Biosensor analysis of penicillin G in milk based on the inhibition of carboxypeptidase activity

The β-lactam antibiotics, including penicillins, are the most important antimicrobial substances used for mastitis treatment. Consequently, this is also the most frequently occurring type of antibiotic residues in milk. Today, in addition to the traditional microbial inhibitor tests, rapid and sensitive receptor and immunoassays are used in residue control. Due to the limitations in throughput capacity of these tests, recent applications of automated biosensor technology in food analysis are of great interest.A surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based biosensor (Biacore) was used to design an inhibition assay to detect β-lactam antibiotics in milk. A microbial receptor protein with carboxypeptidase activity was used as detection molecule. One advantage of using this receptor protein over antibodies that are more commonly used is that only the active, intact β-lactam structure is recognized, whereas most antibodies detect both active and inactive forms. In the presence of β-lactam antibiotics the formation of a stable complex between receptor protein and antibiotic inhibits the enzymatic activity of the protein. The decrease in enzymatic activity was measured using an antibody against the degraded substrate and penicillin G in milk samples was quantitatively determined. The limit of detection of the assay for penicillin G was determined to 2.6 μg kg⁻¹ for antibiotic-free producer milk, which is below the European maximum residue limit (MRL) of 4 μg kg⁻¹. The coefficient of variation at 4 μg kg⁻¹ penicillin G, ranged between 7.3 and 16% on three different days.     

Biosensor analysis of beta-lactams in milk: comparison with microbiological, immunological, and receptor-based screening methods

Two recently developed surface plasmon resonance biosensor assays for detection of beta-lactams in milk were used to screen raw producer milk samples. Both assays use a beta-lactam receptor protein with carboxypeptidase activity for detection. The results of the biosensor assays were compared with those of various commercial screening tests, i.e., the Delvotest SP, Penzym S, Beta-STAR, SNAP, and Parallux. The results of the 2 biosensor assays showed good agreement with those of the other screening tests. Of 195 analyzed milk samples, the results of only 5 samples differed between the assays. Additionally, 30 milk samples with both negative and positive results in the screening assays were analyzed by liquid chromatography for identification and quantification of any beta-lactam residues. All screening tests showed 0% false-negative results with 15 incurred samples containing between 4.0 and 268 microg/kg penicillin G. The biosensor assays showed 27% positive results (false violatives) with 15 producer milk samples containing penicillin G concentrations between 0 and 3.6 microg/kg, i.e., below maximum residue limit. This figure varied between 27 and 53% for the other screening tests.     

Biosensor immunoassay of ivermectin in bovine milk

A rapid and sensitive biosensor immunoassay was developed for determination of ivermectin residues in bovine milk. A detection limit of 16.2 ng/mL was achieved. A Biacore optical biosensor based on surface plasmon resonance was used, and a range of extraction techniques was investigated. In the final assay procedure, ivermectin was extracted with acetonitrile followed by C8 solid-phase extraction cleanup. It was proven experimentally that 2 methods of milk storage, freezing or addition of mercury-containing compounds as preservatives, could be used without considerable change in detected concentrations (samples were fortified with ivermectin after storage). The average values for milk samples spiked at 100 and 50 ng/mL concentrations were 102.6 and 51.5 ng/mL, respectively. Extraction and analysis of 20 milk samples were performed within a single working day.     

Investigation of protein binding affinity in multimodal chromatographic systems using a homologous protein library

A library of cold shock protein B mutant variants was employed to examine differences in protein binding behavior in ion exchange and multimodal chromatography. Single site mutations introduced at charged amino acids on the protein surface resulted in a homologous protein set with varying charge density and distribution. The retention times of the mutants varied significantly during linear gradient chromatography in both systems. The majority of the proteins were more strongly retained on the multimodal cation exchange resin as compared to the traditional cation exchanger. Further, the elution order of the mutants on the multimodal resin was different from that obtained with the ion exchanger. Quantitative structure–property relationship models generated using a support vector regression technique were shown to provide good predictions for the retention times of protein mutants on the multimodal resin. A coarse-grained ligand docking package was employed to examine the various interactions between the proteins and ligands in free solution. The multimodal ligand was shown to utilize multiple interaction types to achieve stronger retention on the protein surface. The use of this protein library in concert with the qualitative and quantitative analyses presented in this paper provides an improved understanding of protein behavior in multimodal chromatographic systems.     

Thermodynamic analysis of DNA binding by a Bacillus single stranded DNA binding protein

Background

Single-stranded DNA binding proteins (SSB) are essential for DNA replication, repair, and recombination in all organisms. SSB works in concert with a variety of DNA metabolizing enzymes such as DNA polymerase.

Results

We have cloned and purified SSB from Bacillus anthracis (SSB_BA). In the absence of DNA, at concentrations ??100 ??g/ml, SSB_BA did not form a stable tetramer and appeared to resemble bacteriophage T4 gene 32 protein. Fluorescence anisotropy studies demonstrated that SSB_BA bound ssDNA with high affinity comparable to other prokaryotic SSBs. Thermodynamic analysis indicated both hydrophobic and ionic contributions to ssDNA binding. FRET analysis of oligo(dT)₇₀ binding suggested that SSB_BA forms a tetrameric assembly upon ssDNA binding. This report provides evidence of a bacterial SSB that utilizes a novel mechanism for DNA binding through the formation of a transient tetrameric structure.

