Antibodies specific for the polyoma virus middle-size tumor antigen.

We have obtained antibodies specific for the polyoma virus middle-size tumor antigen (middle T antigen) by immunizing rabbits with a synthetic peptide, Lys-Arg-Ser-Arg-His-Phe, corresponding to the six carboxy-terminal amino acids of the middle T antigen predicted from the nucleotide sequence of polyoma DNA. The antipeptide serum precipitates the polyoma middle T antigen but not the small or large tumor antigens, and precipitation is inhibited in the presence of the peptide. Two cellular proteins, 30,000 and 26,000 daltons, are also precipitated specifically by the antipeptide serum and may have amino acid sequences related to the peptide. Two other cellular proteins, 33,000 and 25,000 daltons, are precipitated only in the presence of the peptide and may associate with it in cell extracts. Antisera directed against synthetic peptides are likely to be important in various ways, including the production of antibodies directed against particular determinants and the recognition of unknown proteins whose genes have been analyzed.