Preservation of immunoreactivity in the photolabeling of the B72.3 human antibody.

A versatile photochemical method of labeling human antibodies is described. Labeling is achieved by photolyzing 4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-14C-methylbenzoate and the B72.3 human antibody in a buffer at physiological pH. The photochemically produced nitrene presumably inserts into bonds in the hydrophobic part of the antibody resulting in > 75% attachment of the photoprobe. An immunoassay of B72.3 with mucin (B72.3 antigen) reveals > 97% retention of immunoreactivity and suggests that photochemical labeling is a viable alternative for the conjugation of biomolecules.