Separation of Trp-Arg and Arg-Trp using G-quartet-forming DNA oligonucleotides in open-tubular capillary electrochromatography

DNA oligonucleotides that form intramolecular G-quartet structures were investigated as stationary phase reagents for separation of mixtures of the isomeric dipeptides Trp-Arg and Arg-Trp in open-tubular capillary electrochromatography (OTCEC). The oligonucleotides included a thrombin-binding aptamer that forms a biplanar G-quartet structure and an oligonucleotide that forms a 4-plane G-quartet structure. Fluorescence, circular dichroism and UV-visible absorbance spectroscopies were used in batch solution studies to indicate interactions between the dipeptides and the biplanar G-quartet structure. Results for OTCEC separations were compared with results obtained for capillary zone electrophoresis separations on a bare capillary. Temperature studies suggest that resolution is improved when the G-quartet structure is partially destabilized, but control experiments in which potassium chloride was not included in the mobile phase indicate that the G-quartet structure nevertheless plays a role in the separations.     

Effects of G-quartet DNA stationary phase destabilization on fibrinogen peptide resolution in capillary electrochromatography

The migration of fibrinogen peptides in capillaries coated with G-quartet-forming DNA oligonucleotides in open-tubular CEC (OTCEC) was studied, in order to investigate factors affecting the retention of peptides on G-quartet DNA stationary phases. At 25 degrees C, the peptides eluted in the same order in OTCEC using a two-plane G-quartet DNA stationary phase as in CZE, including two peptides that were completely overlapped. It was found that baseline resolution of the coeluting peptides could be achieved in the OTCEC experiment, but not in CZE, at run temperatures of 35-40 degrees C. A stationary phase formed by a scrambled-sequence oligonucleotide that does not form a G-quartet did not provide any resolution of the two coeluting peptides, even at the higher temperatures, indicating that some destabilization of the G-quartet enhances resolution but that some degree of G-quartet structure is necessary. The effects of destabilization were further explored through variation of the cations (sodium or potassium) used in attachment of the G-quartet oligonucleotide to the capillary surface and in the mobile-phase buffer. Resolution was lower when a more stable, four-plane G-quartet stationary phase was used, supporting the conclusion that some flexibility in the G-quartet structure facilitates differential interactions that resolve otherwise coeluting peptides. The increase in peptide resolution upon destabilization of the G-quartet structure could prove to be an important factor in the application of G-quartet DNA stationary phases for nonaffinity-based separation of native proteins and peptides.     

Open-tubular capillary electrochromatography of bovine beta-lactoglobulin variants A and B using an aptamer stationary phase.

DNA aptamers that form a G-quartet conformation were covalently attached to a capillary surface for open-tubular capillary electrochromatographic separation of bovine beta-lactoglobulin variants A and B, which vary by 2 of their 162 amino acid residues. Separation was achieved using a 4-plane, G-quartet aptamer stationary phase with tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris) or phosphate buffer as the mobile phase. In control experiments, separation did not occur using either an oligonucleotide of similar base composition but which does not form a G-quartet structure, or using capillary zone electrophoresis on a bare capillary under similar experimental conditions. Separation was achieved using a capillary coated only with the covalent linker molecule. In phosphate buffer, the separations were similar for aptamer-coated and linker-only stationary phases, while in Tris buffer, retention times were almost doubled for the linker-only capillary. When Tris buffer is the mobile phase, there appears to be weaker interactions between the proteins and the stationary phase that may result in a gentler, less denaturing separation than is commonly achieved using hydrocarbon-based stationary phases.     

Selectivity of quadruplex DNA stationary phases toward amino acids in homodipeptides and alanyl dipeptides

Series of dipeptides, including homodipeptides and alanyl dipeptides, were separated using quadruplex (G-quartet) DNA stationary phases in open-tubular capillary electrochromatography (OTCEC). The stationary phases were constructed by covalently attaching the DNA oligonucleotides to the inner capillary surface. Three different G-quartet forming oligonucleotides were investigated: the two-plane G-quartet forming thrombin-binding aptamer, the four-plane analogue of the thrombin-binding aptamer, and a two-plane oligonucleotide identical to the thrombin-binding aptamer except for the replacement of the guanine by thymine in the central bridging loop of the G-quartet structure. Results were compared with results obtained using capillary electrophoresis on a bare capillary and OTCEC using an oligonucleotide with the same base composition as the thrombin-binding aptamer but in a different sequence that does not allow G-quartet formation as the stationary phase.     

