Capillary isoelectric focusing with UV-induced fluorescence detection

Low-molecular-mass fluorescent compounds excitable in the near UV region with suitable acidobasic and electrophoretic properties are suggested as isoelectric point (pI) markers for isoelectric focusing (IEF) with UV photometric and UV excited fluorometric detection. The experimental set-up of capillary IEF with UV excited fluorometric detection and properties of new UV-induced fluorescent pI markers are given. The pI values of 18 new pI markers determined independently of IEF methods range from 2.1 to 10.3. The examples of separation of new pI markers together with derivatized proteins by capillary IEF with photometric or fluorometric detection are presented.     

New azo dyes as colored isoelectric point markers for isoelectric focusing in acidic pH region

Newly prepared azo compounds and several commercially available indicators were investigated for their applicability as colored isoelectric point (pI) markers for isoelectric focusing (IEF) in the acidic range below pH 5. The majority of compounds described here can serve as primary standards since their pI values were determined by UV-VIS spectrophotometry independently IEF and direct measurement with a pH electrode. Subjected to gel IEF they show narrow and well-observable zones of different colors. Finally, our work resulted in suggestion of a color ladder composed of pI markers covering the pH range from 1.5 to 4.7.     

Colored pI standards and gel isoelectric focusing in strongly acidic pH

Colored, low molecular weight pI markers have been developed for isoelectric focusing (IEF) in acidic pH range. Their isoelectric points (pIs) were determined by direct measurement of the pH of the focused bands after completion of IEF on polyacrylamide gels. The practicable suitability of the proposed pI markers as pI standards for IEF was tested by applying gel IEF. The acidic pH gradient was created either by commercial synthetic carrier ampholytes or by mixture of simple buffers consisting of acids (non-ampholytes) and ampholytic buffers. By applying simple acids, it was possible to extend the acidic pH range beyond those achievable with commercial synthetic carrier ampholytes. By using an experimental arrangement without electrode electrolyte reservoirs with electrodes creating the fixed end of the gel, the strongly acidic pH gradient was stable even for prolonged focusing time.     

Characterization of antithrombin III from human plasma by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and capillary electrophoretic methods

The isoforms distribution of the glycoprotein antithrombin III (ATIII) derived from human plasma was investigated by means of isoelectric focusing (IEF) in polyacrylamide gels with immobilized pH gradients (IPG) and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) as well as capillary electrophoretic methods. It turned out that the presence of high concentrations of chaotropics (urea, thiourea) and zwitterionic detergents (3-[(3-cholamidepropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS)) was decisive for attaining good resolution of the protein isoforms. Resolution by IPG-IEF was obtained with excellent reproducibility and pI differences down to 0.01 pH units could be distinguished. ATIII-alpha and ATIII-beta-fractions preseparated by heparin affinity chromatography showed an analogous but shifted spot pattern consisting each of one major and three minor isoforms. The main isoforms of ATIII-alpha and ATIII-beta exhibit pI values of 5.18 and 5.32, respectively, both values determined in the presence of high concentrations of urea. The pI difference of 0.14 pH units correspond to the effect of two sialic acids absent in ATIII-beta. The formation and occurrence of ATIII dimers and trimers turned out to be dependent on the sample preparation. The results obtained by 2-DE were compared with those of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and capillary IEF (CIEF). Quantitative analysis regarding the CZE separated isoforms of plasma derived ATIII yielded a content of about 70% ATIII-alpha main isoform and about 6.6% of ATIII-beta. The pI values of ATIII determined by CIEF with internal calibration were in fair agreement with the pI values of the main isoforms achieved with 2-DE.     

Electrophoretic studies of blood globin preparations

Isoelectric focusing (IEF) across an urea gradient, and titration curves obtained by IEF-electrophoresis with and without urea, were used to characterize porcine and bovine haemoglobin and globins prepared either by the cold-acetone method (native globin) or by a new method based on haem precipitation with a dilute carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) solution at acidic pH. CMC-treated bovine globins dissociated at moderately low urea concentration into alpha and beta subunits. In native bovine globin and in CMC-treated porcine globin, one intense band consisting of both alpha and beta subunits was stable to urea at the isoelectric point (pI), but was dissociated into subunits below the pI. Common to all titration curves of the globins was a marked reduction in mobility at pH below 5.0 in the case of bovine globin and below 6.0 in the case of porcine globin because of the formation of an aggregate. In all globin samples except spray-dried bovine globin the main band remained stable between the pI and the pH of aggregation.     

