Cu(2+)-mediated complex formation between polyacrylic acid (PAA) and bovine serum albumin.
Cu(2+)-mediated complex formation between polyacrylic acid (PAA) and negatively charged bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied in neutral water in the presence of Cu2+. Depending on the concentration of Cu2+, the reaction between PAA-Cu2+ complexes and BSA appeared to follow one of two possible paths. At low Cu2+ concentrations (nCu/nAA < 0.15), a further increase in BSA concentration led to the breakdown of the complex as in mechanism I: [formula: see text] At higher Cu2+ concentrations (nCu/nAA > 0.15), a further increase in BSA concentration led to the formation of non-stoichiometric polycomplexes (mechanism II): [formula: see text] The immunogenic properties of ternary mixtures of BSA-Cu(2+)-PAA were investigated and the relationship between immunogenicity and complex formation in solution was analyzed. The addition of Cu2+ to solutions of PAA with BSA gave rise to a considerable increase in BSA-specific immunogenicity. Data obtained from the analysis of the immunogenicity of BSA-Cu(2+)-PAA mixtures formed using different ratios of the components suggested that (1) the highest immunogenic activity is exhibited by stable ternary complexs, and (2) immunoactive polyelectrolyte complexes have a non-stoichiometric composition. We thus propose a novel method, based on Cu2+ mediated complex formation, to enhance protein-specific antibody responses.
Mustafaev
M I
MI
Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, TUBITAK Marmara Research Center, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Yücel
F
F
Oztürk
S
S
Cirakoğlu
B
B
Bermek
E
E
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; C006903:carbopol 940; D003300:Copper