Comparison of Colorimetric, Fluorescence and Luminescence Analysis
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
www.aladdin-e.com Comparison of colorimetric, fluorescence and luminescence analysis Introduction 25°C, and 37°C, Over the years, the enzyme immunoassay that greater than six months shelf life when stored Engvall and Perlmann first described has taken at 4°C, many different forms. Today there are commercially available, heterogeneous, homogeneous, cell-based, capable of being conjugated to an antigen or colorimetric, fluorescent and luminescent, to antibody, name just a few, versions of the original ELISA. inexpensive, They all have antibody-antigen complexes and easily measurable activity, enzyme reactions in common. In this technical high substrate turnover number, bulletin, we here will focus on the enzyme linked unaffected by biological components of the immunosorbent assay and discuss three types of assay. detection systems — colorimetric, fluorescent, and luminescent. By far, the two most popular enzymes are All ELISA, regardless of the detection system peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase. Each has employed, require the immobilization of an their advantages and disadvantages. Both are antigen or antibody to a surface. They also quite stable when handled and stored properly, require the use of an appropriate enzyme label and both can be stored at 4°C for greater than 6 and a matching substrate that is suitable for the months. Both are also commercially available as detection system being used. Associated with the free enzymes and as enzyme conjugates (enzyme enzyme-substrate reaction are several labeled antibodies, etc.) and are relatively requirements, such as timing and development inexpensive. However, there are some differences conditions, that need to be optimized to result in between these two enzymes that should be a precise, accurate and reproducible assay. considered when choosing one for an assay. Colorimetric Assays Peroxidase is a small molecule (MW~40,000) that Colorimetric assays result in a colored reaction can usually be conjugated to an antibody in a 4:1 product that absorbs light in the visible range. ratio. Due to its small size, it rarely causes steric The optical density of the reaction product is hindrance problems with antibody/antigen typically proportional to the amount of analyte complexes bound on a surface. Peroxidase is very being measured. inexpensive compared to alkaline phosphatase. Selecting the Appropriate Enzyme Label Several substrates, yielding either soluble or The most common enzymes used as labels for insoluble reaction products, are commercially ELISA are 1) horseradish peroxidase, 2) calf available for per- oxidase. Since all peroxidase intestine alkaline phosphatase, and 3) E. coli ß- reactions require hydrogen peroxide, purchasing D-galactosidase. These enzymes are typically commercially available substrates is used because they each meet most, if not all, of recommended because these preparations contain the cri- teria necessary to produce a sensitive, stabilized hydrogen peroxide which adds to their inexpensive, and easily performed assay. value and usefulness. These criteria include: stability at typical assay temperatures: 4°C, 1 www.aladdin-e.com The major disadvantage associated with is most likely the reason why it is the least peroxidase is that it is incompatible with many popular. For unexplained reasons, ß- preservatives, such as sodium azide, that are galactosidase also suffers from antibody-induced used to reduce microbial contamination in many inhibition. An advantage of ß-galactosidase is its biological buffer solutions. Sodium azide, even in enhanced reaction rate in the presence of low concentrations, inactivates peroxidase alcohols, which lends itself as a suitable enzyme activity. Other compounds or elements that for assays performed on hydrophobic membrane interfere with peroxidase activity are metals surfaces (i.e., dot blot applications) that require found in water and endogenous peroxidases alcohol to wet out. found in biological specimens. These disadvantages can be overcome by using sterile For colorimetric assays, either alkaline buffers without preservatives, using reagent phosphatase or peroxidase is a suitable enzyme. grade type II water, and pretreating specimens Both enzymes have a wide range of substrates suspected of having high peroxidase levels with that yield qualitative and quantitative results. hydrogen peroxide prior to use in an assay. Typically, non- bound biological components are Selecting a Suitable Substrate washed away prior to the addition of the enzyme, For all enzyme-linked immunoassays, the final so endogenous peroxidase activity is usually not stage is the addition of the enzyme substrate. an issue. The substrate is chosen for its quantitative yield of a