Antibodies to sperm-whale myoglobin evoked by free synthetic peptides of an antigenic site.

Previous studies from this laboratory have resulted in the determination of the entire antigenic structure of myoglobin (Mb). The present work was carried out to investigate the antigenicity of the synthetic antigenic sites of Mb in their free form (i.e. without coupling to a carrier) and the effect of peptide size on antigenicity. Site 5 (peptide 145-151) and the longer peptides 145-153, 143-153 and 132-153, each of which carries within it the region of site 5, were synthesized. Immunization of three different mouse strains with each of these peptides, in their free form, resulted in the formation of antibodies that bound specifically to intact Mb. The advantages and significance of these findings are discussed.