Isolation of specific lymphocyte receptors by high-performance immunoaffinity chromatography

Isolation of antigen-specific lymphocyte receptors can be achieved by high-performance immunoaffinity chromatography, using immobilized monoclonal antibodies directed against the antigen. Primed lymphocytes are allowed to react with their target antigen prior to disruption and membrane solubilization. The bound antigen acts both as a preservative for the receptor and as a ligand on which the immobilized antibody captures the antigen-receptor complex. Dissociation of the antigen-antibody complex also releases the antigen from the receptor, and both antigen and receptor can be separated and recovered for further study.