Evaluation of biotin-dye conjugates for use in an HPLC assay to assess relative binding of biotin derivatives with avidin and streptavidin

NIR fluorescent biotinylated cyanine dye: optical properties and combination with quantum dots as a potential sensing device

We present a water soluble and fluorescent biotinylated probe derived from a carbocyanine dye. A high efficiency of energy transfer was measured when the dyes were placed on the surface of streptavidin conjugated quantum dots. The system is a model platform for potential application as a FRET-based fluorescent sensor.

Biotin as acylating agent in the Friedel-Crafts reaction. Avidin affinity of biotinyl derivatives of ferrocene, ruthenocene and pyrene and fluorescence properties of 1-biotinylpyrene

(D)-Biotin was used for Friedel-Crafts acylation of electron-rich aromatic molecules--ferrocene, ruthenocene and pyrene. The reaction carried out in the presence of trifluoroacetic anhydride and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid afforded the corresponding biotinylarenes in moderate yields. These compounds, although lacking an amide bond, exhibited high affinity for avidin, with the ability to displace 2-(4'-hydroxyphenylazo)-benzoic acid (HABA) in its complex with avidin. Their affinity for avidin was determined by a solid-phase competitive enzymatic assay, which gave IC(50) values in the range of 33-58 nM (under the same conditions biotin showed IC(50) = 24 ± 7 nM). 1-Biotinylpyrene (1c) excited at 355 nm displayed fluorescence emission in aqueous solutions with λ(max) = 461 nm. The fluorescence maximum was shifted to 425 nm upon binding of 1c to avidin. Formation of the avidin-1c complex was also evidenced by quenching of the fluorescence from the protein tryptophan residues (342 nm) and appearance of the emission band of the avidin-bound 1c at 430 nm as a result of a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) phenomenon.

Protein biotinylation

Since its discovery in the first half of the twentieth century, the high-affinity, noncovalent interaction between biotin (vitamin H) and the avian protein avidin (and its bacterial homologs) has been exploited for many diverse biotechnology applications. This unit provides several basic protocols for labeling various protein reactive groups with biotin. These protocols can be applied not only to labeling in vitro or in tissue culture, but also to in vivo labeling of whole laboratory animals or to ex vivo labeling of surgically resected organs.

A fluorescence polarization assay to quantify biotin and biotin-binding proteins in whole plant extracts using Alexa-Fluor 594 biocytin

A high-throughput fluorescence polarization assay has been developed for the detection of biotin and biotin-binding proteins in whole leaf extracts. Various groups are investigating the insecticidal properties of avidin and other biotin-binding proteins expressed in leaves of transgenic plants. The methods commonly used to quantify biotin and avidin in leaf extracts are enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting. Here we describe a homogeneous fluorescence polarization (FP) method that quantifies transgenic avidin in whole leaf extract by the simple addition of the fluorescent avidin ligand Alexa-Fluor 594 biocytin (AFB). The FP assay exploits the fact that AFB excites and emits in regions of the spectrum that are relatively free of background fluorescence in leaf extract. Transgenic leaf avidin can be quantified within 1-2 h by the FP method, in comparison with 1-2 days for ELISA and Western blotting. The FP method can also measure the amount of biotin in control leaves, not expressing avidin. Functional avidin levels of 1.54 microM (26.1 microg/g leaf tissue) were detected in tobacco leaves expressing vacuole-targeted avidin. Control leaves had biotin levels of around 0.74 microM (approximately 0.18 microg/g leaf tissue). Reagent costs are minimal: typically AFB is used at concentrations of 1-10 nM, avidin is used at 1-100 nM, and sample volumes are 20 microL in 384-well microplates.

Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Diimine Bis(biotin) Complexes as the First Luminescent Biotin-Based Cross-Linkers for Avidin

Four luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III) diimine complexes [Ir(N-C)2(N-N)](PF6) (HN-C = 2-(4-(N-((2-biotinamido)ethyl)aminomethyl)phenyl)pyridine, Hppy-4-CH2NHC2NH-biotin, N-N = 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, Me4-phen (1a); N-N = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, Ph2-phen (2a); HN-C = 2-(4-(N-((6-biotinamido)hexyl)aminomethyl)phenyl)pyridine, Hppy-4-CH2NHC6NH-biotin, N-N = Me4-phen (1b); N-N = Ph2-phen (2b)), each containing two biotin units, have been synthesized and characterized. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of these complexes have been investigated. Photoexcitation of these iridium(III) diimine bis(biotin) complexes in fluid solutions at 298 K and in alcohol glass at 77 K resulted in intense and long-lived luminescence. The emission is assigned to a triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (3MLCT) (d pi(Ir) --> pi*(N-N)) excited state. The emissive states of complexes 1a,b are probably mixed with some 3IL (pi --> pi*) (Me4-phen) character. The interactions of these iridium(III) diimine bis(biotin) complexes with avidin have been studied by 4'-hydroxyazobenzene-2-carboxylic acid (HABA) assays and emission titrations. The potential for these complexes to act as cross-linkers for avidin has been examined by resonance-energy transfer- (RET-) based emission quenching experiments, microscopy studies using avidin-conjugated microspheres, and HPLC analysis.

