QUANTITATIVE VARIATIONS IN L CHAIN TYPES IN GUINEA PIG ANTIHAPTEN ANTIBODIES

Abstract

In guinea pig purified antihapten antibodies, the proportion of molecules bearing the κ- or λ-type of L chains (K or L molecules) may diverge markedly from that found in normal γ₂-globulins. This has been evaluated by precipitation of I¹³¹-labeled antibody preparations using a specific anti-λ-chain antiserum. Anti-DNP antibodies isolated 3 wk after immunization of guinea pigs with DNP₆₅-BGG antibodies, contain less than 1% of L molecules, while in pipsyl antibodies, isolated from the sera of animals immunized with pipsyl-BGG, the proportion of L molecules is significantly greater than in normal γ₂-globulins.