Name: Colorimetric Analysis of Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in S. aureus Biofilm (Video) | JoVE Journal
Uploaded: 2019-04-12T15:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 4 min 59 s
Description: Learn a high-throughput colorimetric method to quantify alkaline phosphatase activity in Staphylococcus aureus biofilm cultures using 96-well plates. This sensitive protocol enables efficient screening of biofilm formation mechanisms.

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5 minutes

We thank William Rainey Harper College and the University of Illinois at Chicago for the facility to conduct these experiments. We also thank McGraw Hill Foundation for their generous support.

1. Medium Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Prepare 1 L of Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB): Into 1 L of distilled water, add 15 g of pancreatic digest of casein, 5 g of papaic digest of soybean meal, 3 g of sodium chloride, 2.5 g of dextrose, and 2.5 g of dipotassium phosphate. Sterilize before use.</li>
	<li>For Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA), add 15 g of agar to 1 L of TSB, autoclave. Then let it cool down to room temperature. Next, pour at a ratio of 20 mL per Petri dish (100 mm x 15 mm).</li>
	<li>Biofilm culture medium: Add 10 g of glucose to 1 L of autoclaved TSB. Sterilize by filtration using a 0.2 &#181;m filter.</li>
</ol>
2. S. aureus Biofilm Formation in 96 well Tissue Culture Plate
NOTE: The S. aureus biofilm is cultured as previously described6,21.
<ol>
	<li>Inoculate one individual colony of S. aureus from TSA in 10 mL of TSB and grow overnight at 37 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Dilute the overnight culture into 10 mL of TSB/glucose (10 g/L) at a 1:100 (v/v) ratio. Vortex gently to mix for a consistent concentration.</li>
	<li>Transfer 200 &#956;L of diluted culture into a total of 18 wells (more for experimental groups, such a non-biofilm control to suggest a relationship to ALP activity6) from one 96 well plate. Use triplets for each time point: 0 min, 15 min, 30 min, 45 min, 60 min, and 75 min. See step 3.2.</li>
	<li>Incubate the 96 well plate at 37 &#176;C for 24 h for biofilm formation6,21.</li>
	<li>Decant the supernatant by aspiration.</li>
	<li>Wash each well with 1x phosphate buffered solution (PBS, pH 7.4), centrifuge for 5 min at 15,000 x g and decant the supernatant by aspiration.</li>
</ol>
3. Measurement of ALP Activity in S. aureus Biofilm
NOTE: ALP activity was measured as described6,18.
<ol>
	<li>Add 75 &#956;L of buffered ALP substrate consisting of commercially available pNPP to each well from step 2.6 and begin recording the time. Record each time point in triplicate.</li>
	<li>After incubation for a varied time: 0 min (control), 15 min, 30 min, 45 min, 60 min, and 75 min respectively, add 75 &#181;L of 5 M NaOH to stop the reaction.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the plate for 5 min at 15,000 x g.</li>
	<li>Transfer 100 &#181;L of supernatant into a new 96 well plate for colorimetric measurement.</li>
	<li>Measure the absorbance of each well at 405 nm using a 96 well plate reader. Use the 0 min time point wells to control for 405 nm background noise.</li>
	<li>Repeat the entire experiment in three individual 96 well plates.</li>
</ol>

