Self‐Immolative Activation of β‐Galactosidase‐Responsive Probes for In Vivo MR Imaging in Mouse Models

Our lab has developed a new series of self‐immolative MR agents for the rapid detection of enzyme activity in mouse models expressing β‐galactosidase (β‐gal). We investigated two molecular architectures to create agents that detect β‐gal activity by modulating the coordination of water to Gd^III. The first is an intermolecular approach, wherein we designed several structural isomers to maximize coordination of endogenous carbonate ions. The second involves an intramolecular mechanism for q modulation. We incorporated a pendant coordinating carboxylate ligand with a 2, 4, 6, or 8 carbon linker to saturate ligand coordination to the Gd^III ion. This renders the agent ineffective. We show that one agent in particular (6‐C pendant carboxylate) is an extremely effective MR reporter for the detection of enzyme activity in a mouse model expressing β‐gal.     

混合溶剂体系中牛肝β-半乳糖苷酶催化5-氟-2'-脱氧尿苷区域选择性半乳糖基化反应

研究了混合溶剂体系中有机溶剂种类和含量对牛肝β-半乳糖苷酶催化5-氟-2'-脱氧尿苷区域选择性半乳糖基化反应的影响.结果表明,在含10%(体积分数)有机溶剂体系中,该酶稳定性差,失活严重.减少有机溶剂含量可显著减轻其对该酶的毒害作用.然而,有机溶剂的添加对酶促糖基化反应的区域选择性的影响很小(均保持在99%以上).牛肝...     

Development of a Hybrid Bioinorganic Nanobiocatalyst: Remarkable Impact of the Immobilization Conditions on Activity and Stability of β-Galactosidase

Hybrid bioinorganic biocatalysts have received much attention due to their simple synthesis, high efficiency, and structural features that favor enzyme activity and stability. The present work introduces a biomineralization strategy for the formation of hybrid nanocrystals from β-galactosidase. The effects of the immobilization conditions were studied, identifying the important effect of metal ions and pH on the immobilization yield and the recovered activity. For a deeper understanding of the biomineralization process, an in silico study was carried out to identify the ion binding sites at the different conditions. The selected β-galactosidase nanocrystals showed high specific activity (35,000 IU/g biocatalyst) and remarkable thermal stability with a half-life 11 times higher than the soluble enzyme. The nanobiocatalyst was successfully tested for the synthesis of galacto-oligosaccharides, achieving an outstanding performance, showing no signs of diffusional limitations. Thus, a new, simple, biocompatible and inexpensive nanobiocatalyst was produced with high enzyme recovery (82%), exhibiting high specific activity and high stability, with promising industrial applications.     

Novel S-Gal analogs as H MRI reporters for in vivo detection of β-galactosidase

The quantitative assessment of gene expression and related enzyme activity in vivo could be important for the characterization of gene altering diseases and therapy. The development of imaging techniques, based on specific reporter molecules may enable routine non-invasive assessment of enzyme activity and gene expression in vivo. We recently reported the use of commercially available S-Gal^® as a β-galactosidase reporter for ¹H MRI, and the synthesis of several S-Gal^® analogs with enhanced response to β-galactosidase activity. We have now compared these analogs in vitro and have identified the optimal analog, C3-GD, based on strong T₁ and T₂ response to enzyme presence (ΔR₁ and ΔR₂ ~ 1.8 times S-Gal^®). Moreover, application is demonstrated in vivo in human breast tumor xenografts. MRI studies in MCF7-lacZ tumors implanted subcutaneously in athymic nude mice (n = 6), showed significant reduction in T₁ and T₂ values (each ~ 13%) 2 h after intra-tumoral injection of C3-GD, whereas the MCF7 (wild type) tumors showed slight increase. Thus, C3-GD successfully detects β-galactosidase activity in vivo and shows promise as a lacZ gene ¹H MR reporter molecule.     

Influence of reaction medium composition on enzymatic synthesis of galactooligosaccharides and lactulose from lactose concentrates prepared from whey permeate

The paper presents the results of investigations into the technological possibilities of controlling the transgalactosylation process of lactose in permeate after whey ultrafiltration in order to improve the efficiency of galactooligosaccharides or lactulose synthesis. The synthesis efficiency was influenced by the selection of a β-galactosidase preparation, substrate concentration and, in the synthesis of lactulose, also by the ratio of lactose and fructose added to the reaction mixture. The obtained synthesis efficiency of GOS and, most of all, of lactulose (65 g L⁻¹), may be found satisfactory. The study also resulted in a proposed GOS or lactulose concentrates (concentrated or dried) production technology using permeate after ultrafiltration of milk or whey as lactose sources. Presented at the 35th International Conference of the Slovak Society of Chemical Engineering, Tatranské Matliare, 26–30 May 2008.     

Enzymatic synthesis of iso-globotriose from partially protected lactose

6′-O-Acyl-lactose derivatives (1b-d) were prepared by selective enzymatic acylation of lactose using the protease subtilisin. These compounds were used as acceptors for enzymatic transglycosylations catalysed by an α-galactosidase from Talaromyces flavus forming (after deacylation) iso-globotriose (α-d-Galp-(1→3)-β-d-Galp-(1→4)Glc, 2a).     

Preparation of Recombinant Baculovirus DNA Coding for β-Galactosidase of Escherichia coli and the Expression Product in Bombyx mori Larvae

A method has been developed for preparing recombinant baculovirus that encoded foreign protein (using -galactosidase ofEscherichia colias an example) directly inBombyx morilarvae (silkworm) and avoids cultivation and the use of a cell line, which are very difficult and require expensive equipment and reagents. This significantly reduces the cost of the recombinant protein without loss of biological properties     

New development in in-capillary electrophoresis techniques for kinetic and inhibition study of enzymes

Enzymes are often quantified by measuring their biological activity. Capillary electrophoresis is gaining its position in this field due to the ongoing trend to miniaturize biochemical assays.