Ultra Q-bodies: quench-based antibody probes that utilize dye-dye interactions with enhanced antigen-dependent fluorescence

Sci Rep. 2014 Apr 11:4:4640. doi: 10.1038/srep04640.

Abstract

Recently, we described a novel reagentless fluorescent biosensor strategy named Quenchbody, which functions via the antigen-dependent removal of the quenching effect on a fluorophore that is attached to a single-chain antibody variable region. To explore the practical utility of Quenchbodies, we prepared antibody Fab fragments that were fluorolabeled at either one or two of the N-terminal regions, using a cell-free translation-mediated position-specific protein labeling system. Unexpectedly, the Fab fragment labeled at the heavy chain N-terminal region demonstrated a deeper quenching and antigen-dependent release compared to that observed using scFv. Moreover, when the Fab was fluorolabeled at the two N-termini with either the same dye or with two different dyes, an improved response due to enhanced quenching via dye-dye interactions was observed. On the basis of this approach, several targets, including peptides, proteins, and haptens, as well as narcotics, were quantified with a higher response up to 50-fold. In addition, differentiation of osteosarcoma to osteoblasts was successfully imaged using a similarly fluorolabeled recombinant Fab protein prepared from E. coli. Due to its versatility, this "Ultra-Quenchbody" is expected to exhibit a range of applications from in vitro diagnostics to the live imaging of various targets in situ.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / chemistry
  • Antibodies / immunology*
  • Antigens / chemistry*
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Cell Line
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / metabolism
  • Osteocalcin / immunology
  • Osteocalcin / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Rhodamines / chemistry
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

  • 5-carboxytetramethylrhodamine succinimidyl ester
  • Antibodies
  • Antigens
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Rhodamines
  • Osteocalcin