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G Fleminger

Publications and source records attributed to G Fleminger.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Enhanced activity of immobilized dimethylmaleic anhydride-protected poly- and monoclonal antibodies.

The effect of reversible protection of the free amino groups of poly- and monoclonal antibodies by dimethylmaleic anhydride on their binding activity following immobilization onto various carriers was studied. The treatment with dimethylmaleic anhydride resulted in a 1.6-1.8-fold increase in the activity of immobilized goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin antibody immobilized onto different epoxy containing carriers and a 3-10.7-fold increase in the activity of immobilized monoclonal antibodies specific for carboxypeptidase A. The increase in activity was most pronounced at low antigen to carrier loads and over a wide range of modifier to protein ratios. The application of reversible protection of antibodies may permit the development of highly active immobilized antibody preparations for use in immunoaffinity purification.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Eupergit C as a carrier for high-performance liquid chromatographic-based immunopurification of antigens and antibodies.

An immunoaffinity purification system using C30N and C1Z Eupergit C beads was developed and optimized. Poly- and monoclonal antibodies were purified using immobilized antigens and antigens were purified using immobilized antibodies. Antigens were used that possess enzymic activities and the efficiency of antigen binding was determined from the enzymic activity of the matrix-bound immunocomplexes. High-performance immunoaffinity purification using Eupergit C beads proved to be highly specific, reproducible, free from protein leakage and possessed a low degree of non-specific adsorption of tissue proteins. These characteristics of the system were illustrated by the isolation of immunoglobulin G from serum and of human decidua proteins from the decidua tissue and from seminal plasma. These proteins were obtained at high purity in a single purification step, as shown by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1990

Enzymic oxidation of monoclonal antibodies by soluble and immobilized bifunctional enzyme complexes.

Site-specific modification of monoclonal antibodies was achieved by oxidation of the carbohydrate moieties of antibodies which are located remote from the antigen binding sites. Sialic acid and galactose are terminal sugars of these carbohydrate chains. Concomitant treatment of the antibodies with neuraminidase and galactose oxidase generated aldehyde groups in the oligosaccharide moieties of immunoglobulins which reacted selectively with amino or hydrazide groups of the matrix. Subsequent immobilization of neuraminidase and galactose oxidase on Eupergit C-adipic dihydrazide proved to be an efficient and selective system for the enzymic oxidation of the monoclonal antibodies without impairing their immunological activity. Oriented immobilization of enzymically oxidized monoclonal antibodies on hydrazide or amino Eupergit C derivatives thus leads to the formation of antibody matrix conjugates which possess high antigen-binding activities.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1990

Oriented immobilization of periodate-oxidized monoclonal antibodies on amino and hydrazide derivatives of Eupergit C.

Amino and hydrazyno derivatives of Eupergit C were prepared by reaction of the beads with hexamethylene diamine (HMD) and adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH), respectively. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against carboxypeptidase A (CPA) and horse radish peroxidase (HRP) were prepared, and those that did not inhibit the respective enzymatic activities were selected. The carbohydrate moieties of these antibodies were oxidized by reaction with sodium periodate and then coupled onto the modified beads. The oxidation and coupling reactions were optimized to achieve highly active matrix-conjugated antibodies. Thus, antibody-matrix conjugates that possessed antigen-binding activities close to the theoretical value of 2 mol antigen bound/mol immobilized antibody were obtained.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed1990

Identification, immunoaffinity purification and initial characterization of a novel 71 kD human decidua associated protein by use of specific monoclonal antibodies.

This study is part of an ongoing attempt to identify and characterize proteins associated with the human decidual tissue. A novel decidual-associated glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 71 kD named hDP71 (human decidual-protein 71), has been identified and purified by immunoaffinity technique using monoclonal antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies recognizing the hDP71 were raised against a partly purified preparation of decidual associated proteins, which was obtained by immunoabsorption of serum proteins from crude decidual extract. Although the hDP71 was copurified with another decidual-associated glycoprotein, the previously described hDP200 (Halperin et al., 1989), evidence is presented showing that the monoclonal antibodies described above are specific for hDP71.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1990

Use of monoclonal antibodies in the detection of structural alterations occurring in lysozyme on heating.

