New methods for inactivation of lipid-enveloped and non-enveloped viruses

Two new methods are described for inactivating lipid-enveloped and non-enveloped viruses in plasma-derived products such as coagulation factors and intravenous immunoglobulin (IGIV). Iodine/Sephadex delivers iodine to IGIV solutions in a slow, controlled way and allows for inactivation of > or = 4 logs of porcine parvovirus (PPV), a hardy non-enveloped virus, under conditions which do not measurably damage the structural or functional properties of the IGIV, and with essentially no iodination of the protein. All detectable enveloped and non-enveloped viruses were inactivated by this treatment. Gamma irradiation has been successfully used to inactivate viruses at the final vial stage in freeze-dried plasma proteins. Four logs of PPV were inactivated by irradiation in the presence of fibrinogen, factor VIII and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (API) at doses of 23, 28 and 30 kiloGray (kGy) respectively, while retaining 93% of fibrinogen solubility, 67% of factor VIII activity and over 80% of API activity. Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a lipid-enveloped model for hepatitis C virus, was completely inactivated by radiation doses of 20-30 kGy in these products. Gamma irradiation was less effective in inactivating viruses in freeze-dried IGIV.

Heparin binding by fibronectin module III-13 involves six discontinuous basic residues brought together to form a cationic cradle

The thirteenth type III domain of fibronectin binds heparin almost as well as fibronectin itself and contains a so-called heparin-binding consensus sequence, Arg6-Arg7-Ala8-Arg9 (residues 1697-1700 in plasma fibronectin). Barkalow and Schwarzbauer (Barkalow, F.J., and Schwarzbauer, J.E. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 7812-7818) showed that mutation of Arg6-Arg7 in domain III-13 of recombinant truncated fibronectins abolished their ability to bind heparin-Sepharose. However, synthetic peptides containing this sequence have negligible affinity for heparin (Ingham, K.C., Brew, S.A., Migliorini, M. M., and Busby, T.F. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 12548-12553). We generated a three-dimensional model of fibronectin type III-13 based on the structure of a homologous domain from tenascin. The model places Arg23, Lys25, and Arg54 parallel to and in close proximity to the Arg6-Arg7-Ala8-Arg9 motif, suggesting that these residues may also contribute to the heparin-binding site. Domain III-13 and six single-site mutants containing Ser in place of each of the above-mentioned basic residues were expressed in Escherichia coli. All of the purified mutant domains melted reversibly with a Tm near that of the wild type indicating that they were correctly folded. When fluorescein-labeled heparin was titrated at physiological ionic strength, the wild type domain increased the anisotropy in a hyperbolic fashion with a Kd of 5-7 microM, close to that of the natural domain obtained by proteolysis of fibronectin. The R54S mutant bound 3-fold weaker and the remaining mutants bound at least 10-fold weaker than wild type. The results point out that the Arg6-Arg7-Ala8-Arg9 consensus sequence by itself has little affinity for heparin under physiological conditions, even when presented in the context of a folded domain. Thus, the heparin-binding site in fibronectin is more complex than previously realized. It is formed by a cluster of 6 positively charged residues that are remote in the sequence but brought together on one side of domain III-13 to form a "cationic cradle" into which the anionic heparin molecule could fit.

Binding of heparin by type III domains and peptides from the carboxy terminal hep-2 region of fibronectin

The major sites of heparin binding by fibronectin are located in fragments of 30 or 40 kDa that contain type III modules 12 through 14 or 15. Various proteolytic or recombinant subfragments and several synthetic peptides derived from this region have been compared with respect to their binding to fluorescein-labeled heparin in solution. Binding was monitored by the change in fluorescence anisotropy at 25 degrees C and pH 7.4 in 0.02 M Tris buffer, alone (TB) or with 0.15M NaCl (TBS). A 23-kDa fragment containing III13 and III14 but lacking III12 had Kd values of 0.3 and 1.8 microM in TB, and TBS, respectively, indistinguishable from the 30-kDa parent. Fragments containing only module III13 bound 2-3-fold weaker than the parent while those containing only III14 bound 6-50-fold weaker depending on the ionic strength. Fragments containing only III12 or III15 failed to bind at all in TBS. A cationic peptide derived from the amino terminus of III13 and containing the Arg-Arg-Ala-Arg consensus sequence, whose integrity was shown by Barkalow and Schwarzbauer [Barkalow, F. J., & Schwarzbauer, J. E. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 7812-7818] to be critical, failed to bind in TBS but bound weakly in TB. Two additional cationic peptides derived from the middle and C-terminal regions of III14 showed similar behavior. Thus while the major determinant(s) of heparin binding are located in III13, those determinants are only active when part of a properly folded structure. Furthermore, module III13 when isolated had a slightly lower affinity than fragments containing both III13 and III14.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dynamic equilibria between subcomponents of C1, the first component of human complement

C1r and C1s, the serine protease components of activated C1, form a tetramer in the presence of Ca2+. The stability of this tetramer is sufficient that its association with the third component, C1q, has been successfully treated as a reversible bimolecular equilibrium reaction [Siegel and Schumaker, Molec. Immun. 20, 53-66 (1983)]. We have used the fluorescence anisotropy (A) of fluorescein-labeled C1s (s*) to monitor assembly and subcomponent exchange in 0.15 mol/l NaCl, 0.001 mol/l Ca2+ 0.02 mol/l Tris, pH 7.4. Addition of q to r2s*2 causes a small but measurable delta A of 0.01-0.02. The response is too fast to measure at 37 degrees but can be readily followed at 4 degrees where t 1/2 = 0.6 min when [q] = [r2s*2] = 0.5 mumol/l. The increase in A can be readily reversed by dilution or by addition of unlabeled C1s. Slow incremental addition of q to a solution of r2s*2 produces a dose-dependent delta A from which stoichiometry and dissociation constants can be derived. Measurements of Kd as a function of temperature establish an inverse temperature dependence with delta H = -15 kcal/mol and a value of Kd = 0.031 mumol/l at 37 degrees (delta G = + 11, T delta S = -26 kcal/mol). Thus, the assembly process appears to be entropy-driven presumably due to the exclusion of structured water from protein-protein interfaces in the complex.

NH2-terminal calcium-binding domain of human complement C1s- mediates the interaction of C1r- with C1q

The assembly of C1, the first component of human complement, involves interactions between various domains of each of its three subcomponents, C1q, C1r, and C1s. The isolation, assignment of function, and structural characterization of the individual domains of C1r and C1s are critical for a thorough understanding of this complex assembly. The present study describes a 27-kDa plasmin-generated fragment derived from the NH2-terminal half of the heavy A chain of C1s-, the activated form of C1s. This fragment, C1s-alpha, was shown in the presence of Ca2+ to mimic the ability of whole C1s- to self-associate, bind to C1r-, and facilitate the binding of C1r to C1q. These results directly prove that the Ca2(+)-binding sites of C1s as well as all of the determinants necessary for binding of C1s- to C1r- and C1q are located in the NH2-terminal 27-kDa alpha region of the A chain.

Calorimetric investigation of the domain structure of human complement Cl-s: reversible unfolding of the short consensus repeat units

Cl-s is a multidomain serine protease that participates in Ca2+-dependent protein-protein interactions with other subcomponents of Cl, the first component of human complement. Proteolytically derived fragments that retain some of the functional properties of the parent protein have been isolated, and their thermal stability has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. Three endothermic transitions are observed in whole Cl-s near 37, 49, and 60 degrees C in 0.05 M Tris-HCl, pH 7.2, containing 0.22 M NaCl and 0.1 mM EDTA. The first (37 degrees C) and third (60 degrees C) transitions are also seen in Cl-s-A, a derivative comprised mainly of the intact nonenzymatic A chain. The second (49 degrees C) and third transitions are seen in Cl-s-gamma B, a fragment comprised of the intact B chain, disulfide linked to the C-terminal gamma region of the A chain. Thus, the first transition, which is alone stabilized by Ca2+, corresponds to the melting of the N-terminal alpha beta region of the A chain, the second to the melting of the catalytic B chain domain, and the third to the gamma region. The gamma region is comprised of two homologous short consensus repeat (SCR) motifs that are also found in several other complement and coagulation proteins. A new 24-kDa fragment, Cl-s-gamma, which contains these two SCRs, was isolated from plasmic and chymotryptic digests of Cl-s-A. Cl-s-gamma exhibits a reversible transition near 60 degrees C corresponding to the highest temperature peak in whole Cl-s and Cl-s-A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Domain structure, stability, and interactions of human complement C1s-: characterization of a derivative lacking most of the B chain

