Peptide immunogen mimicry of a protein-specific structural epitope on human choriogonadotropin.
It is a challenge to construct synthetic immunogens that elicit antibodies (Abs) both directed to conformational epitopes and specific for a complex protein like human choriogonadotropin (hCG). A monoclonal antibody specific for hCG bound to regions around Lys45 of the alpha subunit (hCG alpha) and Asp112 of the beta subunit (hCG beta). A peptide comprising residues 46 to 55 of hCG alpha and residues 106 to 116 of hCG beta elicited Abs in rabbits that were directed to a discontinuous epitope and were specific for hCG. These Abs inhibited the binding of hCG to its receptor. Thus, a synthetic immunogen can mimic a conformational-specific epitope and can be useful for vaccine development.
Département de Biologie Clinique, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France.
J M
JM
Bidart
F
F
Troalen
P
P
Ghillani
N
N
Rouas
A
A
Razafindratsita
C
C
Bohuon
D
D
Bellet
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D008239:Lysine; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D000939:Epitopes; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D007106:Immune Sera; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D008239:Lysine