The dairy industry uses enzymes to make cheese, alter product flavor, and eliminate lactose. The activities of these enzymes have been measured in clear buffered solutions, but because of the limitations of spectrophotometric methods, enzyme activities have not been measured in opaque or colored dairy products where they are used. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) can be used to determine reaction kinetics in opaque and colored solutions by measuring the heat rate from enzyme-catalyzed reactions as a function of time. This study used ITC to measure β-galactosidase activity in opaque solutions of milk, sweet whey, sweet whey permeate, acid whey, and acid whey permeate with two β-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) isozymes derived from A. oryzae and K. lactis. The components of the dairy fluids alter the enzyme kinetics and reaction thermodynamics, and the reactions catalyzed by the two homologs differ as shown by differing thermodynamic profiles. The study demonstrates that ITC can be used to measure enzyme activity in opaque and colored dairy fluids and identify reactions by their thermodynamic properties. To ensure that ITCs are accurately recording heat data they must be calibrated regularly. However, potential problems have been identified with standard electrical calibration procedures; primarily being that the calibration is performed outside of the sample cell. This implies that any loss of heat from the theoretically adiabatic sample cell or loss of signal through led wires would be ignored by the electrical calibration. This research describes a new means for the chemical calibration of ITCs by performing acid-base titrations into the sample cell with KHP and TRIS base. This method for reaction was shown to be accurate to theoretical values across multiple temperatures and with different models of ITCs. Measurement errors due to diffusion of substrate are described along with means for limiting this factor. The method identified provides a procedure for maintaining the accuracy of ITCs by comparing their data to well-known thermodynamic values. It is anticipated that the simplicity and low-cost for running this calibration method will further standardize ITCs, help establish the ITC as a reliable method for measuring enzyme kinetics, and will make their maintenance simple enough for their use in quality assurance and industry settings.

As a primary factor in human evolution, natural selection is an important component of genetic research. Studies of lactase persistence suggest that positive selection has played a powerful role in the adaptation to a lifelong consumption of fresh milk. Using multiple research studies of lactase persistence and suspected corresponding single nucleotide genetic polymorphisms, this study combines data sources to determine whether evidence exists for natural selection of a specific cytosine-to-thymine genetic mutation located 13,910 base pairs (T-13910) upstream from the lactase gene. This polymorphism has potential to be a causal element for lactase persistence, and data suggest that natural selection has played a role in the rising frequency and distribution of this allele, if only in some regions. European and neighboring regions appear to have the highest frequencies with little or no frequency in Asia, Africa and Indonesia; however the presence of lactase persistence in those areas suggests convergent evolution may be occurring on a phenotypic level. To examine this possibility several other identified polymorphisms in the same region as the T-13910 will be included in this study

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden Tumorimpfstoffe auf der Basis des Plasmid-Vektors pCI, modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) und MVA-infizierten dendritischen Zellen entwickelt und durch Sequenzierung, Western blotting und durchflußzytometrische Analyse überprüft. Die in vivo Wirksamkeit der Vakzinen wurde in verschiedenen Tumormodellen in C57BL/6 Mäusen verglichen. Die auf dem eukaryotischen Expressionsvektor pCI basierende DNA-Vakzinierung induzierte einen sehr wirksamen, antigenspezifischen und langfristigen Schutz vor Muzin, CEA oder beta-Galactosidase exprimierenden Tumoren. Eine MVA-Vakzinierung bietet in den in dieser Arbeit durchgeführten Tumormodellen keinen signifikanten