Fluorescence of tryptophan-containing peptides on paper or silica gel after treatment with formaldehyde, formaldehyde-ozone or formaldehyde-hydrochloric acid.

Sensitive and specific procedures for the chromatographic detection of tryptophan and tryptophan-containing peptides are described. Formaldehyde gas induces strong and characteristic fluorescence from tryptophan and peptides with NH2-terminal tryptophan residues on silica gel. On filter-paper, the detection of small amounts of these compounds requires the additional use of an oxidant, such as ozone. Treatment with formaldehyde-hydrochloric acid was used as a method for inducing fluorescence from tryptophan-containing peptides regardless of the position of the tryptophan residue in the peptide molecule. This reaction is useful for the chromatographic demonstration of small amounts of such peptides on both paper and silica gel. The spectral properties of the fluorophores of such tryptophan-containing peptides are distinctive and serve to distinguish them from all other known biogenic compounds that are capable of giving fluorescence with formaldehyde.     

COMPARISON OF THE SPECTROSCOPIC PROPERTIES OF 4'-AMINO PHENYLALANINE AS AN UNPROTECTED AMINO ACID AND AS A RESIDUE IN PEPTIDES

Abstract— Ultraviolet absorption and fluorescence spectra of 4'-amino phenylalanine (Aphe) and of some peptides and esters containing Aphe, are characterized. Based on these results, the applicability of Aphe for fluorescence structural investigations of peptides is evaluated. The use of Aphe as an acceptor in fluorescence energy transfer measurements offers the possibility of facilitating the determination of donor fluorescence quantum yield (φ_D) in the absence of energy transfer which usually turns out to be difficult in systems containing donor and acceptor moities. The Aphe residue in peptides also allows a better insight into intramolecular interactions.     

Selective determination of tryptophan-containing peptides through precolumn derivatization and liquid chromatography using intramolecular fluorescence resonance energy transfer detection.

A selective and sensitive fluorometric determination method for native fluorescent peptides has been developed. This method is based on intramolecular fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) detection in a liquid chromatography (LC) system following precolumn derivatization of the amino groups of tryptophan (Trp)-containing peptides. In this detection process, we monitored the FRET from the native fluorescent Trp moieties (donor) to the derivatized fluorophore (acceptor). From a screening study involving 10 fluorescent reagents, we found that o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) generated FRET most effectively. The OPA derivatives of the native fluorescent peptides emitted OPA fluorescence (445 nm) through an intramolecular FRET process when they were excited at the excitation maximum wavelength of the Trp-containing peptides (280 nm). The generation of FRET was confirmed through comparison with the analysis of a non-fluorescent peptide (C-reactive protein fragment (77 - 82)) performed using LC and a three-dimensional fluorescence detection system. We were able to separate the OPA derivatives of the Trp-containing peptides when performing LC on a reversed-phase column. The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) for the Trp-containing peptides, at a 20-microL injection volume, were 41 - 180 fmol. The sensitivity of the intramolecular FRET-forming derivatization method is higher than that of the system that takes advantage of the conventional detection of OPA derivatives. Moreover, native non-fluorescent amines and peptides in the sample monitored at FRET detection are weaker than those of conventional fluorescence detection.     

QDs标记免疫调节肽及其与T细胞作用的表征

量子点是直径为1~10 nm的球形半导体纳米晶体, 也被称为半导体量子点, 简称QDs. 与有机荧光染料相比, QDs具有激发光谱单一、 荧光谱线窄、 发光效率高、 发光颜色可调、 可进行多色联合标记, 并且光稳定性好等优点, 所以量子点是非常有前途的生物标记物[^1,2]. 研究结果表明, 量子点可以与许多生物分子如蛋白质、多肽、核酸及小分子配体等偶联. 现已有许多关于量子点标记生物分子的报道, 如用量子点标记木瓜蛋白酶、 胰蛋白酶、 天花粉蛋白和表皮生长因子等^[3-5].用量子点标记生物分子作为荧光探针已成功地应用于多种生物分析, 如DNA杂交监测、 免疫分析和用QDs检测ATP推动的反应等^[4,6,7]. 目前, 对量子点标记生物分子的报道多为对大分子蛋白质的标记, 而对小分子肽标记的报道却很少.     

