A double antibody radioimmunoassay for canine cardiac cathepsin D

We have developed a sensitive double antibody radioimmunoassay for measuring canine cardiac cathepsin D. Radioiodinated cathepsin D was prepared by chloramine T oxidation using a highly purified source of enzyme. High avidity antiserum to the canine cardiac enzyme was raised in rabbits. Antibody-bound cathepsin D was separated from free enzyme using goat anti-rabbit IgG second antibody. The least amount of immunoreactive enzyme measurable in the radioimmunoassay was 2.4 ng.cm-3 as determined by antibody titration. The assay was linear for concentrations of enzyme in the range of 10 to 120 ng.cm-3. Within-assay and between-assay variations were 12%. The radioimmunoassay described was used to measure the immunoreactive cathepsin D content of the 100 000 x g supernatant fraction of canine myocardial homogenates.