Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the D2-glycoprotein.

D2 is a glycoprotein enriched in neuronal membranes and probably involved in intercellular adhesion. An immunochemical relationship between D2 and the neuronal cell adhesion molecule from chick has been demonstrated. Changes in D2 concentration in human body fluids correlate to certain neurological diseases. We here report the purification of the D2 membrane proteins from fetal and adult human brain and the demonstration of physicochemical differences between the two proteins. Enrichments of 133 times (fetal D2) and 350 times (adult D2) were found. Specific rabbit antisera against the purified D2 proteins were produced, and this enabled the setting up of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for D2 quantification in human brain extracts, cerebrospinal fluids, sera, and amniotic fluids.