Functional groups on ‘Z’ DNA recognized by monoclonal antibodies

AbstractBoth brominated poly[d(GC)] and poly[d(Gm5C)] form stable left-handed Z-DNA structures at physiological ionic strengths. These two antigens were use to prepare monoclonal antibodies from immunized mice. The specificity of the antibodies was studied in detail with a solid-phase radioimmune assay as well as by means of competition experiments. Both immunogens produced several relatively non-specific antibodies but two types of very specific antibody were also distinguished. The first binds poly[d(Gm5C)] but not brominated poly[d(GC)] while the other has the opposite specificity and will only bind the brominated polymer