Phase behavior and the partitioning of caveolin-1 scaffolding domain peptides in model lipid bilayers

The membrane binding and model lipid raft interaction of synthetic peptides derived from the caveolin scaffolding domain (CSD) of the protein caveolin-1 have been investigated. CSD peptides bind preferentially to liquid-disordered domains in model lipid bilayers composed of cholesterol and an equimolar ratio of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) and brain sphingomyelin. Three caveolin-1 peptides were studied: the scaffolding domain (residues 83-101), a water-insoluble construct containing residues 89-101, and a water-soluble construct containing residues 89-101. Confocal and fluorescence microscopy investigation shows that the caveolin-1 peptides bind to the more fluid cholesterol-poor phase. The binding of the water-soluble peptide to lipid bilayers was measured using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). We measured molar partition coefficients of 10(4) M(-1) between the soluble peptide and phase-separated lipid bilayers and 10(3) M(-1) between the soluble peptide and bilayers with a single liquid phase. Partial phase diagrams for our phase-separating lipid mixture with added caveolin-1 peptides were measured using fluorescence microscopy. The water-soluble peptide did not change the phase morphology or the miscibility transition in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs); however, the water-insoluble and full-length CSD peptides lowered the liquid-liquid melting temperature.     

Resonance Energy Transfer in a Genetically Engineered Polypeptide Results in Unanticipated Fluorescence Intensity

The fluorescence intensity of a C-terminal acceptor chromophore, N-(7-dimethylamino-4-methyl coumarin (DACM), increased proportionally with 280 nm irradiation of an increasing number of donor tryptophan residues located on a β-sheet forming polypeptide. The fluorescence intensity of the acceptor chromophore increased even as the length of the β-sheet edge approached 256 Å, well beyond the Förster radius for the tryptophan–acceptor chromophore pair. The folding of the peptides under investigation was verified by circular dichroism (CD) and deep UV resonance Raman experiments. Control experiments showed that the enhancement of DACM fluorescence occurred concomitantly with peptide folding. In other control experiments, the DACM fluorescence intensity of the solutions of tryptophan and DACM did not show any enhancement of DACM fluorescence with increasing tryptophan concentrations. Formation of fibrillar aggregates of the substrate peptides prepared for the fluorescence studies was undetectable by thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence.     

Spectroscopic techniques applied to the study of laminin fragments inserted into model membranes

The influence of four laminin-derived peptides on bilayer organization is studied. Spectroscopic methods applied were based on pyrene fluorescence properties (quenching, I1/I3, and monomer/excimer equilibrium), asymmetric membrane fluorescence (NBD-PE/dithionite), and polarization fluorescence (TMA-DPH). Also, the ability of these peptides to release carboxyfluorescein entrapped in vesicles was determined. Results suggest that these peptides do not noticeably modify the packing and motion of lipids (in the gel state), but coat its surface, preventing penetration of quenchers and chemical reactants. Nevertheless, their presence promotes a soft release of entrapped CF after incubation at 37 degrees C.     

Peptide separation through a CB[8]-mediated supramolecular trap-and-release process

We demonstrate a supramolecular peptide separation approach by the selective immobilization of peptides bearing an N-terminal tryptophan onto a CB[8]-modified gold substrate, followed by electrochemical release. The CB[8]-stabilized heteroternary complexes were characterized by (1)H NMR, ESI-MS, UV/vis, and fluorescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Micropatterned CB[8]-modified gold substrates were found to trap only the recognizable N-tryptophan-containing peptides from a peptide mixture that could be visualized as green peptide arrays under fluorescence microscopy. Subsequently, the bound peptides were released from the modified substrates by the controlled single-electron reduction of viologen. The fully reversible trap-and-release process was repeated for 13 cycles, and the cumulative release profile of the dye-peptide conjugate was monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy, indicating that no degradation occurred.     

Novel peptide–protein assay for identification of antimicrobial peptides by fluorescence quenching

The specific interaction of peptides with proteins is often a key factor which determines biological activities. The determination of K(d) values of such interactions is commonly performed with fluorescence polarization. However, fluorescence polarization assays are prone to false-positive results due to the potential for non-specific interactions and only afford very low signal-to-background ratios. Here, we present as an alternative a fluorescence resonance energy transfer based quenching assay to measure peptide-protein interactions in solution. In a test setup where antimicrobial peptides were tested for their affinity towards the protein DnaK, the assay provided high specificity and good reproducibility and correlated with the results obtained by fluorescence polarization methods. Furthermore, we established a fast prescreening method which will allow a highly efficient screening of peptide libraries by reducing the amount of sample by 98% compared to conventional fluorescence polarization assays.     

