鲨鱼肝铁蛋白亚基解离与组装机理的研究

小批量制备质谱纯鲨鱼肝铁蛋白(Liver Ferritin of Sphyrna zygaena,SZLF)。在弱酸介质(pH1.0)中,天然电泳结果显示,SZLF蛋白质亚基20 min后开始解离。选用透射电子显微镜跟踪SZLF亚基解离与重组装全过程和蛋白壳与铁核尺寸变化,发现SZLF在亚基酸解离过程中,随着pH值的降低,铁核和蛋白壳的尺寸呈现相同的变化趋势,这种变化趋势可能与铁核内层铁的释放和蛋白壳的解离与去折叠有关。SZLF蛋白壳的重组装过程则是一个快速过程,并且是由松散熔球态向紧密态转变的过程。SZLF由单类型亚基组成,而马脾铁蛋白(Horse Spleen Ferritin,HSF)由H和L两种亚基类型组成。在基质pH3.0条件和激光辅助下,混合HSF和SZLF仍然可释放各自的亚基且形成准亚基离子,供基质辅助激光解析电离飞行时间质谱分析,说明此时SZLF的亚基间相互作用强度减弱但并没有去折叠。TEM技术在铁蛋白解离和重组装过程中的应用,为进一步研究铁蛋白纳米包装的过程和机理提供新颖的、可行的和更加直观的研究手段。     

电泳和质谱技术研究4种胰脏铁蛋白的亚基类型和等电点特性

采用电泳和质谱技术对所制备的鸡、鸭、牛和猪胰脏铁蛋白的亚基类型和等电点特性进行了研究。采用天然聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(PAGE)技术研究的结果表明,上述4种铁蛋白呈现不同的迁移率,据此可知鸡胰铁蛋白的相对分子质量(Mr)>鸭胰铁蛋白的Mr>黄牛胰铁蛋白的Mr>猪胰铁蛋白的Mr,而且均大于马脾铁蛋白(HSF)的Mr。采用十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)-PAGE技术研究的结果表明,上述4种铁蛋白均由H(heavy chain)和L(light chain)类型的亚基组成,但H和L亚基的相对数量（即H/L亚基数量的比值）有差别。采用肽指纹图谱技术分别鉴定各铁蛋白的H和L亚基。选用变性等电聚焦方法研究发现,上述4种铁蛋白分别由3～6种不同等电点的亚基聚合体组成,说明铁蛋白的H和L亚基之间呈现复杂的相互作用和不同的聚合体。不同陆生动物胰脏铁蛋白亚基之间相互作用的强度和聚合态存在着差异,这一差异特性可能与调控铁蛋白释放铁的速率有关,也与动物对铁的需求和铁解毒速率有关。     

MALDI-TOF质谱、电泳和透射电子显微镜技术研究魟鱼肝铁蛋白H和L亚基特性

小批量制备质谱纯魟鱼肝铁蛋白(liver ferritin of Dasyatis akajei, DALF),以透射电子显微镜术(TEM)测定DALF、蛋白壳和铁核的分子尺寸.SDS-PAGE技术指出,DALF由H 和L两种不同类型的亚基组成.采用肽质量指纹图谱(PMF)技术进一步佐证H和L亚基类型和同源性.氧化还原剂中性红、劳氏紫、甲基紫精和 pH 1.5酸度均无法削弱DALF的H-L和L-L亚基之间的相互作用强度、并解吸出L亚基离子,供MALDI-TOF质谱仪分析.通过增加激光强度和降低基质pH途径,可直接分析DALF的H和L亚基的分子量,指出DALF中H-L和L-L亚基之间的相互作用强度明显高于H-H亚基类型.     

