Antigens are foreign substances that initiate immune responses, leading to specific antibody production. Typically large molecules such as proteins or polysaccharides, antigens can also include lipids, nucleic acids, or even smaller molecules called haptens, which must bind to carrier proteins to elicit a response. At AREX, we provide high-quality labeled antigens and cell lysates, facilitating accurate and reproducible results across various research applications.
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Antigen Characteristics and Selection
Effective antigens have unique properties that ensure a strong immune response. These include structural stability, chemical complexity, and immunogenic regions accessible to antibody binding. Ideal antigens are also free from extensive repeating units and have a molecular weight above 8,000 Da, though haptens with lower weights can be effective when paired with carrier proteins. AREX carefully selects and prepares antigens that meet these criteria, supporting consistent performance across different assays.
Epitopes and Antibody Binding
The specific region on an antigen that an antibody recognizes is called an epitope. For efficient binding, the epitope must remain accessible and structurally intact. This interaction may vary in different applications: an antibody might bind effectively in IHC where the antigen retains its native structure but fail in western blotting if denaturation alters the epitope. AREX’s antigens are optimized to maintain epitope integrity, ensuring reliable binding in both native and denatured states, depending on the application.
Haptens and Carrier Proteins
Haptens are small molecules, like drugs or sugars, that can stimulate immune responses only when linked to a larger carrier protein, such as BSA or KLH. These carrier proteins enhance the immunogenicity of haptens, enabling antibody production against the small molecule. AREX offers a range of hapten-carrier combinations, expanding research capabilities in drug development, metabolic studies, and other fields requiring small-molecule detection.
Applications and Immunoassays
AREX’s labeled antigens and cell lysates are valuable tools across immunoassays, allowing precise detection of specific proteins and cellular markers. Our products support a wide array of applications, including studying immune responses, validating diagnostic markers, and advancing therapeutic research. With AREX's rigorously tested antigens, researchers can achieve consistent, high-quality results, contributing to deeper insights into cellular mechanisms and disease pathways.
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