Abstract
Our studies have shown that the administration of antibodies to chicken riboflavin carrier protein (cRCP) or disulfide-reduced carboxymethylated cRCP (RCM-RCP) leads to termination of pregnancy in mice. In an attempt to delineate the bioneutralizing epitopes, a combination of chemical modification and predictive methods was used. The results led to the identification of the region 10-24 of cRCP as a potential candidate. A single injection of antipeptide antibodies to pregnant mice on day 11 resulted in 100% pregnancy termination. This was accompanied by a drastic reduction in circulatory progesterone as early as 24 h after the antibody administration. These results thus demonstrate that the amino acid sequence 10-24 of cRCP harbours a bioneutralizing epitope of cRCP.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Abortion, Spontaneous / chemically induced*
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Carrier Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Carrier Proteins / immunology*
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Chickens / metabolism*
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Diphtheria Toxoid
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Embryonic and Fetal Development / physiology
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Epitopes / immunology*
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Female
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Fetal Death / chemically induced*
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Gestational Age
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Isoantibodies / immunology
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Isoantibodies / toxicity*
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Male
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Membrane Transport Proteins*
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Mice
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Peptide Fragments / immunology*
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy, Animal / blood
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Pregnancy, Animal / physiology*
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Progesterone / blood
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Rabbits
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Riboflavin / physiology*
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Serum Albumin, Bovine
Substances
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Carrier Proteins
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Diphtheria Toxoid
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Epitopes
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Isoantibodies
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Membrane Transport Proteins
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Peptide Fragments
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riboflavin-binding protein
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Serum Albumin, Bovine
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Progesterone
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Riboflavin