Reactions of chicken antibodies with immunoglobulins of mouse serum and T cells

Chicken antibodies raised to the (Fab')₂ fragment of mouse IgG recognize determinants expressed on both normal mouse serum and T-cell-associated immunoglobulin, as assessed by immune diffusion and competition radioimmunoassay. Analyses of reactions with both normal and myeloma immunoglobulins indicate that chicken anti-(Fab')₂ recognizes determinants expressed on light and heavy (Fd fragment) chains of mouse IgG and IgM. The relatively low efficiency of reaction of purified γ heavy and light chains (compared to intact IgG) with the anti-(Fab')₂ suggests that these antibodies recognize determinants expressed only when heavy and light chains are combined in the native molecule.

Serological studies with T-cell-associated immunoglobulin show that this molecule expresses determinants cross-reactive with both light and heavy immunoglobulin polypeptide chains. The antigenic determinants seen on the T-cell immunoglobulin light and heavy chains are common to IgM and IgG and are not isotype specific.