Introduction: Antibody labeling has a number of uses in research and medicine. At its simplest, an antibody is a protein that is manufactured, either in vivo or in vitro, to combine with an antigen that the body sees as foreign. This foreign antigen may be a virus, bacterium, or other blood-borne substance.
Nothing in the body, human or otherwise, takes place without the activity of a number of proteins. Proteins are large molecules made up from individual units called amino acids. The sequence of amino acids determines the overall three-dimensional shape of a protein that makes it uniquely suitable for its purpose in life.
There are many different proteins for many different functions. Some proteins serve as the cytoskeleton to give a cell shape and support. Other proteins function as enzymes, biological catalysts without which metabolic reactions in the body would slow down to a snail's pace. It's like the difference between riding a bicycle from New York City to Los Angeles versus taking an airplane.
Manufacture of antibodies: In the mammalian body, antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins (Igs) are synthesized by a particular type of cell in the immune system, the "B" cell. B cells are able to detect foreign molecules and produce Igs to neutralize threats. This is the basis of immunization.
There is just enough antigen present to stimulate Ig production but not enough to induce illness. If the same antigen is encountered subsequently, in other words, if the person becomes infected with virus, the B cells will be stimulated to produce loads of antibodies to quell the infection.
In the research lab, Ig synthesis begins with the injection of antigen into an animal. Rabbits are often the animal used, although other mamalian species like mice or donkeys are also used. The animal's B cells produce antibodies to the antigen and are then harvested from their blood. Sometimes the primary antibody is conjugated to a second antibody to amplify the visual signal and then attached to a molecular probe.
More frequently, primary Ig's are attached to a secondary antibody to amplify the visual signal. One type of visual signal is a fluorescent marker. This is a molecule that has been attached to another molecule that emits colored light when exposed to the right wavelength of light from an ultra-violet microscope. Multiple labelled antibodies may be used to build up a picture of a cell that has been grown in culture and then frozen in time with alcohol or other fixative to give a snapshot of that cell at a moment in time when it is expressing the proteins of interest.
Antibody labeling is used in brain tumor research. Brain cells are cultivated in culture on microscope slides and exposed to substances that may either promote or inhibit cell division. The cells are then fixed and stained to look for the presence of proteins that are made by the cultured cells in response to the substances that have been applied to them.
Nothing in the body, human or otherwise, takes place without the activity of a number of proteins. Proteins are large molecules made up from individual units called amino acids. The sequence of amino acids determines the overall three-dimensional shape of a protein that makes it uniquely suitable for its purpose in life.
There are many different proteins for many different functions. Some proteins serve as the cytoskeleton to give a cell shape and support. Other proteins function as enzymes, biological catalysts without which metabolic reactions in the body would slow down to a snail's pace. It's like the difference between riding a bicycle from New York City to Los Angeles versus taking an airplane.
Manufacture of antibodies: In the mammalian body, antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins (Igs) are synthesized by a particular type of cell in the immune system, the "B" cell. B cells are able to detect foreign molecules and produce Igs to neutralize threats. This is the basis of immunization.
There is just enough antigen present to stimulate Ig production but not enough to induce illness. If the same antigen is encountered subsequently, in other words, if the person becomes infected with virus, the B cells will be stimulated to produce loads of antibodies to quell the infection.
In the research lab, Ig synthesis begins with the injection of antigen into an animal. Rabbits are often the animal used, although other mamalian species like mice or donkeys are also used. The animal's B cells produce antibodies to the antigen and are then harvested from their blood. Sometimes the primary antibody is conjugated to a second antibody to amplify the visual signal and then attached to a molecular probe.
More frequently, primary Ig's are attached to a secondary antibody to amplify the visual signal. One type of visual signal is a fluorescent marker. This is a molecule that has been attached to another molecule that emits colored light when exposed to the right wavelength of light from an ultra-violet microscope. Multiple labelled antibodies may be used to build up a picture of a cell that has been grown in culture and then frozen in time with alcohol or other fixative to give a snapshot of that cell at a moment in time when it is expressing the proteins of interest.
Antibody labeling is used in brain tumor research. Brain cells are cultivated in culture on microscope slides and exposed to substances that may either promote or inhibit cell division. The cells are then fixed and stained to look for the presence of proteins that are made by the cultured cells in response to the substances that have been applied to them.
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