In situ-Synthesized cadmium sulfide quantum dots in pore-forming protein and polysaccharide matrices for optical biosensing applications.

The main limitation for practical implementation of quantum dots-based sensors and biosensors is the possible contamination of sensing media with quantum dots (QDs) moved out from the sensor structure, being critical for living systems measurements. Numerous efforts have addressed the challenge of pre-synthesized QDs incorporation into porous matrix provide, on the one hand, proper fixation of quantum dots in its volume and preserving a free analyte transfer from the sensing media to them - on the other hand. Here, we propose an alternative insight into this problem. Instead of using preliminary synthesized particles for doping a matrix, we have in situ synthesized cadmium sulfide QDs in porous biopolymeric matrices, both in an aqueous solution and on a mica substrate. The proposed technique allows obtaining QDs in a matrix acting simultaneously as a ligand passivating surface defects and preventing QDs aggregation. The conjugates were used as a photoluminescence sensor for the metal ions and glutathione detection in an aqueous media. Different kinds of sensor responses have been found depending on the analyte nature. Zinc ions' presence initiates the intraband QDs emission increases due to the reduction of non-radiative processes. The presence of copper ions, in contrast, leads to a gradual photoluminescence decrease due to the formation of the non-luminescent copper-based alloy in the QDs structure. Finally, the presence of glutathione initiates a ligand exchange process followed by some QDs surface treatment enhancing defect-related photoluminescence. As a result, three different kinds of sensor responses for three analytes allow claiming development of a new selective QD-based sensor suitable for biomedical applications.

Inclusion Bodies of Recombinant OmpF Porin from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis: Properties and Structural Characterization.

Mature pore-forming OmpF protein from the outer membrane of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis was expressed in Escherichia coli in the form of inclusion bodies (IBs) under different cultivation conditions. The properties and structural organization of the IBs as well as the structure of the recombinant porin (rOmpF) solubilized from the IBs were investigated using electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, optical spectroscopy, and specific hydrophobic dyes. The size, shape, and stability of the IBs under denaturing solutions were determined. It was found that the IBs were readily soluble in SDS and more resistant to urea. Dissolution of the IBs in both denaturing agents led to formation of a heterogeneous in size population of oligomeric particles. The IBs contained an intermediate form of the rOmpF with native-like secondary structure and elements of tertiary structure, which was able to penetrate a lipid bilayer and adopt a functionally active conformation. There were no significant differences in the properties and structure between the examined IBs formed at different concentrations of the inducer (IPTG). However, the content of amyloids in the IBs increased with increasing concentration of the inducer. These results contribute to the development of new approaches for the production of active proteins from IBs, as well as biologically and functionally active IBs.

Determination of the parameters of binding between lipopolysaccharide and chitosan and its N-acetylated derivative using a gravimetric piezoquartz biosensor.

The interaction of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide - LPS) with low molecular weight chitosan (5.5 kDa), its N-acylated derivative and chitoliposomes was studied using a gravimetric piezoelectric quartz crystal microbalance biosensor. The optimal conditions for the formation of a biolayer based on immobilized LPS on the resonator surface and its regeneration were elaborated. The association and dissociation rate constants for LPS binding to chitosans were determined and the affinity constants (Kaf) were calculated based on the data on changes in the oscillation frequency of the quartz crystal resonator. The Kaf values correlated with the ones obtained using other methods. The affinity of N-acylated chitosan binding to LPS was higher than that of the parent chitosan binding to LPS. Based on the results obtained, we suggest that water-soluble N-acylated derivatives of chitosan with low degree of substitution of amino groups could be useful compounds for endotoxin binding and neutralization.

Interaction of N-acylated and N-alkylated chitosans included in liposomes with lipopolysaccharide of gram-negative bacteria.

