Development of an immunoassay for larch arabinogalactan and its use in the detection of larch arabinogalactan in rat blood

We describe a sensitive and convenient immunoassay for larch arabinogalactan and demonstrate its specificity for larch arabinogalactan. Anti-larch arabinogalactan antiserum is about 104 and 106 times more selective for detecting larch arabinogalactan than RCA lectin and rat-liver asialoglycoprotein receptor, respectively. Anti-larch arabinogalactan antiserum binds to branch terminal disaccharides consisting of the terminal β-d-galactosyl residue and the penultimate branch (1 → 6)-β-d-galactosyl residue. It does not bind l-arabinose. The sensitivity of the assay for larch arabinogalactan is less than 0.1 μg/mL. The application of the assay for measuring arabinogalactan pharmacokinetics in rat blood is illustrated. A sensitive immunoassay specific to Larch arabinogalactan is described. Anti-Larch arabinogalacan in antiserum is approximately 104 and 106 times more selective for Larch arabinogalactan than RCA lectin or rat liver asialoglycoprotein receptor, respectively. The selectivity of the assay for Larch arabinogalactan is less than 0.1 μg/mL. The application of the assay for measuring arabinogalactan pharmacokinetics in rat blood is illustrated.