Identification of a small antimycotic peptide produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 6256.

Bacillus sp. 6256 is a good biocontrol agent against Botrytis cinerea which caused tomato gray mold disease. Strain 6256 was identified as B. amyloliquefaciens by analysis of its partial gyrB gene sequence. To identify and characterize the antimycotic peptides from the culture broth of the bacterium, the antimicrobial substances produced by B. amyloliquefaciens 6256 were isolated by ammonium sulfate precipitation, Superdex 200 gel filtration chromatography and DEAE anion exchange chromatography. The purified compound was designated as P657. The biological activity of P657 was stable at as high as 100 °C for 20 min and in pH value ranged from 5 to 10. The antimycotic compound was resistant to trypsin and proteinase K, and could completely inhibit spore germination of Botrytis cinerea in vitro. MALDI-TOF-MS analysis results showed the presence of fengycins A (C16-C17) and fengycins B (C15-C17) isoforms in P657.

Large-scale production, purification and bioactivity assay of recombinant human interleukin-6 in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris.

A DNA fragment containing the mature human interleukin (IL)-6 sequence was cloned into pPICZαA, generating a fusion protein with the alpha factor from baker's yeast and integrated into the genome of Pichia pastoris strain X-33. Recombinant yeast transformants with high-level rhIL-6 production were identified, secreting as much as 280 mg L(-1) rhIL-6 after 4 days of induction by methanol. The rhIL-6 was purified by PEG-8000 precipitation, followed by DEAE anion exchange and Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, yielding over 95% pure rhIL-6 at about 170 mg L(-1) . Mass spectrometry analysis showed that the rhIL-6 has a molecular weight of 20,908.85 Da, which is close to the mass calculated from the sequence of the protein. Functional analysis of the purified rhIL-6 using the lymphocyte proliferation assay by an MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide] method demonstrated a specific activity that is at least fivefold higher than the commercial rhIL-6 produced in Escherichia coli. In summary, the experimental procedure we have reported here allows us to obtain a large amount of rhIL-6 from P. pastoris suitable for subsequent biophysical studies.

Adiponectin does not bind to gelatin: a new and easy way to purify high-molecular-weight adiponectin from human plasma.

Human plasma contains three forms of adiponectin, a trimer, a hexamer, and a high-molecular-weight (HMW) multimer. We previously reported HMW adiponectin was a gelatin-binding protein of 28 kDa (GBP28), it having been purified due to its affinity to gelatin-Cellulofine (Nakano, Y., et al. Isolation and characterization of GBP28, a novel gelatin-binding protein purified from human plasma. J. Biochem. 1996. 120: 803-12). Although HMW adiponectin binds to gelatin-Cellulofine, it cannot bind to gelatin-Sepharose. Gelatin-Cellulofine was made of formyl-Cellulofine and gelatin, and we found that HMW adiponectin binds to reduced formyl-Cellulofine with similar affinity as to gelatin-Cellulofine. Through only two steps using reduced formyl-Cellulofine and DEAE-Sepharose, HMW adiponectin can be effectively purified from human plasma.

High-sensitivity express immunochromatographic method for detection of plant infection by tobacco mosaic virus.

A highly sensitive express immunochromatography method for molecular diagnosis of plant virus infections was elaborated on the example of a model object - tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). The analysis time does not exceed 5 min, and the lower limit of TMV detection in non-clarified leaf extract (2-4 ng/ml) is comparable with the sensitivity of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the virus. A single measurement requires 0.1-0.2 ml tested solution (extract from 10-20 mg of leaf material). The sensitivity of TMV determination in the leaf tissue extract was increased by more than one order of magnitude using signal enhancement by silver and is 0.1 ng/ml. In this case, analysis time did not exceed 25 min. The simplicity of this method makes it especially convenient in express diagnosis of numerous analyzed specimens. The prototype of a diagnostic kit for serial analyses of plant viral infections both in laboratory and field conditions was elaborated.

Isolation and partial characterization of ribonuclease inhibitor from goat liver.

Ribonuclease inhibitor (RI), a 50 kDa protein, has been found both in mammalian and nonmammalian tissues. We have isolated RI from goat liver and partial characterization has been accomplished. For the isolation of RI, DEAE cellulose column chromatography followed by affinity chromatography using CNBr activated Sepharose 4B was performed. The inhibition of ribonucleolytic activity of Ribonuclease A has been checked by an agarose gel based assay. The antiangiogenic property of the protein was tested by the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Results indicate inhibition of angiogenesis.

Partial purification of mannosylphosphorylundecaprenol synthase from Micrococcus luteus: a useful enzyme for the biosynthesis of a variety of mannosylphosphorylpolyisoprenol products.

Membrane fractions from Micrococcus luteus catalyze the transfer of mannose from GDP-mannose to mono- and dimannosyldiacylglycerol, mannosylphosphorylundecaprenol (Man-P-Undec), and a membrane-associated lipomannan. This chapter describes the detergent solubilization, partial purification, and properties of Man-P-Undec synthase. The mobility of the mannosyltransferase activity on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicates that the enzyme is a polypeptide with a molecular weight of approx 30.7 kDa. Utilizing the broad specificity of the bacterial mannosyltransferase provides a useful approach for the enzymatic synthesis of a wide variety of Man-P-polyisoprenol products.

Purification of recombinant and endogenous HSP70s.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are powerful immunogens against the antigenic peptides they chaperone. The antigenic peptides are MHC I-binding peptides and their elongated precursors derived from tumor antigens, viral antigens, minor histocompatibility antigens, or model antigens. HSP-peptide complexes can immunize against tumors and pathogen-infected cells. Remarkably, HSPs do not immunize after elution of the peptides they chaperone, demonstrating that HSPs are not immunogenic per se, whereas HSP-peptide complexes are. Additionally, HSPs activate professional antigen presenting cells (APC) through specific receptor(s) to stimulate secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, up-regulation of co-stimulatory molecules and activation of dendritic cells. The mechanistic exploration of the role of the HSPs on the innate and adaptive component of the immune system requires their isolation in large quantity. On one hand, isolation of naturally formed HSP-peptide complexes is key to study their specific immunogenicity. On the other hand, purification of HSPs free of endotoxin contamination is an absolute requirement for the analysis of their ability to activate APC in vitro. This chapter describes a convenient and fast method of purification of endogenous and recombinant HSP of 70 kDa (HSP70) that addresses these two considerations.

Xanthine oxidase-catalyzed metabolism of 2-nitrofluorene, a carcinogenic air pollutant, in rat skin.

The reductive metabolism of 2-nitrofluorene, a carcinogenic air pollutant, in rat skin microsomes and cytosol was investigated. 2-Nitrofluorene was reduced to the corresponding amine by the microsomes with NADPH and by the cytosol with 2-hydroxypyrimidine or 4-hydroxypyrimidine under anaerobic conditions. The cytosolic activity was much higher than that of skin microsomes. The 2- or 4-hydroxypyrimidine-linked nitroreductase activity was inhibited by oxypurinol and (+/-)-8-(3-methoxy-4-phenylsulfinylphenyl) pyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazine-4(1H)-one (BOF-4272), inhibitors of xanthine oxidase, but not by menadione, chlorpromazine and isovanillin, inhibitors of aldehyde oxidase. When skin cytosol was applied to a DEAE-cellulose column, the fractions containing xanthine oxidase exhibited a marked 2-hydroxypyrimidine-linked nitroreductase activity. In contrast, the aldehyde oxidase fraction showed little activity. Nitroreductase fractions obtained by ion exchange chromatography showed a band in Western blotting analysis using anti-rat xanthine oxidase. Moreover, the xanthine oxidase fraction exhibited a significant nitroreductase activity in the presence of 2-hydroxypyrimidine, 4-hydroxypyrimidine or hypoxanthine, and these activities were inhibited by inhibitors of xanthine oxidase. These results indicated that reduction of 2-nitrofluorene in the skin was mainly catalyzed by xanthine oxidase.