<ol><li>Coleman, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Structure+and+mechanism+of+alkaline+phosphatase%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Annual+Review+of+Biophysics+and+Biomolecular+Structure%22%5BJournal%5D)">Structure and mechanism of alkaline phosphatase.</a> Annual Review of Biophysics and Biomolecular Structure. 21, 441-483 (1992).</li>
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<li>Danikowski, K. M., Cheng, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Alkaline+Phosphatase+Activity+of+Staphylococcus+aureus+grown+in+Biofilm+and+Suspension+Cultures%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Current+Microbiology%22%5BJournal%5D)">Alkaline Phosphatase Activity of Staphylococcus aureus grown in Biofilm and Suspension Cultures.</a> Current Microbiology. 75, 1226-1230 (2018).</li>
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<li>Berezhetskyy, A. L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Phosphatase+conductometric+biosensor+for+heavy-metal+ions+determination%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Innovation+and+Research+in+Biomedical+Engineering%22%5BJournal%5D)">Phosphatase conductometric biosensor for heavy-metal ions determination.</a> Innovation and Research in Biomedical Engineering. 29 (2-3), 136-140 (2008).</li>
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<li>Barber, M., Kuper, S. W. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Identification+of+Staphylococcus+pyogenes+by+the+phosphatase+reaction%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22The+Journal+of+Pathology+and+Bacteriology%22%5BJournal%5D)">Identification of Staphylococcus pyogenes by the phosphatase reaction.</a> The Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology. 63, 65-68 (1951).</li>
<li>Wolf, P. L., Von der Muehll, E., Ludwick, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+new+test+to+differentiate+Serratia+from+Enterobacter%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22American+Journal+of+Clinical+Pathology%22%5BJournal%5D)">A new test to differentiate Serratia from Enterobacter.</a> American Journal of Clinical Pathology. 56, 241-243 (1972).</li>
<li>Rangam, C. M., Katdare, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Phosphatase+activity+of+Staphylococci+as+an+indication+of+their+pathogenicity%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Indian+Journal+of+Medical+Science%22%5BJournal%5D)">Phosphatase activity of Staphylococci as an indication of their pathogenicity.</a> Indian Journal of Medical Science. 8, 610-613 (1954).</li>
<li>Flemming, H. -C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Biofilms%3A+an+emergent+form+of+bacterial+life%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Nature+Reviews+Microbiology%22%5BJournal%5D)">Biofilms: an emergent form of bacterial life.</a> Nature Reviews Microbiology. 14, 563-575 (2016).</li>
<li>Hoiby, N., Bjarnsholt, T., Givskov, M., Molin, S., Ciofu, O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Antibiotic+resistance+of+bacterial+biofilms%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22International+Journal+of+Antimicrobial+Agents%22%5BJournal%5D)">Antibiotic resistance of bacterial biofilms.</a> International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. 35, 322-332 (2010).</li>
<li>Ito, A., Taniuchi, A., May, T., Kawata, K., Okabe, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Increased+antibiotic+resistance+of+Escherichia+coli+in+mature+biofilms%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Applied+and+Environmental+Microbiology%22%5BJournal%5D)">Increased antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli in mature biofilms.</a> Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 75, 4093-4100 (2009).</li>
<li>Witherow, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+Ten-Week+Biochemistry+Lab+Project+Studying+Wild-Type+and+Mutant+Bacterial+Alkaline+Phosphatase%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Biochemistry+and+Molecular+Biology+Education%22%5BJournal%5D)">A Ten-Week Biochemistry Lab Project Studying Wild-Type and Mutant Bacterial Alkaline Phosphatase.</a> Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. 44 (6), Nov/Dec (2016).</li>
<li>Henthorn, P., Zervos, P., Raducha, M., Harris, H., Kadesch, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Expression+of+a+human+placental+alkaline+phosphatase+gene+in+transfected+cells%3A+Use+as+a+reporter+for+studies+of+gene+expression%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Proceedings+of+the+National+Academy+of+Science+USA%22%5BJournal%5D)">Expression of a human placental alkaline phosphatase gene in transfected cells: Use as a reporter for studies of gene expression.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA. 85, 6324-6346 (1988).</li>
<li>Horney, B. S., Farmer, A. J., Honor, D. J., MacKenzie, A., Burton, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Agarose+gel+electrophoresis+of+alkaline+phosphatase+isoenzymes+in+the+serum+of+hyperthyroid+cats%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Veterinary+Clinical+Pathology%22%5BJournal%5D)">Agarose gel electrophoresis of alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes in the serum of hyperthyroid cats.</a> Veterinary Clinical Pathology. 23 (3), 98-102 (1994).</li>
<li>Farley, J. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Quantification+of+Skeletal+Alkaline+Phosphatase+in+Osteoporotic+Serum+by+Wheat+Germ+Agglutinin+Precipitation%2C+Heat+Inactivation%2C+and+a+Two-Site+Immunoradiometric+Assay%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Clinical+Chemistry%22%5BJournal%5D)">Quantification of Skeletal Alkaline Phosphatase in Osteoporotic Serum by Wheat Germ Agglutinin Precipitation, Heat Inactivation, and a Two-Site Immunoradiometric Assay.</a> Clinical Chemistry. 40 (9), 1749-1756 (1994).</li>
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</ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

In our assay, we used pNPP as the ALP substrate. This is a working solution designed for ELISA and no dilution is needed. After hydrolysis by ALP, a yellow product develops and can be measured at 405 nm. At the end of the enzymatic reaction, we briefly centrifuged the 96 well plate and transferred the supernatant to a fresh 96 well plate to measure absorbance using the plate reader. We found that this extra centrifugation step is critical, since it increases the consistency of absorbance at 405 nm, probably by eliminatin...

