Analysis and Quantification of Pheomelanins by Radioimmunoassay.

An antiserum against α-amino-(4-hydroxy-6-benzothiazolyl)propionic acid (AHBP), a major product obtained after hydriodic acid hydrolysis of pheomelanin, was raised in rabbits immunized with AHBP coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA). The antiserum was used to develop a radioimmunoassay (RIA) to AHBP. The limit of detection of the RIA is 0.1 ng of AHBP. The antiserum does not crossreact with other major hydriodic acid degradation products, and the assay has been used to estimate the amounts of AHBP in synthetic and natural melanins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]