Purification and characterization of the tyrosinase of Streptomyces michiganensis DSM 40015

Tyrosinase of Streptomyces michiganensis DSM 40015 was purified 61-fold from the culture broth: After a fractionated ammonium sulfate precipitation the enzyme was separated by hydrophobic interaction chromatography with Phenyl-Sepharose and ionic interaction chromatography with CM-Cellulose; finally a gel filtration with Sephadex G-75 yielded 1.7% of the originally existent enzyme. SDS gel-electrophoresis of the purified enzyme showed two bands representing a size of 34500 and 32000 dalton, respectively. However, by isoelectric focussing only one band could be found exhibiting an isoelectric point of approximately 9.0. Temperature and pH-optimum of the enzyme activity were 33°C and pH 7.0, respectively. Whereas the enzyme is specific in regard to the aromatic part of its substrate variations of the aliphatic rest are tolerated.     

Mammalian histidine decarboxylase; Changes in molecular properties induced by oxidation and reduction

Histidine decarboxylase from a murine mastocytoma has been submitted to different separation methods. In these experiments the activity peaks were often very broad. This heterogeneity of the enzyme is traced back to the formation of aggregates, differing in apparent molecular weight by a multiple of about 55,000, as a result of oxidation.Under non-oxidative conditions the histidine decarboxylase activity is confined to one peak in both molecular sieve chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, chromatography on hydroxy apatite, pore gradient electrophoresis and electrofocusing.The molecular weight of the enzyme is estimated to be 110,000 by pore gradient electrophoresis (alkylated enzyme). The isoelectric point is pH 4.9–5.0, determined by electrofocusing under reducing conditions.     

Isolation and characterization of the extracellular lipase of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus 69 V

The extracellular lipase of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus 69 V was purified by hydrophobic interaction chromatography to homogeneity as suggested by gel electrophoretic analysis. The lipase existed as a high molecular complex of about 300 kDa, with a subunit molecular weight of 30.5 kDa being obtained by SDS-PAGE. The hydrodynamic molecular radius obtained by gel electrophoresis was 3.27 nm. The lipase had an isoelectric point of 5.5 and was stimulated by additions of deoxycholate. The activation energy for the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl palmitate was 39.9 kJ mol-1. Tri-, di- and monoacylglycerols were hydrolyzed. Hg2+ and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate inhibited the enzyme activity at very low concentrations. One sulfhydryl group was found per molecule of lipase.     

Purification and partial characterization of two major allergens from the house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

Two major allergens of the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), were purified, and their molecular weight and isoelectric points (pIs) were determined. Dp 42 was purified from an acetone-precipitated mite-excrement extract by a combination of hydrophobic interaction chromatography on phenyl Sepharose and copper-chelate chromatography. The molecular weight was determined to be 18,000 and 25,000 to 30,000 by gel filtration (G-75) and sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively, and pI values of 4.6, 5.6, and 6.6 were obtained by sucrose gradient isoelectric focusing (IEF). These values correspond well with those described for the identical allergen, P1. The pI 6.6 variant was considerably enriched in the purified material. Dp 42 constituted 6.4% of the dry weight of a reference whole mite-culture extract. Dp X was obtained partially purified by gel filtration (G-75), ammonium sulphate precipitation, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The molecular weight was 18,000 to 20,000 by gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Multiple pIs in the range 5 to 7 were found by sucrose gradient IEF and crossed IEF. The two purified allergens carried clearly distinct activities toward human IgE and appeared as potent allergens in crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis, RAST, and RAST inhibition.     