Rapid high voltage isoelectric focusing of proteins in rod gels.

A rapid procedure of isoelectric focusing (IEF) of proteins in polyacrylamide rod gels (i.d., 1.1 mm; length, 7.5 cm) is described. The time required for IEF can be reduced to 0.5 h by using high voltages up to 3000 V in the presence or absence of urea in the gels. When used as the first dimension of a two-dimensional technique for IEF sodium dodecyl sulphate electrophoresis, high voltage IEF gives smaller protein spots on the second dimension gel, associated with an increase in resolution. The method has been tested by a two-dimensional separation of an eye sample of the goodeid fish Xenotoca eiseni.     

Labeling effects on the isoelectric point of green fluorescent protein.

We studied the effects of fluorescent labeling on the isoelectric points (pI values) of proteins using capillary isoelectric focusing with laser-induced fluorescence detection (cIEF-LIF). Specifically, we labeled green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria with the fluorogenic dye 3-(2-furoyl)quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde (FQ). cIEF-LIF was used to monitor the native fluorescence of GFP and showed pI changes in GFP's FQ-labeled products. Multiple labeling of GFP with FQ produced a series of products with pI values shifted towards a low pH. We verified cIEF-LIF results with traditional slab gel IEF. Our cIEF-LIF technique can routinely detect 10(-11) M of FQ-labeled protein, whereas traditional slab gel IEF with silver stain detection gives detection limits of 10(-7) M in the same samples.     

Detection of metalloproteins in human liver cytosol by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence combined with gel filtration chromatography and isoelectric focusing separation

Synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF) spectroscopy is an advanced method of quantitative multielemental analysis with space resolution of several microm and sensitivities in the microg g(-1) range. It can be used for keeping track of trace elements after an electrophoretic separation of biological samples. In this paper, proteins in human liver cytosol were separated with gel filtration chromatography and thin layer isoelectric focusing (IEF). The contents of metal ions in protein bands were determined by SRXRF. The results showed that in the molecular weight (MW) range of 10 approximately 25 kDa, there were at least 2 Zn-containing bands with isoelectric point (pI) of 5 approximately 6 and 6.2 approximately 7, respectively and about 11 Fe-containing proteins with pI of 4.4, 4.6, 4.8, 5.0, 5.2, 5.3, 5.5, 5.6, 6.6, 6.8, and 7.2, respectively, present in human liver cytosol. The Zn-containing band with pI of 5-6 is the dominant species of zinc in this MW range. In addition, the Cu-containing bands with pI of 5.0 and below 4.8 were also detected. It is demonstrated that the procedure could be widely used in further investigations of the chemical species of trace elements in biological samples.     

Extension of separation range in capillary isoelectric focusing for resolving highly basic biomolecules

The non-availability of commercial carrier ampholytes in the pH range greater than 11 has contributed to difficulties in focusing and resolving highly basic proteins/peptides using capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF). Two different approaches, involving the use of N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) and ampholyte 9-11, are investigated for their effects on the extension of separation range in cIEF. The addition of TEMED into pharmalyte 3-10 not only prevents the peptides/proteins from focusing in sections of the capillary beyond the detection point, but also extends the separation range to at least isoelectric point (pI) 12. The combination of ampholyte 9-11 with pharmalyte 3-10 surprisingly provides baseline resolution between bradykinin (pI 12) and cytochrome c (pI 10.3). The sample mixture, containing bradykinin, the high-pI protein calibration kit (pI 5.2-10.3), and cytochrome c digest, is employed to demonstrate the cIEF separation of proteins and peptides over a wide pH range of 3.7-12.     

