Ryanodine receptors of pancreatic beta-cells mediate a distinct context-dependent signal for insulin secretion.

The ryanodine (RY) receptors in beta-cells amplify signals by Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR). The role of CICR in insulin secretion remains unclear in spite of the fact that caffeine is known to stimulate secretion. This effect of caffeine is attributed solely to the inhibition of cAMP-phosphodiesterases (cAMP-PDEs). We demonstrate that stimulation of insulin secretion by caffeine is due to a sensitization of the RY receptors. The dose-response relationship of caffeine-induced inhibition of cAMP-PDEs was not correlated with the stimulation of insulin secretion. Sensitization of the RY receptors stimulated insulin secretion in a context-dependent manner, that is, only in the presence of a high concentration of glucose. This effect of caffeine depended on an increase in [Ca2+]i. Confocal images of beta-cells demonstrated an increase in [Ca2+]i induced by caffeine but not by forskolin. 9-Methyl-7-bromoeudistomin D (MBED), which sensitizes RY receptors, did not inhibit cAMP-PDEs, but it stimulated secretion in a glucose-dependent manner. The stimulation of secretion by caffeine and MBED involved both the first and the second phases of secretion. We conclude that the RY receptors of beta-cells mediate a distinct glucose-dependent signal for insulin secretion and may be a target for developing drugs that will stimulate insulin secretion only in a glucose-dependent manner.

Thiophilic interaction chromatography for supercoiled plasmid DNA purification.

Supercoiled plasmid DNA was selectively purified from its open circular form by thiophilic interaction chromatography, performed in the presence of high concentrations of water-structuring salts. To identify optimal conditions for purification, various aromatic thioether ligands were coupled to a chromatographic support and screened for their ability to separate plasmid isoforms from each other and from other host cell contaminants, including RNA, genomic DNA, protein, and endotoxins. Selectivity of the chromatographic medium depended on the structure of the ligands, with characteristics of the substituents on the aromatic ring determining the resolution between the different plasmid DNA isoforms. Optimal resolution was obtained with ligands consisting of an thioaromate, substituted with highly electronegative groups. When 2-mercaptopyridine was used as a ligand, the difference in conductivity for eluting open circular and supercoiled plasmid DNA is only 6 mS/cm. However, with 4-nitrothiophol the resolution for plasmid DNA separation on the media increased, resulting in a 20 mS/cm difference. When used in combination with a prior group separation step, these aromatic thioether ligands facilitated the isolation of highly purified supercoiled plasmid DNA, suitable for use in gene therapy and DNA vaccine applications.

Integrated process for purification of plasmid DNA using aqueous two-phase systems combined with membrane filtration and lid bead chromatography.

An integrated process for purifying a 6.1 kilo base pair (kbp) plasmid from a clarified Escherichia coli cell lysate based on an ultra/diafiltration step combined with polymer/polymer aqueous two-phase system and a new type of chromatography is described. The process starts with a volume reduction (ultrafiltration) and buffer exchange (diafiltration) of the clarified lysate using a hollow fibre membrane system. The concentrated and desalted plasmid solution is then extracted in a thermoseparating aqueous two-phase system, where the contaminants (RNA and proteins) to a large extent are removed. While the buffer exchange (diafiltration) is necessary in order to extract the plasmid DNA exclusively to the top phase, experiments showed that the ultrafiltration step increased the productivity of the aqueous two-phase system by a factor of more than 10. The thermoseparated water phase was then subjected to a polishing step using lid bead chromatography. Lid beads are a new type of restricted access chromatography beads, here with a positively charged inner core that adsorbed the remaining RNA while its inert surface layer prevented adsorption of the plasmid DNA thus passing in the flow-through of the column. Differently-sized plasmid DNA in the range of 2.7-20.5 kbp were also partitioned in the aqueous two-phase system. Within this size range, all plasmid DNA was exclusively extracted to the top phase. The complete process is free of additives and easy scalable for use in large scale production of plasmid DNA. The overall process yield for plasmid DNA was 69%.

Extraction of plasmid DNA from Escherichia coli cell lysate in a thermoseparating aqueous two-phase system.

The primary purification of a 6.1 kilo base pair (kbp) plasmid from a desalted alkaline lysate has been accomplished by a thermoseparating aqueous two-phase system [(50% ethylene oxide-50% propylene oxide)-Dextran T 500]. The partitioning of the different nucleic acids (plasmid DNA, RNA, genomic DNA) in the thermoseparating aqueous two-phase system was followed both qualitatively by agarose gel electrophoresis and quantitatively by analytical chromatography (size exclusion- and anion-exchange mode) and PicoGreen fluorescence analysis. The experimental results showed a complete recovery of the plasmid DNA to the top phase, while 80% of total RNA and 58% of total protein was discarded to the bottom phase. Moreover, a 3.8-fold volume reduction of the plasmid DNA solution was achieved. By using a final thermoseparating step, the EO50PO50 polymer could be efficiently recycled, resulting in plasmid solution containing less than 1% polymer. The developed thermoseparating aqueous two-phase system shows great potential for the large-scale processing of plasmid DNA.

Purification of plasmid DNA with a new type of anion-exchange beads having a non-charged surface.

