Quantifying small numbers of antibodies with a 'near-universal' protein-DNA chimera

Nat Methods. 2007 Dec;4(12):1011-3. doi: 10.1038/nmeth1127. Epub 2007 Nov 4.

Abstract

We present general means to greatly increase the sensitivity of antibody-based assays. Augmentation relies on a 'tadpole' protein-DNA chimera whose protein moiety binds most classes of mammalian antibodies but not avian immunoglobulin Y (IgY). We used this tadpole in affinity capture assays followed by real-time PCR to quantify numerous molecules, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in human serum, with great sensitivity and accuracy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • DNA / immunology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay / methods*
  • Microchemistry / methods*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / analysis*
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / immunology*
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • DNA
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen