Abstract
Probes labeled with colloidal gold were originally used as electron-dense markers in electron microscopy (1-3) and as color markers in light microscopy (4). Their application to imMunoblotting was not examined until later (5-7). The combination of gold-labeled antibodies and protein A was demonstrated to be suitable for the visualization of specific antigens on Western blots and dot blots (5,6). When goldlabeled antibodies are used as probes on imMunoblots, the antigen-antibody interaction is seen as a pinkish signal owing to the optical characteristics of colloidal gold (5). Used on its own, the sensitivity of imMunogold detection is equivalent to indirect peroxidase methods, and hence, only suitable for situations where there are higher levels of antigen. In addition, the signal produced is not permanent. In order to overcome this problem and to allow the technique to be used for more demanding applications, a way of amplifying the signal was subsequently developed using the capacity of gold particles to catalyze the reduction of silver ions (8). This reaction results in the growth of the gold particles by silver disposition. A stable dark brown signal is produced on the blot, and sensitivity is increased 10-fold. The sensitivity achieved using imMunogold silver staining (IGSS) is similar to that obtained with alkaline phosphatase using colorimetric detection and several times more sensitive than 125I-labeled antibodies. However, unlike colorimetric detection, the result is stable and not prone to fading, and the chemicals used present no hazards. In addition, the signal-to-noise ratio of IGSS is usually very high, and there are none of the handling or disposal problems that are associated with 125I-labeled antibodies.
References
Faulk, W. P. and Taylor, G. M. (1971) An imMunocolloid method for the electron microscope. Immunochemistry 8, 1081.
Romano, E. L., Stolinski, C., and Hughes-Jones, N. C. (1974) An immunoglobulin reagent labelled with colloidal gold for use in electron microscopy. Immunocytochemistry 14, 711–715.
Horisberger, M. and Rosset, J. (1977) Colloidal gold, a useful marker for transmission and scanning electron microscopy. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 25, 295–305.
Roth, J. (1982) Applications of imMunocolloids in light microscopy: preparation of protein A-silver and protein A-gold complexes and their applications for the localization of single and multiple antigens in paraffin sections. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 30, 691–696.
Moeremans, M., Daneels, G., Van Dijck, A., Langanger, G., and De Mey, J. (1984) Sensitive visualization of antigen-antibody reactions in dot and blot imMune overlay assays with imMunogold and imMunogold/silver staining. J. Immunol. Meth. 74, 353–160.
Brada, D. and Roth, J. (1984) Golden Blotdetection of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies bound to antigens on nitrocellulose by protein A-gold complexes. Analyt. Biochem. 142, 79–83.
Hsu, Y. H. (1984) ImMunogold for detection of antigen on nitrocellulose paper. Analyt. Biochem. 142, 221–225.
Danscher, G. (1981) Histochemical demonstration of heavy metals, a revised version of the sulphide silver method suitable for both light and electron microscopy. Histo chemistry 71, 1–16.
Geoghegan, W. D. and Ackerman, G. A. (1977) Adsorption of horseradish peroxidase, ovomucoid and anti-imMunoglobulin to colloidal gold for the indirect detection of concanavilin A, wheat germ agglutinin and goat antihuman imMunoglobulin G on cell surfaces at the electron microscopic level: a new method, theory and application. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 25, 1182–1200.
Western Blotting Technical Manual, Amersham International plc. 1991, Amersham UK.
Moeremans, M., Daneels, G., De Raeymaeker, M., and Leunissen, J. L. M. (1989) AuroProbe One in imMunoblotting, in Aurofile 02, Janssen Life Sciences, Wantage, UK, pp. 4, 5.
Moeremans, M., Daneels, G., and DeMey, J. (1985) Sensitive colloid (gold or silver) staining of protein blots on nitrocellulose membrane. Analyt. Biochem. 145, 315–321.
Segers, J. and Rabaey, M. (1985) Sensitive protein stain on nitrocellulose blots. Protides Biol. Fluids 33, 589–591.
Glenney, J. (1986) Antibody probing of Western blots which have been stained with India ink. Analyt. Biochem. 156, 315–319.
Chevallet, M., Procaccio V., and Rabilloud, R. (1997) A non-radioactive double detection method for the assignment of spots in two-dimensional blots. Analyt. Biochem. 251, 69–72.
Egger, D. and Bienz, K. (1987) Colloidal gold staining and imMunoprobing of proteins on the same nitrocellulose blot. Analyt. Biochem. 166, 413–417.
Egger, D. and Bienz, K. (1992) Colloidal gold staining and imMunoprobing on the same Western blot, in Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 10, ImMunochemical Protocols (Manson, M., ed.). Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, pp. 247–253.
Schapira, A. H. V. (1992) Colloidal gold staining and imMunodetection in 2D protein mapping, in Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 10, ImMunochemical Protocols (Manson, M., ed.), Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, pp. 255–266.
Daneels, I. J., Moeremans, M., De Raemaeker, M., and De Mey, J. (1986) Sequential imMunostaining (gold/silver) and complete protein staining (AuroDye) on Western blots. J. Immunol. Meth. 89, 89–91.
Thomas, N., Jones, C. N., and Thomas, P. L. (1988) Low volume processing of protein blots in rolling drums. Analyt. Biochem. 170, 393–396.
Jones, A. and Moeremans, M. (1988) Colloidal gold for the detection of proteins on blots and imMunoblots, in Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 3, New Protein Techniques (Walker, J. M., ed.), Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, pp. 441–479.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2002 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Fowler, S.J. (2002). Protein Staining and Immunodetection Using Immunogold. In: Walker, J.M. (eds) The Protein Protocols Handbook. Springer Protocols Handbooks. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-169-8:393
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-169-8:393
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-940-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-169-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive