A novel polyacrylamide-type support prepared by p-benzoquinone activation

Modeling Progressive Fibrosis with Pluripotent Stem Cells Identifies an Anti-fibrotic Small Molecule

Progressive organ fibrosis accounts for one-third of all deaths worldwide, yet preclinical models that mimic the complex, progressive nature of the disease are lacking, and hence, there are no curative therapies. Progressive fibrosis across organs shares common cellular and molecular pathways involving chronic injury, inflammation, and aberrant repair resulting in deposition of extracellular matrix, organ remodeling, and ultimately organ failure. We describe the generation and characterization of an in vitro progressive fibrosis model that uses cell types derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. Our model produces endogenous activated transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and contains activated fibroblastic aggregates that progressively increase in size and stiffness with activation of known fibrotic molecular and cellular changes. We used this model as a phenotypic drug discovery platform for modulators of fibrosis. We validated this platform by identifying a compound that promotes resolution of fibrosis in in vivo and ex vivo models of ocular and lung fibrosis.

Affinity covalent immobilization of glucoamylase onto ρ-benzoquinone activated alginate beads: I. Beads preparation and characterization

ρ-Benzoquinone-activated alginate beads were presented as a new carrier for affinity covalent immobilization of glucoamylase enzyme. Evidences of alginate modification were extracted from FT-IR and thermal gravimetric analysis and supported by morphological changes recognized through SEM examination. Factors affecting the modification process such as ρ-benzoquinone (PBQ) concentration, reaction time, reaction temperature, reaction pH and finally alginate concentration, have been studied. Its influence on the amount of coupled PBQ was consequently correlated to the changes of the catalytic activity and the retained activity of immobilized enzyme, the main parameters judging the success of the immobilization process. The immobilized glucoamylase was found kept almost 80% of its native activity giving proof of non-significant substrate, starch, diffusion limitation. The proposed affinity covalent immobilizing technique would rank among the potential strategies for efficient immobilization of glucoamylase enzyme.

Coenzyme production using immobilized enzymes. III. Immobilization of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from bakers' yeast

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glucose-6-phosphate: NADP+ 1-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49) from Bakers' yeast was immobilized with the highest activity on polyacrylamide beads possessing carboxylic functional groups activated by a water-soluble carbodiimide. The optimal pH values for the catalytic activity of the soluble and the immobilized glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were practically identical, lying between pH 9.0 and 9.2. The optimal temperature for both the soluble and the immobilized enzyme was about 50 degrees C. The apparent Km values of the immobilized enzyme were slightly higher than those of the soluble enzyme. The immobilization improved the stability of the enzyme in the pH range 6.0-9.0 at 45 degrees C. The operational stability of the immobilized glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase proved favorable in a column experiment during 37 days of operation.

Immobilized triosephosphate isomerases. A comparative study

Pig muscle triosephosphate isomerase was covalently attached to polyacrylamide and silica-based supports possessing carboxylic or aldehyde functional groups or activated with p-benzoquinone. A silica-based support activated with p-benzoquinone proved to be the most advantageous. There were no profound alterations in the catalytic properties as a result of the immobilization. The immobilization enhanced the resistance against urea and heat treatment. At the start of the treatments, the enzyme was activated. The extent of activation depended on the pH, and on the buffer and salt concentrations. Increase of the ionic strength decreased or eliminated the activation. The phosphate ion had a specific effect on the thermal inactivation.

Preparation, characterization, and potential application of an immobilized glucose oxidase

A simple, one-step process, using 0.25 M p-benzoquinone dissolved in 20% dioxane at 50 degrees C for 24 h was applied to the activation of polyacrylamide beads. The activated beads were reacted with glucose oxidase isolated from Aspergillus niger. The coupling reaction was performed in 0.1 M potassium phosphate at pH 8.5 and 0-4 degrees C for 24 h. The protein concentration was 50 mg/mL. In such conditions, the highest activity achieved was about 100 U/g solid. The optimum pH for the catalytic activity was shifted by about 1 pH unit in the acidic direction to pH 5.5. Between 35 and 50 degrees C, the activity of the immobilized form depends on the temperature to a smaller extent than that of the soluble form. Above 50 degrees C, the activity of immobilized glucose oxidase shows a sharper heat dependence. The enzyme-substrate interaction was not profoundly altered by the immobilization of the enzyme. The heat resistance of the immobilized enzyme was enhanced. The immobilized glucose oxidase is most stable at pH 5.5. The practical use of the immobilized glucose oxidase was tested in preliminary experiments for determination of the glucose concentration in blood sera.