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Functional Assays
Cellulase We're most interested in endo-1,4-beta-glucanases, as they are the rate limiting step in cellulose degradation. However, it may be necessary to include exocellulases to relieve product inhibition (this may or may not be true, see: doi:10.1016/0076-6879(88)60109-1 <--- suggests there is no synergism between exo's and endo's....

This is the sequencing paper from which we have taken all of our (Cellvibrio japonicus) "cellulases" up to this point: doi:10.1128/JB.01701-07

This is a Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) assay (CMC is soluble) that is colorimetric: http://secure.megazyme.com/downloads/en/data/S-ACMC.pdf

Here is an example of a cellulase being displayed by an Ice-Nucleation Protein displayer: doi:10.1016/S0141-0229(97)00224-X of particular note is the congo-red plate-based assay)

DNS based assay for soluble and insoluble cellulose: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/107623737/abstract Plate Based Screen: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120054853/abstract

Cellulose Binding Module (CBM) review: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=1133952&blobtype=pdf

Superoxide dismutase Superoxide dismutase catalyzes the reaction: $$2(O_2)^-+2H^+ --> (H_2)(O_2)+O_2$$ As the oxygen radical is too reactive to measure directly, all assays rely on the ability of SOD to compete with a free radical scavenger and inhibit a reaction with a chlorophore as a product. Here are a list of commonly used assays which would be appropriate in liquid cultures:

Cytochrome C: NBT:
 * Measure inhibition of the initial rate of cytochrome C reduction under:
 * 50 uM kPi
 * 0.1 mM EDTA
 * 50 uM Xanthine
 * 10 uM ferricytochrome C
 * Enough Xanthine Oxidase (~6nM) to cause an initial rate of absorption at 550nm of 0.025/min at pH 7.8 and 25 °C in a 3mL reaction can
 * Problems:
 * Need to establish the actual concentration of ferricytochrome C in stock solution.
 * Cytochrome C contamination with SOD
 * contamination of XO with lactoperoxidase
 * XO loses FAD and can't be inhibited
 * Other inhibitors/competitors in liquid culture
 * Measure Absorbance at 560nm as a function of time in a sample containg SOD and a control sample
 * The following mixture is prepared:
 * 27mL Buger (pH 7.8)
 * 1.5 mL I-Methionine (300 mg/10)
 * 1 mL NBT . 2HCL (14.1 mg/10mL)
 * 750 uL Triton X-100 1% (w/v)
 * 10 uL Riboflavin 4.4mg/100mL
 * they used 20 uL of purified SOD.
 * The mixture is illuminated for 7 minutes and $$ A_560 $$ is measured.

Something More Qualitative: PMID: 3034103
 * Could see if cells don't die in an environment containing reactive oxygen species. It would be easier then buying all of the reactants needed for qualitative measurements.
 * References:

EspA scfv If we are able to work with OH:157: If we are not able to work with OH:157: PMID: 15243046
 * outer cell membrane fractions could be prepared from liquid cultures and a western blot could be preformed using the outer membrane expressed scfv.
 * Some sort of out growth assay based upon the ability of our cells to bind to immobilized OH:157 cells
 * we will need to express a histidine (or streptavidin binding peptide) tagged espA in e. coli. This protein would need to be purified and imobilized on a column.
 * An ELISA could be preformed
 * References:

--- Tir This paper has some information about the binding between intimin and Tir: doi:10.1074/jbc.M401616200