Electrochemical quantification of d-glucose during the production of bioethanol from thermo-mechanically pre-treated wheat straw.

Mechanical pre-treatment (disc refining) of wheat straw, at both atmospheric and elevated pressure, is shown to be an efficient process to access fermentable monosaccharides, with the potential to integrate within the infrastructure of existing first-generation bioethanol plants. The mild, enzymatic degradation of this sustainable lignocellulosic biomass affords ca. 0.10-0.13 g/g (dry weight) of d-glucose quantifiable voltammetrically in real time, over a two hundred-fold range in experimental laboratory scales (25 mL to 5.0 L), with pressure disc refining of the wheat straw enabling almost twice the amount of d-glucose to be generated during the hydrolysis stage than experiments using atmospheric refining (0.06-0.09 g/g dry weight). Fermentation of the resulting hydrolysate affords 0.08-0.10 g/g (dry weight) of ethanol over similar scales, with ethanol productivity at ca. 37 mg/(L h). These results demonstrate that minimal cellulose decomposition occurs during pressure refining of wheat straw, in contrast to hemicellulose, and suggest that the development of green, mechanochemical processes for the scalable and cost-effective manufacture of second-generation bioethanol requires improved cellulose decomposition.

A Disposable Microfluidic Device with a Screen Printed Electrode for Mimicking Phase II Metabolism.

Human metabolism is investigated using several in vitro methods. However, the current methodologies are often expensive, tedious and complicated. Over the last decade, the combination of electrochemistry (EC) with mass spectrometry (MS) has a simpler and a cheaper alternative to mimic the human metabolism. This paper describes the development of a disposable microfluidic device with a screen-printed electrode (SPE) for monitoring phase II GSH reactions. The proposed chip has the potential to be used as a primary screening tool, thus complementing the current in vitro methods.

Detection of nitric oxide in tissue samples by ESI-MS.

A novel method to determine nitric oxide (NO) in biological tissue samples with minimal interference from the cellular detritus is described. Methylpiperazinobenzenediamine, consisting of an o-phenylenediamine and a methyl piperazine group, was chosen as a probe for the detection of NO by mass spectrometry (MS) in biological tissue samples. The o-phenylenediamine group reacts with NO to form a characteristic benzotriazole. The product was identified using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and the method validated within the range of 95-1900 nM. NO levels associated with tissue biopsies (approximately 10 mg) from rat vasculature and intestine tissue biopsies have been successfully determined. The different rates of NO generated from tissue samples under hypoxic and normoxic conditions have been studied by this simple and sensitive method.

The proteomic analysis of cisplatin resistance in breast cancer cells.

Resistance to cisplatin represents a major obstacle in the effective management of many cancers, including metastatic breast cancer. We aimed to gain further understanding of the mechanisms underlying development of cisplatin resistance using an in vitro cell line model. The MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and a novel derivative displaying significant resistance to cisplatin were analyzed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The protein profiles were compared and 15 differentially expressed proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The downregulation of beta-tubulin type 3, cytokeratin 17, tropomyosin 1-alpha, peroxiredoxin 4, heat shock 27-kDa protein 1, glutathione-S-transferase mu 3, ribosomal protein P0, isocitrate dehydrogenase 3, and peptidyl-prolyl isomerase A isoform 1 was associated with cisplatin-resistant cells. In contrast, the expression of hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase 15-(NAD), matrix metalloproteinase 9, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A3, proteasome beta 1 subunit, electron transfer flavoprotein beta-polypeptide isoform 1, and peptidyl-propyl isomerase B precursor was upregulated in cisplatin-resistant cells. The downregulation (at least twofold) of glutathione-S-transferase mu 3, cytokeratin 17, and peroxiredoxin 4 was confirmed by Western blotting. We have identified alterations in the expression levels of several proteins that may be associated with cisplatin resistance and are candidates for further validation in clinical samples.

Quantitative analysis of the major constituents of St John's wort with HPLC-ESI-MS.

A method was developed to profile the major constituents of St John's wort extracts using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS). The objective was to simultaneously separate, identify and quantify hyperforin, hypericin, pseudohypericin, rutin, hyperoside, isoquercetrin, quercitrin and chlorogenic acid using HPLC-MS. Quantification was performed using an external standardisation method with reference standards. The method consisted of two protocols: one for the analysis of flavonoids and glycosides and the other for the analysis of the more lipophilic hypericins and hyperforin. Both protocols used a reverse phase Luna phenyl hexyl column. The separation of the flavonoids and glycosides was achieved within 35 min and that of the hypericins and hyperforin within 9 min. The linear response range in ESI-MS was established for each compound and all had linear regression coefficient values greater than 0.97. Both protocols proved to be very specific for the constituents analysed. MS analysis showed no other signals within the analyte peaks. The method was robust and applicable to alcoholic tinctures, tablet/capsule extracts in various solvents and herb extracts. The method was applied to evaluate the phytopharmaceutical quality of St John's wort preparations available in the UK in order to test the method and investigate if they contain at least the main constituents and at what concentrations.

Proteomic analysis of B-cell receptor signaling in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia reveals a possible role for kininogen.

