Description
Introduction: Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) is one of three protein hormones that share structural similarity to insulin. In humans, the IGF2 gene is located on chromosome 11p15.5, a region which contains numerous imprinted genes. In mice this homologous region is found at distal chromosome 7. In both organisms, Igf2 is imprinted, with expression resulting favourably from the paternally inherited allele. IGF-2 exerts its effects by binding to the IGF-1 receptor. IGF2 may also bind to the IGF-2 receptor (also called the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor), which acts as a signalling antagonist; that is, to prevent IGF2 responses.
Principle of the Assay: The microtiter plate provided in this kit has been pre-coated with an antibody specific to IGF-2. Standards or samples are then added to the appropriate microtiter plate wells with a biotin conjugated antibody preparation specific for IGF-2 and Avidin conjugated to Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) is added to each microplate well and incubated. Then a TMB (3,3',5,5' tetramethyl-benzidine) substrate solution is added to each well. Only those wells that contain IGF-2, biotin-conjugated antibody and enzyme-conjugated Avidin will exhibit a change in color. The enzyme-substrate reaction is terminated by the addition of a sulphuric acid solution and the color change is measured spectrophotometrically at a wavelength of 450 nm +/- 2 nm. The concentration of IGF-2 in the samples is then determined by comparing the O.D. of the samples to the standard curve