RELEASE OF T-ANTIGEN, A CARCINOMA MARKER FROM NATIVE HUMAN-CELLS, BY ENDO-ALPHA-N-ACETYLGALACTOSAMINIDASE OF ALCALIGENES SP

The endo-α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase from Alcaligenes sp. could release T-antigen (Galβ1→3Ga1NAc), a carcinoma-associated marker from asialo glycophorin and human cells. The released T-antigen from human asialo erythrocytes was determined by thin layer chromatography and gas liquid chromatography. The released T-antigen from human gastric carcinoma cell Kato III was identified by high performance liquid chromatographies with a reverse-phase column and a size fractionation column. Released T-antigen could be analyzed quantitatively by a sensitive method including pyridylamino derivatization and following high performance liquid chromatography. This suggests that the enzyme is useful for detection and determination of T-antigen from cells. © 1990 Academic Press, Inc.