Isoelectric focusing studies of concanavalin A and the lentil lectin

Isoelectric focusing (IEF) of metallized and demetallized preparations of concanavalin A (Con A) consisting of either intact or fragmented subunits shows different band patterns. Metallized Con A consisting of intact polypeptide chains (intact Con A) has an isoelectric point (pI) 8.35. Metallized preparations consisting of fragmented chains (fragmented Con A) show three bands with pI values 8.0, 7.8 and 7.7. Demetallized intact Con A (intact apoCon A) has a pI of 6.5, however, it undergoes pH dependent association during IEF under certain conditions, which gives rise to multiple bands. Ampholyte-mediated demetallization of intact and fragmented Con A and subsequent aggregation of the apoprotein results in multiple bands during IEF in the presence of the pH range 3 to 10 ampholytes. However, ampholytes of the pH range 7 to 9 do not demetallize the proteins and show a single band with intact Con A. The pI of intact Con A remains essentially the same in the presence of inhibitory sugar. Furthermore, different moleculars forms of Con A, including locked and unlocked conformers of intact apoCon A, and the dimeric and tetramic states of both intact Con A and intact apoCon A have been identified and their pI values determined. IEF of the lentil isoelectins, LcH-A and LcH-B, shows single bands of pI 8.5 and 9.0, respectively. However, the native lectin mixture gives rise to an additional band of pI 8.8 due to a hybrid protein formed by ampholyte-mediated subunit exchange between the isolectins.     

Estimation of isoelectric points of human plasma proteins employing capillary isoelectric focusing and peptide isoelectric point markers

Synthetic UV-detectable peptide pI markers were used to estimate isoelectric point (pI) values of proteins separated by capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) followed by cathodic mobilization in the absence of denaturing agents. The pI calculation and quantitative analysis of purified proteins showed the feasibility of these peptides as pI markers and internal standards in CIEF separation of proteins. Estimation of pI values of major proteins in human plasma was performed using the peptide pI markers, and the values were compared with those previously obtained by gel isoelectric focusing (IEF). Sera of immunoglobulin G (IgG) myeloma patients, which showed characteristic peaks of myeloma IgG in their CIEF patterns, were also subjected to the analysis and the pI values of the myeloma proteins have been estimated.     

Mass spectrometric characterization of low-molecular-mass color pI markers and their use for direct determination of pI value of proteins

The use of low-molecular-mass color pI markers for the determination of pI values of proteins in gel isoelectric focusing (IEF) in combination with mass spectrometry is described. Different types of substituted phenols of known pI values within the mass range 250-400 were used here as pI markers. The pure, synthesized pI markers were studied by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. Fragmentation studies of the pI markers were also performed. Only stable and well-characterized pI markers were used in this work. The selected pI markers were mixed with proteins, deposited on a gel and separated in a pH gradient. Color pI markers enable supervision of progress of the focusing process and also estimation of the position of the invisible focused bands. The separated bands of the pI markers (containing separated proteins) were excised, and the pI markers were eluted from each gel piece by water/ethanol and identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. From the washed gel pieces the remaining carrier ampholytes were then washed out and proteins were in-gel digested with trypsin. The obtained peptides were measured by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS and the proteins identified via a protein database search. This procedure allows avoiding time-consuming protein staining and destaining procedures, which shortens the analysis time roughly by half. For comparison, IEF gels were stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R 250 and proteins in the gel bands were identified according to the standard proteomic protocol. This work has confirmed that our approach can give information about the correct pI values of particular proteins and shorten significantly the time of analysis.     

Isoelectric focusing in low-denaturing media: visualization in renal disease of variation of the isoelectric point of albumin not related to a remarkable conformational variation

The isoelectric properties of serum and urinary albumin from normal subjects and patients with nephrotic syndrome have been investigated in various conditions of denaturation, obtained by using urea (0-8 M) as a support in isoelectric focusing. In normal human serum, albumin is rather acidic (pI = 4.7) when focused in glycerol while the denatured form obtained by exposing the protein to 8 M urea has a much higher pI (6.1). Albumin from nephrotic patients is acidic in glycerol but at very low levels of urea (2M) it shifts from pI 4.7 to pI 6.1; the same effect has been induced by treating albumin with activated charcoal at low pH. In order to obtain more information on urea-induced changes, we have recorded the circular dichroic spectra of albumin when exposed to the concentration of urea used in gels, and we found that no conformational transition occurs for urea concentrations less than 5 M. Taken together, these observations reveal that variation of the pI of albumin in nephrotic syndrome occurs mainly due to a dissociating effect of urea on charged substances bound to this protein.     