cAMP binding protein assay for widespread use in cell signaling studies.

cAMP plays a critical role in intracellular signaling pathways that regulate proliferation or differentiation. The cAMP binding protein assay, using a naturally derived cAMP binding protein, is one of the most widely used methods for cAMP determination. The major steps of this binding assay include purification of the binding protein, cAMP extraction from samples, and quantification of the cAMP Most purification methods of the cAMP binding protein were published before 1975, and many of the materials and methods are outdated. Here we describe an updated method of purification of cAMP binding protein from bovine skeletal muscle with the advantages of simplicity, low cost, and high yield The isolation procedures can be completed in two days using commercially available materials and equipment. The cAMP binding properties of the isolated protein can be utilizedfor more than two years. Binding protein isolatedfrom 1 kg bovine muscle is sufficientfor at least 3 x10(4) assay tubes. Furthemore, we describe the techniques of cAMP extraction and quantification that have been used successfully in studying parathyroid hormone signaling as an example of a G protein-linked seven transmembrane domain receptor that signals through the protein kinase A pathway.

Purificación del componente c1s del sistema complemento y obtención de un antisuero específico / Purification of the c1s component of the complement system and obtention of a specific antiserum

Se describe un método de purificación del componente C1s del sistema complemento a partir de una mezcla de sueros normales mediante cromatografías secuenciales en DEAE-celulosa, TEAE-celulosa y Sephacryl S-200. La presencia de C1s en las fracciones eluídas en las diferentes corridas cromatográficas se detectó por nefelometría. La pureza del C1s obtenido se determinó por inmunoelectroforesis contra un suero antiproteínas séricas humanas y un antisuero específico. A partir del C1s purificado se produjo en conejos un antisuero de buena calidad, útil para la cuantificación del C1s sérico

Detección de aciduria metilmalónica mediante pruebas de tamizaje metabólico / Detection of methylmalonic aciduria by means of metabolic screening

La búsqueda de aciduria metilmalónica es uno de los procedimientos en el Programa de Detección de Errores Congénitos del Metabolismo que se realiza en varias unidades del IMSS en Monterrey, Nuevo León, para estudiar muestras procedentes de personas con sospecha de enfermedad metabólica genética. De un total de 2100 exámenes realizados en pacientes pediátricos, cinco resultaron positivos mediante la prueba del color y en todos ellos se corroboró la presencia del ácido metilmalónico mediante cromatografía A1 de celusosa. Aunque no se obtuvo diagnóstico de precisión, es probable que más de una forma del padecimiento exista en nuestro medio. Debido a la gravedad de este defecto, a la posibilidad del manejo médico y la conveniencia del asesoramiento genético en las familias portadoras, se justifica este tipo de detección en las unidades pediátricas o de atención materno-infantil.

Obtención, purificación y caracterización de dos formas de hormona luteinizante de la adenohipófisis caprina (gLH) / Obtention, purification and characterization of two forms of caprine luteinizing hormone from adenohypophsis (gLH)