MALDI-TOF MS和电子光谱技术研究海兔肝铁蛋白亚基电离和释放铁动力学特性

选用肽质量指纹谱(peptide mass fingerprint,PMF)技术鉴定质谱纯海兔肝铁蛋白(liver ferritin ofAplysia,ALF)。来源于基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF MS)仪中的激光和基质芥子酸协同解吸海兔肝铁蛋白(ALF)为带双电荷、单电荷[M H] 和二聚体的亚基离子,并可供质谱分析。ALF亚基的质荷比m/z分别为9784.03[M 2H]2 、19678.42[M H] 和39387.80[2M H] ,其中亚基分子量[M H] 略小于鲨鱼肝铁蛋白(liver ferritin of shark,SLF)。在弱碱介质(pH8.0)条件下,电子光谱技术研究指出,抗坏血酸以1/2级反应方式参与ALF释放铁全过程,同时又使ALF以一级反应动力学方式释放铁,呈现两种不同的速率。推测这一异常现象可能与ALF含低铁量、亚基调节能力和海兔的进化地位有关。     

用MALDI-TOF质谱和电子光谱研究纳米胰岛素核-铁蛋白的构建技术和特性

小批量制备了电泳纯鲨鱼肝铁蛋白(Liver ferritin of Sphyma zygaena, SZLF). 用透射电子显微镜技术研究SZLF的铁核和蛋白壳亚基解离和重组过程. 用盐酸解离(pH=1.5)和分离膜透析技术制备铁蛋白亚基, 并用酸碱中和方法重组亚基成为脱铁核铁蛋白(apoSZLF), 同时将胰岛素(Insulin, INS)包裹于apoSZLF蛋白壳内, 构建纳米INS核-SZLF. 用电子光谱、MALDI-TOF质谱和SDS-PAGE技术分别揭示了纳米INS核-SZLF分子结构的真实性, 提出铁蛋白亚基包裹INS构建为纳米INS核-铁蛋白的途径.     

用圆二色性和荧光光谱技术研究纳米吡啰红G核-铁蛋白的构建机理

小批量制备了电泳纯鲨鱼肝铁蛋白(Liver ferritin ofSphyrna zygaena,SZLF),对SZLF的结构与功能进行了研究.在pH=2.0~10.0条件下,选用圆二色性(Circular dichroism,CD)光谱技术研究了SZLF和脱铁核SZLF(apoSZLF)二级结构转换的基本特征和变化趋势,揭示了SZLF蛋白壳的亚基稳定性、相互作用强度和去折叠现象.利用酸碱中和方法,解离SZLF蛋白壳亚基,并再次构建成完整SZLF.用紫外-可见分光光度法和荧光光度法研究了构建纳米吡啰红G核-铁蛋白的途径.定量分析结果表明,每分子apoSZLF可捕获12分子吡啰红G于蛋白壳内,构建纳米吡啰红G核-铁蛋白.分析了apoSZLF直接捕获和释放吡啰红G的途径与速率,为后续构建高存量纳米顺铂核-铁蛋白药物载体提供了可行性技术.     

棕色固氮菌细菌铁蛋白捕获能力、稳定性和亚基相互作用的强度

选用柱层析、电泳和反相高效液相色谱(RP-HPLC)技术制备质谱纯棕色固氮菌细菌铁蛋白(Bacteri-al ferritin ofAzotobacter vinelandii,AVBF),并采用释放铁动力学和肽质量指纹图谱(Peptide mass fingerprint-ing,PMF)技术分别鉴定AVBF。基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF MS)和电泳技术揭示AVBF亚基之间相互作用强度、稳定性和聚合态。AVBF可直接捕获有机小分子亚甲蓝(MB),其捕获率为15.0±2.0MB/AVBF,认为介于AVBF亚基单体之间的血红素参与捕获MB。较高浓度(40%~50%)的乙腈和丙酮均能使AVBF和鲨鱼肝铁蛋白(Liver ferritin of shark,SLF)释放不稳定亚基,但在较低浓度(20%~30%)的乙腈条件下,却需要借助来源于质谱仪的激光才能使AVBF或SLF释放不稳定亚基,并供质谱分析。AVBF亚基之间的相互作用强度明显低于SLF。铁蛋白亚基之间的相互作用强度高低与铁蛋白执行释放和储存铁的速率有关。     

