Alkaline Phosphatase and Indirect immunocytochemistry

[Overbearingminds]

"The most sensitive amplification methods use an enzyme as a marker

molecule attached to the secondary antibody. The enzyrne alkaiine phosphatase,

for example, in the presence of appropriate chemicals, produces inorganic

phosphate that in turn leads to the local formation of a colored precipitate.

This reveals the location of the secondary antibody and hence the location of the

antibody-antigen complex."

 

 

Does this imply that the enzyme alkaline phophatase reacts with the antiboy-antigen complex (the entire complex when assuming indirect immunocytochemistry) (the appropriate chemical) and in turn it leads to a colored precipitate?

[ardent]

I could sense that this is in a way similar to ELISA (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay) wherein the enzyme is bound to an antibody. When this antibody binds to its corresponding antigen, the enzyme linked to the antibody would proceed to formation of a detectable result (which in this case is the formation of a colored precipitate).