Capillary gel electrophoresis analysis of G-quartet forming oligonucleotides used in DNA-protein interaction studies

DNA-protein binding is among the most frequently studied biomolecular interactions with high importance in modern systems biology research. One interesting aspect of this rapidly developing field is the affinity capture of proteins by G-quartet forming oligonucleotides also referred to as aptamers. G-quartets are structural motifs formed by guanine-rich sequences commonly occurring in the human genome. In this paper, we describe a capillary gel electrophoresis based method to validate G-quartet formation of in-house designed oligonucleotides and discuss the effect of monovalent cation concentration on the development of this structure. The relevant aptamer was then bound to magnetic beads to form an affinity capture surface for target proteins, which were then analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.     

A chemometric approach to the detection of milk adulteration based on protein profiles determined by capillary electrophoresis

The general objective of this study was to utilize chemometrics in the interpretation of capillary electrophoresis milk protein profiles, for the detection of pasteurized milk adulteration with rehydrated milk powder or a rehydrated dairy-based milk substitute. The specific objectives were 1) to collect quantitative data on major casein and whey proteins in authentic and adulterated milks in a single CE analysis; and 2) to apply a pattern recognition procedure, Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogies (SIMCA), on collected CE protein data, for the development of a statistical model useful in the detection of pasteurized milk adulteration. Authentic samples were fresh milk collected from various farms over a period of six months. Adulterated samples were authentic fresh milk partially or totally substituted with rehydrated milk powder or a rehydrated commercial milk substitute at different levels. Quantitative protein data obtained by capillary free zone electrophoresis for beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, beta-casein, and alpha-casein of 86 samples, authentic and adulterated samples, were used as a training set to build a SIMCA multivariate statistical model. The detection of sample outliers was useful for the elimination of unusual samples and optimization of the multivariate model. From the 35 commercial pasteurized milks tested, which were treated as unknowns, a total of 14 samples (40%) were not assigned to the authentic or fresh milk group, meaning that these samples had some type of adulteration at the levels included in the training set (> 15%). Decision-making on detecting adulteration of unknown commercial pasteurized milk samples was eased since predictions were based on statistical probabilities.     

Aptamer stationary phase for protein capture in affinity capillary chromatography

The thrombin-binding DNA aptamer was used with thrombin as a model system to investigate protein capture using aptamer stationary phases in affinity capillary chromatography. The aptamer was covalently attached to the inner surface of a bare fused-silica glass capillary to serve as the stationary phase. Proteins were loaded onto the capillary via an applied pressure. The capillary was then washed to remove unbound and non-specifically associated proteins. Finally, the bound protein was released and eluted using 20 mM Tris buffer containing 8 M urea, pH 7.3, at 50 degrees C. Eluate was collected after each step (load, wash and elute) and relative amounts of protein each were compared using fluorescence spectroscopy. The identity of the protein in the collections was confirmed using matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The experiment was repeated for thrombin on a bare (unmodified) capillary and a capillary coated with a scrambled-sequence, non-G-quartet forming oligonucleotide that does not bind with thrombin. The results show that the aptamer stationary phase captures approximately three times as much thrombin as the control columns. The experiment was also repeated using human serum albumin (HSA) alone and in an equimolar mixture with thrombin. HSA was not retained on the aptamer capillary, nor did it affect the capture of thrombin from the mixture.     

A 150 micron id packed column for the separation of soybean proteins by elution gradient mu-HPLC: simultaneous separation of soybean proteins from cereal and milk proteins

Mu-HPLC has previously been used to increase the resolution and sensitivity of protein separations but never for the analysis of soybean proteins. In this work, soybean proteins were, for the first time, separated using a capillary column with an internal diameter of 150 microm packed with a Genesis C18 stationary phase (4 microm, 300 angstroms) and UV detection. TFA and acetic acid were investigated as ion-pairing reagents in order to optimise water-ACN gradients to achieve this separation. The column showed good selectivity enabling the separation of soybean proteins from other vegetable proteins such as cereal (wheat, rice and corn) and also from milk proteins. The developed method was applied to the detection of soybean proteins in commercial products elaborated with mixtures of vegetable proteins.     

On-line concentration of neomycin and screening aminoglycosides in milk by short capillary column and tandem mass spectrometry

An MS-MS method was established for the trace analysis of neomycin and screening aminoglycoside antibiotics (such as amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, and tobramycin) in a milk sample. The extraction and purification are based on ion-pair SPE technology on a short fused-silica capillary RP C18 column. The capillary SPE column provided the stationary phase to retain aminoglycoside antibiotics and MS-MS compatible organic acid heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA) was used as protein precipitation and ion-pair reagent. Aminoglycosides were extracted in this short column and directly eluted to MS-MS without evaporating to dryness and reconstituted with MS-MS compatible solvent after SPE. The LOQ was 0.1 microg/mL and the calibration curve was linear up to 6.4 microg/mL. A small amount of milk product, 10 microL, is sufficient for the analysis and application of this method as the trace analysis of neomycin in the biological matrix proved simple and workable.     

