Academic literature on the topic 'Site-specific labeling of antigens and antibodies'

Fluorescent antibodies have proved to be an invaluable tool for molecular biology and diagnostics. They are routinely produced by modification of lysine residues, which leads to high heterogeneity. As such, their affinity may be compromised if the antigen-binding site is affected, the probability of which increases along with the degree of labeling. In this work, we propose a methodology for the synthesis of site-specific antibody-dye conjugates with a high degree of labeling. To this end, we synthesized two oxyamine-based branched triazide linkers and coupled them with a periodate-oxidized anti-PRAME antibody 6H8; two oxyamine-based linear monoazide linkers of similar structure were used as controls. The azide-labeled antibodies were subsequently conjugated with fluorescent dyes via SPAAC, a copper-free click reaction. Compared to their counterparts made with linear linkers, the branched conjugates possessed a higher degree of labeling. The utility of the methodology was demonstrated in the detection of the PRAME protein on the surface of the cell by flow cytometry.

Complexes formed by binding 125I- or 3H-labeled neuropeptides to one of the two binding sites of their specific antibodies allowed specific and sensitive labeling of various peptidergic neurons, which could be detected by classical autoradiographic methods. To visualize two neuronal antigens on the same material at both light and electron microscopic level, we used a new technique of double immunocytochemical labeling, combining immunoperoxidase and radioimmunocytochemistry. The main steps of the process included: (a) indirect labeling of the first antigen by its specific antibody and by a peroxidase-labeled Fab immunoglobulin fragment directed against the primary antibody; (b) direct labeling of the second antigen by a radiolabeled peptide-antibody complex; (c) revealing of the first label in the presence of peroxidase substrate; and (d) revealing of the second label by autoradiographic treatment of tissue sections. Compared with other known techniques of double immunostaining, this technique offers major advantages for combined visualization of two neuronal antigens at the electron microscopic level: (a) two neuron types can be labeled by a pre-embedding approach, allowing highly sensitive detection of neuronal antigens throughout the 50-microns thickness of vibratome sections; (b) two primary antibodies obtained in the same species can be used to label the two antigens without any risk of crossreactions between the two successive labelings; and (c) the two labels can easily be differentiated, even when they are co-localized within the same neuron structures. Application of this double immunostaining technique is illustrated by data obtained in rat hypothalamus concerning the relationships among a variety of identified neurons and the co-localization of different neuropeptides within the same neuron system.

We combined the protein G-gold complex with several polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for localization of various antigenic sites. The labelings were compared with those obtained using the protein A-gold complex. The results from either the immunodot experiment or immunoelectron microscopy have demonstrated that, for rabbit and guinea pig antibodies, both protein G-gold and protein A-gold complexes label several different specific antibodies with similar efficiency. However, with antibodies raised in goats or in mice, and particularly with mouse monoclonal antibodies, protein G-gold yielded intense and specific labeling, whereas protein A-gold yielded intense and specific labeling, whereas protein A-gold was very variable; it either gave weaker signals or failed to reveal any specific site or, as with one monoclonal, both protein G and protein A gave similar results. The higher affinity and versatility of protein G over protein A, established by the immunochemical approach, was confirmed by immunocytochemistry. Because of its enhanced reactivity with monoclonal antibodies and its broader affinity for polyclonal antibodies, protein G-gold complex appears to be a better and more versatile probe for high-resolution immunocytochemistry.

A double-antibody sandwich ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) has been successfully developed for the detection of defined amounts of pig meat (1–50%) in raw beef. Antibodies against pig sarcoplasmic extracts were produced in rabbits. Pig-specific antibodies were affinity purified by removing antibodies which crossreacted with horse, chicken or beef extracts followed by immunoadsorption and elution from a pig-extract column. The ELISA involved capturing antigens in sarcoplasmic extracts with pig specific antibodies immobilized on 96-well plates, detecting bound antigen with pig specific, horseradish peroxidase-labeling antibody, and measuring peroxidase activity by the conversion of a clear substrate to a colored product.

