WO2004104219A1

WO2004104219A1 - Mass-based toxin assay and substrates therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2004104219A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/002233
Authority: WO
Inventors: Clifford Charles Shone; Elizabeth R. Evans; Stephen Peter Kidd
Original assignee: Health Protection Agency
Priority date: 2003-05-23
Filing date: 2004-05-24
Publication date: 2004-12-02
Also published as: CA2526476A1; AU2004241365A1; EP1627072A1; JP2007500513A; AU2004241365B2; US7670796B2; US20070148694A1; GB0311961D0

Abstract

An assay for a metalloprotease comprises (i) combining a test compound with a substrate, wherein the protease reacts with the substrate to form a product; and (ii) detecting presence of the metalloprotease by measuring the mass of the product.

Description

Mass-based Toxin Assay and Substrates Therefor

The invention relates to an assay for metalloproteases, especially for detecting the botulinum neurotoxins and anthrax lethal factor. The invention relates also to substrates for the assay.

Various strains of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum produce a family of seven structurally related but antigenically different protein neurotoxins (types A to G) which cause the syndrome botulism. Symptoms are presented as widespread flaccid paralysis which often results in death. Much effort has been imparted by the food industry to ensure that food treatment processes prevent the growth and toxin production of C. botulinum and there is a need for rapid, sensitive and specific assays for these toxins. At present the only method of confidence in the detection of the toxins is the acute toxicity test performed in mice. Although this test is exquisitely sensitive, with a detection limit of 1 mouse 50% lethal dose [MLD₅₀] being equivalent to 10-20 pg of neurotoxin/ml, it has a number of drawbacks: it is expensive to perform, requires a large number of animals and is not specific for the neurotoxin unless neutralisation tests using a specific antiserum are carried out in parallel. In addition the test takes up to 4 days to complete, The increasing resistance to such animal tests has also required the development of alternative rapid in vitro assays. A number of immunoassay systems have been reported but these immunoassays do not measure the biological activity of the neurotoxin and can lead to false positive results.

Over the past years significant progress has been made in deciphering the mode of action of the clostridial neurotoxins. The toxins have been demonstrated to act at the cellular level as highly specific zinc endoproteases cleaving various isoforms of three small proteins controlling the docking of the synaptic vesicles with the synaptic membrane. Botulinum neurotoxins A and E cleave specifically the 25 kDa synaptosomal associated protein (SNAP-25). Botulinum neurotoxin C cleaves the membrane protein syntaxin and SNAP-25. Botulinum neurotoxins types B, D, F and G act on a different intracellular target, vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP), also termed synaptobrevin. With the exception of botulinum type B and tetanus neurotoxins, all of the clostridial neurotoxins cleave their protein targets at different peptide bonds, generating fragments of different molecular sizes.

It is known from WO 95/33850 to immobilize a toxin substrate on a column, combine that with a solution suspected of containing toxin and then use antibodies specific to cleaved substrate to report presence of toxin. This assay works well, but requires specific reagents in the immobilized substrate and the detecting antibodies.

Anthrax lethal toxin, produced by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is the major cause of death in animals infected with anthrax. One component of this toxin, lethal factor (LF), is a metalloprotease which has been shown to cleave the amino terminus of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases 1 and 2 (MAPKK1 and MAPKK2). This cleavage inactivates MAPKK1 and inhibits the MAPK signal transduction pathway. Presently, there is no efficient assay for this toxin.

An object of the present invention is to provide a further assay for metalloprotease, especially for the botulinum toxins and anthrax lethal factor. In preferred embodiments, objects of the invention include providing an improved assay and an assay which can be used to detect different metalloproteases simultaneously.

A first aspect of the invention provides an assay for a protease, especially a metalloprotease, comprising the following steps:-

(a) combining a test compound with a substrate which comprises (i) a cleavage site for the protease, wherein the protease cleaves the substrate to form a product, and (ii) optionally, a tag that enables binding of the product to a solid phase,

(b) binding the product to a solid phase; and

(c) determining the mass of the product by mass spectrometry. An option is to use a substrate already bound to a solid phase, in which case step (b) is not needed as product (if any) will be bound to the solid phase.

In use of an embodiment of the invention for assay of metalloprotease toxin, substrates are used that are specifically cleaved at one site thus generating at least one product, a fragment of the substrate, of known molecular mass which may be used to identify the toxin serotype.

