Specific assay of serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 1 by proteolysis with alpha-chymotrypsin and protein denaturation.

We devised a method for assaying serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 1 (LD-1) activity specifically by preincubation with alpha-chymotrypsin and guanidine. Cleavage of phenylalanine bonds in the loop of A and B subunits of LD-3, LD-4, and LD-5 isoenzymes (residues 117-119) by incubation with alpha-chymotrypsin for a short time completely inactivated these isoenzymes and partially inactivated LD-2. Addition of guanidine (0.50 mol/L, pH 7.8) to the incubation mixture containing the chymotrypsin completed the inactivation of LD-2. As much as 4000 U/L of LD-2, LD-3, LD-4, and LD-5 were inactivated, whereas LD-1 was affected only slightly. Results by this method (y) correlated well with those by the Roche Isomune immunochemical LD-1 method (x): y = 0.98 x -0.11, r = 0.99 (n = 60). Within-run CVs were 0.5-2.5%. Several common interferents had no effect. In 500 healthy people, serum LD-1 ranged between 66 and 130 U/L, with a mean +/- SD of 88 +/- 15 U/L.