Bioluminescence flow system for determination of branched-chain l-amino acids in serum and urine

A continuous-flow bioluminescence method for determinations of branched-chain l-amino acids in serum and urine is described. Serum can be analyzed directly after simple filtration. Response is linear for 20-2000 pmol in the biological matrix. Leucine dehydrogenase is immobilized onto a nylon coil separated from the reactor coil containing bacterial bioluminescence enzymes. The stability of the immobilized is high (lifetime > two months) and more than 900 samples can be analyzed with the use of a few mg of enzymes. The results obtained agree well with those obtained by ion-exchange chromatography (amino acid analyzer).     

A sensitive continuous-flow bioluminescent system for determining ethanol in serum and saliva

A continuous-flow system, based on NAD(P)H:FMN oxidoreductase and bacterial luciferase co-immobilized on a nylon coil placed in front of a photomultiplier, and alcohol dehydrogenase separately immobilized on a second nylon coil, is described for the assay of ethanol in serum and saliva. The flow is air-segmented and 5–50-μl samples are required. The sample throughput is 25–30 h^?1 with no carryover. The detection limit is 1 μmol l^?1 ethanol (50 pmol injected) and the response is linear between 50 and 2500 pmol of ethanol. The relative standard deviation is 3–10% for both within-day and between-day assays, and serum and saliva can be analyzed directly. The immobilized enzymes are satisfactorily stable and up to 900 samples can be analyzed with one enzyme reactor.     

Bioluminescence flow sensor for determination of creatine kinase activity in blood

A bioluminescent flow sensor was developed for the assay of creatine kinase (CK) using firefly luciferase immobilized on a nylon coil. The CK-catalysed reaction of creatine phosphate with ADP took place in a cuvette before the injection into the bioluminescent detector coil. The response was linear from 0.1 to 100 U l^? at 25°C. An advantage of the flow sensor is a detection limit of less than 0.1 U l^?1, which, together with a high precision, allows determination of the CK activity in blood sera in about 5 min. The intra- and inter-assay reproducibilities (RSD) were less than 10% and the recovery range was 86–110%. The results agreed well with those obtained with a spectrophotometric method and with the normal reference values.     

Bioluminescent flow sensor for L-phenylalanine determination in serum

A highly sensitive and rapid bioluminescent flow sensor was developed for the determination of the content of L-phenylalanine (Phe) in serum by monitoring the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), produced by immobilized phenylalanine dehydrogenase (PheDH), with bacterial bioluminescent enzymes immobilized on a separate nylon coil. The L-PheDHs extracted from Bacillus badius, Bacillus sphaericus and Rhodococcus sp. M 4 were investigated and the performances of the three immobilized L-PheDH's were analysed. The B. badius reactor was found to give higher transformation rate and better sensitivity; the response was linear from 1 to 100 microM at 25 degrees , with a detection limit of 10 pmoles (0.5 microM). The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were less than 5% and recoveries ranged from 90 to 101%. The results agreed well with those obtained with a chromatographic method for the Phe determination in serum and with the normal reference values.     

Bioluminescent flow sensor for the determination of L-(+)-lactate

The amount of L-lactate in biological fluids (serum, plasma and cerebrospinal fluid) was determined by monitoring the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) produced by immobilised lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), with bacterial bioluminescent enzymes immobilised on a separate nylon coil. The LDH catalysed the reaction of L-lactate with NAD; this reaction took place in a nylon coil that preceded the coil for the bioluminescent detection. The co-immobilisation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with LDH improved the lactate transformation by 117-183%. The response was linear from 0.1 to 50 micron mol l(-1) at 25 degrees C for the LDH - ALT reactor. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were less than 5% and the recoveries ranged from 93 to 106%. The results agreed well with those obtained with a spectrophotometric method and with the normal reference values.     

