Immunological comparison between albumins of three species of mice (genus Mus).

Three closely related species of short-tailed mice (Mus musculus musculus, M. spretoides and M. spicilegus) were tentatively discriminated using immunological techniques based on albumin cross-reactivity. Different fractionations of crude albumin antisera allowed the recovery of antibody populations specific to the M. m. musculus albumin, whereas antibody population differences do not seem to exist between M. spicilegus and M. spretoides. Moreover, immunoreactivities tested with native and S-carboxymethylated albumins revealed that species-specific antibodies correspond to antigenic determinants depending on the amino acid sequence (sequential determinants). The observed immunological differences are related to species divergence and albumin sequences.