Immunochemical studies on monoclonal antibodies to stearyl-isomaltotetraose from C58/J and a C57BL/10 nude mouse.

Six hybridomas, five from C58/J and one from C57BL/10 nu/nu, immunized with stearyl-isomaltotetraose (S-IM4) were established. One produced IgG3, one IgM and four IgA. The specificities and sizes of the antibody combining sites were determined by quantitative precipitin and ELISA quantitative inhibition assays. All cross-react with alpha(1----6)dextran B512. Their combining sites were complementary to five to seven glucose residues. Association constants of hybridoma antibodies for dextran B512 ranged from 10(3) to 10(5) ml/g, and for isomaltoheptaose (IM7) from 10(3) to 10(4)M-1. Two hybridoma antibodies, one IgA and another IgM derived from different fusions have identical inhibition curves and combining sites, and very close association constants. It will be important to establish whether they have very similar or identical nucleotide sequences in their variable regions. These studies provide further insight into the specificity and repertoire of antidextran combining sites.