Schutz vor Muzin oder beta-Galactosidase exprimierenden Tumoren. <br /> <br /> Sowohl humane, als auch murine in vitro generierte dendritische Zellen lassen sich mit MVA &ndash; im Vergleich zu anderen viralen Vektoren &ndash; sehr gut infizieren. Die Expressionsrate der eingefügten Gene ist aber gering im Vergleich zur Expression in permissiven Wirtszellen des Virus (embryonale Hühnerfibroblasten). Es konnte gezeigt werden, daß eine MVA-Infektion dendritischer Zellen ähnliche Auswirkungen auf den Reifezustand humaner und muriner dendritischer Zellen hat, wie eine Infektion mit replikationskompetenten Vakzinia-Stämmen, und außerdem die Hochregulation von CD40 während der terminalen Reifung von murinen dendritischen Zellen inhibiert wird. Die während der langfristigen in vitro Kultur auf CEF-Zellen entstandenen Deletionen im MVA Genom führten zu einer starken Attenuierung und dem Verlust einiger Gene, die immunmodulatorische Proteine kodieren, jedoch nicht zu einer Verminderung des zytopathischen Effekts in dendritischen Zellen. <br /> <br /> Die geringe Expressionsrate und die beobachtete Inhibition der Expression kostimulatorischer Moleküle auf dendritischen Zellen kann für eine wenig effektive Induktion einer Immunantwort in MVA vakzinierten Tieren durch cross priming oder die direkte Infektion antigenpräsentierender Zellen verantwortlich sein.<br /> <br /> Durch die Modifikation einer Methode zur intrazellulären IFN-gamma Färbung konnten in vakzinierten Mäusen tumorantigenspezifische CTL sensitiv und quantitativ detektiert werden. Die so bestimmte CTL-Frequenz, nicht jedoch die humorale Antwort, korrelierte mit der in vivo Wirksamkeit der verschiedenen Vakzinen: DNA vakzinierte Tiere entwickeln starke tumorantigenspezifische CTL-Antworten, wohingegen in MVA-vakzinierten Tieren überwiegend gegen virale Epitope gerichtete CD4 und CD8-T-Zellen detektiert wurden.<br /> <br /> Die Wirksamkeit der pCI-DNA-Vakzine spricht für die Weiterentwicklung in weiteren präklinischen Mausmodellen, beispielsweise unter Verwendung von MUC1 oder HLA-A2 transgenen Mäusen. Die Methoden zur Detektion Tumorantigen-spezifischer CTL in 96-Loch-Mikrotiterplatten können dabei zur systematischen Suche nach im Menschen immundominanten T-Zell-Epitopen im Muzin-Molekül genutzt werden. <br /> <br /> Der durchgeführte Vergleich der auf den Vektoren pCI und MVA basierenden Vakzinen und die Analyse neuerer Publikationen führen zu dem Ergebniss, daß vor allem DNA-Vakzinen in Zukunft eine wichtige Rolle bei der Entwicklung von aktiven Tumorimpfstoffen spielen werden. Rekombinante MVA-Viren, eventuell in Kombination mit DNA- oder anderen Vektoren, haben sich dagegen in zahlreichen Studien als wirksame Impfstoffe zur Kontrolle von durch Pathogene hervorgerufenen Infektionserkrankungen erwiesen. / In this study, tumor vaccines based on the plasmid pCI, the attenuated vaccinia virus strain modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and MVA-infected dendritic cells were constructed and characterized by sequencing, Western blot and flow cytometric analysis. The efficiency to induce tumor immunity in vivo was compared in several C57BL/6 mouse tumor models. Naked DNA Vaccination based on the eukaryotic expression vector pCI did induce very effective, antigen-specific and long-term protection against tumor cell lines expressing mucin, CEA or beta-Gal whereas MVA vaccination did not elicit protective immunity against Mucin or beta-Gal expressing tumors. MVA does infect human or murine in vitro generated dendritic cells very efficiently compared to other viral vectors, however expression levels of the inserted antigens in dendritic cells are significantly lower than in permissive host cells (chicken embryo fibroblasts). <br /> <br /> It could be shown that the effect of MVA infection on the maturation status of dendritic cells is similar to the effects described for dendritic cells infected with replication competent vaccinia strains. In addition it was shown that the upregulation of the important costimulatory molecule CD40 through LPS stimulation is strongly inhibited in MVA infected cells. During passage in tissue culture, MVA has accumulated a number of large deletions, including a number of immunomodulatory molecules and resulting in a strong attenuation. However the strong cytopathic effect on dendritic cells is maintained. <br /> <br /> The low level of expression and the effect on dendritic cell maturation may be responsible for the failure of MVA to induce tumor immunity through either cross presentation or direct infection of antigen presenting cells.