Ignition sensitivity of different compositional wood pellets and particle size dependence.

Partial or complete substitution of coal with renewable biomass like wood is a sustainable and effective solution to reduce the CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. Utilization of these woods in the form of compact pellets facilitates in its handling and transportation with higher energy density. However, for electric power generation the pellets are broken up into their constituent milled finer particles for burning as a pulverised biomass flame. There is a dust fire/explosibility hazards in the process handling facilities such as in storage, conveying and milling. In the present work, four commercial pellets were investigated, and each pellet sample was split into three size ranges <63 µm, 63-500 µm and <500 µm. The flame propagation characteristics and their lean flammability limit for each pulverised pellet was determined using modified Hartmann dust explosion tube. It was found that the fine particles, with lower lean flammability limits of 0.3-0.7 equivalence ratio, intensify the explosibility risk (dP/dt of 10-15 bar/s for most reactive concentration) of the dust due to fast volatile release rate. Comparison was also made between particle size distribution (PSD) of the finer fractions (<63 µm) of wood samples in comparison to crop residue samples that showed 70-80% larger size distribution for wood samples due to elongated particles as showed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Results showed that the ash + moisture content had a stronger effect on wood samples than on agricultural residue's samples. The results showed that the explosibility characteristics of the pellets industry's feed-stocks was variable and dependent on the pellet composition and this needs to be taken into account in explosion protection and in utilising the pellets in the main pulverised biomass combustion.

Immunoproteomic analyses of outer membrane antigens of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae grown under iron-restricted conditions.

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, a bacterial pathogen of swine and agent of porcine pneumonia, causes a highly infectious disease of economic importance in the pig industry. Commercial vaccines for A. pleuropneumoniae include whole-cell bacterins and second generation subunit vaccines but they only confer partial protective immunity. Our search for new vaccine candidates identified antigens that are expressed during conditions that mimic infection; the outer membrane (OM) proteome of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 5b was examined under iron restriction. Quantitative profiling by 2D-DiGE technology revealed that iron restriction induced expression of previously described transferrin binding proteins (TbpA, TbpB) plus four lipoproteins including spermidine/putrescine binding periplasmic protein 1 precursor (PotD2). Immunoproteomic analyses with antisera from naïve animals and from infected pigs were able to differentiate antigens within the OM proteome that were specifically recognized during A. pleuropneumoniae infection. Immunoblots of iron-restricted profiles detected PotD2, heme-binding protein A (HbpA), and capsule polysaccharide export protein (CpxD) as well as surface antigens TbpA, TbpB, and OmlA. These data identify OM proteins that demonstrate immunogenicity and upregulation under conditions mimicking infection, providing emphasis on lipoproteins as an important class of antigens to exploit for vaccine development for A. pleuropneumoniae.

Role of Aspergillus niger acrA in arsenic resistance and its use as the basis for an arsenic biosensor.

Arsenic contamination of groundwater sources is a major issue worldwide, since exposure to high levels of arsenic has been linked to a variety of health problems. Effective methods of detection are thus greatly needed as preventive measures. In an effort to develop a fungal biosensor for arsenic, we first identified seven putative arsenic metabolism and transport genes in Aspergillus niger, a widely used industrial organism that is generally regarded as safe (GRAS). Among the genes tested for RNA expression in response to arsenate, acrA, encoding a putative plasma membrane arsenite efflux pump, displayed an over 200-fold increase in gene expression in response to arsenate. We characterized the function of this A. niger protein in arsenic efflux by gene knockout and confirmed that AcrA was located at the cell membrane using an enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) fusion construct. Based on our observations, we developed a putative biosensor strain containing a construct of the native promoter of acrA fused with egfp. We analyzed the fluorescence of this biosensor strain in the presence of arsenic using confocal microscopy and spectrofluorimetry. The biosensor strain reliably detected both arsenite and arsenate in the range of 1.8 to 180 µg/liter, which encompasses the threshold concentrations for drinking water set by the World Health Organization (10 and 50 µg/liter).

