[Isolation and detection of antibodies against nucleotide sequences. A study with oligonucleotide pApCpApC]

New methods for preparation and detection of antibodies to nucleotide sequences were developed. An efficient method for conjugation of oligonucleotides to proteins based on the activation of 5'-terminal oligonucleotide phosphate with dimethylaminopyridine was employed. Oligonucleotide pApCpApC was conjugated to bovine serum albumin with a 90% yield. Rabbit antibodies to the oligonucleotide were raised and characterized in terms of their specificity to nucleotide sequences. Affinity labeling with alkylating oligonucleotide derivatives was proposed as a method for detecting low affinity antibodies to nucleic acids.