title: Australia antigen (hepatitis B antigen): a conformational antigen dependent on disulfide bonds.
abstract: Reduction and alkylation of purified hepatitis-associated Australia antigen (hepatitis B antigen) resulted in a total loss of serologic activity. The reduced and alkylated protein formed a single band with a sedimentation coefficient of 31S on analytical ultracentrifugation, and no subunits were detected by Sephadex gel filtration. Although this preparation induced a delayed hypersensitivity response when injected into guinea pigs, it failed to stimulate humoral antibody formation. The data suggest that hepatitis B antigen is a conformational antigen critically dependent upon the disulfide bonds of the protein moiety.
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000478:Alkylation; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions / Q000187:drug effects; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004220:Disulfides; D004229:Dithiothreitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000939:Epitopes; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000276:immunology; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007114:Immunization; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D007461:Iodoacetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011487:Protein Conformation; D014508:Urea / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D004220:Disulfides; D000939:Epitopes; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D007461:Iodoacetates; D008623:Mercaptoethanol; D014508:Urea; D004229:Dithiothreitol