Enhanced protein electrophoresis technique for separating human skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain isoforms

Talmadge and Roy (J. Appl. Physiol. 1993, 75, 2337-2340) previously established a sodium dodecyl sulfate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) protocol for separating all four rat skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms (MHC I, IIa, IIx, IIb); however, when applied to human muscle, the type II MHC isoforms (Ila, IIx) are not clearly distinguished. In this brief paper we describe a modification of the SDS-PAGE protocol which yields distinct and consistent separation of all three adult human MHC isoforms (MHC I, IIa, IIx) in a minigel system. MHC specificity of each band was confirmed by Western blot using three monoclonal IgG antibodies (mAbs) immunoreactive against MHCI (mAb MHCs, Novacastra Laboratories), MHCI+IIa (mAb BF-35), and MHCIIa+IIx (mAb SC-71). Results provide a valuable SDS-PAGE minigel technique for separating MHC isoforms in human muscle without the difficult task of casting gradient gels.     

Influence of Ionic Strength, pH, and SDS Concentration on Subunit Analysis of Phycoerythrins by SDS-PAGE

Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) is often used for subunit analysis of proteins, but it is not efficient to make the α- and β-subunits of phycoerythrins separated by normal SDS-PAGE. In this research, subunit components and subunit molecular weights of four purified phycoerythrins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Four factors including Tris concentration, pH, ammonium persulfate (APS), and SDS concentration were studied for their effects on SDS-PAGE of phycoerythrins. It showed that these factors can influence the separation of α- and β-subunits, electrophoresis effect of γ-subunits, apparent molecular weights of subunits, and mobility of marker proteins. The α- and β-subunits separated better in the case of lower SDS concentration, lower Tris concentration, higher pH, and/or lower APS addition in separating gels. The molecular weights of α- and β-subunits increased when Tris concentration increased in a certain range. It can be concluded that factors critical to subunit analysis by SDS-PAGE are SDS concentration and ionic strength, both of which are related to critical micelle concentration of SDS and ratio of SDS monomer to micelle in SDS-PAGE system. The ratio is postulated to influence SDS-PAGE by influencing the amount of SDS bound to polypeptides and shapes of polypeptide–SDS complexes.     

Simultaneous Chiral Separation of Geometry Isomers and Enantiomers of Nateglinide by Capillary Electrophoresis with Mixture of CD Derivations as Chiral Selector

Abstract

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method for the simultaneous separation of geometry isomers and enantiomers of nateglinide was built. Several different dyclodextrin (CD) derivatives were tested for the chiral separation of nateglinide, and it was proved that ionic CDs [i.e., carboxymethy-β-CD (CM-β-CD) and sulphonic-β-CD (S-β-CD)] could show better chiral selectivity for both geometry isomers and enantiomers than the neutral CDs. The separation of geometry of both isomers and enantiomers of nateglinide was obtained by CE in a 75-µm i.d. × 60 cm (effective length 45 cm) fused-silica capillary at 11 kV voltage, while 30 mM phosphate (pH = 8.38) acted as running buffer and a mixture of 40 mM S-β-CD + 21 mM CM-β-CD served as chiral selector. The detective wavelength was set at 254 nm.     

Electrophoretic separation of reptilian skeletal and cardiac muscle myosin heavy chain isoforms: Dependence on gel format

This report provides a comparison of multiple gel formats to study myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms that are expressed in reptilian skeletal and cardiac muscles of five turtle species, water monitor, and prehensile tailed skink. Three gel formats were tested. The results identify one format that is superior, for the overall extent of electrophoretic separation and for the assessment of the number of MHC isoforms in reptilian striated muscles. The same format was shown previously to separate MHC isoforms that are expressed in American alligator. The results also show that another gel format reveals the distinct electrophoretic mobility of MHC isoforms in atrial, ventricular, and jaw adductor samples, compared to those expressed in skeletal muscles in the limbs and elsewhere in the body. In addition, the results reveal that the electrophoretic mobility of specific MHC isoforms, relative to other isoforms, depends on the gel format, as shown previously for mammalian and avian species. The discovery of the expression of masticatory MHC, which is abundantly expressed in jaw adductors of members of Carnivora and several other vertebrate orders, in the homologous muscles of prehensile tailed skink, an herbivore, and the carnivorous water monitor, was made during the course of this study.     

