Bovine Serum Albumin Conjugate Research Articles

A Bumpy Road to the Surface

Materials Science![Figure][1] CREDIT: GE ET AL., NANO. LETT. 11 , 10.1021/NL201303Q (2011) Nanoparticles formed from mixtures of proteins and synthetic polymers are of interest for applications such as protein delivery. Ge et al. examined the surface evolution of particles comprising conjugates of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). They first added 51 acryloyl groups to each denatured BSA molecule and then initiated radical polymerization at each site. Nanoparticles varying in BSA content from 4 to 82% by weight resulted from injection of an acetonitrile solution of these conjugates into phosphate-buffered saline. At the highest BSA content, the nanoparticles were well dispersed but the otherwise uniform surface of PMMA was covered with islands of BSA (as shown above). These islands grew over 2 weeks' time from surface patches to surface bumps in the buffered saline, but were unchanged if the nanoparticles remained in acetonitrile. The authors present a model in which PMMA, which is better solvated in acetonitrile, forms the main shell at the outset; over time in the aqueous medium, the more hydrophilic BSA then migrates to the surface. Nano. Lett. 11 , 10.1021/nl201303q (2011). [1]: pending:yes

Synthesis of Tn/T Antigen MUC1 Glycopeptide BSA Conjugates and Their Evaluation as Vaccines

AbstractThe tumor‐associated mucin MUC1 over‐expressed in most epithelial tumor tissues is considered a promising target for immunotherapy. The extracellular part of MUC1 contains a domain of numerous tandem repeats of the amino acid sequence HGVTSAPDTRPAPGSTAPPA, including five potential O‐glycosylation sites. In this study, T9 and S15 have been chosen as the positions of glycosylation. The glycopeptides N‐terminally equipped with a triethylene glycol spacer were synthesized by microwave‐assisted Fmoc solid‐phase peptide synthesis. After detachment from the resin and deprotection, the MUC1 glycopeptides were conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA). To evaluate the immunological properties, balb/c mice were immunized with these BSA vaccines.

Radioimmunoassay of the new opiate analgesics alfentanil and sufentanil. Preliminary pharmacokinetic profile in man.

The development of two analogous radioimmunoassay (RIA) procedures based on dextran-charcoal separation is described for the quantification of two fentanyl-like analgesics, alfentanil and sufentanil. Immunization of rabbits with conjugates of bovine serum albumin and carboxy-derivatives of the respective drugs resulted in the production of antisera capable of detecting less than 0.05 ng ml-1 of the parent analgesics with high specificity and almost no cross-reactivity with major metabolites. Excellent agreement was obtained between RIA--without prior extraction--and gas chromatography for alfentanil concentrations in human plasma. Because of sufentanil's low therapeutic plasma levels, no comparison could be made between its RIA and an alternative assay, however, there was strong evidence for the specificity of the assay when applied directly to plasma. With these RIA methods preliminary information was obtained on plasma concentrations and elimination of alfentanil or sufentanil in patients given an intravenous bolus injection of 50 micrograms kg-1 of alfentanil, or 5 micrograms kg-1 of sufentanil. For both analgesics, the pharmacokinetic profile in man could be described by a three-compartment model. The terminal elimination half-life was 88 min for alfentanil and 140 min for sufentanil. Six hours after a therapeutic dose, plasma levels were in the order of 3 and 0.3 ng ml-1 for alfentanil and sufentanil respectively.

The development of a radioimmunoassay for cannabinoids in blood and urine

Antibodies, for use in radioimmunoassay, have been raised in sheep by immunization with a conjugate of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol hemisuccinate and bovine serum albumin. Antiserum titre and avidity were increased by successive booster doses of conjugate. The high degree of non-specific binding encountered in the radioimmunoassay of cannabinoids was reduced by the use of the solubilizing detergent Triton X-405 and by restricting protein concentration in the assay medium. Plasma samples were deproteinized with ethanol before assay, but urine was directly assayed. High avidity antibodies and high specific activity [3H]-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol permitted the detection of 50 pg of cross-reacting cannabinoids--a sensitivity of 7-5 ng ml-1 of plasma and 1-0 ng ml-1 of urine. Whilst apparently specific for the three-ringed cannabinoid nucleus, the assay antiserum cross-reacted with several cannabinoids, both natural compounds and metabolites. Partial identification of cross-reacting cannabinoids was achieved by the use of pure compounds and by the assay of plasma and urine samples collected from rabbits given pure cannabinoids intravenously.

