Binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate to insulin: a fluorimetric labeling study

The determination of the fluorophore to the protein molar ratio has been studied using fluorescence spectroscopy. The tyrosine fluorescence is measured from insulin (Ins) solutions at wavelengths lambda(ex)/lambda(em) = 276/300 nm and from fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) solutions at lambda(em)/lambda(em) = 494/518 nm. Series of solutions prepared from insulin and FITC are tested for conjugation, recording their fluorimetric intensities. Fluorimetric titrations with different formal concentrations are followed either by intrinsic and extrinsic emission intensities at lambda(ex)/lambda(em) = 276 or 494/518 nm and by their typical emission spectra at pH 9.0. All results denoted a binding ratio of 3 moles of FITC/mole of Ins.