GENETIC CONTROL OF THE ANTIBODY RESPONSE

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Abstract
Immunization of CBA and C57 mice with a branched, multichain synthetic polypeptide, poly (tyr,glu)-poly D, L-ala[long dash]poly lys, ((T, G)-A[long dash]L), in Freund''s complete adjuvant results in a 10-fold or more difference in the antigen-binding capacity of sera from the 2 strains, although they respond equally to bovine serum albumin. Immunization of CBA X C57 F1, F1 X CBA, and F1 X C57 mice reveals definite genetic control of the response to (T, G)-A[long dash]L, which appears to be due to a single major genetic factor, with perhaps one or more modifying factors. Immunization of CBA and C57 mice with (H, G)-A[long dash]L, a synthetic polypeptide in which histidine replaces tyrosine, gives the opposite result, CBA''s respond and C57''s do not. From this, it appears that the genetic control of the response to (T, G)-A[long dash]L is specific for the antigenic determinant.