"Combi-targeting" mitozolomide: conferring novel signaling inhibitory properties to an abandoned DNA alkylating agent in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: At the preclinical stage, mitozolomide (MTZ) showed exciting preclinical activity but failed later in clinical trial due to toxic side effects. We surmised that by targeting MTZ to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), we may not only alter its toxicity profile, but also enhance its potency in EGFR-overexpressing tumors. To test this hypothesis, we designed JDF12, studied its mechanism of action in human prostate cancer (PCa) cells and determined its potency in vivo. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: To analyze its mixed EGFR-DNA targeting potential, we performed an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blotting analysis of EGFR phosphorylation in cells stimulated with EGF. DNA damage was analyzed using the comet assay, and apoptosis quantitated by annexin V binding assay. Growth inhibition in vitro was determined by the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay and in vivo efficacy analyzed in male CD-1 nude mice. RESULTS: The results showed that: Under physiological conditions, JDF12 was hydrolyzed to JDF04R and both agents were capable of inhibiting isolated EGFR tyrosine kinase (TK) and EGFR phosphorylation in EGF-stimulated cells. JDF12 significantly damaged DNA, induced apoptosis in DU145 cells and was up to 2-10-fold more potent than equieffective combinations of MTZ and JDF04R or Iressa in a panel that also included LNCaP and its EGFR and ErbB2 transfectants. In vivo, it induced significant antitumor activity in a DU145 xenograft model. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the superior cytotoxicity of JDF12 when compared with MTZ and JDF04R may be imputed to its potent EGFR-DNA targeting properties and confirm the ability of this novel strategy to confer EGFR targeting properties to a classical alkylator.

OmpT outer membrane proteases of enterohemorrhagic and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli contribute differently to the degradation of human LL-37.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) are food-borne pathogens that cause serious diarrheal diseases. To colonize the human intestine, these pathogens must overcome innate immune defenses such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Bacterial pathogens have evolved various mechanisms to resist killing by AMPs, including proteolytic degradation of AMPs. To examine the ability of the EHEC and EPEC OmpT outer membrane (OM) proteases to degrade α-helical AMPs, ompT deletion mutants were generated. Determination of MICs of various AMPs revealed that both mutant strains are more susceptible than their wild-type counterparts to α-helical AMPs, although to different extents. Time course assays monitoring the degradation of LL-37 and C18G showed that EHEC cells degraded both AMPs faster than EPEC cells in an OmpT-dependent manner. Mass spectrometry analyses of proteolytic fragments showed that EHEC OmpT cleaves LL-37 at dibasic sites. The superior protection provided by EHEC OmpT compared to EPEC OmpT against α-helical AMPs was due to higher expression of the ompT gene and, in turn, higher levels of the OmpT protein in EHEC. Fusion of the EPEC ompT promoter to the EHEC ompT open reading frame resulted in decreased OmpT expression, indicating that transcriptional regulation of ompT is different in EHEC and EPEC. We hypothesize that the different contributions of EHEC and EPEC OmpT to the degradation and inactivation of LL-37 may be due to their adaptation to their respective niches within the host, the colon and small intestine, respectively, where the environmental cues and abundance of AMPs are different.

Interaction between MMACHC and MMADHC, two human proteins participating in intracellular vitamin B12 metabolism.

The identification of eight genes involved in inherited cobalamin (Cbl) disorders has provided insight into the complexity of the vitamin B12 trafficking pathway. Detailed knowledge about the structure, interaction, and physiological functions for many of the gene products, including the MMACHC and MMADHC proteins, is lacking. Having cloned, expressed, and purified MMACHC in Escherichia coli, we demonstrated its monodispersity by dynamic light scattering and measured its hydrodynamic radius, either alone or in complex with each of four vitamin B12 derivatives. Using solution-phase intrinsic fluorescence and label-free, real-time surface plasmon resonance (SPR), MMACHC bound cyanocobalamin and hydroxycobalamin with similar low micromolar affinities (K(D) 6.4 and 9.8 µM, respectively); adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin also shared similar binding affinities for MMACHC (K(D) 1.7 and 1.4 µM, respectively). To predict specific regions of interaction between MMACHC and the proposed partner protein MMADHC, MMACHC was subjected to phage display. Five putative MMACHC-binding sites were identified. Finally, MMADHC was confirmed as a binding partner for MMACHC both in vitro (SPR) and in vivo (bacterial two-hybrid system).

Control of cell survival and proliferation by mammalian eukaryotic initiation factor 4B.

Translation initiation plays an important role in cell growth, proliferation, and survival. The translation initiation factor eIF4B (eukaryotic initiation factor 4B) stimulates the RNA helicase activity of eIF4A in unwinding secondary structures in the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) of the mRNA in vitro. Here, we studied the effects of eIF4B depletion in cells using RNA interference (RNAi). In agreement with the role of eIF4B in translation initiation, its depletion resulted in inhibition of this step. Selective reduction of translation was observed for mRNAs harboring strong to moderate secondary structures in their 5'UTRs. These mRNAs encode proteins, which function in cell proliferation (Cdc25C, c-myc, and ODC [ornithine decarboxylase]) and survival (Bcl-2 and XIAP [X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis]). Furthermore, eIF4B silencing led to decreased proliferation rates, promoted caspase-dependent apoptosis, and further sensitized cells to camptothecin-induced cell death. These results demonstrate that eIF4B is required for cell proliferation and survival by regulating the translation of proliferative and prosurvival mRNAs.

