The use of phycobiliproteins as fluorescent labels in immunoassay

Extracting and purifying R-phycoerythrin from Mediterranean red algae Corallina elongata Ellis & Solander

R-Phycoerythrin (R-PE) is a protein acting as a photosynthetic accessory pigment in red algae (Rodophyta). This protein has gained importance in many biotechnological applications in food science, immunodiagnostic, therapy, cosmetics, protein and cell labelling, and analytical processes. In this paper we report on a new, one step procedure for the extraction and purification of R-PE from a new source: the Mediterranean red algae Corallina elongata Ellis & Solander. This red algae contains mainly R-PE and is suitable for the production in culture. No other contaminating phycobiliproteins could be detected in the extracts. The method we propose for the purification is based on the use of hydroxyapatite, a chromatographic resin that can be produced in the laboratory at very low cost and can be used batch-wise with large amounts of extracts, alternative to chromatography, and therefore can be scaled up. Both the yield and the purity of R-PE are very good.

Separation and quantitation of phycobiliproteins using phytic acid in capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

The similar electrophoretic mobilities and sizes of several of the phycobiliproteins, which are derived from the photosynthetic apparatus of cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae, render their separation and quantitation a challenging problem. However, we have developed a suitable capillary electrophoresis (CE) method that employs a phytic acid-boric acid buffer and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection with a single 594 nm He-Ne laser. This method takes advantage of the remarkably high quantum yields of these naturally fluorescent proteins, which can be attributed to their linear tetrapyrrole chromophores covalently bound to cysteinyl residues. As such, limits of detection of 1.18 x 10(-14), 5.26 x 10(-15), and 2.38 x 10(-15) mol/l were obtained for R-phycoerythrin, C-phycocyanin, and allophycocyanin proteins, respectively, with a linear dynamic range of eight orders of magnitude in each case. Unlike previously published CE-LIF methods, this work describes the separation of all three major classes of phycobiliproteins in under 5 min. Very good recoveries, ranging from 93.2 to 105.5%, were obtained for a standard mixture of the phycobiliproteins, based on seven-point calibration curves for both peak height and peak area. It is believed that this development will prove useful for the determination of phycobiliprotein content in naturally occurring cyanobacteria populations, thus providing a useful tool for understanding biological and chemical oceanographic processes.

Homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence assay for identifying p53 interactions with its protein partners, directly in a cellular extract

The p53 protein is a tumor suppressor that protects the organism against malignant consequences of DNA damage. Interaction of p53 with numerous cellular or viral proteins regulates its functional activity either positively or negatively. An approach leading to identification of such protein interactions directly in a cell extract could be of help in the development of screening assays to search for drugs acting on p53 in its cellular environment, either by disrupting its association with inhibitory proteins or by increasing its affinity for activating proteins. We show that the homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) assay based on the time-resolved amplified cryptate emission (TRACE) technology allows identification of such an interaction by simply adding a mixture of two labeled monoclonal antibodies, directly in a cellular extract. We validate this assay by studying p53/SV40-LTAg interactions. The antibodies directed against genuine p53 and SV40-LTAg epitopes were labeled with europium cryptate (donor) and XL665, a crosslinked allophycocyanin (acceptor), respectively. We demonstrated that a nonradiative energy transfer occurs between labeled antibodies only when p53 interacts with SV40-LTag, which opens up the possibility of extending this approach to other p53 partners to search for drugs that restore p53 tumor-suppressor activity.

