Effect of 2-Mercaptoethanol on 7S Rabbit Antibodies to Various Homologous and Heterologous Antigens

[摘要] 7 S rabbit antibodies to tissue antigens and to serum antigens were compared. The 7 S antibody fraction was isolated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and the antibodies were treated with mercaptoethanol and iodoacetate. Following reduction and alkylation, the antisera were tested for serologic activity using the techniques of complement fixation, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA), indirect hemagglutination, and precipitation in gel. After reduction and alkylation, antibodies to pancreas, thyroid or gastrointestinal tract antigens suffered a complete loss of complementfixing ability, and a marked destruction of PCA activity. Mild reduction alone, and alkylation alone, had no effect on antibody activity. The precipitating capacity of the antibody seemed to diminish in most instances, but the hemagglutination titers remained the same. The ability of the γ globulins to act as antigen in immunoelectrophoresis remained unaffected. In contrast, the serologic activity of 7 S antibodies to foreign serum was, for the most part, not affected by mercaptoethanol and iodoacetate treatment.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）