We have prepared a new type of anion exchanger, which effectively discriminates between RNA and plasmid DNA. The material is based on a Sephacryl S-500 HR matrix provided with quartenary amine anion-exchange groups. A distinguishing feature of the beads is that a thin (2-3 microm) outer layer of the beads lacks ion-exchange groups. In the synthesis of these beads the vinyl groups in the outer layer of vinylalkyl substituted Sephacryl S-500 HR beads are reacted with bromine. The resulting layer of bromoalkyl groups are hydrolysed, creating an inert outer layer of hydroxyalkyl groups. Finally, bromination and trimethylamine reactions of the inner vinyl groups provide the beads with a core of cationic groups. Large plasmid molecules will not bind to such beads since they are too large to enter the pores and therefore cannot come into contact with the charged matrix in the inner parts of the beads. RNA and protein molecules present in a cleared lysate, on the other hand, readily enter the pores and become adsorbed. A two-column strategy was developed for plasmid purification (recombinant pBluescript, 5.9 kilo base pairs, kbp). The first column was packed with the restricted access anion-exchanger beads (lid beads) and the second column with normal ion-exchange material (same ligand density as the lid beads). Diluted (3x), cleared lysate was pumped through the tandem columns. The first column was subsequently disconnected from the system and the purified plasmid adsorbed on the second column was eluted in a concentrated form (6x) and with 89% recovery. The two-column procedure removed 99.5% of the RNA and 96% of the proteins.

Supercoiled plasmid DNA: selective purification by thiophilic/aromatic adsorption.

Separation of the different plasmid isoforms is a major challenge in purifying plasmid DNA. We describe a new type of biochemical interaction that occurs in the presence of high concentrations of lyotropic salt and results in the selective adsorption of supercoiled plasmid DNA to aromatic thioether ligands. Under well-defined conditions, these ligands are capable of separating supercoiled plasmid DNA (ccc) from its isoform, i.e. open circular (oc) form. Integrated in a process, preceded by group separation and followed by anion-exchange chromatography, this new purification method may facilitate the production of highly purified supercoiled plasmid DNA for use in gene therapy and DNA vaccine applications.

Flocculate removal after alkaline lysis in plasmid DNA production.

Alkaline lysis is the most commonly used method following harvest of bacterial cells for production of plasmid DNA. The method was originally developed for laboratory scale experiments and has shown to be challenging at larger scales. A major problem prior to further downstream processing is the risk of filter clogging without efficient removal of the flocculate that occurs after neutralization. For this purpose we here present a scalable method where the clarification of alkaline lysate is greatly simplified. Through a rapid procedure, involving the addition of ammonium hydrogen carbonate to the neutralized alkaline lysate, the flocculate is lifted to the surface of the solution by the released carbon dioxide and ammonium. After this step a clarified solution can be drained from the bottom of the vessel. The procedure does not impact pH, plasmid DNA concentration or the ratio of open circular to supercoiled plasmid DNA in the solution.

A chromatographic method for determination of supercoiled plasmid DNA concentration in complex solutions.

A method for determination of the plasmid DNA concentration with subsequent analysis of the ratio supercoiled to open circular form is presented. The method is suitable for samples from all steps of the manufacturing process, from fermentation to final product. The analysis consists of size exclusion chromatography, followed by analytical thiophilic aromatic chromatography. In the first step, the plasmid DNA concentration is determined by group separation, including removal of RNA and other impurities, within less than 2 min. The limit of detection and quantification was 0.28 and 0.83 microg/ml, respectively. The precision of the method is high, providing a coefficient of variation as low as below 2%. In the second step, the ratio of open circular to supercoiled plasmid DNA is determined following separation of the two plasmid DNA isoforms with a linear salt gradient. The precision of the second step was evaluated using serial injections of aliquots of a sample stock solution. In comparison with the two most commonly used methods, the developed analysis was found to be significantly more accurate than agarose gel electrophoresis and equivalent to capillary gel electrophoresis. The combined methods for quantification and control of homogeneity of plasmid DNA presented here enable reliable and precise analysis at all steps of the manufacturing process.

Plasmid DNA purification.

The demand for efficient production methods of plasmid DNA (pDNA) has increased vastly in response to rapid advances in the use of pDNA in gene therapy and in vaccines since the advantageous safety concerns associated with non-viral over viral vectors.A prerequisite for the success of plasmid-based therapies is the development of cost-effective and generic production processes of pDNA. However, to satisfy strict regulatory guidelines, the material must be available as highly purified, homogeneous preparations of supercoiled circular covalently closed (ccc) pDNA. Large-scale production of pDNA for therapeutic use is a relatively new field in bioprocessing. The shift from small-scale plasmid production for cell transfection to large-scale production sets new constraints on the bacterial fermentation, processing of bacterial lysate and final purification and formulation of the plasmid DNA. The choice of bacterial strain used for plasmid cultivation affects the plasmid yield, the proportion of different isoforms and the amount of endotoxins in the starting material. The choice of bacterial strain will be greatly influenced by the production and purification procedures of pDNA. Master and working cell banks need to be characterised and established. Alkaline lysis of the bacteria damages the pDNA, resulting in a reduced recovery of ccc pDNA and an increase in partially denaturated ccc pDNA and open circular (oc) forms. Shear stress in these processes needs to be tightly controlled, and buffer composition and pH need to be optimised. To obtain a homogeneous plasmid DNA preparation, different pDNA purification strategies aim at capturing ccc pDNA and eliminating the oc isoform. A highly purified final product corresponding to the stringent recommendations set forth by health and regulatory authorities can be achieved by (i). different chromatography techniques integrated with ultra/diafiltration to achieve optimal purification results; (ii). the formulation of the final pDNA product, that requires a detailed study of the plasmid structure; and (iii). the development of sensitive analytical methods to detect different impurities (proteins, RNA, chromosomal DNA, and endotoxins). We present here a revue of the whole process to obtain such a plasmid DNA, and report an example of RNAse-free purification of ccc pDNA that could be used for gene therapy.