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L J Kricka

Publications and source records attributed to L J Kricka.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Super-sensitive enzyme immunoassay for thyroid stimulating hormone using a new synergistic enhanced chemiluminescent endpoint.

The enhancers 1,1'-biphenyl-4-yl boronic acid and 4-iodophenol act synergistically in the horseradish peroxidase-catalysed oxidation of luminol. This concentration-dependent effect reduces background, increases signal and hence improves signal/background for detection of peroxidase. The same type of synergistic effect was found when 1,1'-biphenyl-4-yl boronic acid was added to a commercial enhanced chemiluminescence signal reagent (Amerlite Signal Reagent). This synergistic enhanced chemiluminescent endpoint (Amerlite Signal Reagent containing 1,1'-biphenyl-4-yl boronic acid) for a horseradish peroxidase label has been tested in the Amerlite TSH and the Amerlite TSH-30 Ultrasensitive assays. The detection limit (mean of 20 replicates of the zero standard+2SD) in the Amerlite TSH assay was 0.0029 mIU/L, and in the Amerlite TSH-30 Ultrasensitive assay the detection limit was 0.0005 mIU/L using the synergistic enhanced endpoint. Reassessment of the detection limit using a 1:40 dilution of the first standard (0.119 mIU/L) as the lowest assay standard gave a value of 0.0015 mIU/L for the Amerlite TSH-30 Ultrasensitive assay with the synergistic endpoint. A limited (n = 29) method comparison using samples from euthyroid, hyperthyroid and hypothyroid patients revealed excellent correlation between the conventional and synergistic TSH immunoassays.

Boronic Acids↗

Effect of polymers on enhanced chemiluminescent assays for peroxidase and peroxidase labels.

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and hydroxybutyl methylcellulose stabilized light emission in a boronic acid-enhanced chemiluminescent assay for horseradish peroxidase. The stabilization of light emission was concentration-dependent and more effective with substituted boronic acid enhancers (e.g. 4-iodophenylboronic acid) than with substituted phenol enhancers (e.g. 4-iodophenol). Hydroxybutyl methylcellulose improved the linearity of the dose-response curve in a peroxidase-based antioxidant assay and stabilized light emission post-consumption of the antioxidant (Trolox). This polymer had no effect on the signal from a peroxidase label immobilized on a membrane (dot blot) or on the inside surface of a microwell in an enzyme immunoassay for thyrotropin.

Antioxidants↗

Prospects for chemiluminescent and bioluminescent immunoassay and nucleic acid assays in food testing and the pharmaceutical industry.

The sensitivity, speed and convenience of chemiluminescent (CL) and bioluminescent (BL) immunoassays and probe assays have led to a diverse range of applications for these technologies, mainly in the clinical laboratory. These methods are now being explored by the food and pharmaceutical industries. Demanding detection limits and the complexity of sample preparation for food and pharmaceutical analyses present daunting challenges for the analyst. Immunoassay and nucleic acid amplification technologies have been applied to food testing, but these have mostly favoured non-luminescent endpoints. Food assays with CL or BL endpoints are now emerging, e.g., Clostridium botulinum type A detection using a CL immunosorbent assay; Salmonella and Zygosaccharomyces detection using a combination of PCR and CL detection. The analytical challenges posed by the pharmaceutical industry include testing for contaminants in raw materials and drug products, and drug discovery. The sensitivity and rapid signal acquisition characteristics of CL and BL are advantageous for the high throughput, massively parallel testing of micro-sized samples demanded in drug discovery. Current progress and the prospects for CL and BL immunoassay and nucleic acid technologies in this and other pharmaceutical and food applications is reviewed.

Clostridium botulinum↗

Antioxidant properties of bile salt micelles evaluated with different chemiluminescent assays: a possible physiological role.