The interactions of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with the polycation chitosan and its derivatives - high molecular weight chitosans (300 kDa) with different degree of N-alkylation, its quaternized derivatives, N-monoacylated low molecular weight chitosans (5.5 kDa) - entrapped in anionic liposomes were studied. It was found that the addition of chitosans changes the surface potential and size of negatively charged liposomes, the magnitudes of which depend on the chitosan concentration. Acylated low molecular weight chitosan interacts with liposomes most effectively. The binding of alkylated high molecular weight chitosan with liposomes increases with the degree of its alkylation. The analysis of interaction of LPS with chitoliposomes has shown that LPS-binding activity decreased in the following order: liposomes coated with a hydrophobic chitosan derivatives > coated with chitosan > free liposomes. Liposomes with N-acylated low molecular weight chitosan bind LPS more effectively than liposomes coated with N-alkylated high molecular weight chitosans. The increase in positive charge on the molecules of N-alkylated high molecular weight chitosans at the cost of quaternization does not lead to useful increase in efficiency of binding chitosan with LPS. It was found that increase in LPS concentration leads to a change in surface ζ-potential of liposomes, an increase in average hydrodynamic diameter, and polydispersity of liposomes coated with N-acylated low molecular weight chitosan. The affinity of the interaction of LPS with a liposomal form of N-acylated chitosan increases in comparison with free liposomes. Computer simulation showed that the modification of the lipid bilayer of liposomes with N-acylated low molecular weight chitosan increases the binding of lipopolysaccharide without an O-specific polysaccharide with liposomes due to the formation of additional hydrogen and ionic bonds between the molecules of chitosan and LPS.

Chaperone Skp from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis exhibits immunoglobulin G binding ability.

A low-molecular-weight cationic protein that can bind human and rabbit immunoglobulins G has been isolated from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis cells. This immunoglobulin binding protein (IBP) interacts with IgG Fc-fragment, the association constant of the resulting complex being 3.1 microM(-1). MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis of IBP revealed its molecular mass of 16.1 kDa, and capillary isoelectrofocusing analysis showed pI value of 9.2. N-Terminal sequence determination by Edman degradation revealed the sequence of the 15 terminal amino acid residues (ADKIAIVNVSSIFQ). Tryptic hydrolysate of IBP was subjected to MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for proteolytic peptide profiling. Based on the peptide fingerprint, molecular mass, pI, and N-terminal sequence and using bioinformatic resources, IBP was identified as Y. pseudotuberculosis periplasmic chaperone Skp. Using the method of comparative modeling a spatial model of Skp has been built. This model was then used for modeling of Skp complexes with human IgG1 Fc-fragment by means of molecular docking.

Interaction of chitosans and their N-acylated derivatives with lipopolysaccharide of gram-negative bacteria.

The interactions of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with the natural polycation chitosan and its derivatives--high molecular weight chitosans (80 kD) with different degree of acetylation, low molecular weight chitosan (15 kD), acylated oligochitosan (5.5 kD) and chitooligosaccharides (biose, triose, and tetraose)--were studied using ligand-enzyme solid-phase assay. The LPS-binding activity of chitosans (80 kD) decreased with increase in acetylation degree. Affinity of LPS interaction with chitosans increased after introduction of a fatty acid residue at the reducing end of chitosan. Activity of N-monoacylated chitooligosaccharides decreased in the order: oligochitosan --> tetra- > tri- --> disaccharides. The three-dimensional structures of complexes of R-LPS and chitosans with different degree of acetylation, chitooligosaccharides, and their N-monoacylated derivatives were generated by molecular modeling. The number of bonds stabilizing the complexes and the energy of LPS binding with chitosans decreased with increase in acetate group content in chitosans and resulted in changing of binding sites. It was shown that binding sites of chitooligosaccharides on R-LPS overlapped and chitooligosaccharide binding energies increased with increase in number of monosaccharide residues in chitosan molecules. The input of the hydrophobic fragment in complex formation energy is most prominent for complexes in water phase and is due to the hydrophobic interaction of chitooligosaccharide acyl fragment with fatty acid residues of LPS.

Isolation and characterization of a low-molecular-weight immunoglobulin-binding protein from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.

A low-molecular-weight immunoglobulin-binding protein (IBP) bound with the cell envelope has been isolated from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis cells and partially characterized. This IBP is a hydrophilic protein with a high polarity index of 55.3%. The molecular weight of the protein has been determined by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry as 14.3 kD. CD spectroscopy showed that the IBP has high contents of the beta-structure and random coil structure. The IBP contains glycine as the N-terminal amino acid. The protein can be stored for a long time at acidic pH values but aggregates and loses activity at alkaline and neutral pH. The IBP binds rabbit IgG with optimum at pH of 6.0-7.5. The IBP interacts with IgG molecule in the Fc-fragment region. The protein retains activity after heating at 100 degrees C in the presence of SDS.

Influence of culture conditions and virulence plasmids on expression of immunoglobulin-binding proteins of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.

