MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN VARIABLE REGIONS FROM MURINE MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES SPECIFIC FOR SIMIAN-VIRUS-40 LARGE TUMOR-ANTIGEN

In this report we compare the immunoglobulin variable (IgV) region fun ction and structure relationships of murine monoclonal antibodies that recognize simian virus 40 (SV40) large tumour antigen (T ag). Compari son of monoclonal antibody V region function is based on SV40 T ag epi tope recognition and idiotype (Id) expression. Structural comparisons are based on V region gene sequence determination. The data presented herein, suggests that a high degree of homology within both the V-kapp a and V-H regions, along with minor differences within V-kappa complem entarity determining regions (CDR) may result in the detection of simi lar SV40 T ag epitopes by the monoclonal anti-SV40 T ag preparations. The expression of a cross-reactive Id also appears to be based on the high degree of homology within both V-kappa and V-H regions and depend s on conformational interactions imparted by both regions.