Inhibition of self-binding antibodies (autobodies) by a VH-derived peptide

The self-binding properties of a dominant idiotypic antibody (T15) and a minor idiotypic antibody (M603), both specific for phosphorylcholine, were examined as models of self-binding antibodies (autobodies). Observed differences in the self-binding affinity of T15 and M603 relate to variable sequence differences in their respective heavy and light chains. A molecular recognition theory based on the translation of coding and noncoding DNA strands was used to identify complementary amino acid sequences responsible for self-binding. The second hypervariable region of the heavy chain domain, extending into the third framework region, was predicted as the primary self-binding locus. Among peptides synthesized with different variable heavy and light chain regions, a 24-residue peptide spanning the second hypervariable and third framework regions of the heavy chain of T15 was nearly as effective as phosphorycholine in inhibiting the self-binding complexes.     

Antibody active sites and immunoglobulin molecules

In order to obtain detailed information about the relationship between structure and function in antibody molecules, a method called affinity labeling has been devised to attach chemical labels specifically to amino acid residues in the active sites of antibody molecules. With antibodies to three different haptens, highly specific labeling of the active sites has been achieved. Tyrosine residues on both heavy and light polypeptide chains have been labeled in a molar ratio close to 2:1, and labels on the two chains are equally specific to the active sites. Peptide fragmentation studies of the labeled chains of one antibody system have shown that: (i) within 25 amino acid residues of the labeled tyrosine on either chain, substantial chemical heterogeneity exists among different antibody molecules of the same specificity; and (ii) the labeled peptide fragments from both chains are very similar in physicochemical characteristics, including average size, heterogeneity, and unusual hydrophobicity. These experimental results have led us to the view that a particular region of the heavy chain and a particular region of the light chain are utilized to construct the active sites of the three different antibodies, differences in specificity arising from chemical perturbations in these two regions. Correlated structural studies of affinity-labeled antibodies and of the homogeneous light chains (Bence Jones proteins) and heavy chains produced in multiple myeloma may permit the identification of these special active-site regions. The view that active sites of different specificity are chemical perturbations of a particular region of the antibody molecule has a possible close analogue in enzyme systems, particularly among the esterases. The marked chemical similarities we have observed between the active site regions of heavy and light chains indicate to us that chemical homologies, but not identities, exist between the chains. This is reinforced by recently obtained amino acid sequence data which reveal homologies between the two chains near their carboxyl-terminals. These results indicate that the structural genes which code for the synthesis of heavy and light chains are related, presumably having arisen from some common ancestral gene during evolution. This conclusion strongly suggests that both heavy and light chains determine antibody specificity, and has important implications for the still-unknow mechanisms of antibody biosynthesis.     

Light chains of rabbit immunoglobulin: assignment to the kappa class

Normal rabbit gamma globulin was reduced under conditions presumed to break only interchain disulfide bridges, and the reduiced product was then blocked with C(14)-iodoacetamide. The light chains were separated from the heavy chains and subjected to peptic digestion. Two radioactive peptides were recovered from the digest. The peptides are apparently overlapping and represent the carboxyterminuis. Comparison of this region in the rabbit light chains with the corresponding amino acid sequences in various mouse and human light chains indicates that the rabbit light chains are of the (K)-class.     

Clathrin light chains LCA and LCB are similar, polymorphic, and share repeated heptad motifs

The clathrin light chains fall into two major classes, LCA and LCB. In an intact clathrin triskelion, one light chain, of either class, is bound to the proximal segment of a heavy chain leg. Analysis of rat brain and liver complementary DNA clones for LCA and LCB shows that the two light chain classes are closely related. There appear to be several members of each class having deletions of varying length aligned at the same position. A set of ten heptad elements, characteristic of alpha-helical coiled coils, is a striking feature of the central part of each derived amino acid sequence. These observations suggest a model in which the alpha-helical segment mediates binding to clathrin heavy chains and the amino- and carboxyl-terminal segments mediate interactions with other proteins. They also suggest an explanation for the observed tissue-dependent size variation for members of each class.     

Molecular defect in a gamma-2 heavy chain

The first gamma-2 (gamma2) heavy chain disease protein Gif has pyrroli-dinecarboxylic acid as its amino terminal residue, much of the Fd variable region, and an internal deletion of the heavy chain of about 100 residues corresponding to most of the Fd constant region. Normal sequence resumes with a glutamic acid residue at position 216 in the hinge region. This is the third gamma heavy chain disease protein where normal sequence resumes at the same position after the deletion.     

