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We present an assay for easy quantification of metals introduced to samples prepared using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. The method uses hydroxynaphthol blue as the colorimetric metal indicator and a UV-Vis spectrophotometer as the detector.
Contamination of enzymes with metals leached from immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) columns poses a major concern for enzymologists, as many of the common di-and trivalent cations used in IMAC resins have an inhibitory effect on enzymes. However, the extent of metal leaching and the impact of various eluting and reducing reagents are poorly understood in large part due to the absence of simple and practical transition metal quantification protocols that use equipment typically available in biochemistry labs. To address this problem, we have developed a protocol to quickly quantify the amount of metal contamination in samples prepared using IMAC as a purification step. The method uses hydroxynaphthol blue (HNB) as a colorimetric indicator for metal cation content in a sample solution and UV-Vis spectroscopy as a means to quantify the amount of metal present, into the nanomolar range, based on the change in the HNB spectrum at 647 nm. While metal content in a solution has historically been determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy or inductively coupled plasma techniques, these methods require specialized equipment and training outside the scope of a typical biochemistry laboratory. The method proposed here provides a simple and fast way for biochemists to determine the metal content of samples using existing equipment and knowledge without sacrificing accuracy.
Since its inception by Porath and co-workers1, immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) has become a method of choice to quickly separate proteins based on their ability to bond with transition metal ions such as Zn2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Co2+. This is most commonly done via engineered poly-histidine tags and is now one of the most common chromatographic purification techniques for the isolation of recombinant proteins2. IMAC has also found applications beyond recombinant protein purification as a way to isolate quinolones, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, macrolides, and β-lactams for food sample analysis3 and as a step in identifying blood-serum protein markers for liver and pancreatic cancers4,5. Not surprisingly, IMAC has also become a method of choice for the isolation of a number of native bioenergetics enzymes6,7,8,9,10. However, successful implementation of these purification methods for studies on enzymatically active bioenergetic proteins is dependent on the presence of negligible levels of metal cations leached from the column matrix into the eluate. The divalent metal cations commonly used in IMAC have known pathologic biological significance, even at low concentrations11,12. The physiological effect of these metals is most pronounced in bioenergetic systems, where they can prove lethal as inhibitors of cellular respiration or photosynthesis13,14,15. Similar issues are unavoidable for the majority of protein classes where residual contaminant metals can interfere with a protein's biological functions or characterization with biochemical and biophysical techniques.
While the levels of metal contamination under oxidizing conditions and using imidazole as an eluant are typically low16, protein isolations performed in the presence of cysteine reducing agents (DTT, β-mercaptoethanol, etc.) or with stronger chelators like histidine17,18 or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) result in much higher levels of metal contamination19,20. Similarly, since metal ions in IMAC resins are frequently coordinated by carboxylic groups, protein elutions performed under acidic conditions are also likely to have much higher levels of metal contamination. Metal content in solutions can be assessed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) down to a limit of detection in the ppb-ppt range21,22,23,24. Unfortunately, AAS and ICP-MS are not realistic means for detection in a traditional biochemistry lab as those methods would require access to specialized equipment and training.
Previous work by Brittain25,26 investigated the use of hydroxynaphthol blue (HNB) as a way to identify the presence of transition metals in solution. However, there were several internal contradictions in the data20 and those works failed to offer an adequate protocol. Studies by Temel et al.27 and Ferreira et al.28 expanded on Brittain's work with HNB as a potential metal indicator. However, Temel developed a protocol that makes use of AAS for sample analysis, using HNB only as a chelating agent. Ferreira's study used the change in the HNB absorbance spectra at 563 nm, a region of the free-dye HNB spectra that overlaps heavily with the spectra of HNB-metal complexes at pH 5.7, making the assay sensitivity fairly low as well as resulting in relatively weak metal binding affinity20. To address issues in our own lab with Ni2+ leaching from IMAC, we have expanded the work done by Brittain25,26 and Ferreria28 to develop an easy assay capable of detecting nanomolar levels of several transition metals. We showed that HNB binds nickel and other common for IMAC metals with sub-nanomolar binding affinities and form 1:1 complex over a wide range of pH values20. The assay reported here is based on these findings and utilizes absorbance changes in the HNB spectrum at 647 nm for metal quantification. The assay can be performed in the physiological pH range using common buffers and instrumentation found in a typical biochemistry lab by using colorimetric detection and quantification of metal-dye complexes and the associated change in absorbance of the free-dye when it binds to metal.
1. Assay component preparation
2. Sample preparation and measurement
3. Metal quantification
The spectrum of free HNB at neutral pH (black line) and representative spectra of fractions assayed for Ni2+ from the isolation of MSP1E3D129 are shown in Figure 2. A successful assay series should demonstrate a decreased absorbance at 647 nm compared to the HNB control, which corresponds to the formation of HNB complexes in the presence of a transition metal. A failed assay would be indicated by an increase in absorbance at 647 nm. Alternatively, more than...
Colorimetric detection of metals using HNB provides a simple way to quantify the degree of protein contamination by transition metal ions from IMAC resins. As we established in Ref. 20, Ni2+ binds to HNB with 1:1 stoichiometry and the dissociation constant for the Ni-HNB complex changes with pH. However, the complex Kd is in the sub-nM range for all recommended (7-12) pH values. In practical terms, it means that all Ni2+ in any tested fractions will bind to HNB as long as no other strong ...
The authors have nothing to disclose.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant MCB-1817448 and by an award from the Thomas F. and Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust, Bank of America, Trustee and specified donor Hazel Thorpe Carman and George Gay Carman Trust.
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
2xYT broth | Fisher Scientific | BP9743-500 | media for E.coli growth |
HEPES, free acid | BioBasic | HB0264 | alternative buffer |
HisPur Ni-NTA resin | Thermo Scientific | 88222 | |
Hydroxynaphthol blue disoidum salt | Sigma-Aldrich | 219916-5g | |
Imidazole | Fisher Scientific | O3196-500 | |
Imidazole | BioBasic | IB0277 | |
MOPS, free acid | BioBasic | MB0360 | alternative buffer |
Sodium chloride | Fisher Scientific | S271-500 | |
Sodium phosphate | Fisher Scientific | S369-500 | alternative buffer |
Tricine | Gold Bio | T870-100 | |
Tris base | Fisher Scientific | BP152-500 | |
Triton X-100 | Sigma-Aldrich | T9284-500 |
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