Allophycocyanin 1 as a near-infrared fluorescent tracer: isolation, characterization, chemical modification, and use in a homogeneous fluorescence resonance energy transfer system

Allophycocyanin 1 (APC1), isolated from Mastigocladus laminosus, retains the same (alpha-beta)(3) trimeric structure as allophycocyanin (APC), but incorporates a peptide linker in its core leading to a 28% increase in its fluorescence quantum yield compared to APC. Moreover, APC1 exhibits an unexpectedly good stability at very low concentrations, at extreme pHs, or diluted in a low ionic strength medium whereas, under the same conditions, APC dissociates into an (alpha-beta) monomer, indicating that the peptide linker acts as a stabilizer of its trimeric structure. APC1 crosslinking experiments performed using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide gave a high reaction yield (95%) and showed a similar crosslinking process as previously described for APC. Fluorescence quantum yields of crosslinked APC1 or APC decrease by 20% after labeling on antibody or streptavidin. However, quantum yields of the crosslinked APC1 conjugates remain 25% higher than those of crosslinked APC conjugates. Associated with a europium trisbipyridine cryptate as donor, crosslinked APC1 was compared with crosslinked APC as acceptor in homogeneous time resolved fluorescence technology based on a fluorescence resonance energy transfer process. Using crosslinked APC1, assay performances were increased by 20%, showing that APC1 could be considered as a very promising near infrared fluorescent probe to replace APC in its biological applications.

Use of homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence energy transfer in the measurement of nuclear receptor activation

Nuclear receptors (NRs) are a superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors that mediate the effects of hormones and other endogenous ligands to regulate the expression of specific genes. NRs are clearly important targets for drug discovery. Ligand-dependent protein-protein interactions between NRs and NR coactivators (NRCoAs) are a critical step in regulation of transcription. Homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) energy transfer technology is sensitive, homogeneous, and nonradioactive. These characteristics make this approach attractive for developing high-throughput screening assays. The long-lived nature of the fluorescence of europium cryptate combined with a time delay in reading facilitates the homogeneous nature of the assay. Importantly, the introduction of lanthanides (with R0 values as great as 90 A in HTRF) make HTRF amenable to be used for protein-protein interactions. In this article we review, using peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma as a model system, a novel approach for characterizing the ligand-dependent interaction between NR and NRCoA using HTRF technology and its potential uses in small-molecule screening, profiling selectivity of NR-NRCoA paired interactions, and profiling NR ligands as agonists versus partial agonists or antagonists.

Determination of phycobiliproteins by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

Phycobiliproteins are derived from the photosynthetic apparatus of cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae. They are composed of a protein backbone to which linear tetrapyrrole chromophores are covalently bound. Furthermore, they are water-soluble highly fluorescent, and relatively stable at room temperature and neutral pH. For this reason, capillary electrophoresis-laser induced fluorescence (CE-LIF) seems the idea method for determination of these important proteins. The effects of buffer additives such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)and putrescine on the separation of the three major phycobiliprotein types, namely allophycocyanin, phycocyanin, and phycoerythrin, with excitation and emission maxima at 652/660, 615/647, and 565(494)/575 nm, respectively, are considered. Detection limits for these proteins by CE-LIF are some 60-500 times better than by absorbance detection. The development of a fast and sensitive CE-LIF assay such as this is of potential significance to our understand ing of chemical and biological oceanographic processes.

Near-Infrared Fluorescence Lifetime Assay for Serum Glucose Based on Allophycocyanin-Labeled Concanavalin A

We describe an assay scheme for glucose based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between concanavalin A (con A), labeled with the near-infrared fluorescent protein allophycocyanin (APC) as donor, and dextran labeled with malachite green (MG) as acceptor. Glucose competitively displaces dextran-MG and leads to reduction in FRET, assessed by time-domain fluorescence lifetime measurements using time-correlated single-photon counting. The assay is operative in the glucose concentration range 2.5-30 mM, and therefore suitable for use in monitoring diabetes control. Albumin and serum inhibit FRET but the interference can be prevented by removal of high molecular weight substances by membrane filters. APC shows promise for incorporation in an implanted glucose sensor which can be interrogated from outside the body.

One-step purification of R-phycoerythrin from the red macroalga Palmaria palmata using preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Phycoerythrin is a major light-harvesting pigment of red algae and cyanobacteria widely used as a fluorescent probe. In this study, phycoerythrin of the red macroalga Palmaria palmata was extracted by grinding the algal sample in liquid nitrogen, homogenisation in phosphate buffer and centrifugation. Phycoerythrin was then purified from this crude extract using preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) with a continuous elution system and detected by its pink colour and fluorescence. The pigment presented a typical spectrum of R-phycoerythrin, with three absorbance maxima at 499, 545 and 565 nm, and displayed a fluorescence maximum at 578 nm. The absorbance ratio A565/A280, a criterion for purity, was 3.2. A single protein of relative molecular mass 240,000 was detected on native-PAGE with silver staining. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-PAGE demonstrated the presence of two major subunits with Mr 20,000 and 21,000, respectively, and a very minor subunit of Mr 30,000. These observations are consistent with the (alphabeta)6gamma subunit composition characteristic of R-phycoerythrin. Phycoerythrin of Palmaria palmata was determined to be present in larger amounts in autumn and showed a good stability up to 60 degrees C and between pH 3.5 and 9.5. In conclusion, phycoerythrin of Palmaria palmata was purified in a single-step using preparative PAGE. Obtaining pure R-phycoerythrin of Palmaria palmata will allow one to evaluate its fluorescence properties for future applications in biochemical techniques.

Use of a phosphotyrosine-antibody pair as a general detection method in homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence: application to human immunodeficiency viral protease

A homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) assay has been developed for human immunodeficiency viral (HIV) protease. The assay utilizes a peptide substrate, differentially labeled on either side of the scissile bond, to bring two detection components, streptavidin-cross-linked XL665 (SA/XL665) and a europium cryptate (Eu(K))-labeled antiphosphotyrosine antibody, into proximity allowing fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to occur. Cleavage of the doubly labeled substrate by HIV protease precludes complex formation, thereby decreasing FRET, and allowing enzyme activity to be measured. Potential substrates were evaluated by HTRF with the best results being obtained using (LCB)K4AVSQNbeta-NapPIVpYA(NH2) and Eu(K)-pY20 where the peptide titrated with an EC50 of 7.7 +/- 0.3 nM under optimized detection conditions. Using these HTRF detection conditions, HIV protease cleaved the substrate in 50 mM NaOAc, 150 mM KF, 0.05% Tween 20, pH 5.5, with apparent first-order kinetics with a Km of 37.8 +/- 8.7 microM and a kcat of 0.95 +/- 0.07 s-1. Examination of the first-order rate constant versus enzyme concentration suggested a Kd of 9.4 +/- 2.7 nM for the HIV protease monomer-dimer equilibrium. The HTRF assay was also utilized to measure the inhibition of the enzyme by two known inhibitors.

Cyanobacterial phycobilisomes

Cyanobacterial phycobilisomes harvest light and cause energy migration usually toward photosystem II reaction centers. Energy transfer from phycobilisomes directly to photosystem I may occur under certain light conditions. The phycobilisomes are highly organized complexes of various biliproteins and linker polypeptides. Phycobilisomes are composed of rods and a core. The biliproteins have their bilins (chromophores) arranged to produce rapid and directional energy migration through the phycobilisomes and to chlorophyll a in the thylakoid membrane. The modulation of the energy levels of the four chemically different bilins by a variety of influences produces more efficient light harvesting and energy migration. Acclimation of cyanobacterial phycobilisomes to growth light by complementary chromatic adaptation is a complex process that changes the ratio of phycocyanin to phycoerythrin in rods of certain phycobilisomes to improve light harvesting in changing habitats. The linkers govern the assembly of the biliproteins into phycobilisomes, and, even if colorless, in certain cases they have been shown to improve the energy migration process. The Lcm polypeptide has several functions, including the linker function of determining the organization of the phycobilisome cores. Details of how linkers perform their tasks are still topics of interest. The transfer of excitation energy from bilin to bilin is considered, particularly for monomers and trimers of C-phycocyanin, phycoerythrocyanin, and allophycocyanin. Phycobilisomes are one of the ways cyanobacteria thrive in varying and sometimes extreme habitats. Various biliprotein properties perhaps not related to photosynthesis are considered: the photoreversibility of phycoviolobilin, biophysical studies, and biliproteins in evolution. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.

