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Biomedical subjects

G Houen

Publications and source records attributed to G Houen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Conjugation to preadsorbed preactivated proteins and efficient generation of anti peptide antibodies.

A solid phase conjugation method is described based on the preadsorption of proteins to aluminium hydroxide adjuvant followed by activation of the adsorbed carrier proteins with iodoacetic acid N-hydroxysuccinimidester or other conjugation reagents. Cysteine-containing peptides were coupled to the iodoacetic acid-activated carrier-adjuvant particles through their SH groups. No dialysis is required since the reaction product is isolated at each step of the procedure by a simple centrifugation and can easily be extensively washed between individual manipulations. The method generates peptide-carrier-adjuvant particles with sterically defined presentation of the peptides at the surface of the particles. When used for immunization of mice and rabbits the conjugates elicited high-titered specific anti-peptide sera, which reacted well with the parent protein in ELISA. The strongest reactions were with the denatured form of the parent protein. On immunoblots antisera to the N- and C-terminus of calreticulin recognized the same M, 52,000 protein.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1997

A non-denaturing enzyme linked immunosorbent assay with protein preadsorbed onto aluminum hydroxide.

A method has been developed which prevents denaturation of proteins used for coating of plastic surfaces in enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The system takes advantage of the use of aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) as an adsorbent for proteins. A model protein has been analyzed. and monoclonal antibodies specific for either the native form or the denatured form of the protein were used to monitor the extent of denaturation. Adsorption of the proteins to Al(OH)3 in carbonate buffer, pH 9.3, before coating the ELISA plate abolished the denaturation otherwise observed after direct adsorption of protein to plastic surfaces. The protection against denaturation was dependent on the buffer system and was not observed when phosphate buffers were used, due to elution of protein from Al(OH)3 or lack of binding to Al(OH)3 in the presence of phosphate. There is evidence that protein adsorbed onto the Al(OH)3 is required for binding of Al(OH)3 onto the plastic surface. This system may be useful in assay systems where discrimination between the native and denatured forms of proteins is important.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1997

Combined immunostaining and Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining of polyvinylidene difluoride membranes without organic solvent.

A method for staining proteins on polyvinylidene difluoride membranes without using organic solvent is described. The method uses preblocking of the membrane with either Tween 20 or polyethylene glycol followed by staining with 0.01% Coomassie Brilliant Blue. No destaining of the membrane is needed afterwards. Preblocking with polyethylene glycol is compatible with microsequencing while Tween 20 leads to very low initial yields. Preblocking with Tween 20 has the additional advantage of allowing immunostaining followed by Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining for total protein on the same membrane.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗
PubMed1996

Lactoferrin: similarity to diamine oxidase and purification by aminohexyl affinity chromatography.

A protein reacting with a monoclonal antibody against human placental diamine oxidase was purified from the specific granules of human neutrofil granulocytes using affinity chromatography on aminohexyl-divinylsulfonyl-agarose. The protein had an M(r) determined by SDS/PAGE, corresponding to diamine oxidase, but had other properties which indicated that it might be a different protein. A combination of protein chemical techniques, including N-terminal sequencing, identified the protein as lactoferrin, an iron-containing protein with an M(r) of approximately 800000, a high isoelectric point and ferroxidase activity. Purified commercial lactoferrin was shown to bind to aminohexyl-divinylsulfonyl-agarose, and to be eluted in a heterogenous way from the matrix by amines and salt. Alignment of the sequences of diamine oxidase and lactoferrin showed that they are similar, indicating a common ancestry for these two different classes of metallo-oxidases.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗
PubMed1996

Structural requirements for alpha-mating factor activity.

The sexual hormone of S. cerevisiae, alpha-mating factor (alpha-MF, WHWLQLKPGQPMY) has structural homology with mammalian luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH, pEHWSYGLRPG-NH2) and has been shown to exhibit LHRH activity [Loumaye et al. (1982) Science 218, 1323-1325]. We have tested whether LHRH has alpha-MF activity in yeast and found that it does not. We therefore synthesized a series of hybrid peptides of alpha-MF and LHRH to study the structural features which determine alpha-MF and LHRH activities. A hybrid peptide consisting of the LHRH sequence with the C-terminal tetrapeptide (QPMY) of alpha-MF did not exhibit alpha-MF activity. Thus, the lack of alpha-MF activity of LHRH is not due solely to the absence of the C-terminal residues. Substitution of Lys7 in alpha-MF with Arg, as is found in LHRH, did not affect the alpha-MF activity, nor did an additional substitution of Trp1 with pGlu. However, the C-terminal four amino acids of alpha-MF were necessary for alpha-MF activity. Our results indicate that insertion of a Ser residue in position 4 as found in LHRH abolishes alpha-MF activity. These results suggest that, in addition to an intact C-terminus, correct spacing of the N-terminal His2 and the C-terminus is required for alpha-MF activity. The hybrid peptides all exhibited less LHRH activity than either LHRH or alpha-MF. These structure-function studies indicate that the structural homology between these two reproductive hormones may not reflect an evolutionary relationship between them.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

In situ detection of diamine oxidase activity using enhanced chemiluminescence.

In need of a simple and sensitive method for detection of diamine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.6) activity in connection with diamine oxidase purification from human placenta, we have developed an enhanced chemiluminescence method using putrescine as substrate and horseradish peroxidase and luminol for the detection of the H2O2 produced by diamine oxidase. The method allows direct detection of small amounts of diamine oxidase in serum samples after agarose gel electrophoresis and allows visualization of diamine oxidase activity in tissue sections. Employing this method we have detected diamine oxidase in sera from cow, horse, monkey, rabbit, and pregnant women. On tissue sections from term human placenta diamine oxidase activity was exclusively localized to the maternal side and was concentrated in vessels and fibrinoid areas.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗
PubMed1996

The primary structure and enzymic properties of porcine prochymosin and chymosin.

Preliminary investigations by N-terminal sequence analysis showed that pig and calf chymosin possessed 80% amino acid sequence identity but showed considerable differences in their enzymatic properties. A comparison of their structures may therefore contribute to an understanding of the significance of the amino acid residues responsible for the differences in these properties. Pig chymosis was extracted from the stomachs of pigs of less than 3 weeks of age, and was purified by ion exchange chromatography. Half of the primary structure was determined by amino acid sequencing and the complete structure was deduced from a cloned chymosin cDNA. Results showed that the zymogen showed 81% sequence identity with calf prochymosin and 57% identity with pig pepsinogen A. The size of the propart and location of the residue which becomes the N-terminus in the active molecule were the same in the prochymosins. The maximum general proteolytic activity at pH 3.5 of pig chymosin was 2-3% of that of the activity of pig pepsin A at pH 2, whereas the milk clotting activity relative to the general proteolytic activity of pig chymosin was much higher than that of calf chymosin. Agar gel electrophoresis at pH 5.3 of stomach extracts of individual pigs showed the existence of two predominant genetic variants of zymogen and enzyme. The two variants could not be distinguished by amino acid composition or N-terminal sequencing, and no differences in the enzymatic properties of the genetic variants were observed. It was concluded that of the residues that participate in the substrate binding, calf and pig chymosin differ in the following positions (pig pepsin numbering, subsites in parentheses): Ser 12 Thr (S4), Leu 30 Val (S1/S3), His 74 Gln (S'2), Val 111 Ile (S1/S3), Lys 220 Met (S4). With regard to the low general proteolytic activity of pig chymosin, the substitution Asp 303 Val relative to calf chymosin may contribute to an explanation of this.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

A comparison of the immunogenicity of the native and denatured forms of a protein.