A better understanding of the structure and function of C1 requires knowledge of the regions (domains) of the subcomponents that are responsible for Ca2+-dependent assembly. Toward this end, C1-s was digested with trypsin in the presence of Ca2+, a treatment that rapidly degraded the B chain, leaving a 56-kDa fragment comprised of a complete A chain disulfide linked to a small (less than 4-kDa) residual piece of the B chain. The purified fragment, referred to as C1-s-A, was shown by fast exclusion chromatography to be similar to C1-s in its ability to (1) reversibly dimerize in the presence of Ca2+, (2) substitute for C1-s in the formation of C1-r2-s2 tetramers, and (3) associate with C1-r and C1q to form macromolecular C1. Although C1-s-A was itself catalytically and hemolytically inactive, it competitively inhibited the expression of the hemolytic activity of C1-s in a reconstitution assay. When heated in the absence of Ca2+, C1-s exhibited a low-temperature transition (LTT) near 31 degrees C and a high-temperature transition (HTT) near 51 degrees C, similar to those previously observed in the homologous protein C1-r [Busby, T. F., & Ingham, K. C. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 5564-5571]. The midpoint of the LTT was shifted to 58 degrees C in 5 mM Ca2+ whereas the HTT was unaffected by Ca2+. C1-s-A exhibited only a LTT whose midpoint and Ca2+ dependence were similar to those of the LTT in C1-s. The HTT, which was accompanied by a loss of esterolytic activity, was reproduced in a plasmin-derived fragment representing the catalytic domain. These results provide strong support for the structural and functional independence of the catalytic and interaction domains of C1-s and strengthen current models regarding the role of these domains in various interactions. They also provide direct proof for the occurrence of Ca2+ binding sites on the A chain and demonstrate that all or most of the sites on C1-s that are responsible for its interaction with C1-r and C1q are located on the A chain.

Calcium-sensitive thermal transitions and domain structure of human complement subcomponent C1r

Fluorescent probes and other methods have been used to investigate the thermal stability of activated C1r and functionally intact fragments isolated from tryptic digests of the protein. This enzyme exhibits two irreversible transitions that differ with respect to their sensitivity to metal ions. The high-temperature transition occurs with a midpoint near 53 degrees C in 0.02 M tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane buffer and 0.15 M NaCl, pH 7.4. It is relatively insensitive to Ca2+ and ionic strength and is accompanied by a loss of catalytic activity. The low-temperature transition is most easily observed in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and is completely abolished by 100 microM Ca2+. Its midpoint varies between 26 degrees C at low ionic strength and 40 degrees C in the presence of 0.5 M NaCl. The low-temperature transition results in extensive polymerization of the protein without loss of the esterolytic activity or the ability to react with C1 inhibitor; however, the ability to reconstitute hemolytically active C1 or even bind to C1s in the presence of Ca2+ is destroyed. A highly purified N-terminal fragment generated by tryptic digestion of C1r in the presence of Ca2+ retained its ability to interact with C1s, disrupting the formation of C1s dimers in the presence of Ca2+. In the absence of Ca2+, this fragment displays only a low-temperature transition that is very similar to the one observed with the whole protein and that destroys its ability to bind to C1s. Addition of Ca2+ stabilizes this fragment, shifting the midpoint of its melting transition upward by more than 20 degrees C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Heat stability of lyophilized C1 inactivator concentrates

Heat stability of lyophilized C1 inactivator (C1-INA) concentrates of intermediate and high purity has been investigated under several heat treatment protocols that include heating for 96 and 192 h at 68 degrees C and for 10 h at 80, 90 and 100 degrees C. Both types of concentrate showed high stability in functional activity, with not more than 5% loss in any of the time-temperature combinations evaluated. However, the C1-INA antigen from both concentrates showed small but progressive changes in crossed immunoelectrophoretic pattern, in proportion to the intensity of heat treatment. High-pressure size-exclusion chromatography revealed only minimal signs of aggregation in the high-purity concentrate, but a significant and progressive aggregation of nonspecific protein contaminants present in the intermediate-purity concentrate, making the high-purity concentrate preferable for heat treatment.

