Preparative isoelectric focusing of reduced wheat gluten proteins

Proteins extracted from gluten of the bread wheat cultivar Fiorello 2 in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol or dithiothreitol were separated by isoelectric focusing in a free solution in a pH 3-10 gradient containing 50% v/v 1-propanol or urea. The collected fractions were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 10% gels (high and medium molecular weight glutenin subunits) and 16% gels (low molecular weight gliadins). The isoelectric focusing pattern of gluten polypeptides in 50% v/v 1-propanol was comparable to that obtained on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, based on isoelectric focusing and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A similar isoelectric focusing pattern was also observed when 3M urea was used as solvent. New gluten polypeptides, similar in mobility to the high molecular weight subunits of glutenin were detected at acidic pH.     

Separation of monoclonal antibodies from antihapten antisera by two-dimensional affinity electrophoresis.

A high-resolution two-dimensional affinity electrophoresis (2D-AEP) method was developed, using capillary polyacrylamide gel (PAG) isoelectric focusing in the first and slab PAG affinity electrophoresis in the second direction. Using this method, anti-hapten antibodies were separated into a number of monoclonal antibody [immunoglobulin G (IgG)] families, each of which is composed of several IgG spots having an identical affinity to the hapten but different isoelectric points. 2D-AEP may offer a powerful tool for solving fundamental problems in immunochemistry such as antibody heterogeneity, its hapten binding specificity and antigen-dependent somatic mutation.     

Combination of electrophoretic techniques for comprehensive analysis of complex protein systems

Analysis of proteins in complex mixtures such as cell lysates is presently performed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions (denaturing 2-D PAGE) followed by extraction of proteins from gel pieces and structural analysis of the proteins. This type of protein analysis is contributing to the correlation of information stored in DNA sequences with the structure of the product polypeptides. However, denaturing 2-D PAGE has its own limitations and it is necessary to develop various methods of protein analysis to reconstruct the total structure and function of proteins in complex systems. This review article summarizes the work in our laboratory to explore proteins in human plasma combining various electrophoretic techniques: nondenaturing and denaturing 2-D PAGE, capillary electrophoresis, and agarose gel isoelectric focusing.     

Maize pollen enzymes after two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence or absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate

Twelve enzymes from mature pollen grains of maize were separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE). The separation in the second dimension was both in the presence and absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Ten of the investigated enzymes lost activity after separation in the presence of SDS, but those of esterases and acid phosphatase could be recovered. On the other hand, 2-D electrophoresis without SDS is suitable for the analysis of maize pollen pectinesterase, malate dehydrogenase, glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase, diaphorase, superoxide dismutase, and phosphoglucose isomerase. 1-D PAGE and isoelectric focusing (IEF) are sufficient to analyze glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, shikimic dehydrogenase, and glutamate dehydrogenase. The possibility of applying 2-D electrophoresis for the analysis of enzymes from single stigma and stigma exudate is dicussed.     

alpha-N-benzoylarginine-2-naphthylamide hydrolase (cathepsin B1 ?) from rat skin. II. Purification of the enzyme and demonstration of two inhibitors in the skin.

A thiol-activated, alpha-N-benzoylarginine-2-naph-thylamide (BANA) hydrolyzing enzyme was purified from rat skin by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration, and DEAE cellulose chromatography. In DEAE cellulose chromatography the enzyme was fractionated into two multiple forms (preparations I and II). The activity of undiluted preparation II, but not that of preparation I, was increased, when the enzyme was preincubated at pH 4, at 55 degrees C. Simultaneously, the isoelectric point of preparation II was shifted to that of preparation I, i.e., from 6.2 to 7.5. Activated preparation II behaved in DEAE cellulose chromatography as preparation I. Molecular weights of the enzymes of both preparations were 27 000, and pH optima were at pH 5.8 and 7.0, for BANA and leucine-2-napthylamide (Leu-NA), respectively. The BANA and Leu-NA hydrolyzing enzymes could not be separated by gel filtration, DEAE, CM, or Amberlite IRC-50 chromatography, isoelectric focusing, or analytical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Two inhibitors of BANA hydrolase were demonstrated by gel filtration in the salt precipitated skin extract. The activities of the BANA hydrolase preparations did not increase linearly with increasing enzyme concentration, with the exceptions of activities of preparation I and acid-activated preparation II. The role of the inhibitors in the nonlinearity of the activity/enzyme concentration curves is discussed.     

