Pulsed-electric-field crossflow ultrafiltration of bovine serum albumin

A conventional crossflow ultrafiltration (CUF) apparatus was modified by the inclusion of electrodes which permitted a pulsed electric field to be produced across the ultrafiltration membrane (PEF-UF process). Using this apparatus, a discontinuous electrophoretic velocity was imposed upon the proteins being concentrated, opposing their convective movement toward the CUF membrane. This resulted in a lower concentration of rejected solute protein in the fluid boundary layer adjacent to the high-pressure side of the membrane and, hence, in a lower solute-related filtration resistance than in the case of conventional ultrafiltration (zero electric field). Studies of the PEF-UF process with bovine serum albumin (BSA) in the range of 0.5–5% w/v demonstrated a 25–40% decrease in the solute-related resistance to the permeate flux compared to the case of a zero electric field. Accordingly, higher permeate fluxes and, therefore, higher rates of concentration of the protein solution were obtained than for conventional crossflow ultrafiltration. When the electric field was reimposed following a period of operation under conventional CUF conditions, the permeate flux could be restored to nearly the same higher value observed initially for the PEF-UF process.     

Binding study of Flos Lonicerae Japonicae with bovine serum albumin using centrifugal ultrafiltration and liquid chromatography

The screening and analysis of bioactive components in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) is very important not only for the quality control of Chinese herbs but also for elucidating the therapeutic principles. This study developed a new method for screening and analyzing bioactive compounds from TCMs using centrifugal ultrafiltration coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography. The method was successfully applied in the binding study of Flos Lonicerae Japonicae with bovine serum albumin (BSA), and 11 compounds were found to be bound with the BSA. Eight of them were positively identified as chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, lonicerin, 3, 5-di-O-caffeoyl quinic acid and 3,4-di-O-caffeoyl quinic acid. Another three compounds were tentatively identified as two isomers of chlorogenic acid and one isomer of di-O-caffeoyl quinic acid by comparing the UV data and MS data with the previous reports. Based on modern pharmacological study, these compounds are the major bioactive components in Lonicera japonica. Therefore, the proposed method could be a good approach to predicting the potential bioactivities of multiple compounds in TCMs simultaneously.     

Modification of polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes with UV irradiation and hydrophilicity increasing agents

Hydrophobic polysulfone UF membranes were modified with UV irradiation and hydrophilicity increasing agents. The modifications were tested with 0.5% whey-protein solution and 0.05% lysozyme solution at pH 6 and with 0.05% bovine serum albumin solution at various pH values. UV irradiation increased flux and the hydrophilicity of the membranes. The flux increases obtained varied with pH and modification agents used and could be more than 400% compared to unmodified conditions without any loss in retention. The best retentions were obtained at pH values, where both the protein and the membrane had the same charge, and a strong electrostatic repulsion was obtained. The pores enlarged to fixed sizes, which depended on the sizes of the proteins and the range of double layer forces between proteins and membranes at different states of charge density.     

Enhanced separation of albumin-poly(ethylene glycol) by combination of ultrafiltration and electrophoresis

Separation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) from poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) through ultrafiltration membranes has been investigated. Concentration polarization by BSA represents a strong limitation to the transmission of PEG through a porous membrane. The application of an electric field normal to the membrane can help to reduce BSA concentration polarization and to enhance PEG transmission, both in ultrafiltration and in diafiltration mode. A range of solution compositions of BSA and PEG has been investigated. The contribution of electrokinetic phenomena is measured by specific experiments.     

基于蛋白构象变化研究pH值对茜素红与牛血清白蛋白相互作用的影响

利用光谱法和分子对接技术研究了不同pH值对牛血清白蛋白(BSA)与茜素红(ARS)键合作用的影响。pH值为4.0的酸性环境引起BSA天然紧缩构象逐渐发生去折叠,BSA的ⅡA区疏水空腔的展开降低了其与ARS的相互作用,键合常数Kb仅为3.39×104L·mol-1。而pH值大于等电点(pI 4.8)或呈现中性时,两者的键合作用增强,Kb增至3.16×106L·mol-1(pH 7.0)。而且,由于氢键和范德华力的键合作用力较强,BSA和ARS的相互作用受表面电荷影响较小,与理论模拟对接结果相吻合。     