Conclusions

Unlike other prokaryotic SSB proteins, SSB_BA from Bacillus anthracis appeared to be monomeric at concentrations ??100 ??g/ml as determined by SE-HPLC. SSB_BA retained its ability to bind ssDNA with very high affinity, comparable to SSB proteins which are tetrameric. In the presence of a long ssDNA template, SSB_BA appears to form a transient tetrameric structure. Its unique structure appears to be due to the cumulative effect of multiple key amino acid changes in its sequence during evolution, leading to perturbation of stable dimer and tetramer formation. The structural features of SSB_BA could promote facile assembly and disassembly of the protein-DNA complex required in processes such as DNA replication.     

Study on the protein binding of ketoprofen using capillary electrophoresis frontal analysis compared with liquid chromatography frontal analysis

A method of capillary electrophoresis frontal analysis (CEFA) is developed for the first time to study the binding of ketoprofen to human serum albumin (HSA) and compared with high-performance liquid chromatography frontal analysis (LCFA). The separation is performed in an uncoated fused-silica capillary (60-cm x 75- micro m i.d., 50-cm effective length) with a phosphate buffer (pH 7.4, ionic strength of 0.17M) as the running buffer. The applied voltage is 13 kV and the detection is set at 254 nm. A trapezoidal peak of the unbound ketoprofen appears after HSA elution in the electropherogram. The plateau height of the peak is employed to determine the unbound concentration of ketoprofen in the HSA equilibrated sample solution. The CEFA method provides the advantages of small sample injection volume and rapidity and the disadvantage of low sensitivity compared with LCFA. CEFA is applicable to the binding parameter estimation of ketoprofen to the secondary binding site; an association constant (K(2)) of 0.24 x 10(6)M(-1) and the number for the binding site per molecule HSA of 2.54 is estimated. In contrast, LCFA measures parameters for both primary and secondary sites, which are 1.05 x 10(6)M(-1) and 0.94 for K(1) and n(1), respectively, and 0.12 x 10(6)M(-1) and 3.16 for K(2) and n(2), respectively. It is found that ketoprofen binds mainly at the primary site at a molecular ratio of ketoprofen versus HSA lower than 0.75, and the binding at the secondary site occurs at a higher ratio.     

CE-LIF method for the separation of anthracyclines: application to protein binding analysis in plasma using ultrafiltration

Anthracyclines are chemotherapeutic drugs that are widely used in the treatment of cancers such as lung and ovarian cancers. The simultaneous determination of the anthracyclines, daunorubicin, doxorubicin and epirubicin, was achieved using CE coupled to LIF, with an excitation and emission wavelength of 488 and 560 nm, respectively. Using a borate buffer (105 mM, pH 9.0) and 30% MeOH, a stable and reproducible separation of the three anthracyclines was obtained. The method developed was shown to be capable of monitoring the therapeutic concentrations (50-50 000 ng/mL) of anthracyclines. LODs of 10 ng/mL, calculated at an S/N = 3, were achieved. Using the CE method developed, the in vitro protein binding to plasma was measured by ultrafiltration, and from this investigation the estimated protein binding was determined to be in the range of 77-94%.     

Rapid synthesis of 1,3,4,4-tetrasubstituted beta-lactams from methyleneaziridines using a four-component reaction

2-Methyleneaziridines can be transformed into a variety of 1,3,4,4-tetrasubstituted beta-lactams in moderate to good yields (46-63%) via a "one-pot" process that brings together four components with the formation of three new intermolecular carbon-carbon bonds.     

共价三嗪骨架吸附剂-固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定牛奶中3种青霉素类残留

建立了固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法(SPE-UPLC-MS/MS)同时测定牛奶中苄青霉素、邻氯青霉素、氨苄青霉素3种青霉素残留的分析方法。以自制的共价三嗪骨架(CTFs)材料作为固相萃取吸附剂,对影响固相萃取柱效率的吸附剂填充量、洗脱剂种类和用量及上样速率等主要因素进行了优化;同时对样品的提取和净化条件进行了考察。在3 mL/min的样品流速下,采用60 mg CTFs吸附剂和6 mL纯乙腈洗涤液达到了最佳的萃取效果。以0.1%甲酸水溶液-乙腈作为流动相进行梯度洗脱,在Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18色谱柱上分离,电喷雾正离子(ESI⁺)模式下以动态多反应监测(MRM)采集数据,外标法定量。3种目标分析物的线性回归方程相关系数均大于0.999,检出限(LOD)为0.05~0.10 μg/kg(信噪比S/N=3),定量限(LOQ)为0.1~0.4 μg/kg(S/N=10),加标回收率为84.9%~94.1%,相对标准偏差(RSD, n=5)为1.66%~3.27%。此外,共价三嗪骨架材料与目标物的作用机理研究表明,主客体分子间存在π-π相互作用和氢键作用等多重相互作用,使该吸附剂可成功用于牛奶中青霉素的富集和净化。该方法具有精密度较高、重复性较好、分离度高、分析时间短等优点,可适用于牛奶中青霉素定性定量测定。     