<br /> <br /> To detect and quantify tumor-antigen-specific CTL a method based on intracellular IFN-gamma staining was modified and it could be shown that the cellular &ndash; but not the humoral &ndash; response does correlate with in vivo protection: DNA but not MVA vaccines do induce high levels of tumorantigen-specific CTL whereas MVA-vaccines do induce strong and long lasting CD4 and CD8-T-cell responses against vaccinia antigens. <br /> <br /> The excellent protection induced by pCI-DNA-vaccination in different tumor models does encourage us to further investigate the elicitation of tumor immunity in MUC1 or HLA-A2 transgenic mice. In mice transgenic for human MHC-I, the IFN-gamma staining protocol could be used to systematically screen for mucin T-cell epitopes that are relevant in humans.

As glicosidases são enzimas que apresentam uma grande variedade de enovelamentos, assim como uma alta especificidade frente a diferentes substratos. Estas enzimas têm em comum a presença de dois resíduos catalíticos, responsáveis pela clivagem das ligações glicosídicas. O uso de glicosidases nas indústrias têxtil e alimentícia, no processamento de polpa de papel e na síntese de oligossacarídeos tem incentivado a engenharia destas proteínas no sentido de melhorar suas propriedades catalíticas e estabilidade. Estudos estruturais das glicosidases têm aumentado nosso entendimento de seus mecanismos de ação catalitica, assim como dos processos de interação proteína-carboidrato. Neste trabalho apresentamos os estudos cristalográficos de duas glicosidases de fungos, sendo elas a beta-galactosidase de Penicillium sp. e a Exo-inulinase de Aspergillis awamori, assim como estudos por espalhamento de raios-X a baixos ângulos (SAXS) da beta-xylosidase de Trichoderma reesei. As estruturas cristalográficas da beta-galactosidase e de seu complexo com galactose foram determinadas pela técnica de substituição isomórfa simples com espalhamento anômalo (SIRAS) até 1.9 A angstron de resolução para a estrutura sem substrato e 2.0 angstron de resolução para o complexo. A estrutura do complexo com galactose foi usada para identificar os resíduos catalíticos, sendo o resíduo Glu 200 identificado como doador de próton e o resíduo Glu 299 como o nucleófílo. As estruturas cristalográficas da Exo-inulinase de Aspergillus awamori e de seu complexo com frutose foram também determinadas pela técnica de substituição isomórfa simples com espalhamento anômalo (SIRAS) até 1.55 angstron e 1.8 angstron de resolução, respectivamente. A partir da estrutura do complexo foi possível identificar os resíduos Asp41 e Glu241 como o nucleófilo e o doador de próton, respectivamente. Além disto, foi possível verificar que o Asp189, o qual faz parte do motivo conservado Arg-Asp-Pro (RDP), é importante no reconhecimento do substrato através de duas pontes de hidrogênio. Com o intuito de obter informações estruturais sobre a P-xylosidase seu envelope foi determinado a partir dos dados do espalhamento de raios-X a baixos ângulos. O envelope da p-xylosidase em solução foi calculado a 20 A de resolução, sendo o raio de giro e a dimensão máxima 36.9 angstron e 90 angstron, respectivamente. Usando algoritmos de reconhecimento de possíveis domínios foi determinado que esta proteína apresenta, além dos dois domínios característicos da família GHF3, um barril TIM e um domínio alfa/beta, um terceiro domínio. A predição da estrutura secundária e os dados de dicroísmo circular indicam que este terceiro domínio apresentaria um enovelamento tipo beta. / Glycosidases belong to a group of enzymes displaying a great variety of protein folds and substrate specificities. Two critically located acidic residues make up the catalytic machinery of these enzymes, responsible for the cleavage of glycosidic bonds. The applications of glycosidases in textile, food, and pulp processing, as well as in catalysts and oligosaccharide synthesis have encouraged the engineering of these proteins in order to obtain improved catalytic properties and stability. Furthermore, structural studies extend our understanding of the catalytic