Side-chain selective and covalent labelling of proteins by organometallic complexes of heavy transition metals--possible application in radio-crystallography of proteins

Organo-rhenium and organo-tungsten N-succinimidyl and N-sulfosuccinimidyl esters react at amino groups of proteins to form stable amide bonds between the protein and the heavy transition metal complexes. We show here that factors such as pH of the reaction medium and nature of the reagent (coordinating metal, surrounding ligands, type of ester) had a marked influence on the final number of coupled organometallic groups per protein molecule, defined as the coupling ratio. By operating with stoichiometric quantities of reagent with respect to the number of aqino groups, up to 30 organometallic groups were introduced into the model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA). BSA conjugates were characterized by gel electrophoresis in non-denaturating conditions. Hen egg-white lysozyme organo-tungsten conjugates were prepared in the same manner and the peptides resulting from their tryptic hydrolysis were analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC. A tentative assignment of the preferential amino sites of conjugation is suggested from the latter results.

Cyclopentadienyl iron dicarbonyl (eta 1-N-phthalimidato) complexes containing an isothiocyanate function: synthesis and application to protein side-chain selective labeling

The two first transition metal carbonyl isothiocyanates were prepared in high yield within two steps from photolysis of CpFe(CO)2I and 3- or 4-aminophthalimide in the presence of diisopropylamine followed by reaction with thiophosgene/triethylamine. Their reaction with a model amino acid, i.e. beta-alanine, was performed and led to the expected thioureas. When reacted with bovine serum albumin in aqueous medium, conjugates bearing 6-10 iron-carbonyl fragments were obtained and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thus demonstrating the usefulness of these reagents for the selective and covalent labeling of proteins.

Quantitative analysis of mixtures of metal-carbonyl complexes by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy: application to the simultaneous double immunoassay of antiepileptic drugs by the nonisotopic carbonyl metalloimmunoassay method

The feasibility of a double immunoassay of haptens by the nonisotopic carbonyl metalloimmunoassay (CMIA) method is demonstrated. Three different pairings of antiepileptic medications from the groups carbamazepine, diphenylhydantoin, and phenobarbital (for each of which a mono-CMIA is already available) were assayed by double CMIA. The assay method employs as tracers metal-carbonyl complexes that give very strong signals in the range of 1850-2200 cm-1 in the infrared spectrum, permitting quantitative analysis by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The fact that the signals are individually assignable and of comparable intensity permits quantitative analysis of mixtures of two tracers. The analysis may proceed in one of two ways: in the simpler case, there is no peak overlap with the two tracers and the quantitative analysis can be performed by simply measuring the absorbance of characteristic peaks of the two tracers. In the second case, in which there is partial or total overlap of peaks, a stepwise calculation provides rapid quantification of the two tracers. These findings allowed us to perform the double CMIA of two antiepileptics in which experimental conditions and time of analysis were strictly identical to those for mono-CMIA. We show here that there is a very good correlation between the results obtained in mono- and double-immunoassay by the CMIA method (correlation coefficient > 0.990).

Production of specific antibodies and development of a non-isotopic immunoassay for carbamazepine by the carbonyl metallo-immunoassay (CMIA) method

As part of our ongoing work to extend the range of applications of the non-isotopic carbonyl metalloimmunoassay (CMIA), previously developed in our laboratory, we describe here the first CMIA study of carbamazepine. The CMIA method uses a metal carbonyl complex as a non-isotopic tracer, and in this case we chose to employ the dicobalt hexacarbonyl moiety (Co2(CO)6) attached to an alkyne. Two organometallic tracers, 3 and 7, were synthesized, differentiated by the nature and length of the spacer arm of the Co2(CO)6 moiety. Two different coupling methods were subsequently used to synthesize the immunogens 1 and 2, the first one used a carbodiimide, while the second, employed dimethyl adipimidate as coupling agent. Titer values of the antisera obtained by injection of these immunogens into rabbits, were determined by CMIA, using one of the organometallic complexes, 3 or 7, as tracer. Both antisera had higher titer values with the long-chain tracer, 7, than with the short-chain tracer, 3. However these titer values were very different: low for antiserum 1 and high for antiserum 2. The cross-reactivity of antiserum 2 with other antiepileptic drugs was negligible. For competition curves, there was good sensitivity with the antibody 2/3 pairing, while a broad assay range was obtained with antibody 2/7 pairing. These results demonstrate the viability of CMIA as an immunoassay method for carbamazepine, and open the way to development of a simultaneous multiassay by CMIA of the principal antiepileptic drugs.

