Immunogenicity of dinitrocarboxyphenylated melittin: the influence of C-terminal chain shortening, N-terminal substitution and prolin insertion at positions 5 and 10
Peptides derived from the bee-venom melittin were fitted with the haptenic group dinitrocarboxyphenyl (Dncp) and tested in out-bred guinea pigs for immunogenicity by measuring the IgG anti-Dncp antibody response by ELISA. Dncp-conjugates comprising virtually the entire melittin proved to be strong i...
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Published in | Journal of peptide science Vol. 1; no. 2; p. 140 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
England
01.03.1995
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get more information |
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Summary: | Peptides derived from the bee-venom melittin were fitted with the haptenic group dinitrocarboxyphenyl (Dncp) and tested in out-bred guinea pigs for immunogenicity by measuring the IgG anti-Dncp antibody response by ELISA. Dncp-conjugates comprising virtually the entire melittin proved to be strong immunogens producing antibody responses comparable to those of proteins. Weak responses were obtained with considerably shortened sequences. Conjugates with N-terminal Dncp gave markedly reduced antibody responses compared to peptides with C-terminal Dncp. An N-terminal biotinyl substituent abolished the immune response whereas N-terminal lauryl and caprylyl had little effect. Insertion of L-proline into a hexadecapeptide conjugate abolishing the possibility of helix formation gave an immunogen to which individual animals clearly responded on a low level. Oligomerisation, but not the cytolytic activity of melittin peptides, may contribute to the immunogenicities observed. |
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ISSN: | 1075-2617 |
DOI: | 10.1002/psc.310010206 |