ANTIGENICITY OF POLYPEPTIDES (POLY ALPHA AMINO ACIDS)

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that polymers consisting solely of D-α-amino acids are not immunogenic in rabbits, guinea pigs, man, and mouse, whereas the same polymers of L-α-amino acids are very effective antigens. This has been attributed to the importance of metabolizability of a polymer in contributing to its immunogenicity. In the glu-lys-ala series of polymers, the immunogenicity of a polymer of 2 L-amino acids and a D-amino acid appears to be governed by the immunogenicity of the 2 L-amino acids. However, some of the specificity may be directed towards configurations containing the D-amino acid. It has been noted that injections of rabbits with polymers of D-amino acids has resulted in a reduced response against the isomeric L polymer.