Specific binding of target cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) is an example of tight interaction between two different cell types. The molecular events that occur at the cell membranes during these interactions are largely unknown. In the present report, we describe an electron microscopic immunostaining study made on CTL-target cell conjugates. Various membrane structures were labeled with monoclonal antibodies specific for structures possibly relevant to cytolysis (Lyt-2, LFA-1, and target cell class I major histocompatibility antigens) or probably unrelated to the cytolytic process (effector cell class I major histocompatibility antigens). Antibodies against Thy-1 were also used. Staining was achieved with immunoperoxidase or immunoferritin. With both techniques nonconjugated cells were either stained or not, depending on whether they bore the antigen corresponding to the antibody used. However, when conjugated to an antigen-bearing cell, a "non-antigen bearing" cell was labeled near the cell interaction area. No increased Fc receptor activity could be detected on bound cells near the interaction area. These data are consistent with the occurrence of limited exchange of membrane macromolecules between bound CTL and target cell.

Abstract The common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA) is a 100-kd surface glycoprotein that is present on normal and malignant lymphoid cells. It is a useful marker for distinguishing between clinically important types of acute leukemia. Anti-CALLA monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) also react with mature myeloid cells (granulocytes), where they identify an antigen having a similar molecular weight (mol wt). We now report that the antigens detected by anti-CALLA MoAb on human lymphoid and myeloid cells differ in their behavior and chemistry. Surface- labeling studies indicate that the antigen on lymphoid cells has a mol wt of approximately 100 kd v 110 kd for that on granulocytes. When cells are metabolically labeled with 35S-methionine, differences in the mol wt of these antigens are again observed. Unlike the lymphoid antigen, expression of that on purified granulocytes is not modulated by incubation with specific antibody. Sodium dodecyl sulfate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of proteolytic digests of the two antigens fails to clarify their chemical relationship. Thus the antigens detected on these two cell types may share an epitope(s) but be chemically distinct, or CALLA may exist in distinct forms and behave differently on lymphoid cells and granulocytes.

The common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA) is a 100-kd surface glycoprotein that is present on normal and malignant lymphoid cells. It is a useful marker for distinguishing between clinically important types of acute leukemia. Anti-CALLA monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) also react with mature myeloid cells (granulocytes), where they identify an antigen having a similar molecular weight (mol wt). We now report that the antigens detected by anti-CALLA MoAb on human lymphoid and myeloid cells differ in their behavior and chemistry. Surface- labeling studies indicate that the antigen on lymphoid cells has a mol wt of approximately 100 kd v 110 kd for that on granulocytes. When cells are metabolically labeled with 35S-methionine, differences in the mol wt of these antigens are again observed. Unlike the lymphoid antigen, expression of that on purified granulocytes is not modulated by incubation with specific antibody. Sodium dodecyl sulfate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of proteolytic digests of the two antigens fails to clarify their chemical relationship. Thus the antigens detected on these two cell types may share an epitope(s) but be chemically distinct, or CALLA may exist in distinct forms and behave differently on lymphoid cells and granulocytes.

We report on application of the highly sensitive and specific immunogold labeling method for ultrastructural investigation of keratin intermediate filament antigens in human epidermal cell suspensions. Triton X-100 pretreated cells proved accessible to the colloidal gold conjugate, thus enabling keratin filament bundles to be labeled. Anti-keratin KL1 and KL2 monoclonal antibodies were raised in mice after immunization with either human stratum corneum-isolated keratins or keratins extracted from human epidermal cells suspensions, respectively. Immunoelectron microscopy confirmed immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase results of epidermal keratinocyte staining, and revealed two different antibody reactivity patterns: KL2 reacted with keratin filaments in keratinocytes of all epidermal layers, whereas antigen to KL1 was detected only on keratin of the suprabasal layers, not on the basal keratinocyte tonofilaments. The monoclonal antibody-recognized epitopes were specific for the keratin filaments. Vimentin-rich cells (melanocytes) were not stained in the same epidermal cell suspensions. Additionally, two distinct ultrastructural patterns of keratin filament epitope labeling were observed. KL1 and KL2 monoclonal antibodies react with two different antigenic determinants, depending on the stage of keratinocyte differentiation, and may therefore be used for immunohistochemical studies of various keratin-containing cells in normal and pathologic conditions.

