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M Cardamone

Publications and source records attributed to M Cardamone.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Sustained-release delivery systems and their application for endoparasite control in animals.

A solid formulation of a potent anthelmintic macrocyclic lactone, moxidectin, was administered using a non-degradable delivery device to discharge the agent into the subcutaneous tissues of sheep. In vivo release was monitored in sheep indirectly using faecal egg counts. Using a dose of 0.2 mg moxidectin/kg body weight when applied in the form of a solid pellet, protection of sheep against Haemonchus contortus challenge was conferred to a level greater than that of sheep which received Cydectin, the commercial liquid injectable form delivered at the same dosage. The anthelmintic efficacy of the solid formulation was assessed at four dosage levels in sheep and it was demonstrated that the dosage of anthelmintic agent could be reduced to 1/6 of the present recommended injectable dose. When two pellets containing the recommended dose of moxidectin were loaded into a non-degradable delivery device, the period of H. contortus control was extended from 42 to 183 days. Antibody levels of sheep receiving repeated infections of H. contortus L3 larvae and treated with moxidectin-loaded devices were reduced significantly compared to the levels observed in sheep treated with Cydectin (p < 0.0005). This implies that the group treated with the moxidectin-loaded devices was exposed to a reduced antigenic load compared to sheep treated with placebo devices, and sheep treated with Cydectin. The antibody levels generated in the sheep treated with placebo devices were no different to those treated with Cydectin. Application of this sustained release device may allow the control of nematode diseases in livestock throughout an entire season with a single administration.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Comparing the refolding and reoxidation of recombinant porcine growth hormone from a urea denatured state and from Escherichia coli inclusion bodies.

Overexpression of cloned genes in bacteria often leads to insoluble refractile body formation requiring solubilization and refolding to obtain biologically active proteins. A refolding pathway was established for a model protein, porcine growth hormone (PGH), yielding an appreciably high recovery of 85%. The conditions include the dilution of a urea, beta-mercaptoethanol (beta-ME) denatured PGH solution in a refolding environment containing 3.5 M urea and 10 mM beta-ME/HED at a 10:1 ratio at pH 9.1 and 0.5 mg/mL PGH. The intrinsic fluorescence-detected transition of PGH in urea gives 3.8 kcal/mol for the free energy of denaturation (delta GH2O) of PGH. The native-like conformation of PGH is dependent on disulfide bonds because reduced and carboxymethylated PGH is devoid of tertiary structure as assessed by intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence. Physical analysis of C-terminally truncated recombinant PGH indicated no significant difference in the free energy of denaturation of P-band in urea as full-length PGH. This suggests that the first disulfide, forming the large loop domain of PGH, provides a significantly greater contribution to the conformational stability of PGH than the second disulfide, which forms the carboxy-terminal small loop domain. The rate of formation of native structure during refolding was biphasic, with native structure identified by intrinsic fluorescence and hydrophobicity spectroscopy prior to disulfide bond formation. Thus "framework" intermediates are prerequisites for correct disulfide formation and tertiary folding of PGH. This study shows how a protein refolds, forms disulfides, and self-associates, which may be useful for examining the refolding of other recombinant proteins.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

A spectroscopic and equilibrium binding analysis of cationic detergent-protein interactions using soluble and insoluble recombinant porcine growth hormone.

Overexpression of cloned eukaryote genes in bacteria often leads to the formation of insoluble refractile bodies which require solubilization by harsh denaturants or detergents. We describe the conformational changes associated with the binding of a surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) to recombinant porcine growth hormone (PGH). The stoichiometry of binding by CTAC to the soluble and insoluble forms of recombinant PGH was also assessed. Optimum CTAC binding and protein solubilisation were obtained at 50 degrees C and at extreme pH. Increased ionic strength and changes in pH towards the isoelectric point of PGH (pH 6) decreased both the binding of CTAC and the efficiency of solubilising PGH from inclusion bodies. The positive charge on the quaternary ammonium head group of CTAC was found to be critical in the binding of CTAC to PGH and for the subsequent solubilisation of inclusion bodies. The binding of CTAC to the soluble form of PGH caused appreciable changes to the tertiary structure of the protein but did not significantly alter secondary structure, or cause complete unfolding. These observations help to explain earlier results which demonstrate that urea, guanidine hydrochloride and CTAC solubilized recombinant PGH molecules behave differently during in vitro refolding (Puri, N.K., Crivelli, E.C., Cardamone, M., Fiddes, R., Bertolini, J., Ninham, B. and Brandon, M.R. (1992) Biochem. J. 285, 871-879.).

Anilino Naphthalenesulfonates↗
PubMed1993

Characterization of a truncated form of recombinant porcine growth hormone generated in vitro during solubilization of inclusion bodies.