Highly Stable Bioluminescence-Based Fiber-Optic Sensor Using Immobilized Enzymes from Vibrio Harveyi

Abstract

The properties of the bioluminescent enzymatic systems from V. fischeri and V.harveyi immobilized on preactivated polyamide membranes, as well as the characteristics of a fiber-optic biosensor equipped with such membranes, have been studied. Particular attention has been paid to the stability of the bioactive matrices under working conditions, since this remains a key-point for designing operational biosensors of practical use. Whatever the origin of the bioluminescent system, the microdetermination of NADH could be performed at the nanomolar level with detection limits of 2 nM and 0.3 nM with the systems from V. harveyi and V. fischeri, respectively. the use of polyethyleneglycol (PEG 600) improves the operational stability of the bi-enzymatic system from V. fischeri, but a recalibration must be carried out every ten assays. Although the immobilized system from V. harveyi exhibited a lower activity than the enzymes from V. fischeri, its excellent operational stability (100 assays performed within a day without loss in activity) makes it more suitable in designing a truly operational bioluminescence-based NADH sensor.     

Quantitation of Monosodium Glutamate Using Immobilized Glutamate Oxidase/Peroxidase and Flow Injection Analysis

ABSTRACT

A rapid and sensitive flow injection method is developed for the quantitation of glutamate in food samples. The method incorporates a covalently immobilized glutamate oxidase and peroxidase bioreactor linked in tandem. The H₂O₂ liberated from the glutamate samples as a result of enzymatic action is monitored spectrophotometrically at 552 nm using 4-aminoantipyrine and 3-dimethylaminobenzoic acid as a new chromogenic reagent. Glutamate calibration curves are linear up to 140 μM with a detection limit of 1 μM. Recovery yields from soup matrices are in the range 97 – 101%. Inter- and intra-day precision studies gave CV's of less than 3.5%. The immobilized enzymes show good storage and operational stabilities. Up to 40 samples h^?1 can be manually analyzed. Excellent correlation is obtained from a comparison of the glutamate content of various soup brands and matrix type (solid, condensed and broths) obtained by the proposed FI method with those obtained for the same samples analyzed by the standard reference method (y 0.99x + 0.034).     

Determination of total 3α-hydroxy bile acids in serum by a bioluminescent flow-injection system using a hollow-fibre reactor

A continuous-flow bioluminescence method for measuring total 3α-hydroxy bile acids in serum is described. A bacterial luciferase and NADH:FMN oxidoreductase are covalently co-immobilized on a CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. A permeable membrane (hollow fibre) reactor is used for the introduction of NAD⁺ and bioluminescent reagent. The reagent permeates into the flow-stream due to the existing difference in ionic strength. The continuous-flow light-emitting system, in which the column filled with the immobilized bioluminescent enzyme is placed in front of a photomultiplier tube inside a photon counter, is versatile and simple. The technique was tested by comparing results with those obtained by fluorimetry. More than 20 samples an hour can be analyzed. Normal values for total bile acids content serum ranged from 1.0 to 7.5 μM, in agreement with those obtained by the other method. Excellent reproducibility, precision, and sensitivity are achieved.     

Immobilized Firefly Luciferase and its use in Analysis

Abstract

Firefly luciferase immobilized on sepharose 4B and cellophane filmis shown to retain as much as 20% of its initial activity and can be durably stored at 4O°C with no appreciable loss in its enzymatic activity. The application of the immobilized luciferase is described for ATP detection at concentrations ranging from 0.1 pM to 1 mM, as well as for activity determination of enzymes catalyzing ATP synthesis (pyruvatekinase) and ATP hydrolysis (ATP-ase). The same sample of luciferase immobilized on cellophane film was 7%.     

Amperometric Sensor and Immobilized Enzyme Electrode for the Determination of Enzymatic Activities

Abstract

A sensitive method for the rapid determination of activities of soluble or immobilized enzymes, based on the electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide is described. Kinetic studies (Vmax and K_M determinations) can be performed for all H₂O₂ generating enzymes (i.e. most of the oxidases) using an amperometric probe with a platinum anode at a fixed potential.

When associated with an immobilized glucose oxidase membrane, this sensor constitutes a glucose electrode and the activity of any hydrolase which releases glucose can be measured. There is no need for other auxiliary enzymes and no preincubation step is required. The possibility to carry out continuous analysis constitutes the main advantage of the described method.     

