Conformation of the immunogen

In order to elucidate the role of conformation of the immunogen, animals were immunized with complexes of polyribonucleotides (double- or triple-stranded) associated with MBS A. The antibodies obtained reacted specifically with double- or triple-stranded complexes and it was concluded that the specificity was determined by the macromolecular conformation of the immunogen (Nahon et al., 1967 Lacour et al., 1968 Michelson et al., 1971). Immunization of rabbits with DNA-MBSA or with double-stranded polynucleotide complexes adsorbed to MBS A ehcits antibodies belonging to the macroglobulin class (Stollar and Sandberg, 1966 Nahon-Merlin et al., 1973). 

The existence of conformational determinants has been clearly demonstrated through the use of synthetic polynucleotides in double-hehcal structures and in triple-stranded complexes. It has also been shown that the specificity of antibodies is determined by the macromolecular conformation of the immunogen. Thus single-stranded polynucleotides induce formation of antibodies specific for the single-strand, while double-stranded hehcal complexes of polynucleotides induce antibodies specific for these structures, and antibodies specific for triple-strand structures are induced by the triple-stranded polynucleotide complexes. 

In the rare case when a peptide showing some promise has been identified, further immunization trials are necessary to establish its value as a practical synthetic vaccine. Since peptides are usually poor immunogens and do not mimic well the conformation of the corresponding antigenic site in the... 

Spiro lactam 15 (Scheme 9), a dipeptide mimic with C (/)<-+Na(/ + l) cyclization, was used to replace the Pro-Tyr segment of an immunogenic peptide. 69 Comprehensive conformational analysis led to the conclusion that a type-II p-turn conformation was adopted in solution. 

---