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. 1985 Feb 15;226(1):193–197. doi: 10.1042/bj2260193

Synthesis of an antigenic site of native acetylcholine receptor peptide 159-169 of Torpedo acetylcholine receptor alpha-chain.

D J McCormick, V A Lennon, M Z Atassi
PMCID: PMC1144692  PMID: 2579640

Abstract

A region of the alpha-subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) of the Torpedo electric organ, containing residues 161-166, has been proposed to be a major antigenic site in the native AChR protein. We report the synthesis of a peptide corresponding to residues 159-169, which contains the proposed antigenic region. In quantitative radiometric titrations, radiolabelled anti-(native AChR) antibodies from three different species, rabbit, rat and dog, exhibited considerable binding (approx. 15% relative to native AChR) to Sepharose-immobilized peptide 159-169, but did not bind significantly to Sepharose-immobilized unrelated proteins or peptides. Specificity was further confirmed by the finding that no rabbit anti-AChR antibodies bound to the peptide after absorption with native AChR. These data indicate that the region 159-169 contains an antigenic site that is readily accessible in solubilized native Torpedo AChR.

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Selected References

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