title: Synthesis and characterization of hapten-protein conjugates for antibody production against small molecules.
abstract: For the generation of antibodies against small hapten molecules, the hapten is cross-linked with some carrier protein to make it immunogenic. However, the formation of such conjugates is not always reproducible. This may lead to inconsistent hapten-protein stoichiometries, resulting in large variations in the generation of the desired antibodies. In the study described here the hapten (mercaptopropionic acid derivative of atrazine) was coupled to carrier protein at five different molar ratios. The hapten-protein conjugates prepared were characterized thoroughly by spectrophotometric absorption, fluorescence, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI), and gel electrophoresis methods, before being used for the immunization and assay purposes. Electrophoresis and fluorescence methods were very useful in detecting hapten-protein cross-linking while MALDI-MS and spectrophotometric detection provided qualitatively comparable hapten density. The production of specific antibodies was sought following the generation of appropriate hapten-protein conjugates. A high antibody titer with moderate antibody specificity was obtained with hapten density around 15 molecules per carrier protein. The study proved useful for monitoring the course of hapten-protein conjugation for the production of specific antibodies against small molecules.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbial Technology, Sector 39-A, Chandigarh 160 036, India.
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Jasdeep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Grish C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Varshney
authors.forename: Manoj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raje
authors.forename: C Raman
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Suri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001280:Atrazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006241:Haptens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011506:Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000276:immunology; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D006241:Haptens; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011506:Proteins; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; D001280:Atrazine