SIGNIFICANCE OF PROTEIN CARRIER IN STIMULATION OF SYNTHESIS BY HAPTEN-PROTEIN CONJUGATES IN SECONDARY RESPONSE

  • 1 January 1964
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 7  (1) , 54-+
Abstract
Rabbits were immunized with 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP)-protein conjugates. Spleen cell suspensions were prepared and incubated in the presence of various DNP-protein conjugates, the proteins alone, and DNP-lysine. The antigen dependent stimulation of DNA synthesis was used as a measure of the antigenic "activity" of the DNP preparations. It was found that the cells were strongly stimulated by the DNP-protein conjugates used for immunization, and weakly stimulated by the protein alone. Highly substituted DNP-protein conjugates with proteins other than the one used during immunization were inactive. DNP-lysine alone was inactive but inhibited stimulation by the DNP-protein conjugate used for immunization. The significance of these findings is discussed.