Preparation and properties of fluorescent polysaccharides.

A new method for preparing fluorescein derivatives of polysaccharides is described. These derivatives are prepared by activation of the polysaccharide with cyanogen bromide and subsequent reaction with fluoresceinamine. The optimum conditions for coupling have been established in this report. Using this procedure, we have prepared fluorescein derivatives of a wide variety of polysaccharides. Degrees of substitution in the range of 3.0 X 10(-3) to 2.4 X 10(-2) mol of fluorescein per mole of monosaccharide equivalent were obtained. The fluorescent derivatives are stable: no free fluorescein was detected after incubation at 22 degrees C for 48 h or at -10 degrees C for 4 months. The fluorescein-derivatized polysaccharides were found to have the same potency in inhibiting lectin-mediated hemagglutination as the underivatized polysaccharide. In addition, these fluorescent polysaccharides can be radioiodinated to specific activities exceeding 10(6) dpm/micrograms due to incorporation of 125I into fluorescein. The cell binding properties of 125I-fucoidin and 125I-heparin are indistinguishable from the corresponding underivatized polysaccharides. This general approach for preparing fluorescent polysaccharides should produce useful reagents for localizing and quantifying cell surface carbohydrate-binding proteins (lectins).