Steroid-Binding Immunoglobulins: Preparation, Properties and Application for Radioimmunoassay of Steroid Hormones

Abstract

The interactions between steroids and proteins discussed so far in this monograph, and the reactions between steroids and enzymes to be dealt with in Chapter XVI, involve proteins which occur in every normal individual of a given species in about the same quantities. Normal biosynthesis, metabolism and degradation applies to these proteins which possess more or less specific binding sites for steroid molecules. No experimental procedure is known to influence the biosynthesis of the binding proteins with respect to steroid specificity, with the possible exception of bacterial enzymes.