ANTIGENICITY OF POLYPEPTIDES (POLY ALPHA AMINO ACIDS) : XV. STUDIES ON THE IMMUNOGENICITY OF SYNTHETIC POLYPEPTIDES IN MICE

The response of mice to synthetic linear polypeptides of known composition but random sequence has been studied. Neither Swiss mice nor a number of inbred strains could respond to copolymers of only 2 amino acids (G₆₀L₄₀, G₆₀A₄₀, G₉₀T₁₀). Upon introduction of as little as 4 mole per cent of a third amino acid, good immune responses were obtained, regardless of the nature of the third amino acid. The level of the immune response to a series of glu-lys-ala polymers increased with increasing alanine content of the polymer.