Validation of capillary electrophoresis in the analysis of ewe's milk casein

Recent investigations have shown that capillary electrophoresis (CE) can be an alternative to other techniques such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) or sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in the qualitative analysis and separation of the different casein fractions in cow's and ewe's milk. However, past work has not yet clarified whether that method can achieve good quantifications. The present study has used a commercial whole ovine casein standard and a mixture of the standard and whole casein extracted from ewe's milk cheese to test the reliability of the technique. The results show that CE was able to quantify the ewe's milk caseins. The areas under four of the most representative peaks on the electrophoretogram for two alpha and two beta-caseins (designated alpha-casein1CE, alpha-casein2CE, beta-casein1CE, and beta-casein2CE in order of elution) were used to validate the method. In relation to linearity, coefficient of determination (r2) values greater than 99% were obtained for the regressions of each of the caseins. Moreover, each casein yielded response factors with a relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of less than or equal to 5. The coefficients obtained in the day-to-day reproducibility analysis were higher than those for the same-day repeatability, but all the values were within acceptable limits. In the study of accuracy, the percentage recovery rates for the alpha-casein fractions were higher than those for the beta-casein fractions, hence quantification of the latter using this technique would appear to be more accurate under the conditions employed.     

毛细管电泳检测奶粉中添加的大豆分离蛋白

采用毛细管电泳方法对乳蛋白和大豆分离蛋白进行检测。选择聚丙烯酰胺涂层毛细管,在紫外检测波长214 nm、分离电压25 kV条件下测出五种乳蛋白在不同线性范围内的线性相关系数均大于0.998,各乳蛋白的迁移时间和峰面积的相对标准偏差(RSD)分别小于0.34%和4.50%,奶粉样品加标回收率范围为88.07%~102%;通过对比大豆7S和11S组分、大豆分离蛋白及乳蛋白的电泳图谱,定性确定出大豆分离蛋白8个特征峰,各特征峰的迁移时间和峰面积的RSD分别小于0.36%和4.87%,方法重现性较好。建立了奶粉中添加大豆分离蛋白的半定量检测方法。     

Protein separation by open tubular capillary electrochromatography employing a capillary coated with phenylalanine functionalized tentacle-type polymer under both cathodic and anodic electroosmotic flows

The use of a phenylalanine (Phe) functionalized tentacle-type polymer coated capillary column for protein separation by open tubular capillary electrochromatography (OTCEC) was demonstrated in this work. The tentacle-type stationary phase was prepared from silanized fused-silica capillaries of 50 microm I.D. by glycidyl methacrylate graft polymerization and subsequent Phe functionalization. Due to the amphoteric functional groups of the Phe bonded on the tentacle-type polymer stationary phase, protein separation in the prepared column can be performed under both cathodic and anodic electroosmotic flow (EOF) by varying the pH values of the mobile phase. Model proteins including ribonuclease A (RNase A), myoglobin, transferrin, insulin were baseline separated under cathodic EOF with a mobile phase of pH 8.8. Comparison between the separation result of the four proteins under conditions of OTCEC and capillary zone electrophoresis indicates that the migration behavior of the four proteins in the prepared column was the result of the interplay of chromatographic retention and electrophoretic migration. Besides, three basic proteins including RNase A, cytochrome c (Cyt-c) and lysozyme (Lys) were fully resolved under anodic EOF with an acidic running buffer (pH 2.5). The elution order was the same as the isoelectric point values of the proteins (RNase A相似文献   

Characterization of some physical and chromatographic properties of monolithic poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) columns

