Molecular genetic characterization of epitope-specific monoclonal antibodies against the myc family proteins.

The myc family proteins were used to produce monoclonal antibodies with defined specificities. The pattern of mosaic homology among the myc family proteins facilitated the efficient identification of monoclonal antibodies specific to myc homology box sequences. Sequential epitopes for pan-myc reactive monoclonal antibodies produced against N-myc/c-myc fusion protein were further defined by use of truncated myc proteins made in E. coli and synthetic oligopeptides corresponding to myc box sequences. One class of antibodies was found to be specific to the first myc box sequence, whereas the other was found to be reactive with the third myc box sequence. Further development of anti-myc monoclonal antibodies, especially those antibodies specific to each myc box sequence, would be likely to facilitate analysis of the possible biological functions of the myc proteins in vivo and in vitro.