Isolation and characterization of a myeloma--spleen-cell hybrid producing antibody to phenylalanine hydroxylase.

Application of the technique of myeloma--spleen-cell fusion [Kohler & Milstein (1975) Nature (London) 256, 495--497] has allowed the isolation of a cell colony that produced a monoclonal antibody against monkey liver phenylalanine hydroxylase. The antibody exhibited cross-reactivity against hepatic phenylalanine hydroxylase from other mammalian species, including human, rat and mouse. Cross-reactivity was established by (a) enzyme-inhibition assay, (b) double-immunodiffusion reaction, and (c) two-dimensional polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoretic analysis of immunoprecipitate. The various properties of the monoclonal antibody and its use in the study of mammalian phenylalanine hydroxylase are presented.