The use of defined peptides in characterizing idiotypes.
The structural correlates of idiotypes have been sought in several antibody systems. The cumulative results suggest that the hypervariable regions (or complementarity-determining regions) of the heavy and light chains are the structural basis of idiotypes. However, in most cases, it is exceedingly difficult to associate a particular idiotypic determinant with a specific amino acid sequence. Recently, synthetic peptides were used to induce antibodies specific for predefined determinants in intact proteins. These findings led us and others to use synthetic peptides corresponding to the hypervariable regions/complementarity-determining regions to induce anti-idiotypes. These novel anti-idiotypic antibodies are easy to prepare, and are ideal reagents for structural and genetic studies of antibody responses.
Chen
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PP
Department of Basic and Clinical Research, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, California 92037.
Fong
S
S
Carson
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DA
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D010455:Peptides; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor