Isolation and Identification of Peptidic α-Glucosidase Inhibitors Derived from Sardine Muscle Hydrolyzate

We report here the isolation of a-glucosidase (AGH) inhibitory peptides derived from sardine muscle hydrolyzate, which was prepared by digestion with Bacillus licheniformis alka­line protease. As a result of reversed-phase HPLC purification, two AGH inhibitory peptides were isolated from a DEAE -Sephadex A-25 column eluate. The peptides were identified as follows: Val-Trp (IC50 = 22.6 mᴍ) and Try -Tyr -Pro -Leu (IC50 = 3.7 mᴍ). AGH inhibitory studies of Try -Tyr -Pro -Leu and its derivatives demonstrated the importance of the tri-peptide chain length as well as the hydrophobic aromatic amino acid tyrosine at the N-terminus, aliphatic amino acids at the C-terminus, as well as an amide proton from the peptide chain at the middle position of the tri-peptide to develop AGH inhibition activity.

IgA Interaction with Carboxy-Terminal 43-kD Fragment of Fibronectin in IgA Nephropathy

IgA deposition in the glomerular mesangial matrix is a prerequisite for the diagnosis of IgA nephropathy, and circulating IgA-containing complex has been implicated in this process. Since fibronectin is known to be involved in the assembly of extracellular matrix, this study was conducted to investigate whether fibronectin and its fragments are present in sera of patients and are capable of binding IgA1. Sera from patients with IgA nephropathy were purified by heparin-affinity chromatography, and column eluate were analyzed for the presence of fibronectin using Western blot and a set of anti-fibronectin monoclonal antibodies. Native fibronectin was digested with cathepsin D to obtain fragments similar to those of serum fibronectin. The capacity of fibronectin to bind IgA was examined with a mixture of purified IgA1 and cathepsin D-digested fibronectin fragments. A 43-kD carboxy-terminal fragment of fibronectin was detected in samples derived from sera of patients with IgA nephropathy but not in healthy control subjects. A similar-sized fragment was generated by cathepsin D digestion of the native molecule and was shown to bind to IgA1 in vitro. Since the carboxy-terminal domain is known to be critical in assembling exogenous fibronectin into the extracellular matrix, the affinity to IgA1 to a fragment found in patients may have pathogenic potential to mediate extracellular IgA deposition in IgA nephropathy.

Autoantibodies to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) recognize a kininogen- PE complex

Demonstration of autoimmune antiphospholipid antibodies (aPA) to negatively charged phospholipids (PL) in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) requires the presence of certain phospholipid-binding plasma proteins, eg, beta 2-glycoprotein I. We found a requirement for plasma against the electrically neutral or zwitterionic phospholipid, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Two of these PE-binding plasma proteins were identified as high molecular weight kininogen (HMWK) and low molecular weight kininogen (LMWK). We studied anti-PE antibody (aPE) seropositive plasma from 13 patients with SLE and/or recurrent spontaneous abortions by using partially purified kininogens and kininogen binding proteins from adult bovine serum isolated by carboxymethyl (CM)-papain affinity chromatography. Eleven of 13 sera recognized a kininogen-PE complex and/or a kininogen-binding protein-kininogen-PE complex. Some aPE-positive patient sera were shown to recognize highly purified HMWK and LMWK by ELISA only when the kininogens were presented on a PE substrate. These aPE sera did not recognize PE, HMWK, or LMWK when they were presented independently as the sole antigens on the ELISA plates. Other aPE-positive sera that did not react with PE-bound HMWK or LMWK reacted with the CM-papain column eluate when it was bound to PE, which suggests that these aPE recognize factor XI or prekallikrein, which normally bind to HMWK. The aPE ELISA reactivity of two patient sera were inhibited by preincubation of the CM-papain column eluate in the ELISA plate. These data show that most aPE are not specific for PE but require the presence of certain PL-binding plasma proteins that are kininogens or proteins in complex with kininogens. Our studies indicate that aPE bind to different plasma proteins than those implicated in anionic PL, aPA ELISA reactivity.

Autoantibodies to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) recognize a kininogen- PE complex

Demonstration of autoimmune antiphospholipid antibodies (aPA) to negatively charged phospholipids (PL) in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) requires the presence of certain phospholipid-binding plasma proteins, eg, beta 2-glycoprotein I. We found a requirement for plasma against the electrically neutral or zwitterionic phospholipid, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Two of these PE-binding plasma proteins were identified as high molecular weight kininogen (HMWK) and low molecular weight kininogen (LMWK). We studied anti-PE antibody (aPE) seropositive plasma from 13 patients with SLE and/or recurrent spontaneous abortions by using partially purified kininogens and kininogen binding proteins from adult bovine serum isolated by carboxymethyl (CM)-papain affinity chromatography. Eleven of 13 sera recognized a kininogen-PE complex and/or a kininogen-binding protein-kininogen-PE complex. Some aPE-positive patient sera were shown to recognize highly purified HMWK and LMWK by ELISA only when the kininogens were presented on a PE substrate. These aPE sera did not recognize PE, HMWK, or LMWK when they were presented independently as the sole antigens on the ELISA plates. Other aPE-positive sera that did not react with PE-bound HMWK or LMWK reacted with the CM-papain column eluate when it was bound to PE, which suggests that these aPE recognize factor XI or prekallikrein, which normally bind to HMWK. The aPE ELISA reactivity of two patient sera were inhibited by preincubation of the CM-papain column eluate in the ELISA plate. These data show that most aPE are not specific for PE but require the presence of certain PL-binding plasma proteins that are kininogens or proteins in complex with kininogens. Our studies indicate that aPE bind to different plasma proteins than those implicated in anionic PL, aPA ELISA reactivity.

