PRODUCTION OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELISA FOR SOLAMARGINE

The ratio of hapten and bovine serum albumin in an antigen conjugate w as determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spec trometry. A hybridoma secreting monoclonal antibodies against solamarg ine was produced by fusing splenocytes immunized with a solamargine-bo vine serum albumin conjugate with HAT-sensitive mouse myeloma cell lin e, P3-X63-Ag8-653. Extensive cross-reaction of anti-solamargine antibo dies against solasonine appeared. Aglycone of solamargine, solasodine cross-reacted with anti-solamargine antibodies resulting in a 43.8% cr oss-reaction. Insignificant cross-reaction appeared with tomatine (2.0 6%). The full measuring range of the assay extends from 57.5 pmol ml(- 1) to 11.5 nmol ml(-1) of solamargine.