Influence of mannan epitopes in glycoproteins - Concanavalin A interaction. Comparison of natural and synthetic glycosylated proteins

Two natural glycoproteins/glycoenzymes, invertase and glucoamylase, and two neoglycoconjugates, synthetized from Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannan, bovine serum albumin and penicillin G acylase were tested for interaction with lectin Concanavalin A (Con A). The interaction of natural and synthetic glycoproteins with Con A was studied using three different experimental methods: (i) quantitative precipitation in solution (ii) sorption to Con A immobilized on bead cellulose; and (iii) kinetic measurement of the interaction by surface plasmon resonance. Prepared neoglycoproteins were further characterized: saccharide content, molecular weight, polydispersion, kinetic and equilibrium association constants with Con A were determined. It can be concluded that the used conjugation method proved to be able to produce neoglycoproteins with similar properties like natural glycoproteins, i.e. enzymatic activity (protein part) and lectin binding activity (mannan part) were preserved and the neoglycoconjugates interact with Con A similarly as natural mannan-type glycoproteins

Novel peptide surface for reversible immobilization of concanavalin A

Concanavalin A (Con A) was spontaneously adsorbed on polymyxin B surface. This peptide-lectin interaction was strong, K-D = 1-9 X 10(-10), based predominantly on creation of hydrophobic bonds, and was completely reversible. Concanavalin A on polymyxin B (PmB) retained higher binding capacity for yeast mannan, compared with covalently immobilized lectin. Kinetics of mannan-concanavalin A interaction were significantly different in dependence on type of concanavalin A immobilization. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved

Neoglycoconjugates of mannan with bovine serum albumin and their interaction with lectin concanavalin A

Neoglycoconjugates were prepared from mannan isolated from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and activated by periodate oxidation to create aldehyde groups. Various degrees of oxidation introduced 11-28 aldehyde groups per mannan molecule and simultaneously resulted in a molar mass decrease from 46 to 44.5-31 kDa. The activated mannans were subsequently conjugated with bovine serum albumin forming neoglycoconjugates. Some parameters of these mannan-bovine serum albumin conjugates were characterized: saccharide content 25-30% w/w, molar mass within the range 169-246 kDa, and polydispersion (M-w/M-n) from 2.8 to 3.6. The interaction of these conjugates with lectin concanavalin A was studied using three different methods: W quantitative precipitation in solution; (ii) sorption to concanavalin A immobilized on bead cellulose; and (iii) kinetic measurement of the interaction by surface plasmon resonance. Quantitative precipitation assay showed only negligible differences in the precipitation course of original mannan and the corresponding mannan-bovine serum albumin conjugates. Both the sorption method (equilibrium method) and the surface plasmon resonance measurement (kinetic method) demonstrates that the values of dissociation constant K-D of all synthetic neoglycoconjugates were within the range 10(-7)-10(-8) mol.L-1 (close to K-D = 10(-1) mol-L-1 determined by the sorption method for the original mannan). In conclusion, characterization of synthetic neoglycoconjugates confirmed that the method used for their preparation retained the ability of mannan moiety to interact with concanavalin A

Differentiation of Native and Reconstructed Ferritin using the MRI Gradient Echo Pulse Sequence

Ferritin is a biological iron storage biomacromolecule, consisting of a spherical protein shell (apoferritin) and mineral iron core. It plays a crucial role in the pathological processes of disrupted iron homeostasis followed by iron accumulation, linked with various disorders (e.g. neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, cirrhosis, cancer, etc.) In vitro reconstructed ferritin, with the assistance of a non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging technique, has the potential to become a suitable biomarker of these pathological processes. Through gradient echo pulse sequencing, we were able to clearly distinguish between native (physiological) and reconstructed/iron-overloaded (pathological) ferritin, which can serve as a starting point for the development of a method for their differentiation. Such method is necessary for the early diagnosis of iron-based diseases

Histomorphological responses after therapy with pegylated interferon α-2a in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV)

Abstract Background Pegylated interferon alfa-2a (PEG-IFN-α-2a) is a potent immunomodulating agent capable of inducing high rate of hematologic and even complete molecular remission in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV). We recently reported results of a phase 2 trial of PEG-IFN-α-2a in 83 patients with ET and PV after a median follow-up of 83 months. Here we report an analysis of bone marrow (BM) responses in these patients. Methods Among 83 patients, 58 (70%, PV 25, ET 31) had evaluable BM samples. BM responses and fibrosis grading were defined according to the International Working Group for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Research and Treatment, and the European Consensus on grading of BM fibrosis, respectively. BM was assessed prior to enrollment, and every 6–24 months while on therapy in all patients, and after therapy discontinuation in some patients. Results The median age of analyzed 58 patients was 52 years, and 29% were males. After a median follow-up of 84 months, 32 patients are still on study. Hematologic (HR) and molecular responses (MR) were seen in 93 and 69% patients, respectively. Twenty-nine patients (50%) had a BM response, including 13 (22%) with a complete BM response (BM-CR). Moreover, 13 patients (22%) have experienced complete resolution of bone marrow reticulin fibrosis. Patients with BM response had higher duration of HR and MR, and lower discontinuation rate. Furthermore, patients with BM-CR had a higher probability of complete MR. The median duration of BM-CR was 30 months, and 9 patients have maintained their BM-CR (69%), including five who have maintained their response after discontinuation of therapy. Despite this observation, the pattern of HR, MR and BM response, their durability and interrelation was heterogeneous. Conclusions Our results show the ability of PEG-IFN-α-2a to induce complete BM responses in a subset of ET and PV patients, but its correlation with durable clinically relevant treatment benefit warrants further investigation. Trial registration This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00452023), and is ongoing but not enrolling new patients