NOVEL PHOTOCLEAVABLE PROTEIN CROSSLINKING REAGENTS AND THEIR USE IN THE PREPARATION OF ANTIBODY-TOXIN CONJUGATES

Abstract— Two photolabile heterobifunctional protein crosslinking reagents have been synthesized and used for the conjugation of a protein toxin to an antibody. o-Nitrobenzyl alcohol derivatives containing protected sulfhydryl groups were converted to o-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl chlorides and covalently attached to pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP-S) obtained from the seeds of Phytolacca americana. The sulfhydryl groups were deprotected and the modified toxins were reacted with J5 antibody (specific for the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen, CALLA) that had been functionalized with maleimido groups. Antibody-toxin conjugates were formed predominantly in the ratio of 1:1, and were purified from unconjugated antibody and PAP-S. Irradiation of the conjugates with light having a peak intensity at 365 nm effected photolytic fragmentation, and PAP-S was released in fully active form. The methods described here may prove useful for the release of drugs or toxins at sites accessible to light.     

THE GENERATION OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE BY THE UVA IRRADIATION OF HUMAN LENS PROTEINS

Abstract— The water-insoluble proteins from aged human lens are known to contain protein-bound chromophores that act as UVA sensitizers. The irradiation of a sonication-solubilized, water-insoluble fraction from human lenses (55–75 years) with UVA light (1.5 kj/cm², λ > 338 nm) caused an oxygen-dependent photolysis of tryptophan, not seen when either α-crystallin or lysozyme were irradiated. The suggested requirement for active oxygen species was consistent with a linear increase in hydrogen peroxide formation, which was also observed. A final concentration of 55 µM H₂O₂ was attained, with no H₂0₂ being detected in either dark-incubated controls or in irradiated samples of native proteins. The UVA-dependent H₂O₂ formation was increased 50% by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and abolished by catalase, arguing for the initial generation of superoxide anion. A linear photolysis of histidine and tryptophan was also seen; however, the addition of SOD or SOD and catalase had no effect on the photolytic destruction of either amino acid. Superoxide dismutase increased the oxidation of protein SH groups implicating H₂O₂, but SOD and catalase caused a decrease in SH oxidation only at later time periods. The direct addition of H₂O₂ to a water-insoluble sonicate supernatant fraction caused only a slight oxidation of SH groups, but this was increased four- to eight-fold when the protein was denatured in 4.0 M guanidine hydrochloride. Overall, the data suggest a UVA-dependent oxidation of protein SH groups via H₂O₂ generated within the large protein aggregates of the water-insoluble fraction. These data also provide a mechanism for oxidation of the sulfur-containing amino acids in vivo—a process that is known to accompany the formation of age-onset cataracts.     

Sulfur-containing amino acids of the polyhedral protein of the silkworm yellows virus

Conclusions 1. The polyhedral protein of silkworm virus yellows isolated by the alkali method does not contain sulfhydryl groups.2. The content of sulfhydryl groups in the reduced polyhedral protein has been determined by titration with methylmercury nitrate and by means of Ellman's reagent (0.029–0.033 µmole of SH groups per mg of protein). The content of S-carboxymethylcysteine groups in acid hydrolysates of reduced and carboxymethylated polyhedral protein has been determined with an amino acid analyzer (0.03 µmol/mg).3. The content of cysteic acid in acid hydrolysates of oxidized polyhedral protein is 0.069 µmole/mg.Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 174–178, 1968     

CHANGE IN SULFHYDRYL GROUP MICROENVIRONMENT OF CALF LENS α-CRYSTALLIN BY 300 nm LIGHT

Abstract— The effect of 300 nm irradiation on the sulfhydryl groups of calf lens a-crystallin has been investigated by using specific, covalently bound fluorescent sulfhydryl probes 4–(N-iodoacetoxy)ethyl-N-methylamino-7-n-itrobenz-2-o-xa-1,3-d-iazole (IANBD), N-iodoacetyl-N'-(5-s-ulfo-l-naphthyl) ethylene-diamine (1,5 IAEDANS) and 5-i-odoacetamidofluorescein (IAF). The decrease in tryptophan fluorescence with time of irradiation of a-crystallin, is accompanied by a decrease in the fluorescence of the hydrophobic sulfhydryl label IANBD. In addition, the fluorescence of the surface-sulfhydryl label IAF increased in the irradiated a-crystallin. These results indicate that the sulfhydryl groups are in a more exposed (hydrophilic) environment in the irradiated protein than in the control, possibly because of partial unfolding of the protein. This result is confirmed by fluorescence lifetime measurements with IAEDANS. The decay curve of IAEDANS-α-crystallin has a major lifetime of 15.7 ns and a minor one of 24.6 ns. Upon irradiation, the lifetime of the major component decreases to 10.2 ns and that of the minor component to 21.7 ns. Denatured IAEDANS-α-crystallin has a single lifetime of 10.4 ns. These results show that the photoinduced damage to the tryptophan residues of α-crystallin alters the environment of the sulfhydryl groups and induces a change in the tertiary structure of the protein. Proximity of the cysteine residues to tryptophan in the tertiary structure of the protein may be an important determinant of their susceptibility to photoinduced change.     