Lymphocyte subset analysis by Boolean algebra: a phenotypic approach using a cocktail of 5 antibodies and 3 color immunofluorescence

Commercial reagent kits for the evaluation of leukocyte subsets involve the staining of a panel of up to six tubes using combinations of pre-mixed fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and R-phycoerythrin (PE) conjugated monoclonal antibodies. We describe a rapid method whereby total CD3+ T-cells, CD4+ T-cells (CD3+ CD4+), CD8+ T-cells (CD3+ CD8+), putative gamma delta-receptor-T-cells (CD3+ CD4- CD8-), and T-cells that are CD3+ CD4+ CD8+ as well as B-lymphocytes and NK-cells can be enumerated after staining in a single tube. Whole blood specimens are labelled with a mixture of antibodies: FITC-conjugated antibodies to CD4 and CD19, PE-conjugated antibodies to CD8 and CD16, and either peridinin chlorophyll protein (PerCP) or allophycocyanin (APC) labelling for antibodies to CD3. After recording 20,000 events the data were analysed on the Consort 32 computer system and LYSYS-II (Becton Dickinson, San Jose, CA) and all of the lymphocyte subset values were determined by Boolean algebra using a technique we refer to as Boolean gate analysis (BGA). Our study has shown that BGA is statistically equivalent to SimulSET lymphocyte subset analysis. Furthermore, the procedure reduces the number of tubes required to two with consequential saving in reagents, consumables, and time.

Spectra of fluorescent dyes used in flow cytometry

Flow cytometry uses a relatively small set of dyes for immunochemistry and nucleic acid detection, most of which have been known and used reliably in flow cytometry for several years. These can usually be combined to make simultaneous two-color measurements of multiple cell-surface antigens and nucleic acid content. Because of the overlap of dye spectra and difficulties in finding dyes with substantial Stokes shifts that can be excited by the argon laser, simultaneous three-color or more detection can be more difficult. A basic knowledge of the factors that go into producing the fluorescent signal, including the spectra of dyes and their overlap, is necessary in planning multicolor experiments. By contrast, there have been a number of new fluorescent probes developed for detecting ions, membrane potential, metabolism, organelles, and other properties of living cells as well as for determining cell viability, proliferation, and cell tracking. So far most of these physiological probes are being used only for fundamental research rather than for cell classification. However, as research activity expands in this area, its diagnostic potential is likely to be increasingly appreciated.

Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in CaSki and HeLa cells by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Analysis by flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy

CaSki and HeLa cell lines, isolated from human uterine carcinomas and containing integrated human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA type 16 and 18, respectively were used to evaluate the sensitivity of HPV-DNA detection on suspended cells by fluorescent in situ hybridization using flow cytometry and on corresponding cell deposits using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). HPV DNAs were detected in cell suspensions with biotinylated DNA probes and revealed with a three-step technique: a rabbit antibiotin antibody, a biotinylated goat anti-rabbit antibody and a streptavidin-fluorescein isothiocyanate complex. By flow cytometry, HPV DNA was detectable only in CaSki cells which contained about 600 copies of HPV DNA per cell. In HeLa cells, with only 20-50 copies of HPV DNA, flow cytometry could not detect HPV DNA, whereas CLSM permitted visualization of fluorescent labelling of HPV DNA hybrids. Furthermore, CLSM showed good preservation of cellular morphology and the nucleus was clearly recognizable after fluorescent in situ hybridization and counterstaining with propidium iodide. Moreover, this examination confirmed that the fluorescent foci were specifically confined to the cell nuclei.