CLL is an incurable disease with variable prognosis. The hyper reactivity of the B-cell receptor (BCR) to unknown antigen ligation plays a pivotal role in CLL-cell survival. We aimed to investigate the BCR signalling pathway using proteomics to identify novel proteins which may have clinical relevance in this disease. Three CLL samples were selected based upon BCR responsiveness, demonstrated by upregulation of phospho-ERK following in vitro stimulation. The differential expression of proteins, upon artificial stimulation of the BCR, was examined in these samples using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in combination with mass spectrometry. Proteins of interest were subsequently examined using immunoblotting. Proteomic analysis revealed that kininogen, a critical protein of kinin-kallikrein system, was upregulated in all 3 clinical samples upon BCR stimulation. There are 2 forms of kininogen: HMWK and LMWK. The upregulation of LMWK upon BCR stimulation was confirmed by immunoblotting in all 3 of these samples. In a pilot series of 52 unselected CLL samples, 71% demonstrated basal LMWK expression. There was a trend towards shorter median survival in LMWK positive cases (147months versus 253months for LMWK negative cases; p=0.125). Kininogen may be a novel therapeutic target in CLL and the possible association with prognosis warrants further investigation. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: We have identified the upregulation of LMWK upon BCR stimulation of CLL samples. There is no previous published research to suggest a link between kininogen and normal B-cells or CLL cells. In 52 unselected CLL samples, 71% demonstrated basal LMWK expression. There was a trend towards shorter median survival in LMWK positive cases. The absence of LMWK protein expression on normal B-cells suggests that this could be a biomarker for CLL and further research should be undertaken.

Proteomic identification of putative biomarkers of radiotherapy resistance: a possible role for the 26S proteasome?

PURPOSE: We aimed to identify putative predictive protein biomarkers of radioresistance. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Three breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, MDA-MB-231, and T47D) were used as in vitro models to study radioresistance. Inherent radiosensitivities were examined using a clonogenic survival assay. It was revealed that each cell line differed in their response to radiotherapy. These parental breast cancer cell lines were used to establish novel derivatives (MCF7RR, MDA-MB-231RR, and T47DRR) displaying significant resistance to ionizing radiation. Derivative cells were compared with parental cells to identify putative biomarkers associated with the radioresistant phenotype. To identify these biomarkers, complementary proteomic screening approaches were exploited encompassing two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in combination with mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry and quantitative proteomics using iTRAQ technology. RESULTS: A large number of potential biomarkers were identified, and several of these were confirmed using Western blot analysis. In particular, a decrease in the expression of the 26S proteasome was found in all radioresistant derivatives when compared with the respective parent cells. Decreased expression of this target was also found to be associated with radioresistant laryngeal tumors (P = .05) in a small pilot immunohistochemical study. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the 26S proteasome may provide a general predictive biomarker for radiotherapy outcome.

Efficient protein digestion with peptide separation in a micro-device interfaced to electrospray mass spectrometry.

A highly efficient protein digestion device has been fabricated using commercially available immobilized trypsin on agarose beads, packed into a silica capillary and connected either directly to an electrospray mass spectrometer via a 'microtight T' connector, from which aqueous acetic acid (0.2%) was pumped, or via a monolithic column connected to the mass spectrometer ion source. Six proteins with molecular mass ranging from 2848 to 77703 Da were digested completely using this system. In the second set of experiments a short monolithic separation column was placed after the immobilized trypsin capillary and partial separation of the generated peptides was obtained. The detection limits were increased from the micromol to pmol range by utilization of this separation column. Gradient elution, using a binary HPLC pump and a flow splitter, was used to optimize the peptide separation. This provided significantly enhanced resolution of the tryptic peptides but increased the analysis time to 30 minutes.

Cancer proteomics and its application to discovery of therapy response markers in human cancer.

The administration of chemotherapy either alone or in combination with radiotherapy is an important factor in reducing the mortality and morbidity of cancer patients. Resistance to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy represents a major obstacle to a successful outcome. The identification of novel biomarkers that can be used to predict treatment response would allow therapy to be tailored on an individual patient basis. Although the mechanisms are unclear, it is accepted that development of therapy resistance is a multifactorial phenomenon involving alterations in several cellular pathways. Proteome analysis methods are powerful tools for identifying factors associated with resistance to anticancer therapy because they facilitate the simultaneous analysis of whole proteomes. The current review describes the plethora of existing proteomic approaches and details the studies that have identified biomarkers that may be useful in the prediction of clinical response to anticancer therapy.

Conjugated linoleic acid isomers and trans fatty acids inhibit fatty acid transport in hepatoma 7288CTC and inguinal fat pads in Buffalo rats.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and some trans fatty acids (FA) decrease tumor growth and alter tumor and host lipid uptake and storage. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that the acute inhibitory effects of CLA isomers and trans FAs on FA transport in tumors and white adipose tissue are mediated via an inhibitory G-protein coupled (GPC), FFA receptor (FFAR). Experiments were performed in hepatoma 7288CTC and inguinal fat pads in Buffalo rats during perfusion in situ. CLA isomers and trans FAs (0.03-0.4 mmol/L, in plasma) were added to the arterial blood, and FA uptake or release was measured by arterial minus venous difference. In hepatoma 7288CTC, the CLA isomers, t10,c12-CLA > (+/-)-9-HODE [13-(S)-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid] > t9,t11-CLA, and the trans FAs, linolelaidic = vaccenic > elaidic, decreased cAMP content and inhibited FA uptake, 13(S)-HODE release, extracellular signal-regulated kinase p44/p42 phosphorylation, and [(3)H]thymidine incorporation. Other CLA isomers, c9,t11-CLA, 13-(S)-HODE, c9,c11-CLA, and c11,t13-CLA, had no effect. In inguinal fat pads, FA transport was inhibited by t10,c12-CLA = linolelaidic acid > trans vaccenic acid, whereas c9,t11-CLA had no effect. In both hepatoma 7288CTC and inguinal fat pad, addition of either pertussis toxin or 8-Br-cAMP to the arterial blood reversed the inhibitions of FA transport. These results support the idea that an inhibitory GPC FFAR reduces cAMP and controls FA transport by CLA isomers and trans FAs. Ligand activity is conferred by the presence of a trans double bond proximal to the carboxyl group.