A Study of the Antigenicity of Formaldehyde- and Glutaraldehyde-Treated Bovine Serum Albumin and Ovalbumin-Bovine Serum Albumin Conjugate

摘要

Chemical, conformational and antigenic studies of bovine serum albumin (BSA) treated with formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde, as well as a conjugate formed by intermolecular cross-linking of ovalbumin (OA) to BSA, were undertaken. Formaldehyde reacted predominantly with the free amino groups and caused intramolecular cross-links with no apparent change in shape or antigenicity of the molecule. Glutaraldehyde caused intermolecular cross-linkages which formed soluble aggregates; such modified proteins were antigenic in rabbits and produced antibodies with two specificities, one directed against antigenic determinants on BSA and the other against newly acquired groups arising from the modification. Anti-OA-BSA conjugate contained antibodies against antigenic determinants of BSA, OA, and glutaraldehyde-treated BSA and OA.