Seven murine anti-hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL) monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), which recognize distinct epitopes of the native enzyme, were used as macromolecular probes to detect structural or conformational alterations occurring in HEL on heating at 95 degrees C, pH 5. As the interactions of the heat-treated HEL with its corresponding MAbs were carried out at room temperature, only irreversible structural and/or conformational alterations could be detected. The transformation of the native enzyme into its denatured form was followed electrophoretically and chromatographically. The denatured enzyme was more negatively charged at pH 8.4 and exhibited a longer retention time on reverse-phase HPLC than native HEL. Its specific catalytic activity was considerably lower than that of the native enzyme. Of the seven MAbs tested in competitive ELISA assays with native and heat-treated HEL only one, MAb D74.3, failed to recognize the heat-treated enzyme. This antibody, which is directed toward the active site region of the enzyme, was ineffective in inhibiting the catalytic activity of the heat-treated HEL using M. lysodeikticus as substrate. In contrast, the monoclonal antibody D1.3, which recognizes an epitope remote from the active site of HEL, inhibited the catalytic activity of the native as well as the heat-treated enzyme. The results indicate that the active site of HEL undergoes an irreversible structural alteration on heating for 2 hr at 95 degrees C, pH 5. No irreversible structural changes could be detected in the other regions of HEL recognized by the corresponding MAbs.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Endothelins are more sensitive than sarafotoxins to neutral endopeptidase: possible physiological significance.

Incubation of endothelins (ETs) with bovine kidney neutral endopeptidase (NEP) resulted in a selective two-step degradation with loss of biochemical activity. The Km of the enzyme indicated high-affinity binding, and hydrolysis was completely inhibited by phosphoramidon. The first step was nicking of the Ser5-Leu6 bond, followed by cleavage at the amino side of Ile19. The nicked peptide exhibited biochemical activities comparable to those of the intact peptide--i.e., binding to the ET receptor, induction of inositol phospholipid hydrolysis, and toxicity. The twice-cleaved product was inactive. The sarafotoxins (SRTXs) were more resistant than the ETs to NEP: for example, the half-time for ET-1 was approximately 1 hr, while it was approximately 4 hr for SRTX-b and even higher for SRTX-c. These in vitro findings may indicate a regulatory role of NEP (or similar enzymes) in the physiological inactivation of ETs. They might also help to explain why under certain physiological conditions ETs may be less toxic than SRTXs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Identification, immunoaffinity purification and partial characterization of a human decidua-associated protein.

A crude extract of pooled early-pregnancy decidual tissue was enriched for soluble decidual proteins by exhaustive affinity absorption with antibodies to human serum proteins immobilized on Eupergit C. The partly purified extract was used to prepare monoclonal antibodies. A monoclonal antibody was obtained recognizing an antigen present in extract of decidual tissue and not in extract of proliferative endometrium. The monoclonal antibody was used for immunoaffinity purification of the decidua-associated protein. By SDS-PAGE analysis, under reducing conditions it yielded 2 bands at apparent molecular weights of 55,000 and 25,000. Under non-reducing conditions a single protein band at apparent molecular weight of 200,000 was observed. The Mr 200,000 protein was named hDP200 and the Mr 55,000 protein was named hDP55. It is suggested that hDP55 is a subunit of the hDP200. The hDP200 did not react with polyclonal antibodies specific for PP12 and PP14. PP14 has been shown to be immunologically indistinguishable from PEP and alpha 2-PEG. Our data therefore suggest that hDP200 is a novel human decidua-associated protein.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1989

SRTX-d, a new native peptide of the endothelin/sarafotoxin family.

The primary structure of a new sarafotoxin, SRTX-d, from the venom of Atractaspis engaddensis is described. SRTX-d differs from SRTX-b in two substitutions: Ile19 instead of Val and Thr2 instead of Ser. The toxicity of SRTX-d and its vasoconstriction potency are very low in comparison to SRTX-a and SRTX-b, whereas its IC50 for 125I-SRTX-b binding is similar to that of SRTX-b. It is suggested that the Thr to Ser substitution, which is shared by two additional weak members of the endothelin/sarafotoxin family, SRTX-c and ET-3, affects the biological activity of SRTX-d as well.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Immunological and structural characterization of sarafotoxin/endothelin family of peptides.