The assay system has the advantage that the serotype of a botulinum toxin may be determined by the mass of the fragment produced thus negating the need for specialised antibody reagents in the detection step. A further advantage of the invention is that it allows simultaneous assay of many, e.g. 4, 5, 6 or 7 serotypes of botulinum toxin. This is because substrates can be used such that the masses of the peptide fragments released are different for each of the botulinum neurotoxins.

Additionally, since the assay depends upon a highly conserved biological activity of the toxin, antigenic variations between toxins of the same group will not significantly affect the working of the assay. Further advantages of the assay system are that it is relatively rapid compared to ELISA systems, has a sensitivity better than conventional ELISA systems, and that only biologically active toxin is detected.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the assay comprises:-

(a) combining a test solution with substrate containing VAMP(synaptobrevin) and/or SNAP-25 and/or syntaxin (or fragments of these) to form a mixture,

(b) incubating the mixture in a buffer,

(c) binding the mixture on a solid-phase designed for mass spectrometry, and

(d) detecting one or more cleavage products by mass spectrometry. The invention may also be carried out by:- combining a test solution with a substrate solution (containing derivatives of VAMP/synaptobrevin and/or SNAP-25 and/or syntaxin) in which the substrate has been modified with a tag for binding to a solid phase,

incubating the mixture, e.g. in a suitable buffer system,

binding the incubated mixture on a solid-phase, designed for mass spectrometry, in which components of the mixture are bound via the binding tag, and

detecting and characterising one or more cleavage products by mass spectrometry

The tag is used to bind substrate and/or product to a solid phase so that the mass of the substrate or product can be determined. In some cases, a suitable tag occurs naturally in the substrate, for example VAMP/synaptobrevin will bind to hydrophobic surfaces without the need to be modified. If the substrate does not already comprise a tag then one can be introduced into or attached to the substrate.

The tag enables selective binding of product to the solid phase, with the advantage that product is at least partially separated from other components of the mixture which might interfere with the mass measurement step. Assays of the invention thus preferably include a further step of washing the solid phase to remove unbound components.

After the substrate and test compound are combined, protease present in the test compound cleaves the substrate to form two or more, generally two, fragments. The measurement/detection step is designed to detect one of these, usually the smaller fragment, referred to as the product. Generally, before measuring whether product has been formed, the mixture is allowed to incubate for a period. This allows access of the protease to the substrate, enabling a signal to be obtained even for very low protease levels. A suitable incubation time varies according to the details of the assay, but incubation of at least 10 minutes is usual, and at least 30 minutes or at least an hour is preferred.

The solid phase is such that it can be used for measurement of mass of the product, suitably by the SELDI method though other methods are also of application to the invention. Generally, the solid phase comprises a metallic surface to which or on which product can be bound. The surface is typically derivatized to facilitate this binding, and one solid phase used in specific embodiments is a chip.

Product can be bound to the surface by merely allowing solution containing product to dry on the surface. Preferably, product is specifically bound to the surface and then washed with buffer and/or water. Washed product can then be treated, if necessary, so that it is no longer covalently bound to the surface. The mass of product is then determined.

VAMP/synaptobrevin is the native protein target for botulinum serotypes B, D, F and G and contains the sequence: tyrosine: tryptophan: tryptophan (YWW) in its C- terminal region, which sequence binds strongly to hydrophobic surfaces. The sequence thus provides a naturally occurring tag for binding peptide fragments to a hydrophobic chip surface designed for mass spectral analysis. A similar tag or motif is optionally incorporated into those toxins substrates (e.g. SNAP-25) where a similar hydrophobic domain is absent so as to provide a modified substrate comprising a site for cleavage by a protease and a domain for binding the modified substrate, whether intact or after cleavage by protease, to a hydrophobic surface.

A hydrophobic motif can be incorporated into or added to a given substrate by a short sequence of contiguous hydrophobic amino acids, e.g. leucine, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan. A sequence of from 3 to 5 is generally suitable to enable the substrate (and fragment generated by cleavage) to bind to a hydrophobic surface without rendering the substrate or fragment insoluble. Thus a further embodiment of the invention comprises:- combining a test solution with a substrate solution (containing derivatives of VAMP/synaptobrevin and/or SNAP-25 and/or syntaxin) in which the substrate either contains a tag/motif for binding hydrophobic surfaces or has been modified to contain such a tag/motif, incubating the mixture in a suitable buffer system, binding the mixture on a hydrophobic solid-phase, designed for mass spectrometry, in which components of the mixture are bound via the binding hydrophobic tag/motif, and detection and characterisation of one or more cleavage products by mass spectrometry.

