Effect of borohydride reduction on antibodies

The effect of borohydride reducing reagents on monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Each antibody showed different stability characteristics to the reducing reagents. Sodium cyanoborohydride was at least five times milder toward immunological activity than sodium borohydride, however, sodium cyanoborohydride with a catalytic amount of metal ion (Zn2+ or Al3+) can be as harsh as sodium borohydride. Activated hydrophobic borohydrides, 9BBN-pyridine, did not have any advantages in respect to the stabilities of antibodies. Antibodies to be used for immunosorbent purification must be evaluated individually to determine whether their structure is stable to immobilization reagents and conditions prior to their linkage to the column support.