Thermal stability and ligand-binding properties of human plasma alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (orosomucoid) as determined with fluorescent probes

The fluorescence of 1,8-anilinonaphthalene sulfonate is enhanced and blue-shifted upon binding to alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, a human plasma protein of uncertain function. Fluorescence titrations of delipidated protein indicate at least two classes of binding sites having dissociation constants of 0.33 microM and 12 microM at 25 degrees C in 0.02 M potassium phosphate/0.15 M NaCl, pH 7.4. Exclusion chromatography measurements indicate only 1 binding site per mol protein, suggesting that the heterogeneity is due to differences between protein molecules, the origin of which remains unclear. The fluorescence of a mixture of dye and protein is progressively diminished upon addition of ethanol and other organic solvents whose presence could be detected at concentrations as low as 100 mM. Addition of the adrenergic drug propranolol to a mixture of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (2.5 microM) and 1,8-anilinonaphthalene sulfonate (4 microM) caused a hyperbolic decrease in dye fluorescence to 30% of the initial value, with half-maximal response near 1 microM propranolol. When the protein-dye mixture was heated, the fluorescence of the dye exhibited a reversible downward transition with midpoint near 65 degrees C, compared to a midpoint of 58.5 degrees C obtained by intrinsic fluorescence in the absence of dye. This stabilization was confirmed with fluorescein-labeled protein, whose fluorescence polarization revealed a melting transition at 58.8 degrees C in the absence of ligands which increased by 5-6 Cdeg in the presence of 1,8-anilinonaphthalene sulfonate or propranolol. The sensitivity of 1,8-anilinonaphthalene sulfonate fluorescence to changes in the conformation and ligand environment of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein should facilitate efforts to understand the structure and function of this acute-phase reactant.

Biological and physical properties of fibronectin pasteurized in the presence of stabilizers

Interest in human plasma fibronectin (Fn) as a potential clinical product for replacement therapy in septic patients has prompted the search for stabilizers to protect the protein from heat denaturation during pasteurization designed to inactivate hepatitis viruses. Fn was pasteurized (60 degrees C, 10 h) in the presence of either citrate, tricarballylate, sucrose or four mixtures of lysine, glucarate, gluconate or citrate which had been found to increase the denaturation temperature of Fn by greater than or equal to 19 degrees C. All but a citrate/gluconate mixture were effective in preventing aggregation as measured by dye fluorescence, light scattering, gel filtration and electrophoresis. Binding to gelatin was retained and immunological activity was only slightly diminished compared to a sample heated without stabilizers. Opsonic activity was measured as ability to mediate the uptake of 125I-gelatin-coated polystyrene beads by attached human monocytes. Fn heated without stabilizers underwent a transient increase in activity which was traced to formation of aggregates having elevated specific activities. Pasteurized samples had slightly elevated opsonic activities with no detectable aggregates present, while the unstabilized control was inactive. These results indicate that the physical properties of Fn as well as the functional activities of the gelatin- and cell-binding domains can be protected against thermal denaturation by various compounds.

Thermal stabilization of antithrombin III by sugars and sugar derivatives and the effects of nonenzymatic glycosylation

A variety of neutral and acidic sugars and related compounds were evaluated in terms of their effect on the midpoint, Td, of the thermal denaturation curve of antithrombin III. The objectives were to determine which structural features of these molecules are responsible for their stabilizing properties and to identify more efficient stabilizers which combine the effects of lyotropic anions such as citrate with those of the polyols in a single molecule. The presence of one or more carboxylate groups in a sugar molecule invariably increased its stabilizing potency, whereas the number and position of hydroxyl groups appeared to have no influence on the molecules' stabilizing ability. Several compounds were shown to be effective in preserving antithrombin III activity during pasteurization for 10 h at 60 degrees C. However, the presence of reducing sugars invariably resulted in a decrease in activity following pasteurization, in spite of their ability to increase Td. In fact, when antithrombin III was pasteurized in the presence of 2 M glucose and 0.5 M citrate, it steadily lost its ability to inhibit thrombin even though Td under these conditions was 10 degrees C higher than in citrate alone where activity was preserved. This effect was shown to be coincident with the covalent incorporation of glucose into the protein molecule.

Pasteurization of C1 inactivator in the presence of citrate salts

Conditions have been determined under which the C1 inactivator (C1-INA) can be pasteurized to reduce the risk of transfusion hepatitis associated with its use for replacement therapy in patients with genetic or acquired deficiencies. Recovery of 90% of the biological and immunological activity of a C1-INA concentrate was achieved following heat treatment for 10 h at 60 degrees C in the presence of 3 M potassium citrate. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis in heparinized agarose was used to demonstrate the ability of the pasteurized C1-INA to bind heparin and to form a precipitation pattern with antibody which was almost indistinguishable from that of an unheated control. High pressure liquid chromatography and enhancement of the fluorescence of 1,8-anilinonaphthalene sulfonate were used to show that other proteins present in the concentrate were also stabilized.

