Production of Human Glutathione S-Transferase Antibodies

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a complex multigene family of isozymes considered by many to be the single most important class of enzymes involved in the detoxication of endogenous and xenobiotic electrophilic substances including anticancer drugs. Some of these isozymes are polymorphic and can influence DNA adduct formation. Studying polymorphism of GSTs can yield useful information as to individual and tissue responses to toxic or carcinogenic chemicals. Specific antibodies to GST isozymes would allow investigators to study polymorphism and determine tissue specific levels of each enzyme even when enzymatically inactive because of the presence of inhibitors. Many of these antibodies are unavailable to laboratories involved in drug metabolism research. Therefore, the goal of Phase I is to produce specific antibodies to the isozymes of GST and to make them commercially available to the research community. This will be accomplished by extracting, purifying, and characterizing each isozyme followed by the production of murine polyclonal antibodies to each GST isozyme. The Phase II goals will be to establish viable antibody secreting hybridomas for each isozyme to insure a constant supply of highly specific monoclonal antibodies.