Somatic mutation in genes for the variable portion of the immunoglobulin heavy chain

The size of the gene pool potentially encoding antibodies to p-azophenyl arsonate has been examined. A heavy chain-specific full-length complementary DNA clone has been constructed with the use of messenger RNA from a hybridoma that produces antibodies to the arsonate hapten and bears nearly a full complement of the determinants comprising the cross-reactive idiotype (CRI). The sequences of both the complementary DNA clone and the corresponding immunoglobulin heavy chain have been independently determined. A probe for the variable region gene was prepared from the original heavy chain complementary DNA clone and used to analyze, by Southern filter hybridization, genomic DNA from both A/J (CRI positive) and BALB/c (CRI negative) mice. Approximately 20 to 25 restriction fragments containing "germline" variable region gene segments were detected in both strains, and many are shared by both, Since 35 CRI-positive heavy chains have been partially sequenced thus far and 31 are different, the results of the hybridization analysis suggest that somatic mutation events involving the variable region gene segments of the heavy chain play a role in the origin of the amino acid sequence diversity seen in this system.     

Light chains of mouse myeloma proteins: partial amino acid sequence

Five kappa chains in the urinary proteins of the BALB/c mouse have the same carboxyl terminal amino acid sequence; this sequence resembles that of kappa light chains in human immunoglobulins. The five chains have amino acid sequence variations at the amino- terminal. The genetic basis for the amino- terminal variations is not understood but could be due either to a mecha nism for differently translating a single genetic message or to the presence of more than one kappa- type structural cistron in the BALB/c genome.     

鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒河南分离株HeYD VP2基因高变区基因克隆及序列分析

为初步确定新分离的鸡传染性法氏囊病毒(IBDV)河南株HeYD的毒力,根据GenBank数据库中已报道的IBDV基因组序列,设计合成了1对VP2基因高变区特异性引物,应用RT-PCR方法对分离自河南省某发病鸡场的IBDV野毒株HeYD的VP2基因高变区进行了基因克隆及序列分析,并与其他参考毒株高变区进行了序列比对,序列...     

Atomic structure of thymidylate synthase: target for rational drug design

The atomic structure of thymidylate synthase from Lactobacillus casei was determined at 3 angstrom resolution. The native enzyme is a dimer of identical subunits. The dimer interface is formed by an unusual association between five-stranded beta sheets present in each monomer. Comparison of known sequences with the Lactobacillus casei structure suggests that they all have a common core structure around which loops are inserted or deleted in different sequences. Residues from both subunits contribute to each active site. Two arginine side chains can contribute to binding phosphate on the substrate. The side chains of several conserved amino acids can account for other determinants of substrate binding.     

Immunoglobulin structure: variation in amino acid sequence and length of human lambda light chains

Variation and conservation in the primary structure of human lambda light chains is revealed by complete amino acid sequence of three Bence Jones proteins. These proteins differ in amino acid sequence in from 38 to 48 positions; they are of unequal length in the amino-terminal half of the chain but have identical sequence in the last 105 amino acids.     

Three-dimensional structure of an antigen-antibody complex at 2.8 A resolution

The 2.8 A resolution three-dimensional structure of a complex between an antigen (lysozyme) and the Fab fragment from a monoclonal antibody against lysozyme has been determined and refined by x-ray crystallographic techniques. No conformational changes can be observed in the tertiary structure of lysozyme compared with that determined in native crystalline forms. The quaternary structure of Fab is that of an extended conformation. The antibody combining site is a rather flat surface with protuberances and depressions formed by its amino acid side chains. The antigen-antibody interface is tightly packed, with 16 lysozyme and 17 antibody residues making close contacts. The antigen contacting residues belong to two stretches of the lysozyme polypeptide chain: residues 18 to 27 and 116 to 129. All the complementarity-determining regions and two residues outside hypervariable positions of the antibody make contact with the antigen. Most of these contacts (10 residues out of 17) are made by the heavy chain, and in particular by its third complementarity-determining region. Antigen variability and antibody specificity and affinity are discussed on the basis of the determined structure.     

Macroglobulin structure: homology of mu and gamma heavy chains of human immunoglobulins

The amino acid sequence of fragments obtained by cyanogen bromide cleavage of the mu-chain of a human gammaM-globulin is homologous to the NH(2)-terminal sequences of the gamma-chain of human and rabbit gammaG-globulins and is related to that of human light chains. This supports the hypothesis that light and heavy chains evolved from a common ancestral gene.     

Specificity of antibodies: primary structural basis of hapten binding

The primiary structure of the 83 residues of the NH(2)-terminus of the V(II), region was determined for each of three different antibodies to hapten which were produced in inbred guinea pigs. Each antibody had a different and distinctive primary structure within each of the two "hypervariable" regions (Hv1 and Hv2) included in the analyzed part of the variable region of the heavy chain. The sequences of Hvl and Hv2 in the three antibodies were either unique or of restricted variability compared with those of "normnal" immunoglobulin G2. Further implication of Hv1 and Hv2 in contributing to ligand-binding specificity of antibodies came from the placement of residues modified by affinity labeling reagents in these hypervariable regions.     

