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Biomedical subjects

M Bier

Publications and source records attributed to M Bier.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Recycling isoelectric focusing: use of simple buffers.

Using the recycling free-flow focusing (RF3) apparatus, we have demonstrated that single ampholytes can be utilized to establish very stable pH regions, separating all proteins into three groups: a sharply resolved zone of proteins isoelectric at the prevailing pH, this "pH window" being bracketed by zones of more acidic and/or basic proteins. The ampholytes used are either amino acids or their dipeptides and other derivatives. Where necessary, because of lack of an ampholyte with the required pH, a binary mixture of ampholytes can be utilized. The closer their isoelectric points (pI), the narrower will be the pH window, i.e., the sharper the resolution of the bracketed proteins. This method overcomes the necessity of using ill-defined commercial carrier ampholytes, such as Ampholine, for preparative isoelectric focusing. It is recommended that the ampholytes be utilized at relatively high concentration, 100mM or higher, this contributing to pH stability and minimizing protein precipitation.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1990

Electrophoretic transport of solutes in aqueous two-phase systems.

Electrophoretic transport of proteins across the interface between the phases of an aqueous polymer two-phase system can be greatly impeded in comparison with transport within the individual phase. This effect can be controlled by modifying the affinity of the protein for a phase by suitable manipulations of such variables as pH. The effect is not caused by differences in the electrophoretic velocity between the two phases, nor by large changes in pH at the interface. An analogy exists between this phenomenon and the related subject of diffusion of electrolytes across the phase interface.

Buffers↗
PubMed1990

Membrane active plasma factor in multiple sclerosis: characterization and isolation by recycling isoelectric focusing.

Recycling isoelectric focusing is a rapid, high resolution technique that has the capability of fractionating complex mixtures of proteins on a preparative scale on the basis of their isoelectric points (pIs). For this reason, it appeared to be an ideal tool to further characterize and isolate the surface active plasma component(s) which is abnormal in multiple sclerosis (MS). The normal control and the abnormal MS plasma components, or factors, proved to be stable under the conditions used in this technique, including deionization by electrodialysis, dialysis against distilled water, lyophilization and the presence of 3M urea and carrier distilled water, lyophilization and the presence of 3M urea and carrier ampholytes. The presence or absence of plasma factor activity was determined by incubating red blood cells in a test plasma, or plasma fraction, followed by the determination of the red blood cell electrophoretic mobility in the presence and absence of linoleic acid. Both the normal and MS factor had a pI of 4.0 +/- 0.1 under the conditions used. A high degree of purification was achieved and albumin was eliminated as a possible candidate for the factor(s).

Dialysis↗
PubMed1989

Computer simulation and experimental validation of the electrophoretic behavior of proteins.

A mathematical model of the electrophoretic behavior of proteins is presented. The Debye-Hückel-Henry theory is used for the description of protein mobility, which has the important result of making net mobility a function of ionic strength. A net charge vs pH relationship and a diffusion coefficient are required to describe a specific protein. The model is employed for the computer simulation of three distinct electrophoretic modes: isoelectric focusing, isotachophoresis, and zone electrophoresis. The validity of the model is tested by comparing simulation with experimental data. Excellent qualitative agreement was found.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMed1988

Purification of lentil lectins using preparative electrophoresis.

Electrophoresis presents an interesting alternative to chromatography for the purification of biological compounds. To document the performance of three preparative electrophoresis apparatus currently available, they were applied to the purification of lectins from lentil seeds which contain two isolectins usually purified by chromatography. Purification by electrophoresis consists of first isolating a mixture of the two isolectins and then separating them. For the first step, either of two free-flow electrophoresis apparatus were employed: the Elphor VaP 22, using field step electrophoresis and the Biostream using zone electrophoresis. To optimize the process, the Biostream was modified to a recycling mode. This required repositioning one dialysis membrane which separates an electrode from the separation chamber. This allowed the lentil extract to be desalted by electrodialysis directly in the apparatus prior to fractionation. A high concentration of lectins was collected at the cathode and acidic proteins were collected at the anode. The bulk of the extract was recycled until the whole volume was processed. In a second step the isolectins were separated by recycling isoelectric focusing in the recycling isoelectric focusing apparatus. The present work clearly demonstrates that electrophoretic methods provide lectins with higher purity than chromatographically purified commercial products.

Electrophoresis↗
PubMed1987

Low-level fetal lead exposure effect on neurobehavioral development in early infancy.

A prospective method was used in this study to assess the effects of fetal lead exposure on neurodevelopmental status in 3- and 6-month old infants. At their first prenatal medical appointments, 305 lower socioeconomic status women residing in predesignated lead-hazardous areas of Cincinnati were recruited. Lead was measured in whole blood in both the mother and fetal-placental unit (prenatal and cord) and the neonate (ten days and 3 months). All blood lead levels were less than 30 micrograms/dL. Infant development was assessed with the Bayley scales at 3 and 6 months of age. Multiple regression analyses which treated perinatal health factors such as birth weight and gestation as confounders indicated an independent, inverse relationship between both prenatal and neonatal blood lead levels and performance on the Bayley Mental Developmental Index at both ages. Male infants and infants from the poorest families appeared to be especially sensitive to these psychoteratogenic influences. Further study using a structural equations approach indicated that neurobehavioral deficits were partly mediated by lead-related reductions in birth weight and gestation.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Characterization of synthetic carrier ampholytes by repetitive scanning of the electric field during focusing.

This paper reports the utilization of a potential gradient array detector for monitoring the dynamics of the electric field during isoelectric focusing. Transient and steady state electric field profiles are presented for synthetic carrier ampholyte mixtures with a wide (approximately 3-10) pH range. Two available commercial products (Ampholine and Pharmalyte) and a laboratory synthesized mixture (PEHA ampholytes) are compared. The formation of conductivity gaps and their migration toward the cathode in extended experiments (cathodic drift) can be visualized with this system.

Ampholyte Mixtures↗
PubMed1976

Serum protein fractionation by isotachophoresis using amino acid spacers.

Analytical and preparative isotachophoresis has been carried out using amino acids and peptides as discrete spacers in contrast to the usually employed continuous mobility spectrum Ampholine. Analytical isotachoresis in free solution, using the LKB Tachophor, demonstrated the separation of human serum into distinct mobility subgroups, n spacers giving rise to n + 1 protein subgroups. Preparative fractionation on polyacrylamide gel was carried out on the LKB Uniphor using threonine and glycine as spacers. Immunoelectrophoretic analysis showed that eight out of ten proteins assayed were clearly resolved in the three subgroups obtained, thus demonstrating the sharpness of isotachophoretic resolution.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1975

Hypochlorite-induced alterations to canine serum complement.

Changes in the concentration of the components of complement produced by NaOC1 both in vitro and in vivo are recorded. C1, C4 and C7 are particularly sensitive to this oxidizing agent, although all components decrease at high concentrations of NaOC1. Following oxidation, complement componenets return rapidly to normal. Data are presented to indicate that part of this repair mechanism is due to the action of reducing agents such as ascorbic acid and part is due to the synthesis of the individual components. The unique sensitivity of complement components to oxidation make this treatment of potential value in suppressing the inflammatory response.

Animals↗