Conjugated and Oligo Tagged Antibodies

Conjugated and oligo-tagged antibodies are valuable tools in the field of spatial multiplexing, allowing researchers to detect multiple targets within a single sample simultaneously. Common uses for these specialized antibodies include Immunofluorescence and Immunohistochemistry (IF/IHC), Spatial Profiling, Multiplexed Protein Detection, Tissue Microarrays (TMAs), Single-Cell Analyses, RNA In Situ Hybridization (RNA-ISH) Coupled with Antibody Staining, Spatially Resolved Transcriptomics, High-Content Screening, Multiparametric Analyses, Biomarker Discovery, and for understanding microenvironment interactions. This technology enhances our understanding of cellular and tissue biology, contributing to advancements in various fields, including diagnostics and therapeutic development.

Fluorescent Dye Conjugation for IF and Flow Cytometry

Conjugating antibodies to fluorescent dyes is a common technique in immunology and cell biology that allows researchers to visualize and quantify specific proteins or cells. This process involves attaching a fluorescent dye to an antibody, which can then bind to a target molecule in a sample. This technique is widely used in various applications, including immunofluorescence and flow cytometry experiments.

In immunofluorescence, fluorescently labeled antibodies are used to detect and localize specific proteins within cells or tissues. The basic steps of immunofluorescence involve fixation and permeabilization, blocking, and incubation with a primary antibody conjugated to a fluorescent dye. Examples of commonly used fluorescent dyes for immunofluorescence include Fluorescein Isothiocyanate (FITC), Rhodamine, Texas Red, Cyanine Dyes (Cy3, Cy5), and Alexa Fluor Dyes (e.g., Alexa 488, Alexa 555, Alexa 647).

In flow cytometry, fluorescently labeled antibodies are employed to analyze and sort individual cells in a liquid suspension. The key steps include sample preparation and incubation with fluorescently labeled antibodies. Then, the sample is passed through a flow cytometer, which measures the fluorescence emitted by each cell. This information is then used to characterize and sort cells based on their fluorescence properties. Examples of fluorescent dyes commonly used in flow cytometry include those mentioned earlier, such as FITC, PE (phycoerythrin), PerCP (peridinin-chlorophyll-protein complex), and APC (allophycocyanin).

In both techniques, the choice of fluorescent dye depends on factors like the specific imaging equipment available, the spectral characteristics of the dye, and the need to multiplex (use multiple colors simultaneously). Conjugated antibodies have significantly contributed to the advancement of cellular and molecular biology by providing researchers with powerful tools for visualizing and analyzing biological structures at the microscopic and single-cell levels.