Biodefense properties of milk: the role of antimicrobial proteins and peptides.

Mammary fluids, colostrum and milk, deliver nature's first host defense systems upon birth, and these essential liquids are critical for survival of the neonate. The identification and characterization of anti-infectious proteins were among the early scientific discoveries and this group of proteins has long been recognized for promoting health benefits in both newborns and adults. Among the more widely studied are the immunoglobulins, lactoperoxidase, lysozyme, and lactoferrin. Recently, it was shown that alpha--lactalbumin may also function in a protective capacity dependent upon its folding state. Some of these, especially lactoferrin, also display an immunomodulatory role in which case a totally separate cascade of host defense responses is initiated. It was noted that the mechanism of action for this cluster of sentry proteins does vary; thus, this protective strategy provides for a broad range of responsive reactions to infection. Presently, there is a major focus on the discovery of novel peptides that can be generated from existing milk proteins via proteolytic reactions. To date, this substrate list includes alpha--lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin, all casein fractions, and lactoferrin. Again, the immunoregulatory effects prompted as a result of the appearance of these peptides are currently being defined. Herein, we review the principal biological properties associated with each of these contributing milk components with a special emphasis on the role of biodefensive milk peptides. We envision future contributions emerging from this research field as an opportunity to develop effective new therapies to be used in treating infectious diseases and promoting health benefits in vivo.

Purification and characterization of the fusion protein trypsin-streptavidin expressed in Escherichia coli.

Expression of fusion protein trypsin-streptavidin (TRYPSA) in Escherichia coli was evaluated and the protein purified. Protein expression was induced by 1 mM isopropylthio-beta-D-galactoside (IPTG), and the enzyme activity was measured by the hydrolysis rate of p-toluenesulfonyl-L-arginine methyl ester (TAME). Expression of the fusion protein in the cell-free extract decreased with increased induction time; correspondingly, that in the inclusion bodies increased. The total expression in Luria-Bertani broth (LB) and Terrific Broth (TB) media reached the highest levels in 2 hr at 30 degrees C. The optimum expression level was 35 and 48 U/L in LB and TB, respectively. Expression of the fusion protein was verified by Western Blot analysis using streptavidin antiserum, and the fusion protein was purified using a benzamidine Sepharose 6B affinity column at room temperature. The molecular size of the soluble purified fusion protein was determined by size-exclusion chromatography using Superose 12 FPLC. A molecular weight of 39-40 kDa was obtained, indicating that the soluble protein exists as a monomer; thus, the presence of the trypsin domain must prevent the streptavidin domain from tetramer formation.

Molecular design, expression, and affinity immobilization of a trypsin-streptavidin fusion protein*(1).

A trypsin-streptavidin (TRYPSA) fusion protein was designed and its expression in Escherichia coli was evaluated. The streptavidin gene was PCR modified and cloned into the pET expression vector. The trypsin gene was subsequently inserted into this plasmid, thus generating a colinear fusion of trypsin and streptavidin genes (pTRYPSA). This engineering strategy was verified, and TRYPSA was expressed after IPTG induction using the E. coli strains, BL21(DE3) and BL21(DE3)pLysS. Standard protein fractions of the cell lysate were prepared and trypsin activity was primarily detected in the periplasmic and inclusion body fractions. Immunoblotting showed a single Western-positive band exhibiting a molecular weight of 39,000 Da. A biotinylated porous glass affinity matrix was prepared and selective adsorption resulted in a one-step purification and immobilization of TRYPSA from crude cell lysate. Trypsin activity was verified using a synthetic substrate. This enzyme bioreactor should serve as an excellent prototype for future studies that will examine the effect of limited proteolysis on functional characteristics of milk proteins, including gelling, emulsifying and foaming properties.

Effects of ozone and oxygen on the degradation of carotenoids in an aqueous model system.

