Evidence for a naturally occurring anti-spermine antibody in normal rabbit serum.

Normal rabbit serum contains an IgG-like component(s) that binds spermine as well as other polyamines. This molecule(s) has the same physicochemical properties as anti-spermine antibody obtained from rabbits immunized with spermine-thyroglobulin conjugates. However, the polyamines-binding IgG-like molecule(s), unlike anti-spermine antibody, is incapable either of precipitating a spermine-bovine serum albumin complex or of binding to a spermine-Sepharose column. These results suggest the existence of a naturally occurring anti-polyamine antibody that may have defective antibody functions.