Utilization of the Highly Environment-Sensitive Emission Properties of Rhenium(I) Amidodipyridoquinoxaline Biotin Complexes in the Development of Biological Probes

We report the synthesis and characterization of luminescent rhenium(I) amidodipyridoquinoxaline biotin complexes [Re(CO)3(dpqa)(L)](PF6) (dpqa = 2-(n-butylamido)dipyrido[3,2-f:2',3'-h]quinoxaline; L = 4-(biotinamidomethyl)pyridine (py-4-CH2-NH-biotin) (1), 3-(N-((2-biotinamido)ethyl)amido)pyridine (py-3-CO-NH-en-NH-biotin) (2), 4-(N-((6-biotinamido)hexanoyl)aminomethyl)pyridine (py-4-CH2-NH-cap-NH-biotin) (3)), and their biotin-free counterpart [Re(CO)3(dpqa)(py)](PF6) (py = pyridine (4)). Upon irradiation, these complexes exhibited intense triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (3MLCT) (dpi(Re) --> pi(dpqa)) emission in fluid solutions at 298 K and in alcohol glass at 77 K. However, the emission became much weaker in aqueous buffer, probably due to the interactions of water molecules with the amide substituent of the dpqa ligand. These properties render the complexes good candidates as luminescent probes for hydrophobic media, such as the substrate-binding sites of proteins. The avidin-binding properties of the new biotin complexes have been studied by 4'-hydroxyazobenzene-2-carboxylic acid (HABA) assays, emission titrations, and competitive association and dissociation assays. Most importantly, the complexes showed a profound increase in emission intensities upon binding to avidin. Additionally, we found that the fluorescence of anthracene was quenched by these rhenium(I) complexes, and the 3MLCT emission of the complexes was also quenched by anthracene. On the basis of these findings, new homogeneous assays for biotin using these complexes, avidin, and anthracene-labeled avidin have been designed.

Is the ether group hydrophilic or hydrophobic?

A series of six surfactants, each with two ether oxygens within otherwise all-hydrocarbon chains, were synthesized and examined for their colloidal properties. Since an ether oxygen is sterically and conformationally similar to the methylene group it has replaced, the ether effect on micellization should stem mainly from solvation of the oxygen and, possibly, disrupted hydrophobicity of its adjacent carbons. It was found that critical aggregation values among the surfactants differ only modestly despite the total length of the ether-separated carbon segments ranging from 12 to 18. Shorter ether surfactants with only 12 or 14 total carbons appear to form small, loose aggregates owing, presumably, to a mild hydrophilicity of the ether groups. A surfactant with 18 chain carbons has a greater tendency to associate hydrophobically, but this is counterbalanced by a relatively water-free environment encountered by the ether groups within a more conventional micelle interior. The result is a leveling effect in which the critical aggregation concentration (cac) loses it sensitivity to chain length. Above their cac's, none of the ether surfactants is a good solubilizer of tetramethysilane or mesitylene. This is not necessarily a predictable finding since it was conceivable that the presence of interior ether groups might actually enhance solubilization (much as ether is a better solvent than hexane). Foamability and solid adsorption studies also indicate that the ethers impair surface activity. In response to the question posed in the paper's title, two ether groups are not sufficiently hydrophilic to prevent aggregation, but they do manage to alter the micelles' morphology and properties considerably.

Release of biotin from biotinylated proteins occurs enzymatically and nonenzymatically in human plasma

Studies in our laboratory and others indicate that biotin is released from biotinylated proteins in vivo and in vitro in human plasma. Using immunoglobulin G (IgG) as the model protein and four different biotinylating reagents, we investigated the mechanism of release. All of the biotin bonds shared an amide link to the carboxyl group of biotin but differed in the chemical links (amide, thioether, and hydrazone) between spacer arm and the various functional groups on IgG. Biotinylated IgG was incubated with phosphate-buffered saline, plasma, or plasma treated to either inactivate enzymes or remove all macromolecules. Released biotin was separated from bound biotin by ultrafiltration and quantitated by avidin-binding assay. As judged by high-performance liquid chromatography, greater than 95% of the released avidin-binding activity was biotin. We infer that the amide bond between the biotin and the spacer arm rather than the bond attaching the spacer to the protein was cleaved. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis detected no proteolytic degradation of biotinylated IgG. Neither heat inactivation of plasma nor ultrafiltration of plasma to remove macromolecules completely eliminated biotin cleavage. We conclude that cleavage of biotin from protein occurs by both enzymatic and nonenzymatic mechanisms.

