Antigenicity of polypeptides (poly alpha amino acids). XVI. Genetic control of immunogenicity of synthetic polypeptides in mice.

The ability of mice to form antibodies against the random terpolymer glu(57)lys(38)ala(5) is controlled by a codominant Mendelian factor. Three of 7 inbred strains were 100 per cent responders; the others were completely negative. All of these strains could make antibody to related polymers with higher alanine content (10 and 40 mole per cent). Breeding studies using the progeny of Swiss mice indicated that a similar genetic factor was involved.