Enzyme Assays and Automation Flashcards
why are enzyme assays performed?
- clinical applications
- understanding of diseases
- clinical marker for severity of a disease
- enzymes as drug targets
- enzymes as drug molecules
- enzymes as biotechnology tool kits
- tools to synthesise molecules
- analytical tools to measure other molecules
what needs to be taken into consideration when following an enzyme reaction?
- optimal pH
- optimal ionic strength
- optimal temperature
- free from inhibitors
- optimal coenzymes/cofactor concentrations
- optimal concentration of the enzyme (Km)
detection techniques used in enzyme activity assays:
Spectrophotometry
Calorimetry - colour reaction
Spectrofluorimetry
Manometry
Electrochemical methods
Enthalpimetry
Radiochemical methods
Dry-reagent techniques
What is spectrophotometry
Spectrophotometry is the quantitative measurement of the interaction of ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared (IR) radiation with a material
What is calorimetry?
measures colour change, e.g., albumins, carbs, produce colour. Intensity of colour proportional to concentration
What is used in spectrofluorimetry?
fluorophore is used
the formation of product or reduction of reactant concentration is measured…
by attaching a moiety that fluoresces at a defined wave length
What happens at low concentrations?
the fluorescent intensity is related to the intensity of light,
Examples of spectrofluorimetry
- dibutyryl fluorescein
- intrinsic fluorescent amino groups - tyrosine
What condition can it be used for?
What equation is used to calculate spectrofluorimetry?
antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) what does this measure?
quantitatively measures release of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GADPH) found in mammalian cells
- The lysis of the cell causes the release of the enzyme, allowing the detection of cell destruction within patients
What type of technique is manometry?
Monometric technique
What is manometry used to measure?
measures enzyme activity if one of the components is in gaseous form.
Two different compartments in the device, what do they do?
- one contains the gas from the reaction
- the other is where the reaction takes place
What happens to the samples and reagents?
samples and reagents are placed in separate compartments, they are then mixed at defined time periods and the reaction is followed as the reaction proceeds
both end-point and kinetic assays can be performed
Examples of manometry
- glucose oxidase enzyme:
- oxygen consumption is measured
- decarboxylase enzymes:
- carbon dioxide production is measured
electrochemical methods (what are the two methods?)
Potentiometric techniques
Polarography/voltammetry
What are potentiometric techniques
there is an electrical potential generated that is dependent on the concentration/properties of the substances in the solution that is undergoing an electrochemical reaction
What does polarography/voltammetry do?
increased voltage is applied between two electrodes immersed in a test solution and the change in potential is measured
The composition of the test solution determines what?
the current which flows at each instance
What does enthalpimetry measure?
measure the enthalpy change during the reaction - heat change is measured by sensitive and efficient temperature sensor
what is needed in this system to maintain accuracy?
excellent insulation
what are the advantages of this technique?
- sensitive
- easily adaptable for various applications
- freedom from interference
give an example of a reaction that can be measured with enthalpimetry?
Hexokinase catalysed reaction
Radiochemical methods
- radioactively labelled substrate is used to follow the enzymatic reaction
- it is very sensitive - can be measured to picomolar concentration
Protocol
the enzyme reaction is performed for a defined period and quenched using a reagent this is to stop the reaction
the substrate is then separated from the product using electrophoresis or chromatography
What can the radioactive fraction of the product/substrate be used to estimate?
the activity of the enzyme
common isotypes used:
3 H - tritium
32 P - phosphorus
35 S - sulphur
131 I - Iodine
solid phase/dry reagent enzymatic assay
- there is the immobilisation of components onto a solid phase, resulting in the production of portable, easy to use and point of care enzymatic assay kits
- they can be fully/semi-quantitative
- there can be the assay of various enzyme activity on plates with solid medium that has the corresponding substrates that is needed for the detection of various enzymes
what are the different methods for immobilisation for a solid phase enzyme assay?
- physical adsorption:
- hydrophobic interaction
- ionic interaction
- van der waals’ force
- hydrogen bonding
- covalent binding:
- DSS
- EDC
- NHS
- Maleimide
- hydrazine
what are the differences between enzyme and chemical drugs?
- enzymes are more natural - biological molecules
- enzymes are highly specificwill only act on target molecules unlike chemicals
- enzymes are more predictablewe know which site they will bind to
- enzymes convert targeted substances into desired products
- as enzymes are proteins they will need enteric coating for oral administrationthis will prevent them from being broken down in the body
the enzymes need to be very pure, why?
they can cause allergic reactions in patients
what are the different sources for therapeutic enzymes?
- animal sources
- plant sources
- microbial sources
- bacterial
- fungi
common animal source enzymes: where are they sourced from?
