IMMUNOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL-CHARACTERIZATION OF THE NONSPECIFIC CROSS-REACTING ANTIGEN EPITOPES USING 23 MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES

Twenty-three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) reactive with nonspecific crossreacting antigen (NCA) were prepared and used for constructing a serological map of the NCA molecule. The MAbs were generated using purified NCA or carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as immunogen. The MAbs could be divided into two groups: Group X, 10 clones reactive with NCA and CEA; and Group Y, 13 clones specific for NCA. Cross-competition enzyme immunoassays between MAbs of the individual groups revealed that at least 8 different subgroups can be defined i. e., 5 and 3 subgroups in Groups X and Y, respectively. The chemical nature of the epitopes recognized by those MAbs was tested using chemically or enzymatically treated antigens; all MAbs reacted with periodate-treated NCA and deglycosylated NCA. indicating that all the epitopes identified appeared to be protein in nature. Reduction and alkylation, pepsin digestion or pronase treatment of NCA, however, gave some differential results with respect to MAb binding. The serologic mapping and biochemical studies reported here thus provide information as to the range and nature of the epitopes on the NCA molecule and help form the basis for selecting the anti-NCA MAbs for use in biological and immunological study of NCA.