Molecular analysis of the in vivo metabolism and biodistribution of metabolically and non-metabolically activated combi-molecules of the triazene class.

Combi-molecules are novel agents designed to be hydrolyzed into two bioactive species: an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitor + a DNA alkylating agent. With the purpose of enhancing the tumour concentration of the bioactive species, we synthesized and compared the activities of RB107, a quinazolinotriazene designed to generate the bioactive BJ2000 upon hydrolysis, ZRDM and RB107ZR that require metabolic activation to generate BJ2000. The results showed that RB107 released the highest level of BJ2000 and its degradation product FD105 in vivo and high levels of the DNA alkylating methyl diazonium ion in the brain, kidney, liver and the DU145 tumours as confirmed by (14)C-labeling. The results in toto suggest that RB107 was stable enough to deliver the bioactive species to the tumour site and for optimal tumour distribution of the bioactive species, combi-molecules of the triazene class must be designed to be primarily degraded by hydrolytic cleavage and not by metabolic activation.

Transcobalamin in cultured fibroblasts from patients with inborn errors of vitamin B12 metabolism.

Derivatives of vitamin B(12) (cobalamin, Cbl) are required for activity of the mitochondrial enzyme L-methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and the cytoplasmic enzyme methionine synthase in human cells. We recently described a putative novel Cbl-binding protein in crude mitochondrial fractions isolated from cultured fibroblasts. The amount of Cbl bound to this protein varied in fibroblasts from patients with different genetic defects affecting cobalamin metabolism. We have now identified this protein as the cobalamin transport protein transcobalamin (TC) by its binding to anti-TC antibodies and mass spectrometry, and suggest that its presence in crude mitochondrial fractions was the result of lysosomal contamination. Increased Cbl bound TC levels were confirmed in whole cell extracts in at least one cell line from both the cblB and mut classes of inborn errors of cobalamin metabolism.

Outer membrane proteome of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae: LC-MS/MS analyses validate in silico predictions.

The Gram-negative bacterial pathogen Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae causes porcine pneumonia, a highly infectious respiratory disease that contributes to major economic losses in the swine industry. Outer membrane (OM) proteins play key roles in infection and may be targets for drug and vaccine research. Exploiting the genome sequence of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 5b, we scanned in silico for proteins predicted to be localized at the cell surface. Five genome scanning programs (Proteome Analyst, PSORT-b, BOMP, Lipo, and LipoP) were run to construct a consensus prediction list of 93 OM proteins in A. pleuropneumoniae. An inventory of predicted OM proteins was complemented by proteomic analyses utilizing gel- and solution-based methods, both coupled to LC-MS/MS. Different protocols were explored to enrich for OM proteins; the most rewarding required sucrose gradient centrifugation followed by membrane washes with sodium bromide and sodium carbonate. This protocol facilitated our identification of 47 OM proteins that represent 50% of the predicted OM proteome, most of which have not been characterized. Our study establishes the first OM proteome of A. pleuropneumoniae.

Tryptophan 32 potentiates aggregation and cytotoxicity of a copper/zinc superoxide dismutase mutant associated with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

One familial form of the neurodegenerative disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is caused by gain-of-function mutations in the gene encoding copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD-1). This study provides in vivo evidence that normally occurring oxidative modification to SOD-1 promotes aggregation and toxicity of mutant proteins. The oxidation of Trp-32 was identified as a normal modification being present in both wild-type enzyme and SOD-1 with the disease-causing mutation, G93A, isolated from erythrocytes. Mutating Trp-32 to a residue with a slower rate of oxidative modification, phenylalanine, decreased both the cytotoxicity of mutant SOD-1 and its propensity to form cytoplasmic inclusions in motor neurons of dissociated mouse spinal cord cultures.

The combi-targeting concept: in vitro and in vivo fragmentation of a stable combi-nitrosourea engineered to interact with the epidermal growth factor receptor while remaining DNA reactive.