Dodecyl maltoside detergent improves resolution of hepatic membrane proteins in two-dimensional gels.

This report describes the incorporation of an alkyl maltoside detergent in two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) sample lysis buffer in order to improve resolution of protein patterns separated by nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis. Membrane-associated proteins with alkaline isoelectric points form horizontal streaks on two-dimensional electrophoretograms when solubilized with conventional nonionic detergent. Dodecyl maltoside enhances protein delipidation during solubilization and improves pattern resolution and protein mobility.     

High-throughput and high-resolution two dimensional mapping of pI and m/z using a microchip in a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer

We have developed a high-throughput, two-dimensional-mapping (isoelectric point [pI], mass-to-charge ratio [m/z]) method by combining a capillary isoelectric focusing chip sealed with removable resin tape and a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Sample proteins are separated in a meandering channel on the chip and immediately frozen. The tape is then removed and the proteins are freeze-dried. The freeze-drying maintains the separation state of the proteins and prevents movement of the sample solution, which can reduce pI resolution. A matrix solution is then applied and mass spectrometry is carried out by laser irradiation. The whole process takes less than 70 min, more than 10 times faster than with two-dimensional, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Separation and microanalysis of growth factors by Phast system gel electrophoresis and by DNA synthesis in cell culture

A simple, micro-scale method was established for the characterization of growth factors at picogram levels using Phast system gel electrophoresis followed by monitoring the mitogenic activity by DNA synthesis in cell culture instead of staining methods. The separations and bioassays were carried out with a procedure involving Phast polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or isoelectric focusing, gel slicing along the template, elution of growth factors through Transwell membranes and measurement of [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA of normal rat kidney (NRK) fibroblasts. Transwell cell culture chamber inserts separated sliced gel pieces from culture cells and also permitted the direct elution of growth factors into the culture medium. The lower limit of sensitivity for human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) and transforming growth factor type alpha (TGF-alpha) were about 50 and 200 pg, respectively. At these concentrations, they were not detectable by the current most sensitive silver staining technique. Iodinated hEGF and TGF-alpha were also used to demonstrate the feasibility of determining the isoelectric point and molecular weight of peptides at picogram levels. This method is reliable, reproducible and can improve current methods for the characterization of growth factors.     

Detection of changes in rabbit serum proteins after partial hepatectomy by means of two-dimensional electrophoresis under non-denaturing conditions

The changes in rabbit serum proteins after partial hepatectomy were examined by means of two-dimensional electrophoresis utilizing isoelectric focusing in a 4% polyacrylamide gel in the first dimension and a 4-30% pore gradient polyacrylamide gel in the second dimension. A rapid increase in seven proteins was observed after partial hepatectomy and a rapid decrease in two proteins. Major serum proteins, including albumin, immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M and alpha 2-macroglobulin, did not change. The time course of the changes was examined using a densitometer; the maxima of the changes were observed on day 3 after partial hepatectomy.     

The simplified technique of high resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis: biomedical applications in health and disease

The application of our simplified technique of high resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) to human body fluids is reviewed. Serum/plasma protein changes associated with alcohol abuse, familial dyslipoproteinemia ("fish-eye" disease), and myocardial infarction are demonstrated. High resolution 2-D PAGE of amniotic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, and saliva is shown with reference to the work of others, and the detection of pink-violet staining "lumicarmines" in sweat and tear fluid is reported for the first time. General aspects relating to the methodology are discussed. These include sample preparation, the choice of electrophoresis conditions (denaturing or nondenaturing) and detection method (Coomassie Brilliant Blue or silver), and the effects of native protein pretreatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate prior to silver staining or isoelectric focusing gel shrinkage in glycerol prior to second-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

N-terminal and internal sequence determination of microgram amounts of proteins separated by isoelectric focusing in immobilized pH gradients

Isolation of microgram amounts of proteins and submicrogram quantities of peptides in a form suitable for sequence analysis is a key step in high sensitivity protein sequencing technology. Recently, methods have been developed which allow the direct, high yield, recovery of microgram amounts of sequenceable proteins separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. In the present publication, we describe an extension of these methods to obtain N-terminal or internal sequence information from proteins separated by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels containing immobilized pH gradients. For N-terminal sequence analysis, separated proteins were electrophoretically transferred (electroblotted) onto chemically-modified glass fiber sheets, a support compatible with Edman degradation chemistry. Transferred protein bands were detected on the support, cut out and directly inserted into the cartridge of a gas-phase protein sequenator. For internal sequence analysis, separated proteins were electrophoretically transferred onto nitrocellulose. Protein bands were detected by staining, cut out and the proteins subjected to enzymatic digestion directly on the support. The resulting cleavage fragments (peptides) were released into the supernatant where they were recovered and separated by narrow-bore reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography for sequence analysis. The potential of this methodology is illustrated by the comparative peptide mapping of isoforms of bovine carbonic anhydrase.     

