Abstract
Two random linear co-polymers composed exclusively of D-amino acids were found to elicit a primary response in mice; the sera were assayed by the indirect precipitin reaction. 247, p (D-Tyr, D-Glu, D-Ala) was studied intensively and compared to a similar polypeptide, 253, p (L-Tyr, L-Glu, L-Ala), of opposite optical configuration. The primary response to the D-isomer in adjuvant is highly dose-dependent, showing a sharp maximum around 1 μg/mouse, while that to the L-isomer in adjuvant is largely dose-independent. At low doses the D-isomer is as immunogenic as the L-isomer. Re-injection of the D-isomer led to no increase in titre; re-injection of the L-isomer gave a typical secondary response. The antibodies formed to both isomers were highly stereospecific. The D-isomer was 50–1000 times as efficient at inducing paralysis as the L-isomer, and the paralysis was specific. The differences between the D- and L-isomers are thought to be explained by the much greater capacity of the D-isomer in inducing immunological paralysis.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antibody Formation*
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Antigens / pharmacology*
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Chemical Phenomena
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Chemistry, Physical
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Female
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Immune Tolerance
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Iodine Isotopes
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Male
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Mice
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Peptides / pharmacology*
Substances
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Antigens
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Iodine Isotopes
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Peptides