| abstract |
Components of the primary amino acid sequence of a metallothionein are genetically incorporated into proteins by recombinant DNA techniques to produce a hybrid molecule comprising an effector protein continuous with the metallothionein. The sulfhydryl and lysine residues of the metallothionein portion of the hybrid molecule provide binding sites for ligands such as radionuclides, contrast agents, magnetic resonance agents, fluorochromes, and enzymes. The labeled hybrid molecule is useful for the diagnosis and localization of disease lesions and is a cost-effective method of producing key ingredients for immunoassays including immunosorbant assay, immunoblot, immunodot, immunohistochemistry, and/or flow cytometry. |