Monoclonal antibodies specific for mercuric ions

Authors

Dwane E. Wylie, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Di Lu, BioNebraska Inc.
Larry D. Carlson, BioNebraska Inc.
Randy Carlson, BioNebraska Inc.Follow
K. Funda Babacan, University of Marmara
Sheldon M. Schuster, BioNebraska Inc.
Fred W. Wagner, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

1992

Comments

Published in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 89, pp. 4104-4108, May 1992. Used by Permission.

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that react with soluble mercuric ions have been produced by i 'ection of BALB/c mice with a hapten-carrier complex designed to maximize exposure of the metal to the immune system. Three hybridomas producing antibodies that reacted with bovine serum albumin (BSA)-glutathione-HgCI, but not with BSAglutathione, were isolated from the spleen of a mouse given multiple iqjections with glutathione-HgCl conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Stable subclones were established from two of these antibodies, designated mAb 4A10 and mAb IF10. The binding of both antibodies to immobilized BSAglutathione- HgCl was inhibited by soluble HgCl₂, and dissociation constants for mercuric chloride binding were 2.3 and 3.7 nM for mAbs 4A10 and l10, respectively. Both antibodies bound mercuric acetate with similar affinities, demonstrating that the antibodies were capable of binding to mercuric ions in the presence of a different counterion than the one used in the immunogen. Reactions were not observed with other metal cations by either antibody. These data demonstrate the successful induction of antibodies that react very specifically with mercuric ions in solution regardless of the presence of a carrier.