One-step purification of monoclonal IgG antibodies from mouse ascites. An evaluation of different adsorption techniques using high performance liquid chromatography

Monoclonal antibodies were purified in one step from mouse ascites by four different high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) adsorption techniques. The antibodies were of the IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 subtypes, with isoelectric points between 6.4 and 7.6. Similarly pretreated samples were applied to columns for anion exchange (Mono Q), cation exchange (Mono S), chromatofocusing (Mono P) and hydrophobic interaction chromatography (Alkyl Superose), respectively. Highly purified IgG fractions, as judged by electrophoresis, were obtained in all these techniques. The yields of immunoreactive material were above 80%. A strategy for single step HPLC purification of monoclonal IgG antibodies from mouse ascites by adsorption techniques is proposed, as a complement to the well-established technique of affinity chromatography on immobilized protein A. The strategy involves (i) cation exchange chromatography as a first choice for antibodies with high isoelectric points (greater than 7.2), and (ii) hydrophobic interaction chromatography as a first choice when the isoelectric point is below 7.2.     

Production and partial characterization of an elastolytic protease of Vibrio vulnificus.

Conditions are described for the production of large amounts of an extracellular elastolytic protease by Vibrio vulnificus. The yield of enzyme was maximal during the late exponential growth phase and was stable during the stationary growth phase in a medium composed of 2% Proteose Peptone and 1.5% NaCl. The protease has a molecular weight of ca. 50,500 (estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), an isoelectric point of ca. 5.8, and a pH optimum range against azocasein and elastin of pH 7 to 8. The caseinolytic and elastase activities in protease preparations partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation were inseparable by gel filtration, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and isoelectric focusing. Both activities were deleteriously affected by heat, low pH, heavy-metal ions, chelating agents, reducing agents, sodium cyanide, N-bromosuccinimide, alpha-2-macroglobulin, and phosphoramidon, but were unaffected by various trypsin inhibitors, chymostatin, aprotinin, leupeptin, pepstatin A, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, and N-ethylmaleimide.     

Purification of a D-hydantoinase using a laboratory-scale streamline phenyl column as the initial step

A D-hydantoinase from Thermus sp. was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity for subsequent crystallization. The purification was performed with hydrophobic interaction chromatography as the capture step followed by anion-exchange chromatography and gel permeation chromatography as intermediate purification and polishing steps, respectively. The hydrophobic interaction step was done in fluidized bed mode in a laboratory-scale Streamline column made from conventional laboratory equipment. The whole purification protocol could be finished within one day. The purified enzyme crystallizes. The crystals are suitable for X-ray protein structure analysis and diffract to at least 2.3 A resolution. Complete data sets have been measured up to 2.6 A resolution. The X-ray structure is currently being solved.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular protease of Legionella pneumophila.

An extracellular proteolytic enzyme of Legionella pneumophila was purified by sequential batch separation with DEAE-cellulose, hydrophobic interaction chromatography with octyl-Sepharose, and ion-exchange chromatography with DEAE-Bio-Gel A (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Richmond, Calif.). The resulting protease preparation was determined to be homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence and absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Although free of contaminating proteins, the purified protease separated into two antigenically indistinguishable proteins both of which possessed proteolytic activity. The apparent masses of the proteins were 38 and 40 kilodaltons (kDa) as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate, whereas gel filtration chromatography revealed a single mass of 34 kDa. Immunoblot analysis indicated that the 38-kDa protein probably originated from the 40-kDa protein during purification. The isoelectric points of the two protease species were 4.20 and 4.42. Enzyme activity, which was optimum between pH 5.5 and 7.5, was inhibited by various metal chelators; however, no effect was observed after treatment with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, chymostatin, trypsin inhibitor, or dithiothreitol. Enzyme activity inhibited by metal chelators was restored upon the addition of various metal ions, including Zn2+, Fe2+, Mn2+, Cu2+, and Fe3+, but was not restored by Mg2+ or Ca2+. Atomic absorption analysis of the purified protease revealed a single gram-atom of zinc per mole of enzyme. Our findings indicate that the L. pneumophila protease resembles neutral zinc-containing metalloproteases similar to those found in other bacterial species.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular cytolysin produced by Vibrio vulnificus.