A further example of a tag for directed binding is biotin. A biotin tag may be introduced into a protein via cysteine residues. These may be either naturally occurring or introduced by mutagenesis. VAMP/synaptobrevin does not contain any cysteine residues in the C-terminal region and a cysteine may be added, by mutagenesis, to the C-terminus of the hydrophilic domain to give the C-terminal sequence:- lysine: asparagine: leucine: lysine: cysteine (KNLKC).

The latter sequence may then be conveniently modified to contain a biotin tag with chemical reagents such as polyethylene oxide maleimide-activated biotin.

In the case of SNAP-25, a number of cysteine residues exist in the peptide, but are not conveniently located. For efficient operation of the invention, it is preferred to modify these cysteines, by mutagenesis, into serine residues and also introduce an additional cysteine, e.g. at the C-terminus. The latter will then provide a suitable site for the incorporation of a biotin residue.

After cleavage of the biotinylated substrate by a toxin, the resulting biotinylated fragment may be immobilised onto a streptavidin-coated solid phase designed for mass spectral analysis. Hence, specific embodiments of the invention using biotin and streptavidin comprise:- combining a test solution with a substrate solution (containing derivatives of VAMP/synaptobrevin and/or SNAP-25 and/or syntaxin) in which the substrate contains a biotin residue,

incubating the mixture in a suitable buffer system,

binding the mixture on a streptavidin-coated solid-phase, designed for mass spectrometry, in which components of the mixture are bound via the biotin residue, and

detecting and characterising one or more cleavage products by mass spectrometry.

The assays can be carried out using a single substrate that is cleaved by different toxins/proteases, in or potentially in a test compound, to yield different products that are distinguishable from each other by their mass. The assays can also be carried out using a plurality of substrates cleaved by different toxins/proteases to yield different products. Hence, a single assay can identify presence of one or a plurality of toxins/proteases.

In an application in which the assay of the invention is used to detect toxin in a complex medium, such as a food stuff, it may be necessary to remove the bulk of the food stuff prior to assay using SELDI-MS. This may easily be achieved by introducing a pre-capture step as follows:-

- mix the sample with a resin on which an antibody to the toxin has been immobilised

- remove the unbound material by washing

- elute the toxin using a low pH buffer (typically pH4 or less, preferably pH3 or less) - test the elute for the presence of toxin using the assay of the invention.

Generally, the pre-capture comprises mixing the test compound with antibody specific for the toxin, separating the antibody from the mixture, thereby separating toxin, if present, from the mixture, to form a pre-capture mixture, and testing the latter for toxin. A similar procedure can be employed, if necessary, for other media such as serum and faecal samples.

Anthrax lethal factor cleaves a small peptide from the N-terminus of mitogen- activated kinase kinases 1 and 2 (MAPKK 1 or MAPKK2). A peptide is cleaved from MAPKK2 with the sequence:-

Leucine-alanine-arginine-arginine-lysine-proline-valine-leucine-proline (LARRKPVLP).

MAPKK1 or MAPKK2, or a fragment thereof, may be modified for the assay of the invention by the addition of a cysteine residue, optionally to the N-terminus, by mutagenesis using a similar strategy described for SNAP-25 above. This residue may then be used as a site for the introduction of a biotin moiety.

In yet a further specific embodiment of the invention is an assay which may be used to detect the presence of anthrax lethal factor or anthrax lethal toxin and this comprises:- combining a test solution with a substrate comprising MAPKK1 or MAPKK1 (or fragments of these) and in which the substrate also contains a biotin residue,

incubating the mixture in a suitable buffer system,

binding the mixture on a streptavidin-coated solid-phase, designed for mass spectrometry, in which components of the mixture are bound via the biotin residue, and detecting and characterising one or more cleavage products by mass spectrometry.

For both botulinum toxin and anthrax lethal factor assays, it is straightforward to conceive of various other tags that are readily employed in the invention to capture a peptide fragment on the surface designed for mass spectral analysis. Examples of these include: a motif consisting of charged residues for capturing the peptide fragment on a cationic or anionic exchange matrix, and a motif that is recognised by an antibody immobilised on a chip surface.

One technique for coupling the test compound to the solid-phase is via an antibody. This can be an antibody which recognises a specific sequence on the peptide substrate, e.g. the C-terminal sequence of VAMP: tryptophan: tryptophan: lysine: asparagine: leucine: lysine (WWKNLK)

More preferably, the antibody will recognise a newly exposed N- or C-terminal sequence on the substrate which results from the proteolytic action of the neurotoxin. These antibodies more preferably bind to product but not to substrate, improving the selective binding of product to the solid phase.