PURPOSE: JDA58 (NSC 741282), a "combi-molecule" optimized in the context of the "combi-targeting concept," is a nitrosourea moiety tethered to an anilinoquinazoline. Here, we sought to show its binary epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/DNA targeting property and to study its fragmentation in vitro and in vivo. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The fragmentation of JDA58 was detected in cells in vitro and in vivo by fluorescence microscopy and tandem mass spectrometry. EGFR phosphorylation and DNA damage were determined by Western blotting and comet assay, respectively. Tumor data were examined for statistical significance using the Student's t test. RESULTS: JDA58 inhibited EGFR tyrosine kinase (IC(50), 0.2 micromol/L) and blocked EGFR phosphorylation in human DU145 prostate cancer cells. It induced significant levels of DNA damage in DU145 cells in vitro or in vivo and showed potent antiproliferative activity both in vitro and in a DU145 xenograft model. In cell-free medium, JDA58 was hydrolyzed to JDA35, a fluorescent amine that could be observed in tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo. In tumor cells in vitro or in vivo, or in plasma collected from mice, the denitrosated species JDA41 was the predominant metabolite. However, mass spectrometric analysis revealed detectable levels of the hydrolytic product JDA35 in tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: The results in toto suggest that growth inhibition in vitro and in vivo may be sustained by the intact combi-molecule plus JDA35 plus JDA41, three inhibitors of EGFR, and the concomitantly released DNA-damaging species. This leads to a model wherein a single molecule carries a complex multitargeted-multidrug combination.

Mass spectrometric quantitation of C-reactive protein using labeled tryptic peptides.

Given the extensive efforts applied toward proteomics and research in biomarkers, methods for the simultaneous measurement of proteins, peptides, metabolic intermediates, hormones, etc. in a complex sample may be required in the foreseeable future. Assays based on mass spectrometric detection may be suitable for meeting the demands of such complex samples with sensitivity and specificity. An analytical method for the quantitation of C-reactive protein (CRP), a well-known marker of inflammation, is described. Exact quantities of two synthetic (13)C-labeled CRP tryptic peptides were added as internal standards directly to the sample prior to chemical treatment, trypsinization, and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry quantitation. C-reactive protein levels based on isotopic response ratios were measured. Intact C-reactive protein was spiked into blank rat urine for chemical and enzymatic treatment, producing linear response ratios of labeled to unlabeled peptides. For rigorous quantitation, standard curves, and quality control samples were prepared in rat urine with highly purified labeled and unlabeled peptides over the 50 pg-5 ng/muL concentration range. Using the same chemical and enzymatic treatment used for digestion of intact CRP, data from these samples demonstrated excellent analytical performance. The method was successfully applied toward the quantitation of urinary C-reactive protein from a study of drug-induced nephrotoxicity.

Regulation of cytochrome P450 by posttranslational modification.

Cytochrome P450s are a family of enzymes represented in all kingdoms with expression in many species. Over 3,000 enzymes have been identified in nature. Humans express 57 putatively functional enzymes with a variety of critical physiological roles. They are involved in the metabolic oxidation, peroxidation, and reduction of many endogenous and exogenous compounds including xenobiotics, steroids, bile acids, fatty acids, eicosanoids, environmental pollutants, and carcinogens [Nelson, D. R., Kamataki, T., Waxman, D. J., Guengerich, F. P., Estabrook, R. W., Feyereisen, R., Gonzalez, F. J., Coon, M. J., Gunsalus, I. C., Gotoh, O. (1993) The P450 superfamily: update on new sequences, gene mapping, accession numbers, early trivial names of enzymes, and nomenclature. DNA Cell Biol. 12(1):1-51.] The development of numerous diseases and disorders including cancer and cardiovascular and endocrine dysfunction has been linked to P450s. Several levels of regulation, including transcription, translation, and posttranslational modification, participate in maintaining the proper function of P450s. Modifications including phosphorylation, glycosylation, nitration, and ubiquitination have been described for P450s. Their physiological significance includes modulation of enzyme activity, targeting to specific cellular compartments, and tagging for proteasomal degradation. Knowledge of P450 posttranslational regulation is derived from studies with relatively few enzymes. In many cases, there is only enough evidence to suggest the occurrence and a possible role for the modification. Thus, many P450 enzymes have not been fully characterized. With the introduction of current proteomics tools, we are primed to answer many important questions regarding regulation of P450 in response to a posttranslational modification. This review considers regulation of P450 in a context that describes the potential role and physiological significance of each modification.

Thrombospondin 1, produced by endothelial cells under the action of erythropoietin, stimulates thymidine incorporation into erythroid cells and counteracts the inhibitory action of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3.

