Preparation of rabbit antibodies to 4,4'-dimethoxytriphenylmethyl, the protective group in oligonucleotide synthesis

Antibodies were raised in 2 rabbits by immunization with carrier proteins covalently bound to deoxyguanosine bearing a 4,4'-dimethoxytriphenylmethyl group protecting the 5'-hydroxy terminus of deoxyribose. After several injections with such complexes, immune sera were tested with an immuno-enzymatic method using as antigens several compounds containing the hapten, as well as synthetic oligonucleotides bearing, or not, this protective group at the 5' terminus. One of the two antisera appeared to recognize the dimethoxytrityl group bound to carrier molecules, and thus might find a useful application for the detection, quantitation, and control of oligonucleotides obtained by automatic synthesis.