茜素红 S与蛋白质的反应机理研究

应用UV光谱法研究在pH4.35的缓冲溶液中, 茜素红 S(ARS)与牛血清蛋白(BSA)间的相互结合反应。测定了平均结合数n=8, 分配结合常数K~c=1.5×10^5。研究了小分子探针与蛋白质的反应机理, 相互间的结合部位及结合力。该复合物结合前后的等吸收波长红移28nm, 这是目前此类结合反应研究中, 其分子间结合力较大的一例。进一步研究了ARS与多种蛋白质的结合反应, 以及离子强度对该体系的影响。提出了合适的反应模型。     

Liquid crystal-based capacitive,electro-optical and dielectric biosensors for protein quantitation

ABSTRACT

The electrical, electro-optical and dielectric properties of liquid crystals (LCs) are routinely manipulated in liquid-crystal display (LCD) devices, but their potential application in the development of biosensors is still in a nascent stage. In this review, utilising the electrical properties, electro-optical effect and dielectric anisotropy in LCs, we provide insights into several possible modes of label-free biodetection and describe how capacitance, electro-optical and dielectric measurements of various LCs assist in quantitative analysis of biomolecules. It is concluded that the electrically induced biosensing techniques proposed here provides new incentives for researchers to study the interaction between LCs and biomolecules and to resolve technical hurdles facing the development of LC-based biosensors.     

Inulin Hydrolysis by Immobilized Inulinase on Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles Using Soy Protein Isolate and Bovine Serum Albumin

Inulin hydrolysis was performed by inulinase from Aspergillus niger covalently immobilized on magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) covered with soy protein isolate (Fe₃O₄/SPI) functionalized by bovine serum albumin (Fe₃O₄/SPI/BSA) nanoparticles as a new bio‐functional carrier. The specific activity and protein content of the immobilized enzyme were 25.99 U/mg and 3.52 mg/mL, respectively, with 80% enzyme loading. The immobilized inulinase showed maximum activity at 45 °C, which is 5 °C higher than the optimum temperature of the free enzyme. Also, the optimum pH of the immobilized enzyme shifted from 6 to 5.5, which is more acidic compared to that of the free enzyme. The K_m value of immobilized inulinase decreased to 2.03 mg/mL. Thermal stability increased considerably at 65 and 75 °C, and a 5.13‐fold rise was detected in the enzyme half‐life at 75 °C after immobilization. Moreover, 80% of initial activity of immobilized inulinase remained after 10 cycles of hydrolysis.     

A Study on the Interaction of the DAS-K with Bovine Serum Albumin by On-line Ultrafiltration and Chemiluminescence

Potassium dehydroandrographolide succinate （DAS-K） has antibacterial and antiviral effects. It has been used widely for the treatment of virus pneumonia, malaria and respiratory infections. In this work, a novel flow-injection chemiluminescence （CL） method for the determination of DAS-K was proposed. The method is based on the reaction between DAS-K and hexacyanoferrate（III） in alkaline solution to give weak CL signal, which is enhanced by rhodamine B. The experimental conditions for the CL reaction were optimized and the possible reaction mechanism was discussed. Under the optimum conditions, the concentration of DAS-K is proportional to the CL intensity in the range of 0.1-80 μmol·L^-1 with a detection limit of 0.05 μmol·L^-1. The interaction of the DAS-K with bovine serum albumin by on-line ultrafiltration and flow-injection chemiluminescence was studied. The concentrations of unbound DAS-K from ultra filter tube were determined by the flow-injection CL method. The binding parameters were estimated by the Scatchard plot and Klotz plot. The proposed system proved that FIA-CL coupled with on-line ultrafiltration sampling was a fast and simple technique for the study of drug-protein interaction.     

荧光猝灭法和动态光散射法研究1-丙醇和2-丙醇对水溶液中蛋白质构象的影响

应用荧光猝灭法和动态光散射技术测定牛血清白蛋白(BSA)与荧光素在正丙醇-水和异丙醇-水混合溶剂中的相互作用距离和BSA的流体动力学半径, 研究正丙醇和异丙醇对水溶液中蛋白质构象的影响. 结果显示, 正丙醇-水和异丙醇-水混合溶剂中BSA与荧光素的相互作用距离和BSA的流体动力学半径随着正丙醇和异丙醇浓度的增加而先减小后增大, 表明低浓度的正丙醇和异丙醇有利于蛋白质形成紧密的构象, 而较高浓度的正丙醇和异丙醇则破坏蛋白质的紧密构象. 试验中观察到BSA与荧光素在正丙醇-水混合溶剂中的结合距离大于同浓度的异丙醇-水混合溶剂中的结合距离, 而BSA在前者的流体动力学半径小于后者, 说明无支链的正丙醇分子易于与蛋白质的疏水基团产生较强的疏水相互作用, 而带支链的异丙醇分子的疏水性较弱, 有利于与蛋白质分子的亲水基团相互作用而积聚在蛋白质表面.     

