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Capillary electrochromatography using a fluoropolymer as the chromatographic support material.

Fused-silica capillary columns were packed with ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) particles for use in capillary electrochromatography (CEC). Electroosmotic flow (EOF) was generated in these columns using acetonitrile-water mixtures as the mobile phase. Electroosmotic mobilities of 1.6 x 10(-4) cm2 V(-1) s(-1) (linear velocities of 1 mm s(-1)) were observed using a mobile phase without an electrolyte present. The EOF in the ECTFE-packed columns is enhanced when using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as a mobile phase additive; electroosmotic mobilities of 3.65 x 10(-4) cm2 (V-1) s(-1) (linear velocity of 2.5 mm s(-1)) were observed. This enhancement of EOF is attributed to dynamic coating of the ECTFE particles by TFA. Other electrolytes (i.e., Tris/Tris-HCl buffer and H3PO4) in the mobile phase did not have such an enhancement of EOF. However, a slight enhancement of EOF is observed, for example, if small quantities of TFA are added to the mobile phase containing Tris buffer. The potential of ECTFE for CEC is demonstrated by separating a mixture of amino acids.

Amino Acids↗

Direct Blue 71 staining of proteins bound to blotting membranes.

A sensitive staining method for protein blots using Direct Blue 71 is described. It is based on the selective binding of dye molecules to proteins in acidic solution and produces bluish violet colored bands. It is a simple and rapid procedure, involving only staining and rinsing steps that occur within 7 min. The sensitivity of this method is 5-10 ng of protein on nitrocellulose (NC) and 10-20 ng on polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), which is tenfold better than that of the commonly used Ponceau S staining. Moreover, the staining is reversible for subsequent immunostaining, without impairing immunoreactivity. To remove the dye from the developed bands, changes in pH and hydrophobicity of the solvent are required. Due to its sensitivity, rapidity, simplicity, and low cost, this stain may be more practical than other dye-based stains or metal-based stains for routine laboratory purposes.

Azo Compounds↗

Two-dimensional manipulation of differentiated Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell sheets: the noninvasive harvest from temperature-responsive culture dishes and transfer to other surfaces.

A renal epithelial cell line, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, adheres, spreads, and proliferates to confluency on our developed temperature-responsive culture dishes grafted with a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) at 37 degrees C. In addition to other cell types, including hepatocytes and endothelial cells, MDCK cell sheets noninvasively were harvested from PIPAAm-grafted dishes merely by reducing the temperature. However, during the early stage of culture (up to 3 weeks), confluent MDCK cell detachment is greatly repressed. In the present study, we succeeded in the rapid harvest of confluent MDCK cell sheets and intact transfer to other culture dishes by utilizing hydrophilically modified poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) membranes as supporting materials. Immunocytochemistry with anti-beta-catenin antibody revealed that the functional cell-cell junctions were well organized in the transferred MDCK cell sheets. The viability assay showed that the transferred cells were not damaged during the two-dimensional cell-sheet manipulation. By transmission electron microscopy it was confirmed that the harvested MDCK cells retained differentiated phenotypes and had many microvilli and tight junctions at the apical and lateral plasma membranes, respectively. This two-dimensional cell-sheet manipulation technique promises to be useful in tissue engineering as well as in the investigation of epithelial cell sheets.

Animals↗

Influence of inflammatory cells and serum on the performance of implantable glucose sensors.

