Immunology of DNA. V. Analysis of DNA/anti-DNA complexes

DNA/anti-DNA complexes were studied by equilibrium density centrifugation in CsC1 and by zonal centrifugation in sucrose gradients. Complexes prepared of circular DNA preparations PM2 DNA or SV40 DNA with anti-DNA obtained from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were found to be stable under the conditions of CsC1 equilibrium centrifugation. This enabled homogeneous complexes of DNA and anti-DNA of composition AgAb1, AgAb2, AgAb3 etc to be isolated. The stability of these complexes, their banding pattern in CsC1 gradients and their sedimentation behaviour suggest that anti-DNA binds to DNA in a monogamous bivalent way.