Phycoerythrin (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).
There is a conjugation
kit available from Prozyme, Inc., which uses essentially this protocol
(although most of the steps have been done for you). The conjugation kit
provides enough of all of the necessary materials to conjugate 1 mg of
antibody; the entire procedure takes about 2 hours to complete (the kit
eliminates steps I and II in the conjugation protocol below). If you are only
performing a limited number of PE conjugations, this alternative is probably
desirable.
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. Reduction of IgG
IV. Covalent conjugation
Materials, chemicals, and buffers
References
The entire conjugation can be performed in a single 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 your antibody 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 antibody 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.
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 3.5 mg of R-PE per mg of IgG to be modified; this includes an extra 10% for
loss during buffer exchanges.
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.
The hinge disulfide bonds are reduced to yield free sulfhydryls.
Prepare a fresh solution of 1 M DTT (15.4 mg/100 µl) in distilled water.
IgG solutions should be at 4 mg/ml or higher for best results. The reduction
can be carried out in almost any buffer; MES, phosphate, and TRIS buffers (pH
range 6 to 8) have been used successfully. The antibody should be concentrated
if less than 2 mg/ml. Include an extra 10% for losses on the buffer exchange
column.
Make each IgG solution 20 mM in DTT: add 20 µl of DTT stock per ml of IgG
solution while mixing. Let stand at room temp for 30 minutes without additional
mixing (to minimize reoxidation of cysteines to cystines).
Pass the reduced IgG 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 IgG.
This can be done either spectrophotometrically or colorimetrically (see hints on using columns for separation of
nonfluorescent proteins).
Carry out the conjugation as soon as possible after this step.
Note: for conjugations which are poor or fail, it may help to reduce the DTT
concentration.
The PE is covalently coupled to the IgG
through reaction of the maleimide groups with the free sulfhydryl on the IgG.
Do not delay this step since the IgG sulfhydryls will reoxidize.
Add 3.2 mg of SMCC-PE per mg of IgG. Wrap the reaction tube in aluminum foil
and rotate for 60 minutes at room temp. Note: These molar ratios (~2 PE per
IgG) have worked very well. For conjugations which fail or are poor, different
molar ratios may help.
After 60 minutes, unreacted free sulfhydryls on the IgG must be
blocked.
Prepare a fresh solution of 10 mg NEM in 1.0 ml dry DMSO.
Add 34 µg (3.4 µl) per mg of IgG. 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:
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
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 is based on an original protocol devised by Randy Hardy, and
modified by Alan Stall and Aaron Kantor.
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.