Label-Free, Real-Time Phospholipase-A Isoform Assay

Phospholipase-A (PLA) enzymes catalyze the hydrolysis of ester bonds in select glycerophospholipids. Sensors for rapidly measuring the PLA activity in biological samples have relevance in the study of venom compositions and in medical diagnostics for the diagnosis of diseases such as acute pancreatitis. Current PLA sensor technologies are often restricted by the time it takes to prepare an assay, the necessity of using fluorescent labels, or the fact they might require strict pH control of the buffer vehicles used. Here we present a tethered bilayer lipid membrane (tBLM) impedance sensor array for the rapid and real-time detection of PLA, which includes the ability to selectively detect phospholipase-A₂ (PLA₂) from phospholipase-A₁ (PLA₁) isoforms. Comparing the activity of PLA₁ and PLA₂ in an array of tBLMs composed of ether phospholipids, ester phospholipids or ether-ester phospholipids allows for the rapid and reliable distinction between the isoforms, as measured using swept-frequency electrical impedance spectroscopy. After testing the assay using pure enzymes, we demonstrate the capacity of the sensor to identify specific PLA₂-type, calcium-dependent activity from the venom of the South American bullet ant, Paraponera clavata, at a concentration of 1 μg/mL. The specificity of the phospholipase activity was corroborated using matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. As further validation, we tested the activities of a PLA₁ isoform in the presence of different buffers commonly used in biology and biochemistry experiments. Sensitivity testing shows that PLA₁ can be detected at an activity as low as 0.06 U/mL. The rapid and reliable detection of phospholipases presented in this study has potential applications in the study of animal venoms as well as in lipase bioreactors and point-of-care devices.