The influence of culture conditions and plasmids on immunoglobulin (Ig)-binding activity of two isogenic strains of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (plasmid-free strain 48(-)82(-) and strain 48(+)82(+) bearing plasmids pYV48 and pVM82) was studied. The highest activity was observed in the bacteria grown on glucose-containing liquid medium in the stationary growth phase. The Ig-binding activity of the bacteria cultured on the liquid medium at pH 6.0 was about 1.5-fold higher than that of the bacteria grown at pH 7.2. Expression of the Ig-binding proteins (IBPs) was most influenced by temperature of cultivation. The IBP biosynthesis was activated in the bacteria grown at 4 degrees C and markedly decreased in those grown at 37 degrees C. The Ig-binding activity of lysates from the bacteria was caused by proteins with molecular weights of 7-20 kD. The activities of the plasmid-free and plasmid-bearing Y. pseudotuberculosis strains (48(-)82(-) and 48(+)82(+), respectively) were analyzed, and the plasmids were shown to have no effect on the IBP expression and biosynthesis, which seemed to be determined by chromosomal genes.

Determination of binding constants of lipopolysaccharides of different structure with chitosan.

The interaction of endotoxins--lipopolysaccharides (LPS) different in degree of the O-specific chain polymerization--with 20- and 130-kD chitosan was studied using the competitive binding of LPS with the complex of chitosan-anionic dye (tropaeolin 000-2) and the direct binding of (125)I-labeled LPS with chitosan immobilized on Sepharose 4B. The interaction of 20-kD chitosan with LPS was non-cooperative, and immobilization of the polycation on Sepharose resulted in its binding to (125)I-labeled LPS with a positive cooperativity. The interaction of LPS possessing a long O-specific chain with 130-kD chitosan was characterized by negative cooperativity. Binding constants of LPS with the polycation and the number of binding sites per amino group of chitosan were determined. The interaction affinity and stoichiometry of the LPS-chitosan complexes significantly depend on the LPS structure and concentration in the reaction mixture. The increase in the length of carbohydrate chains of LPS results in increase in the binding constants and decrease in the bound endotoxin amount.

Isolation and characterization of the immunoglobulin-binding protein from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.

A high molecular weight immunoglobulin-binding protein localized on the surface of bacterial cells has been isolated from the protein fraction of the outer membrane of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, and its properties are described. The immunoglobulin-binding protein is a trypsin-resistant and temperature-sensitive beta-structured protein. As shown by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, after heating at 100 degrees C the molecular weight of the protein constituted 37.5 kD. The native protein is capable of interacting with human and rabbit IgG but looses the ability to bind the immunoglobulins after the temperature denaturation. The immunoglobulin-binding protein binds to the Fc-fragments of the immunoglobulins and binding depends on the presence of calcium ions.

Interaction of porin from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis with lipopolysaccharides. Effect of ionic strength, pH, and divalent cations on the binding parameters.

Interaction of the pore-forming protein (porin) from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis with S- and R-forms of the endogenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was studied at various ionic strengths (20-600 mM NaCl), concentrations of divalent cations (5-100 mM CaCl2, MgCl2), and pH values from 3.0 to 9.0. The interaction of the R-LPS with porin has been shown in all experimental conditions to be in consensus with the model suggesting binding at independent sites of two types. S-LPS binds to interacting sites of relatively high affinity and to independent sites of low affinity at all pH values examined and at low NaCl concentration. The cooperative interaction of the S-LPS and porin is not observed at high ionic strength and in divalent cation-free medium. The number of binding sites of porin and association constants (Ka) for both LPS forms decrease significantly on increasing the solution ionic strength. The Ka values for the R- and S-LPS change oppositely on changing the pH: the Ka value for the R-LPS is maximal (Ka = 6.7 x 10(5) M-1), but that for S-LPS is minimal (Ka = 0.4 x 10(5) M(-1) at pH 5.0-5.5. The number of high-affinity and low-affinity binding sites for both LPS forms is maximal at pH 5.0-5.5. In this case, the numbers of high- and low-affinity sites for R-LPS are 3 and 10, respectively, and those for the S-LPS are 7 and 20, respectively. These data suggest an important role of electrostatic interactions on binding of LPS to porin. The contribution of conformational changes of the ligand and protein and hydrophobic interactions are discussed.

[Effect of a lipopolysaccharide on the conformational state and functional activity of a Yersinia pseudotuberculosis porin]. / Vliianie lipopolisakharida na konformatsionnoe sostoianie i funktsional'nuiu aktivnost' porina iz Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.

