Glycation of human serum albumin in long-term incubation with low and high concentrations of glucose

Glycated albumin levels of incubation mixtures with high (25.8 mM) and low (8.2 mM) concentrations of glucose when measured by the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reducing method, showed similar values at day 20-25. But when tested by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) colorimetry, the levels with high concentrations of glucose were about twice that with low concentration of glucose.     

Novel human lens metabolites from normal and cataractous human lenses

4-(2-Aminophenyl)-4-oxobutanoic acid, 4-(2-amino-3-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxobutanoic acid and glutathionyl-kynurenine have been identified as novel metabolites in normal and cataractous human lenses following total synthesis and comparison with authentic human lens samples. Their structures are consistent with those derived from the major human lens UV filters kynurenine and 3-hydroxykynurenine, and it is proposed that these compounds also play a role as UV filters. These metabolites were isolated in pmol/mg levels (dry mass) in lenses. 4-(2-Amino-3-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxobutanoic acid and glutathionyl-kynurenine were found to be unstable at physiological pH. Other potential metabolites, glutathionyl-3-hydroxykynurenine, kynurenine yellow and 3-hydroxykynurenine yellow, were not detected in either normal or cataractous lenses.     

Liquid chromatography of synthetic polymers under limiting conditions of insolubility. I. Principle of the method

A novel liquid chromatographic procedure is presented. It is based on differences in the transport velocities of the fast-moving, pore-excluded macromolecules and slow-progressing, pore-permeating small molecules of an auxiliary liquid. A barrier of small molecules selectively decelerates certain kind of macromolecules while other kind remains unhindered. As a result, polymers of different nature are efficiently separated. In this new approach, the barrier is formed by a zone of a non-solvent injected immediately before the sample solution. The resulting method is denoted liquid chromatography under limiting conditions of insolubility.     

Contribution of glycation to human lens coloration

To study the contribution of glycation or the Maillard reaction to the spontaneous coloration of human crystalline lens in aging, we determined 1-deoxyfructosyl adduct and the fluorescent material, which are produced in the early stage of glycation, in the proteins of normal and colored human lenses of different ages. The amount of both glycation products in the lens increased significantly in proportion to aging or the advance of lens coloration. The insolubility of lens protein also increased with the advance of glycation. In addition, the present study showed that glucose and glucose-6-phosphate have higher reactivities with human lens protein than fructose and glucose-1-phosphate. This paper demonstrates that the deeper colored or older aged lens contains larger amounts of glycation products, and that glycation between lens protein and various sugars in vivo may be a serious factor in human lens coloration or insolubilization of lens protein.     

Overcoming the insolubility of carbon nanotubes through high degrees of sidewall functionalization

The use of carbon nanotubes in materials applications has been slowed due to nanotube insolubility and their incompatibility with polymers. We recently developed two protocols to overcome the insoluble nature of carbon nanotubes by affixing large amounts of addends to the nanotube sidewalls. Both processes involve reactions with aryl diazonium species. First, solvent-free functionalization techniques remove the need for any solvent during the functionalization step. This delivers functionalized carbon nanotubes with increased solubility in organic solvents and processibility in polymeric blends. Additionally, the solvent-free functionalization process can be done on large scales, thereby paving the way for use in bulk applications such as in structural materials development. The second methodology involves the functionalization of carbon nanotubes that are first dispersed as individual tubes in surfactants within aqueous media. The functionalization then ensues to afford heavily functionalized nanotubes that do not re-rope. They remain as individuals in organic solvents giving enormous increases in solubility. This protocol yields the highest degree of functionalization we have obtained thus far-up to one in nine carbon atoms on the nanotube has an organic addend. The proper characterization and solubility determinations on nanotubes are critical; therefore, this topic is discussed in detail.     

Studies on the insolubility of a transmembrane peptide from signal peptide peptidase

We have undertaken fundamental studies on the solubility properties of a peptide derived from the fourth transmembrane (TM) domain of signal peptide peptidase, a 7-TM intramembrane-cleaving protease. We have found that by disfavoring secondary structure formation we are able to greatly improve the solubility, handling, and purification properties of this peptide. Our findings suggest that preventing secondary structure formation by reversible modification of the polypeptide backbone of hydrophobic transmembrane peptides may be a useful strategy for the total chemical protein synthesis of integral membrane proteins.     

