Biochemistry

Many biological processes are driven by the interaction of two molecules. Enzymatic reactions, protein protein binding, DNA replication or receptor-ligand interactions are just a few examples which inevitably depend on the close proximity of two binding partners and their binding affinity to each other. To induce their effect, drugs are often specifically designed to target molecular interactions associated with specific diseases. Accordingly, in the fields of pharmaceutical research, and drug discovery, the determination and optimisation of binding affinity are of great importance for the development of new drugs and treatment options. 

Today, life expectancy in developed countries is well above 80 years of age, but with a longer life expectancy comes a higher chance of developing a neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and dementia. As these disorders progress, they become increasingly debilitating until full-time care is required. Unfortunately, the etiology of these diseases is still not fully understood, and most drugs only treat symptoms. With life expectancy on the rise, it is important to further our understanding of these conditions and develop new treatments. 

No life science or diagnostic lab can live without it: the ELISA assay. The article explains the principle of ELISA assays and presents variables that determine the sensitivity and precision of your measurements.

The use of monoclonal antibody drugs for therapeutic outcomes remains a topic of high interest throughout the research community. Evidence of this, can be found in the fact that nearly 300 sessions at this years’ American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) meeting either feature or include abstracts on this topic.

We all heard of them: BCA assay, Bradford assay, Lowry assay; we all know that they measure proteins; but did we ever think about which assay might be the best to quantify our protein sample?