Production of glycolipid affinity matrices by use of heterobifunctional crosslinking agents

Preparation of immobilized proteins covalently coupled through silane coupling agents to inorganic supports

Enzymes were first immobilized on inorganic supports through silane coupling agents over 25 yr ago. Since that initial report, literally hundreds of laboratories have utilized this methodology for the immobilization of enzymes, antigens, antibodies, receptors, and other high and low mol wt compounds. Today silane coupling is one of the commonly used techniques in the arsenal of the biochemist for the binding of material of all sorts to inorganic surfaces. Inorganic materials come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and characteristics. Today silane coupling is one of the most used coupling methods for the preparation of biosensing devices. Sol-gel entrapped enzymes are also produced by the application of silane technology by the polymerization of the silane to form glass-like materials with entrapped protein. This review will discuss the general preparation and characterization of silane coupled proteins with special emphasis on enzymes and describe in detail the actual methods for the silanization and specific chemical coupling of proteins to the silanized carrier.

Studies on the spermatogenic sulfogalactolipid binding protein SLIP 1

We have purified the testicular sulfogalactolipid binding protein SLIP 1 and shown by photoaffinity labeling that it contains an ATP binding site. Purified SLIP 1 was fluorescently labeled and shown to retain specific sulfogalactolipid binding function. This probe was used to investigate the topology of SLIP 1 binding sites on testicular germ cells. The binding pattern precisely coincided with the previously demonstrated asymmetric surface domains of sulfogalactoglycerolipid (SGG). Occasionally these SGG-containing, SLIP 1-binding cell surface domains exactly coincided with structural features on the cell surface as detected by differential interference contrast microscopy. These results demonstrate that SLIP 1/SGG interactions could provide an effective intercellular communication network between testicular germ cells within the seminiferous tubule.

Preparation of monoclonal antibody to sulfatoxygalactosylglycerolipid by in vitro immunization with a glycolipid-glass conjugate

A monoclonal antibody to the testicular sulfatoxygalactosylglycerolipid has been raised following in vitro stimulation of lymphocytes with glycolipid immobilized on glass beads by means of a photoactivatable heterobifunctional crosslinking agent. The antibody can distinguish between glycerol and sphingosine-based sulfoglycolipids.