Project description:N-glycosylation is a common posttranslational modification of proteins in eukaryotic cells. The modification is often analyzed in cells which are able to produce extracellular, glycosylated proteins. Here we report an improved method of the use of genetically modified, secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) as a reporter glycoprotein which may be used for glycoanalysis. Additional N-glycosylation sites introduced by site-directed mutagenesis significantly increased secretion of the protein. An improved purification protocol of recombinant SEAP from serum or serum-free media is also proposed. The method enables fast and efficient separation of reporter glycoprotein from a relatively small amount of medium (0.5-10 ml) with a high recovery level. As a result, purified SEAP was ready for enzymatic de-glycosylation without buffer exchange, sample volume reductions or other procedures, which are usually time-consuming and may cause partial loss of the reporter glycoprotein.
Project description:The enzymic properties of alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) from pig kidney brush-border membranes were studied. 1. It hydrolyses ortho- and pyro-phosphate esters, the rate limiting step (V(max.)) being independent of the substrate. It transphosphorylates to Tris at concentrations above 0.1m-Tris. 2. The pH optimum for hydrolysis was between 9.8 and 10. The pK of the enzyme-substrate complex is 8.7 for p-nitrophenyl phosphate and beta-glycerophosphate. Excess of substrate inhibits the enzymic activity with decreasing pH. The pK of the substrate-inhibited enzyme-substrate complex, 8.7, is very similar to that for the enzyme-substrate complex. The pK values of the free enzyme appear to be 8.7 and 7.9. 3. Inactivation studies suggest that there is an essential tyrosine residue at the active centre of the enzyme. 4. The energy of activation (E) and the heat of activation (DeltaH) at pH9.5 showed a transition at 24.8 degrees C that was unaffected by Mg(2+). 5. Kinetic and atomic-absorption analysis indicated the essential role of two Zn(2+) ions/tetrameric enzyme for an ordered association of the monomers. Zn(2+) in excess and other bivalent ions compete for a second site with Mg(2+). Mg(2+) enhances only the rate-limiting step of substrate hydrolysis. 6. Amino acid inhibition studies classified the pig kidney enzyme as an intermediate type of previously described alkaline phosphatases. It has more similarity with the enzyme from liver and bone than with that from placenta.
Project description:In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that promiscuity plays a key role in the evolution of new enzyme function. This finding has helped to elucidate fundamental aspects of molecular evolution. While there has been extensive experimental work on enzyme promiscuity, computational modeling of the chemical details of such promiscuity has traditionally fallen behind the advances in experimental studies, not least due to the nearly prohibitive computational cost involved in examining multiple substrates with multiple potential mechanisms and binding modes in atomic detail with a reasonable degree of accuracy. However, recent advances in both computational methodologies and power have allowed us to reach a stage in the field where we can start to overcome this problem, and molecular simulations can now provide accurate and efficient descriptions of complex biological systems with substantially less computational cost. This has led to significant advances in our understanding of enzyme function and evolution in a broader sense. Here, we will discuss currently available computational approaches that can allow us to probe the underlying molecular basis for enzyme specificity and selectivity, discussing the inherent strengths and weaknesses of each approach. As a case study, we will discuss recent computational work on different members of the alkaline phosphatase superfamily (AP) using a range of different approaches, showing the complementary insights they have provided. We have selected this particular superfamily, as it poses a number of significant challenges for theory, ranging from the complexity of the actual reaction mechanisms involved to the reliable modeling of the catalytic metal centers, as well as the very large system sizes. We will demonstrate that, through current advances in methodologies, computational tools can provide significant insight into the molecular basis for catalytic promiscuity, and, therefore, in turn, the mechanisms of protein functional evolution.
