A fluorescent radioiodinated oligonucleotidic photoaffinity probe for protein labeling: synthesis and photolabeling of thrombin.

To study the interactions between oligonucleotides and proteins, an original photoaffinity radiolabeling probe has been synthesized. Starting with a 5'-pyridyldithio-3'-amino-oligonucleotide, the photophore benzophenone was first coupled to the 3' end, through acylation by an activated ester of benzoylbenzoic acid. A fluorescein molecule was grafted by alkylation of the free 5'-SH. This compound was finally radiolabeled with 125I using IodoBeads. The selective photolabeling of thrombin in a complex protein mixture by the radioiodinated probe validates this strategy to identify oligonucleotide-binding proteins.