Study on the interaction of plasma protein binding rate between edaravone and taurine in human plasma based on HPLC analysis coupled with ultrafiltration technique

In this work, two high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assays were developed and validated for the independent determination of edaravone and taurine using 3‐methyl‐1‐p‐tolyl‐5‐pyrazolone and L ‐glutamine as internal standards. In in vitro experiments, human plasma was separately spiked with a mixture of edaravone and taurine, edaravone or taurine alone. Plasma was precipitated with acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid. Ultrafiltration was employed to obtain the unbound ingredients of the two drugs. The factors that might influence the ultrafiltration effiency were elaborately optimized. Plasma supernatant and ultrafiltrate containing taurine were derivated with o‐phthalaldehyde and ethanethiol in the presence of 40 mmol/L sodium borate buffer (pH 10.2) at room temperature within 1 min. Chromatographic separations were achieved on an InertSustain C₁₈ column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm). Isocratic 50 mmol/L ammonium acetate–acetonitrile and gradient 50 mmol/L sodium acetate (pH 5.3)–methanol were respectively selected as the mobile phase for the determination of edaravone and taurine. All of the validation data including linearity, extraction recovery, precision, accuracy and stability conformed to the requirements. Results showed that there were no significant alterations in the plasma protein binding rate of taurine and edaravone, implying that the proposed combination therapy was pharmacologically feasible. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Active bead-linked immunoassay on protein microarrays

Protein microarrays are becoming a powerful tool in proteome, biochemical, and clinical studies. In addition to the quality of arrayed immobilized probe molecules, sensitivity of the microarray-based assay is highly dependent on the detection technique. Here we suggest four simple techniques for rapid detection of analytes bound to protein microarrays. The techniques employ functionalized magnetic and non-magnetic beads moved to, from, or along the array surface by external forces. In contrast to other labeling techniques actively controlled physical labels: (i) make detection extremely fast to allow microarray reading in seconds; (ii) provide a low background due to active removal of weakly bound beads; and (iii) provide a highly sensitive detection, since one antigen-antibody bond is capable of holding bead immobilized on the array surface. In combination with the electrophoretically assisted active immunoassay we described recently such active reading allows to reduce total indirect immunoassay time to 7-10 min while having sensitivity in the femtomolar concentration range. High speed, sensitivity, and specificity make active bead-linked detection an ideal choice in rapid high-throughput screening and in emergency diagnostics.     

Production of monoclonal antibodies against hop-derived (Humulus lupulus L.) prenylflavonoids and the development of immunoassays

Monoclonal antibodies against the hop-derived prenylated chalcone xanthohumol (X) and the prenylated flavonoids isoxanthohumol (IX) and 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) were developed. Carboxylic acid haptens of X, IX and 8-PN were synthesized by linking a spacer to their C4′-OH group followed by subsequent coupling to bovine serum albumin (BSA) to form conjugates that were employed as immunogens in BALB/c mice to raise antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies that were secreted from the established hybridoma cell lines proved, in cross-reactivity studies, to possess highly specific binding capacities in an optimized competitive indirect ELISA. The immunoassays make use of immunogen-coated microtiterplates and a peroxidase-labeled anti-mouse IgG₁ secondary antibody with ABTS as a chromogenic substrate. For X the IC₅₀ value derived from the standard curve was 62.91 ng mL⁻¹, and for both IX and 8-PN 37.15 ng mL⁻¹. The assay was validated for the quantitative analysis of X, IX and 8-PN in urine and serum. A simple sample pretreatment procedure using a diethyl ether extraction was optimized and the recoveries and matrix effects were assessed. The validity of the established assay was tested and mean inter- and intra-assay variations in urine were 2.32% and 1.91%, respectively for X, 6.24% and 2.39%, respectively for IX and 7.18% and 0.74%, respectively for 8-PN. In serum, the mean inter- and intra-assay variations were 8.90% and 1.37%, respectively for X, 6.13% and 1.57%, respectively for IX and 6.13% and 2.43%, respectively for 8-PN. Furthermore, the method demonstrated excellent accuracy and significant correlation with measurements by an established and validated HPLC-MS method.