We evaluated the contribution of darkfield and epi-polarization microscopy to the detection of leukocyte cell surface antigens with immunogold-silver staining (IGSS). Lymphocyte cell surface differentiation antigens were labeled with monoclonal antibodies and IGSS as described for brightfield microscopy. In darkfield and epi-polarization microscopy the labeling appeared as bright spots on a dark background. The sensitivity of detection was much higher than that of brightfield microscopy. Sixteenfold higher dilutions of the monoclonal antibody could be used to detect all cells expressing the antigen in the cell suspension. However, non-specific staining was also better visualized. The latter could be reduced to a level comparable to that of brightfield microscopy only by use of weaker labeling conditions. A 25% reduction of the silver enhancement time was necessary for this purpose. However, these weaker labeling conditions also reduced the intensity of the specific staining. Therefore, the efficiency of IGSS, as detected with darkfield and epi-polarization microscopy, was only fourfold greater than that found with brightfield microscopy or that of an immunofluorescence procedure. Especially in combination with transmitted light, to improve cell identification, epi-polarization microscopy is a reliable and sensitive method for detection of immunogold-silver-labeled cell surface antigens for diagnostic and research purposes.

Abstract Cloned Leishmania donovani chagasi (Ldc) promastigotes were analyzed by SDS-PAGE separation and immunoblotting with human infection sera. The patterns of antigen reactivity were compared by using sera from individuals with Ldc, Leishmania mexicana amazonensis (Lma), Trypanosoma cruzi, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or Mycobacterium leprae infections. Sera from individuals with these infections recognized Ldc antigens in several m.w. ranges. Reactivity was due to recognition of Ldc molecules and not to Ldc culture medium components, as shown by comparing Ldc promastigotes grown in the presence or absence of fetal bovine serum (FBS), by immunoblotting of FBS, and by [35S]methionine labeling. The major findings of the study were as follows. Immunoblots with Ldc promastigotes could be used to distinguish individuals with Ldc infections from those with Lma infections. Persons with Ldc infections had antibodies to a Ldc antigen of approximately 32 to 35 kd not recognized by persons with Lma infections. Individuals cured of acute Ldc infection did not develop antibodies that differed in specificity to those present during their acute phase of infection. Ldc antigens in the 62 to 66 kd region were recognized by all individuals with Ldc or Lma infections but were not recognized by individuals in the other disease groups or by control sera. This region was found to contain at least four distinct bands, one of which appeared to be glycosylated as indicated by periodic acid-Schiff staining and concanavalin A labeling; an apparently nonglycosylated protein of 62 to 63 kd was eluted from SDS-PAGE gels and was used to diagnose Ldc infection by the ELISA. Whereas crude Ldc antigen gave false positive results with T. cruzi and mycobacteria infection sera, the eluted 62 to 63 kd protein was 100% specific and sensitive in the diagnosis of Ldc infection.

