Immunomääritystekniikat

Immunomääritystekniikat are laboratory methods used to detect and quantify specific substances, often proteins, within a biological sample. These techniques rely on the highly specific binding interaction between an antigen and an antibody. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system that recognize and bind to unique molecular structures called antigens. By labeling either the antibody or the antigen with a detectable marker, such as an enzyme, fluorescent dye, or radioactive isotope, the presence and amount of the target substance can be measured.

A common immunomääritystekniikka is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In ELISA, antibodies or antigens are immobilized on a solid surface, typically a microplate. The sample containing the target substance is then added, allowing binding to occur. After washing away unbound material, a second antibody, linked to an enzyme, is introduced. This enzyme catalyzes a reaction with a substrate, producing a measurable color change. The intensity of the color is proportional to the amount of the target substance present in the sample.

Other immunomääritystekniikat include Western blotting, which is used to detect specific proteins in a complex mixture after separation by gel electrophoresis, and immunohistochemistry, which visualizes the location of antigens within tissue samples using labeled antibodies. These techniques are crucial in various fields, including medical diagnostics for disease detection, drug development, and fundamental biological research to understand cellular processes and protein functions. The choice of technique depends on the specific application, sensitivity requirements, and the nature of the sample being analyzed.