Antibodies have become a common and necessary tool in biochemistry, cell biology, and immunology laboratories. There are many different types of antibodies and antibody fragments being used for a myriad of applications. As a result, many different purification protocols have been developed to obtain antibodies of the desired specificity and sensitivity. Here, we introduce the options for small-to largescale antibody purification and isolation of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies (and fragments generated from these) that target-specific proteins, as well as methods to properly purify antibodies that recognize posttranslational modifications. Optimal conditions for the long-term storage of antibodies are also discussed.
ANTIBODY TYPESAntibodies (a.k.a. immunoglobulins [IgGs]) account for 20% of the plasma proteins in humans. Human immunoglobulins consist of several different types of proteins, such as IgD, which functions as an antigen receptor and is found on the surface of B cells; IgE, which binds allergens, subsequently triggering histamine release from mast cells (the "allergic" reaction); IgG, which has four different forms (subclasses IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4) (Schur 1987) that provide immunity against foreign pathogens and can also cross the placenta and provide fetal immunity in utero; and IgM, which is unique in that it can exist as a monomer when expressed on the surface of B cells or as a pentamer when it is secreted. IgM represents the initial immune reaction to an infection and, because of its high avidity, can detect and bind even small amounts of antigen. Polyclonal IgG and/or fragments of IgG from various mammalian species such as goats, sheep, or rabbits are used most often for research purposes. Owing to their polyclonal nature, it is not practical in most cases to use polyclonal antibodies for therapeutic applications or for critical applications where large quantities of antibodies will be required for large screens or analyses requiring consistency over a long period of time. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from rodents or rabbits as well as from recombinant sources are the source of most large-scale antibody preparations. Dependent on the source of the antibody, purification and analysis will differ in part based on the final application, requirement for cGMP manufacture, and/or storage conditions required for long-term storage.