Immunodepletion is a technique used in [[proteomics]] to selectively remove or deplete specific proteins or classes of proteins from a sample. It involves the use of antibodies that specifically bind to the target proteins, leading to their removal or precipitation.

The immunodepletion process typically involves the following steps:

Antibody selection: Antibodies are chosen based on their specificity for the target proteins. These antibodies can be commercially available or custom-made against specific proteins or protein classes.

Antibody immobilization: The selected antibodies are immobilized onto a solid support, such as magnetic beads, agarose beads, or columns. Immobilization can be achieved through various methods, including covalent binding or non-covalent interactions.

Sample incubation: The sample containing the proteins of interest, along with the abundant proteins to be removed, is incubated with the immobilized antibodies. The antibodies bind specifically to their target proteins within the sample mixture.

Separation: After incubation, the sample is separated from the solid support, which can be achieved through techniques such as centrifugation, magnetic separation, or filtration. The unbound proteins, including the target proteins, are removed, while the immobilized antibodies with bound proteins remain attached to the solid support.

Elution: The bound proteins are eluted from the solid support, typically using elution buffers or conditions that disrupt the antibody-protein interactions. This step allows the recovered proteins to be collected for further analysis.

Immunodepletion is often used to remove highly abundant proteins, such as albumin, immunoglobulins, or other proteins that can hinder the detection or analysis of less abundant proteins in a sample. By depleting the high-abundance proteins, the dynamic range of proteomic analysis can be increased, allowing for the detection and identification of lower-abundance proteins that may be of interest.

It is important to note that immunodepletion is not always a perfect process and may have some limitations. The efficiency of protein depletion can vary, and there is a potential for non-specific binding or loss of proteins of interest during the process. Careful optimization and validation of the immunodepletion protocol are necessary to ensure accurate and reliable results.