Antigene e anticorpo sono i due reagenti chiave di un saggio immunodiagnostico. L’indagine di nuove tecniche e il miglioramento di processi quali la purificazione e la marcatura sito-specifica di antigeni e anticorpi possono promuovere lo sviluppo di nuovi reagenti più efficienti capaci di migliorare la performance dei saggi immunodiagnostici. La prima parte di questa tesi è stata focalizzata sull’esplorazione di tecniche biotecnologiche innovative nella produzione di antigeni al fine di migliorare i saggi per la rilevazione degli anticorpi IgM e IgG specifici per il virus Epstein-Barr. Il virus EBV è causa della mononucleosi infettiva ed è associato ad un crescente numero di tumori; per questa motivo è importante sviluppare saggi diagnostici per la rilevazione di EBV ad alta specificità e sensibilità. La proteina VCA p18 è uno degli antigeni più importanti per la diagnosi di EBV. I saggi attuali Diasorin LIAISON EBV VCA IgM and IgG si basano su un singolo antigene corrispondente alla regione C-terminale immunodominante della proteina p18, immobilizzata su fase solida. I vari metodi esplorati in questa tesi hanno permesso di ottenere diverse varianti dell’antigene p18 con lo scopo di migliorare le prestazioni dei saggi EBV VCA IgM e IgG a diversi livelli: 1_produzione dell’antigene p18; 2_immobilizzazione dell’antigene p18 su fase solida; 3_formato di saggio. 1_La lunghezza della regione C-terminale della proteina p18 (57aa), risulta essere considerevole per il processo sintetico ma, allo stesso tempo, troppo piccola per essere prodotta in modo efficiente per via ricombinante. Per superare questo problema, abbiamo esplorato il sistema Elastin Like Polypeptides (ELP)-Inteina basato sull’uso di una proteina capace di effettuare auto-cleavage (inteina) e un tag responsivo alla temperatura (ELP). Questa tecnica si è rivelata un eccellente sistema per la produzione del peptide p18. 2_Lo sviluppo di diverse varianti dell’antigene p18 ha permesso di esplorare varie tecniche per l’immobilizzazione dello stesso antigene su fase solida: coating covalente diretto, attraverso il complesso streptavidina-biotina e attraverso l’uso dei peptidi leucine zipper (o velcro). L’immobilizzazione del peptide p18 su fase solida attraverso questi vari metodi è avvenuta con successo e l’attività immunochimica dell’antigene, immobilizzato con queste tecniche innovative, è comparabile o migliore rispetto a quella del peptide sintetico utilizzato nei saggi attuali. 3_Nonostante il saggio Diasorin LIAISON EBV VCA IgM abbia una buona performance analitica, al fine di ottenere un aumento di specificità, è stato esplorato un nuovo tipo di formato di saggio. Sfortunatamente i risultati indicano che questo diverso tipo di formato raggiunge un livello di specificità minore rispetto a quello del saggio attuale. La seconda parte di questa tesi è stata focalizzata sull’esplorazione di un metodo innovativo per la marcatura sito specifica degli anticorpi. Uno degli approcci più promettenti è basato sulla generazione di gruppi tiolo liberi attraverso la riduzione parziale e selettiva dei ponti disolfuro inter-catena presenti a livello della “hinge region” e la loro reazione con molecole marcanti caratterizzate dal possedere gruppi funzionali reattivi verso i gruppi sulfidrilici. Questa tecnologia è stata utilizzata per la biotinilazione di due diversi anticorpi usati attualmente per il rilevamento della proteina virale p24 di HIV e per l’antigene FGF23. I risultati suggeriscono che la biotinilazione sito-specifica rispetto a quella classica random promuove un miglioramento dell'attività immunochimica degli anticorpi con una conseguente ottimizzazione della performance dei saggi immunodiagnostici.
Antigen and antibody are the two key reagents for an immunodiagnostic assay. Investigation of new techniques and improvement of processes such as purification and site-specific labeling of antigen and antibody molecules can promote the development of new more powerful bioreagents able of improving the performance of immunodiagnostic assays. The first part of this thesis aimed to explore innovative biotechnology techniques in antigen production for the improvement of immunoassays that allow the detection of antibodies directed against the Epstein-Barr virus. EBV virus is the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis and it is considered to be associated with a still increasing number of tumors; for this reason it is important to develop diagnostic assays for EBV detection with high specificity and sensitivity. The viral capsid protein VCA p18 is one of the most important antigens for the diagnosis of EBV. The current Diasorin LIAISON EBV VCA IgM and IgG assays rely on a single antigen, consisting in a synthetic peptide corresponding to the immunodominant C-terminal portion of the p18 protein, which is immobilized on solid phase (indirect format). The several methods explored in this thesis have allowed to obtain different variants of the p18 antigen with the aim to improve the performance of DiaSorin LIAISON EBV VCA IgM and IgG assays at different levels: 1_production of p18 antigen; 2_immobilization of p18 antigen on solid phase; 3_immunoassay format. 1_ The length of the immunodominant C-terminal portion of the p18 protein (57aa) appears to be considerable for the synthetic route but, at the same time, too small to be effectively produced in a recombinant fashion. To overcome this problem, we explored the Elastin Like Polypeptides (ELP)-Intein system, a method based on the use of a self-cleavable protein (the intein) and a temperature responsive tag (ELP). This technique has proved to be an excellent system for the preparation of the p18 peptide. 2_The development of different variants of p18 antigen has enabled to explore different techniques for the immobilization of the same antigen on solid phase: direct covalent coating, through streptavidin-biotin complex and through an innovative procedure based on the use of leucine zipper (or “velcro”) peptides. The immobilization of the p18 peptide on solid phase through these different methods occurred successfully and the immunochemical activity of the antigen, immobilized with these innovative techniques, is comparable or better than that of the synthetic peptide used in the current immunoassays. 3_Despite the DiaSorin LIAISON EBV VCA IgM immonoassay has a good analytical performance, in order to obtain an increase of specificity, a new assay format was explored. Unfortunately, the results indicate that this different type of format reaches a lower level of specificity than that of current assay. The second part of this thesis aimed to explore an innovative method for the site-specific labeling of antibodies. One the most promising approach is based on the generation of free thiol groups by selective partial reduction of the interchain disulfide bridges present at the level of the “hinge region” and their reaction to labels carrying sulfhydryl-reactive chemical groups. This technology was used for the biotinylation of two different antibodies currently used in immunoassays for the HIV p24 viral protein and for FGF23 antigen detection. The results suggest that the site-specific biotinylation compared to the random traditional biotinylation promotes a great improvement of antibodies immunochemical activity with a consequent optimization of immunodiagnostic assays performance.

The aim of this project was to make a comparison of the effects of antibody labeling chemistries on assays developed for the Gyrolab immunoassay platform. One of the labeling techniques was a heterogenous labeling technique targeting amino groups on the antibody. The other labeling technique was a site-specific labeling technique targeting the conserved Fc-glycan at the aspargine 297 residue on the IgG molecule. The site-specific labeling was performed using a kit from Genovis called GlyCLICK. The two labeling techniques were compared on four different assays developed for the Gyrolab platform. The assays tested in this project were two anti-drug antibody assays, a pharmacokinetics assay, a polyclonal antibody assay, and a monoclonal antibody assay. The drug tolerance was tested for the anti-drug antibody assays, resulting in better drug tolerance for reagents labeled with amino conjugation for the Humira assay with incubation overnight. A confirmatory analysis, testing the inhibition of negative control with addition of unlabeled drug in the Master Mix, was performed. This resulted in small differences in the inhibition between the different reagents, except for Keytruda on Gyrolab Bioaffy 200, for which the GlyCLICK labeled reagents led to a lower inhibition of the negative control. For all the assays the effects on signal to background ratio and limit of detection was investigated. The greatest advantages of GlyCLICK on the signal to background was observed for anti-drug antibody Keytruda assay and polyclonal antibody assay. For the polyclonal antibody assay, the results indicated potentially reduced need for the polishing step and for two wash solutions after addition of the detect reagent.

AbstractCell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) enables the development of antibody conjugates, such as fluorophore conjugates and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), in a rapid and straightforward manner. In the first part, we describe the cell-free synthesis of antibodies containing fluorescent non-canonical amino acids (ncaa) by using pre-charged tRNA. In the second part, we describe the cell-free synthesis of antibodies containing ncaa by using an orthogonal system, followed by the site-specific conjugation of the fluorescent dye DyLight 650-phosphine. The expression of the antibodies containing ncaa was analyzed by SDS-PAGE, followed by autoradiography and the labeling by in-gel fluorescence. Two different fluorescently labeled antibodies could be generated.

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a well-known technique in the field of biological and medical sciences. This technique is based on the principle of antigenantibody interaction and is used for identification of cellular or tissue constituents, i.e., an antigen by using a specific antibody. The binding of an antibody to an antigen is confirmed either by labelled primary antibody itself or by using secondary labelling method such as fluorescence labelled antibody. Such interactions give information about the cellular process occurring inside the cell. In last few years, huge amount of data have been generated using IHC. Furthermore, adequate knowledge of this technique is required for the optimum result and its reproducibility. The detailed information about the tissue section, antigen retrieval (AR), increased sensitivity of the detection systems and proper standardization are the key points for this technique. This protocol will address overview of the technique, tissue preparation, microtome, antigen retrieval, antibodies and antigen fixation, detection methods, background reduction and trouble shootings.