For example, in the case of type B neurotoxin, the toxin cleaves between a glutamine and a phenylalanine bond of VAMP resulting in the newly exposed peptides sequences:-

KAASSEF-n terminal and LQAGASQ-c terminal.

Antibodies raised against these peptides may be used as the solid phase capture in the assay of the invention. These antibodies may be polyclonal, e.g. raised in rabbits, but are preferably monoclonal, such as mouse monoclonal antibodies.

For the assay of the various botulinum serotypes and anthrax LF, antibodies are suitably produced against the following sequences:- BoNT/A 1. RIDEANQ-c terminal

2. GLMKTAR-n-terminal

BoNT/B 1. KAASSEF-n terminal

2. LQAGASQ-c terminal

BoNT/C 1. IDEANQR-c terminal

2. SGLMKTA-n terminal

BoNT/D 1. VLERDQK-c terminal

2. RDDLESL-n terminal

BoNT/E 1. QNRQIDR-c terminal

2. SDAKEMI-n terminal

BoNT/F 1. KVLERDQ-c terminal

2. DDLESLK-n terminal

BoNT/G 1. SQFESSA-c terminal

2. YKRKLKA-n terminal

Anthrax LF 1. RRKPVLP-c terminal

(note that the above sequences are generated by cleavage of the toxin substrate and hence the cleavage site is between the respective c-terminal and n-terminal ends of the pairs; the cleavage site for tetanus toxin is the same as for BoNT/B).

Antibodies may be made by (i) adding a cysteine residue to the left-hand side of the above sequences, (ii) coupling to a suitable carrier protein, and (iii) immunisation of the animal of choice. An advantage of using antibodies to the above peptides in the assay system is that the cleavage product will be selectively bound. A further and significant advantage is that it does not matter if there is a small amount of the intact substrate that also binds, since the mass spectral analysis can be made selective for peptides of a defined size so that the intact substrate will not interfere with the detection process.

Thus, a further embodiment of the invention comprises:- combining a test solution with a substrate to form a mixture,

optionally, incubating the mixture in a suitable buffer system,

binding the mixture on an antibody-coated solid-phase, designed for mass spectrometry, and

detection and characterisation of one or more cleavage products by mass spectrometry.

A number of abbreviations are used herein. "SELDI-MS" means "surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry". "BoNT" means botulinum neurotoxin which can be one of 7 serotypes labelled A-G. For example BoNT/A means botulinum neurotoxin serotype A. "VAMP" or "VAMP/synaptobrevin" means "vesicle-associated membrane protein" which is a protein substrate for BoNT/B, BoNT/D, BoNT/F and BoNT/G. "SNAP-25" means "synaptosomal protein of 25 kilodaltons" which is a substrate for BoNT/A, BoNT/C and BoNT/E. "MAPKK" means "mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase" and is a substrate for anthrax lethal factor.

The invention has been described in relation to detection of metalloprotease toxins. In a more general aspect, the invention relates to detection of proteases, providing an assay comprising:- combining a test compound with a substrate, wherein the protease reacts with the substrate to form a product; and

detecting presence of the protease by measuring the mass of the product.

Typically, the protease cleaves the substrate so as to form a product having lower mass than the substrate, and presence of the protease is detected by measuring the mass of the product.

The invention relates also to reagents and specifically provides a reagent comprising the substrate and the tag of the invention and, separately, a solid phase component comprising the substrate and a solid phase for mass determination in a mass spectrometer.

The invention is now described in the following examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 shows the results of a SELDI MS assay for BoNT/B in which recombinant VAMP (excluding the transmembrane domain) was used as the substrate for BoNT/B and the C-terminal fragment of VAMP was captured on a hydrophobic (H4) chip using the native YWW motif on VAMP;

Fig. 2 shows the results of a SELDI MS assay for BoNT/B in which a VAMP (60-94) peptide was used as the substrate for BoNT/B and the C-terminal fragment of VAMP was captured on a hydrophobic (H4) chip using the native YWW motif on VAMP;

Fig. 3 shows the results of a SELDI MS assay for BoNT/B in which a VAMP (60-94) peptide which had a biotin residue at the C-terminus was used as the substrate for BoNT/B and the C-terminal fragment of VAMP was captured using a streptavidin-coated PS20 chip; Fig.4 shows the results of a SELDI MS assay for BoNT/A using recombinant SNAP-25 in which a C-terminal hydrophobic motif (sequence: YWW) had been added and the C-terminal fragment of SNAP-25 containing the YWW sequence was captured on a hydrophobic (H4) chip; and

Fig. 5 shows the results of a SELDI MS assay for BoNT/F in which recombinant VAMP (excluding the transmembrane domain) was used as the substrate for BoNT/F and the C-terminal fragment of VAMP was captured on a hydrophobic (H4) chip using the native YWW motif on VAMP.

