Kimberly Osborn, “A Method of Photocrosslinking Fluorescent Proteins to Antibodies”
Mentor: Ionel Popa, Physics
Poster #145

Protein L is secreted by certain members of the species Peptostreptococcus magnus. It has the unique property of binding to the light chain region of mammalian antibodies. When protein L is bound, the antibody can still bind to its antigen. We are using that result to develop next-generation trackable antibodies linked to the fluorescent protein  meGFP (mutant enhanced green fluorescent protein). The meGFP-L construct from my previous project bound tightly enough to photocrosslink the covalently bound meGFP-L-antibody complex. The photocrosslinking reaction proceeds via a well-established reaction with ruthenium and ammonium persulfate (APS). After photocrosslinking, I will need to test variables to ensure the complex is put together in such a way that the antibody can function normally. If this works, we will have created a complex useful in many areas of the antibody industry.