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Postharvest Biology and Technology of Fruits, Vegetables, and Flowers

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BIOSENSOR-BASED TECHNOLOGIES 425<br />

Linker layer<br />

Gold layer<br />

Glass layer<br />

CM5 sensor chip<br />

Inhibition assay<br />

Competition assay<br />

Antibody<br />

Analyte<br />

Immobilized analyte<br />

Conjugated analyte<br />

Fig. 20.4 Formats for inhibition <strong>and</strong> competition assays. Inhibition: Free analyte inhibits binding <strong>of</strong> the antibody<br />

to the immobilized analyte on the chip. The signal generated when the antibody binds to the immobilized analyte<br />

is inversely proportional to the concentration <strong>of</strong> free analyte in the sample. Competition: Free ( ) <strong>and</strong> conjugated<br />

( ) analyte compete for binding to the immobilized antibody. The signal generated is inversely proportional to<br />

the amount <strong>of</strong> free analyte in the sample.<br />

between the immobilized <strong>and</strong> free antigen for antibody binding. A change in signal is<br />

recorded, <strong>and</strong> this is inversely proportional to the amount <strong>of</strong> target molecule that remains<br />

free in solution. An alternative method to detect analytes <strong>of</strong> interest involves a competitive<br />

assay. In this format, the antibody is immobilized on the surface <strong>of</strong> a suitable matrix, <strong>and</strong><br />

the sample is mixed with a st<strong>and</strong>ard target molecule that has been conjugated to a large<br />

carrier protein. This results in the sample <strong>and</strong> the conjugated st<strong>and</strong>ard competing for the<br />

immobilized antibody on the surface <strong>of</strong> the biochip. An increase in signal is caused by<br />

the binding <strong>of</strong> the large analyte–carrier conjugate, <strong>and</strong> the data generated is similar to the<br />

inhibition assay since the signal recorded is inversely proportional to the amount <strong>of</strong> target<br />

molecule present in the sample.<br />

20.3.1 Immunobiosensors<br />

Many biosensor-based assays have utilized antibodies (immunoglobulins) as the molecular<br />

recognition element, leading to the adoption <strong>of</strong> the term “immunobiosensor.” Antibodies are<br />

the key recognition elements <strong>of</strong> the immune system, <strong>and</strong> various antibodies <strong>and</strong> antibodyderived<br />

fragments have been produced with the capability <strong>of</strong> detecting a remarkable variety<br />

<strong>of</strong> diverse analytes (Dillon et al., 2005). Antibodies are globular glycoproteins (sugarcontaining<br />

proteins), with five classes (or serotypes) existing—IgA, IgM, IgE, IgD, <strong>and</strong><br />

IgG. Single antibody molecules typically have molecular weights <strong>of</strong> ∼150–200 Da. IgG

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