Characterization of in-vitro drug release and biological activity of methotrexate-bovine serum albumin conjugates

Two series of methotrexate (MTX)-bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugates have been prepared containing either 96 +/- 16 mg (mean +/- s.d.) or 32 +/- 13 mg of MTX per gram of conjugate. The conjugates released MTX in-vitro in a biphasic manner, the release rate being dependent on the quantity of MTX in the conjugate and on the pH of the release medium. An initial rapid release over 6 h appears to be due to physically adsorbed MTX with the slower secondary release due to covalently bound drug. The conjugates retain a degree of antineoplastic activity in-vitro, but this might be related to the small fraction of MTX that is tightly physically bound.

Conjugation of Bovine Serum Albumin and Glucose under Combined High Pressure and Heat

The effect of combined heat and pressure on the Maillard reaction between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and glucose was investigated. The effects in the range of 60-132 °C and at 0.1-600 MPa on the lysine availability of BSA were investigated at isothermal/isobaric conditions. The kinetic results showed that the protein-sugar conjugation rate increased with increasing temperature, whereas it decreased with increasing pressure. The reaction followed 1.4th order kinetics at most conditions investigated. A mathematical model describing BSA-glucose conjugation kinetics as a function of pressure and temperature is proposed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry were used to verify BSA-glucose conjugation and to identify the glucosylated sites. These indicated that the application of combined high pressure and high temperature resulted in significant differences in the progression of the Maillard reaction as compared to heat treatments at atmospheric pressure.

Antibody Responses to a Spore Carbohydrate Antigen as a Marker of Nonfatal Inhalation Anthrax in Rhesus Macaques

The Bacillus anthracis exosporium protein BclA contains an O-linked antigenic tetrasaccharide whose terminal sugar is known as anthrose (J. M. Daubenspeck et al., J. Biol. Chem. 279:30945-30953, 2004). We hypothesized that serologic responses to anthrose may have diagnostic value in confirming exposure to aerosolized B. anthracis. We evaluated the serologic responses to a synthetic anthrose-containing trisaccharide (ATS) in a group of five rhesus macaques that survived inhalation anthrax following exposure to B. anthracis Ames spores. Two of five animals (RM2 and RM3) were treated with ciprofloxacin starting at 48 hours postexposure and two (RM4 and RM5) at 72 h postexposure; one animal (RM1) was untreated. Infection was confirmed by blood culture and detection of anthrax toxin lethal factor (LF) in plasma. Anti-ATS IgG responses were determined at 14, 21, 28, and 35 days postexposure, with preexposure serum as a control. All animals, irrespective of ciprofloxacin treatment, mounted a specific, measurable anti-ATS IgG response. The earliest detectable responses were on days 14 (RM1, RM2, and RM5), 21 (RM4), and 28 (RM3). Specificity of the anti-ATS responses was demonstrated by competitive-inhibition enzyme immunoassay (CIEIA), in which a 2-fold (wt/wt) excess of carbohydrate in a bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugate of the oligosaccharide (ATS-BSA) effected >94% inhibition, whereas a structural analog lacking the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-butyryl moiety at the C-4" of the anthrosyl residue had no inhibition activity. These data suggest that anti-ATS antibody responses may be used to identify aerosol exposure to B. anthracis spores. The anti-ATS antibody responses were detectable during administration of ciprofloxacin.

Adsorption and Conformation of Serum Albumin Protein on Gold Nanoparticles Investigated Using Dimensional Measurements and in Situ Spectroscopic Methods

