A monoclonal antibody specific for the duplex DNA poly[d(TC)]· poly[d(GA)]

AbstractAlthough most duplex DNAs are not immunogenic some synthetic DNAs such as polyl[d(Tm5C)] · poly-[d(GA)] are weakly immunogenic allowing the production of monoclonal antibodies. The specificity of one of these antibodies, Jel 172, was investigated in detail by a competitive solid-phase radioimmune assay. Jel 172 bound well to poly[d(TC)]·poly[d(GA)] but not to other duplex DNAs such as poly[d(TTC)] · poly-[d(GAA)] and poly[d(TCC)]· poly[d(GGA)]. The binding to poly[d(Br5UC)]· poly[d(GA)] was enhanced while that to poly[d(TC)]· poly[d(IA)] was decreased compared to poly[d(TC)]· poly[d(GA)]. Thus, not only is the antibody very specific for a sequence of duplex DNA but it also appears to recognize functional groups in both grooves of the helix