Antipeptide antibodies against conserved regions of human interferon-alpha: evidence for conformational variations between IFN-alpha subtypes
Mcmullen, G.L.; Sattayasai, N.; Hibbs, A.R.; Marzuki, S.
Biochemistry International 21(2): 261-269
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0158-5231 PMID: 1698366 Document Number: 367249
Antibodies to two conserved regions (residues 29-36 and 139-151) of human interferon-a were raised by immunizing rabbits with four short synthetic peptides coupled to carriers. The antibodies were tested for reactivity with recombinant interferon-.alpha. by ELISA. Despite the amino acid conservation of the two regions, there are significant variations in the reactivity of the antibodies with the IFN-.alpha. subtypes. The reactivity is enhanced significantly when the disulfide bonds of the interferon molecule are reduced. The results indicate that there are subtype-specific differences in the presentation of the epitopes in these conserved regions of human interferon-.alpha.