Efficient and Site-specific Antibody Labeling by Strain-promoted Azide-alkyne Cycloaddition

J Vis Exp. 2016 Dec 23:(118):54922. doi: 10.3791/54922.

Abstract

There are currently many chemical tools available to introduce chemical probes into proteins to study their structure and function. A useful method is protein conjugation by genetically introducing an unnatural amino acid containing a bioorthogonal functional group. This report describes a detailed protocol for site-specific antibody conjugation. The protocol includes experimental details for the genetic incorporation of an azide-containing amino acid, and the conjugation reaction by strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC). This strain-promoted reaction proceeds by simple mixing of the reacting molecules at physiological pH and temperature, and does not require additional reagents such as copper(I) ions and copper-chelating ligands. Therefore, this method would be useful for general protein conjugation and development of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs).

Publication types

  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Alkynes / chemistry*
  • Amino Acids / chemistry
  • Antibodies / chemistry*
  • Azides / chemistry*
  • Copper
  • Cycloaddition Reaction*

Substances

  • Alkynes
  • Amino Acids
  • Antibodies
  • Azides
  • Copper