Purification and characterisation of α-amylase produced by mutant strain of Aspergillus oryzae EMS-18

α-Amylase produced by a mutant strain of Aspergillus oryzae EMS-18 has been purified to homogeneity as judged by sodium dodecyle sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The enzyme was purified by using 70% ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex column and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. An enzyme purification factor of 9.5-fold was achieved with a final specific activity of 1987.7 U/mg protein and overall yield of 23.8%. The molecular weight of purified α-amylase was estimated to be 48 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The purified enzyme revealed an optimum assay temperature and pH 40°C and 5.0, respectively. Except Ca⁺⁺ all other metal ions such as Mg, Mn, Na, Zn, Ni, Fe, Cu, Co and Ba were found to be inhibitory to enzyme activity.     

Cu-assisted two dimensional charge-mass double focusing gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometric analysis of histone variants

Abundant isoforms and dynamic posttranslational modifications cause the separation and identification of histone variants to be experimentally challenging. To meet this need, we employ two-dimensional electrophoretic gel separation followed by mass spectrometric detection which takes advantage of the chelation of Cu²⁺ with amino acid residues exposed on the surfaces of the histone proteins. Acid-extracted rat liver histones were first mixed with CuSO₄ solution and then separated in one dimension with triton–acid–urea (TAU) gel electrophoresis and in a second dimension using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The separations result from both the changes in charge and mass upon Cu²⁺ chelation. Identities of each separated gel bands were obtained by using matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). It was found that the migration of H3 histone isoforms of rat liver is markedly affected by the use of Cu²⁺ ions.     

Vertical agarose gel electrophoresis and electroblotting of high-molecular-weight proteins

The electrophoretic separation of high-molecular-weight proteins (> 500 kDa) using polyacrylamide is difficult because gels with a large enough pore size for adequate protein mobility are mechanically unstable. A 1% vertical sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-agarose gel electrophoresis (VAGE) system has been developed that allows titin (a protein with the largest known SDS subunit size of 3000-4000 kDa) to migrate over 10 cm in a approximately 13 cm resolving gel. Such migration gives clear and reproducible separation of titin isoforms. Proteins ranging in size from myosin heavy chain ( approximately 220 kDa) up to titin can be resolved on this gel system. Electroblotting of these very large proteins was nearly 100% efficient. This VAGE system has revealed two titin size variants in rabbit psoas muscle, two N2BA bands in rabbit cardiac muscle, and species differences between titins from rat and rabbit muscle. Agarose electrophoresis should be the method of choice for separation and blotting of proteins with very large subunit sizes.     

A Protein from Aloe vera that Inhibits the Cleavage of Human Fibrin(ogen) by Plasmin

A protease inhibitor protein with the molecular mass of 11,804.931 Da (analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry) was isolated from Aloe vera leaf gel and designated as AVPI-12. The isoelectric point of the protein is about 7.43. The first ten amino acid sequence from the N-terminal was found to be R–D–W–A–E–P–N–D–G–Y, which did not match other protease inhibitors in database searches and other publications, indicating AVPI-12 is a novel protease inhibitor. The band protein of AVPI-12 migrated further on nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) than reducing SDS-PAGE. This result indicated that the molecule of AVPI-12 did not contain interchain disulfide bonds, but appeared to have intrachain disulfide bonds instead. AVPI-12 strongly resisted digestion by the serine proteases human plasmin and bovine trypsin. The protein could protect the γ-subunit of human fibrinogen from plasmin and trypsin digestion, similar to the natural plasma serine protease inhibitor α₂-macroglobulin. The protein also could protect the γ-subunit of fibrinogen from the cysteine protease papain. AVPI-12 also exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of the fibrinogenolytic activity of plasmin, similar to α₂-macroglobulin. The fibrinolytic inhibitory activity of AVPI-12 and the small-angle X-ray scattering showed that the protein could protect human fibrin clot from complete degradation by plasmin. The inhibition of the fibrinogenolytic and fibrinolytic activities of plasmin by AVPI-12 suggests that the inhibitor has potential for use in antifibrinolytic treatment.     

Fish species identification by peptide mapping of the myosin heavy chain.

