Synthesis of chromium-adenosine-5'-monophosphate-protein cross-linked conjugates and assay of polyclonal antisera elicited against the chromium(III) complexes

Chromium (VI) has been shown to be a potent carcinogen. Chromium-Adenosine-5$\sp\prime$-Monophosphate complexes were coupled to protein carriers with glutaraldehyde; the complexes were used to immunize mice. The extent of coupling was followed by measuring the added Ultraviolet absorbance of the nucleotide and measuring the chromium content. Competitive and non-competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) were used to detect the antibodies produced and determine their specificity. The assays reveal the presence of antibodies against the chromium complexes, but the response was low. The specificity could not be established since, for the majority of inhibitors used, the amounts that could cause fifty percent inhibition of the ELISA response could not be pinpointed as too little serum was available to obtain an adequate inhibition curve. Comparing the percent inhibition calculated, we conclude that all the unmodified bases and chromium-base complexes used show some degree of ELISA inhibition.