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the influence of polymorphonuclear granulocytes on the performance of uncoated and cellulose acetate/Nafion coated amperometric glucose sensors in vitro. The response of these sensors was also investigated in serum. Uncoated and coated sensors showed lower sensitivities to glucose, with a significant drift in sensor output upon exposure to serum or leukocytes. Although the use of a coating resulted in higher sensitivity, the progressive loss of output was not completely prevented. Stimulated granulocytes were shown to excrete components, probably catalase and myeloperoxidase, which consumed the hydrogen peroxide formed by the oxidation of glucose. In addition, adsorbed serum proteins formed a diffusional barrier for glucose. Furthermore, serum was found to contain low-molecular weight components that alone inhibited glucose oxidase activity. Based on preliminary electrochemical results, we postulate that rabbit serum contains oxidizing substrates that compete with molecular oxygen for the acceptance of electrons from the oxidized enzyme. Consequently, future efforts should be aimed at elucidating the mechanisms involved in the interference of unknown serum components with electron transfer. In addition, further investigations have to be performed to develop an outer membrane that minimizes protein adsorption as well as the actions of inflammatory cells.

Animals↗

Photoinitiated catalysis in Nafion membranes containing palladium(II) meso-tetrakis(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin and iron(III) meso-tetrakis-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrin for O2-mediated oxidations of alkenes.

Immobilisation of both palladium(II) meso-tetrakis(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin (PdTMPyP4+) and iron(III) meso-tetrakis(2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrin (FeTDCPP+) in the same membrane of Nafion creates a new composite system, in which the photoexcited palladium complex induces the O2-mediated oxidation of cyclohexene to the corresponding allylic hydroperoxide and the iron porphyrin works as a catalyst for specific oxygenations of cyclohexene and cyclooctene. The role of PdTMPyP4+ is to induce the photoactivation of O2 with visible light (lambda > 500 nm) to generate singlet oxygen (1O2) by means of energy transfer from the excited triplet state. Consequently, the 1O2-mediated oxidation of cyclohexene to cyclohexenyl hydroperoxide can be realised with a selectivity greater than 90%. Spectroscopic and photophysical investigations show that the tetracationic palladium porphyrin is mainly fixed to the external part of the Nafion membrane, it is characterised by a triplet-state lifetime significantly higher than that in the solution phase. The monocationic FeTDCPP+ is able to diffuse into the anionic cavities of Nafion, where it works as a catalyst for O2-mediated autooxidation processes that are initiated by the photogenerated hydroperoxides. These processes continue in the dark for many hours giving cyclohex-2-en-1-ol and trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diol monoethyl ether as main oxidation products. The presence of this ether, indirectly, reveals the formation of cyclohexene epoxide which undergoes a nucleophilic attack by ethanol and epoxide opening because of the strong acidic environment inside Nafion. The good photocatalytic efficiency of the oxidation process is demonstrated by an overall quantum yield of 1.1, as well as by a turnover value of 4.7 x 10(3) with respect to the iron porphyrin. When cyclooctene is present as co-substrate, it also undergoes oxygenation. In contrast to what was observed for cyclohexene, cyclooctene epoxide can be accumulated in a significant amount. As far as the stability of the system is concerned, FeTDCPP+ undergoes about 1% degradation during the process, while the Nafion matrix can be utilised several times without observable modification.

Alkenes↗

An improved, luminescent europium-based stain for detection of electroblotted proteins on nitrocellulose or polyvinylidene difluoride membranes.

SYPRO Rose Plus protein blot stain is an improved europium-based metal chelate stain for the detection of proteins on nitrocellulose and poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) membranes. Staining is achieved without covalently modifying the proteins. The stain may be excited with a 254 nm (UV-C), 302 nm (UV-B), or 365 nm (UV-A) light source and displays a sharp emission maximum at 612 nm. The emission peak has a full width at half-maximum of only 8 nm. The stain exhibits exceptional photostability, allowing long exposure times for maximum sensitivity. Since the dye is composed of a europium complex, it has a long emission lifetime, potentially allowing time-resolved detection, greatly reducing background fluorescence. Proteins immobilized to a nitrocellulose or PVDF membrane by electroblotting, dot-blotting, or vacuum slot-blotting are incubated with SYPRO Rose Plus protein blot stain for 15-30 min. Membranes are rinsed briefly, visualized with UV epi-illumination and the luminescence of the europium dye is measured using a 490 nm long-pass or 625 +/- 15 nm band-pass filter in combination with a conventional photographic or charge-coupled device (CCD) camera system. Alternatively, the dye may be visualized using a xenon-arc illumination source. The stain is readily removed from proteins by incubating membranes at mildly alkaline pH. The reversibility of the protein staining procedure allows for subsequent biochemical analyses, such as immunoblotting and biotin-streptavidin detection using colorimetric, direct fluorescence or fluorogenic visualization methods.