- lipaseAnimal pancreas
- trypsinOx bile
- urokinasehuman plasma/cow urine
- lysozymemilk/chicken albumen
- adenosine deaminasebovine intestine
- pepsinhog pancreas
- dornase alpharecombinant human cells
plant sourced enzymes:
- papainpapaya
- nattokinasenatto bean
- amylasebarley
- bromelainpineapple
bacterial enzymes:
- beta lactamase - staphylococci sp
- staphylokinase - staphylococci sp
- rhodanese - sulfobacillus sibiricus
- streptokinase - hemolytic streptococci
- l-aspariginase - E.coli
- collagenase - clostridium histolyticum
- amylase - bacillus sp.
bacterial enzymes:
- beta lactamase - staphylococci sp
- staphylokinase - staphylococci sp
- rhodanese - sulfobacillus sibiricus
- streptokinase - hemolytic streptococci
- l-aspariginase - E.coli
- collagenase - clostridium histolyticum
- amylase - bacillus sp.
what is the preferred source of enzymes? Why?
Microbes because :
- cheaper to produce
- content of enzymes can be:
- estimated
- controlled
- reliable supply of raw material of constant composition
- other sources contain more harmful:
- phenolic compounds
- endogenous inhibitors
- proteases
novel bio catalyst application:
- unique substrate specificities - new enzymes made?
- enhanced catalytic activities - more efficient
- high commercial value
- effective tools in biotransformation
- green chemistry
- biocatalyst as a synthetic tool:
name two lysosomal storage diseases:
Fabry’s disease
Gauchers disease
fabry’s disease
- galactosidase A [Gb3], used to break down what?used to break down a particular type of fat
- Deficiency in whatthis is a disease due to a deficiency in the enzyme alpha-galactosidase A
- Causes a buildup in a fat calledglobotriaosylceramide in the body - this is a complex lipid
Gauchers disease:
-
glucocerebrosidase
- used to break down a particular type of fat
-
autosomal recessive inherited disorder of metabolism where a lipid called glucocerebroside cant be degraded
Build up in the liver and spleen
Oral and inhalable therapies:
- sarcosidase (oral):
- the enzyme enables sucrose hydrolysis, allowing for a normal diet
- taken orally to treat congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency (CSID)
- it is a b-fructofuranoside fructohydrolase from sacchromyces cerevisiae
- Phenylase (oral) :
- Yeast Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase is used
- used for the treatment of PKU-deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase
- what does this convert?
phenylalanine to tyrosine
- Pulmozyme (inhalable):
- used in cystic fibrosis treatment management
cancer therapeutic enzymes:
L-asparaginase - oncolytic enzyme
Mechanism of action of L-asparaginase - oncolytic enzyme
- normal tissues synthesise L-Asparagine in sufficient quantities for protein synthesis
- neoplastic tissues require exogenous supply from circulation
L-aparaginase breaksdown circulating aa (L-asparagine) to what?
L-aspartate and ammonia which prevents protein synthesis of neoplasm → apoptosis
other important therapeutic enzymes:
What is the function of Lipase?
It breaks down fat.
Where can you find Lipase?
It is found in the pancreas, mouth and stomach.
How is Lipase usually sourced.
It is usually sourced from animal pancreas.
What is the function of Trypsin?
Helps to digest proteins by cleaving them.
Where can Trypsin be found?
It is found in the small intestine.
How is Trypsin sourced?
Ox bile
What is the function of Urokinase?
Converts inactive plasminogen into active plasmin.
Where is Urokinase located?
It is made in the kidney and found in urine
How is Urokinase sourced?
Human Plasma/Cow Urine
What is the function of Lysozyme?
It is an antimicrobial agent by cleaving the peptidoglycan components of bacterial cell walls which leads to cell death
Where is Lysozyme located?
Found in bodily secretions such as tears, saliva and milk
How is Lysozyme sourced?
Transgenic plants, animals and microorganisms that can produce human lysozyme
What is the function of Adenosine Deaminase?
It eliminated deoxyadenosine which is generated when DNA is broken down which is toxic to lymphocytes to deoxyinosine which is not harmful.
Where is Adenosine Deaminase located?
Produced in all cells however mostly in lymphocytes
How is Adenosine Deaminase sourced?
Bovine Intestine
What is the function of Pepsin?
Breaks down proteins in food during digestion
Where is Pepsin located?
Stomach
How is Pepsin sourced?
Hog pancreas
What is the function of Dornase a?
Is an inhaled medication that thins mucus. Reduces the number of lung infection and to improve lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis
Where is Dornase a located?
Medication
How is Dornase a sourced?
It is a highly purified solution of recombinant deoxyribonuclease I (rhDNase) an enzyme which actively cleaves DNA.
What is the function of Beta Lactamase?
Stop bacterial growth by inhibiting PBPs that are indispensable for the cross linking process during cell wall biosynthesis. This may also lead to antibiotic resistance as mutations of B-lactamase active site, leading to ineffective binding and thus reduced inhibition.
What is the function of Staphylokinase?
Activates plasminogen to form plasmin which digest fibrin clots.
What is the function of Rhodanese?
Main enzyme in sulfur metabolism for cyanide detoxification & anti-oxidative stress systems.