Rat/Mouse Apolipoprotein CIII

Introduction
Apolipoprotein C-III (ApoC-III) is a surface component of chylomicrons, very low density lipoproteins, and high density lipoproteins. It consists of 79 amino acids with a molecular mass of 8.8 kDa (1). ApoC-III is synthesized mainly in the liver and to a lesser degree in the intestine. It plays a key role in triglyceride-rich lipoprotein metabolism. It is an inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase and interferes with binding of lipoproteins to cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans and receptors (2, 3). Overexpression of the human apoC-III gene causes hypertriglyceridemia in transgenic mice (4, 5). Deficiency of apoC-III prevents hyperlipidemia induced by apoE overexpression (6). As its deficiency results in diet-induced obesity and aggravated insulin resistance in mice, ApoC-III is a potential target for treatment of obesity and insulin resistance (7).

Principle of the Assay
The AssayMax Rat/Mouse Apolipoprotein C-III ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) kit is designed for detection of rat/mouse apoC-III in plasma, serum, and cell culture samples. This assay employs a quantitative competitive enzyme immunoassay technique that measures rat/mouse apoC-III in less than 5 hours. A capture antibody has been coated onto a 96-well microplate with removable strips. A specific antibody against rat apoC-III binds to the captured antibody. ApoC-III in standards and samples is competed with a biotinylated apoC-III sandwiched by the immobilized antibody and streptavidin-peroxidase conjugate. All unbound material is then washed away and a peroxidase enzyme substrate is added. The color development is stopped and the intensity of the color is measured.