Project description:The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) pathway plays an important role in liver failure. Recombinant alkaline phosphatase (recAP) deactivates LPS. The aim of this study was to determine whether recAP prevents the progression of acute and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Eight groups of rats were studied 4-weeks after sham surgery or bile duct ligation and were injected with saline or LPS to mimic ACLF. Acute liver failure was induced with Galactosamine-LPS and in both models animals were treated with recAP prior to LPS administration. In the ACLF model, the severity of liver dysfunction and brain edema was attenuated by recAP, associated with reduction in cytokines, chemokines, liver cell death, and brain water. The activity of LPS was reduced by recAP. The treatment was not effective in acute liver failure. Hepatic TLR4 expression was reduced by recAP in ACLF but not acute liver failure. Increased sensitivity to endotoxins in cirrhosis is associated with upregulation of hepatic TLR4, which explains susceptibility to development of ACLF whereas acute liver failure is likely due to direct hepatoxicity. RecAP prevents multiple organ injury by reducing receptor expression and is a potential novel treatment option for prevention of ACLF but not acute liver failure.
Project description:1. The phosphorylation of milk alkaline phosphatase was studied under various conditions: maximum incorporation occurred at pH5.0 and 50% incorporation at pH6.6-7.0. 2. The phosphorylation was shown to be specific and the results suggest that the active centre of the enzyme is involved in the process. 3. Phosphoryl-enzyme is rapidly hydrolysed at alkaline pH. at pH7.0 the results suggest that a phosphoryl-enzyme could occur as a transient intermediate in the hydrolysis of phosphate esters by the phosphatase. 4. The catalytic-centre activity of the enzyme was found to be 2700sec.(-1) at pH10.0 and 25 degrees with p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate.
Project description:Protein asparagine (N)-glycosylation, which promotes folding and trafficking of cell surface receptors such as the EGFR, has not been considered a viable target in oncology due to the essential and non-redundant enzymatic activities required for glycan synthesis and transfer. In mammals an exception to this rule is the presence of the oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) catalytic subunit paralogs, STT3A and STT3B. Here we delineate the chemical biology of OST inhibitors and develop an approach for limited inhibition of N-glycosylation optimized for downstream effects on EGFR. Small molecules with enhanced pharmacokinetic properties and preferences for STT3A or STT3B were synthesized, characterized in vitro, and advanced to in vivo testing. The lead from this series, NGI-189, causes tumor regression or growth delay of patient derived and TKI resistant EGFR-mutant lung cancer xenografts without toxicity. Together these results suggest that bioavailable OST inhibitors can be developed as therapeutic agents for oncology.
Project description:Alkaline protease from brinjal leaf (Solanum melongena) having milk clotting activity has been purified to 9.44 fold to a final specific activity of 45.71 U/mg. SDS-PAGE of the final preparation revealed a single protein band of approx 14 kDa. Purified enzyme was characterized and was successfully immobilized into the amorphous mesoporous silica (SBA-15) and crystalline mesoporous zeolite (Nano-ZSM-5) using entrapment method. Maximum immobilization of 63.5% and 79.77% was obtained with SBA-15 and Nano-ZSM-5, respectively. This protocol serves as a novel approach for bioprocesses, mainly as milk coagulant for local dairy products and particularly, cheese making, and opens the new dimension of further research and other innovation.
Project description:Recombinant alkaline phosphatases are becoming promising protein therapeutics to prevent skeletal mineralization defects, inflammatory bowel diseases, and treat acute kidney injury. By substituting the flexible crown domain of human intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) with that of the human placental isozyme (PLAP) we generated a chimeric enzyme (ChimAP) that retains the structural folding of IAP, but displays greatly increased stability, active site Zn²⁺ binding, increased transphosphorylation, a higher turnover number and narrower substrate specificity, with comparable selectivity for bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), than the parent IAP isozyme. ChimAP shows promise as a protein therapeutic for indications such as inflammatory bowel diseases, gut dysbioses and acute kidney injury.
Project description:Hypophosphatasia (HPP) results from ALPL mutations leading to deficient activity of the tissue-non-specific alkaline phosphatase isozyme (TNAP) and thereby extracellular accumulation of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), a natural substrate of TNAP and potent inhibitor of mineralization. Thus, HPP features rickets or osteomalacia and hypomineralization of teeth. Enzyme replacement using mineral-targeted TNAP from birth prevented severe HPP in TNAP-knockout mice and was then shown to rescue and substantially treat infants and young children with life-threatening HPP. Clinical trials are revealing aspects of HPP pathophysiology not yet fully understood, such as craniosynostosis and muscle weakness when HPP is severe. New treatment approaches are under development to improve patient care.