Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
In a specific binding assay method for determining a ligand in a liquid medium, wherein said liquid medium is combined with reagent means including a conjugate of a labeling substance and a binding component to form a binding reaction system having a bound-species and a free-species of said conjugate; and wherein the amount of ligand present in said liquid medium is determined as a function of the amount of labeling substance present in said bound-species or said free-species; the improvement which comprises employing as said labeling substance a reversibly binding enzyme inhibitor, the binding constant for association of said inhibitor and an enzyme whose activity is inhibited thereby being less than about 10 11 molar -1 ; adding said enzyme whose activity is affected by said enzyme inhibitor to said bound-species or said free-species; and determining the amount of said enzyme inhibitor therein by measuring the resulting activity of said enzyme.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
In a specific binding assay method for determining a ligand in a liquid medium, wherein said liquid medium is combined with reagent means including a conjugate of a labeling substance and a binding component to form a binding reaction system having a bound-species and a free-species of said conjugate; and wherein the amount of ligand present in said liquid medium is determined as a function of the amount of labeling substance present in said bound-species or said free-species; the improvement which comprises employing as said labeling substance a reversibly binding enzyme inhibitor, the binding constant for association of said inhibitor and an enzyme whose activity is inhibited thereby being less than about 10 11 molar -1 ; adding said enzyme whose activity is affected by said enzyme inhibitor to said bound-species or said free-species; and determining the amount of said enzyme inhibitor therein by measuring the resulting activity of said enzyme.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the binding constant for the association of said reversibly binding enzyme inhibitor and said enzyme is between about 10 5 and about 10 9 molar -1 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reversibly binding enzyme inhibitor is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said reversibly binding competitive inhibitor and the enzyme inhibited thereby are, respectively, (a) acetazolamide, or an effective analog thereof, and carbonic anhydrase; (b) sulfanilamide, or an effective analog thereof, and carbonic anhydrase; (c) phenyl trimethylammonium ion, or an effective analog thereof, and acetylcholinesterase; (d) saccharo-1,4-lactone, or an effective analog thereof, and β-glucuronidase; (e) 4-amino-10-methyl-pteroylglutamic acid, or an effective analog thereof, and dihydrofolate reductase; or (f) 2,6,8-trichloropurine, or an effective analog thereof, and uricase.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said enzyme inhibitor, as a component of said conjugate, affects the activity of said enzyme differently when said conjugate is in said bound-species than when in said free-species.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 of the homogeneous type wherein said enzyme is added to the combined bound-species and free-species.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 of the heterogenous type wherein said bound-species and said free-species are physically separated, and said enzyme is added to one thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ligand is selected from the group consisting of antigens and antibodies thereto; haptens and antibodies thereto; and hormones, vitamins, metabolites, and pharmacological agents, and their receptors and binding substances.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a reagent means for use in determining a ligand in a liquid medium, which means includes a conjugate of a labeling substance and a binding component, which means and the ligand form a binding reaction system having a bound-species and a free-species of said conjugate, the improvement wherein said labeling substance is a reversibly binding enzyme inhibitor and said means comprises additionally an enzyme whose activity is affected by said enzyme inhibitor, the binding constant for association of said inhibitor and said enzyme being less than about 10 11 molar -1 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a reagent means for use in determining a ligand in a liquid medium, which means includes a conjugate of a labeling substance and a binding component, which means and the ligand form a binding reaction system having a bound-species and a free-species of said conjugate, the improvement wherein said labeling substance is a reversibly binding enzyme inhibitor and said means comprises additionally an enzyme whose activity is affected by said enzyme inhibitor, the binding constant for association of said inhibitor and said enzyme being less than about 10 11 molar -1 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
Means as claimed in claim 9 wherein the binding constant for the association of said reversibly binding enzyme inhibitor and said enzyme is between about 10 5 and about 10 9 molar -1 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
Means as claimed in claim 9 wherein said reversibly binding enzyme inhibitor is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
Means as claimed in claim 11 wherein said reversibly binding competitive inhibitor and the enzyme inhibited thereby are, respectively, (a) acetazolamide, or an effective analog thereof, and carbonic anhydrase; (b) sulfanilamide, or an effective analog thereof, and carbonic anhydrase; (c) phenyl trimethylammonium ion, or an effective analog thereof, and acetylcholinesterase; (d) saccharo-1,4-lactone, or an effective analog thereof, and β-glucuronidase; (e) 4-amino-10-methyl-pteroylglutamic acid, or an effective analog thereof, and dihydrofolate reductase; or (f) 2,6,8-trichloropurine, or an effective analog thereof, and uricase.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
85 words
Means as claimed in claim 9 wherein said enzyme inhibitor, as a component of said conjugate, affects the activity of said enzyme differently when said conjugate is in said bound-species than when in said free-species, said means comprising (i) said conjugate wherein said binding component is said ligand, a specific binding analog of said ligand, or a specific binding partner of said ligand, and (ii) if said binding component is said ligand or a specific binding analog thereof, a specific binding partner of said ligand.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
Means as in claim 9 which comprises (i) said conjugate wherein said binding component is said ligand or a specific binding analog of said ligand, and (ii) a specific binding partner of said ligand.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
Means as in claim 14 wherein one of said conjugate and said specific binding partner is in a form which is insoluble in said liquid medium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
Means as in claim 9 which comprises (i) said conjugate in a form which is soluble in said liquid medium and wherein said binding component is a specific binding partner of said ligand, and (ii) said ligand or a specific binding analog thereof in a form which is insoluble in said liquid medium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
Means as in claim 9 which comprises (i) said conjugate wherein said binding component is a specific binding partner of said ligand, and (ii) a specific binding partner of said ligand.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
Means as in claim 17 wherein one of said conjugate and said specific binding partner is in a form which is insoluble in said liquid medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
Means as in claim 9 wherein said ligand is selected from the group consisting of antigens and antibodies thereto; haptens and antibodies thereto; and hormones, vitamins, metabolites, and pharmacological agents, and their receptors and binding substances.