Rapid purification of detergent-solubilized bovine hormone-sensitive lipase by high performance hydrophobic interaction chromatography

Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), the enzyme controlling the rate of adipose tissue lipolysis and also possibly involved in the regulation of steroidogenesis, has been purified from bovine omental adipose tissue. Partially detergent-solubilized, delipidated and purified HSL was obtained through step-elution at conventional DEAE ion-exchange chromatography, followed by concentration on hydroxylapatite. High performance hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HPHIC) on phenylsilica then resulted in an increase of HSL protein purity from 2% to more than 70%. Final purification of the enzyme to apparent homogeneity (greater than 95% protein purity), concentration and removal of most of the detergent was obtained by high performance cation exchange chromatography on Mono S. At least 0.5 mg of highly stable HSL was obtained from 5 kg of bovine omental fat within four working days. The purified lipase had a lower specific activity than previously reported for the corresponding rat enzyme but the preparations have proved very useful for enzyme structure studies and as an antigen.     

Purification of cytochromes P-450 derived from liver microsomes of untreated and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-treated marmoset monkeys

The purification of multiple forms of cytochrome P-450 (P450) from 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-treated marmosets using fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) is described. The main aim was to achieve a better separation of certain closely related P450 sub-forms from each other than that previously obtained using conventional chromatography. An 8-aminooctyl-Sepharose fraction of cholate-solubilized microsomes was obtained first and, after fast desalting on Sephadex G-25, loaded on to a preparative Mono Q column. Five of the six gradient peaks contained P450 and were each rechromatographed on an analytical Mono Q column. The pass-through peak was fractionated further using a Mono S column. Other HPLC-quality anion- and cation-exchange gels were compared. For removal of excess of non-ionic detergent, five types of hydroxyapatite gels were compared. Seven purified forms of P450 and cytochrome b5 and P420 were isolated and characterized according to PHAST sodium dodecylsulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic apparent molecular masses, catalytic, spectral and magnetic properties and also TCDD-binding capacity (molar ratio of [14C]TCDD to P450). There are at least two sub-forms which appear to be TCDD inducible, one showing a substantial ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity and the other having a high TCDD-binding molar ratio. Two other forms appear to be constitutive, as deduced from comparisons with forms purified from untreated animals.     

Purification and quantification of recombinant Epstein-Barr viral glycoproteins gp350/220 from Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Truncated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) membrane antigen gp350/220 (EBV-MA) lacking the membrane anchor was expressed and secreted into the medium of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells that had been cultured in Plasmapur hollow-fibre modules using defined serum-free medium. The EBV-MA in the medium was concentrated by 70% (w/v) ammonium sulphate precipitation and subsequently purified by immunoaffinity chromatography using an anti-EBV-MA (EBV.0T6) monoclonal antibody (mAb) column. Adsorbed antigen was eluted with 3 M MgCl2 in phosphate-buffered saline, concentrated by Mono Q anion-exchange chromatography and analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, silver staining and Western blotting using EBV-positive serum and anti-EBV-MA specific mAbs. Monospecific polyclonal rabbit antibodies against the purified EBV-MA were raised and purified by protein G affinity chromatography. For the measurement of EBV-MA antigen levels a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using rabbit polyclonal antibodies and a horseradish peroxidase-conjugated anti-MA mAb was developed having a detection level of 10 ng/ml.     

Application of high-performance liquid chromatography to the purification of the putative intestinal peptide transporter

A membrane protein of relative molecular mass (Mr) 127,000 was identified by photoaffinity labelling as (a component of) the uptake system for small peptides and beta-lactam antibiotics in rabbit small intestine. This binding protein is a microheterogeneous glycosylated integral membrane protein which could be solubilized with non-ionic detergents and enriched by lectin affinity chromatography on wheat germ lectin agarose. For the final purification of this protein and separation from aminopeptidase N of Mr 127,000, fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) was used. Gel permeation, hydroxyapatite and hydrophobic interaction chromatography were not successful for the purification of the 127,000-dalton binding protein. By anion-exchange chromatography on a Mono Q column with either Triton X-100 or n-octylglucoside as detergent, a partial separation of the 127,000-dalton binding protein from aminopeptidase N was achieved. By cation-exchange chromatography on a Mono S HR 5/5 column at pH 4.5 using Triton X-100 as detergent also only a partial separation from aminopeptidase N could be achieved. If, however, Triton X-100 was replaced with n-octylglucoside, the binding protein for beta-lactam antibiotics and small peptides of Mr 127,000 could be completely separated from aminopeptidase N. These results indicate that Triton X-100 should be avoided for the purification of integral membrane proteins because mixed protein-detergent micelles of high molecular weight prevent a separation into the individual membrane proteins. The putative peptide transport protein was finally purified by rechromatography on Mono S and was obtained more than 95% pure as determined densitometrically after sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis. By application of FPLC even microheterogeneous membrane glycoproteins from the intestinal mucosa can be purified to such an extent that a sequence analysis and immunohistochemical localization with antibodies prepared from the purified protein is possible.     

