FIG. 7.

Peptide mapping of M6 epitope. (A) A series of peptides within the 21-amino-acid region shown were synthesized, and their reactivity (0.25 μg/ml) with anti-GBV-C E2 MAb M6 was determined. The 17-mer (G17C) had the highest reactivity (100%), and the relative absorbance values (%) of M6 binding to the peptides compared to the 17-mer (G17C) is shown. Peptides (Pep) presented as solid bars reacted with M6, whereas open-bar peptides did not. The gray bar (S17L) did not react at 0.25 μg/ml; however, it did react with M6 at all higher concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. The minimal peptides reacting with M6 with and without the biotinylation adaptor (Bi) are shown in panel B.