Purine nucleoside phosphorylase: immunodetection and characterization of the human enzyme.

An antibody prepared against human placental purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) has been used to characterize the subunit structure of the normal enzyme by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The antibody against the placental enzyme reacts with PNP present in human lymphocytes, fibroblasts, erythrocytes and placenta. The enzyme can be detected in intact cells by immunofluorescence with the same antibody preparation. The techniques allow the identification of cross-reacting material in a small number of lymphocytes and could therefore be used to detect abnormal enzyme protein in immunodeficiency.