Peptides Capable of Functioning as Mimotopes for Hormonal Analytes
A purified peptide mimotope which is capable of binding specifically to an antibody specific to estradiol. Also disclosed is an immunoassay test device for the detection in a sample of estradiol, the immunoassay test device comprising a peptide mimotope of estradiol, and an antibody capable of binding specifically to the peptide mimotope to generate a detectable signal.
1 . A purified peptide mimotope which is capable of binding specifically to an antibody specific to estradiol.
2 . A purified peptide mimotope according to claim 1 , wherein the mimotope has a core binding region of no greater than 12 amino acid residues.
3 . A purified peptide mimotope according to claim 1 , having a core binding region represented by an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO's: 3, 4, 6 and 18-70.
4 . A purified peptide mimotope according to claim 1 , which binds specifically to an antibody specific to estrone-3-glucuronide.
5 . A purified peptide mimotope according to claim 1 , comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO's: 7-17.
6 . A purified peptide according to claim 1 comprising, in its core binding region, a tripeptide in accordance with at least one of the following: Xaa-Glu-Asp; Phe-Xaa-Asp; and Phe-Glu-Xaa.
7 . A solid support having immobilised (releasably or non-releasably) thereon a purified peptide in accordance with claim 1 .
8 . A solid support according to claim 7 , in the form of an immunoassay test stick or dipstick.
9 . An immunoassay test device for the detection in a sample of estradiol, the immunoassay comprising a peptide mimotope according to claim 1 , and an antibody capable of binding specifically to the peptide mimotope to generate a detectable signal.
10 . An immunoassay test device according to claim 9 , wherein the test device is a competitive immunoassay test device.
11 . An immunoassay test device according to claim 9 , wherein the peptide mimotope comprises an amino acid sequence having a core binding region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO's: 3, 4 and 6 and 18-70.
12 . An immunoassay test device according to claim 9 , wherein the peptide mimotope comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO's: 7-17.
13 . An immunoassay test device according to claim 9 , wherein the peptide mimotope binds specifically to an antibody specific to estrone-3-glucuronide.
14 . Use of a peptide mimotope according to claim 1 , to assay for the presence and/or amount of estradiol in a sample to be tested.
15 . An isolated nucleic acid encoding a peptide mimotope in accordance with claim 1 .