A comparison of the adsorption of saliva proteins and some typical proteins onto the surface of hydroxyapatite

Adsorption of protein from saliva on hydroxyapatite was compared with adsorption of several typical proteins with different electric charges, i.e. lysozyme, human serum albumin, β-lactoglobulin and ovalbumin. Adsorbed amounts of these proteins were determined and electrophoretic mobilities of protein-covered hydroxyapatite particles were measured, at different values for the adsorbed mass and, therefore, at various degrees of surface coverage. Also, adsorption kinetics were investigated by streaming potential measurements of a hydroxyapatite surface in contact with a protein solution, allowing monitoring of changes in the zeta-potential of the protein-covered hydroxyapatite surface in real time. The adsorbed amounts show that, as compared to most of the other proteins, the saliva proteins have remarkably low adsorption affinity. The measured values for the electrophoretic mobilities indicate that the positively charged proteins in the saliva mixture preferentially adsorb onto the negatively charged hydroxyapatite surface; this is most pronounced at low protein concentration in solution (i.e. at low coverage of the surface by the protein). Preferential uptake of the positively charged saliva proteins during the initial stages of the adsorption process is also concluded from the results of the kinetics experiments. Preferential adsorption of positive proteins is somewhat suppressed by the presence of Ca²⁺ ions in the medium. The results suggest that an acquired pellicle on a tooth in an oral environment contains a significant fraction of positively charged proteins. The positively charged proteins in the pellicle reduce the zeta-potential at the tooth surface to low values; consequently, electrostatic forces are expected to play only a minor role in the interaction with other components (e.g. bacterial cells).     

Generic method for systematic phase selection and method development of biochromatographic processes. Part I. Selection of a suitable cation-exchanger for the purification of a pharmaceutical protein

Even if the first protein therapeutics are now for more than 20 years on the market the selection of suitable adsorbents for the preparative downstream processing (DSP) of these biomolecules as well as the method development towards process conditions are still based mainly on 'trial and error'. Therefore, theses processes are not perfectly efficient, but indeed very time consuming and laborious. In this study a novel systematic method is introduced to find a suitable adsorbent (not necessarily the best one) with appropriate separation parameters for a specific separation with reduced effort. Following this strategy, the adsorbents must first be packed into columns under preparative conditions and then characterized completely with regard to, e.g. pressure drop, k'-values, plate heights (HETP curves), selectivity and capacity by using test substances, which are similar in their characteristics (molecular mass, size, charge distribution, hydrophobicity) to the target proteins. With the database once determined, a preselection of most suitable adsorbents including separation parameters is made regarding chromatographic and also economical properties. After this, preparative experiments must be conducted with a reduced number of adsorbents to figure out the individual influence of side components. This approach is demonstrated for the separation of an exemplary industrial protein mixture using cation-exchange chromatography (CEX). Characterization of different weak CEX-adsorbents is illustrated. After comparing these phases with each other, a first preselection and a prediction of suitable adsorbents is made. In the following preparative separation conditions (load, velocity, gradient) are determined for the preparative separations using the database and results of some additional experiments. The final comparison of separation performance in preparative scale confirms this selection and so the applicability of the new method.     

Synthesis of [18,19,21,22‐13C4]‐Labeled Tautomycin as an NMR Probe of Protein Phosphatase Inhibitor

We have accomplished the synthesis of ¹³C‐labeled tautomycin at the C18, C19, C21, and C22 positions starting from 100 % [¹³C]triethylphosphonoacetate for the purpose of elucidating the dynamics and conformation of the C17–C26 moiety. NMR spectroscopy of ¹³C‐labeled tautomycin revealed strong binding with protein phosphatase type 1 and new features in the ¹³C NMR spectrum, such as the very small three‐bond coupling constants (²J).     

On the reaction of Ph2PNHPPh2 with RNCS (R=Et, Ph, p-NO2C6H4): preparation of the zwitterionic ligand EtNHC(S)Ph2P==NPPh2C(S)NEt (HSNS) and the zwitterionic metalate [(SNS)Rh(CO)

The reaction of Ph(2)PNHPPh(2) (PNP) with RNCS (Et, Ph, p-NO(2)(C(6)H(4))) gives addition products resulting from the attack of the P atoms of PNP on the electrophilic carbon atom of the isothiocyanate. When PNP is reacted with EtNCS in a 1:2 molar ratio, the zwitterionic molecule EtNHC(S)PPh(2)==NP(+)Ph(2)C(S)N(-)Et (HSNS) is obtained in high yield. HSNS can be protonated (H(2)SNS(+)) or deprotonated (SNS(-)), behaving in the latter form as an S,N,S-donor pincer ligand. The reaction of HSNS with [(acac)Rh(CO)(2)] (acac=acetylacetonate) affords the zwitterionic metalate [(SNS)Rh(CO)]. Other products can be obtained depending on the R group, the PNP/RNCS ratio (1:1 or 1:2), and the reaction temperature. The proposed product of the primary attack of PNP on RNCS, Ph(2)PN==PPh(2)C(S)NHR (A), cannot be isolated. Reaction of A with another RNCS molecule leads to 1:2 addition compounds of the general formula RNHC(S)PPh(2)==NP(+)Ph(2)C(S)N(-)R (1), which can rearrange into the non-zwitterionic product RNHC(S)PPh(2)==NP(S)Ph(2) (2) by eliminating a molecule of RNC. Two molecules of A can react together, yielding 1:1 PNP/RNCS zwitterionic products of the formula RNHCH[PPh(2)==NP(S)Ph(2)]PPh(2)==NP(+)Ph(2)C(S)N(-)R (3). Compound 3 can then rearrange into RNHCH[PPh(2)==NP(S)Ph(2)](2) (4) by losing a RNC molecule. When R=Et (a), compounds 1 a, 2 a (HSNS), and 4 a have been isolated and characterized. When R=Ph (b), compounds 2 b and 4 b can be prepared in high yield. When R=p-NO(2)C(6)H(4) (c), only compound 3 c is observed and isolated in high yield. The crystal structures of HSNS, [(SNS)Rh(CO)], and of the most representative products have been determined by X-ray diffraction methods.     

