Immobilized glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase as a substrate for solubilized epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase. A convenient microtiter plate assay system.

Based on our previously reported solution assay protocol, a solid-phase assay for the tyrosine kinase activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor has been developed. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, immobilized noncovalently on microtiter plates, was used as the substrate in the solid-phase assay. Phosphorylation of the immobilized substrate takes place in the presence of ATP and a solubilized epidermal growth factor receptor preparation. After washing off the soluble reaction mixture, the phosphotyrosine-containing dehydrogenase produced on the well surface is quantitated by an ELISA method using a polyclonal antiphosphotyrosine antibody, a second antibody conjugated with horseradish peroxidase, and finally the o-phenylenediamine reaction. The absorbance at 492 nm developed in the wells is a measure of the kinase activity of the solubilized receptor preparation. Putative inhibitors of receptor kinase can be conveniently incorporated in this assay system to test for potential inhibitory activity. This assay, being rapid and convenient, is useful in drug screening programs where a high through-put rate is required.