Study of Lysozyme Glycation Reaction by Mass Spectrometry and NMR Spectroscopy

The Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) are the causative substances of lifestyle‐habit illness. To elucidate the glycation mechanism of the protein, the reaction of lysozyme with D ‐glucose was analyzed by the fluorescence, TOF‐MS, and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy under the physiological condition. The fluorescence intensity of lysozyme in the glycation solution increased proportionally with a reaction time of ten weeks. The MALDI‐TOF‐MS spectra of the reaction solution after two weeks showed a peak at m/z 15066, which indicated the presence of a larger molecule than the native lysozyme (m/z 14331), and new peaks at m/z 30105 (dimer) and 45000 (trimer) were also observed. The spectral analysis supported the assumption of a continuous glycation reaction of D ‐glucose with lysozyme and a 30% transformation of lysozyme to the dimeric form during ten weeks. The ¹³C‐NMR spectra of lysozyme showed six [¹³C]‐labeled signals by the glycation reaction with [¹³C]‐glucose after two weeks of reaction. The combined analysis of TOF‐MS and ¹³C‐NMR spectra uncovered that first products of the glycation reaction of lysozyme with D ‐glucose can be observed already three hours after starting the reaction and that nine D ‐glucose units are attached during ten weeks at 37°.     

Unexpected Crosslinking and Diglycation as Advanced Glycation End-Products from Glyoxal

Glyoxal-derived advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are formed in physiological systems affecting protein/peptide function and structure. These AGEs are generated during aging and chronic diseases such as diabetes and are considered arginine glycating agents. Thus, the study of glyoxal-derived AGEs in lysine residues and amino acid competition is addressed here using acetylated and non-acetylated undecapeptides, with one arginine and one lysine residue available for glycation. Tandem mass spectrometry results from a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer showed glycated species at both the arginine and lysine residues. One species with the mass addition of 116.01096 Da is formed at the arginine residue. A possible structure is proposed to explain this finding (Nδ-[2-(dihydroxymethyl)-2H,3aH,4H,6aH-[1, 3]dioxolo[5,6-d]imidazolin-5-yl]-L-ornithine-derived AGE). The second species corresponded to intramolecular crosslink involving the lysine residue and its presence is checked with ion-mobility mass spectrometry. Graphical Abstract

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Variations in electrophoretic tear protein pattern due to contact lens wear

Electrophoresis of tear proteins was used to compare the patterns from tear proteins in contact lens wearers with non-contact lens wearers. Thirty-five non-contact lens wearers and 35 wearers volunteered to enter our study. Both groups aged 20-25 years with no history of eye diseases. Stimulated tear samples were collected using a capillary tube. Total tear protein was measured for each group individually using standard assay methods. The results showed slightly higher total tear protein in the group wearing contact lenses. Some new bands also appeared in the electrophoresis patterns of this group as compared to the control group.     

Quantitative bioimaging of trace elements in the human lens by LA-ICP-MS

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used for the quantitative imaging of Fe, Cu and Zn in cryostat sections of human eye lenses and for depth profiling analysis in bovine lenses. To ensure a tight temperature control throughout the experiments, a new Peltier-cooled laser ablation cell was employed. For quantification purposes, matrix-matched laboratory standards were prepared from a pool of human lenses from eye donors and spiked with standard solutions containing different concentrations of natural abundance Fe, Cu and Zn. A normalisation strategy was also carried out to correct matrix effects, lack of tissue homogeneity and/or instrumental drifts using a thin gold film deposited on the sample surface. Quantitative images of cryo-sections of human eye lenses analysed by LA-ICP-MS revealed a homogeneous distribution of Fe, Cu and Zn in the nuclear region and a slight increase in Fe concentration in the outer cell layer (i.e. lens epithelium) at the anterior pole. These results were assessed also by isotope dilution mass spectrometry, and Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations determined by ID-ICP-MS in digested samples of lenses and lens capsules.