Structure control within poly(amidoamine) dendrimers: size, shape and regio-chemical mimicry of globular proteins

This work describes the syntheses of a new poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer family possessing a disulfide function (cystamine) in its core. Traditional redox-chemistry associated with the disulfide core in these dendrimer structures, provides a versatile strategy for designing unique sizes, shapes and controlling the regio-disposition of chemical groups on the surface of these dendrimers. Various single site, sulfhydryl functionalized dendron reactants may be generated in situ, under standard reducing conditions (i.e. dithiothreitol (DTT)). Facile control of size, shape and chemical functionality placement involves covalent hybridization of these single point, sulfhydryl reactive dendron components. This is accomplished by re-oxidation in the presence of air, to yield generation/surface chemistry differentiated cross-over products which may be isolated by preparative thin layer or column chromatography. Differentiated cystamine core dendrimers derived from combination and permutation of lower generation (i.e. Gen.=0-3) sulfhydryl functionalized dendrons possessing amino, hydroxyl, acetamido or dansyl surface groups, were synthesized and isolated. They were characterized by a variety of methods including; ¹³C NMR, capillary electrophoresis (CE), gel electrophoresis (PAGE), thin layer chromatography (TLC) and electrospray (ES) or matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. This general strategy has broad implications for the systematic size, shape and regio-chemical control of a wide range of dendritic nanostructures, many of which may be designed to mimic the sizes, shapes and regio specific chemo-domains observed for globular proteins.     

Bioassay-guided isolation of an anti-ulcer compound, tagitinin C, from Tithonia diversifolia: role of nitric oxide, prostaglandins and sulfhydryls

Tithonia diversifolia is a medicinal plant from the Municipality of Suchiapa, Chiapas, Mexico, that according to local folk medicine is considered useful in the treatment of gastric ulcers. The aim of the present study was to investigate the gastroprotective activity of T. diversifolia by using an ethanol-induced gastric ulcer experimental model in male Wistar rats. The results showed that T. diversifolia had gastroprotective activity, and that the dichloromethane extract had the highest protective activity (close to 90% when using doses between 10 to 100 mg/kg), and that further the compound tagitinin C isolated from this extract was the main active gastroprotective agent. Rats treated with tagitinin C suspended in Tween 80 at 1, 3, 10 and 30 mg/kg showed 37.7, 70.1, 100, and 100% gastroprotection, respectively. The effect elicited by tagitinin C (30 mg/kg) was not attenuated by pretreatment with either N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (70 mg/kg, i.p.), a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, N-ethylmaleimide (10 mg/kg, s.c.), a blocker of sulfhydryl groups, or indomethacin (10 mg/kg, s.c.), a blocker of prostaglandin synthesis, which suggests that the gastroprotective mechanism of action of this sesquiterpene lactone does not involve NO, sulfhydryl groups or prostaglandins.     

Direct Detection of Mercury-Bound Metalloproteins (metallothionein and Cu,Zn-Superoxide Dismutase) Using a Combination of Gel Electrophoresis and One Dimensional Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis

Abstract

Metallothionein-II (MT-II) and Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn-SOD) interacted with mercury were detected by a new method utilizing isoelectric focusing-agarose or -polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (IEF-AGE or IEF-PAGE) and nondestructive one-dimensional synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) analysis. When MT-II reacted with mercuric chloride, an obvious change of isoelectric point (pI = 3.7 - 4.7) for the intact form to alkaline pI (9.4) was observed. This marked migration of MT-II by the metal was blocked by addition of glutathione, suggesting that sulfhydryl functions participate in the pI variation. In contrast, interaction of Cu, Zn-SOD with mercury did not cause any changes of its pI although the metal bound tightly to Cu, Zn-SOD after electrophoresis; however, the enzyme activity was drastically suppressed. These observations indicate that combination of electrophoresis with SR-XRF analysis is an useful technique for detecting structural or functional alteration of protein attributable to the binding of the mercury.     