The effects of ozone and oxygen on the degradation of carotenoids in an aqueous model system were studied. All-trans beta-carotene, 9-cis beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and lycopene were adsorbed onto a C(18) solid phase and exposed to a continuous flow of water saturated with oxygen or ozone at 30 degrees C. Carotenoids were analyzed using HPLC with a C(30) column and a photodiode array detector. Approximately 90% of all-trans beta-carotene, 9-cis beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin were lost after exposure to ozone for 7 h. A similar loss of lycopene occurred in only 1 h. When exposed to oxygen, all carotenoids, except beta-cryptoxanthin, degraded at lower rates. The degradation of all the carotenoids followed zero-order reaction kinetics with the following relative rates: lycopene > beta-cryptoxanthin > all-trans beta-carotene > 9-cis beta-carotene. The major degradation products of beta-carotene were tentatively identified on the basis of their elution on the HPLC column, UV-Vis spectra, and electrospray LC-MS. Predominant isomers of beta-carotene were 13-cis, 9-cis, and a di-cis isomer. Products resulting from cleavage of the molecule were beta-apo-13-carotenone and beta-apo-14'-carotenal, whereas epoxidation yielded beta-carotene 5,8-epoxide and beta-carotene 5, 8-endoperoxide.

Comparison of the properties of trypsin immobilized on 2 Celite derivatives.

Trypsin was immobilized on 2 Celite derivatives and the kinetic properties of trypsin immobilized on these derivatives were determined and compared. Celite was derivatized with organosilane to give aminopropyl-Celite (APC) and a portion of this derivative was then succinylated to give succinamidopropyl-Celite (SAPC). Trypsin was covalently immobilized on APC using glutaraldehyde to activate amino groups and on SAPC using water-soluble carbodiimide to activate surface carboxyl groups. Enzyme loadings were 13.9 and 17.8 mg ml-1 of beads on APC and SAPC, respectively. Using p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester as substrate, the catalyst specific activity, KMapp and kcat/KMapp were 17.8 U ml-1 of beads, 3.60 and 21.0 mM-1 min-1, respectively, for trypsin-APC as compared with 24.5 U ml-1 of beads, 3.77 and 20.3 mM-1 min-1, respectively, for trypsin-SAPC. With beta-lactoglobulin as substrate, KMapp and kcat/KMapp were 0.36 and 1.62 mM-1 min-1 for trypsin-APC and 0.54 and 1.39 mM-1 min-1 for trypsin-SAPC, respectively. The pH range for optimal activity was much larger for both immobilized forms as compared with the soluble enzyme. The optimal temperature ranges were 40-50 degrees C for trypsin-APC and 50-60 degrees C for trypsin-SAPC. The two methods of immobilization on Celite gave biocataysts with similar kinetic properties but immobilization on SAPC yielded slightly higher loadings and higher specific activities.

Determination of beta-carotene and its cis isomers in serum.

All-trans-beta-carotene was resolved from its cis isomers in human serum by reversed-phase "high-performance" liquid chromatography. Absorption spectra of the cis peak suggested that 13-cis-beta-carotene was the predominant cis isomer. Analyses and recovery studies of fresh and stored sera eliminated the possibility that isomerization had occurred in samples during handling or storage. The average analytical recovery was 101.9% for standards of the all-trans-, 9-cis-, and 13-cis-beta-carotene compounds in pooled serum samples. We also demonstrated that cis isomers had not formed after the blood was drawn and that cis isomers of beta-carotene are present at significant concentrations in the human circulation.

The estimation of 'available lysine' in human foods by three chemical procedures.

Seventeen test foods were each analyzed by four methods. Total lysine was measured by conventional amino acid analysis. Reactive lysine was measured with either fluorodinitrobenzene, o-phthalaldehyde or a differential dye-binding procedure. The results were then compared with another group's results from rat growth assays of the same samples for availably lysine. A sample of deliberately heat-damaged milk powder gave a rat assay value corresponding to 64% of its total lysine content; other values were all higher and on average 99% for 7 animal products, and 87% for 9 vegetable products. The correlation coefficient between the two sets of values was 0.95. The 'reactive lysine' procedures failed to give a better prediction of the rat values.

Digestibilities of the protein in various foods as determined in vitro by an immobilized digestive enzyme assay (IDEA).

The digestibility of the protein in various foods or food components was analyzed using an immobilized digestive enzyme assay (IDEA) system. The assay consists of two bioreactors, one containing pepsin and the other containing trypsin, chymotrypsin and intestinal mucosa peptidases. The fraction of the peptide bonds hydrolyzed during an extent of hydrolysis assay was correlated with independent in vivo determinations of the digestibilities. A correlation coefficient of 0.80 was obtained. The derived linear regression equation can be used to predict digestibility. The method is sensitive to structural modification of protein, as for example, those caused by effects of heat treatment.

Digestibility of modified milk proteins: nutritional implications.

Chemical changes in the structure of several milk proteins were quantitated and the effects on digestibility evaluated using a number of in vitro techniques developed in our laboratory. An assay for digestibility was developed and standardized incorporating immobilized gastric, pancreatic, and intestinal mucosal proteinases and peptidases and thereby simulating in vivo digestion. The method displayed a direct relationship to digestibilities determined in human feeding studies. Various degrees of racemization were induced in a number of proteins and quantitated with the aid of a bioreactor containing coimmobilized D-amino acid oxidase and catalase. Digestibility values were directly related to the degree of racemization and to the amount of lysinoalanine. In a separate study of these proteins, various degrees of Maillard reaction were induced, and the available lysine was quantitated using the fluorometric o-phthalaldehyde method. Digestibility values determined for these modified proteins were also directly related to the amount of available lysine. A bioreactor containing various immobilized proteinases and peptidases catalyzed complete hydrolysis of a number of proteins including beta-lactoglobulin. Because this method does not degrade residues such as tryptophan and methionine nor hydrolyze aldosyl lysine to give unmodified lysine, analysis of these hydrolysates yields more nutritionally meaningful chemical scores. In summary, these techniques appear to be useful for quantitating and monitoring changes in the structures of proteins resulting from processing and storage, which affect their nutritional quality.

An o-phthalaldehyde spectrophotometric assay for proteinases.

A rapid and convenient spectrophotometric assay has been devised to measure proteolysis. The assay is based on the reaction of o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) and 2-mercaptoethanol with amino groups released during proteolysis of a protein substrate. The reaction is specific for primary amines in amino acids, peptides, and proteins, approaches completion within 1 to 2 min at 25 degrees C (half-times of approx 10-15 s), and requires no preliminary heating or separation of the hydrolyzed products from the undegraded protein substrate prior to performing the assay. The OPA assay was relatively as successful as a 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) procedure in predicting the extent of hydrolysis of a protein substrate. The utility of the OPA method was demonstrated by measuring the degree of proteolytic degradation caused by trypsin, subtilisin, Pronase, and chymotrypsin of various soluble protein substrates. Ethanethiol (instead of 2-mercaptoethanol) or 50% of dimethyl sulfoxide can be included in the assay solution to stabilize certain OPA-amine products. The present method approaches the sensitivity of ninhydrin and TNBS procedures, is more convenient and rapid, and could substitute for these reagents in most assay systems.

Compositional analysis of proteins following hydrolysis by immobilized proteases.

Pronase, proteinase K, carboxypeptidases A and B, aminopeptidase M, intestinal mucosa exopeptidases and prolidase, immobilized to derivatized controlled-pore glass beads, were used in a study of total enzymic hydrolysis of proteins. The combined use of immobilized enzymatic and acid hydrolysis, for assessment of protein quality, will give a more accurate chemical score than that afforded by acid hydrolysis alone. Amino acid analysis of enzymic hydrolysates of native protein substrates (beta-lactoglobulin and insulin) yielded 92% of the theoretical values and 103% of the values observed for standard acid hydrolysates. These results suggest that using a combination of immobilized proteases in concert gives essentially total hydrolysis of protein substrates in a time period (18-24 h) comparable to conventional acid hydrolysis methods.