[22] Antipeptide antibodies in studies of cytochromes P450IA

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the antipeptide antibodies in studies of cytochromes P450IA. Antipeptide antibodies directed to specific surface regions of cytochromes P450 provide a powerful means of studying both the structure and function of the members of this super family of proteins. Such antibodies are suitable for many immunological techniques, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry, and immunoinhibition of enzyme activity. The generation of antipeptide antibodies is particularly suited to the analysis of cytochromes P450 because the primary structures of many of the members this large group of isoenzymes has been deduced by nucleotide sequencing. In contrast, comparatively few isoenzymes have been purified to homogeneity owing to technical difficulties caused by the hydrophobic nature of cytochrome P450 and the relatively low tissue levels of many of the isoenzymes.