TUBULIN-DEPENDENT BIOCHEMICAL ASSAY FOR THE ANTI-NEOPLASTIC AGENT TAXOL AND APPLICATION TO MEASUREMENT OF THE DRUG IN SERUM

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 66  (6) , 1381-1386
Abstract
A biochemical assay for taxol with sensitivity to 0.1 .mu.M was developed. Taxol-dependent formation of tubulin polymers occurs at 37.degree. C in 1.0 M glutamate in the absence of GTP. These polymers are cold-stable and hydrolyze GTP at 0.degree. C; tubulin alone will not hydrolyze the nucleotide in the cold. This assay was used to follow rabbit serum levels of taxol injected i.v. Although the drug appears to be almost totally protein-bound, it is nevertheless rapidly cleared from serum. The apparent .alpha.-phase and .beta.-phase half-lives after i.v. bolus administration in 1 rabbit are 2.7 and 42 min, respectively.

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