title: Synthesis of an antigenic site of native acetylcholine receptor peptide 159-169 of Torpedo acetylcholine receptor alpha-chain.
abstract: A region of the alpha-subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) of the Torpedo electric organ, containing residues 161-166, has been proposed to be a major antigenic site in the native AChR protein. We report the synthesis of a peptide corresponding to residues 159-169, which contains the proposed antigenic region. In quantitative radiometric titrations, radiolabelled anti-(native AChR) antibodies from three different species, rabbit, rat and dog, exhibited considerable binding (approx. 15% relative to native AChR) to Sepharose-immobilized peptide 159-169, but did not bind significantly to Sepharose-immobilized unrelated proteins or peptides. Specificity was further confirmed by the finding that no rabbit anti-AChR antibodies bound to the peptide after absorption with native AChR. These data indicate that the region 159-169 contains an antigenic site that is readily accessible in solubilized native Torpedo AChR.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Lennon
authors.forename: M Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Atassi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D011864:Radioimmunosorbent Test; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014101:Torpedo / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000939:Epitopes; D010455:Peptides; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic