Immunochemical characterization of casein from rabbit mammary gland

1. Excellent precipitating antibodies to rabbit recombined casein polypeptides were obtained in a sheep after 8 weeks of immunization with rabbit recombined polypeptides coupled to Sepharose-albumin. 2. The antiserum was assessed for specificity by several immunochemical techniques and was monospecific when tested against acid-precipitated casein, recombined casein and extracts of lactating rabbit mammary tissue. 3. A specific anti-casein immunoglobulin fraction was prepared by immunoadsorption of the antiserum by using Sepharose-recombined casein as immunoadsorbent. 4. The specific anti-casein immunoglobulin was used to prepare a Sepharose-anti-casein immunoadsorbent for the isolation of casein from extracts of rabbit mammary tissue.