THE THYMIC SUPPRESSOR CELL

Abstract

Several inbred mouse strains were screened for their ability to respond to the ordered periodic collagen-like polymer (Pro-Gly-Pro)_n, to the random copolymer (Pro⁶⁶, Gly³⁴)_n, to the protein conjugate Pro-Gly-Pro-ovalbumin, to rat tail tendon collagen, rat tail tendon gelatin, and to Ascaris cuticle collagen. Differences were obtained in the magnitude of the antibody titers towards the above immunogens among the strains tested. The level of the response to the ordered polymer (Pro-Gly-Pro)_n was not similar to that towards the random (Pro⁶⁶, Gly³⁴)_n, confirming differences in the antigenic determinants of the two immunogens.