Partial purification and characterization ofGigantocotyle explanatumsomatic antigens

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ahmad ◽  
M.K. Saifullah ◽  
W.A. Nizami

AbstractSoluble extracts ofGigantocotyle explanatum, isolated from the liver of buffaloBubalus bubaliswere fractionated on Sephadex G-200 columns. Nine major fractions referred to as F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8 and F9 were separated. Each fraction was tested by ELISA for antigenicity using sera fromG. explanatum-infected field buffaloes. Fractions F1 and F2 were highly antigenic, F3, F4, F6 and F7 were moderately antigenic and F5, F8 and F9 were poorly antigenic. Analyses by SDS–PAGE revealed that each fraction comprised several polypeptide(s) in the molecular weight range of <29 to >205 kDa. Results of Western blotting indicated that not all polypeptides which appeared in the SDS–PAGE were antigenic. The antigenic molecules of each fraction were mostly in the low molecular weight range of <14 to >94 kDa with the polypeptides in the range of >14, 14, 18, 21–25 and 34–36 kDa.

1995 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Premila Rathnam ◽  
Shou-qing Lin ◽  
Brij B Saxena

Rathnam P, Lin S, Saxena BB. Identification of luteinizing hormone receptor binding inhibitor in bovine corpora lutea. Eur J Endocrinol 1995;132:213–17. ISSN 0804–4643 A 7000 g supernatant, obtained during the purification of luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor from bovine corpora lutea homogenate, was concentrated by ultrafiltration. The filtrate, containing < 50 000 molecular weight material, exhibited LH receptor binding inhibitor (LH-RBI) activity. The filtrate was ultrafiltered sequentially through Amicon PM-10, PM-30 and UM-2 filters to yield a LH-RBI-containing fraction in the higher molecular weight range of 30 000–10 000 and a LH-RBI-containing fraction in the lower molecular weight range of 10 000–1000. The higher molecular weight LH-RBI fraction was purified on Sephadex G-25 and the lower molecular weight LH-RBI fraction was purified on Sephadex G-50. Both the high- and the low-molecular-weight LH-RBI species inhibited the binding of 125I-labeled human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to bovine corpora lutea and to rat Leydig cell membrane receptors. Similarly, the production of testosterone by hCG-stimulated rat Leydig cells was inhibited in a dose–response manner by both the high- and the low-molecular-weight LH-RBI species. The LH-RBI activity in the low-molecular-weight species was stable at 4°C for up to 6 months and at temperatures up to 90°C for 15 mins, whereas the LH-RBI activity of the high-molecular-weight species was stable at 4°C for 15 months and unstable at 60°C after 15 min. The 7000 g supernatant provided a much-needed source to obtain larger than previously reported quantities of LH-RBI for isolation as well as for structure and function studies. Brij B Saxena, Cornell Univ. Medical College, Rm A-267, 1300 York Ave, New York, NY 10021, USA


1999 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Henrique Cerri e Silva ◽  
Jurgen Puls ◽  
Marcelo Valle de Sousa ◽  
Edivaldo Ximenes Ferreira Filho

A xylan-degrading enzyme (xylanase II) was purified to apparent homogeneity from solid-state cultures of Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius. The molecular weight of xylanase II was found to be 19 and 8.5 kDa, as estimated by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration on FPLC, respectively. The purified enzyme was most active at 55 °C and pH 5.5. It was specific to xylan. The apparent Km and Vmax values on soluble and insoluble xylans from oat spelt and birchwood showed that xylanase II was most active on soluble birchwood xylan. Studies on hydrolysis products of various xylans and xylooligomers by xylanase II on HPLC showed that the enzyme released a range of products from xylobiose to xylohexaose, with a small amount of xylose from xylooligomers, and presented transferase activity.


1999 ◽  
Vol 82 (11) ◽  
pp. 1428-1432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl Scott ◽  
Francesco Salerno ◽  
Elettra Lorenzano ◽  
Werner Müller-Esterl ◽  
Angelo Agostoni ◽  
...  

SummaryLittle is known about the regulation of high-molecular-weight-kininogen (HK) and low-molecular-weight-kininogen (LK) or the relationship of each to the degree of liver function impairment in patients with cirrhosis. In this study, we evaluated HK and LK quantitatively by a recently described particle concentration fluorescence immunoassay (PCFIA) and qualitatively by SDS PAGE and immunoblotting analyses in plasma from 33 patients with cirrhosis presenting various degrees of impairment of liver function. Thirty-three healthy subjects served as normal controls. Patients with cirrhosis had significantly lower plasma levels of HK (median 49 μg/ml [range 22-99 μg/ml]) and LK (58 μg/ml [15-100 μg/ml]) than normal subjects (HK 83 μg/ml [65-115 μg/ml]; LK 80 μg/ml [45-120 μg/ml]) (p < 0.0001). The plasma concentrations of HK and LK were directly related to plasma levels of cholinesterase (P < 0.0001) and albumin (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001) and inversely to the Child-Pugh score (P < 0.0001) and to prothrombin time ratio (P < 0.0001) (reflecting the clinical and laboratory abnormalities in liver disease). Similar to normal individuals, in patients with cirrhosis, plasma HK and LK levels paralleled one another, suggesting that a coordinate regulation of those proteins persists in liver disease. SDS PAGE and immunoblotting analyses of kininogens in cirrhotic plasma showed a pattern similar to that observed in normal controls for LK (a single band at 66 kDa) with some lower molecular weight forms noted in cirrhotic plasma. A slight increase of cleavage of HK (a major band at 130 kDa and a faint but increased band at 107 kDa) was evident. The increased cleavage of HK was confirmed by the lower cleaved kininogen index (CKI), as compared to normal controls. These data suggest a defect in hepatic synthesis as well as increased destructive cleavage of both kininogens in plasma from patients with cirrhosis. The decrease of important regulatory proteins like kininogens may contribute to the imbalance in coagulation and fibrinolytic systems, which frequently occurs in cirrhotic patients.


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