A conformation-dependent monoclonal antibody against active chicken acetylcholinesterase

We show that the C-131 monoclonal antibody, directed against chicken AChE, recognizes active chicken AChE, but not the SDS-denatured or heat-inactivated protein. Previous results indicated that C-131 only binds to the active enzyme, and not to inactive molecules which also occur in the embryonic chicken brain. In contrast with C-131, other monoclonal antibodies obtained in the same series, such as C-6 and C-54, also recognize denatured or inactive AChE. It is noteworthy that these antibodies all seem to react with a trypsin-sensitive peptide which is present in chicken but not in mammalian or Torpedo AChE, whereas the C-131 antibody binds trypsin-modified as well as intact molecules. These results show that C-131 is highly conformation-dependent, specific for active AChE. They confirm our previous conclusion that active and inactive molecules arise from different folding processes.