Example 3 Biochemical Detection

Enantiomeric excess can be detected in a number of ways. Direct observation of optical activity, that is, determination of the specific rotation [a]d of a compound, is cumbersome. Biochemical detection is also possible, although methodologies are generally specific to individual compounds or compound types. Indirect measurement through a chromatographic procedure, for example, gas chromatography or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry on a chiral stationary phase, has wide applicability and is very sensitive. 

Enzymes modified with carbohydrates (neoglycoenzymes) can be used in cytochemistry as described above or in biochemical detection of lectins in solid-phase assays to gain greater sensitivity in analysis. For example, bacterial 3-galactosidase modified with p-aminophenyl a-D-mannopyranoside via amide linkage was useful in determination of Con A immobilized on plastic microtiter plates, and lactose-modified P-galactosidase was effective in histochemical detection of galactoside-specific lectins [63]. Other enzymes frequently used for these applications are alkaline phosphatase and horse radish peroxidase. There are a number of colorimetric, fluorometric, and chemiluminescent substrates available for these enzymes. 

Analytical Applications. Chemiluminescence and bioluminescence are useful in analysis for several reasons. (/) Modem low noise phototubes when properly instmmented can detect light fluxes as weak as 100 photons/s (1.7 x 10 eins/s). Thus luminescent reactions in which intensity depends on the concentration of a reactant of analytical interest can be used to determine attomole—2eptomole amounts (10 to 10 mol). This is especially useful for biochemical, trace metal, and pollution control analyses (93,260—266) (see Trace and residue analysis). (2) Light measurement is easily automated for routine measurements as, for example, in clinical analysis. 

A number of biochemical markers not associated with the cell envelope allow the specific detection of individual microorganisms in environmental samples. These include secondary alcohols. For example, Mycobacterium xenopi can be detected through the hydrolysis of wax ester mycolates, which liberates 2-docosanol, a characteristic and dominant secondary alcohol, which can be detected at low levels by GC-MS. This biomarker was found to be very useful for the rapid detection of M. xenopi in drinking water (159,160). Results from the GC-MS detection of 2-docosanol were obtained within 2 days compared to the 12 weeks required for culturable detection of M. xenopi. The detection limit for this type of approach was found to be 10 colony-forming units (CFU) ml" drinking water. 

Finally, the integration of biochemical or biosensor methods with conventional chromatographic analyses should not be overlooked. For example, the use of im-munoaffinity columns prior to chemiluminescence or the use of biosensor detection systems following the chromatographic step may provide useful solutions to speciflc analytical needs. 

The power of the pooled GST fusion protein approach will increase as new biochemical reagents and assays become available. The development of chemical probes for biological processes, termed chemical biology, is a rapidly advancing field. For example, the chemical synthesis of an active site directed probe for identification of members of the serine hydrolase enzyme family has recently been described (Liu et al., 1999). The activity of the probe is based on the potent and irreversible inhibition of serine hydrolases by fluorophosphate (FP) derivatives such as diisopropyl fluorophosphate. The probe consists of a biotinylated long-chain fluorophosphonate, called FP-biotin (Liu et al., 1999). The FP-biotin was tested on crude tissue extracts from various organs of the rat. These experiments showed that the reagent can react with numerous serine hydrolases in crude extracts and can detect enzymes at subnanomolar... 

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