Localization of idiotypic antigenic determinants in the Fv region of murine myeloma protein MOPC-315.

Rabbit antisera were prepared against the idiotypic determinants of the mouse IgA myeloma protein-315, its purified heavy and light chains, and the Fv fragment comprising the variable region of both heavy and light chains. Agar diffusion demonstrated a line of identity between protein-315 and its Fv fragment against either homologous antiserum. Protein-315 and Fv fragment were labeled with (125)I and reacted with their anti-idiotypic antisera. Inhibition studies confirmed that the Fv fragment contained all the idiotypic specificities present in the intact protein. Fv was as effective as protein-315 on a weight basis in inhibiting the reaction between anti-idiotypic antiserum and protein-315. Protein-315 has high affinity for the 2,4-dinitrophenyl group, and such ligands can inhibit the reaction between protein-315 and its anti-idiotypic antibodies. Hapten inhibition was also obtained with the Fv fragment and its anti-idiotypic antiserum, implying that Fv contains an intact combining site. In this system with protein-315 the antigenic determinants expressed as idiotypic specificities are entirely within the variable region and are not influenced in their expression by the constant region. We therefore suggest that, in general, idiotypic determinants are antigenic determinants of the Fv protions of immunoglobulins.