Fish species of seafood made of washed fish flesh (e.g. imitation crab meat from surimi) were identified by peptide mapping of the myosin heavy chain (MHC). In the first step the MHC was separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in 7.5% T gel, followed by a second SDS-PAGE in a 15% T gel with proteolytic digestion of the MHC in the gel. The resulting peptides gave species specific patterns.     

Recombinant Expression and Characterization of an Organic-Solvent-Tolerant α-Amylase from Exiguobacterium sp. DAU5

The enzyme from halophilic microorganisms often has unique properties such as organic-solvent-tolerance. In this study, a novel organic-solvent-tolerant α-amylase gene was cloned from the mild halophile Exiguobacterium sp. DAU5. The open reading frame (ORF) of the enzyme consisted of 1,545 bp and encoded 514 amino acids, the primary sequence revealed that it belongs to the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 13. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed an AmyH monomer of 57 kDa. The enzyme exhibited maximal activity at 40 °C in pH?8.5 glycine–NaOH buffer, and the activity was strongly inhibited by Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Fe²⁺. The α-amylase AmyH exhibited high hydrolysis activity toward soluble starch, and the major hydrolysis products were maltose, maltotriose, and maltopentaose; the AmyH could not efficiently hydrolyze oligosaccharides smaller than maltoheptaose, nor could it act on the β-1,4 or α-1,6 glucosidic bonds in xylan or pullulan, respectively. In addition, the α-amylase exhibited better tolerance to organic solvents, as it was stable in the presence of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, ethanol, and acetone. Base on all of these results, the enzyme could be useful for practical application in the bakery industry and in biotechnological processes that occur in the presence of organic solvents.     

Single-Step Partial Purification of Intracellular <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-Galactosidase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kluyveromyces lactis</Emphasis> Using Microemulsion Droplets

Partial purification of β-galactosidase from the crude extract of Kluyveromyces lactis was carried out using water-in-isooctane microemulsions formed by the anionic surfactant, sodium di-ethylhexyl sulfosuccinate (Aerosol OT). In order to obtain the crude extract, yeast cells of K. lactis were disrupted by a cell disrupter and separated. The purification of β-galactosidase from the extract by a recently developed one-step reversed micellar (i.e., microemulsion-based) extraction method was then tested, by measuring total protein mass and enzyme activity in the product stream and by analyzing its composition using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and gel filtration chromatography. Effects of salt concentration, protein concentration, and pH on the extraction were investigated. Using this approach, a 5.4-fold purification of β-galactosidase was achieved with 96 % total activity recovery, using a feed containing crude extract and 50 mM K-phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) and 50 mM KCl. Gel filtration chromatography showed that the single extraction was successful at removing low molecular weight impurity proteins (molecular weight (MW)?<?42 kDa) from the crude extract.     

New C20-gibberellin diterpene from the leaves of Schefflera sessiliflora De P. V.

From the leaves of Schefflera sessiliflora De P. V., one new C₂₀-gibberellin diterpene 2β,12β-dihydroxygibberellin (12β-hydroxy-GA₁₁₀ or 2β-hydroxy-GA₁₁₂) (1), together with three known compounds, trans-tiliroside (2), kaempferol 3-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside (3), 5-p-trans-coumaroylquinic acid (4), was isolated for the first time from the genus Schefflera by various chromatography methods. Their structures were elucidated by IR, UV, HR-ESI-MS, NMR 1D and 2D experiments and comparison with previous reported data. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of all compounds was measured. The isolates (2, 3) showed better α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 134.60, 147.10 μM, respectively) than the standard drug acarbose (IC₅₀ = 214.50 μM).     

Simultaneous HPLC–DAD Determination of Retinol and Eight Vitamin E Isomers in Human Serum

An efficient, high-performance liquid-chromatographic method with diode-array detection (HPLC–DAD) has been established for simultaneous determination of retinol, α, (β + γ), and δ-tocopherols, and α, β, γ, and δ-tocotrienols in human serum. After deproteinization, the target vitamins in serum were extracted with n-hexane and the extract was evaporated under weak nitrogen flow. The residue was redissolved in methanol and the resulting solution was used for HPLC analysis. Retinol acetate and α-tocopherol acetate were used as internal standards. The internal standard calibration curves were linear over the range of 0.010–50.0 µg mL⁻¹, with correlation coefficients >0.999. Mean recoveries of the method were 86.3–110 %, with intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations less than 12.2 and 14.9 %, respectively. The detection limits of the method ranged from 0.001 to 0. 002 µg mL⁻¹, and the quantification limits ranged from 0.002 to 0.008 µg mL⁻¹. The method was successfully applied to analysis of the target vitamins in 50 human serum samples; all the analytes were detected at concentrations ranging from <0.002–23.0 µg mL⁻¹.