Thermal denaturation of alpha 1-protease inhibitor. Stabilization by neutral salts and sugars

Alpha 1-protease inhibitor (alpha 1 PI), also called alpha 1-antitrypsin, may be useful for replacement therapy in a number of chronic or acute disorders. The risk associated with the possible presence of hepatitis virus can be greatly reduced by pasteurization at 60 degrees C for 10 h. A series of thermal denaturation profiles was obtained in the presence of various protein stabilizers using the increase in 1,8-anilinonaphthalene sulfonate fluorescence that accompanies protein denaturation. A parallel series of experiments was conducted to evaluate each additive for its capacity to protect the biological activity of alpha 1 PI. As much as 92% of the inhibitory activity against elastase and trypsin could be recovered after pasteurization in buffer containing citrate (1.2 M) and either EDTA (0.5 M) or gluconate (1.2 M). Loss of activity was not affected by protein concentration. In conclusion, conditions have been developed to protect the bulk of alpha 1 PI from denaturation during pasteurization, and this should give an added impetus to efforts to test the efficacy of this protein in various clinical conditions.

Thermal denaturation of antithrombin III. Stabilization by heparin and lyotropic anions

Antithrombin III is of potential value for replacement therapy in patients with acquired or congenital deficiencies. Pasteurization of the purified inhibitor for 10 h at 60 degrees C can reduce the risk of transfusion hepatitis. Addition of appropriate stabilizers can largely prevent the loss of antithrombin activity which otherwise occurs during pasteurization. Studies of the mechanism of denaturation and stabilization have been facilitated by the use of 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonate which binds weakly to the inhibitor and whose fluorescence undergoes a sigmoidal response to increasing temperature. The extent of the increase in 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonate fluorescence correlates roughly with the loss of antithrombin activity and with the extent of protein aggregation as determined by high pressure liquid chromatography. The midpoint, Td, of the thermal denaturation curve increases by 13 degrees C and 19 degrees C in the presence of 0.5 M and 1.0 M sodium citrate, respectively. Phosphate, sulfate, and EDTA are also strong stabilizers while the chaotropic anions, iodide and thiocyanate are potent destabilizers. Heparin at 10 mg/ml increases Td by 7 degrees C, presumably through a direct binding mechanism; chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid have no effect. Samples pasteurized for 10 h at 60 degrees C in the presence of 0.5 M and 1.0 M citrate retain essentially full activity but exhibit evidence of minor alterations in their interaction with heparin.

Removal of polyethylene glycol from proteins by salt-induced phase separation

The use of poly(ethylene glycol) in the purification of plasma and cellular protein is somewhat complicated by the difficulty of removing it from the protein product. The method presented here, quickly and efficiently removes over 95% of the PEG by the simple addition of salts to induce an aqueous two-phase separation with the PEG in the upper phase and greater than 90% of the protein in the lower phase.

Separation of macromolecules by ultrafiltration: removal of poly(ethylene glycol) from human albumin

Mixtures of albumin and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were used to elucidate some of the factors which influence the separation of macromolecules by thin-channel ultrafiltration. Several membranes which readily passed PEG-4000 in the absence of protein were found to exhibit increased rejection of the synthetic polymer when albumin was added to the system. Based on a comparison of filtration flux and net sieving properties, the PM-30 membrane of Amicon was chosen for further characterization. The increased rejection of PEG-4000 in the presence of albumin was independent of albumin concentration between 1 and 100 mg/ml and persisted even after albumin was removed and the system flushed with water. Overnight incubation of the membrane with trypsin restored the original sieving properties, indicating that the 'permanent' effects were due to irreversible adsorption to the membrane. By measuring flux over a 10(6)-fold range of albumin concentration it was possible to resolve the effects of protein adsorption, a saturable process which occurs at low protein concentration (< 0.01 mg/ml), from the effects of concentration polarization which occur at high protein concentration (> 0.1 mg/ml). Only the former process has an effect on the net sieving properties in this system. In spite of the adverse effects of protein adsorption, it was still possible to obtain efficient removal of PEG-4000 from albumin. Exchange of approximately 5 vols. of solvent at room temperature resulted in a 10-fold reduction in the concentration of PEG in the sample, with no loss of albumin, and no formation of albumin dimers.