Enzymatic activity and stability ofd-fructose dehydrogenase and sarcosine dehydrogenase immobilizd onto giant vesicles

Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline Cubic Phases as Versatile Host Matrices for Membrane-Bound Enzymes

Lyotropic liquid crystalline cubic mesophases can function as host matrices for enzymes because of their biomimetic structural characteristics, optical transparency, and capability to coexist with water. This study demonstrates that the in meso immobilized membrane-bound enzyme d-fructose dehydrogenase (FDH) preserves its full activity, follows ideal Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and shows improved stability compared to its behavior in solution. Even after 5 days, the immobilized FDH retained its full activity in meso, whereas a model hydrophilic enzyme, horseradish peroxidase, maintained only 21% of its original activity. We reason that the lipidic bilayers in the three-dimensional structures of cubic mesophases provide an ideal environment for the reconstitution of a membrane-bound enzyme. The preserved activity, long-term stability, and reusability demonstrate that these hybrid nanomaterials are ideal matrices for biosensing and biocatalytic fuel cell applications.

Formation, stability, and pH sensitivity of free-floating, giant unilamellar vesicles using palmitic acid-cholesterol mixtures

Despite the fact that palmitic acid (PA) and cholesterol (Chol) do not form fluid bilayers once hydrated individually, giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) were formed from a mixture of palmitic acid and cholesterol, 30/70 mol/mol. These free-floating GUVs were stable over weeks, did not aggregate and were shown to be highly stable in alkaline pH compared to conventional phospholipid-based GUVs. Acidic pH-triggered payload release from the GUVs was associated with the protonation state of palmitic acid that dictated the mixing lipid properties, thus affecting the stability of the fluid lamellar phase. The successful formation of PA-Chol GUVs reveals the possibility to create monoalkylated amphiphile-based GUVs with distinct pH stability/sensitivity.

Active Targeting to Osteosarcoma Cells and Apoptotic Cell Death Induction by the Novel Lectin Eucheuma serra Agglutinin Isolated from a Marine Red Alga

Previously, we demonstrated that the novel lectin Eucheuma serra agglutinin from a marine red alga (ESA) induces apoptotic cell death in carcinoma. We now find that ESA induces apoptosis also in the case of sarcoma cells. First, propidium iodide assays with OST cells and LM8 cells showed a decrease in cell viability after addition of ESA. With 50 μg/ml ESA, the viabilities after 24 hours decreased to 54.7 ± 11.4% in the case of OST cells and to 41.7 ± 12.3% for LM8 cells. Second, using fluorescently labeled ESA and flow cytometric and fluorescence microscopic measurements, it could be shown that ESA does not bind to cells that were treated with glycosidases, indicating importance of the carbohydrate chains on the surface of the cells for efficient ESA-cell interactions. Third, Span 80 vesicles with surface-bound ESA as active targeting ligand were shown to display sarcoma cell binding activity, leading to apoptosis and complete OST cell death after 48 hours at 2 μg/ml ESA. The findings indicate that Span 80 vesicles with surface-bound ESA are a potentially useful drug delivery system not only for the treatment of carcinoma but also for the treatment of osteosarcoma.

Phospholipid-sepiolite biomimetic interfaces for the immobilization of enzymes

Biomimetic interfaces based on phosphatidylcholine (PC) assembled to the natural silicate sepiolite were prepared for the stable immobilization of the urease and cholesterol oxidase enzymes. This is an important issue in practical advanced applications such as biocatalysis or biosensing. The supported lipid bilayer (BL-PC), prepared from PC adsorption, was used for immobilization of enzymes and the resulting biomimetic systems were compared to several other supported layers including a lipid monolayer (ML-PC), a mixed phosphatidylcholine/octyl-galactoside layer (PC-OGal), a cetyltrimethylammonium monolayer (CTA), and also to the bare sepiolite surface. Interfacial characteristics of these layers were investigated with a focus on layer packing density, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, and surface charge, which are being considered as key points for enzyme immobilization and stabilization of their biological activity. Cytoplasmic urease and membrane-bound cholesterol oxidase, which served as model enzymes, were immobilized on the different PC-based hybrid materials to probe their biomimetic character. Enzymatic activity was assessed by cyclic voltammetry and UV-vis spectrophotometry. The resulting enzyme/bio-organoclay hybrids were applied as active phase of a voltammetric urea biosensor and cholesterol bioreactor, respectively. Urease supported on sepiolite/BL-PC proved to maintain its enzymatic activity over several months while immobilized cholesterol oxidase demonstrated high reusability as biocatalyst. The results emphasize the good preservation of bioactivity due to the accommodation of the enzymatic system within the biomimetic lipid interface on sepiolite.