Changes in the structure and functional activity of porin, a protein from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, resulting from the removal of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) normally bound with the protein were studied. The treatment of LPS-containing porin with a 30% SDS solution led to an LPS-free protein that, according to the SDS-PAGE, remained to be a trimer. It was shown by CD and UV spectroscopies and intrinsic protein fluorescence that the removal of LPS caused only conformational changes in the porin secondary and tertiary structures. The LPS-free porin folded into a completely beta-structured protein aggregate. The bilayer lipid membrane technique showed that the pore-forming activity of the LPS-free porin decreased, and its concentration should be increased by two orders of magnitude to achieve the same effect. Incubation of the LPS-free porin with LPS led to a porin-LPS complex and affected the character of the protein functional activity. The treatment of the LPS-free porin by octyl glucoside, a nonionic detergent, resulted in the restoration of the protein pore-forming activity. It was suggested that the LPS and detergent provide a definite protein conformation necessary for its functioning.

[Cooperative interaction between protein-porin and lipopolysaccharide]. / Kooperativnoe vzaimodeistvie mezhdu belkom-porinom i lipopolisakharidom.

The interaction of the pore-forming protein (porin) from the outer membrane of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis with the S- and R-forms of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from this bacterium was studied. Analysis of the equilibrium binding of 125I-labeled S- and R-LPS, as well as the competitive inhibition of this reaction by lipid A, core oligosaccharide, and O-specific polysaccharide, suggests that there are binding sites on the porin molecule specific to these fragments of the LPS molecule. The binding of R-LPS occurs at independent sites of two classes with Ka 1.7 x 10(5) and 1.1 x 10(5) M-1. S-LPS interacts with porin with positive cooperation (h 1.6) and Ka 0.8 x 10(5) M-1. The number of binding sites was found to be nine and four R- and S-LPS, respectively. Molecular mechanisms of the interaction are discussed.

[Quantitative determination of the carbohydrate determinants of O-antigens of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Pseudomonas fluorescens]. / Kolichestvennoe opredelenie uglevodnykh determinant O-antigenov Yersinia pseudotuberculosis i Pseudomonas fluorescens.

Interactions of O-specific polysaccharides, LPS and LPS-protein complex with specific antibodies isolated on a polysaccharide-substituted immunoadsorbent gel and monovalent Fab-fragments of the antibodies were investigated. The association constants and quantity of Fab-fragments bound to these antigens were established. The interaction of the LPS and LPS-protein complexes was shown to depend considerably on concentration of antigens, and only 10-15% of carbohydrate determinants are accessible for binding with antibodies.

[3-(3-hydroxy-2,3-dimethyl-5-oxoprolyl)amino-3,6-dideoxy-D-glucose: a new amino sugar of the antigenic polysaccharide from Pseudomonas fluorescens]. / 3-(3-gidroksi-2,3-dimetil-5-oksoprolil)-amino-3,6-dideoksi-D-gliukoza:novyi aminosakhar O-antigennogo polisakharida iz Pseudomonas fluorescens.

O-specific polysaccharide chain of the Pseudomonas fluorescens lipopolysaccharide is composed of 6-deoxy-L-talose, N-acetyl-D-fucosamine and N-acyl-3,6-dideoxy-D-glucose. Analysis of the latter sugar, obtained from the polysaccharide hydrolysate, by 1H NMR (including NOE), 13C NMR, and FAB mass spectrometry proved the unusual N-acyl substituent to be a 3-hydroxy-2,3-dimethyl-5-oxoproline residue.

[The structure of O-specific polysaccharide chain of Pseudomonas fluorescens lipopolysaccharide]. / Izuchenie struktury O-spetsificheskoi polisakharidnoi tsepi lipopolisakharida Pseudomonas fluorescens.

An O-specific polysaccharide, containing 6-deoxy-L-talose (6dTal), N-acetyl-D-fucosamine (FucNAc), 3-amino-3,6-dideoxy-D-glucose with an unidentified N-acyl substituent (Qui3NR), and O-acetyl groups, was obtained on mild acid degradation of a Pseudomonas fluorescens strain 361 lipopolysaccharide. On the basis of O-deacetylation, acid hydrolysis, methylation, selective solvolysis with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, and 13C NMR analysis, the polysaccharide is built up of trisaccharide repeating units of the following structure: (Formula: see text).