The immunogenic properties of poly(dI).poly(dC) and poly(rI). poly(dC)--analysis by monoclonal antibodies

Eight monoclonal antibodies were prepared from a C57/black mouse which had been immunized with poly(rI).poly(dC). Two of the antibodies were specific for the RNA-DNA duplex but bound about 100-fold better to poly(rI).poly(dC) than to poly(rA).poly(dT). The other six antibodies were single-strand specific and bound to poly(rI) and in most cases to poly(dI) as well, but not to other single-stranded nucleic acids. Similarly, 10 monoclonal antibodies were produced from mice immunized with poly(dI).poly(dC). Nine of these were specific for poly(dI) while the other had a strong preference for poly(dC). Thus, in contrast to poly(rI).poly(dC), the all DNA duplex poly(dI). poly(dC) only elicits duplex specific antibodies at very low frequency, if at all.