Mouse anti-Human MAX monoclonal antibody, clone 5F212B0

This work aimed the characterization of protease produced by Aspergillus avenaceus URM 6706 from the Caatinga/Brazil. The optimization of production by central composite design increased the protease activity 15.47 times. The protease had a pH optimum of 7.0 and a temperature optimum of 50 degrees C. The enzyme activity was kept at 96.7 and 80% at a pH 7.0 and 40 degrees C, respectively for 180 min. No metal ion has altered a protease activity considerably. The sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) inhibited protease activity by 50%. The protease was inhibited by PMSF, so the enzyme is serine protease. The K-m, V-max, and k(cat) values were of 0.358 mg/ml, 16.31 mg center dot ml(-1)center dot min(-1), and 1.58 s(-1), respectively. The activation energy for the hydrolysis of azocasein catalyzed by protease also estimated (E* = 14.4 kJ/mol). Evaluating the protease thermal denaturation was observed that higher half-life values (277.2 <= t(1/2)<= 912.2 min) indicating a good thermostability confirmed by the results of thermodynamic parameters the activation energy for thermal inactivation (E*d = 100.3 kJ/mol), enthalpy (97.43 <=Delta H*d <= 97.64 kJ/mol), and Gibbs free energy (104.13 <=Delta G*d <= 104.77 kJ/mol). The results obtained suggest that this protease produced by A. avenaceus URM 6706, which proved to be thermostable and, could be profitably exploited in industrial applications.

Cyclocreatine (LUM-001), a creatine analog, was evaluated for its nonclinical toxicity in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Deionized water as a vehicle control article or cyclocreatine was administered by oral gavage twice daily (approximately 12 +/- 1 h apart) at 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg/dose levels in rats up to 26 weeks followed by a 28-day recovery period. Due to an increased incidence of seizures, the 600 mg/kg/day dose group males were dosed only for 16-weeks followed by a 14-week recovery period. Thirteen males and four females from 600 mg/kg/day dose group were sacrificed at interim on Day 113 to study plausible brain lesions and not due to moribundity. There was a dose dependent increase in the number of seizure incidences in >= 60 mg/kg/day males and 600 mg/kg/day females. Microscopically, higher incidences of vacuoles in the brain at 600 mg/kg/day in both sexes, thyroid follicular atrophy and follicular cell hypertrophy at >= 200 mg/kg/day in males and 600 mg/kg/day in females, and seminiferous tubular degeneration and/or interstitial edema in testes at >= 200 mg/kg/day were observed. Mean plasma half-life of cyclocreatine was between 3.5 and 6.5 h. In conclusion, chronic administration of cyclocreatine by oral gavage in Sprague Dawley rats induced the seizures and microscopic lesions in the brain, testes and thyroid. Based on the results of this study the highest tested dose of 600 mg/kg/day (mean C-max of 151.5 mu g/mL; AUC(0-24) of 1970 h*mu g/mL) was considered the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in SD rats.