Se describe la obtención, purificación y caracterización de dos proteínas hipofisiarias de origen caprino con carga eléctrica diferente y con características de hormona luteinizante (LH). La fracción no retenida en la cromatografía de intercambio catiónico (CM-celulosa) designada CM-lab y la correspondiente al segundo pico de dicha cromatografía (CM-2ab), se repurificaron en una cromatografía de intercambio aniónico (DEAE-celulosa) en condiciones idénticas, para obtener LH-I (CM-lab-DEAE-la) con un rendimiento de 76 mg/kg de adenohipófisis, y a la LH-II (CM2ab-DEAE-lb) con 15 mg/kg. La diferencia de carga de cada proteína se determinó por su movilidad relativa (Rf) mediante una electroforesis en geles de poliacrilamida (PAGE) en condiciones nativas. La LH-I mostró un Rf de 0.09 (banda mayoritaria) y 0.415, mientras la LH-II presentó 2 bandas de tipo catiónico con un Rf de 0.14, 0.19 (banda mayoritaria). La determinación del peso molecular relativo de LH-I y LH-II, se llevo a cabo por medio de una electroforesis en geles de poliacilamida-dodecilsulfato de sodio (SDS-PAGE). En condiciones no reductoras (NR), ambas proteínas presentaron un peso molecular relativo de 36.5 kilodaltones (KDa) correspondiente a la forma monomérica, semejante a los estándares NIDDK-oLH-26 y USDA-bLH5, mientras que en presencia de 2ß-mercaptoetanol (condiciones reducidas), las proteínas presentaron un peso molecular de 22.4 y 20.2 KDa. El análisis por inmunotransferencia (Western-blot) en condiciones NR utilizando el anti-oLH (CSU-204), permitió identificar bandas inmunorreactivas de peso molecular de 50,43, 36.5 (mayoritaria), y 22.4 KDa, tanto en los estándares como en las fracciones obtenidas en este estudio. La potencia biológica realizada en un bioensayo in vivo 3 + 3 balanceado fue de 1.03 UI/mg para la LH-I. y de 0.65 UI/mg para la LH-II con intervalos de confianza de 95 por ciento. Su actividad inmunológica se determinó con un radioinmunoensayo (RIA) homólogo de LH caprina, a la dosis esperada del 50 por ciento (ED 50). Los resultados fueron de 1.7 ng/ml y 3.5 ng/ml para LH-I y LH-II respectivamante. Se concluye que esta técnica permite la obtención de dos proteínas con carga eléctrica diferente, con actividad biológica e inmunológica de LH, y con peso molecular idéntico

[The effect of ionizing radiation and physical loading on the molecular heterogeneity of nucleoside phosphate kinases in liver subcellular fractions]. / Vliianie ioniziruiushchei radiatsii i fizicheskoi nagruzki na molekuliarnuiu geterogennost' nukleozidfosfatkinaz v subkletochnykh fraktsiiakh pecheni.

The different molecular forms of nucleoside-monophosphate kinases (KF 2.7.4.4) and nucleoside-diphosphate kinases (KF 1.7.4.6) which are responsible for the final steps of pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis were determined in mitochondrial rat hepatic supernatant under condition of combined influence of X-ray and maximum physical exercises (running up to complete exhaustion). The maximum activity of investigated nucleosidediphosphate kinases were observed in intact animals in that fractions which were eluted with tris-HCl buffer solution (0.075 and 1.0 M, pH 7.4). X-ray radiation and physical exercises caused the deviation of chromatographic data of maximal enzymatic activities. The drastic lowering of investigated enzymes was observed after X-ray irradiation and maximum physical exhaustion. This fact is in favour for the suppression of the final steps of primidine nucleotides synthesis under explored conditions of experimental investigations.

A novel and simple method to assay the activity of individual protein kinases in a crude tissue extract.

Protein kinases and phosphatases play an important role in a variety of cellular functions. Thus, it is of interest to develop an assay system that can be used to quantify the activity of individual enzymes specifically in a crude cellular extract, is simple to perform, and is amenable to automation. Here we report on the development of a protein kinase assay that addresses these points and circumvents the pitfalls of existing methodologies. The assay is based on the high affinity and strong binding of streptavidin toward biotin-linked peptide substrates. The biotinylated peptide substrate is phosphorylated by the cognate protein kinase using [gamma-32P]ATP under optimal enzyme condition, and the phosphorylated peptide product is then captured by a streptavidin-linked disk. After removal of free [gamma-32P]ATP, the 32P incorporated into the peptide substrate can be used as an expression of enzyme activity. In contrast to the commonly used phosphocellulose method, only the phospho-, biotinylated peptide (and not other phosphorylated proteins present in the extract) will bind to the disks, thus giving a true estimate of enzymatic activity. In addition to specificity, this assay does not require the peptide substrate to contain basic amino acids or to be modified by the addition of basic amino acid residues as required for the phosphocellulose method which may result in altered specificity of the substrate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)