title: Preparation of antibodies to a synthetic C terminus of hirudin and identification of an antigenic site.
abstract: Hirudin is a 65 amino acid anticoagulant peptide produced in the leech. The single polypeptide is cross-linked by three disulfide linkages in the NH2 terminal half of the molecule. A peptide corresponding to the COOH terminus (residues 45-65) was synthesized utilizing lysine 47 as a specific residue to conjugate to thyroglobulin as a carrier for raising antibodies in mice. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique, it was found that the major antigenic domain(s) was located between residues 52-65. The COOH terminal residues Ile-59, Tyr-63, and Leu-64 are crucial for maintaining the antigenic structure. The NH2 terminal region (residues 45-52) that is proximal to the carrier protein, however, was not immunoreactive. A possible mechanism by which antibodies recognize the COOH terminal region of the synthetic peptide and the strategy for raising such antibodies are discussed.
authors: Merrell Dow Research Institute, Cincinnati, OH 45215.
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Mao
authors: M T
authors: MT
authors: Yates
authors: T J
authors: TJ
authors: Owen
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Krstenansky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000939:Epitopes; D006629:Hirudins / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D006629:Hirudins; D010446:Peptide Fragments