The effect of heat denaturation on the physicochemical and immunological properties of a model protein, ovalbumin, and its formaldehyde/lysine-treated form was investigated. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration showed that heat denaturation converted ovalbumin to high Mr polymers, whereas formaldehyde/lysine-treated ovalbumin remained monomeric with only a small proportion forming oligomers. NMR analysis demonstrated that non-denatured structures could easily be differentiated from the denatured structures. Intraperitoneal immunization of rabbits and mice showed that both native and denatured forms of ovalbumin induced an immune response, but denatured forms of ovalbumin were found to be less immunogenic and to have a lower epitope density than native ovalbumin. Analysis of the antisera in crossed immunoelectrophoresis showed that they were specific for either native or denatured forms of ovalbumin. These findings were further investigated by ELISA and immunoaffinity chromatography, and the high specificity and low cross-reactivity was confirmed. We conclude that the immunogenic epitopes on denatured ovalbumin are different from those on ovalbumin, and that these epitopes reflect a continuum of denatured conformations.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Cation-dependent interactions of calreticulin with denatured and native proteins.

Calreticulin has sequence homology with the molecular chaperone calnexin, which is known to control folding and assembly of nascent proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum in a calcium-dependent manner. We have investigated the interaction between human placental calreticulin and denatured placental and serum proteins under various incubation conditions. The interactions with denatured proteins differed significantly from the interactions with native proteins. The interactions were highly dependent on divalent metal ions or polyamines, but were not influenced by detergent and sulfhydryl agents. Our results indicate that calreticulin might have a similar role in protein folding as the chaperone calnexin.

Biotin↗
PubMed1995

Conjugation to preactivated proteins using divinylsulfone and iodoacetic acid.

Two methods for the preactivation of proteins and conjugation of peptides to proteins under mild conditions are presented. Preactivation of proteins with divinylsulfone (DVS) permits peptide conjugation through either amino, hydroxyl or sulphydryl groups depending on the coupling pH used, while preactivation with iodoacetic acid (IAA) N-hydroxy-succinimide ester permits selective conjugation through sulphydryl groups. In addition, the latter method allows quantitation of the conjugation ratio through determination of carboxymethyl cysteine after acid hydrolysis. The divinylsulfone activated proteins can be stored for extended periods of time at -20 degrees C until required for conjugation, while the iodoacetic acid activated protein can be stored for a few days at -20 degrees C. These conjugation methods were investigated with respect to obtaining peptide/protein conjugates for immunization purposes and for use as reagents in immunoassays. The DVS activated proteins permitted direct conjugation of luteinizing releasing hormone (LHRH) through its tyrosine side chain and allowed synthesis of well defined conjugates. The DVS derivatives of bovine serum albumin (BSA), reduced and carboxymethylated BSA and purified protein derivative (PPD) were compared with respect to their potential value as carriers for obtaining antibodies to LHRH (M(r) 1000) and epidermal growth factor (EGF, M(r) 5000). IAA-PPD was evaluated as a carrier for the conjugation of glutathione specifically through its cysteine side chain and for obtaining antibodies to glutathione. The antisera obtained were specific and of high titer, and the methods described here will thus allow the convenient synthesis of carrier conjugates with well defined characteristics.

Amines↗
PubMed1995

Purification and characterization of a low-molecular-mass T-cell antigen secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

