Science 1981-02-06

Specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay for 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (MOPEG).

T K Keeton, H Krutzsch, W Lovenberg

Index: Science (4482) 211 , 586, (1981)

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Abstract

Antibodies that specifically bind the norepinephrine metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (MOPEG) were produced in rabbits after injection of a derivative of MOPEG conjugated with bovine thyroglobulin. A sensitive radioimmunoassay was devised with this antiserum, in which as little as 0.5 nanogram of MOPEG can be accurately measured with a final antibody dilution of 1:180. The antibody appears to be specific for MOPEG, since tritiated MOPEG was not displaced from the antibodies by norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, or their major metabolites including MOPEG-sulfate (333 nanograms each).