Alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes resolved by electrophoresis on lectin-containing agarose gel.

With this electrophoretic method the liver, biliary, and bone isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase are clearly separated on agarose gels. Wheat-germ lectin, incorporated in the gel matrix, binds the bone isoenzyme selectively, forming a precipitate near the origin. Neither liver nor biliary isoenzyme is affected. Activity staining with an indigogenic dye substrate reveals the liver isoenzyme migrating nearest the anode, followed by the biliary and bone isoenzymes. Results are generally similar to those of electrophoresis on cellulose acetate. However, the lectin-agarose gels better resolve the liver and bone isoenzymes, and heat treatment of samples is not required before electrophoresis.