Small Fluorogenic Amino Acids for Peptide-Guided Background-Free Imaging

The multiple applications of super-resolution microscopy have prompted the need for minimally invasive labeling strategies for peptide-guided fluorescence imaging. Many fluorescent reporters display limitations (e.g., large and charged scaffolds, non-specific binding) as building blocks for the construction of fluorogenic peptides. Herein we have built a library of benzodiazole amino acids and systematically examined them as reporters for background-free fluorescence microscopy. We have identified amine-derivatized benzoselenadiazoles as scalable and photostable amino acids for the straightforward solid-phase synthesis of fluorescent peptides. Benzodiazole amino acids retain the binding capabilities of bioactive peptides and display excellent signal-to-background ratios. Furthermore, we have demonstrated their application in peptide-PAINT imaging of postsynaptic density protein-95 nanoclusters in the synaptosomes from mouse brain tissues.     

One-pot labeling and purification of peptides and proteins with fluorescein maleimide

Fluorescein labeling of peptides and proteins is required for numerous biophysical or biological experiments such as fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) or fluorescence imaging. The commonly used strategy relied on the coupling of the dye reagent followed by a gel filtration to recover the labeled molecule. Here we report a simplified method for the labeling of peptides and proteins on a cysteine residue and their purification. The method is based on the precipitation of peptides and proteins in acetone, fluorescein maleimide being soluble in this solvent. The excess of dye is fully eliminated after a couple of acetone washes and the precipitated peptide or protein is readily recovered.     

Fluorescence characterization of the thermal stability of collagen mimic peptides

The thermal stability of triple helical structure plays a critical role in collagen biosynthesis, function and degradation. CD technique was utilized to characterize the thermal stability of synthetic collagen mimic peptides. Fluorescence spectroscopy is widely used with easy access all around the world because of its inexpensive instrumentation, low operation cost, easy operation, and high sensitivity. Here we have developed an alternative fluorescence method to detect the thermal stability of collagen mimic peptides. We have demonstrated that fluorescence spectroscopy could measure the thermal stability of collagen mimic peptides with low concentrations under different circumstances. This highly sensitive fluorescence self-quenching assay will greatly expedite the studies of sequence-dependent properties of collagen mimic peptides, and it has great potential in the application of determining the thermal stability of triple helix systems such as collagens, collectins, adiponectin, macrophage scavenger and C1q.     

New Synthetic Amino Acids for the Design and Synthesis of Peptide-Based Metal Ion Sensors

The syntheses of two new nonstandard amino acids, Flu (6) and XBp (20), and a new synthesis of Dmd (12) are reported. These residues exhibit fluorescence, metal-coordination, and fluorescence-quenching properties, respectively. These building blocks have been incorporated into peptides via solid phase peptide synthesis to afford the prototype for a photoinduced electron transfer-based metal ion chemosensor. The fluorescence of the peptides is modulated upon metal binding. This results from a metal ion-induced conformational change that brings the side chains of the Flu and Dmd amino acids into proximity, thereby favoring photoinduced electron transfer (PET) fluorescence quenching.     

On-line post-column fluorescence detection for N-terminal tyrosine-containing peptides in high-performance liquid chromatography

A detection system based on on-line post-column fluorescence derivatization is described for the determination of N-terminal tyrosine-containing peptides by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The peptides are automatically converted into fluorescent derivatives by reaction with hydroxylamine, cobalt (II) and borate after peptide separation on a reversed-phase column (TSKgel ODS-120T) followed by passage through an ultraviolet absorbance detector. The reaction system permits the fluorescence detection at 435 nm (emission) with excitation at 335 nm for N-terminal tyrosine-containing synthetic peptides in as little as picomole amounts. The facile fluorescence detection of N-terminal tyrosine-containing fragments produced from methionine-enkephalin by enzymatic degradation using a rat brain homogenate was achieved by comparison with the ultraviolet absorption detection at 215 nm.     

Analysis of the performance of antibody capture methods using fluorescent peptides with capillary zone electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence

A method to analyze the performance of an antibody capture method using fluorescent peptides by capillary zone electrophoresis using laser-induced fluorescence (CZE-LIF) for detection has been developed. Fluorescent peptides from the prion protein were synthesized and the corresponding antibodies were produced in rabbits against these peptides. The antibodies were used to capture the fluorescent peptides. The antibodies were then bound to protein A Sepharose. After elution, the amount of fluorescent peptide that was captured vs. the total amount placed in the assay was evaluated by CZE-LIF. Of the three peptides used in this evaluation, it was found that the recovery was approximately 25-35%. When the abnormal prion protein was prepared from scrapie-infected brain samples from hamsters and a sheep using the previously described extraction method and this method, the amount of abnormal prion protein that was measured in the fluorescence immunoassay correlated with amounts estimated from Western blot. We conclude that this method can be used to detect abnormal prion protein in a tissue sample.     

Fluorescence Assay for Membrane Lytic Peptides

Abstract

Lytic peptides such as melittin and mastoparan are usually assayed by measuring the leakage of cell contents; e.g., hemolysis. When such peptides lyse liposomes containing concentration-quenched 6-carboxyfluorescein (6CF), the resulting fluorescence increase is proportional to the amount of lytic peptide added. Using this 6CF-liposome system, one can assay nanogram quantities of melittin. A protocol was developed to survey peptides for lytic activity and at the same time, to test for mast cell degranulating activity. Peptides possessed either, both, or neither of these activities. The dye-liposome system was used to assay HPLC fractions of bee venom. This fluorescence assay for lytic activity is more sensitive and convenient than the hemolysis method, does not require removal of unlysed structures, and does not require animal cells.     

Isolation and characterization of R-phycoerythrin subunits and enzymatic digests

Subunits and enzymatic digests of the highly fluorescent phycobiliprotein R-phycoerythrin (R-PE) were analyzed by several separation and detection techniques including HPLC, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), CE, and HPLC-electrospray ionization (ESI) MS. R-PE subunits were isolated by HPLC and detected as single molecules by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. The results show efficient absorption and fluorescence of the R-PE subunits and digest peptides, originating from the incorporation of phycoerythrobilin and phycourobilin chromophores in them. In addition, HPLC-ESI-MS and SDS-PAGE were optimized to determine the molecular masses of phycobiliprotein subunits and the chromophore-containing peptides, as well as the amino acid sequences of the latter. Favorable spectroscopic and structural properties of R-PE subunits and enzymatic digests, even under denaturing conditions, make these molecules suitable for use as fluorescence labels for biomolecules.     

Early aggregation in prion peptide nanostructures investigated by nonlinear and ultrafast time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy

We report the characterization of early aggregates in the self-assembly of prion peptides using nonlinear and ultrafast time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The dye-labeled peptide and dye/peptide guest-host systems were used to demonstrate the feasibility of the new approach. By measuring the two-photon absorption cross-section, small aggregates of the dye labeled peptide were characterized. Ultrafast time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy spectroscopy reveals the packing state (microenvironment) of the probes to be tightly associated with aggregates and associated with aggregation progression of the peptides. Fluorescence intensity decay shows a correlation with growth of aggregates having a high level of structured beta-sheet content. A new binding ligand Cascade Yellow shows promise for beta-sheet recognition of prion peptide nanostructures. These findings may have implications for in vivo studies of neurotoxic aggregates targeting with fluorescence markers. Also, these results may provide insight into molecular design of peptide-based nanomaterials.     

Single-label kinase and phosphatase assays for tyrosine phosphorylation using nanosecond time-resolved fluorescence detection

The collision-induced fluorescence quenching of a 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene-labeled asparagine (Dbo) by hydrogen atom abstraction from the tyrosine residue in peptide substrates was introduced as a single-labeling strategy to assay the activity of tyrosine kinases and phosphatases. The assays were tested for 12 different combinations of Dbo-labeled substrates and with the enzymes p60c-Src Src kinase, EGFR kinase, YOP protein tyrosine phosphatase, as well as acid and alkaline phosphatases, thereby demonstrating a broad application potential. The steady-state fluorescence changed by a factor of up to 7 in the course of the enzymatic reaction, which allowed for a sufficient sensitivity of continuous monitoring in steady-state experiments. The fluorescence lifetimes (and intensities) were found to be rather constant for the phosphotyrosine peptides (ca. 300 ns in aerated water), while those of the unphosphorylated peptides were as short as 40 ns (at pH 7) and 7 ns (at pH 13) as a result of intramolecular quenching. Owing to the exceptionally long fluorescence lifetime of Dbo, the assays were alternatively performed by using nanosecond time-resolved fluorescence (Nano-TRF) detection, which leads to an improved discrimination of background fluorescence and an increased sensitivity. The potential for inhibitor screening was demonstrated through the inhibition of acid and alkaline phosphatases by molybdate.     

Controlling multiple fluorescent signal output in cyclic peptide-based supramolecular systems

A multicomponent equilibrium network based on self-assembling alpha,gamma-cyclic peptides with controlled fluorescence output is described. The network takes advantage of the large association constant of alpha,gamma-cyclic peptides and the controlled formation homo- and heterodimers, making use for the first time of excimer/FRET effects in conjunction for studying complex interaction networks. In addition, we study the Dapoxyl/pyrene FRET pair for the first time.