The adsorption and conformation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were interrogated both qualitatively and quantitatively via complementary physicochemical characterization methods. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), asymmetric-flow field flow fractionation (AFFF), fluorescence spectrometry, and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy were combined to characterize BSA-AuNP conjugates under fluid conditions, while conjugates in the aerosol state were characterized by electrospray-differential mobility analysis (ES-DMA). The presence of unbound BSA molecules interferes with DLS analysis of the conjugates, particularly as the AuNP size decreases (i.e., below 30 nm in diameter). Under conditions where the γ value is high, where γ is defined as the ratio of scattering intensity by AuNPs to the scattering intensity by unbound BSA, DLS size results are consistent with results obtained after fractionation by AFFF. Additionally, the AuNP hydrodynamic size exhibits a greater proportional increase due to BSA conjugation at pH values below 2.5 compared with less acidic pH values (3.4-7.3), corresponding with the reversibly denatured (E or F form) conformation of BSA below pH 2.5. Over the pH range from 3.4 to 7.3, the hydrodynamic size of the conjugate is nearly constant, suggesting conformational stability over this range. Because of the difference in the measurement environment, a larger increase of AuNP size is observed following BSA conjugation when measured in the wet state (i.e., by DLS and AFFF) compared to the dry state (by ES-DMA). Molecular surface density for BSA is estimated based on ES-DMA and fluorescence measurements. Results from the two techniques are consistent and similar, but slightly higher for ES-DMA, with an average adsorbate density of 0.015 nm(-2). Moreover, from the change of particle size, we determine the extent of adsorption for BSA on AuNPs using DLS and ES-DMA at 21 °C, which show that increasing the concentration of BSA increases the measured change in AuNP size. Using ES-DMA, we observe that the BSA surface density reaches 90% of saturation at a solution phase concentration between 10 and 30 μmol/L, which is roughly consistent with fluorescence and ATR-FTIR results. The equilibrium binding constant for BSA on AuNPs is calculated by applying the Langmuir equation, with resulting values ranging from 0.51 × 10(6) to 1.65 × 10(6) L/mol, suggesting a strong affinity due to bonding between the single free exterior thiol on N-form BSA (associated with a cysteine residue) and the AuNP surface. Moreover, the adsorption interaction induces a conformational change in BSA secondary structure, resulting in less α-helix content and more open structures (β-sheet, random, or expanded).

A CHEMIFLUORESCENT IMMUNOASSAY FOR THE DETERMINATION OF MARINOBUFAGENIN IN BODY FLUIDS

We describe here the development of a chemifluorescent competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that quantifies marinobufagenin (MBG) levels in biological fluids. Based on a polyclonal antibody raised against a novel MBG–bovine serum albumin conjugate, this assay achieved an MBG detection limit of less than 9 pg/mL. MBG levels in various rat urine and serum samples were effectively determined using this methodology. Interassay variability averaged 9.8%, while intra-assay variability averaged 1.9 and 2.5% in representative serum and urine samples, respectively. Recovery of exogenously added MBG averaged 106%, and parallelism data further established the accuracy of the assay. Employment of this assay to detect MBG abnormalities represents a powerful tool for the possible diagnosis, prevention and management of human hypertensive states, particularly preeclampsia.

A novel artificial superoxide dismutase: Non-covalent conjugation of albumin with a MnIII salophen type complex

The approach of non-covalent conjugation has recently been used and a number of metal complexes have been encaged in a protein scaffold to form functional metallo proteins. Here we investigate a novel artificial superoxide dismutase enzyme based on the non-covalent conjugation of bovine serum albumin and the manganese(III) complex of N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-3,4-diaminobenzoic acid. We report the intriguing ability of the albumin environment to increase the SOD activity of the inorganic complex. We also determined the binding constant with BSA by CD spectroscopy.

Development of sorbents for immunoaffinity extraction of isoflavonoids

The majority of currently known isoflavonoids has been detected in and isolated from the Leguminosae; however, their presence has also been reported in numerous non-legumes. Detection of these secondary metabolites in non-legumes is impeded by the complex matrix of plant material and low concentration of the analytes. In this study, we present a combination of immunoaffinity chromatography (IAC) and HPLC–ESI-MS as a new tool for the detection of isoflavonoids. Immunoglobulin fractions of polyclonal rabbit antisera against conjugates of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with selected isoflavonoids (i.e. biochanin A, genistein and daidzein) were immobilized on a commercially available Affi-Gel 10 support. Immunosorbents were characterized according to their specificity and binding capacity and used in an off-line combination with HPLC–ESI-MS for a pilot study of isoflavonoid presence in Maclura pomifera and Ficus carica (Moraceae).

Enzyme immunassay of alternariol for the assessment of risk of agricultural products contamination

A highly specific test system based on polyclonal rabbit antibodies targeting a conjugate of alternariol and bovine serum albumin prepared by formaldehyde condensation has been developed for the first time and shown to have the sensitivity of 0.4 ng/ml in the indirect competitive determination of alternariol. The possibility of applying the assay for assessment of the intensity of alternariol contamination of corn, animal feed, and raw materials used for the preparation of the latter has been demonstrated.

