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Enzyme immobilization has been reported as a promising approach to improving parameters such as thermal stability, pH and reusability. In this study, a polyacrylamide cryogel functionalized with L-phenylalanine was prepared to be used in the adsorption of ß-glucosidase from Thermoascus aurantiacus, aiming at its separation and also its immobilization on the cryogel matrix. The enzyme was produced by solid state fermentation. First, the adsorption was studied as a function of the pH and the resulting yield (Y, %) and purification factor (PF, dimensionless) were determined (1.57-5.13 and 64.19-91.20, respectively). The PF and yield from eluate samples obtained at pH 3.0 were the highest (5.13 and 91.20, respectively). Then, ß-glucosidase was immobilized on the hydrophobic cryogel and the recovery activities (%) were determined as a function of temperature and in the presence of different saline solutions. The values ranged from 14.45 to 45.97. As expected, salt type and ionic strength affected the activity remained in the immobilized ß-glucosidase. The average bioreactor activity was 39.9 U/g of dry cryogel and its operational stability was measured, with no decrease in activity being observed during seven cycles. Kinetic parameters of free and immobilized enzyme were determined according to different models.

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The surfaces of the polyacrylamide cryogels were coated with L-tryptophan (cryogel-Trp) or L-phenylalanine (cryogel-Phe) to enhance crude leaf extract-derived ora-pro-nobis (OPN) protein binding via pseudo-specific hydrophobic interactions. Cryogels functionalized with amino acids were prepared and characterized through morphological, hydrodynamic, and thermal analyses. The adsorption capacities of cryogel-Phe and cryogel-Trp were evaluated in terms of type (sodium sulfate or sodium phosphate) and concentration (0.02 or 0.10 mol∙L-1) of saline solution, pH (4.0, 5.5, or 7.0), and NaCl concentration (0.0 or 0.5 mol∙L-1). The cryogel-Phe presented a higher adsorptive capacity, achieving its maximum value (q = 92.53 mg∙g-1) when the crude OPN crude leaf extract was diluted in sodium sulfate 0.02 mol∙L-1 + NaCl 0.50 mol∙L-1, at pH = 7.0. The dilution rate significantly (p < 0.05) affected the recovered protein amount after the adsorption and elution processes, reaching 94.45% when the feedstock solution was prepared with a crude extract 5 times. The zeta potential for the eluted OPN proteins was 5.76 mV (pH = 3.23) for both dilution rates. The secondary structure composition mainly included ß-sheets (46.50%) and α-helices (13.93%). The cryogel-Phe exhibited interconnected pores ranging 20-300 µm in size, with a Young modulus of 1.51 MPa, and thermal degradation started at 230 °C. These results indicate that the cryogel-Phe exhibited satisfactory properties as promising chromatography support for use in high-throughput purification of crude leaf extract-derived OPN proteins.

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This work investigated the use of hydrophobic interaction membrane chromatography for intermediate purification of recombinant human Factor IX (rFIX) produced by CHO cells. The first purification step was based on a strong anion exchange monolith, thus forming a purification process fully based on convective media, which allow operation at high flow rates and low pressure drops, as well as modular scale-up. Although the starting material was challenging (CHO cell culture supernatant harvested at 70% cell viability), the two-step purification process showed promising results, with a global purification factor of 298, a global recovery of 69%, and DNA and endotoxin levels close to regulatory limits. Final host cell DNA (68.8 ng per dose of 500 IU), endotoxins (60 EU per dose of 500 IU) and activated FIX (FIXa/FIX = 2.33%) were in levels close to those recommended by regulatory authorities. HCP removal was of 99.98%, decreasing from 9 424 358 ppm in the supernatant to a final HCP value of 2071 ppm. The use of a supernatant harvested at higher viability and/or the addition of a third polishing step focusing on HCP removal could allow meeting the desired HCP range of 50-100 ppm, as well as the regulatory requirements for the other critical contaminants.

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The cold denaturation of globular proteins is a process that can be caused by increasing pressure or decreasing the temperature. Currently, the action mechanism of this process has not been clearly understood, raising an interesting debate on the matter. We have studied the process of cold denaturation using molecular dynamics simulations of the frataxin system Yfh1, which has a dynamic experimental characterization of unfolding at low and high temperatures. The frataxin model here studied allows a comparative analysis using experimental data. Furthermore, we monitored the cold denaturation process of frataxin and also investigated the effect under the high-pressure regime. For a better understanding of the dynamics and structural properties of the cold denaturation, we also analyzed the MD trajectories using essentials dynamic. The results indicate that changes in the structure of water by the effect of pressure and low temperatures destabilize the hydrophobic interaction modifying the solvation and the system volume leading to protein denaturation. Proteins 2016; 85:125-136. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Molecular dynamics simulations are used to study capillary liquid bridges between two planar substrates and the origin, strength and range of the resulting force between them. Pairwise interactions are described by the Lennard-Jones potential. Surface wettability is tuned by varying the fluid-substrate well depth interaction parameter. The force between the substrates due to a bridge of liquid is estimated by different methods including non-equilibrium simulations of moving substrates connected by liquid bridges and macroscopic balance of forces. The latter involves knowledge of liquid-vapor interfacial free energy, curvature radii, radius of wetted area and contact angle at the triple-phase contact line. All these physical quantities are estimated from equilibrium simulations. The force is attractive when the substrates are solvophilic or moderately solvophobic; and thus for cavities surrounded by the same liquid the force is attractive even when the substrates are moderately solvophilic. Two threshold values for the fluid-substrate potential interaction parameter can be identified; one for which the effective interaction between substrates due to liquid bridges changes from repulsive to attractive and another for which the capillary bridge becomes mechanically unstable and breaks into droplets.

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Human serum albumin (HSA) is the most abundant protein in plasma. Cys34, the only free Cys residue, is the predominant plasma thiol and a relevant sacrificial antioxidant. Both in vivo circulating HSA and pharmaceutical preparations are heterogeneous with respect to the oxidation state of Cys34. In this work, we developed an external pH gradient chromatofocusing procedure that allows the analysis of the oxidation status of HSA in human plasma and biopharmaceutical products based on the different apparent isoelectric points and chemical properties of the redox isoforms. Specifically, reduced-mercury blocked HSA (HSA-SHg(+)), HSA with Cys34 oxidized to sulfenic acid (HSA-SOH) and HSA oxidized to sulfinate anion (HSA-SO2(-)) can be separated with resolutions of 1.4 and 3.1 (first and last pair) and hence quantified and purified. In addition, an N-terminally degraded isoform (HSA3-585) in different redox states can be resolved as well. Confirmation of the identity of the chromatofocusing isolated isoforms was achieved by high resolution whole protein MS. It is proposed that the chromatofocusing procedure can be used to produce more exact and complete descriptions of the redox status of HSA in vivo and in vitro. Finally, the scalability capabilities of the chromatofocusing procedure allow for the preparation of highly pure standards of several redox isoforms of HSA.

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Force curves between a flat mica substrate and a polystyrene microsphere were measured with an atomic force microscope (AFM) in carefully degassed water and aqueous NaCl, CaCl2, and AlCl3 solutions. The pH of the water used does not change significantly with degassing treatment, and its value remains close to 6. Electrolyte concentration ranges from 10-4 to 10-2M and pH from 4.7 to 5.1. We have found that the repulsive long-range electrostatic force between mica and polystyrene is attenuated by the presence of electrolytes and counterbalanced by a long-range attractive force, which we referred to as a hydrophobic force, which is longer-ranged than the ever present attractive van der Waals force. This force, which includes the adhesive bridging of residual air bubbles and newborn vapor cavities, and any other unknown forces, is reasonably well represented by a unique exponential law. Prefactor and decaying length are not very sensitive to electrolyte type, concentration, and pH, suggesting that any new force included in the law, in addition to adhesive bridges, should obey a non-classical electrostatic mechanism. However, we also know that liquid/solid contact angle and liquid/vapor surface tension increase with electrolyte concentration and valence increasing the stability of bubbles and cavities which in turn increase the bridging force. Clearly, these effects are hidden in the empirical force law.

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Se analizó el efecto de la sustitución de clara de huevo por albúmina sérica porcina (ASP) en panqués de chocolate. La ASP se obtuvo mediante un método escalado de aislamiento por cromatografía de interacción hidrofóbica. En la formulación del panqué se reemplazó el 50 y 100% de la clara de huevo con ASP. Todos los panqués presentaron valores similares (P >0.05) de los parámetros de color en la miga: L (25,7-26,2), a* (9,8-10,1) y b* (14,5-15,0) y en la costra: L (25,7-26,2), a* (9,8-10,1) y b* (14,5-15,0). La textura (2,9 N) y el volumen (148,9 ± 1,8 cm ³) de los panqués con 50% de ASP fueron similares (P> 0,05) a los de los controles. El análisis sensorial indicó que los panqués en los que se reemplazó 50% de la clara por ASP, gustaron tanto como los controles. Los panqués con un reemplazo del 100%, gustaron menos. La excelente calidad microbiológica de los panqués muestra las óptimas condiciones sanitarias durante la obtención de la ASP y su elaboración.

The effect of porcine serum albumin (PSA) as a substitute for egg white (EW) in chocolate cakes was examined. PSA was obtained by a lab-scaled method of Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography. 50 and 100% of the normal level of EW was replaced with PSA in cake formulation. All cakes had similar (P > 0.05) crumb L (25.7-26.2), a* (9.8-10.1) y b* (14.5-15.0) and crust: L (25.7-26.2), a* (9.8-10.1) y b* (14.5-15.0) color values. Texture (2.9 N) and volume (148.9 1.8 cm ³) of cakes with 50% PSA replacing EW were similar (P > 0.05) to those of the controls. Sensory analysis indicated that cakes replaced with 50% EW for ASP were as well liked as control cakes. The excellent microbiological quality of formulated cakes points out the optimal sanitary conditions in the PSA isolation and in the cake elaboration process.