Purification of the coenzyme B12-containing 2-methyleneglutarate mutase from Clostridium barkeri by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Two methods are described by which the enzymes 2-methyleneglutarate mutase and 3-methylitaconate delta-isomerase from Clostridium barkeri have been separated by high-performance liquid chromatography on a much larger scale than reported previously. First, the mutase eluted before the delta-isomerase after incubation with the mild detergent 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulphonate (CHAPS) followed by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography on Mono Q in the presence of the same detergent. Second, an even better separation, although with a lower yield of mutase, was obtained by hydrophobic interaction chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose HiLoad, whereby the enzymes were eluted in the reverse order. Final high-performance anion-exchange chromatography of the latter preparation on Mono Q at pH 8 gave highly purified 2-methyleneglutarate mutase (greater than 95% purity) which had a pink-orange colour (lambda max 280, 375, 470 and 532 nm). The enzyme was active in the absence of coenzyme B12 (adenosylcobalamin) and contained 2.1 mol of this coenzyme per homotetramer (molecular mass, m = 300 kilodalton).     

Rapid analysis of bovine milk proteins by fast protein liquid chromatography

The separation of bovine milk proteins by fast protein liquid chromatography has been investigated by ion-exchange chromatography on Mono Q and Mono S columns and by gel filtration on a column of Superose 12. The four major casein components (alpha s1, alpha s2, beta and kappa) as well as the minor gamma-caseins were generally well separated on the Mono S column with urea-containing buffers at pH 3.8 in as short a time as 7 min, although there was considerable overlap between alpha s1- and alpha s2-casein peaks. Peak area measurements indicated that the four caseins alpha s1, alpha s2, beta and kappa were present in total casein in the approximate proportions of 3.0:0.5:3.4:0.9, in good agreement with other literature values. Whey proteins were not separated on the Mono S column, but were all well resolved by rapid analysis on the Mono Q column at pH values between 6 and 8 in buffers free of urea or 2-mercaptoethanol. Both urea and 2-mercaptoethanol were required for casein analyses on the Mono Q column, but all the casein components were then separable over a broad pH range (5.0-11.0). While urea levels of 4.5-8.0 M and pH values of 7.0 to 8.0 were most generally useful, the resolution of some components was affected by urea concentration or pH, so conditions may have to be modified for specific analysis problems. The caseins were too similar in size to be separated on the Superose 12 column but high-speed gel filtration in as little as 15 min separated all the whey proteins well, molecular weight values obtained being in good agreement with literature values.     

Phylogenetic analysis of picoplankton in Lake Biwa and application to legal medicine

Three strains of picoplankton designated as brown, green, and pink belonging to the Synechococcus genus in cyanobacteria (approximately 1 microm in size) are found ubiquitously in Lake Biwa, Japan. However, they could not be morphologically discriminated from other bacteria such as Proteobacteria and Bacillus by microscopy. In this study, we attempted to use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) from picoplankton for the diagnosis of death by drowning. A segment of 16S rDNA was sequenced in order to investigate their phylogenetic relationships and to design the specific primers. The PCR products from three picoplanktons were compared with those from five other cyanobacteria, Melosira (diatom), Staurastrum (green alga), bacteria from Lake Baikal, and humans. The picogram order of template DNA from picoplankton was specifically amplified by the primers. When the template of picoplankton was mixed with human tissue, at least 10 ng of template DNA was needed to obtain a PCR product. The efficiency of PCR was increased more than hundredfold by isolating the picoplankton from human lung tissue. The specific PCR products of the picoplankton were obtained from a formalin-fixed drowning body (lung and liver) that was found in a downstream river and Lake Biwa. The PCR analysis of the picoplanktion 16S rDNA is considered useful for the diagnosis of death by drowning.     

Isolation of cytochrome P-450 components from marmoset liver microsomes by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A fast protein liquid chromatographic (FPLC) system with pre-packed and laboratory-packed columns was used for the analytical and preparative isolation of marmoset monkey cytochrome P-450 (P450) and NADPH-P450-reductase. Chromatographic separations also allowed the recovery of cytochrome b5, NADH-b5-reductase and epoxide hydratase. Cholate-solubilized liver microsomes from phenobarbital-induced marmosets were crudely purified on 8-aminooctyl-Sepharose or 6-aminohexyl-Sepharose and then fractionated into several isoenzyme groups using hydroxyapatite. Further purification on Mono S or CM-Sepharose and finally on phenyl-Superose, phenyl-Sepharose or octyl-Sepharose yielded a P450 fraction which was apparently homogeneous as judged by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the automated Phast system using silver staining. Removal of excess of non-ionic detergent was effected by hydroxyapatite columns, and this was compared with other methods. For the isolation of P450 isoenzymes from untreated marmosets, Mono Q columns were employed and yielded at least two highly purified forms. NADPH-P450-reductase was recovered from the 8-aminooctyl-Sepharose column or crudely fractionated on DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow. Subsequent purification via 2',5'-ADP-Sepharose and Superose 12 chromatography resulted in a homogeneous preparation.     