Conjugates of Bovine Serum Albumin with Chitin Oligosaccharides Prepared through the Maillard Reaction

Chitin neoglycoconjugates (BSA-CO) were obtained by the conjugation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with chitin oligosaccharides (CO) through the Maillard reaction (nonenzymatic glycation). CO produced by acid hydrolysis of chitin were fractionated using an ultrafiltration membrane system (1-3 kDa cutoff). The Maillard reaction was carried out by heating a freeze-dried mixture containing BSA and CO at 60 °C (under 43% relative humidity for 6 and 12 h). BSA-CO were characterized by available amino groups content, intrinsic tryptophan emission spectra, gel electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry. Biological assays included interaction with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and with bacterial adhesins of Escherichia coli K88+ and Salmonella choleraesuis. Glycation of BSA was revealed by reduction of available amino groups and fluorescence intensity and also retarded migration through SDS-PAGE. Conjugation of BSA with chitin oligomers appeared to be time dependent and was confirmed by mass spectrometry, by which molecular mass increase for monomers and dimers was observed. Monomers were estimated to contain either one or two glycation sites (at 6 and 12 h of treatment, respectively), with one or two tetrasaccharide units attached. Consequently, dimers showed two or four glycation sites. BSA-CO presented biological recognition by WGA and E. coli K88+ and S. cholerasuis adhesins. The strategy used in this work represents a simple method to obtain glycoconjugates to study applications involving protein-carbohydrate recognition.

Gold nanoparticles-decorated amine-terminated poly(amidoamine) dendrimer for sensitive electrochemical immunoassay of brevetoxins in food samples

A sensitive electrochemical immunosensor for the fast screening of brevetoxin B (BTX-2) in food samples was developed by means of immobilizing BTX-2–bovine serum albumin conjugate (BTX-2–BSA) on the gold nanoparticles-decorated amine-terminated poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (AuNP–PAADs). The presence of gold nanoparticles greatly improved the conductivity of the PAADs, and three-dimensional PAADs increased the surface coverage of the biomolecules on the electrode. Under optimal conditions, three types of immunosensor, i.e. with AuNPs, PAADs, or AuNP–PAADs, were used for the determination of BTX-2 in a competitive-type immunoassay format using horseradish peroxidase-labeled anti-BTX antibodies (HRP– anti-BTX-2) as trace in the H 2O 2– o-phenylenediamine ( o-PD) system. A low detection limit (LOD) of 0.01 ng/mL and a wide dynamic working linear range of 0.03–8 ng/mL BTX-2 using AuNP–PAADs as matrices were obtained in comparison with those of only using AuNP or PAADs. Intra-batch assay precision was substantially improved by resorting to the AuNP–PAADs manifold. The proposed method features unbiased identification of negative (blank) and positive samples. No significant differences were encountered in the analysis of the spiking real samples between the electrochemical immunosensor and liquid chromatography for the determination of BTX-2. Importantly, this method provided a biocompatible immobilization and a promising immunosensing platform for analytes with small molecules in the analysis and detection of food safety.

Covalent attaching protein to graphene oxide via diimide-activated amidation

In this paper, graphene oxide nanosheets (GOS) are functionalized by bovine serum albumin (BSA) via diimide-activated amidation under ambient conditions. The obtained GOS–BSA conjugate is highly water-soluble. Results of atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectra and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirm that GOS–BSA conjugate contains both GOS and BSA protein. AFM image shows that GOS are fully exfoliated. Results of cyclic volatammograms show that the protein in the GOS–BSA conjugate retains its bioactivity. The present method may also provide a way to synthesize graphene-based composites with other biomolecules.

DEVELOPMENT OF A SENSITIVE BIOTIN–AVIDIN AMPLIFIED ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY FOR THE DETERMINATION OF KETAMINE IN BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES

An effective biotin–avidin amplified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (BA-ELISA) was developed to determine ketamine in biological samples. A conjugate of ketamine and ovalbumin (OVA) was used for immunization to produce polyclonal antibody. The conjugate of ketamine and bovine serum albumin (BSA) with polyclonal antibody was calculated to have an affinity constant (Kaff) of 3.30 × 108(mol/L)−1. The linear range of ketamine was 0.1–1000 µg/L with recoveries from 89.6% to 99.9% in spiked sample analysis. The detection limit of ketamine was 0.03 µg/L, which is more sensitive than that of the traditional ELISA. The results obtained by BA-ELISA agreed well with that of the traditional ELISA, with a correlation coefficient of 0.98.