In vitro and in vivo anti-tumor effects of novel Span 80 vesicles containing immobilized Eucheuma serra agglutinin

The lectin Eucheuma serra agglutinin (ESA) is known from previous studies to specifically bind to high-mannose type N-glycans and to induce apoptotic cancer cell death in vitro. In this study, Span 80 vesicles, with an average diameter between about 200 and 400 nm, containing immobilized ESA were prepared from the nonionic surfactant Span 80, also known as sorbitan monooleate. The vesicles were investigated in vitro and in vivo to evaluate the vesicles's potential applicability as novel drug delivery system. The results obtained are promising since the following was observed: (i) vesicular ESA had the same hemagglutinating activity as free ESA, demonstrating its biological activity when bound to the vesicles; (ii) vesicles containing immobilized ESA decreased the viability of Colo201 cancer cells in vitro while the growth of normal cells was not affected; (iii) the vesicles showed binding to Colo201 cells in vitro and caused inhibition of cancer cell growth in nude mice to which the vesicle-treated cells were added; (iv) the vesicles diminished tumor growth after intravenous administration to nude mice which contained an implanted Colo201 tumor; (v) the vesicles showed a tendency to accumulate at the site of the tumor 6h after i.v. administration to nude mice. Thus, all measurements carried out indicate that this type of Span 80 vesicle can be considered as promising alternatives to conventional phospholipid-based vesicles.

Temperature-sensitive nonionic vesicles prepared from Span 80 (sorbitan monooleate)

Different types of nonionic vesicles were prepared from commercial Span 80 (also called sorbitan monooleate), as an inexpensive, biocompatible alternative to conventional phospholipid-based vesicles (liposomes). The vesicles were characterized by different techniques and comparison was made with vesicles formed from POPC (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) or DOPC (1,2-dioleoyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine). Dynamic light scattering measurements, electron microscopy analyses, and two types of fusion assays indicate that Span 80 vesicles are stable for at least 7 days at 4 or 25 degrees C, while storage at 42 degrees C causes irreversible vesicle fusion. This indicates that Span 80 vesicles are thermoresponsive with vesicle fusion occurring at elevated temperature. This property may be related to headgroup dehydration and is certainly not directly linked to the phase transition temperature (Tm) of the vesicles, since the Tm is below -30 degrees C, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The measured Tm value for Span 80 vesicles is lower than in the case of DOPC or POPC, correlating with a higher fluidity of Span 80 vesicles as compared to POPC or DOPC vesicles, as determined with DPH (1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene) as fluorescent membrane probe. High fluidity correlates with increased leakage of entrapped water-soluble dye molecules. Addition of cholesterol and soybean phosphatidylcholine lowers the extent of leakage, allowing a tuning of the bilayer permeability.

Characterization of an exceedingly active NADH oxidase from the anaerobic hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima

An NADH oxidase from the anaerobic hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima was purified. The enzyme was very active in catalyzing the reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide with an optimal pH value of 7 at 80 degrees C. The V(max) was 230 +/- 14 mumol/min/mg (k(cat)/K(m) = 548,000 min(-1) mM(-1)), and the K(m) values for NADH and oxygen were 42 +/- 3 and 43 +/- 4 muM, respectively. The NADH oxidase was a heterodimeric flavoprotein with two subunits with molecular masses of 54 kDa and 46 kDa. Its gene sequences were identified, and the enzyme might represent a new type of NADH oxidase in anaerobes. An NADH-dependent peroxidase with a specific activity of 0.1 U/mg was also present in the cell extract of T. maritima.

Surfactants in microbiology and biotechnology: Part 2. Application aspects

Surfactants are amphiphilic compounds which can reduce surface and interfacial tensions by accumulating at the interface of immiscible fluids and increase the solubility, mobility, bioavailability and subsequent biodegradation of hydrophobic or insoluble organic compounds. Chemically synthesized surfactants are commonly used in the petroleum, food and pharmaceutical industries as emulsifiers and wetting agents. Biosurfactants produced by some microorganisms are becoming important biotechnology products for industrial and medical applications due to their specific modes of action, low toxicity, relative ease of preparation and widespread applicability. They can be used as emulsifiers, de-emulsifiers, wetting and foaming agents, functional food ingredients and as detergents in petroleum, petrochemicals, environmental management, agrochemicals, foods and beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and in the mining and metallurgical industries. Addition of a surfactant of chemical or biological origin accelerates or sometimes inhibits the bioremediation of pollutants. Surfactants also play an important role in enhanced oil recovery by increasing the apparent solubility of petroleum components and effectively reducing the interfacial tensions of oil and water in situ. However, the effects of surfactants on bioremediation cannot be predicted in the absence of empirical evidence because surfactants sometimes stimulate bioremediation and sometimes inhibit it. For medical applications, biosurfactants are useful as antimicrobial agents and immunomodulatory molecules. Beneficial applications of chemical surfactants and biosurfactants in various industries are discussed in this review.