Evaluation of metal-ion stress in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) leaves through proteomic changes

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)In this work, sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) were cultivated using soil and vermicompost as substrate, and plant irrigation was carried out using either a Zn solution or a mixed ions solution (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn). After plant harvesting, the effects of metal-ion contamination on proteins expression (either up- or down-regulation) in sunflower leaves were evaluated using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), gel images and mass spectrometry (MALDI-QTOF MS). When Zn or mixed ions solution was added to the substrate, nine proteins showed different expressions. Another twenty-three protein spots also showed considerable variation when both treatments (Zn or mixed ions) were applied. Twelve of these proteins were successfully characterized, six of them being reported for the first time in Helianthus annuus L. Two other proteins showed new sequences that have been downloaded to the protein databank.11107113Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP)Proteomic Network of the Sao PauloFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Comparative metallomics for transgenic and non-transgenic soybeans

In this work, a comparative metallomics of transgenic and non- transgenic soybeans [ Glycine max ( L.) Merrill] was performed. Soybean proteins were extracted with a proper buffer and separated by two- dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Metal ions bound to a set of eight proteins randomly selected ( ranging from 13.98 to 54.87 kDa), were characterized by matrixassisted laser desorption- ionization quadrupole- time of flight mass spectrometry and mapped using synchrotron radiation X- ray spectrometry. The metal ions detected were: Ca( II), Cu( II), Fe( II), Mn( II), Ni( II) and Zn( II). Transgenic and non- transgenic soybeans proteins were found to display typical and random profiles for metal ions binding. To test the reliability of the qualitative metal ions profiles, quantification of Ca( II), Cu( II) and Fe( II) was performed via microwave-assisted decomposition in mini- vials followed by atomic absorption spectrometry determination. Qualitative and quantitative metallomics was found to be coherent and to match profiles expected from the known protein functions. The protein of spot 5, with molar mass of 37.62 kDa ( amino acid sequence presented), was found to display the most characteristic change in metal ions content, with higher Ca( II), Cu( II) and Fe( II) concentrations for transgenic soybeans.22121501150

Peptide fingerprinting of snake venoms by direct infusion nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry: potential use in venom identification and taxonomy

Fingerprinting by mass spectrometry has been increasingly used to study venom variations and for taxonomic analyses based on venom components. Most of these studies have concentrated on components heavier than 3 kDa, but Bothrops snake venoms contain many biologically active peptides, principally C-type natriuretic peptides and bradykinin-potentiating peptides (BPPs). In this work, we have examined the peptide profile of Bothrops venoms (B. alternatus, B. erythromelas, B. insularis, B. jararaca, B. jararacussu, B. leucurus and B. moojeni) using direct infusion nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nano-ESI-MS) subjecting the data further to principal components analysis (PCA) to assess whether the peptide distributions are reliable in distinguishing the venoms. ESI-MS of a low molar mass fraction obtained by ultrafiltration of each venom (5 kDa nominal cutoff filters) revealed that the venoms have a variety of peptides in common but that each venom also contains taxonomic marker peptides not shared with other venoms. One BPP peptide, QGGWPRPGPEIPP, was found to be common to the seven Bothrops species examined. This peptide may represent a specific marker for this genus since it was not found in the venom of the South American rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus terrificus. PCA on the ESI-MS data reveals a close relationship between B. jararaca, B. jararacussu and B. moojeni venoms, with B. leucurus and B. erythromelas being more distant from these three; B. alternatus and B. insularis were also located distant from these five species, as was C. d. terrificus. These results agree partially with established phylogenetic relationships among these species and suggest that ESI-MS peptide fingerprinting of snake venoms coupled with PCA is a useful tool for identifying venoms and for taxonomic analyses. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.43559459

Purification, sequencing and structural analysis of two acidic phospholipases A(2) from the venom of Bothrops insularis (jararaca ilhoa)

Bothrops snake venoms contain a variety of phospholipases (PLA(2)) some of which are myotoxic. In this work, we used reverse-phase HPLC and mass spectrometry to purify and sequence two PLA(2) from the venom of Bothrops insularis. The two enzymes, designated here as BinTX-I and BinTx-II, were acidic (pI 5.05 and 4.49) Asp49 PLA(2), with molecular masses of 13,975 and 13,788, respectively. The amino acid sequence and molecular mass of BinTX-I were identical to those of a PLA(2) previously isolated from this venom (PA2_BOTIN, SwissProt accession number Q8QG87) while those of BinTX-II indicated that this was a new enzyme. Multiple sequence alignments with other Bothrops PLA(2) showed that the amino acids His48, Asp49, Tyr52 and Asp99, which are important for enzymatic activity, were fully conserved, as were the 14 cysteine residues involved in disulfide bond formation, in addition to various other residues. A phylogenetic analysis showed that BinTX-I and BinTX-II grouped with other acidic Asp49 PLA(2) from Bothrops venoms, and computer modeling indicated that these enzymes had the characteristic structure of bothropic PLA(2) that consisted of three alpha-helices, beta-wing, a short helix and a calcium-binding loop. BinTX-I (30 mu g/paw) produced mouse hind paw edema that was maximal after I It compared to after 3 It with venom (10 and 100 mu g/paw); in both cases, the edema decreased after 6 h. BinTX-I and venom (40 mu g/ml each) produced time-dependent neuromuscular blockade in chick biventer cervicis preparations that reached 40% and 95%, respectively, after 120 min. BinTX-I also produced muscle fiber damage and an elevation in CK, as also seen with venom. These results indicate that BinTX-I contributes to the neuromuscular activity and tissue damage caused by B. insularis venom in vitro and in vivo. (c) 2006 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.88121947195