A highly specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) was developed for the potent vasoconstrictor peptides, sarafotoxin-b and human endothelin. The antigenic determinants of the antibodies employed in studies with these assays were found to be localized within the amino acid sequence at positions 4-7. This was confirmed by CNBr cleavage of the methionyl residue at position 6 in the sarafotoxin and at position 7 in the endothelin. The chemically characterized modified peptides showed very low cross reactivity in the RIAs. On the other hand, the binding properties as well as the ability to induce phosphoinositide hydrolysis were very similar in the modified and native peptides, indicating that despite cleavage of the peptide bond the biologically active conformation responsible for either binding or phosphoinositide hydrolysis is retained, probably because of the disulfide bonds. Thus, structural alteration might be a valuable means of curtailing some of the various activities induced by the sarafotoxin/endothelin family of peptides.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Localization of a highly immunogenic region of carboxypeptidase A recognized by three different monoclonal antibodies and their use in the detection of subtle conformational alterations in this enzyme region.

Three murine monoclonal antibodies (mAb 100, 104, and 121) elicited against carboxypeptidase A (CPA) were prepared and characterized. All three mAbs recognize the same or partially overlapping sites of CPA. This is corroborated by the lack of antibody additivity in the ELISA assay carried out in the presence of pairs of mAbs, the similarity in molecular weight of the immunocomplex formed between CPA and one of the mAbs in the presence of another, and also a competition experiment in which one of the mAbs was labeled enzymatically. The three mAbs do not affect the enzymatic activity of CPA. Even at high concentrations, they do not recognize carboxypeptidase B (CPB) in spite of the similar tertiary structure and the 50% homology in amino acid sequence with CPA. This antigenic determinant is located on one of the four cyanogen bromide fragments of CPA. On the basis of the known sequences of the two enzymes, criteria which predict high antigenicity, and experimental data using synthetic peptides, such a determinant was found to be located within the amino acid sequence from residues 209 to 218 of the CPA molecule. The mAbs prepared detect conformational alterations in the above enzyme epitope when the enzyme is exposed to various conditions. The binding of the mAbs to CPA adsorbed onto a polystyrene plate is characterized by apparent binding constants higher by 1 or 2 orders of magnitude than those characterizing the interaction of the mAbs with CPA in solution. The mAbs also readily detect both conformational alterations of CPA on treatment with urea and subtle, reversible conformational alterations on removal of zinc from the active site of the enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Acetylcholine in the rat pituitary: a possible humoral factor.

Significant amounts of acetylcholine (ACh) were detected in each of the 3 lobes of the rat pituitary (3-6 pmol/anterior lobe, 3 pmol/intermediate lobe and 1.8 pmol/posterior lobe). In the anterior lobes of cyclic rats the levels of ACh varied with the estrous cycle, with daily peaks being observed on the days of proestrus and estrus. The occurrence of ACh, apparently as a humoral factor, appears to be unique to the anterior pituitary.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1987

Lysozyme bound to the D1.3 monoclonal antibody retains enzymatic activity in assays using N-acetylglucosamine oligomers as substrate.

An enzymatic assay using Micrococcus lysodeikticus as substrate had shown that hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL), complexed to the specific monoclonal antibody D1.3, was enzymatically inactive. However, a crystallographic study of the HEL-Fab D1.3 complex at 2.8 A resolution showed that Fab D1.3 is bound to the enzyme at a region remote from the catalytic site, and that no significant conformational change had occurred in the bound lysozyme. To resolve this apparent discrepancy, oligomers of N-acetylglucosamine, containing an average of six residues and which should not be sterically hindered by the monoclonal antibody, were used as substrate in enzyme assays. In these assays lysozyme complexed to antibody D1.3 retained enzymatic activity, thus supporting the results of the crystallographic study and indicating no major conformational change or rigidification of its structure.

Acetylglucosamine↗
PubMed1984

Soluble and immobilized clostridial aminopeptidase and aminopeptidase P as metal-requiring enzymes.

The dependence of enzymatic activity on Co2+ concentration was found to be bell-shaped for the soluble and immobilized clostridial aminopeptidase (alpha-aminoacyl-peptide hydrolase, EC 3.4.11.13) and aminopeptidase P (aminoacylpropyl-peptide hydrolase, EC 3.4.11.9), with maxima in the 3-18 microM range of Co2+ concentration. The Co2+-enzyme association constants derived from the activation of soluble, glass- and cellulose-bound clostridial aminopeptidase by Co2+ were KE-Co = 5.2 X 10(5), 4.5 X 10(6) and 2.0 X 10(5) M-1, respectively; for soluble and glass-bound aminopeptidase P, the KE-Co were 1.5 X 10(5) and 8.2 X 10(5) M-1, respectively. Kinetic measurements indicate the involvement of Co2+ in the enzyme-substrate binding. Cobalt-citrate (Co-cit) acted as a useful metallobuffer and protected both enzymes against inhibition by high concentrations of CoSO4. For association of citrate with Co2+ under the assay conditions, KCo-cit was determined as (5.3 +/- 1.4) X 10(3) M-1 by anodic stripping polarography. In contrast to the rapid association of Co2+ with soluble and glass-bound clostridial aminopeptidase (less than 1 min at 4 degrees C), the dissociation process was very slow (hours to days), being slower for the glass-bound than for the soluble and cellulose-bound enzyme. For aminopeptidase P, both processes were rapid. All the interactions were shown to be reversible.

Aminopeptidases↗
PubMed1984

Changes in rat adrenal catecholamines and proenkephalin metabolism after denervation.

Adrenal enkephalin-containing peptides are known to increase 10- to 15-fold in the rat after surgical denervation of the gland. In this report we show that the increase is preceded by a lag of several hours, which is indicative of stimulation of protein synthesis at the transcriptional level. The major species of newly appearing enkephalin-containing peptide appears to be the intact precursor, proenkephalin. Processing of proenkephalin to smaller enkephalin-containing peptides in the denervated glands is slow and limited. The only product that accumulates in the process is a peptide of 3-4 kilodaltons that is derived from the carboxyl terminus of proenkephalin. An interesting observation was the dissociation between the effects of denervation on enkephalin-containing peptides and catecholamines. This is surprising because both are localized in the chromaffin granules of the gland.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1984

Denervation of rat adrenal glands markedly increases preproenkephalin mRNA.

The effect of denervation on the expression of rat adrenal proenkephalin has been examined. Following splanchnicectomy there was a several-fold increase in the steady-state levels of preproenkephalin mRNA, which became maximal after 24-48 hr (greater than 10-fold). These results indicate that the previously observed increase in rat adrenal enkephalin-containing peptides following denervation occurs entirely by a pretranslational mechanism. The increase in preproenkephalin mRNA was accompanied by a 50-75% decrease in rat adrenal poly(A)+ RNA. Neural input thus exerts a profound trophic influence on proenkephalin gene expression and RNA metabolism in rat adrenals.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1984

Intact proenkephalin is the major enkephalin-containing peptide produced in rat adrenal glands after denervation.

We have shown previously that enkephalin-containing peptides of high molecular weight increase 10- to 15-fold 3 days after adrenal denervation and have suggested that much of this material may represent newly synthesized proenkephalin. In this paper we report that most of the material appearing after denervation is indeed intact proenkephalin. The putative proenkephalin was partially purified by gel filtration chromatography and HPLC. A molecular size of about 25 kDa was estimated by gel filtration. On HPLC, the putative proenkephalin was eluted at a much higher propanol concentration than the 18.2-kDa enkephalin-containing peptide isolated previously. Treatment of this putative proenkephalin with endoproteinase Lys-C showed it contain [Met]-enkephalin, [Leu]enkephalin, [Met]enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7, and [Met]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 in the same ratios as are found in proenkephalin as deduced from sequencing of proenkephalin cDNA.

Adrenal Glands↗