Examples

Example 1. Production of recombinant substrates for the assay system Standard molecular biology protocols were used for all genetic manipulations (eg. Sambrook et al. 1989, Molecular Cloning a Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York).

VAMP constructs were prepared using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to amplify the required regions of human VAMP lsoform-1. Standard molecular biology techniques were used to add any additional amino acid residues required. Examples of these include:-

VAMP amino acids 1-96

VAMP amino acids 1-96 with an additional C-terminal cysteine residue.

For these VAMP constructs, oligonucleotides were modified by PCR to introduce βamHI and Xho\ sites at the 5' and 3' ends respectively. A truncated gene with the same cloning sites but lacking the 3' sequence encoding a hydrophobic tail was also prepared by PCR. The gene fragments were subcloned into the expression vector pGEX-4T1 (AP Biotech) digested with BamH\-Xho\. All clones were checked by sequencing to confirm the insertion of the correct fragment. The clones were transformed into the BL21 expression strain (Promega UK) before expression and purification. Cultures of BL21::pGEX 4T-VAMP were grown in Terrific Broth and production of the GST- VAMP fusion protein induced with 500μM IPTG. Cells were harvested by centrifugation and the pellet resuspend pellet in 40ml PBS (pH 7.4) and stored at -20°C until use. Cells (20ml) were disrupted by sonication and then centrifuged at 15,000rpm for 30minutes. The supernatant was diluted with 20mi of PBS and applied slowly (4-5ml/min) to a column (5ml) of Glutathione Sepharose GSTrap FF column (AP Biotech) which had previously been equilibrated with 5 column volumes of PBS. The column was washed with 10 column volumes of PBS and the bound GST- VAMP eluted slowly in 5 column volumes of 50mM Tris, 10mM reduced glutathione; pH 8.0 (4- 5ml-min). Fractions containing GST-VAMP were dialysed against either 50mM HEPES (pH 7.4), or PBS if the construct is to be biotinylated.

SNAP-25 constructs were prepared using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to amplify the required regions of human SNAP-25. Standard molecular biology techniques were used to add or modify any amino acid residues as required. Examples of these include:-

SNAP-25 amino acids 1-206;

SNAP-25 amino acids 1-206 in which the 4 internal cysteine residues have been mutated to serine; and

SNAP-25 amino acids 1-206 in which the 4 internal cysteine residues have been mutated to serine and which has an additional C-terminal cysteine residue added to the C-terminus.

For these SNAP-25 constructs, oligonucleotides were modified by PCR to introduce SamH1 and EcoR1 sites at the 5' and 3' ends respectively. Expression and purification was as described for the VAMP constructs above.

Example 2. Biotinylation of substrates for the assay Polyethylene oxide-maleimide activated biotin (Pierce) at 10mM was freshly prepared in PBS. To 100μl of this biotin solution, 2.5ml of approximately 1 mg/ml GST-VAMP, GST-SNAP-25 or MAP kinase kinase peptide in PBS was added and incubated at room temperature for 4 hours. In all instances the substrate contained a free cysteine residue. Remaining free biotin was then removed by dialysis or chromatography into 50mM Hepes (pH 7.4) buffer.

Example 3. Assay for botulinum neurotoxin types B. D. F and G using a hydrophobic chip

The assay used VAMP construct which consists of GST Human-VAMP- (ending in KNLK) 5 mg/ml in Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4). This was diluted with an equal volume of Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4) buffer containing 50mM DTT and 50μM ZnCI₂. To 3μl of the above substrate solution add 2μl of toxin solution in a buffer such as Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4) and incubate the mixture for 2 hours at 37°C.

Standard toxin solutions were prepared in order to calibrate the assay system. Dilutions of : 0.1, 0.03, 0.01 , 0.003, 0.001 , 0.0003, 0 μg/ml were prepared in a suitable buffer such as Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4). These were mixed and incubated with the VAMP substrate as described above.

Spots on a H4 (hydrophobic) chip (Ciphergen Inc.) were outlined with a wax pen and washed with 10ul water per spot. After incubation, 3μl of each test samples was then added to each spot and incubated for 30min at RT. Spots were then washed with 10μl Hepes and 10μl water. After washing, chips were then air-dried and 2 x 0.5μl Energy Absorbing Molecules (alphacyano-4-hydroxy cinnamic acid diluted in 50% acetonitrile and 0.5% trifluroacetic acid to 1/3 saturation) was added and dried.

Chips were then read in a SELDI mass spectrometer (Ciphergen Inc.) Depending on the botulinum serotype present, peaks of various masses will be present in the mass spectrum. Approximate masses of the expected peaks are shown below:-

- peptide product mass for BoNT/B = 2411.3

- peptide product mass for BoNT/F = 4280.3

- peptide product mass for BoNT/D = 4152.2

- peptide product mass for BoNT/G = 1762.1

The mass of the peak observed in the spectrum thus confirms and identifies the botulinum toxin serotypes present in test samples.

An assay for BoNT/B was carried out on a Ciphergen H4 hydrophobic chip as described using known toxin concentrations. The strong mass peak at approx. MH⁺ 2411 indicated the presence of BoNT/B - see the results illustrated in Figure 1. A further assay using a VAMP (60-94) peptide was tested using an H4 chip and the results are shown in Fig.2. An assay for BoNT/F was tested and the results are shown in Fig.5.

Example 4. Assay for botulinum neurotoxin types B. P. F and G using a streptavidin-coated chip

The assay used biotinylated VAMP construct which consists of GST Human- VAMP-1 (ending in KNLKC-biotin) 5 mg/ml in Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4). This was diluted with an equal volume of Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4) buffer containing 50mM DTT and 50μM ZnCI₂. To 3μl of the above substrate solution, 12μl of toxin solution in a buffer such as Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4) was added and the mixture incubated for 2 hours at 37°C.

Standard toxin solutions were prepared in order to calibrate the assay system. Dilutions of: 0.1, 0.03, 0.01, 0.003, 0.001, 0.0003, 0 μg/ml were prepared in a suitable buffer such as Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4). These were mixed and incubated with the VAMP substrate as described above.

SELDI chips were labelled with streptavidin as follows. Preactivated PS20 chips (Ciphergen) were place in a humidity chamber and add 3μl of PBS to each spot (or ammonium bicarbonate, pH8) added. 2μl of a 0.5-1 mg/ml streptavidin solution in PBS to each spot was the added and the chip incubated for 1h in the humidity chamber at room temperature or at 4°C overnight. Residual active sites were blocked by adding 1μl of 1M ethanolamine (made up in PBS and adjusted to pH 8) and incubating for 30 min. The chip was then washed in a 15ml falcon tube with 3x5ml of PBS + 0.5% Triton x100, 5 min each and then 2x5ml of PBS, 5 min. Excess solution was flicked off the chip and the bottom and edges quickly dried. Chips were placed in a humidity chamber and 5ul PBS added to each spot. Drying was continued around the spots by replacing the 5μl PBS until the hydrophobic coating was re-established and the 5μl of PBS sat proud on the spots.

Chips prepared as above were washed with PBS, the buffer removed and 3μl of each test sample incubations were then added to each spot and incubated for 10 min at RT. Spots were then washed with 2 x 10μl Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4) buffer and 10μl water. After washing, chips were then air-dried and 2 x 0.5μl Energy Absorbing Molecules (alphacyano-4-hydroxy cinnamic acid diluted in 50% acetonitrile and 0.5% trifluroacetic acid to 1/3 saturation) was added and dried.

- peptide product mass for BoNT/B = 3039.9

- peptide product mass for BoNT/F = 4908.9

- peptide product mass for BoNT/D = 4780.8 - peptide product mass for BoNT/G = 2390.7

The mass of the peak observed in the spectrum thus confirms and identifies the botulinum toxin serotypes present in test samples. The results for a BoNT/B assay are shown in Fig.3.

Example 5. Assay for botulinum neurotoxins types A and E using a streptavidin-coated chip

The assay used biotinylated SNAP-25 construct which consists of GST Human- SNAP-25 in which the 4 internal serines have been mutated to cysteine and which a cysteine has been added to the C-terminus and biotinylated (i.e. the protein ends with the sequence LGSGC-biotin). A solution (5 mg/ml in 50mM Hepes pH 7.4) was diluted with an equal volume of Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4) buffer containing 50mM DTT and 50μM ZnCI₂. To 3μl of the above substrate solution, 12μl of toxin solution in a buffer such as Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4) was added and the mixture incubated for 2 hours at 37°C.