Permeation associated with three-phase-partitioning method on release of green fluorescent protein

Transformed cells of Escherichia coli expressing recombinant green fluorescent protein (GFPuv) were subjected to two methods of extraction: (1) freezing/thawing/sonication (FTS) cycles prior to the three-phase partitioning (TPP) method, or (2) directly to TPP extraction. The amount of GFPuv released by the FTS plus TPP method varied: 374μg/mL (first cycle), 93–442 μg/mL (second cycle), 32–359 μg/mL (third cycle), 18–115 μg/mL (fourth cycle). The GFPuv yields by the second method (TPP only) were, 23–54 μg/mL for the first extract and 33–91 μg/mL for the second. The FTS plus TPP method released similar amounts of GFPuv to that extracted by TPP; and provided a better mixture elution through the hydrophobic interaction column: 13–63 μg/mL for FTS plus TPP methods, and 2.5–13 μg/mL for TPP. The results showed that although selective permeation is a more laborious methodology, it was more efficient for obtaining of GFPuv in relation to the direct extraction of the cells for TPP.     

ImmobilizedE. coli Alkaline Phosphatase

We have immobilized E.coli alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) by linking it covalently to sepharose 4B. This preparation has several advantages over the soluble enzyme. The immobilized enzyme is easily separable from other constituents in incubation mixtures. The immobilized enzyme can be reused repeatedly and is more stable than the soluble enzyme to heat treatment in the presence of 10 mM Mg²⁺. The insoluble and soluble phosphatases removed 75 and77%, respectively, of the inorganic phosphorus from casein. The immobilized enzyme inactivated two enzymes believed to be active in the phosphorylated state, acyl-CoA : cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) by 39% and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase by 89%. The utility of immobilized alkaline phosphatase for studying the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of soluble or membrane-bound enzymes and proteins is discussed.     

Radical amination with sulfonyl azides: a powerful method for the formation of C-N bonds

A novel reaction for the introduction of an azide moiety by means of a mild radical process is currently under development. Sulfonyl azides are suitable azidating agents for nucleophilic radicals, such as secondary and tertiary alkyl radicals. More electrophilic radicals, such as enolate radicals, do not react with sulfonyl azides. This feature allowed the development of efficient intra- and intermolecular carboazidations of olefins. Due to the versatility of the azido group, this reaction has an important synthetic potential, as already demonstrated by the preparation of the core of several alkaloids, particularly those containing an amino-substituted quaternary carbon center, such as FR901483.     

Molecular chaperones, folding catalysts, and the recovery of active recombinant proteins fromE. coli

The high-level expression of recombinant gene products in the gramnegative bacteriumEscherichia coli often results in the misfolding of the protein of interest and its subsequent degradation by cellular proteases or its deposition into biologically inactive aggregates known as inclusion bodies. It has recently become clear that in vivo protein folding is an energy-dependent process mediated by two classes of folding modulators. Molecular chaperones, such as the DnaK-DnaJ-GrpE and GroEL-GroES systems, suppress off-pathway aggregation reactions and facilitate proper folding through ATP-coordinated cycles of binding and release of folding intermediates. On the other hand, folding catalysts (foldases) accelerate rate-limiting steps along the protein folding pathway such as thecis/trans isomerization of peptidyl-prolyl bonds and the formation and reshuffling of disulfide bridges. Manipulating the cytoplasmic folding environment by increasing the intracellular concentration of all or specific folding modulators, or by inactivating genes encoding these proteins, holds great promise in facilitating the production and purification of heterologous proteins. Purified folding modulators and artificial systems that mimic their mode of action have also proven useful in improving the in vitro refolding yields of chemically denatured polypeptides. This review examines the usefulness and limitations of molecular chaperones and folding catalysts in both in vivo and in vitro folding processes.     

Profiling and comprehensive expression analysis of ABC transporter solute-binding proteins of Bacillus subtilis membrane based on a proteomic approach

We analyzed ABC transporter solute-binding proteins (SBPs) of the Bacillus subtilis membrane using a proteomic approach. We prepared a washed cell membrane fraction that was insoluble in 134 mM nondetergent sulfobetaine and then extracted proteins using mixtures of detergents in a stepwise manner. The membrane proteins were resolved by three two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) or two one-dimensional (1-D) PAGE procedures, electroblotted, and digested in the presence of 5% or 80% acetonitrile. Thereafter, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) identified 637 proteins corresponding to 15.9% of the total cellular proteins. We predicted that among these, 256 were membrane proteins, 101 were lipoproteins or secretory proteins and 280 were soluble proteins containing peripheral proteins that function in both the cytoplasm and the cell membrane such as SecA and FtsY. Among the 637 proteins, we identified 30 SBPs among 38 importers predicted by a bioinformatic search of the genome. We confirmed expression of the genes for the 30 SBPs using DNA microarray analysis. We compared the 2-D gel separation profiles of submembrane fractions solubilized by 1% n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside from cells cultured on Luria Bertani (LB), S7, and S7 medium without glutamate as well as DNA microarray data on LB and S7. The results suggested that YcdH, YtmK and YurO are binding proteins for Mn(++), glutamate and glucose, respectively, and that YqiX and YxeM are binding proteins for amino acids (tryptophan in S7 medium).