Immunological comparison of ribosomal proteins from archaebacteria

Antisera were raised in rabbits against ribosomal proteins of Methanobacterium bryantii and used to analyze immunological relationships to ribosomes from other archaebacteria, from eubacteria, and from yeasts. Cross-reaction could be detected within the methanogens and with a member of the extreme halophiles; the degree of immunological similarity reflected the relationship delineated by 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid oligonucleotide analysis (Fox et al., Science 209:457-463, 1980). With the methods and the anti-total-protein sera employed, there was no detectable cross-reaction with ribosomal proteins or ribosomes from Sulfolobus sp., eubacteria, or yeast.