Continuous-flow assays with nylon tube-immobilized bioluminescent enzymes

Specific immobilization of in vivo biotinylated bacterial luciferase and FMN:NAD(P)H oxidoreductase

Bacterial bioluminescence, catalyzed by FMN:NAD(P)H oxidoreductase and luciferase, has been used as an analytical tool for quantitating the substrates of NAD(P)H-dependent enzymes. The development of inexpensive and sensitive biosensors based on bacterial bioluminescence would benefit from a method to immobilize the oxidoreductase and luciferase with high specific activity. Toward this end, oxidoreductase and luciferase were fused with a segment of biotin carboxy carrier protein and produced in Escherichia coli. The in vivo biotinylated luciferase and oxidoreductase were immobilized on avidin-conjugated agarose beads with little loss of activity. Coimmobilized enzymes had eight times higher bioluminescence activity than the free enzymes at low enzyme concentration and high NADH concentration. In addition, the immobilized enzymes were more stable than the free enzymes. This immobilization method is also useful to control enzyme orientation, which could increase the efficiency of sequentially operating enzymes like the oxidoreductase-luciferase system.

Single turnover mechanism of a trypsin-reactor with high enzyme concentration

A small column containing 2 mM CH-Sepharose 4B-immobilized trypsin was connected to a flow injection device equipped for potentiometric measurements (0.01-2 mM protons) and for post-column analysis by spectrophotometry and capillary electrophoresis (CE). The device was engaged with N alpha-benzoyl-L-arginine pNO2-anilide (BAPNA), beta-lactoglobulin (beta-Lac) and peptides of V8-protease predigested beta-Lac. At a given flow rate, the reaction with BAPNA or beta-Lac (below 2 mM) produced about 1 proton per substrate molecule in each sample (linear relation to substrate amount); with peptides (below 22 mM), the reaction did not exceed 0.17 acid equivalents per substrate molecule (hyperbolic dependence). Final experiments demonstrated that the reactor gave a correct estimate of available lysine in peptides of beta-Lac modified with 5-nitrosalicylaldehyde. The data could be predicted by a kinetic model describing the reactor performance in 'single turnover' conditions. The interplay between resident time and the non-catalytic amount of trypsin prevented each enzyme molecule from recycling as well as each substrate molecule (containing one or more cleavage sites) from encountering the enzyme more than once. In conclusion, both from the experimental and the theoretical point of view, this work permitted the analysis of trypsin behaviour in some extreme working conditions and indicates how to modulate the performance of an endoprotease-based reactor. A brief discussion on potential applications in protein mapping and tagging and in the quantitative analysis of protein bioavailability by means of a biosensorial strategy is also described.

Microdialysis and luminescent probe: analytical and clinical aspects

Immobilized enzymes are widely used in the clinical laboratory to assay several analytes and enzymes. The use of immobilized enzymes makes these reagents recoverable, disposable and in most cases increases their stability and catalytic activity. In conjunction with bioluminescent enzymes (firefly and bacterial luciferases) and chemiluminescent catalyst (peroxidase) we set up high-sensitive flow sensors based on the use of nylon tube coil or epoxy methacrylate column as solid support. For in-vivo determination a suitable microdialysis probe inserted directly into brain or blood allows continuous measurement of extracellular lactate levels by means of a bioluminescent flow detector system. This procedure performs more measurements in the same time interval than other systems (HPLC), e.g. to give a detailed description of the effects of ischemia, or other pathological events, on lactate concentration in the brain.

Enzymatic synthesis of [4R-2H]NAD (P)H and [4S-2H]NAD(P)H and determination of the stereospecificity of 7 alpha- and 12 alpha hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

The stereospecifically labeled coenzymes [4R-2H]NADH, [4R-2H]NADPH and [4S-2H]NAD(P)H were synthesized enzymatically in high yield and high isotopic purity (greater than or equal to 95%) with 2HCOO2H/formate dehydrogenase, (CH3)2C2HOH/alchol dehydrogenase from Thermoanaerobium brockii and [1-2H]glucose/glucose dehydrogenase, respectively. This set of deuterated coenzymes was used to determine the stereospecificity of the previously unstudied 7 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli (NAD-dependent) and 12 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from Clostridium group P (NADP-dependent). H-NMR and EI-MS of the nicotinamide moiety after enzymatic oxidation of deuterated NAD(P)H with dehydrocholic acid as substrate showed that both dehydrogenases are B-sterospecific.

Coupled reactions for the determination of analytes and enzymes based on the use of luminescence

Immobilized enzymes are widely used in the clinical laboratory in the assay of several analytes and enzymes. The use of immobilized enzymes makes these reagents recoverable and re-usable, and in most cases increases their stability and catalytic activity. In conjunction with bioluminescent enzymes (firefly and bacterial luciferases) and chemiluminescent catalyst (peroxidase) we set up high-sensitive flow methods based on the use of nylon tube coil or epoxy methacrylate column as solid support. All the NAD(P)/NAD(P)H-dependent dehydrogenases (bacterial luciferase), ATP-dependent enzymes (firefly luciferase) and oxidases producing H2O2 (peroxidase) can be immobilized and a large variety of analytes have been sensitively measured. As an alternative format we also reported a dry chemistry method in which all the enzymes, substrates and cofactors are ready to use, supported on dry cellulose disks. Methodological problems such as flow conditions, stability, pH, ionic strength and analytical performances are also reported.

Bioluminescent flow sensors: L-lactate dehydrogenase activity determination in serum

The catalytic activity of serum L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), was determined by monitoring the NADH produced by LDH with bacterial bioluminescent enzymes immobilized on a nylon coil. The LDH reaction of L-lactate with NAD took place in a flow-through mixing coil that preceded the bioluminescent detector coil. The response was linear from 1 to 5000 U/l at 37 degrees C and from 3 to 2000 U/l at 25 degrees C. The intra- and inter-assay reproducibility (CV%) were less than 10% and recovery range was 92% to 110%. The results agreed well with those obtained with a spectrophotometric method.