In:
Biochemical Journal, Portland Press Ltd., Vol. 341, No. 1 ( 1999-07-01), p. 173-178
Abstract:
The ability of the atomic-force microscope (AFM) to detect interaction forces between individual biological molecules has recently been demonstrated. In this study, force measurements have been obtained between AFM probes functionalized with the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (βhCG) and surfaces functionalized with anti-βhCG antibody. A comparison of the obtained results with previous anti-ferritin antibody-binding data identifies differences when the antigen molecule expresses only a single epitope (βhCG), rather than multiple epitopes (ferritin), for the monoclonal antibodies employed. Specifically, the probability of observing probe-sample adhesion is found to be higher when the antigen expresses multiple epitopes. However, the periodic force observed in the adhesive-force distribution, due to the rupture of single antigen-antibody interactions, is found to be larger and more clearly observed for the mono-epitopic system. Hence, these findings indicate the potential of the AFM to distinguish between multivalent and monovalent antibody-antigen interactions, and demonstrate the influence of the number of expressed epitopes upon such binding studies.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0264-6021
,
1470-8728
Language:
English
Publisher:
Portland Press Ltd.
Publication Date:
1999
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1473095-9
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2969-5
SSG:
12
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