GLDH Antibody
Description
Definition and Structure of GLDH Antibody
Glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) antibody is a polyclonal or monoclonal immunoglobulin designed to detect and quantify the mitochondrial enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase. GLDH catalyzes the reversible conversion of glutamate to α-ketoglutarate, a critical step in amino acid metabolism, the citric acid cycle, and urea synthesis . The antibody targets GLDH’s active site or epitopes, enabling its use in diagnostic assays, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or immunoprecipitation, to identify infections (e.g., Clostridioides difficile, Plasmodium falciparum) or assess liver injury .
Infectious Disease Diagnosis
GLDH antibodies are used to detect pathogens:
-
Clostridioides difficile: GLDH is a constitutively expressed enzyme in C. difficile. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for GLDH serves as a screening tool, followed by toxin detection .
-
Plasmodium falciparum: Recombinant P. falciparum GLDH (PfGDH) is targeted by polyclonal antibodies in ELISA, demonstrating 96.3% sensitivity and 100% specificity in detecting malaria .
Malaria Diagnosis
A 2020 study demonstrated that anti-PfGDH antibodies effectively detect P. falciparum in human blood samples. Key results include:
-
Sample Types: Whole blood specimens showed higher affinity for PfGDH compared to serum or dried blood spots (DBS) .
-
Limitations: Antibodies against PfGDH peptides failed to bind, highlighting the need for full-length protein antigens .
Hepatotoxicity Monitoring
A 2025 study validated GLDH’s utility in diagnosing hepatocellular injury:
-
Reference Intervals: Established in healthy populations to standardize GLDH measurements .
-
Tissue Specificity: GLDH levels remain unaffected by injury to tissues expressing GLDH (e.g., kidney, brain), confirming liver specificity .
Challenges and Optimization
-
Cross-Reactivity: Polyclonal antibodies may show non-specific binding, necessitating monoclonal antibodies (MAb) for enhanced precision .
-
Stability: GLDH in serum remains stable for 4 freeze-thaw cycles, enabling reliable longitudinal studies .
Comparative Analysis of GLDH Antibody-Based Assays
Future Directions
Product Specs
Constituents: 50% Glycerol, 0.01M PBS, pH 7.4
Target Background
- GLDH exhibits a dual-functionality, acting as both an enzyme and a non-enzymatic assembly factor for complex I. Its role as an assembly factor is specific to plants. PMID: 26520835
- Research suggests that GLDH plays a significant role in the formation of complex I by binding to specific assembly intermediates. PMID: 22378782
- Studies have shown that recombinant GLDH from Arabidopsis thaliana is susceptible to inactivation by hydrogen peroxide due to selective oxidation of cysteine (Cys)-340, located within the cap domain of the protein. PMID: 19369590
- Experimental data indicate that AtGALDH forms a flavin N5 sulfite adduct and lacks the histidine residue involved in covalent FAD binding, instead containing a leucine residue. PMID: 18190525
- L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GLDH) is essential for the accumulation of respiratory complex I. PMID: 18799460
