Immunochemical studies on collagen—II Antigenic differences between guinea pig skin collagen and gelatin

Abstract

Immunization of rabbits with guinea pig skin collagen elicited antibody with specificity for α2-CB1, a cyanogen bromide derived peptide from the amino-terminal region of α2, whereas, the α1 chain and peptides derived from it by cleavage with cyanogen bromide were essentially devoid of antigenic activity. Immunization with gelatin (denatured collagen) resulted in the formation of antibodies with specificities for α2-CB1 as well as to a portion of the α1 chain. Antiserum prepared against native collagen contained antibodies which reacted with antigens detected only in gelatin. The denaturation accompnying the transformation of collagen to gelatin is believed to expose immunogenic and antigenic sites previously hidden in the native molecule.