Rapid imaging, using a cooled charge-coupled-device, of fluorescent two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels produced by labelling proteins in the first-dimensional isoelectric focusing gel with the fluorophore 2-methoxy-2,4-diphenyl-3(2H)furanone

A new method for visualising proteins in two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels was developed. Proteins were labelled with the fluorophore 2-methoxy-2,4-diphenyl-3(2H)furanone (MDPF) while present in the first-dimensional gel after isoelectric focusing and subsequently electrophoresed into the second-dimensional gel. High resolution spot patterns were produced and compared with other methods of visualisation. A new rapid imaging system based on a cooled charge-coupled-device was used to view the two-dimensional fluorescent protein spot patterns. The method allows the immediate and rapid imaging of two-dimensional gels at the end of electrophoresis with no further processing.     

Application of an affinity electrophoretic and in situ oxidation method to the study of the equine protease inhibitory proteins

An affinity method was developed to investigate the interaction between protease and protease inhibitor by incorporating a protease incubation step into a two-dimensional electrophoretic separation of the plasma protease inhibitory proteins. This involved the application of the isoelectric focusing gel to filter paper saturated in the protease of choice before being placed on the second-dimensional polyacrylamide electrophoresis gel. General protein staining or immunoblotting was used to detect the protein or ligand in the complex. An in situ oxidation method was developed using the reagent chloramine T to investigate the effect of this reagent on the complexing abilities and inhibitory activities of the protease inhibitory proteins. Oxidation was performed either after electrophoresis prior to staining for enzyme inhibition or during two-dimensional electrophoresis prior to the aforementioned protease incubation. The latter allowed the effect of oxidation on complex formation to be examined. Whole plasmas were utilized as the sources of protease inhibitory proteins with the human and mouse being used as models. The equine protease inhibitory system was examined by the two methods and shown to consist of three classes of inhibitory proteins based on their susceptibilities to oxidation and abilities to form complexes with various proteases.     

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of extracellular soybean pathogenesis-related proteins using PhastSystem

Acidic and basic pathogenesis-related proteins (PR-Ps) were extracted from the intercellular fluid (IF) of soybean leaves, locally infected with tobacco necrosis virus and showing necrotic local lesions. Proteins were detected by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) using PhastSystem and precast commercially available gels. Extracts from healthy leaves were run as controls. PR-Ps were first run under native PAGE conditions or isoelectric focusing (IEF), the gels stained with Coomassie Blue, then run under sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-denaturing conditions and finally stained with silver. Ten major acidic PR-Ps were separated; their Mr's were close to those found by conventional PAGE. Their isoelectric points ranged from 3.5 to 5.0. Ten basic PR-Ps were separated and their Mr's estimated. None of these acidic or basic soybean PR-Ps was a glycoprotein. PAGE with PhastSystem and precast gels gives reliable results, comparable with those from conventional 2D-PAGE, with simpler experimental procedures. By electrophoresing Coomassie-stained gels with SDS in the second dimension, we were able to control the first-dimensional separation and to avoid laborious protocols generally adopted with unstained gels.     

Rapid protein separations in ultra-short microchannels: microchip sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing

We have developed novel protein gel electrophoresis techniques, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and isoelectric focusing (IEF) in short microchannels (approximately millimeters) that take less than a minute. A photopatterning technique was used to cast in situ crosslinked polyacrylamide gel in a microchannel to perform SDS-PAGE. A fluorescent protein marker sample (Mr range of 20,000-200,000) was separated in less than 30 s in less than 2 mm of channel length. Crosslinked polyacrylamide gel, patterned in channels using UV light, provides higher sieving power and sample stacking effect, therefore yielding faster and higher-resolution separation in a chip. IEF of proteins was also achieved in a microchannel, and several proteins were focussed within tens of seconds in mm-length channels. As resolution in IEF is independent of separation distance, focusing in ultra-short channels results in not only faster separation but also more concentrated bands potentially allowing detection of low-concentration species.     

