Generation of a single-chain Fv fragment for the monitoring of deoxycholic acid residues anchored on endogenous proteins

A subset of lipophillic bile acids, including deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA), are thought to be biologically transformed into reactive intermediates forming covalently modified, "tissue-bound" bile acids that can exert several toxic effects. We have generated a single-chain Fv fragment (scFv) as a probe to monitor DCA residues anchored on proteins. DNA fragments encoding the variable heavy (V_H) and light (V_L) domains of a mouse antibody raised against a DCA hapten (Ab #88) were cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA 5′-ends. These sequences were combined via a common linker sequence coding (Gly₄Ser)₃ to construct a single scFv gene with the gene segments in the following order: 5′-V _H-linker-V_L-3′. This construct was subcloned into an antibody-expression vector, pEXmide 5; soluble scFv protein was then expressed in the bacterial periplasm of the XLOLR Escherichia coli strain. In a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using DCA-coated microtiter plates, the scFv provided a dose-response curve for free DCA ranging between 2 and 5000 pg/assay. The scFv reacts similarly with the l-lysine adduct of DCA (cross-reactivity, 72%), while bile acids having a modified DCA steroid skeleton were well-discriminated (cross-reactivity, <1%). This scFv could also monitor trace amounts of DCA residues anchored on a protein through DCA acyl adenylate reactions, the likely reactive intermediate. The present scFv may be a useful tool for trace characterization of tissue-bound bile acids; this usefulness may be significantly enhanced by fusion with signal-generating proteins, such as alkaline phosphatase or green fluorescent protein.