Localization of antigenic determinants in the polypeptide chains of collagen.

After being injected with collagen from rat or guinea pig skin, rabbits form high titer, species-specific antibodies to collagen. Antibody is directed primarily against the alpha2 chain of collagen with little reaction with the alpha1 chain. The amino terminal peptide of cyanogen bromide cleavage of the alpha2 chain of guinea pig skin collagen, alpha2-CBl, effectively inhibited the antigen-antibody reaction, an indication that a major antigenic determinant of collagen is located at the amino terminal of the alpha2 chain.