Murine responses to (Tyr-Glu-Ala-Gly)n

A series of known sequential polypeptides is being synthesized and used in our laboratory to study the contribution of antigen structure, i. e., amino acid sequence and conformation in antigen recognition and specificity of the immune response. The capacity to respond to one such -helical polypeptide (T-G-A-Gly)_n, is T-cell dependent and restricted to mice of theH- 2^b haplotype. The response is controlled by anIr gene mapping to theK region and/or theIA subregion which allows the animal to make both a T-cell mediated response, as well as a humoral response to the polypeptide. The response of three mutant strains at theK end of the major histocompatibility locus (MHC) need not differ from that of the responder parental haplotype.PETLES obtained from mice possessing a responder haplotype proliferate when cultured in vitro with (T-G-A-Gly)_n. The antibody level of individual inbred mice of a given strain at a given time differs significantly (from 80% binding to less than 10% antigen bound in 3 out of 57 mice). There is also great individual variability in time of appearance of the antibody response and where peak optimal levels are seen. Possible explanations for the variation in the antibody expression include: (a) the polymer is a weak immunogen, (b) the presence of modifier gene(s) outside of the major histocompatibility complex controlling the magnitude of the antibody level, (c) the possible effect of the polymer which is a B cell mitogen as a generator of suppressor T cells and, (d) a feedback mechanism effect on B cells controlling the antibody level.This work was supported in part by the following grants: The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases A107825; American Cancer Society Grant IM-5F; National Foundation-March of Dimes 1-492.