mechanism and the role of glycosidases in the recognition processes of their different substrates. In this work, we describe crystallographic studies of two fungi glycosidases, beta-galactosidase from Penicillium sp and Exo-inulinase from Aspergillis awamori, and the small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) studies of another glycosidase, beta-xylosidase (from Trichoderma reesei). The crystallographic structures of j3-galactosidase its complex with galactose were solved by single isomorphous replacement with anomalous scattering (SIRAS) using the quick cryo-soaking technique, at 1.90 angstron and 2.10 angstron resolution, respectively . The X-ray structure of the enzyme-galactose complex was useful in identifying the residue Glu 200 as the proton donor and residue Glu 299 as the nucleophile involved in catalysis. The x-ray structure of exo-inulinase and its complex with fructose were also solved by SIRAS using the quick cryo-soaking technique at 1.55 angstron and 1.8 angstron resolutions, respectively. The solved structure of the enzyme-fructose complex revealed two catalytically important residues, Asp41 and Glu241, as nucleophile and proton donor, respectively. It was also possible to see that residue Asp189, which belongs to the Arg-Asp-Pro motif, provides hydrogen bonds important for substrate recognition. In order to gain structurai insights about the beta-Xylosidase from Trichoderma reesei, we calculated their SAXS envelope. The low resolution shape of this enzyme in solution was obtained fiom synchrotron x-ray scattering data at 20 angstron resolution. The radii of gyration and the maximum dimension of the beta-Xylosidase were calculated to be 36.9 angstron and 90 angstron, respectively. In contrast to the fold of the only structurally characterized member of GHF-3, the beta-D-glucan exohydrolase, which has two distinct domains, the shape of the beta-xylosidase indicates the presence of three domains located in the same plane. Domain recognition algorithms were used to show that the C-terminal part of the mino acid sequence of the protein forms the third domain. Circular dichroism spectroscopy and secondary structure prediction programs show that this additional domain adopts predominantly the B-conformation.

Pathogenesis of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and Shigella flexneri relies predominantly on members of the AraC/XylS family of transcriptional regulators, Rns (or its homolog, CfaD) and MxiE, respectively. Rns/CfaD regulate the expression of pili, which allow the bacteria to attach to the intestinal epithelium. Better understanding of the role Rns plays in virulence was attained by expanding our knowledge of the Rns regulon, revealing that it functions as an activator of cexE, a previously uncharacterized gene. By in vitro DNase I footprinting two Rns-binding sites were identified upstream of cexEp, both of which are required for full activation of cexE. The amino terminus of CexE also contains a secretory signal peptide that is removed during translocation to the periplasm. Though the function of CexE remains unknown, these studies suggest that CexE is a novel ETEC virulence factor since it is regulated by Rns/CfaD. In Shigella flexneri, the expression of a subset of virulence genes (including, ipaH9.8 and ospE2) is dependent upon the activator MxiE and a cytoplasmic chaperone IpgC. To define the molecular mechanism of transcriptional activation by this chaperone-activator pair, an in vitro pull down assay was performed revealing that MxiE specifically interacts with IpgC in a complex. Additionally, IpgC recognizes three polypeptide regions in MxiE: within MxiE(1-46), MxiE(46-110) and MxiE(196-216). Furthermore, it seems that MxiE and IpgC regulate transcription of ipaH9.8 and ospE2 promoters differently. In the bacterium, the formation of the MxiE-IpgC complex is initially prevented because IpgC is sequestered in individual complexes with effector proteins, IpaB and IpaC. Upon contact with an eukaryotic host cell the effector proteins are secreted, thereby freeing IpgC to form a complex with MxiE and activate the expression of virulence genes. This new characterization of the role of Rns and MxiE in virulence gene regulation in ETEC and S. flexneri, respectively will give new insights into the pathogenesis of the regulators.