Partial purification and characterization of epidermal plasminogen activator and their inhibitor

Plasminogen activator (PA) and PA inhibitor were partially purified from 2-d-old rat epidermis and characterized in order to elucidate the enzyme-inhibitor interaction in epidermis. PA extracted with buffer containing KSCN was first purified by Blue-Sepharose affinity chromatography. Separation of two PAs, with relative molecular mass (Mr) of 66000 and 44000, was accomplished by Con A-Sepharose column chromatography. The Mr 66000 enzyme had the properties of tissue-type PA (t-PA), while the Mr 44000 enzyme showed those of urokinase-type PA (u-PA) as determined by immunological and fibrin-binding studies. PA inhibitor was extracted in 1,4-piperazinediethanesulphonic acid buffer and purified by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, gel filtration followed by a Mono Q column in an FPLC system. This inhibitor showed Mr 60000 and inhibited human u-PA activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner, but did not inhibit the activity of t-PA from human and murine melanoma cells or plasmin. It inhibited epidermal PA, Mr 44000, more effectively than it did the Mr 66000 epidermal PA. It was stable at 60 degrees C for 60 min or between pH 5 and 11. This study indicates that both u-PA and t-PA function in normal rat epidermis. On the other hand, an inhibitor which preferentially acts against u-PA exists, but inhibitor to t-PA does not appear to operate under normal epidermal functions.     

Isolation and partial characterization of angiotensinase A and aminopeptidase M from urine and human kidney by lectin affinity chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography

Angiotensinase A (ATA) and aminopeptidase M (APM) were partially purified from human urine specimens and human kidney particles using wheat germ lectin affinity chromatography, anion-exchange Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) (Mono Q), chromatofocusing (Mono P, FPLC) and Superose 12 gel filtration. APM, a globular 5-nm glycoprotein, is localized in the brush border membrane of the proximal tubule; angiotensin II-degrading ATA is present on glomerular endothelia and podocytes and, to lesser extent, in the brush border. For the first time, both peaks of ATA and APM activity from urine samples were separated by the above-mentioned techniques with only slight overlap; ATP (146,000 dalton: pI4.8) was enriched more than 20-fold and APM (153,000 dalton, pI4.7) more than 50-fold compared with the activity of the starting material. Using similar separation steps, ATA and APM solubilized from kidney particles could not be resolved into two distinct peak fractions, however, except after hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Thus urine is a major source for the preparation of individual ATA and APM fractions, necessary to generate specific anti-enzyme antibodies for diagnostic purposes.     

Isolation and characterization of proteoglycans from different tissues

Two chromatographic procedures for the isolation and purification of proteoglycans (PG) and their related glycosaminoglycan (GAG) peptides are described. PG from human aorta were isolated from tissue extract by sequential ion-exchange, size-exclusion and hydroxyapatite chromatography. Final purification of samples was achieved by chromatography on Mono Q. Homogeneity of samples was demonstrated by Western blot analysis of biotin-labelled compounds prior to and after enzymatic digestion and dual-wavelength detection in size-exclusion chromatography. The purity of samples obtained by the procedure described was sufficient for protein sequence analysis. GAG preparations of bovine trachea cartilage were purified by the sequential use of strong anion-exchange supports. Molecular weight distribution and sensitivity to treatment with glycan-specific enzymes was shown by size-exclusion chromatography.     

Production and Characterization of Cellobiohydrolase from a Novel Strain of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium purpurogenum</Emphasis> KJS506

A high cellobiohydrolase (CBH)-producing strain was isolated and identified as Penicillium purpurogenum KJS506 according to the morphology and comparison of internal transcribed spacer rDNA gene sequence. When rice straw and corn steep powder were used as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, a maximum CBH activity of 2.6 U mg-protein⁻¹, one of the highest among CBH-producing microorganisms, was obtained. The optimum temperature and pH for CBH production were 30 °C and 4.0, respectively. The increased production of CBH in P. purpurogenum culture at 30 °C was confirmed by two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by MS/MS sequencing of the partial peptide. The internal amino acid sequences of P. purpurogenum CBH showed a significant homology with hydrolases from glycoside hydrolase family 7. The extracellular CBH was purified to homogeneity by sequential chromatography of P. purpurogenum culture supernatants on a DEAE-sepharose column, a gel filtration column, and then on a Mono Q column with fast-protein liquid chromatography. The purified CBH was a monomeric protein with a molecular weight of 60 kDa and showed broad substrate specificity with maximum activity towards p-nitrophenyl β-d-cellobiopyranoside. P. purpurogenum CBH showed t _1/2 value of 4 h at 60 °C and V _max value of 11.9 μmol min⁻¹ mg-protein⁻¹ for p-nitrophenyl-d-cellobiopyranoside. Although CBHs have been reported, the high specific activity distinguishes P. purpurogenum CBH.