Purification and immunochemical characterization of aldehyde dehydrogenase from 2-acetylaminofluorene-induced rat hepatomas.

1. A series of aldehyde dehydrogenase isozymes (aldehyde:NAD (P)+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.2.1.5), has been purified from hepatomas induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by 2-acetylaminofluorene. 2. The functional hepatoma-specific aldehyde dehydrogenase isozymes exist as 105 000-dalton dimers composed to two subunits of 53 000 daltons. Isoelectric points of the purified isozymes are 6.9-7.2. 3. Antiserum to these purified hepatoma-specific aldehyde dehydrogenases has been produced and the immunological relationships of these isozymes to their normal liver counterpart have been studied. Results of Ouchterlony double diffusions, agar-gel immunoelectrophoresis and polyacrylamide gel and agar immunoelectrophoresis indicate that anti-hepatoma aldehyde dehydrogenase antiserum cross-reacts with normal liver aldehyde dehydrogenase.