| abstract |
Rapid, efficient, accurate assays are provided for measuring affinity of small molecular weight organic molecules and peptides to an MHC glycoprotein. The method employs a competition between a detectable agonist and the candidate of interest for an MHC glycoprotein in solution or coupled to solid support, followed by detection of complex formation of the MHC glycoprotein and agonist. The MHC glycoprotein may be preloaded with a second agonist to optimize the assay. Alternatively, the method employs the displacement of a preloaded, labeled peptide from the MHC glycoprotein by the candidate of interest. The level of agonist in the complex may be determined by the effect of the complex on sensitized T-cell proliferation. |