Glycation sites of human plasma proteins are affected to different extents by hyperglycemic conditions in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Glucose can modify proteins in human blood, forming early glycation products (e.g., Amadori compounds), which can slowly degrade to advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). AGEs contribute significantly to complications of diabetes mellitus and, thus, represent markers of advanced disease stages. They are, however, currently unsuitable for early diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring. Here, we report sensitive strategies to identify and relatively quantify protein glycation sites in human plasma samples obtained from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and age-matched nondiabetic individuals using a bottom-up approach. Specifically, Amadori peptides were enriched from tryptic digests by boronic acid affinity chromatography, separated by reversed-phase chromatography, and analyzed on-line by high-resolution mass spectrometry. Among the 52 Amadori peptides studied here were 20 peptides resembling 19 glycation sites in six human proteins detected at statistically significantly higher levels in T2DM than in the normoglycemic controls. Four positions appeared to be unique for T2DM within the detection limit. All 19 glycation sites represent promising new biomarker candidates for early diagnosis of T2DM and adequate therapeutic control, as they may indicate early metabolic changes preceding T2DM. Graphical Abstract

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Imaging of human lens lipids by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The lipid composition of the human lens is distinct from most other tissues in that it is high in dihydrosphingomyelin and the most abundant glycerophospholipids in the lens are unusual 1-O-alkyl-ether linked phosphatidylethanolamines and phosphatidylserines. In this study, desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) mass spectrometry-imaging was used to determine the distribution of these lipids in the human lens along with other lipids including, ceramides, ceramide-1-phosphates, and lyso 1-O-alkyl ethers. To achieve this, 25 μm lens slices were mounted onto glass slides and analyzed using a linear ion-trap mass spectrometer equipped with a custom-built, 2-D automated DESI source. In contrast to other tissues that have been previously analyzed by DESI, the presence of a strong acid in the spray solvent was required to desorb lipids directly from lens tissue. Distinctive distributions were observed for [M + H]⁺ ions arising from each lipid class. Of particular interest were ionized 1-O-alkyl phosphatidylethanolamines and phosphatidylserines, PE (18:1e/18:1), and PS (18:1e/18:1), which were found in a thin ring in the outermost region of the lens. This distribution was confirmed by quantitative analysis of lenses that were sectioned into four distinct regions (outer, barrier, inner, and core), extracted and analyzed by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. DESI-imaging also revealed a complementary distribution for the structurally-related lyso 1-O-alkyl phosphatidylethanolamine, LPE (18:1e), which was localized closer to the centre of the lens. The data obtained in this study indicate that DESI-imaging is a powerful tool for determining the spatial distribution of human lens lipids.     

Microsequencing of proteins recorded in human two-dimensional gel protein databases.

Sixty-six human proteins recorded in the master transformed human epithelial amnion cells (AMA) (55) and keratinocyte (11) two-dimensional gel protein databases have been microsequenced since the last publication of the AMA database (Electrophoresis 1990, 12, 989-1071). Coomassie Brilliant Blue stained protein spots cut from several (up to 40) dry gels were concentrated by elution-concentration gel electrophoresis, electroblotted onto polyvinylidene difluoride membranes and in situ digested with trypsin. The eluting peptides were separated by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), collected individually and sequenced. Computer searches using the FASTA and TFASTA programs from the Genetics Computer Group indicated that 29 of the analyzed polypeptides correspond to hitherto unknown proteins.     

In-Depth Comparative Characterization of Hemoglobin Glycation in Normal and Diabetic Bloods by LC-MSMS

