This protocol serves not only to describe the conjugation of Phycoerythrin
(PE) to Annexin V, but to serve as a model for PE conjugation of any protein.
The molecular weight of Annexin V is about 40 kDaltons. When conjugating other
proteins, take into account the relative molecular weight.
This protocol is similar to that of conjugation of PE to
immunoglobulins. One difference arises from the much smaller size of
Annexin V compared to IgG (one-fourth the molecular weight). The primary
difference is that there is no available sulfhydryl on Annexin V. To introduce
one, a heterobifunctional linking reagent is used which reacts with Annexin V
lysines with one end of the molecule, and has a sulfhydryl on its other end.
This sulfhydryl is reacted with the SMCC-derivatized PE through reductive
cross-linking. Annexin V can be purchased from some commercial sources or
obtained in collaborative agreements with researchers who make recombinant
protein.
PE is one of the most commonly-used fluorescent dyes for FACS analysis. PE is a
large protein (approximate molecular weight 240 kd) containing 25 fluors.
Typically, only one PE molecule is conjugated to an antibody. Nonetheless, by
virtue of its huge absorption coefficienct and almost perfect quantum
efficiency it is one of the brightest dyes used today. It emits at about 570
nm, and can be excited by common Argon laser lines. (See the fluorescence spectra and the absorbance
spectrum). Direct PE conjugates are relatively easy to make. Phycoerythrin
can be purchased from several vendors, or isolated from the algae directly (be
prepared to spend 2+ weeks in the cold room).
As an alternative to steps I and II in the conjugation protocol, you might
consider purchasing a conjugation
kit available from Prozyme, Inc. The conjugation kit provides enough of all
of the necessary materials to conjugate 1 mg of antibody, or 0.25 mg of Annexin
V; the entire procedure takes about 2 hours to complete.
Refer to notes about the following procedures used by this protocol:
Reductive cross-linking of antibodies
Column chromatography
Reagent storage
You can also use the short, less-detailed protocol
for reference.
I. Preparation of PE
II. Derivitization of PE
III. Preparation of Annexin V
IV. Covalent conjugation
Materials, chemicals, and buffers
References
The entire conjugation can be performed in a single (long) day. However,
dialysis of stored PE prior to conjugation can take 24-48 hours. In addition to
the materials listed below, you will need to have a solution of Annexin V at a
concentration of at least 2 mg/ml. You should be familiar with how to use
desalting columns and how to take absorbance spectra.
The SMCC-PE derivative (the result of steps I and II) is quite stable (at least
a few months at 4C in the "Exchange Buffer"). Therefore, it is best
to derivatize 10 or more milligrams of PE at the same time, and use it for
several protein conjugations (even over a period of weeks). Steps III and IV
together take only a few hours and minimal preparation; thus, storing the
SMCC-derivative is very convenient. It is possible that long-term storage of
the SMCC-PE may be best as a saturated ammonium sulfate precipitate--after
which extensive dialysis similar to that in Step I below should be performed.
While taking absorbance spectra is not critical to the success of the
procedure, it is highly recommended as a quality control, and as a permanent
record of the quality of the PE for each conjugation.
Optimization of the Annexin V-PE conjugate requires trying different ratios of
2-IT to Annexin V. The protocol below suggests a ratio of 4; however, higher
concentrations may result in brighter reagents. Too high a concentration may
result in inactivation of the resulting conjugate. Try ratios of 1, 2, 4, 8,
16, and 32 when attempting a novel conjugation.
Dialyze or exchange the PE into "Dialysis Buffer". Concentration
before derivatization is typically 5-10 mg/ml. Note: PE is most stable as a SAS
(sodium ammonium sulfate) precipitate prior to coupling. If the PE is stored as
a SAS precipitate, it must be extensively dialyzed prior to use. Dialyze
against 2 changes of 1 liter per ml PE of PBS before dialyzing against 1 liter
per ml of "Dialysis Buffer".
Use 6-12 mg of R-PE per mg of Annexin V to be modified.
To check the PE purity and concentration measure the absorbance at 280, 565 and
620 nm. (1 mg/ml of PE has an OD at 565nm of 8.2). A 565/620 ratio > 50
indicates adequate removal of contaminating phycocyanin; a 565/280 ratio > 5
indicates adequate removal of all other proteins. See the sample absorbance spectrum for PE.
The amino groups on the phycoerythrin (PE) react with the succinamide to
yield a maleimide-labeled PE.
Prepare a 10 mg/ml stock solution of SMCC in dry DMSO immediately prior to use.
Add 11 µl of SMCC per mg of PE while vortexing. Wrap the reaction tube in
aluminum foil and rotate at room temperature for 60 minutes.
Pass the derivatized PE over a gel filtration column pre-equilibrated with
"Exchange Buffer". See hints
on using columns with fluorescent proteins. The SMCC-derivative is stable and
may be stored at 4C for several weeks; a high concentration of PE (> 4
mg/ml) is desirable for such longer-term storage.
Note: for conjugations which fail or are poor, it may help to increase or
decrease the amount of SMCC with respect to PE, or to use an alternative
heterobifunctional crosslinking reagent.