Crosslinking of hyaluronic acid with glutaraldehyde

Hyaluronic acid (HA) was chemically crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GA) to produce water-insoluble films having low water contents when brought into contact with water. The crosslinking reaction was performed using uncrosslinked HA films in acetone–water mixtures. This method could produce water-insoluble HA films with water contents as low as 60 wt % when subjected to swelling with phosphate-buffered saline of pH 7.4 at 37°C. This 60 wt % water content was lower than any values for HA ever reported. There was an optimal HCl concentration around 0.01N for the HA crosslinking with GA in acetone—water mixtures. To get information on the crosslinking mechanism, alginic acid, which possesses hydroxyl and carboxyl groups in one molecule, similar to HA, and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and amylopectin, which possess only hydroxyl groups, were subjected to crosslinking with GA. PVA and amylopectin were also found to become water-insoluble after reaction with GA. On the basis of the infrared spectra of these crosslinked films, it was concluded that intermolecular formation of hemiacetal bonds with GA between the hydroxyl groups belonging to different HA molecules led to crosslinking. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3553–3559, 1997     

The "dark side" of β-lactoglobulin: unedited structural features suggest unexpected functions

The in-depth characterization of water buffalo (WB) whey proteins based on chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques revealed unexpected structural co- and post-translational modifications for β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg). The residues Lys⁴⁷ and Lys⁶⁹ of β-Lg were found to be lactosylated early, at the time of milking. Thiol groups of β-Lg underwent a dynamic sulfhydryl/disulfide exchange that is probably essential in accomplishing specific physiological requirements in which proteins may alternatively act either as a trigger or as a target. In this sense, the free sulfhydryl group of β-Lg established a glutathionylation/deglutathionylation equilibrium, which could be functional in conveying and delivering glutathione. Furthermore, the N-lauroylated β-Lg occurring exclusively in WB milk has been characterized for the first time. N-acylation could be an evolutionary remnant of ancestral lipocalins. Combined with the known aptitude of β-Lg to interact with phospholipid bilayers, this suggests that the protein could also be involved in the membrane translocation of small molecules, in addition to targeting, trafficking or the maintenance of membrane integrity. This structural characterization of β-Lg adds to the currently existing data and expands our understanding of the possible biological roles of this enigmatic protein.     

巯基化合物分离富集技术的应用进展

根据负载(或鳌合)巯基的物质不同,分别对巯基棉、巯基葡聚糖凝胶、巯基纸、巯基活性炭和巯基树脂等分离富集剂的制备、应用及机理进行了综述。     

In situ alkylation of cysteine residues in a hydrophobic membrane protein immobilized on polyvinylidene difluoride membranes by electroblotting prior to microsequence and amino acid analysis.

For identification of cysteine residues on microsequence analysis it is crucial to derivatize the sulfhydryl groups. This reaction requires a desalting step which often represents a major obstacle, especially if the sample consists of limited amounts of a hydrophobic membrane protein. An alkylation procedure is described, allowing efficient derivatization (greater than 90%) of cysteines and cystines even in low microgram quantities, as revealed by test analyses with lysozyme and a hydrophobic membrane protein. The modified protein is recovered in high yields in a form suitable for both microsequence analysis and amino acid analysis. The method involves electrophoretic desalting by miniaturized Tricine-sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and in situ alkylation after electro-transfer onto polyvinylidene difluoride membranes. Precautions against NH2-terminal blocking during sample preparations are provided. The general applicability of the method is illustrated by the structural characterization of the low abundance membrane receptor for human urokinase plasminogen activator.     

INTERACTION BETWEEN TYROSINE AND DIVALENT SULFUR IN FLUORESCENCE QUENCHING AND IN THE PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF RIBONUCLEASE

Abstract— –Ribonuclease is inactivated in aqueous solution by u.v. light through different mechanisms according to whether divalent sulfur or aromatic amino acids are the primary light absorbers. At 284 nm, absorbed mainly by tyrosine, the presence of O₂ inhibits photoinactivation and H₂S formation, but does less so at 254 or 313 nm. Based on data with model substances containing disulfide groups a mechanism is indicated in which excited tyrosine is quenched through electron transfer to adjacent divalent sulfur within the protein. Disulfide compounds are shown to be very efficient quenchers of tyrosine fluorescence.     

CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF SULFHYDRYL GROUPS OF E.coli LEUCYL-tRNA SYNTHE-TASE AND SEQUENCING OF [~(14)C]NEM-LABELED PEPTIDES

The chemical modification of the sulfhydryl groups of E. coli Leucyl--tRNA synthetase(LeuRS) by DTNB, NEM and IAA resulted in a time-dependent loss of both amino-acid acti-vation and aminoacylation activities in parallel. The second-order reaction constants of DTNB,NEM and IAA were 1700, 150 and 0.46 mol/L~(-1) min~(-1) respectively. Chemical stoichiometryshowed that only one sulfhydryl group of LeuRS was essential for both activities. Substratesleucine and Leu-AMP protected the active sulfhydryl group from modification, suggestingthat the modified sulfhydryl group is located in or near the active site region responsiblefor amino-acid activation. [~(14)C]NEM--labeled LeuRS was subjected to tryptic digestion, andpeptides were separated and sequenced. 179 Cys~*-Asp-Thr-Leu182 was identified as the major[~(14)C]NEM-labeled site in LeuRS. This result is consistent with the previous observationthat the region for Leu--AMP formation was located at the N--terminal part of LeuRS.     

Characterization of S‐thiolation on secreted proteins from E. coli by mass spectrometry

S‐thiolation is a reversible post‐translational modification in which thiol metabolites of low molecular masses are linked to protein sulfhydryl groups through disulfide bonds. This modification is commonly observed in recombinant proteins secreted from E. coli cells. Since it can alter protein functions and introduce molecular heterogeneity, S‐thiolation is undesirable for recombinant protein production. To date, few published studies have characterized thiol modifiers or investigated the mechanism of S‐thiolation in recombinant proteins. In this work, reversed‐phase liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to characterize four of the most abundant thiol modifiers on recombinant proteins secreted from E. coli BL21 (DE3) strain. These thiol modifiers have been identified as glutathione, 4‐phosphopantetheine, gluconoylated glutathione, and dephosphorylated coenzyme A. S‐thiolation by these thiol modifiers increases protein mass by 305, 356, 483, and 685 Da, respectively. These specific mass increases can be used as markers for identifying S‐thiolation in recombinant proteins. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

STRUCTURE AND STABILITY OF γ-CRYSTALLINS-IV. AGGREGATION AND STRUCTURAL DESTABILIZATION IN PHOTOSENSITIZED REACTIONS

Abstract— Unlike α- and β-, γ-crystallins become turbid upon irradiation with 300 nm or white light in the presence of photosensitizers, e.g., methylene blue (MB) or riboflavin (RF). These proteins, however, do not aggregate in the presence of guanidine hydrochloride. Turbidity formation is concentration-dependent. Except in RF-sensitized reactions, the onset and rate of turbidity formation are faster in γ-IV than in the other two crystallins. Labeling the thiol groups of the protein with iodoacetamide does not change the turbidity rate in case of irradiation with 300 nm light, but it does change it in case of RF- or MB-sensitized reaction. The order of rate constants of the decrease in tryptophan emission under aerobic conditions upon 300 nm irradiation and MB- and RF-sensitized reactions is γ-IV > γ-III > γ-II. The rate constants in the absence of air and in the presence of D₂O upon MB- and RF-sensitized reactions also indicate that the role of singlet oxygen is significant in the former reaction. We suggest that the photoinduced structural changes occur in two steps. In the first, photooxidation of tryptophan as well as cysteine residues (including the buried cysteines) occurs, leading to small conformational changes of the protein. Conformational changes of the protein, as evident from the near-UV CD and fluorescence lifetime measurements, subsequently result in aggregation of the protein. As suggested by X-ray analysis, the perturbation of the cys 78 and 32 by the active species of oxygen appears to be responsible for the destabilization of the protein structure, resulting in rapid aggregation of these crystallins.     

Cyclic voltammetric study of the redox system of glutathione using the disulfide bond reductant tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine

The stabilization of the reduction state of proteins and peptides is very important for the monitoring of protein-protein, protein-DNA and protein-xenobiotic interactions. The reductive state of protein or peptide is characterized by the reactive sulfhydryl group. Glutathione in the reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) forms was studied by cyclic voltammetry. Tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) as the disulfide bond reductant and/or hydrogen peroxide as the sulfhydryl group oxidant were used. Cyclic voltammetry measurements, following the redox state of glutathione, were performed on a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) in borate buffer (pH 9.2). It was shown that in aqueous solutions TCEP was able to reduce disulfide groups smoothly and quantitatively. The TCEP response at -0.25 V vs. Ag/AgCl/3 M KCl did not disturb the signals of the thiol/disulfide redox couple. The origin of cathodic and anodic signals of GSH (at -0.44 and -0.37 V) and GSSG (at -0.69 and -0.40 V) glutathione forms is discussed. It was shown that the application of TCEP to the conservation of sulfhydryl groups in peptides and proteins can be useful instrument for the study of peptides and proteins redox behavior.     

