What is a shift assay? What is a supershift assay?
A shift assay is a DNA-binding assay using nondenaturing PAGE. It provides a simple, rapid, and extremely sensitive method for detecting sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins. Proteins bind specifically to an end-labeled DNA fragment corresponding to the individual protein-DNA complexes. You can use the assay to test binding of purified proteins or of uncharacterized factors in crude extracts. This assay also permits quantitative determination of the affinity, abundance, association rate constants, dissociation rate constants, and binding specificity of DNA-binding proteins.
A supershift assay is a variation of the mobility shift DNA-binding assay that uses antibodies to identify proteins present in the protein-DNA complex.Addition of a specific antibody to a binding reaction can have one of several effects. If the protein recognized by the antibody is not involved in complex formation, addition of the antibody should have no effect. If the protein that forms the complex is recognized by the antibody, the antibody can either block complex formation or it can form an antibody-protein-DNA ternary complex and thereby specifically result in a further reduction in the mobility of the protein-DNA complex (a supershift). Results may be different depending upon whether the antibody is added before or after the protein binds DNA (particularly if there are epitopes on the DNA binding surface of the protein).
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Nucleic Acid Purification and Analysis Support Center.
A supershift assay is a variation of the mobility shift DNA-binding assay that uses antibodies to identify proteins present in the protein-DNA complex.Addition of a specific antibody to a binding reaction can have one of several effects. If the protein recognized by the antibody is not involved in complex formation, addition of the antibody should have no effect. If the protein that forms the complex is recognized by the antibody, the antibody can either block complex formation or it can form an antibody-protein-DNA ternary complex and thereby specifically result in a further reduction in the mobility of the protein-DNA complex (a supershift). Results may be different depending upon whether the antibody is added before or after the protein binds DNA (particularly if there are epitopes on the DNA binding surface of the protein).
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Nucleic Acid Purification and Analysis Support Center.