Preparative separation of immunoglobulins from bovine colostrum by continuous divergent-flow electrophoresis

Immunoglobulins in bovine colostrum were separated and fractionated from other proteins using the method and instrumentation developed in our laboratory. The proposed separation was based on bidirectional isotachophoresis/moving boundary electrophoresis with electrofocusing of the analytes in a pH gradient from 3.9 to 10.1. The preparative instrumentation included the trapezoidal non-woven fabric that served as separation space with divergent continuous flow. The defatted and casein precipitate-free colostrum supernatant was loaded directly into the instrument without any additional colostrum pre-preparation. Immunoglobulin G was fractionated from other immune proteins such as bovine serum albumin, β-lactoglobulin, and α-lactalbumin, and was continuously collected in separated fractions over 3 h. The fractions were further processed, and isolated immunoglobulin G in the liquid fractions was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by re-focusing in gel isoelectric focusing. Separated immunoglobulin G was detected in seven fractions by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a gradually decreased concentration in the fractions. Re-focusing of the proteins in the fractions by gel isoelectric focusing revealed multiple separated zones of immunoglobulin G with the isoelectric point values covering the range from 5.4 to 7.2. Each fraction contained distinct zones with gradually increased isoelectric point values and decreased concentrations from fraction to fraction.     

Application of Neuhoff's optimized Coomassie brilliant blue G-250/ammonium sulfate/phosphoric acid protein staining to ultrathin polyacrylamide gels on polyester films

An optimized Coomassie staining procedure, utilizing Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 in phosphoric acid/ammonium sulfate, was applied to ultrathin-layer isoelectric focusing in 0.18 mm polyacrylamide gels, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 0.38 mm polyacrylamide gels, both backed to Gel-Fix polyester supporting films. After isoelectric focusing staining of gelatin and acidic proteins was better with the phosphoric acid/ammonium sulfate procedure than with conventional organic solvent methods. When applied to gels after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the sensitivity of the phosphoric acid/ammonium sulfate method was equal to that on conventional staining but lower than on silver staining.     

Peptidomic approach based on combined capillary isoelectric focusing and mass spectrometry for the characterization of the plasmin primary products from bovine and water buffalo beta-casein

The main peptides produced by hydrolysis of water buffalo beta-casein with plasmin were characterized by capillary electrophoresis and mass spectrometry and compared with their bovine homologous. A novel breakdown product arising from the hydrolysis of water buffalo beta-casein, originated by the presence of a plasmin-sensitive Lys bond at position 68 was identified, which was not present in bovine beta-casein. On the basis of this evidence, an improved procedure for the detection and the differentiation of the products of plasmin hydrolysis of bovine and water buffalo beta-casein by capillary isoelectric focusing was set-up. In the experimental conditions, the gamma-casein from the two species was efficiently separated. Comparison of the capillary electropherograms with those obtained by ultra-thin-layer isoelectric focusing, the reference method for routine analysis of plasmin digests of casein, suggests that capillary electrophoresis isoelectric focusing may constitute a successful alternative to the traditional slab gel electrophoresis analysis of plasmin digests of casein either for basic structural studies or for applications in the quality assessment of dairy products.     

Complete separation of anti-hapten antibodies by two-dimensional affinity electrophoresis

A high resolution two-dimensional affinity electrophoresis has been developed, using capillary isoelectric focusing as the first electrophoresis and slab gel affinity electrophoresis as second electrophoresis. By this method 1-2 micrograms of anti-dinitrophenyl antibodies have been separated completely into several hundred homogeneous IgG spots. They are grouped into a number of families which are composed of several IgG spots of the same affinity to the hapten but of a different pI. It is suggested that each individual family is derived from one monoclonal antibody producing cell line.     

Improved detection of human pancreatic proteins separated by two-dimensional isoelectric focusing/sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis using a combined staining procedure.

In order to assess secretory pancreatic proteins in a two-dimensional isoelectric focusing/sodium dodecyl sulphate electrophoresis gel, a highly sensitive double-staining method with Coomassie Brilliant Blue followed by silver stain was used. This combined procedure afforded more distinct spots and additional bands, particularly glycoproteins, than either silver or Coomassie Blue staining alone. As measurements of dye volumes by densitometry have shown, double staining of two-dimensional separated pancreatic proteins is up to twenty times more sensitive than the usual Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining.