The effects of radioiodination and fluorescent labelling on albumin

The preparation and characterization of fluorescamine -, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) -, and radioiodine-labelled bovine serum albumin is critically evaluated. Electrophoretic mobility and ion-exchange chromatography, together with measures of degree of conjugation and sulfhydryl content, are used to assess the changes due to conjugation. Fluorescamine labelling results in drastic changes in chromatographic behavior and electrophoretic mobility. FITC labelling also results in significant changes in chromatographic and electrophoretic properties. Radioiodination leads to minor changes in chromatographic properties and oxydation of sulfhydryl groups, with little or no change in electrophoretic properties. All three labels have some degree of lability and show increased levels of free label with time, even after extensive initial purification. It is concluded that the two fluorescent labels and possibly the radioiodine labelling method used here are unsuitable for certain studies of BSA, such as its adsorption at solid-liquid interfaces.