Production and characterization of antisera raised to the manninotrionate group [[alpha]--Galp-(1-->6)-[alpha]--Galp-(1-->6)--gluconate]

Abstract

Manninotrionate [[alpha]--Galp-(1-->6)-[alpha]--Galp-(1-->6)--gluconate] was coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA), and antisera were raised in rabbits to this carbohydrate--protein conjugate. The antisera were studied by quantitative precipitation and hapten inhibition. Antisera against the manninotrionate--BSA conjugate showed the greatest reactivity with the homologous manninotrionate--BSA antigen, but also cross-reacted extensively with a manninotrionate--ovalbumin conjugate. The antisera gave weak precipitin reactions with beef-lung galactan, guaran, gum arabic, and larch arabinogalactan. Quantitative hapten-inhibition studies with a series of galactosyloligosaccharides indicated that the antisera possess a high degree of specificity toward terminal [alpha]--Galp-(1-->6)-[alpha]--Galp units. The antisera did not agglutinate Ehrlich ascites tumor-cells, which have been demonstrated to contain cell-surface glycoproteins having [alpha]--galactosyl end-groups.