Site-directed antibody immobilization using a protein A-gold binding domain fusion protein for enhanced SPR immunosensing.

We have implemented a novel strategy for the oriented immobilization of antibodies onto a gold surface based on the use of a fusion protein, the protein A-gold binding domain (PAG). PAG consists of a gold binding peptide (GBP) coupled to the immunoglobulin-binding domains of staphylococcal protein A. This fusion protein provides an easy and fast oriented immobilization of antibodies preserving its native structure, while leaving the antigen binding sites (Fab) freely exposed. Using this immobilization strategy, we have demonstrated the performance of the immunosensing of the human Growth Hormone by SPR. A limit of detection of 90 ng mL(-1) was obtained with an inter-chip variability lower than 7%. The comparison of this method with other strategies for the direct immobilization of antibodies over gold surfaces has showed the enhanced sensitivity provided by the PAG approach.

Effect of food deprivation on oxidative stress biomarkers in fish (Sparus aurata).

Oxidative stress in fish (Sparus aurata) as a consequence of food restriction and fasting, has been studied. Four groups of fish were maintained for 46 days under different conditions of food supplementation: a control group with no food restriction (ratio of food/fish of 2% w/w), two groups of animals with restricted food supplement (1 and 0.5%) and a fasting group (no meal addition). Finally, all the fish were provided with food at the same ratio as the control group for the last 7 days. Sampling and weighing of fish were carried out every week and their livers were used for the analysis of known biomarkers of oxidative stress. Malondialdehyde and oxidized glutathione levels increased at the third week in fish with partial or total food deprivation, but these levels returned to normal values when the fish readapted to the control conditions. Antioxidant enzymes were also analyzed and significant increases in superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase activities were found in parallel with food restriction; however catalase activity decreased in fasting fish. New SOD isoforms were detected by isoelectrofocusing in fish under food restriction at the second week, which disappeared when starved fish returned to the control conditions. These new SOD isoforms were detected before the appearance of other usual oxidative stress biomarkers.

Mitochondria of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contain one-conserved cysteine type peroxiredoxin with thioredoxin peroxidase activity.

Peroxiredoxins are ubiquitously expressed proteins that reduce hydroperoxides using disulfur-reducing compounds as electron donors. Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) have been classified in two groups dependent on the presence of either one (1-Cys Prx) or two (2-Cys Prx) conserved cysteine residues. Moreover, 2-Cys Prxs, also named thioredoxin peroxidases, have peroxide reductase activity with the use of thioredoxin as biological electron donor. However, the biological reducing agent for the 1-Cys Prx has not yet been identified. We report here the characterization of a 1-Cys Prx from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that we have named Prx1p. Prx1p is located in mitochondria, and it is overexpressed when cells use the respiratory pathway, as well as in response to oxidative stress conditions. We show also that Prx1p has peroxide reductase activity in vitro using the yeast mitochondrial thioredoxin system as electron donor. In addition, a mutated form of Prx1p containing the absolutely conserved cysteine as the only cysteine residue also shows thioredoxin-dependent peroxide reductase activity. This is the first example of 1-Cys Prx that has thioredoxin peroxidase activity. Finally, exposure of null Prx1p mutant cells to oxidant conditions reveals an important role of the mitochondrial 1-Cys Prx in protection against oxidative stress.

Human mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase cDNA cloning, expression and genomic organization.

We have isolated a 1918-bp cDNA from a human adrenal cDNA library which encodes a novel thioredoxin reductase (TrxR2) of 521 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 56.2 kDa. It is highly homologous to the previously described cytosolic enzyme (TrxR1), including the conserved active site CVNVGC and the FAD-binding and NADPH-binding domains. However, human TrxR2 differs from human TrxR1 by the presence of a 33-amino acid extension at the N-terminus which has properties characteristic of a mitochondrial translocation signal. Northern-blot analysis identified one mRNA species of 2.2 kb with highest expression in prostate, testis and liver. We expressed human TrxR2 as a fusion protein with green fluorescent protein and showed that in vivo it is localized in mitochondria. Removal of the mitochondrial targeting sequence abolishes the mitochondrial translocation. Finally, we determined the genomic organization of the human TrxR2 gene, which consists of 18 exons spanning about 67 kb, and its chromosomal localization at position 22q11.2.