A novel immunogenic antigen, the 6-kDa early secretory antigenic target (ESAT-6), from short-term culture filtrates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was purified by hydrophobic interaction chromatography and anion-exchange chromatography by use of fast protein liquid chromatography. The antigen focused at two different pIs of 4.0 and 4.5 during isoelectric focusing, and each of these components separated into three spots ranging from 4 to 6 kDa during two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The apparent differences in molecular masses or pIs of these isoforms were not due to posttranslational glycosylation. The molecular weight of the purified native protein was determined by applying gel filtration and nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and found to be 24 kDa. ESAT-6 is recognized by the murine monoclonal antibody HYB 76-8, which was used to screen a recombinant lambda gt11 M. tuberculosis DNA library. A phage expressing a gene product recognized by HYB 76-8 was isolated, and a 1.7-kbp fragment of the mycobacterial DNA insert was sequenced. The structural gene of ESAT-6 was identified as the sequence encoding a polypeptide of 95 amino acids. The N terminus of the deduced sequence could be aligned with the 10 amino-terminal amino acids derived from sequence analyses of the native protein. N-terminal sequence analysis showed that the purified antigen was essentially free from contaminants, and the amino acid analysis of the antigen was in good agreement with the DNA sequence-deduced amino acid composition. Thus, the heterogeneities observed in the pI and molecular weight of the purified antigen do not derive from contaminating proteins but are most likely due to heterogeneity of the antigen itself. Native and recombinant ESAT-6 are immunologically active in that both elicited a high release of gamma interferon from T cells isolated from memory-immune mice challenged with M. tuberculosis. Analyses of subcellular fractions of M. tuberculosis showed the presence of ESAT-6 in cytosol- and cell wall-containing fractions. Interspecies analyses showed the presence of ESAT-6 in filtrates from M. tuberculosis complex species. Among filtrates from mycobacteria not belonging to the M. tuberculosis complex, reactivity was observed in Mycobacterium kansasii, Mycobacterium szulgai, and Mycobacterium marinum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

HPLC and NMR investigation of the serum amine oxidase catalyzed oxidation of polyamines.

In the presence of amine oxidases polyamines arrest cell proliferation owing to the generation of hydrogen peroxide and amino aldehydes. In this investigation the bovine serum amine oxidase catalyzed oxidation of polyamines has been studied by HPLC analysis of dansylated reaction products with or without NaBH4 reduction and by NMR spectroscopy of the reaction products and 3-aminopropanal was found to be a major reaction product. These findings were further substantiated by analysis of the reaction products by ion-exchange chromatography and by analysis of the products formed by oxidation of polyamines by the cofactor of Cu amine oxidases, 6-hydroxydopa. 3-Aminopropanal is unstable and can give rise to acrolein by beta-elimination.

Acrolein↗
PubMed1994

Human placental calreticulin: purification, characterization and association with other proteins.

Calreticulin is an intracellular protein known to be involved in calcium binding, but is also known to appear as an autoantigen in certain autoimmune diseases. The cDNA sequence is known but the protein has not yet been well characterized at the amino acid level. Owing to the possible involvement of this protein in autoimmune disease and with the aim of making monoclonal antibodies for use in assay development and immunohistochemistry, we have purified calreticulin using human placental material. Amino acid analysis of the purified protein confirmed the cDNA-derived composition, and only one discrepancy between the cDNA-predicted sequence and the amino acid sequence was found by peptide mapping and microsequencing. The protein contains one disulfide bridge and has one free SH group and the protein is neither glycosylated nor phosphorylated. Affinity chromatography of a placental protein extract on a column with immobilized calreticulin showed the existence of at least six proteins interacting with calreticulin. Using the purified calreticulin in Western blots, two out of eight patients with autoimmune disease diagnosed as having anti DNA antibodies in their serum were found also to contain autoantibodies to calreticulin in their serum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Purification and characterization of the bovine pituitary luteinizing hormone releasing hormone M(r) 60,000 binding protein.

Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) regulates the release of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone from the pituitary. This process takes place through interaction with high affinity membrane receptors. In addition LHRH inhibits the growth of several cancer cell lines through the interaction with M(r) 60,000 LHRH receptors. Here we describe the purification to homogeneity of the M(r) 60,000 bovine pituitary LHRH binding protein in amounts allowing N-terminal sequencing and peptide mapping. The procedure describes solubilization of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone receptors from homogenized bovine pituitaries in an active form by using the detergent Triton X-114. The receptors were retained in the Triton X-114 phase during temperature-dependent phase separation. Preparative phase separations were performed directly on solubilized bovine pituitary extracts. SDS-PAGE of the purified LHRH receptor after LHRH-immobilized affinity chromatography showed the presence of a single band with M(r) 60,000. Partial sequencing of this band after trypsin digestion of gel pieces revealed unknown sequences with a possible homology to other receptors including some G-protein coupled receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Amino acid sequence of Coprinus macrorhizus peroxidase and cDNA sequence encoding Coprinus cinereus peroxidase. A new family of fungal peroxidases.

