A method to measure receptor binding of ligands with low affinity. Application to plasma proteins binding assay with...

A gradient has been developed for separating free ligand from ligand bound to cells growing in suspension. This method can be used with all kinds of ligand but it is particularly useful for those ligands having the tiresome tendency to adhere to the cells non-specifically or to polymerize by themselves. This is the case of fibronectin, fibrinogen, immunoglobulins and many other plasma proteins. The gradient consists of two layers: an upper aqueous phase and a lower hydrophobic organic phase. The aqueous phase, a sucrose buffer, allows the cells to become well dispersed before they enter the hydrophobic phase which excludes the free ligand efficiently. This reduces non-specific binding and allows the accurate measurement of specific binding which could not be obtained with a gradient made of a single phase. Depending upon the size and the density of the cells, and the nature of the ligand, the assay method can be modified by changing the density or the nature of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic phases.