[eta 5-Cyclopentadienyl]metal tricarbonyl pyrylium salts: novel reagents for the specific conjugation of proteins with transition organometallic labels

New specific reagents for the conjugation of organo transition metal species to proteins are described. These reagents are pyrylium salts bearing a (eta 5-C5H4)M(CO)3 (M = Mn and Re) at position 4. They couple with simple amines (n-butylamine and tert-butylamine) and to lysine side chains of proteins (bovine serum albumin and lysozyme) with varying yields. In almost all cases, the final conjugated species is a pyridinium salt, with the exception of lysozyme, for which the reaction ends at the divinylogous amide form. Differences in reactivity for bovine serum albumin and lysozyme can be explained in terms of differences of isoelectric point and steric local environment around the reactive lysine residue.

Labeling of proteins by organometallic complexes of rhenium. (I). Synthesis and biological activity of the conjugates

We describe herein a totally new pathway for the introduction of rhenium in the form of low oxidation state organometallic complexes covalently attached to various proteins. The synthesis of several rhenium conjugates takes advantage of the specificity of N-succinimidyl esters for amino residues. Conjugation experiments were carried out under various conditions, and analysis of the conjugates was performed by FT-IR spectroscopy. Yields were optimized and reached 50%. Furthermore, the conjugate resulting from the coupling of N-succinimidyl 4-[eta 5-cyclopentadienylrhenium tricarbonyl] 4-oxobutanoate to an anti-hTSH monoclonal antibody retained a satisfactory immunoreactivity. Finally, IR detection of conjugates adsorbed onto nitrocellulose membranes was achieved and response was found to be related to the coupling extent of the conjugate.

Use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for the simultaneous quantitative detection of metal carbonyl tracers suitable for multilabel immunoassays

We describe here a new approach for multilabel immunoassays. The starting point of this approach is a new nonradioisotopic immunoassay (carbonyl metallo immunoassay) based on the use of metal carbonyl complexes as tracers and Fourier transform infrared (FT-ir) spectroscopy as the detection method. We show here that the judicious choice of the organometallic tracers associated with multicomponent analysis of FT-ir spectroscopic data provides the simultaneous rapid and reliable quantitation of pmol of the organometallic tracers. The feasibility of this approach is demonstrated in the case of the two major antiepileptic drugs phenobarbital and carbamazepine.

Transition metal carbonyl labeling of proteins. A novel approach to a solid-phase two-site immunoassay using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Labeling of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and anti-human thyroid stimulating hormone (hTSH) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was performed using (N-succinimidyl 4-pentynoate)hexacarbonyldicobalt (NSCo2(CO)6). Conditions of coupling were different depending on the protein to be labeled, denaturation of the mAbs occuring with high percentages of organic solvent in the reaction mixture. The influence of reaction time and initial concentration of NSCo2(CO)6 was examined. They were both shown to affect the final coupling rate of the metal carbonyl probe. Preservation of the immunoreactivity toward 125I-hTSH was observed for five conjugates having different NSCo2(CO)6: mAb molar ratios when compared to unmodified and peroxidase-labeled mAbs. Finally, a preliminary study of the quantitative detection of the metal carbonyl mAbs on microtiter wells was achieved using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Carbonylmetalloimmunoassay (CMIA) a new type of non-radioisotopic immunoassay. Principles and application to phenobarbital assay

