Use of horseradish peroxidase- and fluorescein-modified cisplatin derivatives for simultaneous labeling of nucleic acids and proteins.

BACKGROUND Microarray platforms will change immunochemical and nucleic acid-based analysis of cell homogenates and body fluids compared with classic analyses. Microarrays use labeled target and immobilized probes, rather than fixed targets and labeled probes. We describe a method for simultaneous labeling of nucleic acids and proteins. METHODS Horseradish peroxidase- and fluorescein-modified cisplatin derivatives were used for labeling of nucleic acids and proteins. These reagents, called the Universal Linkage System (ULS), bind to sulfur- and nitrogen-donor ligands present in amino acids and nucleotides. For automated screening of proteins and nucleic acids on microarrays, it is advantageous to label these biomolecules without pre- or postpurification procedures. The labeling of antibodies and nucleic acids in whole serum was therefore pursued. RESULTS Immunoglobulins in nonpurified serum were labeled efficiently enough to be used for immunochemistry. To investigate whether protein-adapted labeling allowed nucleic acid labeling as well, 1 microg of plasmid DNA was added to 1 microL of serum. DNA and serum proteins were simultaneously labeled, and this labeled DNA could be used as a probe for direct fluorescence in situ hybridization. CONCLUSION ULS provides a direct labeling tool for the (simultaneous) modification of proteins and nucleic acids even in unpurified samples.