Stereospecific immuno-recognition of the tetracyclic anti-depressant oxaprotiline.

Overview

Immunization of a rabbit with a racemic mixture of (+/-)-oxaprotiline, conjugated to bovine serum albumin, resulted in two antibody populations with affinity constants 1.5 x 10(9) and 2.5 x 10(6) M-1. Both populations showed a higher affinity for the (-)-isomer than for the (+)-isomer of the drug. Both stereoisomers of the drug were immunogenic in mice, but only the (-)-isomer was recognized with high affinity. Somatic fusion of the spleen of a mouse, immunized with the (-)-isomer yielded 12 hybridomas secreting monoclonal anti-oxaprotiline antibodies. Five of these monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) recognized both isomers, four bound more specifically to the (-)-isomer, one recognized the (+)-isomer and two were specific for the coupling arm. One of the MAbs was further analyzed to gain insight into the structural features of the drug involved in antibody recognition. This analysis suggested that the stereospecific recognition of oxaprotiline could be directly linked to the position of the hydroxyl group on the asymmetric carbon.