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is ubiquitously expressed in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells1. It can catalyze the hydrolysis of monophosphate from different molecules such as nucleotides, proteins, alkaloids, phosphate esters and anhydrides of phosphoric acid. In humans, eukaryotic ALP is present in many tissues including liver, bone, intestine and placenta2. It plays important roles in protein phosphorylation, cell growth, apoptosis, stem cell processes as well as normal skeletal mineralization. Eukaryotic ALP is also a key serum indicator for the presence of diseases in bone, liver, and other tissues/organs when elevated3,4.
Prokaryotic ALP has been detected in a variety of bacterial cells, including E. coli5, S. aureus6,7 and some common rumen bacteria in the soils8. Bacterial ALP activity has been used as a biosensor in the detection of pesticides, heavy metals9 and bacterial contamination10. The constitutive expression of ALP has been used to identify Staphylococci11 and to differentiate Serratia from Enterobacter12. It is further suggested that constitutive ALP production is correlated with pathogenicity in staphylococci13. Although ALP has been studied in different settings3,4, yet little is reported for its activity and function in biofilms cultures.
A biofilm has been documented to have a differently functioning bacterial life as compared with its free-living bacterial cell counterpart14. In S. aureus, the formation of biofilm has been identified in a variety of clinical conditions and accounts for the antibiotic resistance and chronic inflammation15,16. Many molecules had been reported to be found in a biofilm matrix such as polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, but the mechanism of biofilm formation is not fully understood14. To understand the role of ALP in biofilm formation, we cultured S. aureus biofilms in 96 well tissue culture plates and measured the ALP activity using para-nitrophenylphosphate (pNPP).
The molecule pNPP is a ready-to-use substrate for ALP and has been widely used to measure ALP activity6,17,18. This colorimetric assay is based on the conversion of para-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) to para-nitrophenol resulting in a colored product at 405 nm. Compared to other conventional ALP assay, such as agarose gel electrophoresis19, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) precipitation, and WGA-HPLC20, this assay is highly specific, sensitive, easy to reproduce, and most importantly, allows for high throughput.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Agar</td><td>VWR</td><td>9002-18-0</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Eppendorf Centrifuge</td><td>Thomas Scientific</td><td>5810</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Gluose</td><td>VWR</td><td>50-99-7</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>NaOH pellets</td><td>VWR</td><td>SS0550-500GR</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Para-nitrophenylphosphate (pNPP)&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Sigma</td><td>P7998-100ML</td><td>Typical concentrations of pNPP liquid substrates, often used in enzyme-linked immunesorbent assays (ELISA), range between 10 to 50 mM. Similar to most ready-to-use pNPP liquid substrates like the one used here, the exact pNPP concentration is not disclosed due to its proprietary nature.</td></tr><tr><td>10x PBS, pH7.4.&lt;br/&gt; 173 mM NaCl,&lt;br/&gt; 2.7 mM KCl,&lt;br/&gt; 8 mM Na&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;HPO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;,&lt;br/&gt; 2 mM KH&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;PO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;</td><td>Sigma</td><td>P3288-1VL</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Plate Reader</td><td>Biotek</td><td>ELx808</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>&lt;em&gt;S. aureus&lt;/em&gt;</td><td>ATCC</td><td>ATCC25923</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tryptic Soy Agar&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; 15 g/L TSB</td><td>VWR</td><td>9002-18-0</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tryptic Soy Broth:&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; g/L&lt;br/&gt; Pancreatic Digest of Casein............ 15.0&lt;br/&gt; Papaic Digest of Soyben Meal.........5.00&lt;br/&gt; Sodium chloride.............................. 3.00&lt;br/&gt; Dextrose........................................&amp;nbsp; 2.50&lt;br/&gt; Dipotassium phosphate..................2.50</td><td>VWR</td><td>90006-098</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>96 well tissue culture plates</td><td>BD</td><td>6902D09</td><td>U shaped bottom</td></tr></tbody></table>

colorimetric analysis of alkaline phosphatase activity in s. aureus biofilm

Colorimetric Analysis of Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in S. aureus Biofilm

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a common enzyme expressed in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphate monoesters from many molecules at basic pH and plays an indispensable role in phosphate metabolism. In humans, eukaryotic ALP is one of the most frequently used enzymatic signals in diagnosing various diseases, such as cholestasis and rickets. In S. aureus, ALP is detected exclusively on the cell membrane; it is also expressed as a secretory form as well. Yet, little is known about its function in biofilm formation.
The purpose of this manuscript is to develop a quick and reliable assay to measure ALP activity in S. aureus biofilm that does not require protein isolation. Using p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) as a substrate, we measured ALP activity in S. aureus biofilm formed in 96-well tissue culture plates. Activity was based on the formation of the soluble reaction product measured by 405 nm absorbance. The high throughput nature of the 96 well tissue culture plate method provides a sensitive and reproducible method for ALP activity assays. The same experimental set up can also be extended to measure other extracellular molecular markers related to biofilm formation.

Figure 1 shows a representative result of ALP activity from biofilm cultures of S. aureus in 96 well tissue culture plates. 75 μL of commercially available pNPP solution was added to each well and incubated at room temperature. After incubation for different times (0 min, 15 min, 30 min, 45 min, 60 min, and 75 min, respectively) 75 μL of 5 M NaOH was added to stop the reaction. The product was then measured in a 96 well plate reader at 405 nm. Each t...

In this manuscript, we established a high throughput method to quantify alkaline phosphatase activity in S. aureus biofilm culture from 96-well tissue culture plate

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a common enzyme expressed in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphate monoesters from ...

colorimetric-analysis-alkaline-phosphatase-activity-s-aureus

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Learn a high-throughput colorimetric method to quantify alkaline phosphatase activity in Staphylococcus aureus biofilm cultures using 96-well plates. This sensitive protocol enables efficient screening of biofilm formation mechanisms.

Colorimetric Analysis of Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in S. aureus Biofilm

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