An extracellular cytolytic toxin produced by the halophilic bacterium Vibrio vulnificus was isolated free of detectable contamination with medium constituents and other bacterial products by sequential ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration with Sephadex G-75, hydrophobic interaction chromatography with phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B, and isoelectric focusing in an ethylene glycol density gradient. The cytolysin is a heat-labile, hydrophobic protein that is inhibited by large amounts of cholesterol, is partially inactivated by proteases and trypan blue, has a molecular weight (estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by amino acid analysis) of ca. 56,000, and has an isoelectric point of ca. 7.1. The first 10 amino-terminal amino acid residues of the cytolysin are Gln-Glu-Tyr-Val-Pro-Ile-Val-Glu-Lys-Pro. Lysis of mouse erythrocytes by the purified cytolysin is a multi-hit, at least two-step process consisting of a temperature-independent, toxin-binding step, followed by a temperature-dependent, membrane-perturbation step(s). In addition to possessing cytolytic activity against erythrocytes from 17 animal species and against Chinese hamster ovary cells in tissue culture, the purified cytolysin preparation was lethal for mice (ca. 3 micrograms/kg, intravenous 50% lethal dose) and had vascular permeability factor activity in guinea pig skin.     

疏水层析法和凝胶过滤法分离HI47抗CD20 F(ab'''')2之比较

目的　比较疏水层析和凝胶过滤两种方法分离纯化HI4 7抗CD2 0F(ab’) 2 的优缺点。方法　采用亲和层析柱protein G对发酵菌体裂解液进行粗纯化,分别采用疏水层析法和凝胶过滤法进行抗CD2 0F(ab’) 2 的分离纯化:疏水层析采用梯度洗脱,80 %B液洗脱2 0min ,10 0 %B液洗脱30min ;凝胶过滤以5 0mmol LPB缓冲液(pH 7.0 ) ,0 .8mL min洗脱4h。结果　粗纯化产物主要含F(ab’) 2 、Fab’,含量分别为19.6 %、5 9.7%。采用疏水层析法1h即可完成分离,F(ab’) 2 回收率为6 7% ,纯度为89.3% ;凝胶过滤4h完成分离,F(ab’) 2 回收率为6 5 % ,纯度为90 .5 %。FACS结果表明,两者结合Raji细胞的阳性率分别为99.93%和99.97%。结论　疏水层析分离纯化抗CD2 0F(ab’) 2 简单、快速、回收率高、纯度高,适用于大规模的工业化生产。     

6 beta-hydroxycortisol: a non-invasive reflection of enzymes of drug metabolism

6-beta-hydroxycortisol (6-beta-OHF) is the main unconjugated metabolite of cortisol in human urine. 6-beta-OHF could be assayed in urine by several methods : chromatography followed by colour reaction, high performance liquid chromatography, radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay. Urinary 6-beta-OHF is increased in some physiological conditions (such as pregnancy) and pathological states (such as hypercortisolemia and liver disease). The measurement of 6-beta-OHF in human urine may provide a useful index of enzyme induction, its excretion being enhanced by many inducers of the mixed function oxygenase.     

Isolation and characterization of two allergens from Dermatophagoides farinae

Two purified allergens, designated as DF1 and DF2, were isolated from the extract of the whole culture of Dermatophagoides farinae by a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion exchange, hydrophobic, chelate and gel chromatography. DF1 was isolated as a heat-sensitive acidic protein with an apparent molecular weight of 25,000 and an isoelectric point of 4.6-7.2. DF2 was isolated as a heat-stable basic protein with an apparent molecular weight of 15,000 and an isoelectric point of 7.8-8.3. No allergenic cross-reactivity was seen between DF1 and DF2. Both DF1 and DF2 were shown to be the major allergens of D. farinae by the results of radioallergosorbent test and histamine release assay.     

