Conjugate of bovine serum albumin with nicotine

The preparation and characterization of a nicotine-albumin conjugate are reported. The nicotine derivative, 6-(p-aminobenzamido)nicotine, which was coupled to bovine serum albumin(BSA), was synthesized by the following sequence; $\text{1}$-nicotine→6-aminonicotine→6-(p-nitrobenzamido)nicotine→6-(p-aminobenzamido)nicotine. Thirty molecules of conjugated nicotine per molecule of BSA were distinguished by the determination of 6-aminonicotine after hydrolysis. The distribution of the conjugated nicotine on BSA was examined by the stoichiometry of the composed amino acids before and after conjugation, and also by the electrophoretic behavior of the conjugated BSA on a polyacrylamide gel.