colored, fluorescent or luminescent reaction Alkaline phosphatase is approximately double product. For colorimetric assays the rate of color the size of peroxidase (MW ~86,000). This development is proportional, over a certain means that one will typically see a lower enzyme range, to the amount of enzyme conjugate to antibody conjugation ratio. It also means that present. the larger molecular size of alkaline phosphatase can cause steric hindrance issues due to close A suitable substrate must be chosen to meet the packed antigen-antibody complexes. This can assay requirements of the assay being result in lower activity than expected for the performed. Substrates can produce either estimated number of bound enzyme molecules insoluble or soluble colored reaction products. (which is sometimes considered responsible for Typically, insoluble reaction products are desired the “high dose hook” phenomenon). Alkaline for membrane-based assays, such as dot blots. phosphatase is slightly more expensive than An insoluble colored dot is produced at the site of peroxidase, but is considered to be more stable. the reaction. Along with being a visual and Substrates for alkaline phosphatase range from sometimes permanent record, the intensity of the soluble to insoluble; many can be signal colored product can be measured using enhanced to increase sensitivity. densitometry. However, insoluble reaction products are not practical for solution The major disadvantage associated with using immunoassays performed in multiple well assay alkaline phosphatase is that it is inactivated by plates. Substrates that form soluble reaction chelating agents, acidic pH (< 4.5), or inorganic products are better suited for ELISA. phosphates. This means that buffers must be specific for alkaline phosphatase, and one cannot Both peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase have use standard assay phosphate buffered saline substrates that yield soluble colored reaction solutions as diluents or wash solutions that come products. The decision as to which substrate is in contact with the enzyme during an assay. the best for any type of assay depends on the However, chelators (EDTA) and acidic pH are sensitivity desired, the timing requirements, and typically used as convenient and inexpensive the detection device to be used. For assays that stopping reagents for alkaline phosphatase need to be very sensitive (able to detect low reactions. amounts of analyte), the most desirable substrates produce intensely colored reaction ß-galactosidase is the least used of the three products at very fast reaction rates. For assays top enzymes for ELISA. This enzyme is quite that require a large dynamic range (typical large; its four subunits combined have a analyte amounts span a wide range of molecular weight of greater than 300,000. Its size 2 www.aladdin-e.com concentrations), substrates that produce reaction less sensitive than TMB. Its reaction product is product over a long time (15 to 30 minutes) and yellow and can be read at 490 nm. result in a broad range of analyte- dependent color intensities are the most desirable. For Alkaline phosphatase: The most common assays with a timed end- point, a chemical substrate that produces an insoluble reaction inhibitor is added to the reaction after a defined product is BCIP/NBT (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl- time that stops further color development. phosphate/nitroblue tetrazolium). It is recognized This allows detection to be performed within a as the most effective substrate for immunoblots reasonable time; for this, a substrate that has a due to its stability and resistance to fading when “slow” reaction rate (15 to 30 minutes to exposed to light. The most widely used substrate completion) is optimal. This “slow” reaction rate that produces a soluble reaction product is p- allows the technician (or automated equipment) NPP (p-nitro- phenylphosphate). It produces an to start the reaction and stop the reaction at a intense yellow color measurable at 405 to 410 reasonable pace. However, when kinetic analysis nm. An advantage of this substrate is that it can of the enzyme-substrate reaction is used, a be allowed to develop for extended periods to substrate that has a “fast” reaction rate (5 obtain a corresponding increase in sensitivity. minutes or less) should be used. In this case, the Normally p-NPP has a slow reaction rate which substrate is added, and the rate of conversion of should be allowed 30 to 60 minutes to reach substrate to colored reaction product is optimal color development before being stopped immediately measured. The reaction is usually with 1N NaOH. It is not recommended for kinetic measured over discreet and short time intervals analysis. (i.e., 10 seconds) for 2 to 5 minutes. Reaction Requirements The following are the most commonly used Many factors affect