Use of antibodies in the study of protein structure and function in lung diseases

Proteins normally fold in a variety of three-dimensional structures. This variety of forms accounts for a multiplicity of functions. One of the major undertakings of modern biochemistry is to determine the structure of a given protein and in doing so learn about its function. Much of the effort in the field of protein chemistry is currently focused on defining areas or domains within the molecule that are responsible for its function. Antibodies specific for functional domains on a protein have been powerful tools in these studies and have provided a great deal of the current knowledge related to the location and function of well-defined structural areas within the protein molecules. The use of antibodies in the study of proteins has considerably advanced our knowledge of both the structure of proteins and their interaction with other molecules. In reviewing the use of antibodies for structure and/or function analysis, we have tried not only to review the techniques and applications involving antibodies but also to show how useful antibody reagents may be designed and prepared. In this review, some of the newer uses of antibodies in modern biology will be described, and a few illustrations of each will be provided.