The Difference Between Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies
Have you ever considered the origin of your antibody? Think beyond just the laboratory that your antibody ships from – have you ever wondered which specific cell your antibody comes from?
The specific cell that your antibody originates from is known as its clone. Antibodies are produced in immunized animals via B-cells, yet populations of B-cells are heterogeneous. An individual clone is a single cell selected from a population of heterogenous cells and then isolated. The isolation of a single clone yields a genetically identical population to the original clone, which is given a name (a code or a label) to keep track of which single cell this population originates from.
When purchasing an antibody, you may notice that you have the option of multiple clones. It is important to recognize that different clones may recognize the same immunogen. This allows for versatility in assays that require antibodies, especially in the case of ELISA experiments which can require multiple antibodies for the same target. This is the logic behind sandwich ELISAs, which require both a capture and a detector antibody.
Beyond just clone type, you may notice that there are antibodies that are considered monoclonal or polyclonal. Monoclonal antibodies, as the name suggests, are derived from a single B-cell clone from an immunized animal. These single B-cell clones are hybridized with a myeloma cell to produce hybridoma cell lines that can continue to produce the same antibody. As each unique clone can produce an antibody with unique binding activity for a given target, monoclonal antibodies allow researchers to control specifically how their immunoreagent binds their target.
Polyclonal antibodies, however, are not derived from a single clone. In fact, as their name indicates, polyclonal antibodies are composed of antibodies produced from multiple clones. While monoclonal antibodies originate from a single B-cell that has been isolated, no cells are isolated in the production of polyclonal antibodies. Rather, polyclonal antibodies are antibodies purified directly from the serum of the immunized animals. This results in a heterogenous mixture of antibodies that can bind at multiple sites on a given target.
Historically, polyclonal antibody production was developed prior to the production of monoclonal antibodies. Nowadays, polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are both widely popular, and their use cases vary based on application and convenience. Polyclonal antibodies are typically sold at a lower price point than monoclonal antibodies, as there are fewer steps involved in the production of polyclonal antibodies.
However, the caveat with polyclonal antibodies is in their long-term legacy – as they come directly from the serum of an animal that has been immunized, they are limited to the lifecycle of the animal they originate from. Monoclonal antibodies, on the other hand, are immortalized as hybridoma lines that can be cultured for years beyond the death of the original animal. Currently, recombinant monoclonal antibodies are growing in popularity as the best way to preserve the legacy of antibody production, as recombinant antibodies are sequenced so that the genetic instructions for antibody production are preserved and can be re-expressed for generations to come.
Polyclonal antibodies, however, are not just a budget option. There are certain cases in which polyclonal antibodies offer advantage over monoclonals. Because polyclonal antibodies are heterogeneous mixtures of multiple antibodies, they can help detect targets that are at lower abundance within a sample by binding at multiple epitopes and effectively amplifying the signal detected. Additionally, if a given target is prone to modification or mutation, polyclonal antibodies offer some insurance coverage for target detection.
At HUABIO, we currently offer over 9,500 monoclonal antibodies and over 1,600 polyclonal antibodies. Not sure which would be best for your next experiment? Need help finding the right match for your target? Reach out to our human-monitored support inbox [email protected], and we’ll help you find the right antibody for your needs!
----