A new non-radioisotopic immunoassay procedure, which we have termed carbonylmetalloimmunoassay (CMIA), is described. The tracers used in this approach are organometallic carbonyl complexes that can be detected at femtomole levels (300-700 fmol) by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The validity of the technique has been tested in a phenobarbital assay using as the marker a cyclopentadienylmanganese (I) tricarbonyl (cymantrene) moiety, ethyl acetate extraction to separate the free and bound organometallic fractions, and FT-IR spectroscopy to detect the CO stretching modes of the organometallic label. Typical dilution and standard curves obtained with this CMIA procedure are presented. The method was of comparable sensitivity to a [14C] radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the detection of phenobarbital. A comparison of the results for phenobarbital assays by both CMIA and RIA showed that higher titres were obtained using the CMIA method. The standard curves suggest that CMIA is a reliable and reproducible immunoassay procedure for phenobarbital.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic method for the quantitative trace analysis of transition-metal carbonyl-labeled bioligands

A quantitative FT-IR spectroscopic method has been developed for the trace analysis in chlorinated organic solvents of transition-metal carbonyl-labeled bioligands. In order to illustrate the widespread analytical potential of the method, three derivatives of the female hormonal steroid 17 beta-estradiol, containing Cr(CO)3, Cp2Mo2(CO)4 (Cp = eta 5-C5H5), and Co2(CO)6 as labels, and the anticonvulsant drug phenobarbital, labeled with (eta 5-C5H4)Mn(CO)3, were examined. The cobalt carbonyl marker proved to be the best sulted for quantitative analysis purposes, and the minimum tracer quantity detectable for this particular marker (64 scans, 4-cm-1 resolution, 3.5 min) was optimized in CCl4 solution at about 300 fmol (or 0.3 pmol, 180 pg) by using an ultralow volume (23.0 microL), gold light-pipe IR solution cell and a liquid nitrogen cooled, InSb (indium antimonide) IR detector. The repeatability of this radically different analytical procedure over the concentration range 1.0 x 10(-6) to 5.0 x 10(-8) M was good (coefficient of variance less than or equal to 6%) and the method provides the basis for a new immunological test--carbonylmetalloimmunoassay (CMIA).

(N-succinimidyl 4-pentynoate)hexacarbonyldicobalt: a transition-metal carbonyl complex having similar uses to the Bolton-Hunter reagent

The synthesis of the transition-metal carbonyl complex (N-succinimidyl 4-pentynoate)hexacarbonyldicobalt [[(C4H4O2N)O(CO)CH2CH2C identical to CH]Co2(CO)6] is described. This cobalt carbonyl complex is structurally similar to the Bolton-Hunter conjugation reagent and has been successfully employed as a nonradioactive tracer for labeling the drug carbamazepine. The metal carbonyl tracer can be detected at extremely low concentrations (ca. 1 pmol) by FT-IR spectroscopy in the v(CO) region (2150-1800 cm-1). The cobalt carbonyl labeled carbamazepine retains good recognition for anti-carbamazepine antibodies. This novel labeling procedure, which can be broadly termed carbonylmetalloimmunoassay (CMIA), has considerable potential for assaying a wide range of biological materials.

Organometallic derivatives of estradiol as bioligands: targetted binding of the estradiol receptor

The complexation of estrogens by transitional metal units e.g. (alkyne)Co2(CO)6 and (alkyne)Mo2Cp2(CO)4, at the 17 alpha-position brings about a dramatic change in the chemical behavior of these compounds with respect to that of the free ligands. The 17 beta-OH function becomes particularly labile, even in weakly acidic medium, giving rise to carbenium ion-like species, from which, depending on the metal and the nucleophile, substitution, elimination and rearrangement take place. This situation provides the basis for a new type of active site directed-reagent for estradiol receptor. The hypothesis of vicinal space positioning of an acidic and a nucleophilic group in the estradiol receptor cavity is examined in the light of the amino-acid composition of the steroid binding domain. The requirement of the sulfhydryl group of a cysteine residue is suspected in the first step of the receptor inactivation process.