As glicosidases são enzimas que apresentam uma grande variedade de enovelamentos, assim como uma alta especificidade frente a diferentes substratos. Estas enzimas têm em comum a presença de dois resíduos catalíticos, responsáveis pela clivagem das ligações glicosídicas. O uso de glicosidases nas indústrias têxtil e alimentícia, no processamento de polpa de papel e na síntese de oligossacarídeos tem incentivado a engenharia destas proteínas no sentido de melhorar suas propriedades catalíticas e estabilidade. Estudos estruturais das glicosidases têm aumentado nosso entendimento de seus mecanismos de ação catalitica, assim como dos processos de interação proteína-carboidrato. Neste trabalho apresentamos os estudos cristalográficos de duas glicosidases de fungos, sendo elas a beta-galactosidase de Penicillium sp. e a Exo-inulinase de Aspergillis awamori, assim como estudos por espalhamento de raios-X a baixos ângulos (SAXS) da beta-xylosidase de Trichoderma reesei. As estruturas cristalográficas da beta-galactosidase e de seu complexo com galactose foram determinadas pela técnica de substituição isomórfa simples com espalhamento anômalo (SIRAS) até 1.9 A angstron de resolução para a estrutura sem substrato e 2.0 angstron de resolução para o complexo. A estrutura do complexo com galactose foi usada para identificar os resíduos catalíticos, sendo o resíduo Glu 200 identificado como doador de próton e o resíduo Glu 299 como o nucleófílo. As estruturas cristalográficas da Exo-inulinase de Aspergillus awamori e de seu complexo com frutose foram também determinadas pela técnica de substituição isomórfa simples com espalhamento anômalo (SIRAS) até 1.55 angstron e 1.8 angstron de resolução, respectivamente. A partir da estrutura do complexo foi possível identificar os resíduos Asp41 e Glu241 como o nucleófilo e o doador de próton, respectivamente. Além disto, foi possível verificar que o Asp189, o qual faz parte do motivo conservado Arg-Asp-Pro (RDP), é importante no reconhecimento do substrato através de duas pontes de hidrogênio. Com o intuito de obter informações estruturais sobre a P-xylosidase seu envelope foi determinado a partir dos dados do espalhamento de raios-X a baixos ângulos. O envelope da p-xylosidase em solução foi calculado a 20 A de resolução, sendo o raio de giro e a dimensão máxima 36.9 angstron e 90 angstron, respectivamente. Usando algoritmos de reconhecimento de possíveis domínios foi determinado que esta proteína apresenta, além dos dois domínios característicos da família GHF3, um barril TIM e um domínio alfa/beta, um terceiro domínio. A predição da estrutura secundária e os dados de dicroísmo circular indicam que este terceiro domínio apresentaria um enovelamento tipo beta. / Glycosidases belong to a group of enzymes displaying a great variety of protein folds and substrate specificities. Two critically located acidic residues make up the catalytic machinery of these enzymes, responsible for the cleavage of glycosidic bonds. The applications of glycosidases in textile, food, and pulp processing, as well as in catalysts and oligosaccharide synthesis have encouraged the engineering of these proteins in order to obtain improved catalytic properties and stability. Furthermore, structural studies extend our understanding of the catalytic mechanism and the role of glycosidases in the recognition processes of their different substrates. In this work, we describe crystallographic studies of two fungi glycosidases, beta-galactosidase from Penicillium sp and Exo-inulinase from Aspergillis awamori, and the small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) studies of another glycosidase, beta-xylosidase (from Trichoderma reesei). The crystallographic structures of j3-galactosidase its complex with galactose were solved by single isomorphous replacement with anomalous scattering (SIRAS) using the quick cryo-soaking technique, at 1.90 angstron and 2.10 angstron resolution, respectively . The X-ray structure of the enzyme-galactose complex was useful in identifying the residue Glu 200 as the proton donor and residue Glu 299 as the nucleophile involved in catalysis. The x-ray structure of exo-inulinase and its complex with