Improvement of the periodate-borohydride surface-labeling method for human blood platelets

The periodate/sodium boro[3H]hydride ([3H]-NaBH4) method is extensively used for the specific labeling of cell surface glycoproteins. Reduction with tritiated borohydride is also used in other surface-labeling techniques, the neuraminidase/galactose oxidase/[3H]-NaBH4 method (specific for terminal galactose and N-acetyl-galactosamine residues) and the pyridoxal phosphate/[3H]-NaBH4 method (specific for protein). By modification of the reaction conditions during the periodate-oxidation and borohydride-reduction, the ratio of the incorporated to the total added radioactivity could be increased by a factor of 50, while the specific activity of the labeled material was twice as high as in the original method. Alternatively, by another modification, the specific activity of the labeled material could be increased about 10-fold. The influence of the most important parameters was investigated in detail. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis and fluorography demonstrate that the labeling pattern of the membrane glycoproteins is the same as with the conventional method.