Avidin assay

To demonstrate MT-MEC as a useful platform for protein quantification, a simple surface biotin-avidin assay was constructed[15,16]. In the assay, biotinylated-BSA is incubated on both silvered and glass substrates (Figure 15.5). HRP-streptavidin is then added to the surface, locaiizing the enzyme catalyst in close proximity to the silver for MT-MEC. The peroxide and Acridan (iumophore) are then added to initiate the chemiluminescence reaction. While this assay in essence determines BSA concentration, this model assay could indeed be fashioned to both iocaiize and sense other proteins / DNAs of interest. 

Isotope Dilution Assay. An isotope dilution assay for biotin, based on the high affinity of avidin for the ureido group of biotin, compares the binding of radioactive biotin and nonradio active biotin with avidin. This method is sensitive to a level of 1—10 ng biotin (82—84), and the radiotracers typically used are p C]biotin (83), [3H]biotin (84,85) or an I-labeled biotin derivative (86). A variation of this approach uses I-labeled avidin (87) for the assay. 

Agiamamioti K, Triantis T, Papadopoulos K, Scorilas A (2006) 10-(2-Biotinyloxyethyl)-9-acridone a novel fluorescent label for (strept)avidin-biotin based assays. J Photoch Photobio A 181 126-131... 

These techniques have been used to target, detect, or assay glycoproteins in solution or on cell surfaces by using hydrazide-activated enzymes, avidin, or streptavidin (Chapter 23, Section 5) (Bayer and Wilchek, 1990 Bayer et al., 1987a, b, 1990) and to form conjugates with glycoproteins. 

A similar type of biotin-dendritic multimer also was used to boost sensitivity in DNA microarray detection by 100-fold over that obtainable using traditional avidin-biotin reagent systems (Stears, 2000 Striebel et al., 2004). With this system, a polyvalent biotin dendrimer is able to bind many labeled avidin or streptavidin molecules, which may carry enzymes or fluorescent probes for assay detection. In addition, if the biotinylated dendrimer and the streptavidin detection agent is added at the same time, then at the site of a captured analyte, the biotin-dendrimer conjugates can form huge multi-dendrimer complexes wherein avidin or streptavidin detection reagents bridge between more than one dendrimer. Thus, the use of multivalent biotin-dendrimers can become universal enhancers of DNA hybridization assays or immunoassay procedures. 

Figure 7.21 Dendrimers that are fluorescently labeled as well as biotinylated create enhanced detection reagents for use in (strept)avidin-biotin-based assays. Large complexes containing multiple fluorescent dendrimers can bind to antigens and form a highly sensitive detection system that exceeds the detection capability of fluorescently labeled antibodies.

The increased length of this spacer (24.7 A) provides more efficient interaction potential with avidin or streptavidin probes, possibly increasing the sensitivity of assay systems. The reactions of biotin-LC-hydrazide are identical to those of biotin-hydrazide. 

Biotin modification reagents are widely used to attach a biotin group to proteins or other molecules for subsequent use in avidin, streptavidin, or NeutrAvidin separations or assays. Traditional biotin compounds containing aliphatic or other hydrophobic linker arms are discussed in detail in Chapter 11. In this section, the biotin-PEG compounds exclusively are discussed due to their unique hydrophilic properties, which include low nonspecific binding character and low immunogenicity. 

Several assay designs that use the enhanced sensitivity afforded through biotinylated antibodies have been developed. Most of these systems use conjugates of avidin or streptavidin... 

Liposome conjugates may be used in various immunoassay procedures. The lipid vesicle can provide a multivalent surface to accommodate numerous antigen-antibody interactions and thus increase the sensitivity of an assay. At the same time, it can function as a vessel to carry encapsulated detection components needed for the assay system. This type of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is called a liposome immunosorbent assay or LISA. One method of using liposomes in an immunoassay is to modify the surface so that it can interact to form biotin-avidin or biotin-streptavidin complexes. The avidin-biotin interaction can be used to increase detectability or sensitivity in immunoassay tests (Chapter 23) (Savage et al., 1992). 

Use of (Strept)avidin—Biotin Interactions in Assay Systems... 

A common application for (strept)avidin-biotin chemistry is in immunoassays. The specificity of antibody molecules provides the targeting capability to recognize and bind particular antigen molecules. If there are biotin labels on the antibody, it creates multiple sites for the binding of (strept)avidin. If (strept)avidin is in turn labeled with an enzyme, fluorophore, etc., then a very sensitive antigen detection system is created. The potential for more than one labeled (strept)avidin to become attached to each antibody through its multiple biotinylation sites is the key to dramatic increases in assay sensitivity over that obtained through the use of antibodies directly labeled with a detectable tag. 

Similar techniques can be used to devise (strept)avidin-biotin assay systems for detection of nucleic acid hybridization. DNA probes labeled with biotin can be detected after they bind... 

Perhaps the most common conjugates of (strept)avidin involve attaching enzyme molecules for use in ELISA systems. As in the case of antibody-enzyme conjugation schemes (Chapter 20), by far the most commonly used enzymes for this purpose are HRP and alkaline phosphatase. Other enzymes such as (3-galactosidase and glucose oxidase are used less often, especially with regard to assay tests for clinically important analytes (Chapter 26). 

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