An anti-digoxin monoclonal antibody seems to express more than one functional paratope

Abstract

An anti-digoxin monoclonal antibody (mAb 4G3) has been produced and characterized with respect to its fine specificity and affinity.In an independent series of experiments antiidiotypic monoclonal antibody (mAb 7G9) was selected which reacted with the antigen-binding center of an anti-human chorionic gonadotropin monoclonal antibody (anti-hCG mAb 1B10). In detailed studies on its binding characteristics it has been shown that mAb 4G3 binds to an anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody mAb 7G9 in solution.Western blotting experiments showed that mAb 4G3 reacted against antiidiotypic antibody under non-reducing conditions, only.Moreover, mAb 4G3 has been shown to express self-binding properties.Absorption with saturating amounts of its specific hapten, i.e.digoxin, did not change the binding of mAb 4G3 to anti-idiotypic antibody and its self-binding ability.It is speculated on the basis of these data that mAb 4G3 possesses more than one functional paratope.