Effect of endometriosis on the protein expression pattern of follicular fluid from patients submitted to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate protein expression profile and quantify the proteins present in follicular fluid (FF) samples from women with endometriosis and pregnant women without endometriosis. METHODS: A prospective case control study was carried out including women with Stage III or IV endometriosis (Group I) and pregnant women without endometriosis (Group II), both at the maximum age of 35 years. Women were submitted to controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization, and FF was collected after ultrasound-guided ovarian aspiration. FF from both ovaries was pooled, and patient samples were pooled according to Group I or II. Pooled protein samples were separated and analyzed by MudPIT (multidimensional protein identification technology followed by Expression(E) and label-free quantification with ProteinLynxGlobalServer 2.4v, Identity(E) and Expression(E) software). RESULTS: A total of 416 proteins or randomic sequence were identified, 62 proteins differentially expressed between Groups I and II. One ( 1.6%) was expressed at a higher level and 36 (58.1%) were uniquely expressed in Group 1, whereas 8 (12.9%) were expressed at a higher level and 17 (27.4%) were uniquely expressed in Group II. Of all these, 15 (24.2%) are related to binding, I (1.6%) to immune response, 8 (12.9%) to cell division, 3 (4.8%) to cellular metabolism, 16 (25.8%) to general function and 19 (30.6%) do not yet present an identified function. CONCLUSIONS: Protein expression profiles of patients with and without endometriosis identified at least 64 proteins differentially expressed, which may be related to the physiopathology of endometriosis. These proteins may additionally be useful in determining potential biomarkers for diagnostics, as well as for therapeutic intervention in women with infertility due to endometriosis.25717551766Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Division of Urology, Human Reproduction Section at the Sao Paulo Federal UniversityThoMSon Mass Spectrometry Laboratory of the Institute of Chemistry at the University of CampinasConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)CNPq [475 108/2009-4]FAPESP [2008/10756-7

Evaluation of sample preparation protocols for proteomic analysis of sunflower leaves

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Six protocols for extraction of proteins from sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) leaves were evaluated for their abilities in both removing interferents and attaining the best resolution in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. "Classical" phenol extraction followed by precipitation with ammonium acetate in methanol displayed the most efficient protocol, which allowed the detection of 244 protein spots with ca. 485 mu g of protein in gel electrophoresis. Tandem mass spectrometry was performed to identify proteins in 61 spots, and cross species identification was used for this task. Proteins from twenty two spots were identified, and 12 of these proteins are up to now not included into the ExPASy sunflower protein databank. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.804SI15451551Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP, Brasilia, Brazil)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Purification and characterization of a keratinolytic metalloprotease from Chryseobacterium sp kr6

The Chryseobacterium sp. kr6 strain has been described as a highly keratinolytic, bacterium showing effective feather-degrading and de-hairing activities. A keratinase Q1 enzyme was purified from Chryseobacterium sp. kr6 culture by Phenyl Sepharose and Superose 12HR chromatography. This enzyme showed a specific activity of 967 U/mg for keratin azure. Electrophoresis under denaturing conditions showed a monomeric protein with approximately 64 kDa. The enzyme showed pH and temperature optima of 8.5 and 50 degrees C, respectively. The inhibitory effect of EDTA, EGTA and 1, 10-phenanthroline characterized Q I enzyme as a Zn-metalloprotease. Its activity was increased by three-fold in the presence of Ca2+. ESI-MS/MS analysis of peptides generated from a tryptic digestion revealed sequence homology which may characterize the Q1 keratinase as a member of the M 14 metalloprotease family, with a consensus glycosylation region similar to proteins from Chryseobacerium meningosepticum. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.128369370

Biological and biochemical characterization of new basic phospholipase A(2) BmTX-I isolated from Bothrops moojeni snake venom