Proteome analysis of differential protein expression in infarcted rat heart after verapamil treatment

To explore the protein-level mechanism of action verapamil in acute myocardial infarcted rats, the myocardial proteome was analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). Compared with the sham-operated group and the infarcted group, the result shows that 8 protein expressions in the verapamil treated group were up-regulated, and 7 protein expressions in this group were down-regulated significantly. Using MALDI-TOF-MS, 15 proteins with significant changes were identified through a database search. These proteins can be divided into 4 groups by their biological function: (1) Energy metabolism and mitochondrial function related proteins; (2) oxidative stress-induced proteins; (3) cytoskeletal Proteins; (4) other proteins. The findings show that the myocardial protective effects of verapamil in the myocardial damage process are related to the recovery of energy supply as well as anti-oxidative stress property. __________ Translated from Chemical Journal of Chinese Universities, 2008, 29 (3) (in Chinese)     

MMA/BA种子半连续乳液聚合成核过程及机理研究

引入一种不溶于水的染色剂(BL-S)作示踪剂,研究甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)/丙烯酸丁酯(BA)种子半连续乳液聚合中各变量对成核过程及成核机理的影响,运用最终乳胶粒中染色剂的含量(Pdye)、最终乳胶粒子数(Npc)、胶束成核和均相成核所形成的粒子数目(Nm和Nh)等参数对聚合过程中的成核情况进行定量分析.结果发现,当引发剂浓度[I]增大时,Pdye、Nh、Nm和Nh/Npc均随之增大,同时Nm/Npc相应地减小,且Nm/Npc=-0.0262[I]+0.8833,表明均相成核随[I]的增大而增加,但胶束成核的比例减小.乳化剂浓度[E]在不同范围内对成核机理的影响不同,在[E]=0.7216×10-2mol.L-1时,体系中胶束成核和均相成核比例相等,各为50%;当[E]>0.7216×10-2mol.L-1时,随[E]增大,成核时间t1,2逐渐缩短,Nm/Npc增加,Nh/Npc减小,胶束成核所占比例大于均相成核,胶束成核逐渐上升为主要成核方式;反之当[E]<0.7216×10-2mol.L-1时,体系中胶束成核所占比例小于均相成核,均相成核为主要成核方式.当MMA的摩尔分率fMMA由0增至0.6时,Nm/Npc从80.93%下降至50%,体系中以胶束成核为主,均相成核为辅;当fMMA由0.6增至1时,Nm/Npc已降至40%,而Nh/Npc增至60%,体系中已转变成均相成核为主,胶束成核为辅.在常规和种子半连续乳液聚合中,t1,2分别为12min和6min,而Pdye变化较小,表明聚合方式只影响粒子的形成过程和成核时间的长短,对成核方式影响甚微.     

Peptoads, a group of amphiphilic long-chain triamides

Eleven triamides bearing long alkyl chains have been synthesized to produce a new class of amphiphilic compounds (dubbed "peptoad"). The properties of these molecules have been investigated by X-ray analysis, solubility studies, light and electron microscopy, surface tensiometry, light scattering, drug dissolution, and molecular dynamics. In the solid state, the peptoads assemble in layers with both intra- and interlayer hydrogen bonding coupled to side-by-side proximity of the hydrocarbon chains. Peptoads with a terminal primary amide and a total of three amide NH sites are water-insoluble owing presumably to attractive forces in the solid state. However, peptoads with terminal -CONMe(2) groups and two internal amide NH sites are water-soluble at room temperature. This solubility is critically dependent upon the chain length. For example, a C(7)-chained peptoad is 1600 times more soluble than its C(9) analogue. High concentrations (6-8 M) of C(7) peptoads in water are clear and do not gel. Light microscopy shows long fibers floating in an isotropic liquid. Water-soluble peptoads are highly surface-active, lowering water's surface tension as effectively as a soap with a much longer chain. Surface tension plots show a "critical aggregation concentration", but it is believed from light scattering and molecular dynamics that the aggregates grow continuously as more peptoad is added to the water. In answer to the inevitable (but valid) question, "What possible good are they?", it can be pointed out that a peptoad solubilizes a water-insoluble drug, paclitaxel (Taxol), as efficiently as does Cremophor EL, a commercial excipient widely used with paclitaxel and other nonpolar drugs. Peptoads, being small molecules and consisting of hydrolyzable amide groups, are likely biodegradable and less prone to the hypersensitivity and neurotoxicity found with Cremophor EL.