Lithium Dodecyl Sulfate Research Articles

Phenotypic and Biochemical Analyses of BACE1- and BACE2-deficient Mice

Beta-secretase (BACE1) is the rate-limiting protease for the generation of the amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) in Alzheimer disease. Mice in which the bace1 gene is inactivated are reported to be healthy. However, the presence of a homologous gene encoding BACE2 raises the possibility of compensatory mechanisms. Therefore, we have generated bace1, bace2, and double knockout mice. We report here that BACE1 mice display a complex phenotype. A variable but significant number of BACE1 offspring died in the first weeks after birth. The surviving mice remained smaller than their littermate controls and presented a hyperactive behavior. Electrophysiologically, subtle alterations in the steady-state inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels in BACE1-deficient neurons were observed. In contrast, bace2 knockout mice displayed an overall healthy phenotype. However, a combined deficiency of BACE2 and BACE1 enhanced the bace1-/- lethality phenotype. At the biochemical level, we have confirmed that BACE1 deficiency results in an almost complete block of Abeta generation in neurons, but not in glia. As glia are 10 times more abundant in brain compared with neurons, our data indicate that BACE2 could indeed contribute to Abeta generation in the brains of Alzheimer disease and, in particular, Down syndrome patients. In conclusion, our data challenge the general idea of BACE1 as a safe drug target and call for some caution when claiming that no major side effects should be expected from blocking BACE1 activity.

Mutations Near Amino End of α1(I) Collagen Cause Combined Osteogenesis Imperfecta/Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome by Interference with N-propeptide Processing

Patients with OI/EDS form a distinct subset of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) patients. In addition to skeletal fragility, they have characteristics of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). We identified 7 children with types III or IV OI, plus severe large and small joint laxity and early progressive scoliosis. In each child with OI/EDS, we identified a mutation in the first 90 residues of the helical region of alpha1(I) collagen. These mutations prevent or delay removal of the procollagen N-propeptide by purified N-proteinase (ADAMTS-2) in vitro and in pericellular assays. The mutant pN-collagen which results is efficiently incorporated into matrix by cultured fibroblasts and osteoblasts and is prominently present in newly incorporated and immaturely cross-linked collagen. Dermal collagen fibrils have significantly reduced cross-sectional diameters, corroborating incorporation of pN-collagen into fibrils in vivo. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that these mutant collagens are less stable than the corresponding procollagens, which is not seen with other type I collagen helical mutations. These mutations disrupt a distinct folding region of high thermal stability in the first 90 residues at the amino end of type I collagen and alter the secondary structure of the adjacent N-proteinase cleavage site. Thus, these OI/EDS collagen mutations are directly responsible for the bone fragility of OI and indirectly responsible for EDS symptoms, by interference with N-propeptide removal.

Phorbol Ester-induced Apoptosis of C4-2 Cells Requires Both a Unique and a Redundant Protein Kinase C Signaling Pathway

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) potently induces apoptosis of LNCaP human prostate cancer cells. Here, we show that C4-2 cells, androgen-hypersensitive derivatives of LNCaP cells, also are sensitive to PMA-induced apoptosis. Previous reports have implicated activation of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes alpha and delta in PMA-induced LNCaP apoptosis using overexpression, pharmacological inhibitors, and dominant-negative constructs, but have left unresolved if other isozymes are involved, if there are separate requirements for individual PKC isozymes, or if there is redundancy. We have resolved these questions in C4-2 cells using stable expression of short hairpin RNAs to knock down expression of specific PKC isozymes individually and in pairs. Partial knockdown of PKCdelta inhibited PMA-induced C4-2 cell death almost completely, whereas near-complete knockdown of PKCalpha had no effect. Knockdown of PKCepsilon alone had no effect, but simultaneous knockdown of both PKCalpha and PKCepsilon in C4-2 cells that continued to express normal levels of PKCdelta inhibited PMA-induced apoptosis. Thus, our data indicate that there is an absolute requirement for PKCdelta in PMA-induced C4-2 apoptosis but that the functions of PKCalpha and PKCepsilon in apoptosis induction are redundant, such that either one (but not both) is required. Investigation of PMA-induced events required for LNCaP and C4-2 apoptosis revealed that p38 activation is dependent on PKCdelta, whereas induction of retinoblastoma protein hypophosphorylation requires both PKC signaling pathways and is downstream of p38 activation in the PKCdelta pathway.