蛋白质辅助基质提高激光解吸/电离多肽离子化率和绝对强度的研究

人血清转铁蛋白(Human serum transferrin, HTF)、牛血清白蛋白(Bovine serum albumin, BSA)、鲨鱼肝铁蛋白(Sphyrna zygaena liver ferritin, SZLF)、马脾铁蛋白(Horse spleen ferritin, HSF)均能辅助基质提高激光解吸/电离胰岛素(Insulin, INS)和海兔酸性多肽(Aplysia acidic peptide, AP)离子化率和质谱峰的绝对强度(简称为绝对强度), 其中绝对强度分别提高10和4倍, 这一现象不依赖于INS浓度, 而与蛋白质类型和结构有关. SZLF和脱铁核SZLF(apoSZLF)辅助基质提高INS绝对强度的能力几乎相同, 蛋白质中的金属离子含量对这种效应无明显影响, 主要取决于蛋白质的氨基酸组成与结构. 采用胶内酶解和肽指纹技术(PMF)鉴定HTF过程中, 发现基质中分别添加SZLF, apoSZLF和HSF后, HTF肽片段质谱检测的质谱峰数目及绝对强度均有明显增加, 进一步提高了数据库鉴定HTF的可信度.     

二甲苯异构体双电荷离子和单电荷离子的动能谱研究

利用质量分析离子动能谱和碰撞诱导解离技采研究了邻、间、对二甲苯分子在电子轰击质谱中产生的双电荷离子[C8H10]2+、[C8H9]2+和单电荷离子[C8H10]+。根据测定的电荷分离反应的释放动能T和由此估算的双电荷离子电荷分离反应过渡态两电荷间距R,推测出过渡态的结构,利用单电荷离子[C8H10]+的MIKES/CID谱可区分邻二甲苯与间、对二甲苯异构体.     

苯二酚异构体双电荷离子和单电荷离子的动能谱研究

本文利用质量分析离子动能谱(MIKES)、碰撞诱导解离(CID)技术和电子捕获诱导解离(ECID)技术, 研究了邻、间、对苯二酚分子在电子轰击质谱(EIMS)中产生的双电荷离子[C6H6O2]^2^+, [C6H4O]^2^+和单电荷离子[C6H6O2]^+。根据测定的电荷分离反应动能释放值T和由此计算出的两电荷间距R, 推测出过渡态的结构。有趣的是, 可利用单电荷离子[C6H6O2]^+的MIKES/CID谱区分苯二酚异构体。     

Subunit Characteristics of Pig Pancreas Ferritin Revealed by MALDI-TOF MS and RP-HPLC

Pig pancreas ferritin（PPF） was purified by ultra-centrifugation, ion-exchange chromatography, and native gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis（PAGENG）. Sodium dodecyl sulfate（SDS）-PAGE indicates that PPF consists of two subunit types, namely, H（21000） and L（19000） subunits, and its core shows an average element composition of 1698 Fe3＋ and 179 phosphate molecules within the hollow shell, giving a 9.5：1 ratio of Fe3＋ to phosphate. An off line approach combining reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography（RP-HPLC） with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry（MALDI-TOF MS） made the decomposition of PPF shell into H and L subunits for the analysis of mass spectrometry（MS）, giving molecular weights of both H（21014.4） and L（18319.9） subunits. Both subunit types were further identified by an approach combining peptide mass fingerprint（PMF） with database search. A ratio of 1H to 2L subunits in PPF was determined by SDS-PAGE, RP-HPLC, and MALDI-TOF MS, respectively. It is well known that the non-covalent interaction of L-L or H-L subunits is stronger than that of H-H subunits in PPF, which may be further used to explain the unclear physiological function between H and L subunits in PPF.     

Quantification in MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry of modified polymers