Blotting, Western↗

Green/red dual fluorescence detection of total protein and alkaline phosphate-conjugated probes on blotting membranes.

A two-color fluorescence detection method is described based upon covalently coupling the succinimidyl ester of BODIPY FL-X to proteins immobilized on poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) membranes, followed by detection of target proteins using the fluorogenic substrate 9H-(1,3-dichloro-9,9-dimethylacridin-2-one-7-yl(DDAO)-phosphate in combination with alkaline-phosphatase-conjugated reporter molecules. This results in all proteins in the profile being visualized as green signal while those detected specifically with the alkaline-phosphatase conjugate appear as red signal. The dichromatic detection system is broadly compatible with a wide range of analytical imaging devices including UV epi- or transilluminators combined with photographic or charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras, xenon-arc sources equipped with appropriate excitation/emission filters, and dual laser gel scanners outfitted with a 473 nm second-harmonic generation or 488 nm argon-ion laser as well as a 633 nm helium-neon or 635 nm diode laser. The dichromatic detection method permits detection of low nanogram amounts of protein and allows for unambiguous identification of target proteins relative to the entire protein profile on a single electroblot, obviating the need to run replicate gels that would otherwise require visualization of total proteins by silver staining and subsequent alignment with chemiluminescent or colorimetric signals generated on electroblots.

Acridines↗

Cathodic electrochemiluminescence of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)/Nafion coated on graphite oxide electrode in purely aqueous solution.

Two cathodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) peaks have been obtained at -0.99 and -1.80 V (vs. SCE), respectively, from Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)/Nafion coated onto a graphite oxide electrode in purely aqueous solution under cyclic voltammetric (CV) conditions, without addition of any reducing or oxidative reagents. These two ECL peaks were found to correlate to initial scan direction, pH, and reversal potential. Nafion played an important role in the generation of these two ECL peaks because no cathodic emission was observed in the system without Nafion. It seems that a part of Ru(bpy)(3) (3+) electrogenerated at positive potential can remain in the Nafion, even at negative potentials. It was con fi rmed that Ru(bpy)(+) was formed at -1.80 V by addition of S(2)O(8) (2-). The ECL peak at -0.99 V is attributed to the reaction of Ru(bpy)(3+) and OH(-). The ECL peak at -1.80 V is probably due to the annihilation reaction of Ru(bpy)(3+) and Ru(bpy)(+).

2,2'-Dipyridyl↗

Antibacterial and antifungal efficacy of surface functionalized polymeric beads in repeated applications.

A simple method was developed to prepare polymeric microbeads with antibacterial and antifungal properties. The microbeads of approximately spherical shape and narrow size distribution were prepared from a mixture of poly (4-vinyl pyridine) (P4VP) and poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) by a phase inversion technique and subsequently derivatized with alkyl bromides having 4-10 carbon atoms. The quaternization of the pyridine groups into pyridinium groups confers the surface with highly effective and long-lasting antibacterial and antifungal properties, as shown by the effect on Escherichia coli and Aspergillus niger. Upon contact with the N-alkylated beads, the bacteria and fungal spores are lysed and intracellular constituents leach out into the medium. The efficacy of the alkyl chains in disrupting the cell membrane was investigated. The stability of the functional group and microbiocidal effectiveness of the microbeads in repeated applications was also assessed.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

