Improved detection of lymphocyte membrane proteins in purified form and as a crude mixture using native and denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis by optimisation of coomassie brilliant blue and silver staining

Purification and characterization of phosphatidylglycerolphosphate synthase from Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The enzyme CDP-diacylglycerol:sn-glycerol-3-phosphate 3-phosphatidyltransferase (phosphatidylglycerolphosphate synthase; PGPS4; EC 2.7.8.5) is located in the mitochondrial inner membrane and catalyzes the committed step in the cardiolipin branch of phospholipid synthesis. Previous studies revealed that PGPS is the most highly regulated enzyme in cardiolipin biosynthesis in both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In this work, we report the purification to homogeneity of PGPS from S. pombe. The enzyme was solubilized from the mitochondrial membrane of S. pombe with Triton X-100. The solubilized enzyme, together with the associated detergent and intrinsic lipids, had a molecular mass of 120 kDa, as determined by gel filtration. The enzyme was further purified using salt-induced phase separation, gel filtration, and ionic exchange, hydroxylapatite, and affinity chromatographies. The procedure yielded a homogeneous protein preparation, evidenced by both SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and agarose isoelectric focusing under nondenaturing conditions. The purified enzyme had an apparent molecular mass of 60 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme showed a strong dependence on lipid cofactors for activity in vitro. While both phosphatidic acid and CDP-diacylglycerol appeared to be activators, the most significant activation was observed with cardiolipin. The possible physiological significance of the lipid cofactor effect is discussed. This is the first purification of a eucaryotic PGPS enzyme to date, and the first purification of a phospholipid biosynthetic enzyme from S. pombe.

Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of membrane proteins: glutaminase detection after in situ specific activity staining

A new procedure for the analysis and detection of phosphate-activated glutaminase (EC 3.5.1.2) by native electrophoresis has been developed. The method is based on the in situ detection of glutaminase activity in two different systems of native polyacrylamide gradient gels, containing 3-(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethyl-ammonio-1-propane sulfonate (CHAPS) or Triton X-100 as nondenaturant detergents. Crude Triton X-100 extracts of mitochondria were resolved by electrophoresis. The enzyme was specifically revealed by incubation of the gel with glutamine and coupling the oxidation of the glutamate formed to the reduction of a tetrazolium dye, in the presence of glutamate dehydrogenase trapped in a 1% agar solid overlay. Both Ehrlich ascitic cell and mouse kidney glutaminases were resolved by native electrophoresis and specifically detected with the activity staining. Moreover, the redox-cycling staining was tested in solution, showing linearity with the amount of glutamate or glutaminase activity present. The method described could be a useful tool for native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of membrane proteins.