Monolithic capillary columns were prepared by copolymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene inside a 200 microm i.d. fused silica capillary using a mixture of tetrahydrofuran and decanol as porogen. Important chromatographic features of the synthesized columns were characterized and critically compared to the properties of columns packed with micropellicular, octadecylated poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) (PS-DVB-C18) particles. The permeability of a 60 mm long monolithic column was slightly higher than that of an equally dimensioned column packed with PS-DVB-C18 beads and was invariant up to at least 250 bar column inlet pressure, indicating the high-pressure stability of the monolithic columns. Interestingly, monolithic columns showed a 3.6 times better separation efficiency for oligonucleotides than granular columns. To study differences of the molecular diffusion processes between granular and monolithic columns, Van Deemter plots were measured. Due to the favorable pore structure of monolithic columns all kind of diffusional band broadening was reduced two to five times. Using inverse size-exclusion chromatography a total porosity of 70% was determined, which consisted of internodule porosity (20%) and internal porosity (50%). The observed fast mass transfer and the resulting high separation efficiency suggested that the surface of the monolithic stationary phase is rather rough and does not feature real pores accessible to macromolecular analytes such as polypeptides or oligonucleotides. The maximum analytical loading capacity of monolithic columns for oligonucleotides was found to be in the region of 500 fmol, which compared well to the loading capacity of the granular columns. Batch-to-batch reproducibility proved to be better with granular stationary phases compared to monolithic stationary phase, in which each column bed is the result of a unique column preparation process.     

Hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation: a gentle separation method for mass spectrometry of native proteins

Low-impact ionization sources like electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted, laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) equipped with time-of-flight (TOF) mass analyzers provide intact protein analysis over a very wide molar mass range. ESI/TOFMS provides also indications on the higher-order structure of intact proteins and non-covalent protein complexes. However, direct analysis of intact proteins mixtures in real samples shows limited success, mainly because spectra become very complex to interpret. This is also due to sample contaminants, and to the mechanism of competitive ionization in ESI or MALDI. Rapid and efficient sample clean-up and separation methods can significantly enhance the power of TOFMS for intact protein analysis. However, if protein native conditions want to be maintained, the methods should affect neither the three-dimensional structure nor the non-covalent chemistry of the proteins. Reversed-phase (RP) HPLC, size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) are on-line or off-line coupled to ESI/TOFMS or MALDI/TOFMS. In fact, these separation methods often show limitations when applied to the analysis of native proteins. Organic modifiers and saline buffers are required in the case of RP HPLC or CZE. They can induce protein degradation or affect ionization when MS is performed after separation. High voltages used in CZE can contribute to alter proteins from their native form. In the case of high molar mass proteins, SEC is scarcely selective, and barely able to detect protein aggregates. Sample entanglement/adsorption on the stationary phase can also occur.     

Monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles as an efficient stationary phase for open tubular gas chromatography using a square capillary model for chip-based gas chromatography in square cornered microfabricated channels

The application of a dodecanethiol monolayer-protected gold nanoparticle (MPN) stationary phase within a microchannel environment was explored using a square capillary column as a model for high-speed, microfabricated gas chromatography (microGC). Successful deposition and evaluation of a dodecanethiol MPN phase within a 1.3 m long, 100 microm x 100 microm square capillary is reported. The thickness of the MPN phase was evaluated using SEM analysis. An average thickness of 15 nm along the capillary walls was determined. While the film depth along the walls was very uniform, the corner depths were greater with the largest observed depth being 430 nm. Overall, an efficient chromatographic system was obtained with a minimum reduced plate height, h(min), of 1.2 for octane (k = 0.22). Characterization of the MPN column was completed using four compound classes (alkanes, alcohols, ketones, and aromatics) that were used to form a seven-component mixture with a 2-s separation. A mixture consisting of a nerve agent simulant in a sample containing analytes that may commonly interfere with detection was also separated in only 2 s, much faster than a similar separation previously reported using a microGC system requiring 50 s. A comparison of the MPN stationary phase to phases employed in previously reported microGC systems is also made. Application of the square capillary MPN column for a high-speed separation as the second column of a comprehensive 2-D gas chromatography system (GC x GC) was also explored.     

G-quartets 40 years later: from 5'-GMP to molecular biology and supramolecular chemistry

Molecular self-assembly is central to many processes in both biology and supramolecular chemistry. The G-quartet, a hydrogen-bonded macrocycle formed by cation-templated assembly of guanosine, was first identified in 1962 as the basis for the aggregation of 5'-guanosine monophosphate. We now know that many nucleosides, oligonucleotides, and synthetic derivatives form a rich array of functional G-quartets. The G-quartet surfaces in areas ranging from structural biology and medicinal chemistry to supramolecular chemistry and nanotechnology. This Review integrates and summarizes knowledge gained from these different areas, with emphasis on G-quartet structure, function, and molecular recognition.     