A simple technique for the determination of kappa and lambda immunoglobulin light chain expression by B cells in whole blood

This article describes the development of a simple technique by which the numbers of surface immunoglobulin expressing cells can be analysed by dual fluorescence flow cytometry in samples of whole blood. We have compared the results obtained using this procedure with those obtained using samples prepared by traditional density gradient centrifugation, and demonstrate an excellent correlation between the two techniques. The method is applicable both to blood samples from normal individuals and from patients with B cell malignancies such as B-CLL and B-NHL. We have also confirmed previous findings that density gradient centrifugation may preferentially deplete certain lymphocyte subsets. This technique offers the following advantages: (i) it is rapid, (ii) it is accurate, (iii) it is reliable, (iv) it is useful in cases of lymphopenia, and (v) it requires only a small volume of blood. It is likely to be applicable to other situations in which the presence of serum factors interfere with antibody staining in whole blood.

CUBIC: a three-dimensional colored projection of Consort 30 generated trivariate flow cytometric data

The CUBIC program displays three-dimensional colored dot plots of flow cytometric trivariate data collected by unmodified commercial instruments (FACScan flow cytometer, FACS 440 cell sorter). Assuming a bimodal distribution of the fluorescence intensity of the cells, the eight theoretical subpopulations involved in a three-color fluorescence histogram are clearly localized in the 3-D space by colored dots that are clustered near each corner of a cubic frame. Rotation, tilting, and zoom functions are available. Table look-up is not needed. CUBIC was illustrated by two experiments: 1) three-color immunofluorescence of antigens on human lymphocytes using monoclonal antibodies conjugated either to fluorescein (FITC), to R-phycoerythrin (PE), or to biotin revealed by a streptavidin coupled to a PE-Texas red tandem conjugate (TC); 2) two-color immunofluorescence of CD4 and CD8 antigens on thymocytes of healthy or preleukemic mice correlated to the DNA content quantified by 7-amino-actinomycin D (7-AAD). The three fluorescences were excited by a single argon-ion laser emitting at 488 nm.

Fluorescence quenching; a practical problem in flow cytometry

Dual fluorescence analysis with a single-laser fluorescence-activated cell sorter is dependent on the use of two fluorochromes with similar excitation wavelengths but different emission wavelengths. The dye pair fluorescein and R-phycoerythrin (RPE) have been widely employed for this purpose and interaction between the two dyes has not been observed. Here evidence is presented to show that at high concentrations RPE can completely quench the fluorescein signal in dual fluorescence analysis of human tonsil lymphocytes labelled with pairs of monoclonal antibodies. Reduction in the fluorescein signal correlated with the intensity of red (RPE) staining. This phenomenon can seriously compromise interpretation of dual immunofluorescence carried out on a single laser instrument and can best be avoided by careful analysis of single colour controls.

The use of fluorescent probes in immunochemistry

The limitations and advantages of particular dyes for labelling proteins and other biological materials are discussed. Methods available for conjugating dyes to proteins are outlined. Following a discussion of double labelling methods the use of photoactivatable fluorochromes and time resolved fluorescence methodologies are outlined. The reasons for the photoinstability of some fluorochromes are discussed and methods for overcoming the problem are described.

Inhibition of lymphocyte activation with anti-transferrin receptor Mabs: a comparison of three reagents and further studies of their range of effects and mechanism of action

Prior work has suggested that Mabs against the transferrin receptor (ATRAs) may function as selective inhibitors of lymphocyte activation and that T cell activation protocols may be more sensitive to ATRA-mediated inhibition than B cell activation protocols. New side-by-side functional comparisons of three ATRAs are presented. When these studies are considered with our prior work they demonstrate unambiguously that although one particular IgG ATRA consistently fails to inhibit LPS responses and although IgM ATRAs may be slightly more effective inhibitors than IgG ATRAs, ATRAs as a class consistently appear to abolish the MLR at submicrogram concentrations, essentially eliminate cytotoxic cell generation at concentrations between 1 and 5 micrograms/ml, and produce no more than about 50% inhibition of LPS responses at concentrations as high as 25 micrograms/ml. Therefore, an even stronger case can now be made for the idea that lymphocyte subsets differ in their dependence on transferrin receptor function during activation. This, in turn, makes an even stronger case for the idea that lymphocyte subsets differ in fundamental aspects of the management of their iron economies. New studies also show that IgG ATRAs appear to function by causing down-modulation of surface expression of the transferrin receptor in normal lymphocytes in a manner similar to that previously shown for tumor cells. It is clear that a sophisticated model will ultimately be required to account for all of the data arising from studies with ATRAs, and a new attempt at a more detailed construct is presented.

