Detection of dioxin-like compounds by detection of transformed Ah receptor/ARNT complex

A method of detecting dioxin-like compounds wherein said compounds are selected from the group of compounds consisting of:

• polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, and structural analogues thereof which exhibit biological activity characteristic of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, wherein said method comprises:
• a) selecting a test sample;
• b) providing assay reagents including inactive Ah receptors for an assay in a form capable of binding to said dioxin-like compounds, and being transformed thereby into a active form capable of binding to said dioxin-like compounds and forming a complex with ARNT and binds a dioxin responsive element;
• c) contacting said test sample with said assay reagents under conditions effective to bind said dioxin-like compounds to said Ah receptor and allow transformation of said Ah receptor to an active form that forms a complex with ARNT;
• and
• d) detecting the presence of said complex containing the transformed Ah receptor and said ARNT with a antibody with a region capable of binding to said ARNT when the ARNT is part of said complex.

A kit for detecting dioxin-like compounds wherein said compounds are selected from the group of compounds consisting of:

• polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, and structural analogues thereof which exhibit biological activity characteristic of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, wherein said kit comprises providing assay reagents including:
• a) an inactive Ah receptor in a form capable of binding to said dioxin-like compounds and being transformed to an active form that is capable of forming a complex with ARNT and binding a dioxin responsive element forming a complex;
• b) a quantity of ARNT sufficient to optimize said inactive Ah receptor transformation of previous a);
• and
• c) an antibody that is capable of detecting the presence of said complex containing the transformed Ah receptor.