Antibody-Antigen Adhesion Studies Using Optical Tweezers

Published

January 1, 2001

Author(s)

S Kulin, Rani B. Kishore, Kristian Helmerson, Joseph B. Hubbard

Abstract

Multivalent molecular adhesion processes play a key role in a wide variety of biological phenomena, such as immune response, infections, as well as cellular migration, communication, and differentiation. In many cases adhesion is mediated by interactions between specific molecules via weak, non-covalent interactions. The strengths of these bonds fall into the range accessible with optical forces found in optical tweezers. We investigate the adhesion of antigen DNP-lysine and the monoclonal antibody SPE-7 using a dual optical tweezers setup. The antibody and antigen molecules are covalently attached to polystyrene microspheres and stochastic adhesion is monitored. The association and dissociation rates are determined for different surface densities of the specific receptors. Interestingly, thedetachment rate is independent of the maximum number of bonds that can be formed at any one encounter. We develop a stochastic model to theoretically describe the detachment dynamics as a first passage process in bond space.

Citation

Antibody-Antigen Adhesion Studies Using Optical Tweezers

Pub Type

Others

Keywords

antibody-antigen adhesion, antigen DNP-lysine, monoclonal antibody SPE-7, multivalent molecular adhesion, non-covalent interactions, optical tweezers

Citation

Kulin, S. , Kishore, R. , Helmerson, K. and Hubbard, J. (2001), Antibody-Antigen Adhesion Studies Using Optical Tweezers, Antibody-Antigen Adhesion Studies Using Optical Tweezers (Accessed October 11, 2025)