Detection and affinity purification of β‐endorphin precursors using a monoclonal antibody

Abstract
A monoclonal antibody to porcine β-lipotropin has been produced which binds to the N-terminal (λ-lipotropin) portion of the molecule. The antibody can be used to detect β-lipotropin as well as other β-endorphin precursors (predominantly a M r 38000 polypeptide) using radiobinding assay or the immunoblotting technique. Purification of the peptides can be readily achieved by affinity chromatography using the monoclonal antibody covalently bound to Sepharose 4B. As the antibody recognises the N-terminal part of β-lipotropin, it can be used to detect and purify β-lipotropin and other β-endorphin precursors in the presence of β-endorphin.