fructose were also solved by SIRAS using the quick cryo-soaking technique at 1.55 angstron and 1.8 angstron resolutions, respectively. The solved structure of the enzyme-fructose complex revealed two catalytically important residues, Asp41 and Glu241, as nucleophile and proton donor, respectively. It was also possible to see that residue Asp189, which belongs to the Arg-Asp-Pro motif, provides hydrogen bonds important for substrate recognition. In order to gain structurai insights about the beta-Xylosidase from Trichoderma reesei, we calculated their SAXS envelope. The low resolution shape of this enzyme in solution was obtained fiom synchrotron x-ray scattering data at 20 angstron resolution. The radii of gyration and the maximum dimension of the beta-Xylosidase were calculated to be 36.9 angstron and 90 angstron, respectively. In contrast to the fold of the only structurally characterized member of GHF-3, the beta-D-glucan exohydrolase, which has two distinct domains, the shape of the beta-xylosidase indicates the presence of three domains located in the same plane. Domain recognition algorithms were used to show that the C-terminal part of the mino acid sequence of the protein forms the third domain. Circular dichroism spectroscopy and secondary structure prediction programs show that this additional domain adopts predominantly the B-conformation.

<p>The two techniques aqueoustwo-phase partitioning and expanded bed adsorption that bothare suitable for primary protein recovery were studied. Most ofthe work was focused on partition in aqueous two-phase systemsand in particular on the possibility to effect the partitionbehaviour by fusion of short peptide tags or protein domains tothe target protein.</p><p>The partitioning of fusionproteins between different variants of the domain tag Z and thenaturally occurring protein DNA Klenow polymerase were studiedin Breox/Reppal aqueous two-phase systems. Most studies wereperformed with cell homogenate. The Breox/Reppal system was infocus because if the fusion protein can be partitioned to theBreox-rich top phase the next step can be a thermoseparatingaqueous two-phase system. When the Breox phase is heated to50°C it switches from a one-phase system to a two-phasesystem resulting in an almost pure water rich top phase andhighly concentrated Breox-rich bottom phase. The Breox can thenbe reused and the protein recovered from the water phase. TheZ-domain was genetically modified in different ways to Z_basic1, Z_acid2and Z_trp12and fused to the Klenow protein to try toenhance partitioning to the Breox-rich phase. From theexperiments it was not possible to observe any effects on thepartition behaviour irrespectively of tested properties of thedomain tag. Despite the absence of domain tag effects highK-values, i.e. partition to the Breox-rich top phase, wereobserved in the Breox/Reppal system. However, the proteinK-values seemed to be rather sensitive to the cell homogenateload and showed a tendency to decrease with increased cellhomogenate load. Also increased phosphate concentration reducedthe K-values. The partitioning of cell debris also seemed todependent on the cell homogenate load. At higher homogenateload (<=20g DW/L) clear Breox-rich top phases were observedwith the cell debris collected in Reppal-rich bottomphases.</p><p>Two different tetrapeptides,AlaTrpTrpPro and AlaIleIlePro were inserted near the C-terminusof the protein ZZT0. The Trp-rich peptide unit stronglyincreased both the partitioning of ZZT0 into the poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG)-rich phase in a PEG/potassium phosphate aqueoustwo-phase system and its retention on PEG and propylhydrophobic interaction chromatographic columns with potassiumphosphate as eluent in isocratic systems. Both the partitioningand the retention increased with increasing number of Trp-richpeptide units inserted into ZZT0. Insertion of Ile-richtetrapeptide units affected the partitioning and retention to amuch lesser extent. Partition and modelling data also indicateda folding of inserted Trp and Ile tetrapeptide units, probablyto minimise their water contact. It was also investigated howto predict the partitioning of proteins in isoelectricPEG/phosphate aqueous two-phase systems.