A Structural Insight into the Molecular Recognition of a (−)-Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and the Development of a Sensitive, One-Step, Homogeneous Immunocomplex-Based Assay for Its Detection

(−)-Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive compound found in cannabis. In this study, an anti-THC Fab fragment, designed T3, was isolated from a display library cloned from the spleen cells of a mouse immunized with a THC–bovine serum albumin conjugate, and the crystal structures of the T3 Fab in its free form and in complex with THC were determined at 1.9 Å and 2.0 Å resolution, respectively. The THC binding site of the T3 Fab is a narrow cavity: the n-pentyl group of THC protrudes deep into the interface area between the variable domains and the C10 monoterpene moiety of the hapten is partially exposed to solvent. The metabolites of THC, with modifications in the C10 monoterpene moiety, 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and 11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, are bound by the T3 Fab with a higher affinity than THC. The crystal structures suggest that Ser52H and Arg53H of the T3 Fab are able to make hydrogen bonds with the metabolites, which leads to an increased binding against these metabolites. By developing a T3 Fab–Δ9-THC immunocomplex binding antibody from a naïve antibody phage display library, the specificity of the Δ9-THC binding is highly increased, which allows a one-step, homogeneous, fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based sensitive immunoassay, with a detection limit of 20 ng/ml from saliva samples.

Modification of Liposomes with Proteins by Dansyl-labeled Heterobifunctional Crosslinker

The introduction of a fluorescent chromaphore into bifunctional crosslinkers results in a molecule with normal crosslinker properties and a fluorescent group for straightforward quantification. This work describes the synthesis of the dansyl-labeled heterobifunctional crosslinker N-succinimidyl ε-N-dansyl α-N-(acetylthio)acetyllysine (dansyl-ATA-lysine-NHS) containing reactive N-hydroxysuccinimidyl (NHS) ester and sulfhydryl groups. The application of this crosslinker to conjugation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein to the surface of a liposome containing maleimide functions is also demonstrated. BSA was modified with the dansyl-labeled crosslinker and subsequently conjugated to liposomes containing reactive phospholipid derivative N-[4-(p-maleimidophenyl)butyryl]phosphatidylethanolamine and the degree of modification and conjugation were quantitatively determined by measuring the fluorescence emission of the dansyl group. The reliability of the fluorescence quantification was confirmed by a micro bio-barcode assay protein assay.

Membrane androgen receptors may mediate androgen reinforcement

Anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse is widespread. Moreover, AAS are reinforcing, as shown by self-administration in rodents. However, the receptors that transduce the reinforcing effects of AAS are unclear. AAS may bind to classical nuclear androgen receptors (ARs) or membrane receptors. We used two approaches to examine the role of nuclear ARs in AAS self-administration. First, we tested androgen self-administration in rats with the testicular feminization mutation (Tfm), which interferes with androgen binding. If nuclear ARs are essential for AAS self-administration, Tfm males should not self-administer androgens. Tfm males and wild-type (WT) littermates self-administered the non-aromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or vehicle intracerebroventricularly (ICV) at fixed-ratio (FR) schedules up to FR5. Both Tfm and WT rats acquired a preference for the active nose-poke during DHT self-administration (66.4+/-9.6 responses/4 h for Tfm and 79.2+/-11.5 for WT responses/4 h), and nose-pokes increased as the FR requirement increased. Preference scores were significantly lower in rats self-administering vehicle (42.3+/-5.3 responses/4 h for Tfm and 19.1+/-4.0 responses/4 h for WT). We also tested self-administration of DHT conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) at C3 and C17, which is limited to actions at the cell surface. Hamsters were allowed to self-administer DHT, BSA and DHT-BSA conjugates for 15 days at FR1. The hamsters showed a significant preference for DHT (18.0+/-4.1 responses/4 h) or DHT-BSA conjugates (10.0+/-3.7 responses/4 h and 21.0+/-7.2 responses/4 h), but not for BSA (2.5+/-2.4 responses/4 h). Taken together, these data demonstrate that nuclear ARs are not required for androgen self-administration. Furthermore, androgen self-administration may be mediated by plasma membrane receptors.

Use of polystyrene-supported 2-isobutoxy-1-isobutoxycarbonyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline for the preparation of a hapten–protein conjugate for antibody development

Polystyrene-supported 2-isobutoxy-1-isobutoxycarbonyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline (PS-IIDQ), a polymer-supported covalent coupling reagent, was successfully employed for the first time in the bioconjugation of an example hapten (phytanic acid derivative) to a carrier protein (bovine serum albumin (BSA)) within the context of immunogen preparation for antibody development. The ability of the prepared example phytanic acid derivative–BSA conjugate to bind an anti-phytanic acid antibody was confirmed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).