Functional groups on ‘Z’ DNA recognized by monoclonal antibodies

Abstract
Both brominated poly[d(GC)] and poly[d(Gm5C)] form stable left‐handed Z‐DNA structures at physiological ionic strengths. These two antigens were use to prepare monoclonal antibodies from immunized mice. The specificity of the antibodies was studied in detail with a solid‐phase radioimmune assay as well as by means of competition experiments. Both immunogens produced several relatively non‐specific antibodies but two types of very specific antibody were also distinguished. The first binds poly[d(Gm5C)] but not brominated poly[d(GC)] while the other has the opposite specificity and will only bind the brominated polymer.