The glycation level at β-Val-1 of the hemoglobin β chain in human blood (HbA1c%) is used to diagnose diabetes and other diseases. However, hemoglobin glycation occurs on multiple sites on different isoforms with different kinetics, but its differential profile has not been clearly demonstrated. In this study, hemoglobin was extracted from the blood of normal and diabetic individuals by protein precipitation. Triplicate solutions prepared from each sample were directly analyzed or digested with multiple enzymes and then analyzed by nano-LC/MS via bottom-up approach for side-by-side characterization. Intact hemoglobin analysis indicated a single glucose-dominant glycation, which showed good correlation with the HbA1c% values. Moreover, full sequence (100 %) of α/β globin was mapped and seven glycation sites were unambiguously assigned. In addition to β-Val-1, two other major sites at α-Lys-61 and β-Lys-66, which contain the common sequence HGKK, and four minor sites (<1 %) on α-Val-1, β-Lys-132, α-Lys-127, and α-Lys-40 were identified. All sites were shown to exhibit similar patterns of site distribution despite different glucose levels. Both the intact mass measurement and bottom-up data consistently indicated that the total glycation percentage of the β-globin was twice higher than the α-globin. Using molecular modeling, the 3D structure of the consensus sequence (HGKK) was shown to contain a phosphate triangle cavity, which helps to catalyze the glycation reaction. For the first time, hemoglobin glycation in normal and diabetic bloods was comparatively characterized in-depth with 100 % sequence coverage. The results provide insight about the HbA1c parameter and help define the new and old markers.

Enhancement of the non-tryptophan fluorescence of human lens proteins after near-UV light exposure

Abstract. In this work, the non-tryptophan fluorescence (360 nm excited; 440 nm emitted) of human lens proteins was found to be intensified by exposing whole lens homogenates to near-UV light in the presence of tryptophan photoproducts. The induced fluorescence accumulates mainly in the soluble phase proteins, whereas in aging and brown cataractous lenses, the major fluorescence is found in the insoluble proteins. Using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with densitometric and fluorescence scanning techniques, the polypeptide chains of the three major protein fractions were analyzed for their specific non-tryptophan fluorescences. The same chains were found in all fractions. Two chains (11,000 and 45,000 daltons) were found to accumulate most of the induced fluorescence. These also contained the greatest intrinsic fluorescence initially. The data indicates that specific polypeptide chains in the lens proteins are most sensitive to modifications due to their exposure to near-UV light in the presence of tryptophan photoproducts.     

Study of the protein distribution in the pig lens cross section by Raman spectroscopy

The distribution of proteins in the cross section of a normal pig lens was studied by near-infrared Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectra were measured in the visual and equatorial axes of this cross section and the protein peak intensities were determined. It was found that along each axis the protein intensities fluctuate. They have a considerable increment along the visual axis with the exception of the C-N bond peak intensities at 1087.2 cm(-1), which decrease, and along the equatorial axis the increment is slight. This increment in protein distribution along the visual axis is related with the refractive gradient of the lens. The classification of pig lens spectra in these axes was performed using principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Cross-validation shows an excellent group separation.     

Molecular mass distribution of water-soluble crystallins from the human foetal lens during development

The water-soluble crystallins of twenty human foetal lenses with gestational ages of 112-231 days were analysed by size-exclusion chromatography. The crystallin distribution showed similar patterns for all foetal lenses, but clear changes in the proportions of different crystallins were evident. The distribution showed that the water-soluble part of all the lenses already contained high-molecular-mass material. Also beta-crystallins of high molecular mass (beta H), formed by post-translational changes, were detected in all stages. During gestation, the percentage of high-molecular-mass crystallins and of alpha-crystallins of low molecular mass (alpha L) decreased significantly. The total beta-crystallins (beta T) and the total gamma-crystallins (gamma T) increased significantly. The low Mr crystallins were resolved into three peaks, designated beta s-, gamma H- and gamma L-crystallins. They increased significantly during development. These significant increases of the low Mr crystallins took place exclusively in the developing lens. The rate of protein synthesis of the low Mr crystallins was 23% of the total water-soluble crystallin synthesis rate.     

Two-dimensional protein database of human pancreas

We report here the two-dimensional protein database of human pancreas. The proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Totally, 302 proteins were identified, of which about 27% were enzymes with a broad range of catalytic activities. Several of these are specifically expressed in pancreas, such as pancreatic amylase, pancreatic stone protein, pancreatitis-associated protein, pancreatic lipase, pancreatic elastase, etc. Structural and cytoskeletal proteins are also strongly represented on the gels. Thus, the pancreatic proteome reflects the organ's function. This work paves the way for further studies on pancreatic protein expression in health and disease, such as diabetes and pancreatic cancer.