The effect of antibody surface packing density on its antigen binding capacity

Following our recent study of the binding of antigen hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) onto a mouse monoclonal antibody anti-β-hCG immobilized onto the support surface, we report a more recent study of the site-specific recognition of another surface immobilized mouse monoclonal antibody anti-α-hCG by hCG. The two antibodies have similar structures and molecular weights but different site-specific recognition from hCG. They both are used in the fabrication of fertility test immunoassays. Previous study by neutron reflection has indicated the “flat-on” orientation of anti-β-hCG with its Fc and two Fabs lying flat on the support surface. The aim of this work is to determine if there is any measurable difference in hCG binding between the two antibodies that could be attributed to the steric hindrance associated with specific binding sites. The adsorption and hCG binding for anti-α-hCG were made under the surface and in solutions as for anti-β-hCG so that the outcome could be directly compared. The results show that the two antibodies are bound by hCG in an almost identical fashion, suggesting that apart from the site-specific recognition there is no measurable difference in the steric hindrance between the α and β sites.     

青海湖裸鲤耳石轮纹O-Sr同位素组成及对其洄游行为的指示

以溯河洄游为特征的青海湖裸鲤是青海湖鱼类的优势种,但其洄游行为还知之甚少.利用高分辨率SHRIMPⅡ离子探针和激光剥蚀高分辨多接收电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(LA-MC-ICP-MS)分别测定了青海湖裸鲤微耳石轮纹中的氧和锶(O-Sr)同位素组成.结果表明,微耳石成长带中较低的δ~(18)O记录了青海湖裸鲤春夏时期所洄游的河水化学信息;将δ~(18)O与~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr同位素组成相结合,微耳石轮纹的同位素组成明确指示了多数个体可能更倾向于固定的河流洄游产卵.这一结果对于认识青海湖裸鲤的洄游习性以及鱼类保护和管理有重要的意义.