The antioxidant activity of a representative series of free, glycine- and taurine-conjugated bile acids was evaluated by two different chemiluminescent assays: (a) the enhanced chemiluminescence system based on horseradish peroxidase and luminol/oxidant/enhancer reagent, and (b) the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase/Fe(2+)-EDTA/luminol system. Bile acids were studied at final concentrations ranging from 1 to 28 mmol/L. All of the bile acids studied inhibited the steady-state chemiluminescent reaction and the extent of inhibition depended upon the structure of the bile acids, whereas the duration was related to bile acid concentration. The mechanism of the light inhibition is probably due to trapping of oxygen free radicals generated in the chemiluminescent reactions, within bile acid micelles. The free radicals trapped into micelles reduced the formation of luminol radicals and consequently the light output; when the micelles were saturated, the oxygen free radicals in solution again produced luminol radicals. The micelle interaction with reactive oxygen species could be a physiological mechanism of defence against the toxicity of those species in the intestinal content. On the other hand, alterations in bile acid organ distribution, concentration and composition leads to a membrane damage caused by their detergent-like properties, which could be associated to oxygen free radical production.

Antioxidants↗

In memoriam Dr Marlene DeLuca. 1987 O. M. Smith Lecture. Firefly luciferase: mechanism of action, cloning and expression of the active enzyme.

The untimely death of Marlene DeLuca in 1987 has deprived the scientific community of an outstanding expert on bioluminescence. Earlier in that year she was honoured as the thirty-ninth recipient of the Otto Mitchell Smith Lectureship Award at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma. On 20 March 1987 Dr DeLuca presented a scientific lecture entitled 'Firefly Luciferase--Mechanism of Action, Cloning, and Expression of the Active Enzyme' and a popular lecture at the banquet that evening entitled 'Light and Life'. She was selected for her excellence in research, her oral presentation ability, and her personableness. Marlene was the first woman so honoured. To honour Dr Otto M. Smith the Alpha Delta Chapter of Phi Lambda Upsilon, a national chemistry honorary organization, inaugurated The Otto Mitchell Smith Lectureship in 1948 at Oklahoma State University. Former awardees include Nobel Laureates H. C. Brown, Stanford Moore, and Arthur Kornberg and the following prominent biochemists/molecular biologists: Robert A. Alberty, University of Wisconsin; Daniel E. Koshland, Brookhaven National Laboratory; Sol Spiegelman, University of Illinois; Carl Djerassi, Stanford University; and John T. Edsall, Harvard University. The lectureship honours Dr O. M. Smith, who was Director of the Research Foundation, professor, and Head of the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. As a tribute to Dr DeLuca's outstanding contribution to bioluminescence we reproduce here the edited text of her Otto Mitchell Smith Lectureship and a selected bibliography of her work on firefly bioluminescence.

Awards and Prizes↗

Method for reducing the rate of light emission from chemiluminescent and bioluminescent reactions using frozen reagents.

Frozen assay reagents have been used to reduce the rate of light emission from the rapid chemiluminescent acridinium ester and the bioluminescent firefly luciferase reactions. Melting of the assay reagent delays the initiation of the light emission, thus eliminating the need to initiate these rapid reactions by injection of the assay reagents in front of the photodetector.

Acridines↗

Chemiluminescent assay of enzymes using proenhancers and pro-anti-enhancers.

Enhanced chemiluminescent assays for hydrolase enzymes have been developed using proenhancer and pro-anti-enhancer substrates. Alkaline phosphatase is measured using disodium para-iodophenyl phosphate (proenhancer) which is converted to para-iodophenol and this in turn enhances the light emission from the horseradish peroxidase catalysed chemiluminescent oxidation of luminol by peroxide. An alternative strategy uses para-nitrophenyl phosphate which is converted by alkaline phosphatase to para-nitrophenol which inhibits the enhanced chemiluminescent reaction. The detection limit for the enzyme using the proenhancer and pro-anti-enhancer assays was 100 attomoles and 1 picomole, respectively. The proenhancer strategy was effective in assays for beta-D-galactosidase, beta-D-glucosidase and aryl sulfatase. A limited comparison of the proenhancer and a conventional colorimetric assay for an alkaline phosphatase label in an enzyme immunoassay for alpha-fetoprotein showed good agreement.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