The initiation and maintenance of an immune response to pathogens requires the interactions of cells and proteins that together are able to distinguish appropriate non-self targets from the myriadof self-proteins (Janeway and Bottomly, 1994). This discrimination between self and non-self is in part accomplished by three groups of proteins of the immune system that have direct and specific interactions with antigens: antibodies, T cell receptors (TcR) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins. Antibodies and TcR molecules are clonally expressed by the B and T cells of the immune system, respectively, defining each progenitor cell with a unique specificity for antigen. In these cell types both antibodies and TcR proteins undergo similar recombination events to generate a variable antigen combining site and thus produce a nearly unlimited number of proteins of different specificities. TcR molecules are further selected to recognize antigenic peptides bound to MHC proteins, during a process known as thymic selection, restricting the repertoire of T cells to the recognition of antigens presented by cells that express MHC proteins at their surface. Thymic selection of TcR and the subsequent restricted recognition of peptide-MHC complexes by peripheral T cells provides a fundamental molecular basis for the discrimination of self from non-sell and the regulation of the immune response (Allen, 1994; Nossal, 1994; von Boehmer, 1994). For example, different classes of T cells are used to recognize and kill infected cells (cytotoxic T cells) arid to provide lymphokiries that induce the niajority of soluble antibody responses of B cells (helper T cells). In contrast to the vast combinatorial and clonal diversity of antibodies and TcRs, a small set of MHC molecules is used to recognize a potentially unlimited universe of foreign peptide antigens for antigen presentation to T cells (Germain, 1994). This poses the problem of how each MHC molecule is capable of recognizing enough peptides to insure an immune response to pathogens. In addition, the specificity of the TcR interaction with MHC-peptide complexes is clearly crucial to the problem of self :non-self discrimination, with implications for both protective immunity and auto-immune disease.

Peptides have become an increasingly important class of molecules in biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, and physiology. Many naturally occurring, physiologically relevant peptides function as hormones, neurotransmitters, cytokines, and growth factors. Peptide analogs that possess agonist or antagonist activity are useful as tools to study the biochemistry, physiology, and pharmacology of these peptides, to characterize their receptor(s), and to study their biosynthesis, metabolism, and degradation. Radiolabeled analogs and analogs bearing affinity labels have been used for receptor characterization and isolation. Peptide substrates of proteases, kinases, phosphatases, and aminoacyl or glycosyl transferases are used to study enzyme kinetics, mechanism of action, and biochemical and physiological roles and to aid in the isolation of enzymes and in the design of inhibitors. Peptides are also used as synthetic antigens for the preparation of polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies targeted to specific sequences. Epitope mapping with synthetic peptides can be used to identify specific antigenic peptides for the preparation of synthetic vaccines, to determine protein sequence regions that are important for biological action, and to design small peptide mimetics of protein structure or function. A number of peptide hormones or analogs thereof, including arginine vasopressin, oxytocin, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and calcitonin, have already found use as therapeutic agents, and many more are being investigated actively. Peptide-based inhibitors of proteolytic enzymes, such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease, have widespread clinical use, and inhibitors of renin and elastase are also being investigated for therapeutic use. Finally, peptides designed to block the interaction of protein molecules by mimicking the combining site of one of the proteins, such as the fibrinogen receptor antagonists, show great therapeutic potential as well. With the development of solid-phase peptide synthesis by Bruce Merrifield (1963) and the optimization of supports, protecting groups, and coupling and deprotection chemistries by a large number of researchers, it has become possible to obtain useful amounts of peptides on a more or less routine basis.