During the development of a novel solubilization procedure (1) for bacterial inclusion bodies (IB's) using the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC; (CH3)3-N(+)-C16H33Cl) significant proportions of an apparently truncated, lower molecular weight (MW) variant form of recombinant pig growth hormone (rPGH) were observed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis relative to pig pituitary derived GH. The formation of this rPGH-like species, designated P-band, was found to occur in vitro during solubilization of IB's by CTAC and was dependent on pH and temperature of solubilization, but was not due directly to the use of CTAC, as purified soluble rPGH of the correct MW could not be converted to P-band by exposure to CTAC alone. The bacterial proteolysis suspected as being responsible for the in vitro formation of P-band could not be inhibited by the use of a "cocktail" of defined antiproteolytic agents but was inhibited by pH and temperature, and by solubilization of IB's in 5% SDS, 6 M gnHCl or 7.5 M urea. Detailed characterization of the structure of P-band by N-terminal amino acid sequencing, electrospray mass spectrometry, radioreceptor binding assay, peptide mapping, and C-terminal peptide sequencing confirmed that P-band was approximately 950 mass units smaller than normal rPGH and lacked eight C-terminal amino acids. A significant finding was that P-band is unable to bind to the pig liver-membrane GH receptor in a competitive radioreceptor assay. Analysis of the relative secondary and tertiary structure of P-band by circular dichroism spectra, intrinsic tryptophan-dependent fluorescence, and average surface hydrophobicity (2) suggested small but measurable changes to the overall structure of P-band relative to normal rPGH. Consequently, our results also suggest that the C-terminal portion of rPGH, including in particular the last eight amino acids, is of major importance in the binding of rPGH to the pig liver membrane GH receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Solubilization of growth hormone and other recombinant proteins from Escherichia coli inclusion bodies by using a cationic surfactant.

Recombinant pig growth hormone (rPGH) was solubilized from inclusion bodies by using the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC). The solubilizing action of CTAC appeared to be dependent on the presence of a positively charged head group, as a non-charged variant was inactive. Relatively low concentrations of CTAC were required for rapid solubilization, and protein-bound CTAC was easily removed by ion-exchange chromatography. Compared with solubilization and recovery of rPGH from inclusion bodies with 7.5 M-urea and 6 M-guanidinium chloride, the relative efficiency of solubilization was lower with CTAC. However, superior refolding efficiency resulted in final yields of purified rPGH being in the order of CTAC greater than urea greater than or equal to guanidinium chloride. Detailed comparison of the different rPGH preparations as well as pituitary-derived growth hormone by h.p.l.c., native PAGE, c.d. spectral analysis and radioreceptor-binding assay showed that the CTAC-derived rPGH was essentially indistinguishable from the urea and guanidinium chloride preparations. The CTAC-derived rPGH was of greater biopotency than pituitary-derived growth hormone. The advantages of CTAC over urea and guanidinium chloride for increasing recovery of monomeric rPGH by minimizing aggregation during refolding in vitro were also found with recombinant sheep interleukin-I beta and a sheep insulin-like growth factor II fusion protein. In addition, the bioactivity of the CTAC-derived recombinant interleukin-1 beta was approximately ten-fold greater than that of an equivalent amount obtained from urea and guanidinium chloride preparations. It is concluded that CTAC represents, in general, an excellent additional approach or a superior alternative to urea and in particular guanidinium chloride for solubilization and recovery of bioactive recombinant proteins from inclusion bodies.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

A relationship between the starting secondary structure of recombinant porcine growth hormone solubilised from inclusion bodies and the yield of native (monomeric) protein after in vitro refolding.

Recombinant porcine growth hormone (rPGH) was solubilised from inclusion bodies (IB's) using either 6 M guanidinium hydrochloride (GnHCl), 7.5 M urea or by a novel method using a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC). Circular dichroism (CD) analysis of the secondary (2 degrees) structure of the urea- and GnHCl-solubilised rPGH showed the absence of alpha-helical content with the majority of the molecule existing in a 'random coil' structure. In contrast, the CTAC-solubilised rPGH displayed significant starting 2 degrees structure (10-15% alpha helix; 30-40% beta structure). The three rPGH preparations were refolded in vitro against weak urea. GnHCl or aqueous buffers, resulting in an average refolding efficiency of 50% native (monomeric) rPGH for CTAC solubilised IB's and only 20% for urea or GnHCl solubilised IB's. We conclude that the method of solubilisation of IB's and the resultant difference in the starting 2 degrees structure of rPGH, particularly alpha-helical content, is a major in vitro factor that apparently predetermines the aggregation/refolding behaviour rPGH irrespective of refolding environment.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Spectrofluorimetric assessment of the surface hydrophobicity of proteins.