The folding state of the lumenal loop determines the thermal stability of light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein.

The major light-harvesting protein of photosystem II (LHCIIb) is the most abundant chlorophyll-binding protein in the thylakoid membrane. It contains three membrane-spanning alpha helices; the first and third one closely interact with each other to form a super helix, and all three helices bind most of the pigment cofactors. The protein loop domains connecting the alpha helices also play an important role in stabilizing the LHCIIb structure. Single amino acid exchanges in either loop were found to be sufficient to significantly destabilize the complex assembled in vitro [Heinemann, B., and Paulsen, H. (1999) Biochemistry 38, 14088-14093. Mick, V., Eggert, K., Heinemann, B., Geister, S., and Paulsen, H (2004) Biochemistry 43, 5467-5473]. This work presents an analysis of such point mutations in the lumenal loop with regard to the extent and nature of their effect on LHCIIb stability to obtain detailed information on the contribution of this loop to stabilizing the complex. Most of the mutant proteins yielded pigment-protein complexes if their reconstitution and/or isolation was performed under mild conditions; however, the yields were significantly different. Several mutations in the vicinity of W97 in the N-proximal section of the loop gave low reconstitution yields even under very mild conditions. This confirms our earlier notion that W97 may be of particular relevance in stabilizing LHCIIb. The same amino acid exchanges accelerated thermal complex dissociation in the absence of lithium dodecyl sulfate (LDS) and raised the accessibility of the lumenal loop to protease; both effects were well correlated with the reduction in reconstitution yields. We conclude that a detachment of the lumenal loop is a possible first step in the dissociation of LHCIIb. Dramatically reduced complex yields in the presence but not in the absence of LDS were observed for some but not all mutants, particularly those near the C-proximal end of the loop. We conclude that complex stabilities in the absence and in the presence of LDS do not correlate and most likely are determined by different structural characteristics, at least in LHCIIb but maybe also in other membrane proteins.

Beet necrotic yellow vein benyvirus

Beet necrotic yellow vein benyvirus

Anionic amphiphile and phospholipid-induced conformational changes in human neutrophil flavocytochrome b observed by fluorescence resonance energy transfer

The integral membrane protein flavocytochrome b (Cyt b ) comprises the catalytic core of the human phagocyte NADPH oxidase complex and serves to initiate a cascade of reactive oxygen species that participate in the elimination of infectious agents. Superoxide production by the NADPH oxidase complex has been shown to be specifically regulated by the enzymatic generation of lipid second messengers following phagocyte activation. In the present study, a Cyt b -specific monoclonal antibody (mAb 44.1) was labeled with Cascade Blue (CCB) and used in resonance energy transfer (RET) studies probing the effects of a panel of lipid species on the structure of Cyt b . The binding of CCB-mAb 44.1 to immunoaffinity-purified Cyt b was both highly specific and resulted in significant quenching of the steady state donor fluorescence. Titration of the CCB-mAb 44.1:Cyt b complex with the anionic amphiphile lithium dodecyl sulfate (LDS) resulted in a saturable relaxation of fluorescence quenching due to conformational changes in Cyt b at concentrations of the amphiphile required for maximum rates of superoxide production by Cyt b in cell-free assays. Similar results were observed for the anionic amphiphile arachidonic acid (AA), although no relaxation of fluorescence quenching was observed for arachidonate methyl ester (AA-ME). Saturable relaxation of fluorescence quenching was also observed with the anionic, 18:1 phospholipids phosphatidic acid (DOPA) and phosphatidylserine (DOPS), while no relaxation was observed upon addition of the neutral 18:1 lipids phosphatidylcholine (DOPC), phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) or diacylglycerol (DAG) at similar levels. Further examination of a variety of phosphatidic acid (PA) species demonstrated DOPA to both potently induce conformational changes in Cyt b and to cause more dramatic conformational changes than PA species with shorter, saturated acyl chains. The data presented in this study support the hypothesis that second messenger lipids, such as AA and PA, directly bind to flavocytochrome b and modulate conformational states relevant to the activation of superoxide production.

