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Antibody Binding Specificity for Kappa (Vκ) Light Chain-containing Human (IgM) Antibodies: Polysialic Acid (PSA) Attached to NCAM as a Case Study
Published on: June 29, 2016
SEROLOGICAL DIFFERENTIATION OF STERIC ISOMERS (ANTIGENS CONTAINING TARTARIC ACIDS) : SECOND PAPER
K Landsteiner1, J van der Scheer
1Laboratories of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
This study demonstrates that immune sera can distinguish between stereoisomeric antigens, specifically those derived from levo-, dextro-, and meso-tartaric acids. These findings are relevant to understanding the specificity of carbohydrate-containing natural antigens.
Area of Science:
- Immunochemistry
- Biochemistry
- Stereochemistry
Background:
- Serum reactions exhibit stereochemical specificity.
- Antigens with acyl radicals from tartaric acids were previously unexamined in this context.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the stereochemical specificity of serum reactions using antigens with levo-, dextro-, and meso-tartaric acid acyl radicals.
- To determine if immune sera can differentiate between these stereoisomeric antigens.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of antigens containing acyl radicals of levo-, dextro-, and meso-tartaric acids.
- Immunization with these antigens to generate immune sera.
- Testing the sera's ability to differentiate between the stereoisomeric antigens.
Main Results:
- Immune sera were successfully obtained that sharply differentiate between the three stereoisomeric tartaric acid antigens.
- The sera distinguished antigens that were identical in all aspects except for their stereoisomeric groups.
Conclusions:
- Stereochemical configuration is a critical factor in antigen recognition by immune sera.
- These findings support the principle of stereochemical specificity in serum reactions and have implications for understanding carbohydrate antigen specificity, as observed by Avery and Heidelberger.
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