Guidelines for the production of polypeptide specific antisera using small synthetic oligopeptides as immunogens

The production of antisera to specific proteins using as immunogens short, synthetic oligopeptides corresponding in sequence to regions of the proteins is analysed. Of 103 oligopeptides used for this purpose and reported in the literature before the end of 1983 all those corresponding to N or C terminal sequences produced antisera reacting with the complete protein. Of 69 oligopeptides corresponding to internal sequences only 71% were successfully used to prepare antisera. An analysis of these 69 oligopeptides showed that peptides of less than 10 amino acids were unlikely to produce useful antisera and that the more hydrophilic peptides were marginally more useful than those less hydrophilic.