Interactions of human serum albumin with a modified poly(vinyl alcohol) gel packing for high-performance liquid chromatography

—The interactions of human serum albumin (HSA) with a poly(vinyl alcohol) gel packing (Asahipak GS-520) for high-performance liquid chromatography of proteins were investigated. Under certain conditions, the elution of HSA from the GS-520 column was retarded and its chromatogram was split into two peaks, indicating weak adsorption of HSA onto the gels and also the existence of two subfractions, i.e. human mercapto-albumin (HMA) and human non-mercapto-albumin (HNA). The chromatograms were confirmed to be greatly influenced by the salt composition, the pH, and the temperature of the isocratic mobile phase. It is characteristic for the adsorption of HSA onto the gels to be suppressed at a pH near its isoelectric point. The HSA-gel interaction parameters calculated using an adsorption chromatography theory demonstrate that the adsorption of HSA is caused by enthalpy-driven interactions, which are depressed by lowering the pH, in addition to hydrophobic interactions. Under the recommended chromatographic conditions for high resolution of HMA/HNA, it was found that the HSA samples possessed some subfractions besides HMA and HNA fractions.     

Interactions of human serum albumin with a modified poly(vinyl alcohol) gel packing for high-performance liquid chromatography

The interactions of human serum albumin (HSA) with a poly(vinyl alcohol) gel packing (Asahipak GS-520) for high-performance liquid chromatography of proteins were investigated. Under certain conditions, the elution of HSA from the GS-520 column was retarded and its chromatogram was split into two peaks, indicating weak adsorption of HSA onto the gels and also the existence of two subfractions, i.e. human mercapto-albumin (HMA) and human non-mercapto-albumin (HNA). The chromatograms were confirmed to be greatly influenced by the salt composition, the pH, and the temperature of the isocratic mobile phase. It is characteristic for the adsorption of HSA onto the gels to be suppressed at a pH near its isoelectric point. The HSA-gel interaction parameters calculated using an adsorption chromatography theory demonstrate that the adsorption of HSA is caused by enthalpy-driven interactions, which are depressed by lowering the pH, in addition to hydrophobic interactions. Under the recommended chromatographic conditions for high resolution of HMA/HNA, it was found that the HSA samples possessed some subfractions besides HMA and HNA fractions.     

Fluid accumulation in infant mice caused by Vibrio hollisae and its extracellular enterotoxin.

Vibrio hollisae, a halophilic bacterium isolated from patients with diarrhea, was examined for virulence factor production. Intragastric administration of 2 X 10(7) CFU per mouse elicited fluid accumulation which peaked at ca. 6 h postchallenge in infant mice. An enterotoxin which elongated Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was detected in extracts of infected-mouse intestines and in culture fluids from various growth media. The yield of the enterotoxin was maximal beginning at the onset of the stationary phase of growth in heart infusion broth supplemented with 0.5% NaCl. A concentrated preparation obtained by ammonium sulfate precipitation of culture supernatant fluids induced intestinal fluid accumulation which peaked at 2 h postchallenge in infant mice. The abilities of the enterotoxin preparation to elongate CHO cells and to elicit fluid accumulation in infant mice were inseparable by gel filtration, isoelectric focusing, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The enterotoxin has a molecular weight of ca. 33,000 by gel filtration and an isoelectric point of ca. 4 and is sensitive to heat.     

Purification and characterization of Clostridium perfringens delta-toxin.

Delta-toxin, an extracellular hemolysin released by Clostridium perfringens type C, was purified from culture supernatant fluid by sequential ammonium sulfate precipitation, thiol-Sepharose gel chromatography, isoelectric focusing, and Sephadex G-75 gel filtration. The purified preparation had a specific activity of 320,000 hemolytic units per mg of protein and was homogeneous, as determined by immunochemical and electrophoretic tests. This toxin was characterized as a single polypeptide chain composed of 391 amino acid residues, 30% of which were hydrophobic. The molecular weight was found to be 42,000, and the isoelectric point was pH 9.1. Delta-toxin appeared to be amphiphilic by charge shift electrophoresis in a three-detergent system. It was immunogenic in rabbits and lethal to mice at a dose of 0.12 micrograms. The lytic activity of delta-toxin was restricted to erythrocytes of even-toed ungulates (sheep, goats, and pigs). This activity was inhibited by GM2 ganglioside but not by other gangliosides, cholesterol, lecithin, or sphingomyelin.     

