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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Real-time Monitoring of Ligand-receptor Interactions with Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer
Published on: August 20, 2012
Fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based detection of analytes using antiidiotypic affinity protein pairs
Björn Renberg1, Per-Ke Nygren, Malin Eklund
1Department of Biotechnology, Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract:
A new method for specific detection of proteins based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) using affinity proteins (affibodies) derived from combinatorial engineering of Staphylococcal protein A has been developed. Antiidiotypic affibody pairs were used in a homogeneous competitive binding assay, where the idiotypic, target-specific affibody was labeled with fluorescein and the antiidiotypic affibody was labeled with tetramethylrhodamine. Intermolecular FRET between the two fluorescent probes was observed in the antiidiotypic affibody complex, but upon addition of target protein the antiidiotypic affibody was displaced, which was monitored by a shift in the relative emission of the donor and acceptor fluorophores. The feasibility of the system was demonstrated by the detection of IgA and Taq DNA polymerase with high specificity, using two different antiidiotypic affibody pairs. Detection of Taq DNA polymerase in 25% human plasma was successfully carried out, demonstrating that the method can be used for analysis of proteins in samples of complex composition.
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