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry quantification is hampered by the poor reproducibility of the signal intensity and by molecular-mass and compositional discrimination. The addition of a suitable compound as an internal standard increases reproducibility and allows a calibration curve to be constructed. The concept was also verified with synthetic polymers but no instructions for practical implementation were given [H. Chen, M. He, J. Pei, H. He, Anal. Chem. 75 (2003) 6531-6535.], even though synthetic polymers are generally non-uniform with respect to molecular mass and composition and access to the polymer of the same molecular mass distribution and composition as that of the quantified one is thus the exception rather than rule. On the other hand, relative quantification of polymers e.g., the content of the precursor polymer in a batch of a modified polymer, is usually sought. In this particular case, the pure precursor is usually available and the modified polymer can serve as an internal standard. However, the calibration curve still cannot be constructed and the use of the internal standard has to be combined with the method of standard addition in which the precursor polymer is added directly to the analyzed sample. The experiments with simulated modified polymers, mixtures of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (MPEG) of similar molecular-mass distribution, revealed a power dependence of the PEG/MPEG signal-intensity ratio (MS ratio) on the PEG/MPEG concentrations ratio in the mixture (gravimetric ratio). The result was obtained using standard procedures and instrumentation, which means that the basic assumption of the standard-addition method, i.e., the proportionality of the MS and gravimetric ratios, generally cannot be taken for granted. Therefore, the multi-point combined internal-standard standard-addition method was developed and experimentally verified for the quantification of the precursor in modified polymers. In this method, the two parameters of the power-type calibration curve - the proportionality constant and the exponent-are assumed. If the exponent strongly deviates from unity the minority component can be significantly underrepresented in the spectrum. Therefore, the absence of the precursor polymer signals in the MALDI-TOF mass spectrum of a modified polymer sample does not prove the absence of the precursor in the sample. Such a conclusion has to be corroborated by the standard-addition method.     

Mass spectrometric characteristics and kinetics of iron release in visceral mass of Saccostrea cucullata

Ferritins with electrophoretic homogeneity were prepared from the visceral mass of Saccostrea cucullata in batch. The native PAGE approach showed similar electrophoretic mobility among pig pancreatic ferritin, liver ferritin of Dasyatis akajei, and visceral mass ferritin of Saccostrea cucullata. SDS-PAGE indicated that the Saccostrea cucullata visceral ferritin (SCVF) consisted of a single subunit type and had a molecular weight (MW) of approximately 20 kDa, suggesting that the protein shell in SCVF was composed of a single subunit. In addition, peptide mass fingerprinting and transmission electron microscopy were used to identify SCVF further, and to observe its molecular structure. We found that the molecular structure in SCVF was similar to that of most mammalian ferritins, which are composed of a protein shell and an iron core. The results of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry under the assistance of an acidic matrix, sinapic acid, also showed that SCVF was composed of a single subunit type and its subunit MW was calculated to be 19871.042 Da in the absence of heme. Kinetics analysis revealed that the complete process of iron release fitted the law of a first-order reaction, which is similar to that of most ferritins in mammals. Similar to bacterial ferritin, studies indicated that the shell consisted of a single subunit type and showed similar kinetics of iron release, suggesting that this subunit plays two important roles in iron release and storage, and that it shows different stability and intensity of interaction in carrying out its physiological functions in SCVF.     

Selective protein adsorption on a phase-separated solvent-cast polymer blend

Polymer-based biomedical devices are growing increasingly sophisticated as compositions evolve toward copolymers and blends in order to satisfy complex design criteria. Such polymers afford opportunities for both micro- and macrophase separation at nano- and micro-length scales and raise questions concerning the role of heterogeneous surface morphology on protein adsorption. Adsorbed protein layers play a critical role in mediating the interaction of cells with polymer surfaces, and both understanding and controlling protein adsorption is assuming greater significance in the development of surfaces with enhanced physiological compatibility. Here we study the short-time adsorption of ferritin, a model protein highly resistant to denaturation and easily imaged in the transmission electron microscope (TEM), onto a phase-separated homopolymer blend of polycaprolactone (PCL) and a polycarbonate derived from desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine dodecyl ester (PDTD). At physiological pH, ferritin selectively adsorbs onto the PDTD phase at a surface density approximately three times greater than that on the PCL phase. By decreasing the pH below ferritin's isoelectric point so its average charge becomes positive, the selective adsorption disappears and the surface density of adsorbed ferritin becomes independent of the phase separation. We attribute the selectivity to the electrostatic repulsion between ferritin and hydrolytically charged PCL, both of which will have a net negative charge at physiological pH. To perform these experiments, we solvent-cast ultrathin polymer films onto dissolvable salt substrates, and we characterize the morphology by TEM imaging and quantitative spatially resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). We find that the film morphology depends strongly on such processing-related variables as the solvent evaporation rate and the nature of the surface in contact with the polymer film during casting. The adsorption of ferritin depends on whether the film is phase-separated as well as to which surface of the film the protein solution is exposed, and these findings suggest that seemingly small variations in polymer processing that influence both the bulk and surface morphology can have a profound effect on the short-time protein adsorption.