The present invention teaches a marker useful for detection and measurement of free radical damage. Specifically, the invention takes
advantage of alterations which occur to the N-terminus of the
albumin molecule, a circulating
protein in
human blood, in the presence of free radicals. These alterations effect the ability of the N-terminus of the
albumin molecule to bind metals. Methods for detecting and quantifying this alteration include evaluating and quantifying the
cobalt binding capacity of an
albumin-containing sample, analysis and measurement of the ability of albumin to bind exogenous
cobalt, detection and measurement of the presence of
copper in a purified albumin sample and use of an immunological
assay specific to the altered form of
serum albumin which occurs following free radical damage. Also taught by the present invention is the use of the
peptide Asp Ala His Lys and the compound Asp-Ala-His-Lys-R, wherein R is any chemical group capable of producing a detectable
signal when a
metal ion capable of binding to the N-terminus of naturally-occurring albumin is bound to the compound, for detection and quantitation of the marker. Methods of the present invention also include use of the marker as a “biochemical tag,” thereby allowing for sensitive detection and measurement of the
efficacy of clinical drugs and therapeutics which result in the generation of free radicals or which act to limit free radical damage. The marker also acts as a “biological tag” of a process implicated in a wide array of diseases and conditions and, accordingly, may be used to monitor and assess such diseases and conditions. Finally, the invention provides antibodies, immunoassays, and kits for use in detecting or quantitating the marker.