5-Me-THF ELISA kits are used to detect 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (5-Me-THF) in serum, plasma and other biological samples. 5-Me-THF, also known as levomefolic acid or L-methylfolate, is the predominant biologically active form of folate in the circulation and the only form able to cross the blood-brain barrier efficiently. It is formed from 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate by the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, an irreversible step that commits one-carbon units to methyl donation. Its main role is to donate a methyl group for the vitamin B12-dependent remethylation of homocysteine to methionine, which in turn supports synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine for DNA and protein methylation. Low levels have been associated with raised homocysteine, neural tube defects, megaloblastic anaemia and cognitive problems. Variants of the MTHFR gene may reduce production, so 5-Me-THF is studied in nutrition and one-carbon metabolism research.
This assay employs the competitive inhibition enzyme immunoassay technique. The microtiter plate provided in this kit has been pre-coated with 5-Me-THF. Standards or samples are added to the appropriate microtiter plate wells then with a biotin-conjugated antibody specific to 5-Me-THF. Next, Avidin conjugated to Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) is added to each microplate well and incubated. After TMB substrate solution is added. The enzyme-substrate reaction is terminated by the addition of sulphuric acid solution and the color change is measured spectrophotometrically at a wavelength of 450nm ± 10nm. The concentration of 5-Me-THF in the samples is then determined by comparing the OD of the samples to the standard curve.
Standard Curve:
Concentration (ng/mL)
OD
Corrected OD
90.00
0.197
45.00
0.357
22.50
0.611
11.25
0.812
5.63
1.197
2.82
1.511
1.41
1.796
0.00
2.213
Linearity:
Matrix
1:2
1:4
1:8
1:16
Serum (n=5)
88-104%
84-98%
92-103%
82-96%
EDTA Plasma (n=5)
86-97%
83-96%
91-103%
96-105%
Heparin Plasma (n=5)
88-103%
90-98%
92-106%
85-97%
Recovery:
Matrix
Recovery range
Average
Serum (n=5)
92-106%
99%
EDTA Plasma (n=5)
77-95%
86%
Heparin Plasma (n=5)
88-103%
91%
Precision:
Intra-assay Precision (Precision within an assay)
Intra-assay Precision (Precision within an assay)：CV%<8%
Three samples of known concentration were tested twenty times on one plate to assess intra-assay precision.
Inter-assay Precision (Precision between assays)
Inter-assay Precision (Precision between assays)：CV%<10%
Three samples of known concentration were tested in forty separate assays to assess inter-assay precision.
*Note: The below protocol is a sample protocol. Protocols are specific to each batch/lot. For the correct instructions please follow the protocol included in your kit.
Step
Protocol
1.
After the kit is equilibrated at room temperature, add 50 µL of Standard Working Buffer (gradually diluted according to the instructions) or 50 µL of sample to each well, and incubate at 37°C for 80 minutes.
2.
Discard the liquid in the plate, add 200 µL 1× Wash Buffer to each well, and wash the plate 3 times. After pat it dry against clean absorbent paper, add 50 µL Biotinylated Antibody Working Solution (1×) to each well, incubate at 37°C for 50 minutes.
3.
Discard the liquid in the plate, add 200 µL 1× Wash Buffer to each well, and wash the plate 3 times. After pat it dry against clean absorbent paper, add 100 µL 1× Streptavidin-HRP Working Solution to each well, incubate at 37°C for 50 minutes.
4.
Discard the liquid in the plate, add 200 µL 1× Wash Buffer to each well, and wash the plate 5 times. After pat it dry against clean absorbent paper, add 90 µL TMB Substrate Solution to each well, incubate at 37°C for 20 minutes in the dark.
5.
Add 50 µL Stop Solution to each well, shake plate on a plate shaker for 1 minute to mix. Record the OD at 450 nm immediately, calculation of the results.
When carrying out an ELISA assay it is important to prepare your samples in order to achieve the best possible results. Below we have a list of procedures for the preparation of samples for different sample types.
Sample Type
Protocol
Serum
Samples should be collected into a serum separator tube. After clotting for 2 hours at room temperature or overnight at 4°C, and then centrifuging at 1000 × g for 20 minutes. Assay freshly prepared serum immediately or store samples in aliquot at -20°C or -80°C for later use. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Plasma
Collect plasma using EDTA or heparin as an anticoagulant. Centrifuge samples at 1000 × g and 2-8°C for 15 minutes within 30 minutes of collection. Remove plasma and assay immediately or store samples in aliquot at -20°C or -80°C for later use. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Tissue homogenates
1. Rinse the tissues in pre-cooled PBS to completely remove excess blood, and weigh them before homogenization. 2. Mince the tissues and homogenize in fresh lysis buffer (PBS for most tissues). Use a glass homogenizer on ice. 3. Ultrasound the suspension until the solution is clear. 4. Centrifuge for 5 minutes at 10000 × g, collect the supernatant and assay immediately or store at ≤ -20°C.
Cell lysates
1. Wash adherent cells with PBS, detach with trypsin, and centrifuge at 1000 × g for 5 minutes. 2. Wash cells 3 times in PBS. 3. Resuspend cells in fresh lysis buffer at 107 cells/mL. Ultrasound if necessary. 4. Centrifuge at 1500 × g for 10 minutes at 2-8°C to remove debris. Assay immediately or store at ≤ -20°C.
Urine
Collect mid-stream first urine of the day directly into a sterile container. Centrifuge to remove particulate matter. Assay immediately or aliquot and store at ≤ -20°C. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Saliva
Collect saliva using a collection device. Centrifuge at 1000 × g for 15 minutes at 2-8°C. Remove particulates and assay immediately or aliquot and store at ≤ -20°C. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Feces
Dry feces weighing more than 50 mg were collected. Wash with PBS (w:v = 1:9). Sonicate and centrifuge at 5000 × g for 10 minutes. Collect the supernatant and assay immediately.
CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid)
Remove particulates by centrifugation. Assay immediately or aliquot and store at ≤ -20°C. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Cell culture supernatant
Centrifuge samples at 1000 × g for 20 minutes. Collect the supernatant and assay immediately or store at -20°C or -80°C. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
