affinity reagent

English

Noun

affinity reagent (plural affinity reagents)

1. (biochemistry) An antibody, peptide, nucleic acid, or other small molecule that specifically binds to a larger target molecule in order to identify, track, capture, or influence its activity.
   • 1994, G. Street, chapter 2, in Highly selective separations in biotechnology, →ISBN, page 10:

     Finally, the recovery of the target protein should be attempted by washing with a suitable eluant so that the target protein dissociates from the affinity reagent.