</p><p>The capture ofß-galactosidase from<i>E. coli</i>cell homogentate (50g DW/L) by metal chelatexpanded bed adsorption was studied. These experiments showedthat capture, with a certain degree of selectivity, andclarification of ß-galactosidase could be achieved from acell homogenate. However, a rather low recovery of about 35 %was obtained at a capacity of 0.25mg/mL of gel. Thus, severalparameters remain to be optimised like the load buffercomposition and the cell homogenate load.</p><p><b>Keywords:</b><i>E. coli</i>, aqueous two-phase systems, fusion proteins,hydrophobic interaction chromatography, expanded bedadsorption, ß-galactosidase, Klenow polymerase, Z-domain,peptide tags</p>

The marked increase in surface-to-volume ratio associated with microscale devices for hemodialysis leads to problems with hemocompatibility and blood flow distribution that are more challenging to manage than those encountered at the conventional scale. In this work, stable surface modifications with pendant polyethylene oxide (PEO) chains were produced on polycarbonate microchannel and polyacrylonitrile membrane materials used in construction of microchannel hemodialyzer test articles. These coatings were evaluated in relation to protein repulsion, impact on urea permeability through the membrane, and impact on bubble retention through single-channel test articles. PEO layers were prepared by radiolytic grafting of PEO-PBD-PEO (PBD = polybutadiene) triblock copolymers to microchannel and membrane materials. Protein adsorption was detected by measurement of surface-bound enzyme activity following contact of uncoated and PEO-coated surfaces with ��-galactosidase. Protein adsorption was decreased on PEO-coated polycarbonate and polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) materials by 80% when compared to the level recorded on uncoated materials. Protein adsorption on membrane materials was not decreased with PEO-PBD-PEO treatment; a PEI (polyethylene imide) layer exists on the AN69 ST membrane which is intended to trap heparin during membrane pre-treatment. It is still unclear how this PEI layer interacts with PEO-PBD-PEO. Neither the PEO-PBD-PEO triblocks nor the irradiation process was observed to have any effect on polyacrylonitrile membrane permeability to urea, nor did the presence of additional fibrinogen and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in the urea filtrate. The PEO-PBD-PEO treatment was not able to visibly reduce bubble retention during flow through single-channel polycarbonate test articles, however, the rough surfaces of the laser-etched polycarbonate microchannels may be causing this bubble retention. This surface treatment holds promise as a means for imparting safe, efficacious coatings to blood processing equipment that ensure good hemocompatibility and blood flow distribution, with no adverse effects on mass transfer. / Graduation date: 2013

The two techniques aqueoustwo-phase partitioning and expanded bed adsorption that bothare suitable for primary protein recovery were studied. Most ofthe work was focused on partition in aqueous two-phase systemsand in particular on the possibility to effect the partitionbehaviour by fusion of short peptide tags or protein domains tothe target protein. The partitioning of fusionproteins between different variants of the domain tag Z and thenaturally occurring protein DNA Klenow polymerase were studiedin Breox/Reppal aqueous two-phase systems. Most studies wereperformed with cell homogenate. The Breox/Reppal system was infocus because if the fusion protein can be partitioned to theBreox-rich top phase the next step can be a thermoseparatingaqueous two-phase system. When the Breox phase is heated to50°C it switches from a one-phase system to a two-phasesystem resulting in an almost pure water rich top phase andhighly concentrated Breox-rich bottom phase. The Breox can thenbe reused and the protein recovered from the water phase. TheZ-domain was genetically modified in different ways to Zbasic1, Zacid2and Ztrp12and fused to the Klenow protein to try toenhance partitioning to the Breox-rich phase. From