Improved particle counting and size distribution determination of aggregated virus populations by asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation and multiangle light scattering techniques.

A method using a combination of asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AFFFF) and multiangle light scattering (MALS) techniques has been shown to improve the estimation of virus particle counts and the amount of aggregated virus in laboratory samples. The method is based on the spherical particle counting approach given by Wyatt and Weida in 2004, with additional modifications. The new method was tested by analyzing polystyrene beads and adenovirus samples, both having a well-characterized particle size and concentration.

Biophysical characterization of influenza virus subpopulations using field flow fractionation and multiangle light scattering: correlation of particle counts, size distribution and infectivity.

Adequate biophysical characterization of influenza virions is important for vaccine development. The influenza virus vaccines are produced from the allantoic fluid of developing chicken embryos. The process of viral replication produces a heterogeneous mixture of infectious and non-infectious viral particles with varying states of aggregation.

Identification of a single tryptophan residue as critical for binding activity in a humanized monoclonal antibody against respiratory syncytial virus.

We have identified a single tryptophan (Trp) residue responsible for loss of binding and biological activity upon ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation in MEDI-493, a humanized monoclonal antibody (MAb) against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This finding provides a better understanding of structure-function relationship in a 150-kDa protein. Irradiation of MEDI-493 with UV light resulted in spectral changes typical of Trp photoproducts and in a progressive loss of MEDI-493 binding and biological activity as measured by ELISA, Biacore, and cell-based assays.

Validation of peptide mapping with electrospray mass spectrometry for recombinant proteins of biopharmaceutical interest and its applications as an identity test and a characterization tool.

In this paper, the steps required to validate a liquid chromatography peptide mapping method with mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS) for use as an identity test and characterization tool are presented. All aspects of peptide mapping are evaluated and optimized, including protein sample preparation (protein reduction, alkylation and enzymatic digestion), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation of the resulting peptides, and the use of a mass spectrometric detection. In addition, the validation of a single quadruple MS detector is described and the implementation of on-line electrospray ionization MS (ESI-MS) as an adjunct detector to support the investigation of peak differences is presented.

Characterization of a novel modification to monoclonal antibodies: thioether cross-link of heavy and light chains.

A novel, nonreducible thioether bridge between the light and heavy chains of different IgG1 monoclonal antibodies has been characterized. An additional band with an apparent molecular weight of 92 kDa was detected when monoclonal antibodies were analyzed by reducing capillary gel electrophoresis (rCGE) and reducing SDS-PAGE. To further investigate this observation, an early-eluting peak in the size exclusion chromatogram of a reduced and alkylated monoclonal antibody was collected and characterized by liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and gel electrophoresis.

Reactivity at the substrate activation site of yeast pyruvate decarboxylase: inhibition by distortion of domain interactions.

The residue C221 on pyruvate decarboxylase (EC. 4.1.

Internally standardized amino acid analysis for determining peptide/carrier protein coupling ratio.

A method based on amino acid analysis has been developed for monitoring the covalent conjugation of synthetic peptide haptens to carrier proteins. The marker amino acid, alpha-aminobutyric acid, is included in the sequence during peptide synthesis. Following reaction, the carrier protein-conjugate is freed of excess peptide by two successive rounds of gel filtration chromatography.

Purification of the gamma-aminobutyric acidA/benzodiazepine receptor complex by immunoaffinity chromatography.

The bovine gamma-aminobutyric acidA/benzodiazepine receptor complex has been purified by a novel immunoaffinity chromatography method on immobilized monoclonal antibody 62-3G1. Immunopurification of the complex was achieved in a single step with an improved yield over affinity chromatography on the benzodiazepine Ro 7-1986/1. High-resolution sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of the immunoaffinity-purified receptor revealed three major peptide bands of 51,000, 55,000, and 57,000 Mr which were also present in the Ro 7-1986/1 affinity-purified receptor.

O'-(epoxyalkyl)tyrosines and (epoxyalkyl)phenylalanine as irreversible inactivators of serine proteases: synthesis and inhibition mechanism.

A series of O'-(epoxyalkyl)tyrosines and a carboxy terminal (epoxyalkyl)tyrosine and -phenylalanine were synthesized as potential serine protease inhibitors. N-Acetyl derivatives showed irreversible inactivation vis-a-vis subtilisin, while the N-benzoyl ones were specific toward chymotrypsin. The most potent inactivation of chymotrypsin was achieved by a O'-(3,4-epoxybutyl)-L-tyrosine derivative.

Synthesis of the pro-peptide of subtilisin BPN'.

Subtilisin, a bacterial serine protease, is secreted as pre-pro-subtilisin. Previously, we demonstrated that the pro-peptide moiety of intact pro-subtilisin can guide the folding of inactive protein to active enzyme both in an intramolecular (6) and intermolecular manner (18). Herein is reported the total chemical synthesis of the pro-sequence (77 amino acids) of pre-pro-subtilisin BPN' carried out by solid phase methods.

Amino acid analysis on polyvinylidene difluoride membranes.

A procedure for the amino acid analysis of proteins electrotransferred to polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes is described. The proteins are first separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and then electroblotted onto a PVDF membrane. After staining with Coomassie brilliant blue, the visualized protein bands are excised from the membrane.

Preparation and chromatographic use of 5'-fluorescent-labelled DNA probes.

A convenient procedure for synthesizing and purifying fluorescently-labelled short DNA probes is reported. DNA probes were chemically synthesized on an automated instrument using the "Aminolink" reagent in the final cycle to attach a primary amino group at the 5'-terminus in the final step. The synthetic oligonucleotides were purified by polyacrylamide urea gel electrophoresis, followed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Purified membrane and soluble folate binding proteins from cultured KB cells have similar amino acid compositions and molecular weights but differ in fatty acid acylation.

A membrane-associated folate binding protein (FBP) and a soluble FBP, which is released into the culture medium, have been purified from human KB cells using affinity chromatography. By NaDodSO4/PAGE, both proteins have an apparent Mr of approximately 42,000. However, in the presence of Triton X-100, the soluble FBP eluted from a Sephadex G-150 column with an apparent Mr of approximately 40,000 (similar to NaDodSO4/PAGE) but the membrane-associated FBP eluted with an apparent Mr of approximately 160,000, indicating that this species contains a hydrophobic domain that interacts with the detergent micelles.

Gas-phase hydrolysis of proteins and peptides.

A simplified gas-phase hydrolysis procedure for proteins and peptides is described. The apparatus consists of a glass vacuum desiccator, a ceramic plate, and a Teflon ring. The method was shown to give reproducible compositions for hydrolysis of human serum albumin and microanalysis of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone including the quantitation of as little as one residue of tryptophan.

Proton magnetic resonance studies of the states of ionization of histidines in native and modified subtilisins.

A technique was developed to exchange the backbone -N-H protons in D2O in the native subtilisins Carlsberg and BPN (Novo) that resulted in clearly resolved proton resonances in the aromatic region of the nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum. pH titration curves for four of the five histidine C2-H resonances in subtilisin Carlsberg and five of the six in subtilisin BPN between 7.5 and 8.