Antibodies specific for the neuronal form of the Src protein elicited by an antigenized antibody

To elicit antibodies directed specifically against the neuron-specific form of the c-src gene product, pp60c-src(+), we used an antigenized antibody comprising a decamer containing the amino acid sequence specific to pp60c-src(+) inserted into the third hypervariable loop of the heavy (H)-chain variable (V)-region. This was used to raise anti-idiotype antibodies reacting with the peptide epitope in rabbits. The antisera reacted with pp60c-src(+), as judged by immune blotting, immunoprecipitation, immune complex kinase assay, and indirect immunofluorescence staining, but did not react with the fibroblast form of the c-src gene product, pp60c-src. Antigenized antibody is a useful approach for producing antibodies able to distinguish between isoforms of the same gene product and specific for the neuronal form of the Src protein.