Flow cytometry (FCM) instruments rapidly measure biochemical, functional, and cytological properties of individual cells and macromolecular components, e.g., chromosomes, for clinical diagnostic medicine and biomedical and environmental research applications. These measurements are based on labeling cells with multiple fluorochromes for correlated analysis of macromolecules, such as, DNA, RNA, protein, and cell-surface receptors. In addition to utilizing the spectral emission properties of fluorescent markers, i.e., different colors/intensities, to measure specific cellular features, the excited state lifetimes also can provide a means to discriminate among the different fluorochromes. A new FCM approach, based on phase-resolved fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy methods (Vesoelova et al, 1970, Lakowicz and Cherek, 1981), recently has been developed to provide unique capabilities for separating signals from multiple overlapping emissions in fluorochrome-labeled cells as they pass across a modulated laser excitation source (Steinkamp and Crissman, 1993). In addition, the measurement of fluorescence lifetime (Pinsky et al, 1993, Steinkamp et al, 1993) also is of importance because it provides information about fluorophore/cell interactions. An important advantage of lifetime measurements is that lifetimes in some case can be considered as absolute quantities. However, the lifetime of fluorophores bound to cellular macromolecules can be influenced by physical and chemical factors near the binding site, such as solvent polarity, cations, pH, energy transfer, excited-state reactions, and quenching. Thus, lifetime measurements can be used to probe the cellular environment, possibly including chemical and structure changes that occur in DNA and chromatin. Table I lists the lifetimes of some typical fluorochromes that are used to quantify cellular DNA, total protein, and antibody-labeling to cellular antigens.

Interaction between cells and between cells and extracellular matrices are critical for a number of biological processes, including organ development, cell differenciation, cell motility, and the inimune' response. These interactions are mediated by a family of adhesion receptors that recognize short sequences such as Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD). These receptors share similar structural properties. They are heterodimers composed of a and B subunits and sometime express common epitopes. This suggests that the structural and functional relationship of these receptors may result from the transcription of related genes or may arise from cell specific post-transcriptional events. Thus, analysis of the biosynthesis and processing of these receptors would provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanism which control their expression at the surface,of different cells. Platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa is a member of this receptor family. This protein is a non covalent heterodimer composed of two distinct polypeptides, Glib which consists of two subunits Ilba and IlbB (Mr = 116 kD, Mr = 25 kD) and GPIIIa (Mr = 100 kD, reduced). GPIIb-IIIa functions at site of platelet aggregation and serves as receptor for RGD containing factors including fibrinogen, fibronectin and von Willebrand factor. We report here on the investigation of the biosynthetic pathways of this RGD receptor in human megakaryocytes. High number of megakaryocytic cells from the megakaryoblastic stage to the polyploid mature megakaryocyte were obtained from liquid culture of cryopreserved leukocyte stem cell concentrates from patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). After sorting, using a FACS IV and indirect immunofluores-cent labeling with monoclonal antibodies anti-GPIIb-IIIa, 95 % of the cells in culture were of the megakaryocytic lineage. These megakarocytes represented an excellent tool to delineate at the molecular level events associated with the biosynthesis of GPIIb-IIIa.Metabolic labeling and pulse-chase experiments indicated that GPIIb and GPIIIa are synthesized from separate mRNA and that the two subunits of GPIIb derive from a common precursor. This was further confirmed by cell-free translation of megakaryocyte mRNA and the identification of separate cDNA containing sequences coding for the pro-GPIIb and for GPIIIa. These cDNA were isolated from a Xgt11 expression library constructed with purified megakaryocyte RNA, and were used to size the messengers coding for the two polypeptides. A single mRNA species of 3.9 kB was found to encode the pro-GPIIb, whereas two different mRNA species of 2.9 kB and 4. 1 kB were identified with the GPIIIa cDNA.The newly synthesized GPIIIa associates early with the pro-GPIIb in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Examination of the glycosylation pathways with endoglycosidase H, tunicamycin and monensin indicated that high mannose oligosaccharides are added to the GPIIIa and pro-GPIIb polypeptide backbone. The pro-GPIIb is then processed with conversion of high mannose to the complex type carbohydrate, whereas GPIIIa remains endoH sensitive. Glycosylation of pro-GPIIb-IIIa and processing of oligosaccharides are prerequisite for proteolytic maturation of pro-GPIIb and the expression of the mature complex at the surface of the cell. Thus post-translational processing of GPIIb-IIIa requires an early assembly of the complex. This may have important implications in the maturation of megakaryocyte granules and in the molecular mechanism underlying the Glanzmann thrombastenic disease.