theexperiments it was not possible to observe any effects on thepartition behaviour irrespectively of tested properties of thedomain tag. Despite the absence of domain tag effects highK-values, i.e. partition to the Breox-rich top phase, wereobserved in the Breox/Reppal system. However, the proteinK-values seemed to be rather sensitive to the cell homogenateload and showed a tendency to decrease with increased cellhomogenate load. Also increased phosphate concentration reducedthe K-values. The partitioning of cell debris also seemed todependent on the cell homogenate load. At higher homogenateload (&lt;=20g DW/L) clear Breox-rich top phases were observedwith the cell debris collected in Reppal-rich bottomphases. Two different tetrapeptides,AlaTrpTrpPro and AlaIleIlePro were inserted near the C-terminusof the protein ZZT0. The Trp-rich peptide unit stronglyincreased both the partitioning of ZZT0 into the poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG)-rich phase in a PEG/potassium phosphate aqueoustwo-phase system and its retention on PEG and propylhydrophobic interaction chromatographic columns with potassiumphosphate as eluent in isocratic systems. Both the partitioningand the retention increased with increasing number of Trp-richpeptide units inserted into ZZT0. Insertion of Ile-richtetrapeptide units affected the partitioning and retention to amuch lesser extent. Partition and modelling data also indicateda folding of inserted Trp and Ile tetrapeptide units, probablyto minimise their water contact. It was also investigated howto predict the partitioning of proteins in isoelectricPEG/phosphate aqueous two-phase systems. The capture ofß-galactosidase fromE. colicell homogentate (50g DW/L) by metal chelatexpanded bed adsorption was studied. These experiments showedthat capture, with a certain degree of selectivity, andclarification of ß-galactosidase could be achieved from acell homogenate. However, a rather low recovery of about 35 %was obtained at a capacity of 0.25mg/mL of gel. Thus, severalparameters remain to be optimised like the load buffercomposition and the cell homogenate load. <b>Keywords:</b>E. coli, aqueous two-phase systems, fusion proteins,hydrophobic interaction chromatography, expanded bedadsorption, ß-galactosidase, Klenow polymerase, Z-domain,peptide tags / NR 20140805

GM1 gangliosidosis is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency in the catabolizing enzyme β-galactosidase (βgal). This leads to accumulation of GM1-ganglioside (GM1) in the lysosome inducing ER stress and cell death. GM1 gangliosidosis is primarily a disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) with peripheral organ involvement. In this work we report two major findings, 1) systemic treatment of GM1 gangliosidosis with an adenoassociated virus (AAV9) encoding mouse-βgal (mβgal) in a GM1 gangliosidosis mouse model (βGal-/-), and 2) an investigation into an intracranial injection of a therapeutic AAVrh8 encoding mβgal. Systemic treatment of GM1 gangliosidosis with AAV9 resulted in a moderate expression of enzyme in the CNS, reduction of GM1 storage, significant retention of motor function and a significant increase in lifespan. Interestingly, the therapeutic effect was more robust in females. Intracranial injections of AAVrh8 vector expressing high levels of βgal resulted in enzyme spread throughout the brain, significant retention of motor function and a significant increase in lifespan. Histological alterations were also found at the injection site in both βGal-/- and normal animals. We constructed a series of vectors with a range of decreasing enzyme expression levels to investigate the cause for the unanticipated result. Microarrays were performed on the injection site and we showed that a lower expressing AAVrh8-mβgal vector mitigated the negative response. Intracranial injection of this newly developed vector was shown to clear lysosomal storage throughout the CNS of βGal-/- mice. Taken together, these studies indicate that a combined systemic and fine-tuned intracranial approach may be the most effective in clearing lysosomal storage completely in the CNS while providing therapeutic benefit to the periphery.