[Introduction of biologically active fragments of interferon-alpha2 and insulin into the artificial protein albebetin affects immunogenicity of the final construct]. / Vvedenie biologicheski aktivnykh fragmentov interferona-al'fa2 i insulina v sostav iskusstvennogo belka al'bebetina vliiaet na immunogennost' itogovoi konstruktsii.

ABSTRACT

The immunogenicity of the artificial protein albebetin and its derivatives with active peptide fragments was investigated. We also studied the influence of the peptides on the immunogenicity of the whole construct and contribution of each component to the immunogenicity. Two of three studied proteins contained active peptides from human IFN-alpha and insulin. Three continuous antigenic sites with different immunogenic potential were recognized in the chimerical proteins. The interferon fragment was the immunodominant site in the albeferon and albeferon-insulin molecules, while the insulin fragment displayed low immunogenic activity. All continuous B-epitopes are located at the boundaries of the secondary structure elements and at the predicted surface-located sites of albebetin molecule. Thus, peptide fragments attached to the artificial protein carrier can influence immunogenicity of the resulting construct.