Rapid liquid chromatographic determination of residual penicillin G in milk

A simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for determination of residual penicillin G (benzylpenicillin, PCG) in milk was developed. The sample preparation was performed by stirring with ethanol and reacting with 5 M 1,2,4-triazole-mercury (II) chloride solution at 65?°C for 10 min followed by an ultra centrifugation step. The HPLC separation was carried out using a Mightysil^® RP-4GP column, a mobile phase of acetonitrile and 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.5) (35:65, v/v) and a photo-diode array detector. The average recoveries from spiked PCG (0.004, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 μg/mL) were above 86% with coefficients of variation between 1.2 and 4.5%. The limit of detection was 0.004 μg/mL. This value corresponds to the maximum residue limit (MRL) in milk (0.004 μg/mL, EU and Japan). The total time required for the analysis of one sample was below 40 min.     

Rapid liquid chromatographic determination of residual penicillin G in milk

A simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for determination of residual penicillin G (benzylpenicillin, PCG) in milk was developed. The sample preparation was performed by stirring with ethanol and reacting with 5 M 1,2,4-triazole-mercury (II) chloride solution at 65 degrees C for 10 min followed by an ultra centrifugation step. The HPLC separation was carried out using a Mightysil RP-4GP column, a mobile phase of acetonitrile and 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.5) (35:65, v/v) and a photo-diode array detector. The average recoveries from spiked PCG (0.004, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 microgram/mL) were above 86% with coefficients of variation between 1.2 and 4.5%. The limit of detection was 0.004 microgram/mL. This value corresponds to the maximum residue limit (MRL) in milk (0.004 microgram/mL, EU and Japan). The total time required for the analysis of one sample was below 40 min.     

Following a protein kinase activity using a field-effect transistor device

The specific phosphorylation of a peptide-functionalized ion-sensitive field-effect transistor device by casein kinase II in the presence of ATP enables the electronic readout of the protein kinase activity; treatment of the phosphorylated surface with alkaline phosphatase results in the regeneration of the active sensing surface.     

Lipid II: total synthesis of the bacterial cell wall precursor and utilization as a substrate for glycosyltransfer and transpeptidation by penicillin binding protein (PBP) 1b of Escherichia coli.

An essential feature in the life cycle of both gram positive and gram negative bacteria is the production of new cell wall. Also known as murein, the cell wall is a two-dimensional polymer, consisting of a linear, repeating N-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc) and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) motif, cross-linked via peptides appended to MurNAc. The final steps in the maturation of murein are catalyzed by a single, bifunctional enzyme, known as a high MW, class A penicillin binding protein (PBP). PBPs catalyze polymerization of the sugar units (glycosyltransfer), as well as peptide cross-linking (transpeptidation) utilizing Lipid II as substrate. Detailed enzymology on this enzyme has been limited, due to difficulties in obtaining sufficient amounts of Lipid II, as well as the availability of a convenient and informative assay. We report the total chemical synthesis of Lipid II, as well as the development of an appropriate assay system and the observation of both catalytic transformations.     

Radioassay of serum vitamin B12 using a competitive protein binding technique

A method has been developed for the radiassay of serum vitamin B₁₂ using a competitive binding technique. By this method, vitamin B₁₂ levels as low as 50 pg per ml of serum can be estimated in test samples. Egg yolk has been used as a test binding protein, which has several advantages over serum or plasma protein binding agents, as described in this paper. This binder is quite suitable and reliable for the assay of vitamin B₁₂.     

Real-time determination of microbial activity of pasteurized fluid milk using a novel microrespirometer method

The effectiveness of the rapid CO2 evolution rate (CER) method was evaluated by using a novel noninstrumental microrespirometer to determine the microbial activity of pasteurized milk and comparing it with traditional culturing methods in homogeneous milk samples. Three different kinds of milk (skim, 1% fat, and whole) stored at 2 temperatures (4 degrees and 7 degrees C) were measured daily for CER, aerobic plate count (APC), and psychrotrophic bacterial count. The mean initial rates of CO2 evolution for all 3 samples stored at the 2 temperatures ranged from 3.42 to 3.71 microL/h/mL and increased to 29 microL/h/mL and above on the final day of the experiment. Regression analysis showed a high correlation (R = 0.98-0.99) between the APC and CER results in combined milk samples. A cut-off value of CER (25 microL/h/mL) for milk spoilage at refrigeration temperatures was identified. The real-time CER method shows promise as a potential alternative to the traditional culture method.     

Quantification of the fat content of milk using a partial-least-squares method of data analysis in the near infrared

Conclusions In summation, PLS coupled with near-infrared spectroscopy is a powerful tool for analysis of fat content in milk. The diagnostics associated with the quantitative method help guide the user through the selection of proper parameters for a high-quality calibration. The low standard deviation of the fat content in milk indicates the applicability of this method to food analysis.