Antibody formation, methodology

Screening in early work sought to identify high affinity of the antibody for the TSA, using a process known as ELISA. This search can now be performed more quantitatively by BIAcore analysis, based on surface plasmon resonance methodology (Lof s and Johnsson, 1990). A subsequent development is the catELISA assay (Tawfik et al., 1993), which searches for product formation and hence the identification of abzymes that can generate product. 

The bait and switch methodology deploys a hapten to act as a bait . This bait is a modified substrate that incorporates ionic functions intended to represent the coulombic distribution expected in the transition state. It is thereby designed to induce complementary, oppositely charged residues in the combining site of antibodies produced by the response of the immune system to this hapten. The catalytic ability of these antibodies is then sought by a subsequent switch to the real substrate and screening for product formation, as described above. 

Immunohistochemical studies have allowed detection of formation and removal of adducts in individual cells. However, prior to immunostaining, acid treatment is essential for antigen to have access and react with antibody and so the possibility of altration in adducts structure under such conditions require that methodological limitations be clearly defined. 

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