'In situ' Edman degradation of protein(s) blotted to immobilon membranes suitable for unblocking reversible chemical modification and elimination of coomassie blue in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Conditions for unblocking reversible chemical modifications such as maleylation or citraconylation 'in situ' at the N-terminus of proteins after transfer of proteins to immobilon membranes from SDS-PAGE are described. Demaleylation or decitraconylation occurred at 55 degrees C in 70% formic acid (pH 1.50) during 60 min. During the unblocking reaction, Coomassie blue dye was completely removed, resulting in superior high performance liquid chromatographic separation of phenylthiohydantoin-amino acid (PTH-AA) after Edman degradation (automatic gas phase sequencer). The protein fixed on the matrix after demaleylation and removal of Coomassie blue was not degraded. The possible cleavage at the aspartyl-prolyl peptide bonds was considered, but no side reaction was observed. Furthermore, the incubation time in 70% formic acid at 55 degrees C could be reduced to 10 min in the absence of maleylation of the starting material, and this was suitable for the removal of Coomassie blue and the quantification of phenylthiolhydantoin-amino acids (PTH-AAs) by HPLC. The yield from the starting protein through SDS-PAGE, blotting, and Edman degradation to quantitative analysis of PTH-aminoacid(s) by HPLC was established.

Amino Acids↗

A dual-electrode approach for highly selective detection of glucose based on diffusion layer theory: experiments and simulation.

A dual-electrode configuration for the highly selective detection of glucose in the diffusion layer of the substrate electrode is presented. In this approach, a glassy carbon electrode (GCE, substrate) modified with a conductive layer of glucose oxidase/Nafion/graphite (GNG) was used to create an interference-free region in its diffusion layer by electrochemical depletion of interfering electroactive species. A Pt microelectrode (tip, 5 microm in radius) was located in the diffusion layer of the GNG-modified GCE (GNG-G) with the help of scanning electrochemical microscopy. Consequently, the tip of the electrode could sense glucose selectively by detecting the amount of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) formed from the oxidization of glucose on the glucose oxidase layer. The influences of parameters, including tip-substrate distance, substrate potential, and electrolyzing time, on the interference-removing efficiency of this dual-electrode approach have been investigated systematically. When the electrolyzing time was 30 s, the tip-substrate distance was 1.8 a (9.0 microm) (where a is the radius of the tip electrode), the potentials of the tip and substrate electrodes were 0.7 V and 0.4 V, respectively, and a mixture of ascorbic acid (0.3 mM), uric acid (0.3 mM), and 4-acetaminophen (0.3 mM) had no influence on the glucose detection. In addition, the current-time responses of the tip electrode at different tip-substrate distances in a solution containing interfering species were numerically simulated. The results from the simulation are in good agreement with the experimental data. This research provides a concept of detection in the diffusion layer of a substrate electrode, as an interference-free region, for developing novel microelectrochemical devices.

Carbon↗

Blotting from PhastGel media after horizontal sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

An improved procedure, "thermoblotting", is described for transferring proteins by diffusion from PhastGel Gradient media to an immobilizing matrix after horizontal sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. After electrophoresis the gels were left on the separation bed of PhastSystem, the blotting matrix was applied and a transfer temperature was selected between 5-70 degrees C. An experimental series at fixed diffusion times showed that the transfer yield was significantly increased with temperature. The evaluation was done visually after staining of the blots with colloidal gold. An evaluation study comparing nitrocellulose, nylon, and polyvinylidenedifluoride of different pore sizes is also reported. Finally, the transfer efficiencies for 125I-labelled bovine serum albumin and soybean trypsin inhibitor were estimated using four different blotting procedures: two diffusion blotting techniques and two electrophoretic blotting techniques (tank vs. semi-dry).

Collodion↗

Important parameters in semi-dry electrophoretic transfer.

