Generation of an antibody with a designed specificity difference for protein C and activated protein C.

Rabbit polyclonal antibodies to a synthetic peptide, NH2-Asp-Thr-Asn-Gln-Val-Asp-Gln-Lys-Asp-Gln-Leu-Asp-Phe-Arg-CONH2 (A Pep), have been produced. This sequence is identical to that contained in the tetradecapeptide released from bovine protein C (PC) as a result of its conversion to its activated form (APC), except that Phe13 replaced the normal Pro13, in order to discourage cross-reactivity of antibodies to the carboxylterminal portion of APep with PC. The antibody pool obtained reacted with PC and showed virtually no cross-reactivity toward either APC or several typical plasma proteins. This general approach should serve well as a means of production of antibodies with a designed specificity capable of distinguishing between forms of the same protein that arise by release of peptide material.