Toroidal Coil Countercurrent Chromatography: A Fast Simple Alternative to Countercurrent Distribution Using Aqueous Two Phase Partition: Principles,Theory, and Apparatus

Abstract

The principles, theoretical basis and equipment for continuous two phase toroidal coil chromatography are described. Rat liver homogenates were subjected to analytical subcellular fractionation by toroidal coil chromatography in a phase mixture of 3.3% (w/w) dextran T500, 5.4% (w/w) poly(ethylene glycol) 6000, 10 mM sodium phosphate-phosphoric acid buffer, pH 7.4, in 0.26 M sucrose containing 0.05 mM Na₂EDTA and 1 mM ethanol. The distribution of organelles, as reflected by their marker enzymes, was compared to that obtained by discrete counter-current partition in a 17 transfer apparatus. Toroidal coil chromatography showed enhanced resolution of certain organelles. In particular, almost complete separation of plasma membrane from endoplasmic reticulum was achieved and some resolution of plasma membrane from lysosomes was obtained. It is concluded that toroidal coil chromatography offers a potentially useful alternative approach to organelle separation techniques.     

A multi-channel bioluminescent bacterial biosensor for the on-line detection of metals and toxicity. Part II: technical development and proof of concept of the biosensor

This research study deals with the on-line detection of heavy metals and toxicity within the context of environmental pollution monitoring. It describes the construction and the proof of concept of a multi-channel bioluminescent bacterial biosensor in immobilized phase: Lumisens3. This new versatile device, designed for the non-stop analysis of water pollution, enables the insertion of any bioluminescent strains (inducible or constitutive), immobilized in a multi-well removable card. The technical design of Lumisens3 has benefited from both a classical and a robust approach and includes four main parts: (1) a dedicated removable card contains 64 wells, 3 mm in depth, arranged in eight grooves within which bacteria are immobilized, (2) this card is incubated on a Pelletier block with a CCD cooled camera on top for bioluminescence monitoring, (3) a fluidic network feeds the card with the sample to be analyzed and finally (4) a dedicated computer interface, BIOLUX 1.0, controls all the elements of the biosensor, allowing it to operate autonomously. The proof of concept of this biosensor was performed using a set of four bioluminescent bacteria (Escherichia coli DH1 pBzntlux, pBarslux, pBcoplux, and E. coli XL1 pBfiluxCDABE) in the on-line detection of CdCl₂ 0.5 μM and As₂O₃ 5 μM from an influent. When considering metals individually, the “fingerprints” from the biosensor were as expected. However, when metals were mixed together, cross reaction and synergistic effects were detected. This biosensor allowed us to demonstrate the simultaneous on-line cross detection of one or several heavy metals as well as the measurement of the overall toxicity of the sample.     

A Bioelectrochemical Method for the Determination of Acetate with Immobilized Acetate Kinase

Abstract

Flow injection determinations of acetate were carried out using immobilized acetate kinase, pyruvate kinase and lactic dehydrogenase with an amperometric method. Two acetate kinases from E. coli and B. stearothermophilus were tested. It was found that the immobilized acetate kinase from B. stearothermophilus was more stable than that from E. coli., but it is much more expensive and less available. Acetate kinase coupling at pH 7.4 using CPG aminopropyl and glutaraldehyde seems to be superior to other immobilization methods. A high immobilization yield can be obtained by immobilization of the three enzymes separately giving high conversions of all the three. Plots of current versus concentration show a useful operating range from 0.3 to 2 mM acetate with a linear response. The detection limit was 0.2 mM at a flow rate of 0.3 ml/min with 200 μl injections. The method is therefore well suited for monitoring of the level of acetate in fermentations with acetate as the carbon source.     

Simultaneous immobilization of glucose oxidase and peroxidase to urea derivative of regenerated acetylcellulose granules

A method for simultaneous covalent immobilization of glucose oxidase and peroxidase with previously oxidized carbohydrate residues to urea derivative of regenerated acetylcellulose granules is described. The effect of immobilization on the catalytic properties of the separately immobilized enzymes are studied. The immobilized enzymes manifested no change in their pH and temperature optima and slight increase ofK _m x compared to data for the soluble enzymes. A column packed with simultaneously immobilized enzymes is used for manual glucose determination in blood sera. The results are in high correlation with those obtained by the Beckman Glucose Analyzer method (r = 0.976). The method is economic (the enzyme-carrier conjugate may be used more than 300 times), easy to perform, and less time consuming than the manual methods utilizing soluble enzymes. The established manual method can be proposed for emergency clinical analysis and smaller clinical laboratories.     

