Immunochemistry of Synthetic Polypeptides and Polypeptidyl Proteins

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Abstract
Summary: The following synthetic linear polypeptides have been tested for their antigenicity in rabbits: a series of polyglutamic acids of differing molecular weights, representing acidic polymers; two different polylysines, representing basic polymers; polyleucine and polyphenylalanine, which are neutral polymers that are insoluble in water; polyproline which is neutral and water soluble; and several examples of copolymers of two different amino acids. A multichain polypeptide of four different amino acids which had a branched structure rather than linear was also studied. Only one of the polyglutamic acids and the multichain polypeptide caused the formation of measurable amounts of precipitating antibodies. The antisera against a few other polypeptides gave questionable precipitin tests and many of the preparations appeared not to be antigenic by the precipitin tests employed. The antibodies formed, in general, did not precipitate with the homologous antigen, but cross-reacted with some proteins, as shown by precipitation reactions. The antigenicity of several of the polypeptides was also studied in chickens, guinea pigs, and mice, but no evidence was found of formation of precipitating antibodies. Possible explanations for the presence or absence of antigenicity of synthetic polypeptides are discussed.

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