Uranyl-labelled antibody (ULA) method and its application for Rh antibodies.
The existent labelling materials for studies of antigen--antibody interaction at ultrastructural level, namely ferritin and peroxidase, because of their large molecular size do not fulfill all requirements of excellent markers for electron microscopy (EM). Uranyl acetate has a molecule 354 times smaller than IgG and its uranium atom is electron-dense. These physical characteristics of uranyl acetate make it a labelling material par excellence as described in this article. Quantitative and qualitative studies of Rh antigen-antibody interactions are for the first time presented at the ultrastructural level, and the application of the uranyl-labelled antibody (ULA) method for weak antisera (dilutions 100 to 1000 time higher than the Coombs range of sensitivity) is demonstrated. The ULA method opens a new era for studies of antigens, antibodies and their interactions because it will demonstrate visibly details of the antigen-antibody interaction and is especially suitable for studies of weak antisera.
D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000276:immunology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D008722:Methods; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011247:Pregnancy; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000032:analysis; D014501:Uranium
D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; D014501:Uranium