relationship between covalent modification and protein function is described. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)-MS of GSTP allowed high sensitivity detection of modified peptides at physiological levels of exposure. Finally, a bioengineered mutant cytochrome P450 with a broad spectrum of substrate specificities was used in an in vitro reaction system to bioactivate APAP: in this model, GSTP trapped the CRM and exhibited both reduced enzyme activity and site-specific modification of the protein. These studies provide the foundation for the development of novel test systems to predict the toxicological potential of CRMs produced by new therapeutic agents. [source] Efficient on-chip proteolysis system based on functionalized magnetic silica microspheresPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 14 2007Yan Li Abstract An easily replaceable enzymatic microreactor has been fabricated based on the glass microchip with trypsin-immobilized magnetic silica microspheres (MS microspheres). Magnetic microspheres with small size (,300,nm in diameter) and high magnetic responsivity to magnetic field (68.2,emu/g) were synthesized and modified with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and glutaraldehyde (GA) were then introduced to functionalize the MS microspheres for enzyme immobilization. Trypsin was stably immobilized onto the MS microspheres through the reaction of primary amines of the proteins with aldehyde groups on the MS microspheres. The trypsin-immobilized MS microspheres were then locally packed into the microchannel by the application of a strong field magnet to form an on-chip enzymatic microreactor. The digestion efficiency and reproducibility of the microreactor were demonstrated by using cytochrome c (Cyt-C) as a model protein. When compared with an incubation time of 12,h by free trypsin in the conventional digestion approach, proteins can be digested by the on-chip microreactor in several minutes. This microreactor was also successfully applied to the analysis of an RPLC fraction of the rat liver extract. This opens a route for its further application in top-down proteomic analysis. [source] High-resolution structure of an ,-spectrin SH3-domain mutant with a redesigned hydrophobic coreACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F (ELECTRONIC), Issue 9 2010Ana Cámara-Artigas The ,-spectrin SH3 domain (Spc-SH3) is a small modular domain which has been broadly used as a model protein in folding studies and these studies have sometimes been supported by structural information obtained from the coordinates of Spc-SH3 mutants. The structure of B5/D48G, a multiple mutant designed to improve the hydrophobic core and as a consequence the protein stability, has been solved at 1,Å resolution. The crystals belonged to the orthorhombic space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 24.79, b = 37.23, c = 62.95,Å. This mutant also bears a D48G substitution in the distal loop and this mutation has also been reported to increase the stability of the protein by itself. The structure of the B5/D48G mutant shows a highly packed hydrophobic core and a more ordered distal loop compared with previous Spc-SH3 structures. [source] Incorporation of methyl-protonated valine and leucine residues into deuterated ocean pout type III antifreeze protein: expression, crystallization and preliminary neutron diffraction studiesACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F (ELECTRONIC), Issue 6 2010Isabelle Petit-Haertlein Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) are found in different species from polar, alpine and subarctic regions, where they serve to inhibit ice-crystal growth by adsorption to ice surfaces. Recombinant North Atlantic ocean pout (Macrozoarces americanus) AFP has been used as a model protein to develop protocols for amino-acid-specific hydrogen reverse-labelling of methyl groups in leucine and valine residues using Escherichia coli high-density cell cultures supplemented with the amino-acid precursor ,-ketoisovalerate. Here, the successful methyl protonation (methyl reverse-labelling) of leucine and valine residues in AFP is reported. Methyl-protonated AFP was expressed in inclusion bodies, refolded in deuterated buffer and purified by cation-exchange chromatography. Crystals were grown in D2O buffer by the sitting-drop method. Preliminary neutron Laue diffraction at 293,K using LADI-III at ILL showed in a few 24,h exposures a very low background and clear small spots up to a resolution of 1.80,Å from a crystal of dimensions 1.60 × 0.38 × 0.38,mm corresponding to a volume of 0.23,mm3. [source] Fibrillation of ,-lactalbumin: Effect of crocin and safranal, two natural small molecules from Crocus sativus,BIOPOLYMERS, Issue 10 2010Mohammad-Bagher Ebrahim-Habibi Abstract Formation of toxic amyloid structures is believed to be associated with various late-onset neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The fact that many proteins in addition to those that are associated with clinical conditions have the potential to form amyloid fibrils in vitro provides opportunities for studying the fundamentals of protein aggregation and amyloid formation in model systems. Accordingly, considerable interest and effort has been directed toward developing small molecules to inhibit the formation of fibrillar assemblies and their associated toxicities. