Kinetics of the IgG—anti-IgG Reaction, as Evaluated by Conventional and Stopped-Flow Nephelometry

Abstract

Abstract A stopped-flow spectrophotofluorometer equipped with a data-acquisition system was used to study the rate of formation of IgG—anti-IgG complexes by nephelometry. Light-scattering aggregates could be detected within 100 ms. Early rates ( 0-3 s) increased with antigen concentration, while rates during later stages (5-100 s) followed the same trend exhibited by the precipitin curve. Polyethylene glycol (known to exert a profound effect on antigen—antibody reactions) at a concentration of 40 g/liter affected the IgG—anti-IgG reaction as follows: there was an initial lag phase of 5-10 s and a subsequent rapid reaction over the next 20-40 s, characterized by a four-to five-fold enhancement in the amount of light scattered. Our observations demonstrate that centrifugal-analyzer techniques can be used for the kinetic measurement of specific proteins in serum.