The efficiency of semi-dry electrophoretic transfer after sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-electrophoresis using PhastGel media was investigated in a model system using three isotope labelled proteins. To give a full picture of the blotting process the amount of protein present in the gel, membranes, and filter papers was determined after different transfer times. The influence of the transfer buffer, commonly used additives such as methanol and SDS, and several different immobilizing matrices was investigated. Soybean trypsin inhibitor, bovine serum albumin, and ferritin were used as model proteins to study the effect of size on transfer efficiency. Basically, all three stages of the blotting process decide the result; the elution of protein from the gel, the immobilization of protein to the membrane, and the loss of material from the membrane during transfer. A theoretical explanation for the observed poor binding to a second membrane is discussed. Our results show that the buffer composition has little influence on the efficiency of transfer from the gel, but can be significant to the binding capacity of the membrane. In all experiments performed, there was never one moment during the transfer when all protein was eluted from the gel and simultaneously still bound to the membrane. The highest recovery in the membrane was obtained at different time intervals for different proteins. This indicates that quantitative transfer procedures cannot be generalized. However, obtaining an optimal method for reliable quantification of a specific protein or group of proteins is possible. For general protein staining of nitrocellulose and polyvinylidene difluoride membranes, a highly sensitive silver staining method requiring only 15 min has been used.

Buffers↗

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, protein electroblotting and microsequencing: a direct link between proteins and genes.

We have used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis as a general "preparative" method to purify proteins for microsequencing analysis. In the first experiments, proteins derived from a total extract of Nicotiana tabacum leaf tissue were directly blotted from the gel onto poly(4-vinyl-N-methylpyridinium iodide)-coated glass fiber sheets. The major spots were excised and subjected to NH2-terminal sequence analysis, which made it possible to identify five of the eight selected proteins, while two more were recognized by generated internal sequences. In a second set of experiments, proteins of human origin were separated on multiple two-dimensional gels and the Coomassie Brilliant Blue-stained spots were excised from the gels. The combined spots were re-eluted and concentrated in a new gel and blotted on Immobilon. They were fragmented by in situ proteolysis and the generated peptides were separated by reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography and sequenced. At the average, the internal sequences that were obtained covered 35 residues per protein and allowed unambiguous identification of 13 of the 23 proteins analyzed so far. The sequence information obtained of the unidentified proteins is sufficient for further cloning. These results demonstrate that systematic sequence analysis of the major proteins seen in two-dimensional gels is within the reach of current technologies. This offers a unique opportunity to link information contained in protein databases with known or forthcoming DNA sequence data.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Protein blotting followed by microsequencing.

The use of new membranes such as activated or derivatized glass fibers as well as synthetic membranes, which are compatible with the hazardous sequencing reagents, are described. Precautions to be taken in order to prevent N-terminal blockage of the proteins during electrophoresis and blotting are described, as well as the conditions for protein detection after blotting and protein treatment for in situ amino acid analysis, fragmentation and microsequencing. For a number of standard proteins and bacterial ribosomal proteins microsequence analysis is reported for two commercially available sequencers (Applied Biosystems and Knauer).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of rat liver glutathione S-transferase Yb subunits by partial N-terminal sequencing after electroblotting of proteins onto a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane from an analytical isoelectric focusing gel.

Rat liver glutathione S-transferases were partially purified using S-hexyl glutathione affinity chromatography, followed by native isoelectric focusing employing a pH 7-11 or pH 3-10 gradient. Proteins were excised and eluted from the gel for determination of subunit composition using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In separate experiments, isoelectric focusing gels were equilibrated with a sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing buffer at high pH, and proteins on the gel were electroblotted onto a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane, utilizing graphite plates as electrodes. The membrane-bound proteins were visualized by Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining. The protein bands were then excised from the membrane and inserted into a gas phase sequenator for direct sequencing. N-Terminal sequences thus determined were compared with published cDNA sequences. The isoelectric points (pIs) and positions on the isoelectric focusing gel of Yb1Yb1, Yb1Yb2 and Yb2Yb2 subunits were determined. We have also located on the pH 3-10 focusing gel an N-terminal blocked glutathione S-transferase which has a molecular weight similar to Yb subunits.

Amino Acid Sequence↗