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of crocin and safranal, two principal components of saffron, on fibrillation of apo-,-lactalbumin (a-,-LA), used as a model protein, under amyloidogenic conditions. In the absence of any ligand, formation of soluble oligomers became evident after 18 h of incubation, followed by subsequent appearance of mature fibrils. Upon incubation with crocin or safranal, while transition phase to monomeric beta structures was not significantly affected, formation of soluble oligomers and following fibrillar assemblies were inhibited. While both safranal and crocin had the ability to bind to hydrophobic patches provided in the intermediate structures, and thereby inhibit protein aggregation, crocin was found more effective, possibly due to its simultaneous hydrophobic and hydrophilic character. Cell viability assay indicated that crocin could diminish toxicity while safranal act in reverse order. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 93: 854,865, 2010. [source] Bioencapsulation of apomyoglobin in nanoporous organosilica sol,gel glasses: Influence of the siloxane network on the conformation and stability of a model proteinBIOPOLYMERS, Issue 11 2009Bouzid Menaa Abstract Nanoporous sol,gel glasses were used as host materials for the encapsulation of apomyoglobin, a model protein employed to probe in a rational manner the important factors that influence the protein conformation and stability in silica-based materials. The transparent glasses were prepared from tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) and modified with a series of mono-, di- and tri-substituted alkoxysilanes, RnSi(OCH3)4,n (R = methyl-, n = 1; 2; 3) of different molar content (5, 10, 15%) to obtain the decrease of the siloxane linkage (SiOSi). The conformation and thermal stability of apomyoglobin characterized by circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) was related to the structure of the silica host matrix characterized by 29Si MAS NMR and N2 adsorption. We observed that the protein transits from an unfolded state in unmodified glass (TMOS) to a native-like helical state in the organically modified glasses, but also that the secondary structure of the protein was enhanced by the decrease of the siloxane network with the methyl modification (n = 0 < n = 1 < n = 2 < n = 3; 0 < 5 < 10 < 15 mol %). In 15% trimethyl-modified glass, the protein even reached a maximum molar helicity (,24,000 deg. cm2 mol,1) comparable to the stable folded heme-bound holoprotein in solution. The protein conformation and stability induced by the change of its microlocal environment (surface hydration, crowding effects, microstructure of the host matrix) were discussed owing to this trend dependency. These results can have an important impact for the design of new efficient biomaterials (sensors or implanted devices) in which properly folded protein is necessary. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 91: 895,906, 2009. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The "Published Online" date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com [source] Ultra scale-down of protein refold screening in microwells: Challenges, solutions and applicationBIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 2 2009Gareth J. Mannall Abstract Steps for the refolding of proteins from solubilized inclusion bodies or misfolded product often represent bottlenecks in process development, where optimal conditions are typically derived empirically. To expedite refolding optimization, microwell screening may be used to test multiple conditions in parallel. Fast, accurate, and reproducible assays are required for such screening processes, and the results derived must be representative of the process at full scale. This article demonstrates the use of these microscale techniques to evaluate the effects of a number of additives on the refolding of IGF-1 from denatured inclusion bodies, using an established HPLC assay for this protein. Prior to this, microwell refolding was calibrated for scale-up using hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) as an initial model protein, allowing us to implement and compare several assays for protein refolding, including turbidity, enzyme activity, and chromatographic methods, and assess their use for microwell-based experimentation. The impact of various microplate types upon protein binding and loss is also assessed. Solution mixing is a key factor in protein refolding, therefore we have characterized the effects of different methods of mixing in microwells in terms of their impact on protein refolding. Our results confirm the applicability and scalability of microwell screening for the development of protein refolding processes, and its potential for application to new inclusion body-derived protein products. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;103: 329,340. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||