Sequence analysis and cDNA cloning of Coprinus peroxidase (CIP) were undertaken to expand the understanding of the relationships of structure, function and molecular genetics of the secretory heme peroxidases from fungi and plants. Amino acid sequencing of Coprinus macrorhizus peroxidase, and cDNA sequencing of Coprinus cinereus peroxidase showed that the mature proteins are identical in amino acid sequence, 343 residues in size and preceded by a 20-residue signal peptide. Their likely identity to peroxidase from Arthromyces ramosus is discussed. CIP has an 8-residue, glycine-rich N-terminal extension blocked with a pyroglutamate residue which is absent in other fungal peroxidases. The presence of pyroglutamate, formed by cyclization of glutamine, and the finding of a minor fraction of a variant form lacking the N-terminal residue, indicate that signal peptidase cleavage is followed by further enzymic processing. CIP is 40-45% identical in amino-acid sequence to 11 lignin peroxidases from four fungal species, and 42-43% identical to the two known Mn-peroxidases. Like these white-rot fungal peroxidases, CIP has an additional segment of approximately 40 residues at the C-terminus which is absent in plant peroxidases. Although CIP is much more similar to horseradish peroxidase (HRP C) in substrate specificity, specific activity and pH optimum than to white-rot fungal peroxidases, the sequences of CIP and HRP C showed only 18% identity. Hence, CIP qualifies as the first member of a new family of fungal peroxidases. The nine invariant residues present in all plant, fungal and bacterial heme peroxidases are also found in CIP. The present data support the hypothesis that only one chromosomal CIP gene exists. In contrast, a large number of secretory plant and fungal peroxidases are expressed from several peroxidase gene clusters. Analyses of three batches of CIP protein and of 49 CIP clones revealed the existence of only two highly similar alleles indicating less peroxidase polymorphism in C. cinereus strains than observed in plants and white-rot fungi.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Solid-phase peptide synthesis on proteins.

A new method for solid-phase peptide synthesis in which a protein is used as the solid support has been developed. Two aspects of the method have been demonstrated. The peptides H-Phe-Leu-Glu-Glu-Val-OH (1) and H-Leu-Leu-Ala-Gly-Val-OH (2), respectively, were synthesized on the amino groups of BSA via a cleavable linker, using the Fmoc group protecting scheme. The free peptides were obtained by cleavage from the protein with 95% TFA, precipitation in diethyl ether and additional work-up by either dialysis or centrifugation through a membrane followed by gel filtration. The identity of the products was determined by amino acid analysis and HPLC. The peptide-protein conjugates, H-Ser-Met-Asp-Thr-Ser-Asn-Lys-Glu-Glu-Lys-BSA (3) and H-Thr-Val-Leu-BTG (4), were obtained in the same manner, omitting the cleavable linker group. It was found that 35-50 peptide chains were conjugated per molecule BSA and BTG, respectively. Immunization of rabbits with conjugate 3 gave rise to peptide specific antibodies. This method will be useful for generation of sequence specific antibodies, since the peptide is conjugated to the carrier protein exclusively via its C-terminus, and will allow synthesis of highly specific peptide-protein conjugates.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Purification and partial characterization of mammalian Cu-dependent amine oxidases.

Bovine serum amine oxidase, porcine kidney diamine oxidase and human placental and pregnancy serum diamine oxidases have been purified by affinity chromatography and ion exchange chromatography. The purified enzymes were subjected to peptide mapping studies with trypsin, S. aureus V8 protease and pepsin. These studies revealed similarities between the enzymes and partial sequences from the bovine serum amine oxidase were obtained. The sequences obtained showed no homology to known sequences. Immunological studies using monoclonal antibodies to the purified enzymes revealed cross reactivity between the four enzymes. These results support the view that the Cu-dependent amine oxidases constitute a closely related group (E.C. 1.4.3.6).

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