Crystallization of chicken liver (basic) fatty acid binding protein after purification in multicompartment electrolyzers with isoelectric membranes

A preparation of chicken liver (basic) fatty acid binding protein was purified to homogeneity in multicompartment electrolyzers with isoelectric membranes. Large amounts of the isoelectric point (pI) 9.7 protein were collected into a compartment delimited by pI 8.8 and 11.0 membranes. The protein thus purified produced crystals which diffract to higher resolution than those obtained by purification via preparative isoelectric focusing (IEF) in soluble carrier ampholytes. In addition, a novel orthorhombic form with a different molecular packing was obtained. It is hypothesized that, when using conventional IEF, traces of carrier ampholytes could adhere to the protein, particularly in the hydrophobic ligand-binding pocket, rendering the interpretation of the electron density maps difficult. Multicompartment electrolyzers do not present this drawback, since they are based on insoluble buffering species.     

Isoelectric focusing in immobilized pH gradients with carrier ampholytes added for high-resolution phenotyping of bovine beta-lactoglobulins: characterization of a new genetic variant

The genetic variants of bovine beta-lactoglobulin (beta-lg) from the "Murnau-Werdenfelser" breed were analyzed in three different isoelectric focusing (IEF) systems. While carrier ampholyte IEF with a pH gradient of 0.2 pH/cm did not resolve the new variant W from the B variant and IEF in immobobilized pH gradients (IPG) with 0.1 pH/cm only partially resolved it, adequate separation was achieved with IPG-IEF in a pH 5.25-pH 5.7 gradient, in presence of 0.8 % w/v carrier ampholytes, both over a 10 and 17 cm separation distance. Apparent isoelectric points (pI's) and genetic frequencies (f) were as follows: beta-lg A, pI = 5.370, f = 0.364; beta-lg B, pI = 5.485, f = 0.480; beta-lg W, pI = 5.492, f = 0.076; and beta-lg D, pI = 5.610, f = 0.080. The small difference of delta pI = 0.007 between beta-lg B and beta-lg W respectively, seems to originate from a "silent" substitution of neutral amino acid residues as compared to the larger delta pI's of the other genetic variants of beta-lg, which result from substitution of charged amino acids.     

Differential isoelectric focusing properties of crude and purified human alpha 2-macroglobulin and alpha 2-macroglobulin-proteinase complexes

The isoelectric focusing (IEF) properties of human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) and alpha 2M-proteinase complexes from crude and partially purified preparations were studied by column IEF. The average isoelectric point (pI) of the major form was 6.5 for alpha 2M from crude plasma but was 5.3 for purified samples. Following preincubation with either trypsin, chymotrypsin or pancreatic elastase the crude alpha 2M-proteinase complexes displayed pI values ranging from 5.3 to 6.1 and the purified alpha 2M-proteinase complexes ranged from pH 6.0 to 6.1. A comparison of recoveries for focused crude or purified alpha 2M and trypsin-preincubated alpha 2M indicated enhanced recovery for the trypsin-preincubated samples suggesting that the binding of the proteinase enhances the stability of alpha 2M. alpha 2M thus displays column IEF properties which appear to be dependent upon the state of purity of the molecule. These findings are of particular significance to investigators concerned with using expressions of altered alpha 2M electrophoretic patterns for clinical diagnostic purposes in such diseases as multiple sclerosis, diabetes and cystic fibrosis.     