     

Non-denaturating isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis for uranium–protein complexes quantitative analysis with LA-ICP MS

A non-denaturating isoelectric focusing (ND-IEF) gel electrophoresis protocol has been developed to study and identify uranium (U)–protein complexes with laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP MS) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The ND-IEF-LA-ICP MS methodology set-up was initiated using in vitro U–protein complex standards (i.e., U–bovine serum albumin and U–transferrin) allowing the assessment of U recovery to 64.4?±?0.4 %. This methodology enabled the quantification of U–protein complexes at 9.03?±?0.23, 15.27?±?0.36, and 177.31?±?25.51 nmol U L^?1 in digestive gland cytosols of the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, exposed respectively to 0, 0.12, and 2.5 μmol of waterborne depleted U L^?1 during 10 days. ND-IEF-LA-ICP MS limit of detection was 19.3 pmol U L^?1. Elemental ICP MS signals obtained both in ND-IEF electropherograms and in size exclusion chromatograms of in vivo U–protein complexes revealed interactions between U- and Fe- and Cu-proteins. Moreover, three proteins (hemocyanin, pseudohemocyanin-2, and arginine kinase) out of 42 were identified as potential uranium targets in waterborne-exposed crayfish cytosols by microbore reversed phase chromatography coupled to molecular mass spectrometry (µRPC-ESI-MS/MS) after ND-IEF separation.

Enhanced Protein Extraction from Tobacco Roots for Proteomic Analysis

Plant roots contain low protein concentrations and many interferences for protein extraction and two-dimensional electrophoresis analysis. Therefore, the extraction of high-quality protein from tobacco roots for proteomic analysis is a challenge. Three protein extraction methods (the trichloroacetic acid-acetone, phenol extraction, and trichloroacetic acid-acetone-phenol methods) for tobacco root proteins were compared using protein yields, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and two-dimensional electrophoresis. The trichloroacetic acid-acetone-phenol method provided a higher spot resolution (505 ± 18 spots), the least streaking, and larger protein yields (2200 ± 20 µg/g fresh weight) on two-dimensional electrophoresis gels for tobacco roots, and hence is the most suitable method for the characterization of tobacco roots.     

A Novel α-Amylase from Bacillus mojavensis A21: Purification and Biochemical Characterization

α-Amylase from Bacillus mojavensis A21 (BMA.2) was purified to homogeneity by ultrafiltration, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration and Sepharose mono Q anion exchange chromatography, with a 15.3-fold increase in specific activity and 11% recovery. The molecular weight of the BMA.2 enzyme was estimated to be 58 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and gel filtration. The optimum temperature and pH were 80?°C and 6.5, respectively. BMA.2 belonged to the EDTA-sensitive α-amylase, but its activity was not stimulated by the presence of Ca²⁺ ions. The major end-products of starch hydrolysis were maltohexaose, maltopentaose and maltotriose. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the first ten amino acids of the purified α-amylase was ASVNGTLMQY. Compared to sequences of other amylases, the ten amino acid sequence contains Val at position 3, while amylases from Bacillus licheniformis NH1 and Bacillus sp. SG-1 have Leu and Thr at position 3, respectively.     

