β2 microglobulin is a component of MHC class I molecules, which are present on almost all cells of the body (red blood cells are a notable exception). It is an 11 kDa protein associated with the outer membrane of many cells including lymphocytes. Association with beta 2-microglobulin is generally required for the transport of class I heavy chains from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell surface. Human Beta-2 Microglobulin (B2MG) is an 11.8 kDa protein identical to the light chain of the HLA-A, -B, and -C antigen.
β2 microglobulin lies lateral to the α3 chain on the cell surface. Unlike α3, β2 has no transmembrane region. Directly above β2 (i.e. away from the cell) lies the α1 chain, which itself is lateral to the α2.
Beta 2-microglobulin is present in small amounts in serum, CSF, and urine of normal people, and to a much greater degree in the urine and plasma of patients with tubular proteinemia, renal failure, or kidney transplants.
In patients on long-term haemodialysis, it can aggregate into amyloid fibers that deposit in joint spaces, a disease known as dialysisrelated amyloidosis.

B2_Microglobulin ELISA: 

Immunoenzymatic colorimetric method (ELISA) for quantitative determination of β2 microglobulin in serum.

Principle of the Assay:

The enzyme immunoassay allows the quantitative determination of β2 microglobulin from serum. In this assay, the β2 microglobulin in the samples is bound to an available excess of monoclonal antibodies against β2 microglobulin, which are immobilized to the surface of the microtiter wells. After a washing step to remove all foreign substances, the quantification of bound β2 microglobulin is carried out by adding an enzyme (horseradish peroxidase or HRP) labelled antibody, which also binds to the β2 microglobulin. The amount of bound enzyme is directly proportional to the β2 microglobulin content. The substrate (TMB) is then converted to a chromogenic compound, which can be determined photometrically at 450 nm.

Specific performance characteristics:  

Order information: