125I-labeled gonadoliberin and high specific activity and immunoreactivity: method of iodination and rapid separation

We describe optimum conditions for iodinating gonadoliberin with use of relatively large proportions of Na 125I. Products of the iodination are separated on an anion-exchange resin (Amberlite IRA-400). The 125I-labeled gonadoliberin thus obtained has a high specific activity (1400 to 1590 Ci/g); because of the conditions of iodination, we believe that the predominant species of the labeled decapeptide is the mono-iodinated one. Our separation and purification of the labeled substance on ion-exchange resin is rapid, economical, and less cumbersome than the use of a Biogel P-2 column. There is no adsorption of the labeled hormone onto the resin, as evidenced by analytical recovery studies with tritium-labeled gonadoliberin. Paper-strip chromatoelectrophoresis showed no free Na 125I or radiolabeled damaged peptide fragments after purification on the resin. When antiserum was used at a concentration 32-fold that used in the regular assay procedure, only 4% of the radioactivity remained in the free form, indicating the high immunoreactivity of the labeled hormone.