title: Monoclonal antibodies against the main immunogenic region of the acetylcholine receptor. Mapping on the intact molecule.
abstract: About two-thirds of the antibodies to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) in myasthenic patients, and in rats immunized with intact AChR, bind to the main immunogenic region (MIR) on the alpha-subunit. We tested all available anti-MIR monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) by competition experiments for binding on the intact AChR from Torpedo electric organ and human muscle. Practically complete competition between all possible paired combinations of anti-MIR mAbs was found. As a consequence, the MIR must be a very concrete and small region. Furthermore, the location of the MIR relative to some other less immunogenic regions was also determined.
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kordossi
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tzartos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D004557:Electric Organ / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009132:Muscles / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D014101:Torpedo
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic