SPECIFICITY OF AN ANTISERUM AGAINST MOSQUITO VITELLOGENIN AND ITS USE IN A RADIO-IMMUNOLOGICAL PRECIPITATION ASSAY FOR PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS

An antiserum against purified vitellin of the mosquito Aedes aegypti is highly specific for vitellogenin, the precursor of vitellin, that is found only in females developing eggs. This antigen is also made by the fat body in vitro after a blood meal and in response to ecdysterone. A rapid radioimmunological precipitation assay for vitellogenin using filters is described that is sensitive, specific and reliable. This method avoids loss of small precipitates during the washing procedure, and with proper precautions is a valuable technique in experimental work with labelled antigens. © 1978.