High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Proteolytic Enzyme Characterization of Peptides in Tooth Pulp Extracts

Abstract

Metabolic profiles are obtained for peptides contained in tooth pulp extracts. To determine which high performance liquid chromatographic peaks are due to peptides, a series of proteolytic enzymes (chymotrypsin, trypsin, and carboxypeptidase A) are utilized. Results from treatment of extracts with immobilized enzymes demonstrate that virtually all peaks in this reverse phase system are due to peptides. This current study is a necessary component in a larger research program focusing on quantification of enkephalin-and endorphin-related peptides in biologic extracts including brain and tooth pulp tissue.     

A Fiber Optic Lactate Biosensor with an Oxygen Optrode as the Transducer

Abstract

A biosensor for continuous determination of lactate is presented. Lactate monooxygenase was immobilized covalently on nylon membranes, and the consumption of oxygen was measured by following, via a fiber optic bundle, the changes in the fluorescence of an oxygen-sensitive dye dissolved in 10- and 25-um silicone membranes placed beneath the enzyme layer. Oxygen is consumed as a result of the oxidation of lactate by the enzyme, and the decrease in its partial pressure is indicated by the fluorescent dye. For two types of sensors (with different nylon membranes and different thicknesses of the indicator layer) the analytical ranges were 2–50 mM and 0.3–6.0 mM, with response times (t₉₀) of 2.3–3.0 and 4.0–6.0 min, respectively.     

A Selective Determination of Hypoxanthine,Xanthine and Inosine by Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Enzyme Reactors

Abstract

A Selective and sensitive assay of hypoxyanthine, xanthine and inosine by reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled with immobilized enzyme reactors is described. The flourometric detection of hydrogen peroxide using immobilized peroxidase and p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid was applied to the assay of hypoxanthine, xanthine and inosine, which were oxidized to hydrogen peroxide in the presence of the immobilized enzymes (purine nucleoside phosphorylase and/or xanthine oxidase. The enzymes were immobilized the the intermolecular cross-linking method on controlled pore-glass. The method established was applied to serum and urine samples. The detection limits of hypoxanthine, xanthine and inosine were approximately 130, 300 and 650 pg per injection, respectively.     

Highly Sensitive Bioluminescent Assay of Dehydrogenases using Nad (P) H: Fmn Oxidoreductase and Luciferase from Photoeacterium Fischeri

Abstract

A highly sensitive bioluminescent assay of dehydrogenases was performed. NADH was produced by the catalytic action of alcohol and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases and subsequently measured with high sensitivity by a bioluminescent assay using NAD (P) H : FMN oxidoreductase and luciferase from Photobacterium fischeri. The minimal amount of dehydrogenases that could be measured was 0.0055 amol (5.5 × 10^?-²¹ mol).     

The Preparation,Characterization and Properties of Catalase Immobilized on Crosslinked Gellan

In the present paper, the reaction of chemical immobilization of catalase on a crosslinked macromolecular carrier of a polysaccharide structure (gellan) is studied. The influence of some reaction parameters (enzyme/carrier, activator/carrier ratios, duration) on the activity of enzymatic products is analyzed. The kinetics of the biocatalytic process, stability under different pH and temperature conditions, and the inhibitors effect were studied for the immobilized enzymes.     

Kinetic studies and analytical application of cholesterol oxidase and peroxidase immobilized to synthetic polymer

A method for individual and simultaneous covalent immobilization of cholesterol oxidase and peroxidase to copolymer of acrylonitrile with acrylamide is described. The effect of immobilization on the catalytic properties of the covalently bound enzymes was studied. The immobilized enzymes showed no change in pH optima and an increase in temperature optima, activation energy, and K _m , compared to data received from experiments with soluble enzymes. A small glass column packed with immobilized multienzyme complex was used to develop a method for manual determination of cholesterol in foodstuffs (e.g., in mayonnaise “Olinease”). The method was characterized by high analytical precision (coefficient of variation = 2.67%). The results show high correlation with those obtained by the Kageyama method (r=0.986). The method is economical (the enzyme-carrier conjugate may be used more than 300 times), precise, easy to perform, and less time-consuming than the manual methods utilizing soluble enzymes. The established manual method can be proposed for cholesterol determination in foodstuffs.