Use of horseradish peroxidase- and fluorescein-modified cisplatin derivatives for simultaneous labeling of nucleic acids and proteins.

BACKGROUND: Microarray platforms will change immunochemical and nucleic acid-based analysis of cell homogenates and body fluids compared with classic analyses. Microarrays use labeled target and immobilized probes, rather than fixed targets and labeled probes. We describe a method for simultaneous labeling of nucleic acids and proteins.
METHODS: Horseradish peroxidase- and fluorescein-modified cisplatin derivatives were used for labeling of nucleic acids and proteins. These reagents, called the Universal Linkage System (ULS), bind to sulfur- and nitrogen-donor ligands present in amino acids and nucleotides. For automated screening of proteins and nucleic acids on microarrays, it is advantageous to label these biomolecules without pre- or postpurification procedures. The labeling of antibodies and nucleic acids in whole serum was therefore pursued.
RESULTS: Immunoglobulins in nonpurified serum were labeled efficiently enough to be used for immunochemistry. To investigate whether protein-adapted labeling allowed nucleic acid labeling as well, 1 microg of plasmid DNA was added to 1 microL of serum. DNA and serum proteins were simultaneously labeled, and this labeled DNA could be used as a probe for direct fluorescence in situ hybridization.
CONCLUSION: ULS provides a direct labeling tool for the (simultaneous) modification of proteins and nucleic acids even in unpurified samples.