Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against legumin from pea (Pisum sativum)

Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies have been raised against intact and degraded legumin, the 11S storage protein from pea. The antibodies were characterized by direct and competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), and by immunoblotting procedures. Two of the antibodies appeared to recognize epitopes present on the surface of legumin and were specific for pea protein in the competitive ELISA. Two other antibodies appeared to recognize epitopes on the basic polypeptides, normally buried. One of these antibodies showed evidence of cultivar specificity. The use of this panel of antibodies as structural and functional probes for legume storage proteins is discussed.