The nature of erythropoietin (EPO)-dependent, erythroid cell regulatory factors secreted by endothelial cells is largely unknown. The production of thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) is increased in cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) incubated with erythropoietin (EPO). Simultaneous incubation of HUVEC with EPO and interleukin 3 (IL-3) resulted in a decreased production, suggesting that both TSP-1 and IGFBP-3 belong to the EPO- and IL-3-dependent erythroid regulatory factors previously described in cultures of bone marrow endothelial cells. TSP-1 and TSP-1 derived synthetic peptides based on the CD36 and CD47 binding sites of TSPs increased thymidine incorporation into bovine erythroid cells of fetal liver. IGBBP-3 inhibited thymidine incorporation in the same cells. Preincubation of erythroid cells with TSP-1 eliminated the inhibitory activity of IGFBP-3. We suggest that EPO-dependent, endothelial-derived TSP-1 may play a positive role in red cell production by acting directly on erythroid cells, stimulating DNA synthesis and preventing the inhibitory action of IGFBP-3.

Complete chemical and enzymatic treatment of phosphorylated and glycosylated proteins on ProteinChip arrays.

A simple and quick protocol for chemical treatment, enzymatic digestion, and subsequent identification of proteins on ProteinChip arrays is presented. Chicken ovalbumin, bovine fetuin and a heavily posttranslationally modified protein, human epidermal growth factor receptor extracellular domain, were employed as model proteins to evaluate the novel protocol. The chemical treatment includes denaturation, reduction, and alkylation, while enzymatic digestion encompasses deglycosylation, dephosphorylation, and digestion by various proteases. All reactions were carried out on-chip in a sequential fashion. Peptide mass fingerprinting identified several peptides derived from the three proteins. This protocol was also applied to the analysis of urinary proteins from a male rat with puromycin-induced proteinuria. alpha-2u-Globulin, the major urinary protein in the normal male rat and albumin, the most abundant in the treated animal, were readily identified. This procedure demonstrates that complete on-chip treatment can be used for rapid protein identification and structural characterization.

Sensitive capillary chromatography mass spectrometric methods for the determination of salcatonin in human biological matrices.

New methods employing capillary liquid chromatography in combination with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (microLC-TOF/MS) were developed for the rapid determination of salcatonin in human urine and plasma. The present approaches utilize (13)C(6)-leucine (19)-labeled salcatonin as internal standard, small matrix volumes and simple sample preparation procedures. They allow TOF/MS to be used as a highly selective detector for providing accurate quantitation of salcatonin. Data acquisition was performed in enhanced mode optimizing the signal for the triply charged species of salcatonin and its internal standard. We demonstrate that the determination of salcatonin is straightforward and reliable and can be performed with excellent linearity (R(2)>0.999), precision and accuracy over the concentration ranges of 2.9-290 pmol/mL in human urine, and 7.3-730 pmol/mL in human plasma.

Utilization of a new biotinylation reagent in the development of a nondiscriminatory investigative approach for the study of cell surface proteins.

In order to circumvent the various problems encountered during the study of membrane-bound proteins, we designed and synthesized a novel membrane-impermeable biotinylation reagent incorporating chemical properties compatible with this goal. We then developed a nondiscriminatory analytical procedure for such studies which overcomes possible selectivity, contamination and solubility problems. The necessary steps (labeling, limited in situ proteolysis, affinity purification) are all conducted in mild or near native conditions. This versatile method could provide an accurate picture of the cell surface proteome.

The C-terminal peptide of thrombospondin-4 stimulates erythroid cell proliferation.

Erythropoietin (EPO) stimulates the production of small erythroid cell stimulating factors (molecular weight <5 kDa) in cultures of bone marrow endothelial cells. We identified a fragment of thrombospondin-4 (TSP-4) as an EPO-stimulated protein in endothelial cell lysates. Pre-incubation of the low molecular weight fractions from supernatants of EPO-treated umbilical cord endothelial cells (HUVEC) with antibodies against the C-terminal residues of TSP-1,2 and TSP-4 decreased the erythroid cell stimulating activity. The C-terminal TSP-1 section corresponding to a molecular weight lower than 6 kDa has the integrin-associated protein binding motif VVM. The corresponding TSP-4 fragment, lacking the three residue sequence VVM, has a distinctive acidic peptide comprising the last 21 amino acids (C21) with the characteristics of an amphipathic helix. C21 stimulated thymidine incorporation into bovine erythroid cells, increased cell numbers in cultures of cord blood CD36+ erythroid precursors and skin fibroblasts, and decreased HUVEC proliferation. SC21, a homologous peptide of identical amino acid composition but with interchanged residues, was non-amphipathic and had no erythroid cell stimulating activity.