Single-molecule fluorescence detection: autocorrelation criterion and experimental realization with phycoerythrin

A theory for single-molecule fluorescence detection is developed and then used to analyze data from subpicomolar solutions of B-phycoerythrin (PE). The distribution of detected counts is the convolution of a Poissonian continuous background with bursts arising from the passage of individual fluorophores through the focused laser beam. The autocorrelation function reveals single-molecule events and provides a criterion for optimizing experimental parameters. The transit time of fluorescent molecules through the 120-fl imaged volume was 800 microseconds. The optimal laser power (32 mW at 514.5 nm) gave an incident intensity of 1.8 x 10(23) photons.cm-2.s-1, corresponding to a mean time of 1.1 ns between absorptions. The mean incremental count rate was 1.5 per 100 microseconds for PE monomers and 3.0 for PE dimers above a background count rate of 1.0. The distribution of counts and the autocorrelation function for 200 fM monomer and 100 fM dimer demonstrate that single-molecule detection was achieved. At this concentration, the mean occupancy was 0.014 monomer molecules in the probed volume. A hard-wired version of this detection system was used to measure the concentration of PE down to 1 fM. This single-molecule counter is 3 orders of magnitude more sensitive than conventional fluorescence detection systems.

Human cortical neurons contain both nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors: an immunocytochemical double-labeling study

Using immunofluorescence histochemistry, in the human cerebral cortex neurons immunoreactive for both nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor proteins could be demonstrated. Vibratome sections of biopsy and autopsy specimens of human temporal and occipital lobes were incubated with monoclonal antibodies specific for muscarinic (M 35) and nicotinic (WF 6) acetylcholine receptor protein. Immunoreactive sites were visualized using a biotin-streptavidin-phycoerythrin system (M 35, red fluorescence) and fluorescein-conjugated immunoglobulins (WF 6, green fluorescence). Immunofluorescence of both antibodies was preponderant in pyramidal neurons located in layers II/III and V and their apical dendrites. Some round and ovoid immunolabeled cells were encountered in layers VI and IV. About 30% of the cholinoceptive cortical neurons, in particular the pyramidal cells, displayed immunoreactivity for both receptor types. The present investigation shows a subpopulation of human cortical neurons to contain both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. The coexistence of acetylcholine receptors may provide the morphological basis of simultaneous impact of acetylcholine on both receptor types in the same neuron of the human cerebral cortex.

Simultaneous detection of antibodies to cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus by using flow cytometry and a microsphere-based fluorescence immunoassay

A sensitive assay for the simultaneous detection of anti-cytomegalovirus and anti-herpes simplex virus antibodies was developed. Two different sizes of polystyrene microspheres were coated with purified viral antigens. Human antiviral antibodies were detected with a biotin-streptavidin amplification procedure with phycoerythrin as the fluorescent label. Microsphere-associated fluorescence was quantitated with a flow cytometer. Sixteen percent of samples initially scored as seronegative for cytomegalovirus and 35% of samples initially scored as seronegative for herpes simplex virus by conventional assays were clearly found positive by the microsphere technique. This flow cytometric assay can simultaneously detect several specific antibodies at levels which are below the sensitivity of standard assays. The dynamic range of this assay is at least sixfold greater than that of enzyme immunoassays. This technique is amenable to numerous serologic assays and could greatly expand the clinical laboratory applications of flow cytometry.