Identification and functional characterization of a novel mitochondrial thioredoxin system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The so-called thioredoxin system, thioredoxin (Trx), thioredoxin reductase (Trr), and NADPH, acts as a disulfide reductase system and can protect cells against oxidative stress. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, two thioredoxins (Trx1 and Trx2) and one thioredoxin reductase (Trr1) have been characterized, all of them located in the cytoplasm. We have identified and characterized a novel thioredoxin system in S. cerevisiae. The TRX3 gene codes for a 14-kDa protein containing the characteristic thioredoxin active site (WCGPC). The TRR2 gene codes for a protein of 37 kDa with the active-site motif (CAVC) present in prokaryotic thioredoxin reductases and binding sites for NADPH and FAD. We cloned and expressed both proteins in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant Trx3 and Trr2 proteins were active in the insulin reduction assay. Trx3 and Trr2 proteins have N-terminal domain extensions with characteristics of signals for import into mitochondria. By immunoblotting analysis of Saccharomyces subcellular fractions, we provide evidence that these proteins are located in mitochondria. We have also constructed S. cerevisiae strains null in Trx3 and Trr2 proteins and tested them for sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide. The Deltatrr2 mutant was more sensitive to H2O2, whereas the Deltatrx3 mutant was as sensitive as the wild type. These results suggest an important role of the mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase in protection against oxidative stress in S. cerevisiae.

Cloning and sequencing of mouse glutaredoxin (grx) cDNA.

Glutaredoxins are small proteins (12 kDa) with a conserved active sequence Cys-Pro-Tyr(-Phe)-Cys that catalyse GSH-disulfide oxidoreduction reactions in the presence of NADPH and glutathione reductase. Many mammalian glutaredoxins have been characterized and human and pig cDNA sequence determined. However, no mouse glutaredoxin cDNA or protein sequence has yet been reported. We have cloned a cDNA from a mouse liver library that encodes the putative mouse glutaredoxin homologue. The deduced polypeptide sequence encodes a 107 amino acid protein displaying a high degree of homology with other members of the glutaredoxin family.

Incubation of superoxide dismutase with malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal forms new active isoforms and adducts. An evaluation of xenobiotics in fish.

The effects in fish (Sparus aurata) of dieldrin, previously reported to be an inducer of peroxisomal enzymes (Pedrajas et al., Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 115C (1996) 125-131), were compared with those of clofibrate. Although dieldrin provoked the more severe peroxisomal changes, both compounds induced oxidative stress as detected by the increased levels of microsomal thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; however the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, determined after HPLC separation of the MDA-TBA complex, was not significantly altered. These results suggest that, besides MDA, other aldehydes were formed in xenobiotic-injected fish, leading us to assess the oxidative effects of such xenobiotics by following changes in superoxide dismutase (SOD) pattern. New active SOD isoforms were detected by isoelectrofocusing in the light mitochondrial (LMF) and cytosolic (CF) fractions. Most of the new SOD bands could be reproduced in vitro by incubation of fish liver cell-free extracts with MDA. To clarify the effects of aldehydes, Cu,Zn- and Mn-SOD isoforms were purified and amino acid analysis was carried out. The new bands found in LMF and CF fractions were reproduced in vitro after incubation of pure SODs with MDA and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), the new SOD bands formed being coincident with the loss of Lys or His residues. Lysine residues were preferentially derivatized after treatment of Cu,Zn-SOD with MDA, but in Mn-SOD the lysine residues were modified only after treatment with MDA, while the histidine residues were modified only by HNE. No change of SOD activity was detected after MDA or HNE exposure, although at the higher aldehyde concentrations used protein aggregates were formed. Therefore, the appearance of new active SOD bands, after isoelectrofocusing separation, can be proposed as a biomarker of oxidative stress.

Antioxidant and detoxifying fish enzymes as biomarkers of river pollution.

The activity of several antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes, superoxide dismutase SOD, GSH peroxidase GSHPx, GSSG reductase GSR and GSH S transferase GST, the contents of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances TBARS, and the SOD and GST isoenzyme patterns were studied in the livers of chubs Leuciscus cephalus from reference river areas and polluted urban sites. Livers of polluted fish contained higher concentrations of transition metals, especially copper and iron. Total GSHPx activity was 1.8 fold higher in the polluted fish than in reference animals, while the SOD and GSR activities and the TBARS content were not significantly changed. Three new SOD isoforms pI 4.45, 5.1, 5.2 and a higher intensity of the band pI 4.2 were observed after isoelectrofocusing of polluted fish extracts. Total GST activity was higher in fish from polluted areas. The GST isoenzyme pattern was studied using subunit specific substrates DCNB, EPNP, EA, NPB, NBC and by Western blot using antibodies specific to rat GST subunits 1, 8 Alpha class, 3 Mu class and 7 Pi class. Reference and polluted fish lacked cross reactivity towards Alpha class GSTs. Reference fish displayed weaker cross reactivity towards CST 7 and 2.3 fold lower activity with EA, while higher cross reaction with GST 3 was observed in polluted fish.

Dieldrin induces peroxisomal enzymes in fish (Sparus aurata) liver.

We have previously described the increase of microsomal lipid peroxidation and the appearance of new oxidized forms of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase in the liver of gilthead seabrams (Sparus aurata) injected with model xenobiotics, due to the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Pedrajas et al., Chem. Biol. Interact., 1995). The effects of dieldrin and copper(II) on subcellular organelles directly related with ROS production are now studied. Immature fish were injected with dieldrin and copper, 0.15 and 1.0 mg/ kg, respectively. After 2 and 7 days, the livers were homogenized and the catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were determined in subcellular fractions isolated by differential centrifugation: nucleus, mitochondria, light mitochondrial fraction (LMF), microsomes and cytosolic fraction. Peroxisomes were isolated from LMF by discontinuous gradient centrifugation using Nycodenz. Changes in catalase and superoxide dismutase depended on the xenobiotic and affected to different subcellular fractions. Thus, the effects of copper(II) were mainly in nucleus and cytosol, whereas dieldrin induced catalase and superoxide dismutase (up to 2.8-fold) preferentially in nucleus and LMF fractions. Dieldrin-injected fish showed also highly increased activity of palmitoyl-CoA-oxidase (9.3-fold) and a nearly 2-fold increase in the protein concentration of the peroxisomal fraction. The results described above suggest that the oxidative stress previously detected for dieldrin in fish liver affects also to the peroxisomal enzymes.

Oxidative stress in fish exposed to model xenobiotics. Oxidatively modified forms of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase as potential biomarkers.

Fish (Sparus aurata) were intraperitoneally injected with model xenobiotics and several biomarkers of oxidative stress were analysed after 2 and 7 days exposure. The levels of soluble thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) increased markedly in animals treated with polar xenobiotics, CuCl2 or paraquat; exposure to the apolar xenobiotics, dieldrin or malathion, enhanced significantly the microsomal TBARS while decreasing the microsomal glutathione transferase activity. The specific superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased in Cu(II)-injected animals but diminished in fish exposed to paraquat. After isoelectrofocusing separation and activity staining cell-free extracts of fish exposed to Cu(II), dieldrin or malathion displayed two new Cu,Zn-SOD isoforms of intermediate pI. An additional Mn-SOD was observed in dieldrin-injected fish, but only a faint new acidic isoform was observed in paraquat-injected animals. The new SOD bands were reproduced in vitro by incubation of cell-free extracts with systems generating superoxide anion or hydrogen peroxide and with a tert-butyl hydroperoxide/ADP-Fe system. Metallothionein induction was observed in Cu(II) or paraquat-exposed fish, but not in animals injected with apolar xenobiotics. So, the new SOD bands are possibly oxidized forms of this enzyme and can be considered as useful early biomarkers of oxidative stress due to transition metals or organic xenobiotics.

Purification of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase isoenzymes from fish liver: appearance of new isoforms as a consequence of pollution.

Liver cell-free extracts of fish (Mugil sp.) from polluted environments show new Cu,Zn-SOD isoenzymes when analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or isoelectrofocusing followed by in situ staining for SOD activity. The most active isoenzymes, with pI 6.1 and 5.1, were present both in control and problem samples while the isoenzymes of intermediate pI value showed significant differences. Fish from control areas showed three intermediate isoenzymes with pI 5.7, 5.5 and 5.4 (the last one quite faint) while polluted animals showed three bands of pI 5.9, 5.45 and 5.35, this last very intense. To further characterize their utility as biomarkers, Cu,Zn-SOD isoenzymes from polluted fish livers were purified to homogeneity. Five superoxide dismutase peaks were purified, named thereafter I (pI 6.1) to V (pI 5.1) respectively. Isoenzymes I and V displayed the highest specific activity. Upon incubation with moderate H2O2 concentrations, pure isoenzyme I yielded more acidic bands with pI 5.5, 5.45 and 5.35, this last being predominant. The pure isoenzyme V generated only a new band of pI 5.0. Concomitant with oxidation, the activity of peaks I and V was lost in a H2O2 concentration-dependent manner. The pattern of the new acidic bands generated upon the oxidixing treatment of isoenzyme I closely resembles that observed in crude extracts from polluted animals.

Biochemical and genetic indices of marine pollution in Spanish littoral.

Increased activities of several detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes were detected in mollusc and fish from Spanish littoral areas with high metal contents. Ethanolic extracts from molluscs contained direct-acting and polar genotoxins of oxidative type, which were detected by strain TA102 of S. typhimurium and catalase-deficient strains of E. coli. Animals from contaminated sites contained less genotoxins than those from control areas. Polluted fishes displayed highly induced cytochrome P-450 activity and increased promutagen activation capabilities. In addition, specific forms of glutathione transferase and superoxide dismutase were induced, particularly highly acidic forms.