In the case of assays for BoNT/C, it is necessary to add positively charged liposomes of synaptosomes to the incubation mixture. For the assays, 1μl of a 0.2 mg/ml (total protein) solution of rat brain synaptosomes was added.

Standard toxin solutions were prepared in order to calibrate the assay system. Dilutions of: 0.1 , 0.03, 0.01, 0.003, 0.001 , 0.0003, 0 μg/ml were prepared in a suitable buffer such as Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4). These were mixed and incubated with the SNAP-25 substrate as described above.

SELDI chips were labelled with streptavidin as follows. Preactivated PS20 chips (Ciphergen) were place in a humidity chamber and add 3μl of PBS to each spot (or ammonium bicarbonate, pH8) added. 2μl of a 0.5-1 mg/ml streptavidin solution in PBS to each spot was the added and the chip incubated for 1 h in the humidity chamber at room temperature or at 4°C overnight. Residual active sites were blocked by adding 1μl of 1M ethanolamine (made up in PBS and adjusted to pH 8) and incubating for 30 min. The chip was then washed in a 15ml falcon tube with 3x5ml of PBS + 0.5% Triton x100, 5 min each and then 2x5ml of PBS, 5 min. Excess solution was flicked off the chip and the bottom and edges quickly dried. Chips were placed in a humidity chamber and 5ul PBS added to each spot. Drying was continued around the spots by replacing the 5μl PBS until the hydrophobic coating was re-established and the 5μl of PBS sat proud on the spots.

peptide product mass for BoNT/A = 1548.1 peptide product mass for BoNT/C = 1392.0 peptide product mass for BoNT/E = 3492.1

The mass of the peak observed in the spectrum thus confirms and identifies the botulinum toxin serotypes present in test samples. The results for a BoNT/A assay are shown in Fig.4.

Example 6. Assay for anthrax lethal factor using a streptavidin-coated chip The assay uses a synthetic biotinylated human MAPKK2 peptide which consists of the N-terminal 60 residues and which contains a biotinylated N-terminal cysteine residue (i.e. the protein begins with the sequence biotin-CLARRKP). A solution (0.5 mg/ml in 50mM Hepes pH 7.4) was diluted with an equal volume of Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4) buffer containing 50mM DTT and 50μM ZnCI₂. To 3μl of the above substrate solution, 12μl of toxin solution in a buffer such as Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4) was added and the mixture incubated for 2 hours at 37°C.

Standard toxin solutions were prepared in order to calibrate the assay system. Dilutions of: 0.1 , 0.03, 0.01, 0.003, 0.001, 0.0003, 0 μg/ml were prepared in a suitable buffer such as Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4). These were mixed and incubated with the human MAPKK-2 peptide substrate as described above.

Chips were then read in a SELDI mass spectrometer (Ciphergen Inc.) The approximate mass of the expected peak is shown below:-

peptide product mass for anthrax LF = 1678.1

The mass of the peak observed in the spectrum thus confirms the presence of anthrax LF in test samples.

Example 7. Assay for botulinum neurotoxin type B using an antibody-coated chip

The assay used a VAMP construct which consists of GST Human- VAMP-1 (ending in KNLK) 5 mg/ml in Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4). This was diluted with an equal volume of Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4) buffer containing 50mM DTT and 50μM ZnCI₂. To 3μl of the above substrate solution, 12μl of toxin solution in a buffer such as Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4) was added and the mixture incubated for 2 hours at 37°C.

Standard toxin solutions were prepared in order to calibrate the assay system. Dilutions of: 0.1 , 0.03, 0.01, 0.003, 0.001 , 0.0003, 0 μg/ml were prepared in a suitable buffer such as Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4). These were mixed and incubated with the VAMP substrate as described above.

Purified antibody raised against the sequence CKAASSEF-n terminal was used for the assay procedure. SELDI chips were labelled with antibody as follows. Preactivated PS20 chips (Ciphergen) were place in a humidity chamber and 3μl of PBS added to each spot (or ammonium bicarbonate, pH8) added. 2μl of a 0.5- 1 mg/ml antibody solution in PBS to each spot was then added and the chip incubated for 1h in the humidity chamber at room temperature or at 4°C overnight. Residual active sites were blocked by adding 1μl of 1M ethanolamine (made up in PBS and adjusted to pH 8) and incubating for 30 min. The chip was then washed in a 15ml falcon tube with 3x5ml of PBS + 0.5% Triton x100, 5 min each and then 2x5ml of PBS, 5 min. Excess solution was flicked off the chip and the bottom and edges quickly dried. Chips were placed in a humidity chamber and 5μl PBS added to each spot. Drying was continued around the spots by replacing the 5μl PBS until the hydrophobic coating was re-established and the 5μl of PBS sat proud on the spots.