Anionic amphiphile and phospholipid-induced conformational changes in human neutrophil flavocytochrome b observed by fluorescence resonance energy transfer

The integral membrane protein flavocytochrome b (Cyt b) comprises the catalytic core of the human phagocyte NADPH oxidase complex and serves to initiate a cascade of reactive oxygen species that participate in the elimination of infectious agents. Superoxide production by the NADPH oxidase complex has been shown to be specifically regulated by the enzymatic generation of lipid second messengers following phagocyte activation. In the present study, a Cyt b-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb 44.1) was labeled with Cascade Blue (CCB) and used in resonance energy transfer (RET) studies probing the effects of a panel of lipid species on the structure of Cyt b. The binding of CCB-mAb 44.1 to immunoaffinity-purified Cyt b was both highly specific and resulted in significant quenching of the steady state donor fluorescence. Titration of the CCB-mAb 44.1:Cyt b complex with the anionic amphiphile lithium dodecyl sulfate (LDS) resulted in a saturable relaxation of fluorescence quenching due to conformational changes in Cyt b at concentrations of the amphiphile required for maximum rates of superoxide production by Cyt b in cell-free assays. Similar results were observed for the anionic amphiphile arachidonic acid (AA), although no relaxation of fluorescence quenching was observed for arachidonate methyl ester (AA-ME). Saturable relaxation of fluorescence quenching was also observed with the anionic, 18:1 phospholipids phosphatidic acid (DOPA) and phosphatidylserine (DOPS), while no relaxation was observed upon addition of the neutral 18:1 lipids phosphatidylcholine (DOPC), phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) or diacylglycerol (DAG) at similar levels. Further examination of a variety of phosphatidic acid (PA) species demonstrated DOPA to both potently induce conformational changes in Cyt b and to cause more dramatic conformational changes than PA species with shorter, saturated acyl chains. The data presented in this study support the hypothesis that second messenger lipids, such as AA and PA, directly bind to flavocytochrome b and modulate conformational states relevant to the activation of superoxide production.

Neuronal-specific synthesis and glycosylation of tenascin-R.

Tenascin-R (TN-R) is a member of the tenascin family of multidomain matrix glycoproteins that is expressed exclusively in the central nervous system by oligodendrocytes and small neurons during postnatal development and in the adult. TN-R contributes to the regulation of axon extension and regeneration, neurite formation and synaptogenesis, and neuronal growth and migration. TN-R can be modified with three distinct sulfated oligosaccharide structures: HNK-1 (SO(4)-3-GlcUAbeta1,3Galbeta1,4GlcNAc), GalNAc-4-SO(4), and chondroitin sulfate. We have determined that TN-R expressed in dendrite-rich regions of the rat cerebellum, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex is one of the major matrix glycoproteins that bears N-linked carbohydrates terminating with beta1,4-linked GalNAc-4-SO(4). The syntheses of these unique sulfated structures on TN-R are differentially regulated. Levels of HNK-1 on TN-R rise and fall in parallel to the levels of TN-R during postnatal development of the cerebellum. In contrast, levels of GalNAc-4-SO(4) are regulated independently from those of TN-R, rising late in cerebellar development and continuing into adulthood. As a result, the pattern of TN-R modification with distinct sulfated carbohydrate structures changes dramatically over the course of postnatal cerebellar development in the rat. Because TN-R interacts with a number of different matrix components and, depending on the circumstances, can either activate or inhibit neurite outgrowth, the highly regulated addition of these unique sulfated structures may modulate the adhesive properties of TN-R over the course of development and during synapse maintenance. In addition, the 160-kDa form of TN-R is particularly enriched for terminal GalNAc-4-SO(4) later in development and in the adult, suggesting additional levels of regulation.

