Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) is a key enzyme in intermediary metabolism that catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate, producing NADPH or NADH depending on the isoform. IDH plays a vital role in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and cellular redox balance. The measurement of IDH activity is important for metabolic studies, cancer research, and drug screening. Isocitrate dehydrogenase assay kits provide sensitive, rapid, and convenient tools to quantify IDH activity in various biological samples.

Key Features of Isocitrate Dehydrogenase Assay Kits

• Sample Types: Compatible with diverse biological materials including tissue extracts, cell lysates, serum, plasma, and culture media from various species.
• Assay Format: Most kits follow a homogeneous "mix-incubate-measure" protocol, allowing rapid and high-throughput analysis within 30 to 40 minutes.
• Isoform Specificity: Some kits measure NADP⁺-dependent isoforms (IDH1 and IDH2), while others can detect both NAD⁺- and NADP⁺-dependent IDHs (including mitochondrial IDH3).
• Non-radioactive and Convenient: The assays are non-radioactive and often compatible with standard 96-well plate readers, facilitating ease of use in research laboratories.

Applications

• Metabolic and Enzymatic Studies: Quantitative kinetic analysis of IDH activity to understand metabolic flux, enzyme regulation, and isoform-specific functions.
• Cancer Research: Detection of IDH1 and IDH2 mutations, which are implicated in gliomas, acute myeloid leukemia, and other cancers, by monitoring altered enzyme activity or neomorphic functions.
• Drug Screening: Evaluation of inhibitors or activators targeting IDH enzymes for therapeutic development.
• Functional Studies: Measurement of IDH activity in various physiological and pathological conditions, including oxidative stress and immune cell metabolism.
• Food and Environmental Testing: Some kits are adaptable for testing IDH activity in non-biological samples for quality control.