Epitope mapping of monoclonal antibodies to Torpedo acetylcholine receptor γ subunits, which specifically recognize the ϵ subunit of mammalian muscle acetylcholine receptor

Abstract

Epitopes for four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to the γ subunit of Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR), and one mAb crossreactive with the γ and δ subunits of Torpedo AChR were mapped using overlapping synthetic peptides corresponding to the complete amino acid sequence of Torpedo γ subunit. The epitopes for all mAbs were within a 50 residue sequence region, on the cytoplasmic surface of the AChr. Three mAbs crossreacted with mammalian muscle AChRs. Two of them specifically recognized the ∈ subunit of AChRs at adult neuromuscular junction.