On the Use of Antigenic Relationships among Species for the Study of Molecular Evolution

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Abstract
From evolutionary theory, it was concluded that common antigens present in lenses from different modern vertebrate classes must have appeared with their common ancestors. This furnishes the basis for a reconstruction of the evolutionary sequence of particular lens proteins, using their organ specific cross-reaction. No immunological similarity was found between the invertebrate lenses (squid and lobster), and lenses of direct descendants of the most primitive vertebrates (lamprey and shark). Investigation with anti-lamprey lens serum revealed in all vertebrate classes tested a minimum of 4 primitive Agnatha antigens (AG 1-4). These persisting ''fossil molecules'' must have evolved more than four hundred million years ago. Investigation with anti-shark lens serum revealed 6 primitive placoderm and/or chondrichthyes antigens in the teleosts and amphibian (PL.CH 1-6). This number decreased in other vertebrates parallel to the phylogenetic scale. Both the primitive Agnatha and placoderm/Chondrichthyes alpha crystalline transferred in evolution to other vertebrate classes (organ specific) showed higher titra-tion endpoints than those not transferred (species specific). Similarly, both the primitive AG and PL.CH lens antigens transferred in evolution were present in highest concentration in the beta crystallines. Both the Agnatha and Chondrichthyes lens antigens not transferred were found in highest concentration in the gamma crystallines.

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