Indirect immunofluorescence labelling with complexes of phycoerythrin and monoclonal anti-phycoerythrin antibodies (PEAPE complexes)

We describe a method of immunofluorescence which is a lateral application of the principles of the APAAP immunohistochemical technique. Immune complexes of R-phycoerythrin and monoclonal anti-R-phycoerythrin (PEAPE complexes) were used in an indirect immunofluorescence technique to detect the binding to cells of monoclonal antibodies directed to IgM, HLA-DR and B cell activation and differentiation antigens. PEAPE complexes were linked to cell surface bound mAbs by unlabelled anti-mouse Ig antibodies to produce high levels of fluorescent staining. The sensitivity of this method of indirect immunofluorescence was enhanced by the sequential application of several cycles of anti-mouse Ig and PEAPE complexes.

Fluorescence quenching of fluorescein by R-phycoerythrin. A pitfall in dual fluorescence analysis

The use of a single laser fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) to analyse cellular subpopulations by immunochemical staining requires an alternative dye to fluorescein with appropriate spectral characteristics. R-phycoerythrin (RPE) is widely employed for this purpose. In this study the ability of RPE to quench the fluorescein emission when both are attached to the same cell has been demonstrated by dual labelling of tonsil lymphocytes with pairs of monoclonal antibodies. Reduction of the fluorescein signal correlated with the amount of RPE attached and the relative intensity of emission from the two fluorochromes. The possible photochemical mechanisms which result in a reduction of the fluorescein signal by RPE are discussed. The inclusion of control tests, in which RPE is omitted, is recommended in order to avoid misinterpretation of the results of subpopulation analysis by single laser FACS - especially when low levels of fluorescein staining are obtained.

Crosslinking of phycobiliproteins from the cyanobacterium Mastigocladus laminosus with bis-imidates: localization of an intrasubunit and an intersubunit crosslink in C-phycocyanin

The light-harvesting pigment-protein complexes allophycocyanin (AP), C-phycocyanin (PC) and phycoerythrocyanin (PEC) of the cyanobacterium Mastigocladus laminosus consist of alpha- and beta-subunits containing about 170 amino-acid residues each. These two subunits form an alpha,beta-monomer, three of which build up a disc-shaped trimer. In this study these phycobiliproteins were crosslinked with bis-imidates. Various spacer lengths of the reagent and various aggregation states of the phycobiliprotein were tested. An intersubunit crosslink could be verified in all three phycobiliproteins. PC-trimers were crosslinked with the homobifunctional reagent dimethyl pimelimidate having a maximal crosslinking distance of 10 A. Two crosslinks could be identified: an intramonomer intersubunit crosslink with a yield of 48% and an intrasubunit crosslink within alpha PC (57%). These products were chemically and enzymatically fragmented and the small crosslinked peptides were isolated and then identified by amino-acid analysis. The following amino acids were crosslinked: alpha-Val 1 with beta-Ala 1 and alpha-Lys 62 with alpha-Lys 134. Both crosslinks could be localized within the known three-dimensional structure of PC.

Enumeration of CR1 complement receptors on erythrocytes using a new method for detecting low density cell surface antigens by flow cytometry

A sensitive enhancing system was developed for detecting low density cell surface antigen by flow cytometry. The system termed the 'super avidin-biotin system' (SABS) uses biotinylated antibody, phycoerythrin-streptavidin (StreptA-PE), biotinylated goat anti-streptavidin antibody, and StreptA-PE. CR1 complement receptor antigenic sites were quantified on erythrocytes from healthy individuals and patients with antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using SABS and a conventional radioimmunoassay (RIA) with monoclonal anti-CR1 antibody. As little as 50 sites/cell were detected using either SABS or RIA. Accurate quantification of CR1 antigenic sites was achieved within the range of 100-1300 sites/cell. Similar results were obtained using either of the two methods. Intra-assay and day-to-day reproducibilities using SABS were 2% and 12% respectively, comparable to those of conventional RIA measurements. In addition to enumeration of CR1 on erythrocytes for clinical purposes, the use of SABS may probably be extended to a wide number of situations where a sensitive detection of low density cell surface antigen is needed.