A novel and simple procedure for determining T cell epitopes in protein antigens.
A human T cell epitope was mapped on tetanus toxin by the use of a simple method. Tetanus toxin peptide preparations were produced by various specific chemical and proteolytic cleavages. T cell proliferative response to these peptide preparations was assayed to determine which amino acid residues were present or absent in the T cell epitope. Cyanogen bromide-derived tetanus toxin peptides were separated by electrophoresis and transferred onto nitrocellulose. T cell proliferative response to nitrocellulose fragments was assayed to determine the molecular weight of the antigenic tetanus toxin peptide. The combination of the two procedures allowed us to define a 21-mer tetanus toxin peptide recognized by the T cell clone. This method represents an easily performed alternative for the mapping of T cell epitopes on protein antigen.
Demotz
S
S
Cytel Corporation, La Jolla, CA 92037.
Matricardi
P
P
Lanzavecchia
A
A
Corradin
G
G
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D013744:Tetanus Toxin / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013744:Tetanus Toxin