EQUINE ANTIHAPTEN ANTIBODY : I. 7S β(2A)- AND 10S γ(1)-GLOBULIN COMPONENTS OF PURIFIED ANTI-β-LACTOSIDE ANTIBODY

Anti-p-azophenyl-β-lactoside (Lac) antibody has been isolated from equine antiserum by specific precipitation with Lac-HSA (human serum albumin) and Lac-Hy (hemocyanin). Antibody was separated from antigen by chromatography on DEAE cellulose and zone electrophoresis in solvents containing lactose. Six antigenically distinct immunoglobulins have been identified in purified equine anti-Lac antibody: 7S β(2A)-globulin, 19S γ-globulin, a 10S γ(1) globulin, and three antigenically distinct 7S γ-globulins. The specific hapten-binding activity of the 7S β(2A)-antibody and of the 10S γ(1)-antibody has been demonstrated by equilibrium dialysis and by analytical ultracentrifugation using a combination of schlieren and absorption optics. The 10S γ(1)-globulin antibody may be representative of a hitherto undescribed class of immunoglobulins.