A short history of electrophoretic methods

High resolution separation of proteins, based on charge differences, is possible with disc electrophoresis, displacement electrophoresis (isotachophoresis) and notably isoelectric focusing (IEF). Size separation is obtained in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The combination of gel IEF, followed by SDS-PAGE in a second-dimensional slab gel, i.e. two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, affords the highest resolution with up to several thousand spots per gel. Staining of proteins gives high resolution patterns which can be scanned and stored in comprehensive databases. Over the last 10 years the electrophoretic separation in gels and subsequent visualization of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) and even genes as well as nucleotides have been much improved, making possible efficient mapping of the genes in humans and all other organisms. This has led to the biggest concerted endeavor in the history of science, i.e. the mapping of the human genome, which will be of importance as long as mankind exists. In the last years electrophoresis in capillaries has attracted much interest because for numerous substances, such as proteins nucleic acids, pharmaceuticals, metabolites, and peptides, it offers high resolution on the analytical scale with over 1 million theoretical plates. Electrophoretic methods have unprecedented impact on life sciences, providing a basis for unique advances in biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, gene technology and medicine.     

Quick and Sensitive Determination of Fluoroquinolones by Capillary Electrophoresis–Potential Gradient Detection

Abstract

A rapid, capillary electrophoresis–potential gradient detection method was developed for determining three fluoroquinolones: rufloxacin, enoxacin, and moxifloxacin. The fluoroquinolones were baseline separated within 3.5 min with background electrolyte composed of 50 mM acetic acid and 6 mM potassium hydroxide at pH 3.7. For the first time, electrokinetic injection was applied in capillary electrophoretic separation of fluoroquinolones, and an average of ca. 10-fold improvement in detection limits was observed. The method was applied to a fortified chicken tissue sample with detection limits (S/N = 3) of 22–24 ng g^?1, suggesting the potential of the method for determining fluoroquinolone residues in real samples.     

A 1-D alternating copper(II) chain based on three acetate-bridging modes: synthesis,crystal structure,DNA binding and magnetic properties

A new 1-D alternating copper(II) polymer, [Cu₂(L)(OAc)₄]_n (1) (L = 5-chloro-2-(pyridine-2-yl)benzo[d]thiazole), has been isolated and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility. The complex crystallized in the triclinic space group P-1, a = 8.2277(16) Å, b = 9.4233(19) Å, c = 15.831(3) Å, α = 103.38(3)°, β = 99.95(3)°, γ = 92.70(3)°, V = 1171.3(4) Å³, and comprises a 1-D polymer linked by three kinds of acetate-bridging modes in an alternating manner. UV–visible and fluorescence spectra revealed that 1 is bound to CT-DNA in a partial intercalation mode. Through gel electrophoresis assays, 1 displayed an efficient oxidative cleavage activity on supercoiled plasmid DNA (pUC19) in the presence of H₂O₂. Magnetic measurements were performed from 2 to 300 K, and the experimental results were satisfactorily reproduced with J₁ = –160 ± 20 cm^?1, J₂ = 5.8 ± 0.2 cm^?1, zJ′ = 0.381 ± 0.005 cm^?1 and g = 2.1, showing antiferromagnetic coupling between Cu1 and Cu1i, ferromagnetic exchange between Cu2 and Cu2ii, and a weak ferromagnetic molecular field correction accounting for all interspecies interactions.     

Characterization of oat proteins and aggregates using asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation

The soluble proteins and protein aggregates in Belinda oats were characterized using asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) coupled with online UV–vis spectroscopy and multiangle light-scattering detection (MALS). Fractions from the AF4 separation were collected and further characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The AF4 fractogram of the oat extracts revealed three peaks which were determined to be monomeric forms of soluble proteins, globulin aggregates, and β-glucan, respectively. The early eluting monomeric proteins ranged in molar mass (MM) between 5 and 90 kg/mol and in hydrodynamic diameter (D _h) from 1.6 to 13 nm. The MM at peak maximum of the globulin aggregate peak was found to be ～300 kg/mol and the D _h was measured to be ～20 nm. SDS-PAGE of the collected fraction across this peak revealed two bands with MM of 37 and 27 kg/mol which correspond to the α and β subunits of globulin indicating the elution of globulin aggregates. A third peak at long retention time was determined to be β-glucan through treatment of the oat extract with β-glucanase and by injection of β-glucan standards. The amount of soluble protein was measured to be 83.1?±?2.3 wt.%, and the amount of albumin proteins was measured to be 17.6?±?5.7 wt.% of the total protein in the oats. The results for Belinda oat extracts show that the AF4-MALS/UV platform is capable of characterizing the physicochemical properties such as MM and hydrodynamic size distribution of proteins and protein aggregates within a complicated food matrix environment and without the need to generate protein isolates.