Two-dimensional gel isoelectric focusing

Two-dimensional gel isoelectric focusing (2-D gel IEF) is presented as the combination of the same separation method used consecutively in two directions of the same gel. In this new method, after completion of IEF process in the first dimension the gel was cut into the separate strips, each containing selected analytes together with the appropriate part of the original broad pH gradient, and the strips were rotated by 90 degrees (with regard to the first IEF) and left to diffuse overnight. After diffusion the strips were subjected to the second IEF. During the second IEF, the corresponding narrow part of pH gradient in each strip was restored again, however, now along the strip. The progress of the separation process can be monitored visually by using colored low-molecular-weight isoelectric point (pI) markers loaded into the gel simultaneously with proteins. The unique properties of IEF, focusing and resolution power were enhanced by using the same technique twice. Two forms of beta-lactoglobulin (pI values 5.14 and 5.31, respectively) non-separated in the first IEF were successfully separated in the second dimension at relatively low voltage (330 V) with the resolution power comparable to the high-resolution gels requiring the high voltage during the run and long separation time. Glucose oxidase loaded as diluted solution into ten positions across the gel was finally focused into a single band during 2-D gel IEF. Since the first and second IEF are carried out on the same gel, no losses and contamination of analyte occur. The suggested method can be used for separation/fractionation of complex biological mixtures, similarly as other multidimensional separation techniques applied in proteomics, and can be followed by further processing, e.g., mass spectrometry analysis. The focusing properties of IEF could be useful especially in separation of mixtures, where components are at low concentration levels.     

Pharmaceutical applications of isoelectric focusing on microchip with imaged UV detection

For the first time, the application of a commercial Shimadzu microchip electrophoresis system MCE-2010 equipped with an imaging UV detector for isoelectric focusing (IEF) of therapeutic proteins is reported. By proper adjustment of the pH gradient, samples with pI values ranging from 2.85 to 10.3 can be focused to the imaged part of the separation channel. Three therapeutic proteins (hirudin, erythropoietin, and bevacizumab) have been successfully focused on the microchip, and the results have been compared to conventional capillary IEF in terms of peak profile, pI values, and reproducibility.     

Efficient separation and analysis of peroxisomal membrane proteins using free-flow isoelectric focusing

We have elaborated a protocol for the fractionation of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic proteins using as a model the matrix and membrane compartments of highly purified rat liver peroxisomes because of their distinct proteomes and characteristic composition with a high quota of basic proteins. To keep highly hydrophobic proteins in solution, an urea/thiourea/detergent mixture, as used in traditional gel-based isoelectric focusing (IEF), was added to the electrophoresis buffer. Electrophoresis was conducted in the ProTeam free-flow electrophoresis (FFE) apparatus of TECAN separating proteins into 96 fractions on a pH 3-12 gradient. Consecutive sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis demonstrated that both matrix and the integral membrane proteins of peroxisomes could be successfully fractionated and then identified by mass spectrometry. This is documented by the detection of PMP22, which is the most hydrophobic and basic protein of the peroxisomal membrane with a pI > 10. The identification of 96 prominent spots corresponding to polypeptides with different physical and chemical properties, e.g., the most abundant integral membrane polypeptides of peroxisomes and specific ones of the mitochondrial and microsomal membrane, reflects the fractionation potential of free-flow (FF)-IEF, accentuating its value in proteomic research as an alternative perhaps superior to gel-based IEF.     

Parallel processing in the isoelectric focusing chip

Investigation of isoelectric focusing (IEF) kinetics has been performed to provide the theoretical basis for miniaturization of classical IEF in immobilized pH-gradients. Standard IEF demands colinearity of the electric field and pH-gradient directions (serial devices). It is shown that the IEF separation process based on a continuous, serial pH gradient is incompatible with miniaturization of separation devices. The new realization of the IEF device by a parallel IEF chip is suggested and analyzed. The main separation tool of the device is a dielectric membrane (chip) with conducting channels that are filled by Immobiline gels of varying pH. The membrane is held perpendicular to the applied electric field and proteins are collected (trapped) in the channels whose pH are equal to the pI of the proteins. The pH value of the surrounded aqueous solution is not equal to any channel's pH. The fast particle transport between different channels takes place due to convection in the aqueous solution. The new device geometry introduces two new spatial scales to be considered: the scale of transition region from a solution to the gel in a channel and a typical channel size. The corresponding time scales defining the IEF process kinetics are analyzed and scaling laws are obtained. It is shown both theoretically and experimentally that parallel IEF accelerates the fractionation of proteins by their pI down to several minutes and enables possible efficient sample collection and purification.