Long-term antibody synthesis in vitro- IV. Independent segregation of antibodies directed to different determinants of an antigen molecule in its native configuration.

Independent segregation of antibody populations directed to different portions of E. coli beta-d-galactosidase occurs during the immune response against the enzyme. Anti-enzyme antibodies able to interact and activate a naturally occurring ligand, the mutant-defective enzyme AMEF (Antibody Mediated Enzyme Factor), do not parallel anti-enzyme antibodies which are measured by a coprecipitation assay involving precipitation of the wild-type molecule. Dissociation of the two antibody populations is best achieved in microcultures sustaining long-lasting responses. Similarly, anti-NIP (4-hydroxy-3-iodo-5-nitrophenylacetic acid) antibodies could be elicited without concomitant synthesis of anti-carrier antibodies by short-term challenge in vitro of ovalbumin-NIP-primed lymph nodes with a heterologous conjugate in which the hapten NIP was coupled to a carrier known to be non-immunogenic under the conditions of challenge. The potential applications of these findings are indicated, namely: large-scale production of monospecific antibodies in vitro; and the possibility of studying the regulatory role of antibodies directed towards on portion of the immunogenic molecule on the response to other regions of the same molecule.