"Early" protein synthesis of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus in milk revealed by [35S] methionine labeling and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

The proteomes of exponentially growing and stationary cells of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus grown in rich medium (MRS) were separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and quantified after Coomassie staining. Stationary cells grown in MRS were inoculated in reconstituted skim milk, and "early" protein synthesis during the first 30 min of fermentation in milk was monitored by [35S]methionine labeling and 2-DE. In contrast to exponentially growing or stationary cells, the predominant "early" proteins were small (< 15 kDa) and of low pI (< 5.3). Quantification of the proteome of the "early" lag phase based on 47 "spots" revealed that only three "early" proteins accounted for more than 80% of the total label. They were identified as pI 4.7 and 4.9 isoforms of the heat-stable phosphoryl carrier protein (HPr) with 45.2 and 9.4% of total label, respectively, and an unknown protein called EPr1 ("early" protein 1) with 26.6% of total label. Although an N-terminal sequence of 19 amino acids was obtained, no homologs to EPr1 could be found. De novo synthesis of the 10 and 60 kDa heat shock proteins (GroES and GroEL) was considerably lower (0.04 and 0.9% of total label, respectively), indicating only low levels of stress. Synthesis of triosephosphate isomerase (Tpi) as marker for glycolytic enzymes reached only 0.08% of total label. Our results demonstrate that inoculation in milk, resulting in a change from glucose to lactose as carbon source, imposes only little need for synthesis of stress or glycolytic enzymes, as sufficient proteins are present in the stationary, MRS-grown cells. The high level of expression of the pI 4.7 isoform of HPr suggests a regulatory function of the presumed Ser-46 phosphorylated form of HPr.     

Use of cholate derivatives with submicellar concentration for controlling selectivity of proteins in hydrophobic interaction chromatography

Hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) of proteins using a phenyl column has been performed in the presence of various surfactants with micellar and submicellar concentration ranges. Most surfactants were effective for a decrease in the retention of proteins in both concentration ranges. However, the use of anionic cholate derivatives increased the retention of the proteins with high isoelectric point, such as lysozyme, cytochrome c, and trypsin, in submicellar concentration range, and then decreased it above the critical micellar concentration, while the retention of the other proteins was monotonously decreased. The results of frontal chromatographic analysis of the surfactant and capillary electrophoresis for the proteins in the presence of surfactant show that in the submicellar concentration range, cholate derivatives allowed to be adsorbed on the stationary phase, while they exhibited no interactions with the proteins. Thus, it appeared that the increase in the retention of basic proteins was due to the electrostatic attraction between the proteins and cholate-modified stationary phase. We have applied the unique property of cholate to the separation of ovalbumin and lysozyme in egg white sample using hydrophobic chromatography.     

Adsorption behavior of acidic and basic proteins onto citrate-coated Au surfaces correlated to their native fold, stability, and pI

The adsorption of eight different proteins (alpha-lactalbumin (types I and III), bovine serum albumin, hemoglobin, myoglobin, cytochrome c, alpha-casein, and lysozyme) onto a model anionic surface was performed at equivalent bulk (solvent, ionic strength, pH) and surface conditions. Adsorption was monitored on a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) with citrate-coated gold surfaces as adsorbents and has been correlated to native fold stability determined from near- and far-UV circular dichroism (CD) measurements. The proteins studied here were chosen based on their pI and documented knowledge about their structural stability and flexibility. Protein adsorption was found to be independent of global protein charge. Rather, binding occurs through oppositely charged patches on protein and surface. Moreover, data indicate that there is a correlation between secondary and tertiary structure stability and the adsorption characteristics at interfaces. Also, protein surface coverage, layer thickness, and flexibility can be tuned as a function of deposition method. This is discussed in terms of adsorption/spreading kinetics and intermolecular (protein-surface and protein-protein) interactions. Adsorption to surfaces can induce formation of supramolecular structures such as micelles (in the case of alpha-Cas) and multilayers (as for Hb). In the case of alpha-casein, this phenomenon depends on the deposition method and protein concentration. When ranking the surface coverage for proteins added in excess, the order is Lyz < Cyt c < Mb < BSA < alpha-La I < alpha-Cas < alpha-La III < Hb, which can be correlated to the proteins ability to form supramolecular structures (alpha-Cas, Hb), overall conformational flexibilities, and ability to form stable intermediates.     

高效毛细管电泳浊度法检测牛奶及奶粉中的三聚氰胺

建立高效毛细管电泳(HPCE)浊度法检测牛奶和奶粉中三聚氰胺的方法。样品中加入三氯乙酸水溶液,加热样品至沸腾后自然冷却,使蛋白质充分凝聚、沉降,并提取三聚氰胺。色谱条件为:毛细管柱长度50cm、内径75μm,分离电压13kV,进样量12.3kPa×3s,分离温度25℃,检测波长236nm。加标回收率为83%～98%之间,定量限为1mg/kg。测量结果的相对标准偏差为1.8%～3.4%(n=5)。该法可用于大量牛奶和奶粉样品中三聚氰胺的快速检测。