Beta-galactosidase Alpha-Complementation is a biochemical phenomenon first documented by Agnes Ullmann, while working in the lab of François Jacob and Jacques Monod. By means of molecular cloning, the native E. coli β-galactosidase enzyme can be split in two inactive fragments of different sizes. The smaller fragment, known as the alpha-peptide or enzyme donor, is about 100 amino residues in length and is inactive on its own (incapable of hydrolyzing a β-galactosidase substrate). The larger fragment, known as the omega fragment or enzyme acceptor, is about 900 amino residues in length and is also inactive on its own. Upon mixing the enzyme donor with the enzyme acceptor, the β-galactosidase enzyme is reconstituted and is now capable of hydrolyzing colorimetric substrates such as ONPG (see picture).
Both enzyme donor and enzyme acceptor can be cloned and expressed in special E. coli strains to yield highly pure, zero-background enzyme fragments (i.e. an enzyme donor and enzyme acceptor without measurable catalytic activities, when assayed individually). Interestingly, it was discovered that various analytes can be conjugated to the enzyme donor moiety and the enzyme donor-enzyme acceptor association modulated by an analyte-binding molecule (such as an antibody). As a result, an alpha-complementation-based assay can be developed.
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