Dodecylsulfate-coated monolithic octadecyl-bonded silica stationary phase for high-speed separation of hydrogen, magnesium and calcium in rainwater

The high-speed determination of hydrogen, magnesium and calcium ions by ion chromatography (IC) is demonstrated on a monolithic octadecyl-boned silica (ODS) column coated with lithium dodecylsulfate (Li-DS). This stationary phase, when used in conjunction with a 2 mM ethylenediamine and 0.1 mM Li-DS solution as eluent at pH 6.0, was found to be suitable for the rapid and efficient separation of hydrogen and magnesium and calcium in the order H +<Mg 2+<Ca 2+ within 4 min at a flow rate of 4.0 ml/min. Under the conditions, linear calibration plots of conductivity versus concentration were obtained for the cations over about three orders of magnitude, and the detection limits were 1 μM for H +, 2 μM for Mg 2+ and Ca 2+. Rainwater was analyzed directly using this IC system with satisfactory results.

Ion chromatographic separation of hydrogen ion and other common mono- and divalent cations

We introduced an approach to the ion chromatographic determination of common mono- and divalent cations including hydrogen ion and demonstrated the ability of a C 30 column dynamically coated first with dodecylsulfate and then with 18-crown-6 ether to separate the cations by ion-exchange mechanism. Using an ethylenediamine solution containing a small concentration of 18-crown-6 ether and lithium dodecylsulfate at pH 6.2 as eluent, the cations were eluted in the order Li +<Na +<NH 4 +<H +<K +<Mg 2+<Ca 2+ with symmetrical peaks. The conductivity vs. concentration plots were linear about three orders of magnitude, from millimolar to micromolar; and the detection limits were all <0.6 μM. Rainwater was analyzed directly using this ion chromatographic system with satisfactory results.

Fractionation of liver proteins by preparative electrophoresis

Proteomics offers unique possibilities to investigate changes in the levels and modifications of proteins involved in the pathomechanisms of diseases and toxic events. However, search for potential drug targets and disease or toxicity markers is limited by the fact that mainly the high-abundance, hydrophilic proteins are visualized in two-dimensional gels. Here we studied the enrichment of rat liver cytosolic proteins by preparative electrophoresis. Preparative electrophoresis was performed with the PrepCell apparatus in the presence of 0.1% lithium dodecyl sulfate. Lithium dodecyl sulfate was exchanged against agents compatible with isoelectric focusing prior to the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Proteins were identified from two-dimensional gels by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass specrometry. Low- and middle-size proteins and low-abundance proteins, which had not been found before, were enriched by preparative electrophoresis. The present study represents a contribution of proteomics in the quantification of differences in the levels of low-abundance liver proteins in toxicity studies.

Selective counterion condensation in ionic micellar solutions

Small-angle neutron scattering experiments have been carried out on micellar solutions of cationic surfactants of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) and chloride (CTACl) in the presence of varying concentrations of salts KBr and KCl. In these systems, while the size of micelles strongly increases with the addition of KBr, the effect of addition of KCl in comparison is much less pronounced. It is found that in equimolar surfactant to salt micellar solutions of CTABr/KCl and CTACl/KBr, the micellar sizes are larger in CTACl/KBr than those in CTABr/KCl. The measurements have been done for different equimolar surfactant to salt concentrations and at different temperatures. We explain these results in terms of selective counterion condensation on the micelles. That is, while the condensation of Cl- counterions on the CTABr micelles in CTABr/KCl takes place around the condensed Br- counterions of CTABr, the Cl- counterions of CTACl in CTACl/KBr are replaced by Br- counterions of the salt. Similar results have also been obtained on micellar solutions of anionic surfactants of sodium dodecyl sulfate and lithium dodecyl sulfate in the presence of salts LiBr and NaBr, respectively.

