Avidin-Biotin Interactions: Methods and Applications (Methods in Molecular Biology #418)

For researchers today, the avidin-biotin interaction is among the most widely exploited among biomedical scientists. Despite its popularity, avidin-biotin methodology suffers from a lack of clarity associated with popular, low cost, prefabricated kits used by many in the field. In Avidin-Biotin Interactions: Methods and Applications, leaders in avidin-biotin methodology share their knowledge relating to the application of the extremely powerful interaction between the protein avidin or its homologues and the vitamin biotin and some of its homologues. Although avidin-biotin based kits based have been produced for quite some time and remain a widely used methodology, many of the chapters in this text describe situations in which the previous methodology failed due to some factor, and the authors developed new and better ways for the avidin-biotin system to be utilized. With excellent descriptions of laboratory protocols written by expert researchers, this volume is equally perfect for the student or the professional laboratory scientist. Each chapter in Avidin-Biotin Interactions: Methods and Applications contains not only excellent descriptions of protocols for the lab but also the experience of researchers who used specific methodology, found a problem with that methodology in a new setting, and ultimately devised ways to minimize or obviate the limitations of the technology.