Suppression of murine IgE responses with amino acid polymer/allergen conjugates. I. Preparation of poly-(N-methylglycine)/grass pollen extract conjugates using 4-(methylmercapto)phenyl-succinimidyl succinate as coupling reagent.

A procedure utilising the latent activating potential of the 4-(methylmercapto)phenyl ester group has been developed for the controlled, reproducible preparation of macromolecular conjugates. This ester, as part of a succinyl-bridging group, was used to couple the water-soluble, amino acid polymer, poly-(N-methylglycine) (polysarcosine), via its N-terminal secondary amine, with the nucleophilic components of the aqueous extract of a mixture of grass pollens. The products exhibit a reproducible, antigen-specific suppressive effect on the in vivo synthesis of IgE in mice.