Proteomic analysis of the cell envelope fraction of Escherichia coli.

We applied proteomics technologies to analyze a membrane preparation of Escherichia coli, wild type strain and of transformants expressing human cytochrome P450s. The proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. The membrane proteins were solubilized with both mild detergents such as CHAPS and strong detergents, such as sodium and lithium dodecyl sulfate, sodium cholate and sodium deoxycholate. In the E. colimembrane fraction, 394 different gene products were identified. Approximately 28% of them were predicted to be integral membrane proteins, of which 100 proteins have been predicted to carry one transmembrane region, ten proteins to carry two, and two proteins to include three transmembrane domains. The remaining are probably membrane-associated and cytosolic proteins. Cytochrome P450s did not enter the immobilized pH gradient strips but were efficiently analyzed in a two-dimensional, two-detergent system. Use of strong solubilizing agents resulted in the detection of about 20 membrane proteins, which were not detected following extraction with mild detergents and chaotropes. The present database is one of the largest for membrane proteins.

Monolithic octadecylsilyl-silica gel column for the high-speed ion chromatographic determination of acidity

A monolithic ODS-silica gel column modified by saturating it with lithium dodecylsulfate (Li-DS) was used to demonstrate the high-speed separation of H + from other mono- and divalent cations, such as Na +, NH 4 +, K +, Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ using ion chromatography (IC). Using a 5 m M EDTA-2K solution containing 0.10 m M Li-DS (pH 4.80) as eluent, H + was eluted with a sharp and symmetrical peak within 1.0 min before other cations at a flow-rate of 1.5 ml min −1. The rapid elution of H + and its conductimetric detection could be attributed to the presence of EDTA (HY 2−), which can convert H + ions as anions, i.e. H ++H 2Y 2−→H 3Y −. The acidity of rainwater and deionized water samples was determined using this IC system with satisfactory results.

Enrichment of low-abundance brain proteins by preparative electrophoresis

Detection of low-copy-number gene products is essential for the development of novel drugs, however, it represents a major drawback of proteomics and simultaneously a scientific challenge. We studied the enrichment of rat brain cytosolic proteins by preparative electrophoresis using the PrepCell apparatus. The electrophoresis was performed in the presence of 0.1% lithium dodecyl sulfate. The proteins eluted from the gel were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass specrometry. Lithium dodecyl sulfate was easily exchanged against agents compatible with isoelectric focusing. Low-abundance proteins, which had not been found before, including neuronal-specific and calcium-binding proteins, were detected. In particular, low-molecular-mass proteins, such as hippocalcin, visinin-like proteins, and 14-3-3 proteins were strongly enriched by preparative electrophoresis.

Rapid high-resolution electrophoresis of multimeric von Willebrand Factor using a thermopiloted gel apparatus.

Rapid and highly reproducible nonreducing agarose gel electrophoresis (NRAGE) of von Willebrand Factor (vWF) multimers was performed using a thermostated minigel apparatus that monitors and precisely controls internal gel temperature. The substitution of lithium dodecyl sulfate (LiDS) for sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) allowed electrophoresis to be performed below the 16 degrees C Krafft point of SDS and facilitated NRAGE of vWF over the entire range of 0-35 degrees C. Internal gel temperature was regulated by a thermocouple probe inserted directly into the gel during electrophoresis which interfaced with a thermopilot that continually measures and adjusts temperature to within +/- 0.5 degrees C. At 10 degrees C operative temperature, NRAGE at 1.5% agarose concentration was completed in 20 min at 250 V. Electrophoresis could be performed in only 10 min at 500 V, but at such high voltages, localized temperature fluctuations as much as 6 degrees C resulted in perturbation of banding patterns in those vicinities. In the optimized method, both high molecular weight multimers and proteolytic fragments of vWF were separable suggesting clinical applicability of this system for the diagnosis of von Willebrand Disease and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Studies on the separation of hydronium ion using surfactant-modified reversed-phase stationary phases and eluents containing an acidified electrolyte

A further investigation of a chromatographic system allowing determination of hydrogen ions is reported. For this purpose an octadecylsilica column dynamically modified with sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) or lithium dodecylsulfate (LDS) was used as stationary phase and a slightly acidified electrolyte (usually KCl)–SDS solution was used as the eluent. The concentration of SDS, KCl and the acidity of the eluent affected the structure of aggregates formed by the molecules of dodecylsulfate at the surface of the stationary phase. These aggregates of dodecylsulfate were found to be responsible for the appearance of a chromatographic peak attributed to the presence of H 3O + ions in a sample. Other cations in the sample could be separated in the same manner, permitting the simultaneous separation of monovalent cations from H 3O +. The detection limit for H 3O + ions was 2.25·10 −6 M using an eluent comprising 0.3 m M LDS, 50.0 m M KCl and 0.10 m M H 2SO 4. The proposed method is shown to be applicable for the determination of free H 3O + ions in aqueous solutions of strong acids.

Lithium dodecyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate-agarose gel electrophoresis for separating proteins according to molecular weight

We have improved the agarose gel electrophoresis method reported previously for size-dependent separation of proteins. Good resolution in protein separation was achieved using a novel agarose gel, containing both sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and lithium dodecyl sulfate (LDS). The gel was divided into stacking and separating gels. We determined the optimal conditions for horizontal gel electrophoresis to be a voltage of 100V for the separating gel and 50V for the stacking gel, in an electrophoretic buffer solution of 25mM Tris-190mM glycine containing 0.03% LDS and 0.02% SDS (pH 8.3), which was also used to make the agarose gel. Separation of proteins in the molecular weight range 14.2-205K and of the proteins in human serum showed good resolution under these conditions. This method should be useful for clinical laboratories because it is simple and requires little bench space.

Monolithic ODS-silica gel column for determination of hydrogen, sodium, ammonium and potassium in acid rain by lon chromatography

A monolithic ODS-silica gel column modified by saturating it with lithium dodecylsulfate (Li-DS) was firstly used to separate monovalent cations simultaneously including H+, Na+, NH4+ and K+ by ion-chromatography (IC). Using an acidified 60 mM LiCl solution (pH 3.95, containing 0.10 mM Li-DS) as eluent, these monovalent cations were separated well in the order of Na+<NH4+<K+<H+ within 3 min at a flow rate of 2.0 mL min−1. The detection limits of these cations by this method with conductivity detection were 20.0 μM for Na+, 12.0 μM for NH4+, 9.84 μM for K+ and 6.20 μM for H+. Acid rain water samples with a pH value less than 5.00 could be analyzed directly with this IC system.

Towards crystallization of hydrophobic myelin glycoproteins: P0 and PASII/PMP22

The preparation of a pure and homogeneous protein sample at proper concentration is a prerequisite for success when attempting their crystallization for structural determination. The detergents suitable for solubilization particularly of membrane proteins are not always the best for crystallization. Myelin of the peripheral nervous system of vertebrates is the example of a membrane for which neutral or “gentle” detergents are not even strong enough to solubilize its proteins. In contrast, sodium- or lithium-dodecyl sulfate is very effective. We solubilized myelin membrane in 2% (w/v) sodium dodecyl sulfate, followed by chromatographic purification of the hydrophobic myelin glycoproteins P0 and PASII/PMP22, and finally, we have exchanged the sodium dodecyl sulfate bound to protein for other neutral detergents using ceramic hydroxyapatite column. Theoretically, we should easily exchange sodium dodecyl sulfate for any neutral detergent, but for some of them, the solubility of myelin glycoproteins is low. To monitor the potential variability in the secondary structure of glycoproteins, we have used circular dichroism. Sodium dodecyl sulfate seems to be the appropriate detergent for the purpose of purification of very hydrophobic glycoproteins, since it can be easily exchanged for another neutral detergent.