USE OF SYNTHETIC PEPTIDES TO MAP SEQUENTIAL EPITOPES RECOGNIZED BY MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES ON THE BOVINE LEUKEMIA-VIRUS EXTERNAL GLYCOPROTEIN

Six sequential epitopes (A, B, B′, D, D′, E) were previously defined on the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) envelope glycoprotein gp51 by their reactivity with monoclonal antibodies. A panel of synthetic peptides covering almost the entire sequence of gp51 was tested in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in order to localize these epitopes. E was shown to be included in peptide 142-161 (MCF4), B and B′ in peptide 195-205, D and D′ in peptide 218-237 (MCF6), and A in peptide 249-268 (MCF7). These results extend and confirm previous observations suggesting that the sequential epitopes recognized by our battery of monoclonal antibodies are located in the carboxylic half of BLV gp51. © 1991.