Localization of a highly immunogenic region on the acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit.
Antibodies to synthetic peptides were employed in order to map domains on the alpha-subunit of the acetylcholine receptor to which several monoclonal antibodies are directed. Five peptides corresponding to residues 1-20, 126-143, 169-181, 330-340 and 351-368 of the receptor alpha-subunit were synthesized and antibodies against them were elicited. The anti-peptide antibodies were employed along with the monoclonal antibodies to identify fragments of S. aureus V8 protease digested- alpha-subunit in immunoblotting experiments. Our results demonstrate that a highly immunogenic region of the alpha-subunit is located on a carboxy-terminal 14 kDa portion of the alpha-subunit. This region also seems to undergo antigenic changes during muscle development. A monoclonal antibody directed against the cholinergic binding site of the acetylcholine receptor reacted with an 18 kDa segment of the alpha-subunit which bound alpha-bungarotoxin as well as antibodies directed against peptide 169-181.
M C
MC
Souroujon
D
D
Neumann
S
S
Pizzighella
A
A
Safran
S
S
Fuchs
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001665:Binding Sites; D000939:Epitopes; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000276:immunology*; D014101:Torpedo
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic