What are some applications of the ABC System?
      

Staining Tissues - The ABC technique was originally developed for use with formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded histological sections. The VECTASTAIN® ABC kits have since been utilized with every type of histological preparation. In addition to using biotinylated secondary antibody, an array of biotinylated primary reagents can be employed with the VECTASTAIN® ABC kits. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies may be biotinylated and used directly with the VECTASTAIN® ABC reagents to detect low concentrations of antigens in tissue sections or on live or fixed cells. Hormones, toxins, lectins, DNA or RNA probes, drugs, enzyme inhibitors or substrates, serum proteins, viruses, and other substances can be labeled with biotin and can provide ideal intermediates for the detection, localization or quantitation of their respective receptors or binding components using the VECTASTAIN® ABC system.

Transfer Blot Detection - The VECTASTAIN® ABC system has also been used extensively in the detection of proteins, DNA, and RNA following electrophoretic or passive transfer from gels (western, Southern and northern techniques). Specific glycoproteins can be detected on Western blots using selected biotinylated lectins and the VECTASTAIN® ABC reagents. VECTASTAIN® ABC reagents provide the high sensitivity and low background staining required for nitrocellulose, nylon, PVDF and other membrane filter detection systems.

Enzyme Immunoassays - VECTASTAIN® ABC kits are also excellent reagents for use in solid-phase assays. The high affinity and specificity of Avidin DH for biotin, and the sensitivity and low background characteristics of the VECTASTAIN® ABC reagents combine to greatly improve many solid-phase assays. Just one example of this application is the screening for monoclonal antibodies produced by hybridoma cultures. The ultrasensitive nature of the VECTASTAIN® ABC system reduces the amount of antigen and supernatant required for screening and allows an earlier detection of positive clones. Assay times can be reduced significantly.

In Situ Hybridization - Viral genomes, messenger RNA, chromosomal markers and other nucleic acid targets have been detected in cells and in tissue sections without the use of short half-life, radioactively labeled polynucleotide probes. By employing biotin-labeled DNA or RNA probes and the VECTASTAIN® ABC kit, in situ hybridization can be performed routinely and detected by direct microscopic examination.

Electron Microscopy - The VECTASTAIN® ABC system also has been reported to be the most sensitive immunoperoxidase method for electron microscopy. Reductions in the amounts of primary antibody required, shorter incubation times and improved overall quality of staining have been cited as advantages of the VECTASTAIN® ABC reagents.

Current references and additional information on the VECTASTAIN® ABC kits are available upon request.