Colorimetry and constant-potential coulometry determinations of transferrin-bound iron, total iron-binding capacity, and total iron in serum containing iron-dextran, with use of sodium dithionite and alumina columns

After the parenteral administration of iron-dextran (imferon), the increased total iron concentrations in serum can be determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy and by colorimetric methods involving sodium dithionite, which reductively dissociates iron from the dextran complex. We report that constant-potential coulometry detects only about 55-70% of dextran-bound iron before dithionite reduction and variable amounts after reaction with the reducing agent. In addition, we have developed a procedure for determining transferrin-bound iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), total iron, and dextran-bound iron with the Kodak Ektachem colorimetric system. In determining total serum iron, the sample is first mixed with sodium dithionite, which rapidly dissociates all dextran-bound iron, but does not remove iron from either transferrin or hemoglobin. After the mixture is applied to an Ektachem slide, transferrin-bound iron is released at pH 4 and is detected together with the iron previously bound to dextran. TIBC is determined by mixing serum with ferric citrate in moderate excess and filtering through a small alumina (Al2O3) column, which binds excess free iron and iron-dextran; the iron in the column eluate represents the TIBC. Transferrin-bound iron is determined by applying diluted serum without added ferric citrate to an alumina column and measuring the iron in the column eluate. Dextran-bound iron is equivalent to the difference between total and transferrin-bound iron. Using this method, we found that transferrin iron-binding sites are saturated in vitro by excess iron-dextran less efficiently than by ferric citrate.

The murine lymphocyte receptor for IgE. II. Characterization of the multivalent nature of the B lymphocyte receptor for IgE.

The murine B lymphocyte Fc epsilon R is functionally multivalent. Radiolabeled rat IgE, when bound to the B cell Fc epsilon R will co-isolate with the Fc epsilon R on a rat IgE affinity column; examination of the affinity column eluate by SDS-PAGE reveals the component previously identified as the Fc epsilon R as well as E and L chains from IgE. At low levels of Fc epsilon R saturation, up to 30% of the Fc epsilon R bound IgE becomes bound to IgE-Affi-Gel. By using a biotin-avidin system, the coprecipitation of non-haptenated IgE with haptenated IgE was examined and the results suggest (but do not prove) a divalent receptor.

Use of Post-Column Derivatization in Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Sulfamethazine and Sulfathiazole in Feeds and Feed Premixes

Sulfonamide drugs are extracted from feed and feed premixes by shaking with 0.15N HC1 in 25% methanol. The extract is diluted, clarified, and chromatographed on a reverse phase Cis column. Mobile phases used are methanol-2% acetic acid (35 + 65) and acetonitrile-2% acetic acid (18 + 82) for sulfamethazine (SMT) and sulfathiazole (STZ), respectively. A solution of dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (DMAB) is added to the column eluate and the resulting sulfonamide- DMAB complex is detected at 450 nm. The method was tested for linearity, recovery, and precision across a broad sample range. Recovery was 100.6 ± 2.3% and 96.3 ± 1.6% for STZ and SMT, respectively. Linearity was excellent (r2 = 0.9985 for STZ and r2 = 0.9996 for SMT) as was within-day precision (RSD = 2.00% for STZ and 1.52% for SMT). The method was compared with the Bratton-Marshall colorimetric method. Analysis of 14 STZ and 15 SMT samples failed to detect any bias between the 2 methods. Some practical aspects of the use of this technique are discussed.

Use of a flow-injection sample manipulator as an interface between a "high-performance" liquid chromatograph and an atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

We describe an integrated, molecular-absorbance, atomic absorption instrument for studying metal/ligand binding in clinical samples. For an interface between the "high-performance" liquid chromatograph and the atomic absorption instrument we used a flow-injection sample manipulator, thus allowing both the chromatograph and the atomic absorption detector to operate at their separate optimum conditions. After specimen separation with a gel permeation column, we measured the molecular components of the column eluate by molecular absorbance spectrometry and the atomic components (calcium and magnesium) by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. This instrument system is capable of separating and analyzing multiple components within 20 min of injection of the sample on the column. The chromatograms presented demonstrate the utility of the system for investigating metal binding to a variety of ligands in clinical samples.