SYNTHETIC ANTIGENS COMPOSED EXCLUSIVELY OF L- OR D-AMINO ACIDS .I. EFFECT OF OPTICAL CONFIGURATION ON IMMUNOGENICITY OF SYNTHETIC POLYPEPTIDES IN MICE

  • 1 January 1967
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 13  (1) , 29-+
Abstract
Two random linear co-polymers composed exclusively of D-amino acids were found to elicit a primary response in mice; the sera were assayed by the indirect precipitin reaction. 247, p (D-Tyr, D-Glu, D-Ala) was studied intensively and compared to a similar polypeptide. 253, p (L-Tyr, L-Glu, L-Ala), of opposite optical configuration. The primary response to the D-isomer in adjuvant is highly dose-dependent, showing a sharp maximum around 1 [mu]g/mouse, while that to the L-isomer in adjuvant is largely dose-independent. At low doses the D-isomer is as immunogenic as the L-isomer. Re-injection of the D-isomer led to no increase in titre; re-injection of the L-isomer gave a typical secondary response. The antibodies formed to both isomers were highly stereospecific. The D-isomer was 10-1000 times as efficient at inducing paralysis as the L-isomer, and the paralysis was specific. The differences between the D- and L-isomers are thought to be explained by the much greater capacity of the D-isomer in inducing immunological paralysis.