Chips prepared as above were washed with PBS, the buffer removed and 3μl of each test sample incubations were then added to each spot and incubated for 60 min at RT. Spots were then washed with 2 x 10μl Hepes (50mM, pH 7.4) buffer and 10μl water. After washing, chips were then air-dried and 2 x 0.5μl Energy Absorbing Molecules (alphacyano-4-hydroxy cinnamic acid diluted in 50% acetonitrile and 0.5% trifluroacetic acid to 1/3 saturation) was added and dried.

Chips were then read in a SELDI mass spectrometer (Ciphergen Inc.)

Depending on the botulinum serotype present, peaks of various masses will be present in the mass spectrum. Approximate mass of the expected peak is shown below:-

peptide product mass for BoNT/B = 2411.3

Claims

1. An assay for a metalloprotease, comprising :-

combining a test compound with a substrate, wherein the metalloprotease reacts with the substrate to form a product; and

detecting presence of the protease by measuring the mass of the product.

2. An assay according to Claim 1 wherein the metalloprotease cleaves the substrate so as to form a product having lower mass than the substrate, and presence of the metalloprotease is detected by measuring the mass of the product.

3. An assay according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the assay is for detecting whether either or both of a first metalloprotease and a second metalloprotease are present in the test compound, wherein the first metalloprotease cleaves the substrate so as to form a first product having a first mass and the second metalloprotease cleaves the substrate so as to form a second product having a second mass, the mass of the first product being different from the mass of the second product, and wherein the respective masses of products obtained is measured so as to determine the presence of first product, second product or both first product and second product.

4. An assay according to any of Claims 1 to 3, comprising:-

binding the product to a solid phase, and

determining the mass of the product bound to the solid phase using mass spectrometry.

5. An assay according to Claim 4 wherein test compound is combined with substrate and thereafter product is bound to the solid phase.

6. An assay according to any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein substrate is bound to solid phase and thereafter test compound is combined with substrate.

7. An assay according to any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the substrate comprises a tag that enables binding of the substrate and the product to a solid phase.

8. An assay according to Claim 7 wherein the tag comprises a peptide sequence which binds to a hydrophobic surface.

9. An assay according to Claim 7 wherein the tag binds to an antibody.

10. An assay according to Claim 7 wherein the tag binds to biotin or streptavidin.

11. An assay according to any of Claims 1 to 10 wherein substrate is cleaved by protease to form a product and the assay comprises:-

binding product to a solid phase using a binding partner specific for that product.

12. An assay according to Claim 11 wherein the binding partner is an antibody specific for the product.

13. An assay according to any of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the substrate is cleaved by botulinum toxin or anthrax toxin or anthrax lethal factor.

14. An assay according to any of Claims 1 to 13, comprising binding product to a solid phase using an antibody that binds to product but not to substrate.

15. An assay according to any preceding claim, wherein the substrate comprises (a) VAMP, (b)SNAP-25, (c) syntaxin, (d) a fragment of any of (a)-(c) which fragment comprises a metalloprotease cleavage site, or (e) a metalloprotease cleavage site.

16. An assay according to any of Claims 1 to 14 wherein the substrate comprises MAPKK1 , MAPKK2 or a fragment thereof which comprises a metalloprotease cleavage site.

17. An assay according to any previous claim, comprising binding product to a solid phase, washing the solid phase and detecting product on the solid phase.

18. A reagent for a toxin assay comprising :- a substrate with a site for cleavage by the toxin; and

a tag for binding of the substrate to a solid phase.

19. A reagent according to Claim 18 wherein the tag is selected from a hydrophobic region which binds to a solid phase, an antibody, biotin and streptavidin.

20. A reagent according to Claim 18 or 19 wherein the substrate comprises a site for cleavage by a botulinum toxin or by anthrax lethal factor or by anthrax lethal toxin.

21. A solid phase component of a assay for metalloprotease, comprising:-

a substrate with a site for cleavage by the metalloprotease; and a solid phase for use in measurement of mass in a mass spectrometer.

22. A solid phase component according to Claim 21 , comprising a reagent according to any of Claims 18 to 20.

23. A solid phase component according to Claim 21 or 22 wherein the substrate is bound to the solid phase.

24. Use of (a) a reagent according to any of Claims 18 to 20 in combination with (b) a solid phase for use in a mass spectrometer, in manufacture of a kit for assay of metalloprotease.