The relation between the properties of polyclonal antibodies to (2 '-5 ')oligoadenylates and the mode of the hapten-immunogen conjugation

To elucidate the antibody-(2'-5')oligoadenylate relation to the mode of the hapten-immunogen conjugation, a new (2'-5')oligoadenylic acid trimer deriv ative containing a 2'-terminal N-6-(5-carboxypentyl)adenosine and its I-125 -labeled immunogenic conjugate were synthesized. The immunization with this conjugate and with a conjugate based on the 2',3'-O-[1-(2-carboxyethyl)]et hylidene derivative of the (2'-5')triadenylic acid gave antisera with diffe rent affinities toward modified (2'-5')oligonucleotides. Epitopes involved in the (2'-5')oligomer-binding to different antisera were found.