A heterobifunctional linking reagent is reacted with Annexin V (via
lysines) to provide free sulfhydryl groups.
Dissolve (or dialyze or exchange) the Annexin V into any standard PBS solution
(azide-free!); the Annexin V should be at a concentration of greater than 5
mg/ml if possible.
Dissolve 2-IT in the same PBS solution at a concentration of 10 mg/ml. Use
immediately: for a molar ratio of 4, add 15.2 µg of 2-IT per mg of Annexin. See
notes above about using different molar ratios of 2-IT to Annexin V.
Incubate and rotate at room temperature for 60 minutes.
Prepare a fresh solution of 1 M DTT (15.4 mg/100 µl) in distilled water.
Make each Annexin V reaction 20 mM in DTT: add 20 µl of DTT stock per ml of
reaction while mixing. Let stand at room temp for 15 minutes without additional
mixing (to minimize reoxidation of cysteines to cystines).
Pass the reduced 2-IT-Annexin V over a filtration column pre-equilibrated with
"Exchange Buffer". Collect 0.25 ml fractions off the column;
determine the protein concentrations and pool the fractions with the majority
of the Annexin V. This can be done either spectrophotometrically or
colorimetrically (see hints on using
columns for separation of nonfluorescent proteins).
Carry out the PE conjugation as soon as possible after this step.
The PE is covalently coupled to 2-IT-Annexin
V through reaction of the maleimide groups with the free sulfhydryl on the of
the 2-IT. Do not delay this step since the 2-IT sulfhydryls will reoxidize.
Add 6-12 mg of SMCC-PE per mg of 2-IT-Annexin V. Wrap the reaction tube in
aluminum foil and rotate for 60 minutes at room temp. Note: These molar ratios
(~1-2 PE per Annexin V) have worked; for conjugations which fail or are poor,
different molar ratios may help.
After 60 minutes, unreacted free sulfhydryls on the 2-IT-Annexin V
must be blocked.
Prepare a fresh solution of 10 mg NEM in 1.0 ml dry DMSO.
Add 20 µg (2.0 µl) per mg of 2-IT-Annexin V. Wrap and rotate for 20 minutes at
room temperature.
The product can be either dialyzed or exchanged over a column into an
appropriate buffer (e.g. "Storage Buffer"). It is best to keep the
product at high concentration (> 1 mg/ml) for optimal stability. Never
freeze the congugates. It may be useful to spin PE conjugates prior to use in
staining, especially if background seems to be a problem (e.g., at 10,000g in a
microcentrifuge, at 4C). See also general hints on
storing conjugates.
Materials:
For column separations, we often use one
of two types of pre-poured columns:
For 1.25ml to 2.5ml sample volumes: PD-10 (Sephadex G-25M), Amersham, catalog
No. 17-0851-01.
For <0.5 ml sample volumes: NAP5 columns (Sephadex G-25 DNA grade), Amersham,
catalog No 17-0853-02.
Chemicals:
2-IT - 2-iminothiolane * HCl ("Traut's reagent")
Pierce, catalog No. 26101, mw 137.6
SMCC - succinimidyl 4-(N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxylate
Pierce, catalog No. 22360, mw 334.42
NEM – N-Ethylmaleimide
Sigma, Catalog E-1271, mw 125.1
DMSO - anyhydrous dimethyl sulfoxide
Aldrich, catalog No. 27,685-5.
Note: keep the DMSO absolutely dry at all times. We keep the bottle in a dessicator. Pour out an
amount of DMSO sufficient for your need and then pipette that; don't pipetter
directly into the bottle.
NaHCO3 - sodium bicarbonate
J. T. Baker, catalog No. 3508-05, mw 84.01
NaCO3 - sodium carbonate
J. T. Baker, catalog No. 3602-01, mw 106
NaCl - Sodium Chloride
Sigma, Catalog No S-3014, mw 58.44
TRIZMA pre-Set crystals 8.0 - Combination of Tris base and TrisHCl
Sigma, catalog No. T4753, average mw 141.8
NaN3 – Sodium Azide
Sigma, catalog No S-2002, mw 65
Standard PBS (free of sodium azide)
Buffers:
"Dialysis Buffer"
50 mM Sodium phosphate, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.0
To make 1 Liter:
13.41g Sodium phosphate dibasic (7*H2O)
0.37 g EDTA
"Exchange Buffer"
50 mM MES, 2 mM EDTA, pH. 6.0
To make 1 Liter:
9.76 g MES
0.74 gm EDTA
pH to 6.0
"Storage Buffer"
10 mM Tris, 150 mM NaCl, 0.1% NaN3, pH 8.2
To make 1 Liter:
1.42g TRIZMA 8.0
8.77g NaCl
1g NaN3
pH to 8.2
See hints on storing buffers.
This protocol was devised and tested by Mario Roederer, and is based on the
reductive cross-linking protocol used for phycobiliprotein conjugates.
Hardy, RR: Purification and coupling of fluorescent proteins for use in flow
cytometry. In: Handbook of Experimental Immunology, 4th ed. DM Weir, LA
Herzenberg, C Blackwell, and LA Herzenberg, editors. Blackwell Scientific
Publications, Boston, 1986, pp. 31.1-31.12.