The equilibrium binding of the apolar fluorescent dye 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulphonate (ANS) to bacteriorhodopsin, BSA, chicken egg lysozyme, ovalbumin, porcine somatotrophin (PST) and bovine pancreatic ribonuclease (RNAase) was quantitatively evaluated using Scatchard- and Klotz-plot analyses. On the basis of the average association constant for ANS binding sites (Ka), the proteins could be ranked in order of surface hydrophobicity as: Bacteriorhodopsin greater than BSA greater than ovalbumin greater than PST greater than lysozyme greater than RNAase. The number of protein-ANS binding sites was determined as 54, 10, 3, 1, 2 and 1 respectively. The ANS-based assessment of the surface hydrophobicity of these proteins was generally in agreement with the average hydrophobicity based on amino acid sequence [Bigelow (1967) J. Theor. Biol. 16, 187-211], except for results with PST and ovalbumin. The proteins were also analysed by reversed-phase h.p.l.c. using C1 and C8 columns. There was no significant correlation between ANS and reversed-phase-h.p.l.c. assessment of hydrophobicity, with the results obtained by h.p.l.c. being dependent upon the column used. ANS-based measurement of surface hydrophobicity appears to be the most appropriate means for assessing proteins such as to reflect their overall three-dimensional structure in solution.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1991

A single step method for the solubilization and refolding of recombinant protein from E. coli inclusion bodies.

Expression of recombinant porcine growth hormone (rpGH) in E. coli cells resulted in the accumulation of the rpGH within inclusion bodies (IBs). The IBs were solubilized and the rpGH refolded in a single step using a cationic surfactant, N-cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPC; C21H38ClN) in the absence of reducing agents. No additional dialysis or rapid dilution steps of the solubilizing agent were required to obtain a 30% yield of refolded and oxidized rpGH monomer at protein concentrations of up to 15-20 mg/mL. In contrast, the refolding in vitro of rpGH in the absence of CPC resulted in the formation of significant amounts of higher molecular weight aggregate at the expense of the biologically active monomer. The fluorescence spectrum of the purified refolded rpGH was indistinguishable from that of biologically active, pituitary derived porcine GH and reverse-phase HPLC analysis of the purified rpGH showed similar retention times to that of pituitary GH. It is likely that the use of cetylpyridinium chloride is generally applicable to the simplified high yield recovery of biologically active recombinant proteins from IBs.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Fentanyl and bupivacaine mixtures for extradural blockade.

In a prospective double-blind study, single dose lumbar extradural blockade was instituted in 80 healthy male patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery. Patients were assigned randomly to one of four groups. Each group received treatment with 0.5% bupivacaine 20 ml containing adrenaline 1:200 000. To this solution was added fentanyl 0, 50, 100 or 200 micrograms. The time to regression of analgesic blockade was significantly prolonged (P less than 0.05) only with mixtures containing fentanyl 200 micrograms; no effect was demonstrated with lower doses of the opioid. However, the degree of motor blockade was less intense and incomplete S1-blockade (root-jumping) was more frequent with mixtures containing increasing doses of fentanyl. Patients treated with bupivacaine-fentanyl mixtures shivered less than the control group and showed fewer instances of acute hypotension. The side-effects observed were minor.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1981

[Comparison between extradural morphine and lysine acetylsalicylate in the treatment of postoperative pain].

We have compared the analgesic properties in post-operative pain using Morphine (3 mg) injected in the extradural space and I.V. Lysine acetil salicilate (ASL) (1.8 g). Extradural morphine is much more effective in eliminating pain and in prolonging the analgesia. Insignificant the side effect for both treatments. The authors underline the possibility of dependence with extradural morphine especially in those cases when morphine is repeated more than 2-3 times.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[Lumbar epidural anesthesia as an alternative to sacral epidural block].

After describing the various sacral epidural techniques and discussing the problems involved in performance of this type of analgesic block a series of 178 operations carried out in the sacral and coccygeal innervation areas by means of lumbar epidural anaesthesia is reported. After comparing the two techniques in the light of personal clinical experience, lumbar epidural anaesthesia is considered a valid alternative to sacral epidural anaesthesia because it is safer, simpler and has a smaller percentage of failures. Some technical measures to obtain analgesic diffusion towards the caudal areas are reported and radiological demonstration given of some of them.

Anal Canal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Identification of cysteine-containing peptides during the peptide mapping of recombinant proteins.

Confirmation of a protein's cysteine content and of its location within the amino acid sequence is crucial in investigating the structural integrity of recombinant proteins. A combination of thiol-specific chemistry and peptide mapping by reversed-phase microbore HPLC was used to confirm the presence and map the location of cysteine residues in the primary sequences of recombinant porcine growth hormone and human tumor necrosis factor alpha. Recombinant proteins were conjugated with a hydrophobic iodoacetamide derivative, dimethylaminoazo-benzene iodoacetamide, and digested with trypsin. The peptide fragments were separated on a C8 microbore reversed-phase column using a linear acetonitrile gradient. The peptides containing the cysteine residues were selectively identified by monitoring with a diode-array detector at 215 nm with the reference wavelength set at 450 nm. Cysteine-containing peptides could be readily distinguished as inverted "negative" peaks relative to the baseline and noncysteine-containing peptides. Isolated peptide fragments were then sequenced in order to confirm the location of the cysteines in the proteins. This approach offers the benefits of selectively and rapidly identifying, from a single chromatrophic step, the cysteine-containing peptides of proteins. Furthermore, the use of the labeling reagent renders the cysteine-containing peptides more hydrophobic, thereby making them easier to separate from noncysteine-containing peptides.

Amino Acid Sequence↗