Abstract
Change in the specificity of anti-(4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl (NP) antibodies (Abs) with time after immunization was studied. The early anti-NP Abs was specific to the ionized (phenolate) form of NP. The specificity changed with time and the late Abs became able to bind to the protonated (phenolic) form as well as the phenolate form of NP. The nucleotide sequences of mRNA coding for variable regions of heavy and light chains suggested that somatic hypermutation contributed to this change of the specificity.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1337-1343 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Biochemistry |
Volume | 102 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 1987 |