Isolation and purification of HSV-1 specific transfer factor produced by HSV-1 immunized goat leukocyte dialysate.

A herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-specific transfer factor (TF), was separated and purified from the leukocyte dialysate of goats immunized with HSV-1 using affinity chromatography on antigen-sorbent and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The antigen-specific activities of the starting dialysate and the isolated TF component (s) were examined by 51Cr-labelled leukocyte adherence inhibition (51Cr LAI) assay. The analytical hydrophobic interaction HPLC (HI-HPLC) and isoelectric focusing (IEF) techniques were employed to evaluate the purity and the isoelectric point (PI) of isolated TF component(s). The experiments provided a two-step procedure for purifying the TF material from the starting dialysate. It seems that the purified active TF component (PTFC) was specific for HSV-1. The specific PTFC activity was increased 10,000-fold as compared with the activity of the dialysate. The active moiety appeared as a single band in the IEF gel as demonstrated by silver staining; it was hydrophilic and its PI was pH 4.48.     

Immunological Quantitation of Hepatic Tryptophan Oxygenase in Endotoxin-Poisoned Mice

An apparent inhibition of induction of mouse hepatic tryptophan oxygenase by endotoxin has been reported previously, as evidenced by low catalytic activity. This could be due either to decreased tryptophan oxygenase levels or to inactivation of existing enzyme molecules. To resolve this question, the enzyme was quantitated immunologically in control and endotoxin-poisoned mice. Tryptophan oxygenase was purified and used as an antigen to prepare antienzyme antibodies. The antiserum was shown to be monospecific by immuno-electrophoresis. Addition of the antiserum to high-speed supernatant fluids of liver homogenates of control or endotoxin-poisoned mice resulted in precipitation of the enzyme. Radial immunodiffusion assays revealed that there was less enzyme in livers of mice that received 1 mean lethal dose of endotoxin. It was concluded that endotoxin interfered with the synthetic process that results in enhanced levels of tryptophan oxygenase.     

Purification and characterization of a 43-kilodalton extracellular serine proteinase from Cryptococcus neoformans

An extracellular proteinase was purified from culture filtrates of Cryptococcus neoformans NHPY24 by DEAE ion-exchange chromatography and gelatin affinity column chromatography with azoalbumin as the substrate. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was 43 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, its pH optimum was 7.0 to 8.0, and maximal activity was obtained at pH 7.5 and 37 degrees C. By isoelectric focusing, the purified enzyme had a pI of 4.77. Enzyme activity was inhibited by serine proteinase inhibitors such as phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and diisopropylfluorophosphate. The purified enzyme was thus a serine proteinase. It hydrolyzed natural substrates including hemoglobin, beta-casein, and gamma globulin.     

Separation of human vitamin K-dependent coagulation proteins using hydrophobic interaction chromatography

A rapid and simple method was developed to separate human vitamin K-dependent plasma proteins from each other, yielding virtually homogeneous pools. The purification technique is based on the single use of hydrophobic interaction chromatography, starting from prothrombin concentrate (PC or DEFIX, also termed factor IX concentrate) as initial material. Phenyl-sepharose HP demonstrated optimal separation by comparing several hydrophobic resins as well as resins used in standard procedures like immobilised heparin and Cibacron blue. Under ideal conditions, factor X could be separated in a single step as well as prothrombin. Factor IX co-eluted with other minor proteins. Focus was given only on these three proteins due to their relative abundance. Complete separation of all proteins present in the starting material was achieved by MonoQ anion-exchange chromatography following the phenyl-sepharose run. The resulting purified material could be demonstrated to be of equal or higher purity than using described methods. This strategy employing hydrophobic interaction chromatography for blood macromolecules could be of immense value for purifying the human vitamin K-dependent proteins and represents a considerable simplification over other purification schemes. It not only involves minimal sample handling but also can be readily up-scaled and is a cost-efficient alternative.