BmTX-I, an Asp49 phospholipase A(2), was purified from Bothrops moojeni venom after only one chromatographic step using reverse-phase HPLC on mu-Bondapak C-18 column. A molecular mass of 14238.71 Da was determined by MALDI-TCF mass spectrometry. Amino acid analysis showed a high content of hydrophobic and basic amino acids as well as 14 half-cysteine residues. The BmTX-I PLA(2) had a sequence of 121 residues of amino acids: DLWQFNKMIK KEVGKLPFPF YGAYGCYCGW GGRGEKPKDG TDRCCFVHDC CYKKLTGCPK WDDRYSYSWK DITIVCGEDL PCEEICECDR AAAVCFYENL GTYNKKYMKH LKPCKKADYP C and pI value 7.84, and showed a high degree of homology with basic Asp49 PLA(2) myotoxins from other Bothrops venoms. BmTX-I presented PLA2 activity in the presence of a synthetic substrate and showed a minimum sigmoidal behavior, reaching its maximal activity at pH 8.0 and 35-45 degrees C. Maximum PLA(2) activity required Ca2+ and in the presence of Mg2+, Cd2+ and Mn2+ it was reduced in presence or absence of Ca2+. Crotapotin from Crotalus durissus colillineatus rattlesnake venom has significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) the enzymatic activity of BmTX-I. In vitro, the whole venom and BmTX-I caused a blockade of the neuromuscular transmission in young chick biventer cervicis preparations in a similar way to other bothrops species. In mice, BmTX-I and the whole venom-induced myonecrosis and a systemic interieukin-6 response upon intramuscular injection. Edema-forming activity was also analyzed through injection of the venom and the purified BmTX-I into the subplantar region of the right footpad. Since BmTX-I exert a strong proinflammatory effect; the enzymatic phospholipids hydrolysis might be relevant for these phenomena. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.5181509151

Mass spectrometry fingerprinting of media used for in vitro production of bovine embryos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Using the bovine species as a biological model, direct infusion chip-based nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nano-ESI-MS) fingerprinting in the positive ion mode is used to obtain fast chemical profiles of media used for in vitro production of bovine embryos. Nano-ESI-MS fingerprinting is useful for characterization and routine quality control requiring no sample preseparation, being able to differentiate four different media (IVM, IVF, SOF and HSOF) via principal component analysis (PCA). For media stored at +4 degrees C for up to 45 days, no significant (p>0.05) variation was observed in cleavage and blastocyst rate development, as well as in the nano-ESI-MS chemical profiles. For media exposed to a heat shock (60 degrees C for 3 h), no significant decrease (p > 0.05) in embryo development rates was observed, but nano-ESI-MS profiles were quite distant from fresh control media in the PCA. For frozen media (-70 degrees C for 2 months), again no significant variation (p>0.05) in embryo development was noticed, but nano-ESI-MS profiles from all media were significantly affected. These results indicate that nano-ESI(+)-MS fingerprinting was able to characterize different media based on their specific chemical profile. The technique seems therefore applicable as a routine quality control assay, detecting, for example, compositional changes after temperature variations that may affect post-transfer embryo viability. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.23913131320Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [2007/01400-1

Neuromuscular action of venom from the South American colubrid snake Philodryas patagoniensis

Snakes of the opisthoglyphous genus Philodryas are widespread in South America and cause most bites by colubrids in this region. In this study, we examined the neurotoxic and myotoxic effects of venom from Philodtyas patagoniensis in biventer cervicis and phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations and we compared the biochemical activities of venoms from P. patagoniensis and Philodryas olfersii. Philodryas patagoniensis venom (40 mu g/mL) had no effect on mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations but caused time-dependent neuromuscular blockade of chick biventer cervicis preparations. This blockade was not reversed by washing. The highest concentration of venom tested (40 mu g/mL) significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the contractures to exogenous acetylcholine (55 AM and 110 mu M) and K+(13.4 mM) after 120 min; lower concentrations of venom had no consistent or significant effect on these responses. Venom caused a concentration- and time-dependent release of creatine kinase (CK) from biventercervicis preparations. Histological analysis showed contracted muscle fibers at low venom concentrations and myonecrosis at high concentrations. Philodryas venoms had low esterase and phospholipase A(2) but high proteolytic activities compared to the pitviper Bothrops jararaca. SDS-PAGE showed that the Philodryas venoms had similar electrophoretic profiles, with most proteins having a molecular mass of 25-80 kDa. Both of the Philodryas venoms cross-reacted with bothropic antivenom in ELISA, indicating the presence of proteins immunologically related to Bothrops venoms. RP-HPLC of P. patagoniensis venom yielded four major peaks, each of which contained several proteins, as shown by SDS-PAGE. These results indicate that P. patagoniensis venom has neurotoxic and myotoxic components that may contribute to the effects of envenoming by this species. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.1481313