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Ornithine decarboxylase assay in human colorectal mucosa. Methodologic issues of importance to quality control
Author(s) -
Garewal Harinder S.,
Sloan Donna,
Sampliner Richard E.,
Fennerty Brian
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910520305
Subject(s) - ornithine decarboxylase , ornithine , phosphate buffered saline , specific activity , protease , enzyme , sonication , chemistry , enzyme assay , tris , biochemistry , biology , chromatography , amino acid , arginine
Ornithine decarboxylase may be a useful biomarker for risk of neoplasia in colorectal tissues. Investigators have reported enzyme activities varying by as much as 10‐ to 20‐fold using variations of the usual 14 CO 2 release assay. We have examined the effect of different methodologic factors on calculated ornithine decarboxylase activity. Major effects on the assay result (>20% change) were produced by: (I) use of Tris vs. phosphate buffer, the former yielding 1.5‐ to 4‐fold greater activity; (2) protein content of the reaction mixture with significant error if <50 μg; (3) use of α‐difluoro‐methylornithine‐inhibited blank versus buffer‐only blank. Other changes in assay conditions, including addition of sucrose, detergent, protease inhibitors, specific activity of 14 C‐ornithine, the nature of the trapping agent used, and incorporation of a sonication step, did not have a significant effect on ODC quantification (≤20%). Thus, seemingly minor variations in assay conditions can greatly affect the results, which may provide a partial explanation for the variability of ODC activities reported in the literature. Strict quality control measures are mandatory in the interpretation of clinical observations utilizing this marker as an endpoint. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.