Focused evolution of HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies revealed by structures and deep sequencing

Antibody VRC01 is a human immunoglobulin that neutralizes about 90% of HIV-1 isolates. To understand how such broadly neutralizing antibodies develop, we used x-ray crystallography and 454 pyrosequencing to characterize additional VRC01-like antibodies from HIV-1-infected individuals. Crystal structures revealed a convergent mode of binding for diverse antibodies to the same CD4-binding-site epitope. A functional genomics analysis of expressed heavy and light chains revealed common pathways of antibody-heavy chain maturation, confined to the IGHV1-2*02 lineage, involving dozens of somatic changes, and capable of pairing with different light chains. Broadly neutralizing HIV-1 immunity associated with VRC01-like antibodies thus involves the evolution of antibodies to a highly affinity-matured state required to recognize an invariant viral structure, with lineages defined from thousands of sequences providing a genetic roadmap of their development.     

Neural cell adhesion molecule: structure, immunoglobulin-like domains, cell surface modulation, and alternative RNA splicing

The neural cell adhesion molecule, N-CAM, appears on early embryonic cells and is important in the formation of cell collectives and their boundaries at sites of morphogenesis. Later in development it is found on various differentiated tissues and is a major CAM mediating adhesion among neurons and between neurons and muscle. To provide a molecular basis for understanding N-CAM function, the complete amino acid sequences of the three major polypeptides of N-CAM and most of the noncoding sequences of their messenger RNA's were determined from the analysis of complementary DNA clones and were verified by amino acid sequences of selected CNBr fragments and proteolytic fragments. The extracellular region of each N-CAM polypeptide includes five contiguous segments that are homologous in sequence to each other and to members of the immunoglobulin superfamily, suggesting that interactions among immunoglobulin-like domains form the basis for N-CAM homophilic binding. Although different in their membrane-associated and cytoplasmic domains, the amino acid sequences of the three polypeptides appear to be identical throughout this extracellular region (682 amino acids) where the binding site is located. Variations in N-CAM activity thus do not occur by changes in the amino acid sequence that alter the specificity of binding. Instead, regulation is achieved by cell surface modulation events that alter N-CAM affinity, prevalence, mobility, and distribution on the surface. A major mechanism for modulation is alternative RNA splicing resulting in N-CAM's with different cytoplasmic domains that differentially interact with the cell membrane. Such regulatory mechanisms may link N-CAM binding function with other primary cellular processes during the embryonic development of pattern.     

猪IgG H链基因CH2-CH3的克隆和分析

根据已发表的猪IgG H链序列,设计了1对通用引物,从猪外周血淋巴细胞提取总RNA,经RT-PCR扩增IgG H链基因CH2-CH3序列,并克隆入pMD18-T Simple载体,转化大肠杆菌DH5α感受态细胞,经SalI和XbaI双酶切鉴定,筛选出阳性克隆。核酸序列测定分析表明,IgG H链基因CH2-CH3序列全长为669 bp,编码CH2-CH3的221个氨基酸和J区的1个脯氨酸。利用DNASTAR软件将其与猪IgG H链各CH2-CH3序列进行比较,发现其与U03778-1、U03779-2a、U03780-2b、U03781-3、U03782-4的核苷酸序列同源率分别为92.1%、98.4%、98.5%、93.0%和97.2%,推导的氨基酸序列同源率分别为86.5%、96.4%、96.5%、87.0%和94.2%。经进化树分析提示,该序列可能为一个新的亚型。     

Macroglobulin structure: variable sequence of light and heavy chains

The variable regions of the light and heavy chains on the same macroglobulin (immunoglobulin M) molecule are no more related in amino acid sequence than are the variable regions of the light and heavy chains of different immunoglobulin molecules. Subgroups of micro chains are similar in their variable sequence to subgroups of gamma chains.     

Inv(1) allotype: effect of immunoglobulin G heavy chain subtype on its expression

More protein is required to detect the Inv(1) antigen carried in the light chain of immunoglobulin G molecules when the light chain is combined with a gamma2 heavy chain than when it is combined with a gamma1 or gamma3 heavy chain. One of the four gamma2 heavy chains used in the experiment, however, was as efficient as the gamma1 and gamma3 chains, indicating that there may be two subtypes of gamma2. Inv(1) was more easily detected in one of the two light chains used in the experiment. This difference may be associated with the subtypes of the kappa chain derived from studies of the variable portion of the chain.     

A test of clathrin function in protein secretion and cell growth

Clathrin-coated membranes are intimately associated with a variety of protein transport processes in eukaryotic cells, yet no direct test of clathrin function has been possible. The data presented demonstrate that Saccharomyces cerevisiae does not require clathrin for either cell growth or protein secretion. Antiserum to the yeast clathrin heavy chain has been used to isolate a molecular clone of the heavy chain gene (CHC1) from a library of yeast DNA in lambda gt11. Clathrin-deficient mutant yeast have been obtained by replacing the single chromosomal CHC1 gene with a disrupted version of the cloned DNA. Cells harboring a nonfunctional chc1 allele produce no immunoreactive heavy chain polypeptide, and vesicles prepared from mutant cells are devoid of clathrin heavy and light chains. Although clathrin-deficient cells grow two to three times more slowly than normal, secretion of invertase occurs at a nearly normal rate. Therefore protein transport through the secretory pathway is not obligately coupled to the formation of clathrin-coated vesicles.