Filamin c is the predominantly expressed filamin isoform in striated muscles. It is localized in myofibrillar Z- discs, where it binds FATZ and myotilin, and in myotendinous junctions and intercalated discs. Here, we identify Xin, the protein encoded by the human gene 'cardiomyopathy associated 1' (CMYA1) as filamin c binding partner at these specialized structures where the ends of myofibrils are attached to the sarcolemma. Xin directly binds the EVH1 domain proteins Mena and VASP. In the adult heart, Xin and Mena/VASP colocalize with filamin c in intercalated discs. In cultured cardiomyocytes, the proteins also localize in the nonstriated part of myofibrils, where sarcomeres are assembled and an extensive reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton occurs. Unusual intraexonic splicing events result in the existence of three Xin isoforms that associate differentially with its ligands. The identification of the complex filamin c-Xin-Mena/VASP provides a first glance on the role of Xin in the molecular mechanisms involved in developmental and adaptive remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton during cardiac morphogenesis and sarcomere assembly. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

This paper describes the principle of a homogeneous indirect fluorescence quenching immunoassay that uses monoclonal antibodies. It is a carrier-free assay system that is performed completely in solution. The assay system was established for the determination of a low molecular weight substance (hapten), the herbicide diuron, used as a model analyte. A fluorescein-monuron conjugate together with a fluorescence-quenching monoclonal anti-fluorescein antibody and an anti-analyte antibody (here an anti-diuron/monuron monoclonal antibody) were used as central components of the assay. The fluorescein-monuron conjugate can be bound either by the anti-fluorescein monoclonal antibody or by the anti-diuron/ monuron monoclonal antibody. Due to steric hindrance, binding of both antibodies to the conjugate was not possible at the same time. By selecting the antibody concentrations appropriately, a dynamic equilibrium can be established that permits the preferential binding of the anti-diuron/monuron antibody to the conjugate, which allows the fluorescein in the conjugate to fluoresce. This equilibrium can be easily altered by adding free analyte (diuron), which competes with the conjugate to bind to the anti-diuron/monuron antibody. A reduction of anti-diuron/monuron antibody binding to the conjugate results in an increase in the binding of the anti-fluorescein antibody, which leads to a decrease in the fluorescence of the conjugate. The fluorescence is therefore a direct indicator of the state of equilibrium of the system and thus also the presence of free unconjugated analyte. The determination of an analyte based on this test principle does not require any washing steps. After the test components are mixed, the dynamic equilibrium is rapidly reached and the results can be obtained in less than 5 min by measuring the fluorescence of the fluorescein. We used this test principle for the determination of diuron, which was demonstrated for concentrations of approximately 5 nM.

Biosensors which make use of the high specificity of enzymes, antibodies, and nucleic acids have been described for detection of numerous metabolites, hormones, and nucleic acid sequences. In addition to biological components nowadays biomimetic recognition molecules are also used. Especially antibodies, aptamers, and molecular imprints are promising biomimetics. They could broaden the range of detectable analytes and could increase the functional stability of the sensor. In this publication we describe the generation of biomimetic antibodies and biomimetic molecular imprints for binding creatinine and for hydrolyzing phenylcarbamates to be used in electrochemical sensors.

The influence of coating polystyrene tissue culture plates with different proteins on murine hybridoma cell growth and antibody production was investigated. Fibronectin, collagen I, bovine serum albumin and laminin were used to coat NUNC and COSTAR cell culture plates. Cell number and antibody concentration in culture fluids were quantified as indicators for cell viability, proliferation and productivity. Adhesive behaviour, morphology, expression of surface receptors of hybridoma cells and the presence of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in cell lysates were characterized by cell adhesion experiments, microscopy, flow cytometry and Western Blot analysis. It was shown that coatings with fibronectin (0.2 ;g/ml) lead to a substantial improvement of cell growth by 50-70% and an increase of monoclonal antibody production by 100-120%. Collagen I coatings showed an improvement in cell growth by 30-70% and by 60% for the production of monoclonal antibodies. Coatings with BSA and laminin had minor effects on these parameters. It was found that the hybridoma cell lines used in this study did not express the ;2-chain of the ;2;1-integrin, which is responsible for binding to collagen and laminin. However, the presence of ;1- integrin on the cell surface was shown, which should enable hybridoma cells to bind fibronectin. We propose, therefore, that fibronectin adsorption to cell culture materials may be a promising approach to enhance the production of monoclonal antibodies by cultivated hybridoma cells.

Sperm proteins of marine sessile invertebrates have been extensively studied to understand the molecular basis of reproductive isolation. Apart from molecules such as bindin of sea urchins or lysin of abalone species, the acrosomal protein M7 lysin of Mytilus edulis has been analyzed. M7 lysin was found to be under positive selection, but mechanisms driving the evolution of this protein are not fully understood. To explore functional aspects, this study investigated the protein expression pattern of M7 and M6 lysin in gametes and somatic tissue of male and female M. edulis. The study employs a previously published monoclonal antibody (G26-AG8) to investigate M6 and M7 lysin protein expression, and explores expression of both genes. It is shown that these proteins and their encoding genes are expressed in gametes and somatic tissue of both sexes. This is in contrast to sea urchin bindin and abalone lysin, in which gene expression is strictly limited to males. Although future studies need to clarify the functional importance of both acrosomal proteins in male and female somatic tissue, new insights into the evolution of sperm proteins in marine sessile invertebrates are possible. This is because proteins with male-specific expression (bindin, lysin) might evolve differently than proteins with expression in both sexes (M6/M7 lysin), and the putative function of both proteins in females opens the possibility that the evolution of M6/M7 lysin is under sexual antagonistic selection, for example, mutations beneficial to the acrosomal function that are less beneficial the function in somatic tissue of females.Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79: 517-524, 2012.