A biotin–protein bond with stability in plasma

A nonradioactive label for peptide hormones would be useful for pharmacokinetic studies in infants, children, and pregnant women. Because the binding affinity between biotin and avidin is large (Ka=10(15) M(-1)), biotin could also serve as a covalent label for subsequent detection using a variety of avidin conjugates. However, biotin labels produced by most commercially available biotinylating reagents are rapidly cleaved from protein in plasma. We sought to synthesize a stable biotin label for protein. With the use of immunoglobulin G (IgG) as a model protein, biotin was conjugated through a cysteine residue; a carboxylate group was positioned alpha to the biotinamide bond. Stability of the bond in the presence of plasma and buffer control was assessed by release of biotin. Released biotin was separated from biotinylated IgG by ultrafiltration and was quantitated by an avidin-binding assay. In plasma, less than 0.6% of bound biotin was released. This release rate is not significantly different from buffer and is less than 7% of the release rate for IgG biotinylated by N-hydroxysuccinimide-LC-biotin. We conclude that this biotin-protein bond is stable in plasma. We speculate that many uses of avidin-biotin technology could be improved by using this method for protein labeling.

Luminescent Ruthenium(II) Polypyridine Biotin Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization, Photophysical and Electrochemical Properties, and Avidin-Binding Studies

Two luminescent ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes containing a biotin moiety [Ru(bpy)(2)(L1)](PF(6))(2) (1) and [Ru(bpy)(2)(L2)](PF(6))(2) (2) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; L1 = 4-(N-((2-biotinamido)ethyl)amido)-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine; L2 = 4-(N-((6-biotinamido)hexyl)amido)-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine) have been synthesized and characterized, and their photophysical and electrochemical properties have been studied. Upon photoexcitation, complexes 1 and 2 display intense and long-lived triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer ((3)MLCT) (dpi(Ru) --> pi*(L1 or L2)) emission in fluid solutions at 298 K and in low-temperature glass. We have studied the binding of these ruthenium(II) biotin complexes to avidin by 4'-hydroxyazobenzene-2-carboxylic acid (HABA) assays, luminescence titrations, competitive assays using native biotin, and quenching experiments using methyl viologen. On the basis of the results of these experiments, a homogeneous competitive assay for biotin has been investigated.

Novel rhenium(I) polypyridine biotin complexes that show luminescence enhancement and lifetime elongation upon binding to avidin

While most biotin-fluorophore conjugates suffer from significant emission quenching upon binding to avidin due to resonance energy-transfer, three novel rhenium(I) polypyridine biotin complexes have been designed in view of their characteristic photophysical properties, in particular their large Stokes shifts. In contrast to most biotin-fluorophore conjugates, the (3)MLCT emission intensities and lifetimes of these rhenium(I) complexes are increased upon binding to avidin, rendering them luminescent probes for avidin and biotinylated species.

Mass spectrometry in coupling with affinity capture-release and isotope-coded affinity tags for quantitative protein analysis

Affinity capture-release electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ACESIMS) and isotope-coded affinity tags (ICAT) are two recently introduced techniques for the quantitation of protein activity and content with applications to clinical enzymology and functional proteomics, respectively. One common feature of these methods is that they use biotinylated tags that function as molecular handles for highly selective and reversible affinity capture of conjugates from complex biological mixtures such as cell homogenates and sub-cellular organelles. ACESIMS uses synthetic substrate conjugates specifically to target cellular enzymes that, when deficient, are the cause of genetic diseases. Multiplex determination of enzyme activities is used for the diagnosis of lysosomal storage diseases. The ICAT method relies on selective conjugation of cysteine thiol groups in proteins, followed by enzymatic digestion and quantitative analysis of peptide conjugates by mass spectrometry. Another common feature of the ACESIMS and ICAT approaches is that both use conjugates labeled with stable heavy isotopes as internal standards for quantitation. Selected applications of the ACESIMS and ICAT techniques are presented that include molecular-level diagnosis of genetic diseases in children and quantitative determination of protein expression in cells.