Abstract
The eicosapeptide (Gly88,90) 82–101 hCG-β was synthesized by the fragment condensation of the nonapeptide (Gly88,90) 82–90 and the undecapeptide 91–101 followed by iodine oxidation to make the disulfide loop. Intramolecularity of the disulfide linking cysteines at 93 and 100 was confirmed. Anti-peptide antibodies were elicited in rabbits upon immunization with a conjugate of the peptide with tetanus toxoid. The repertoire of these antibodies was directed solely against the undecapeptide 91–101. These antibodies showed no recognition for hCG, hCG-β or ARCM hCG-β, suggesting that the conformational epitopes of hCG-β in the region 82–101 may not be accessible to antibodies.