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Labeling of proteins with fluorescent probes: Photophysical characterization of dansylated bovine serum albumin
Author(s) -
Levi Valeria,
González Flecha F. Luis
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
biochemistry and molecular biology education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.34
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1539-3429
pISSN - 1470-8175
DOI - 10.1002/bmb.2003.494031050280
Subject(s) - biomolecule , fluorescence , bovine serum albumin , chemistry , fluorescence spectroscopy , dansyl chloride , absorption (acoustics) , biophysics , biochemistry , chromatography , mass spectrometry , biology , materials science , physics , quantum mechanics , composite material , derivatization
Fluorescence spectroscopy is a widely used technique in biophysical studies. One of the strategies frequently used consists of labeling biomolecules with fluorescent probes, which have distinctive photophysical properties. This methodology allows the study of a wide variety of structural features of the biomolecule. We describe a simple laboratory activity for undergraduate Biophysical Chemistry courses. The experimental work includes two activities: labeling BSA with dansyl chloride and analyzing the resulting absorption and fluorescence spectra. The discussion of these activities helps students to understand the basis of fluorescence spectroscopy with emphasis in the application to biological systems.