Systematic Exploration of the Antigen Binding Activity of Synthetic Peptides Isolated from the Variable Regions of Immunoglobulins

摘要

Sets of short (12 residues) cellulose-bound synthetic overlapping peptides derived from the sequences of the variable regions of the heavy and light chains of three different antibodies (an anti-thyroglobulin antibody, the HyHEL-5 anti-lysozyme antibody, and an anti-angiotensin II antibody) were used to systematically assess the antigen binding capacity of peptides from the antibody paratope outside their natural molecular context. Peptides enclosing one or several of the complementarity determining region (CDR) residues had antigen binding activity, although the most active peptides were not necessarily those bearing the greatest number of CDR residues. Several residues from the framework region, preceding or following the CDR, were found to play a role in binding. Affinity constants from 4.1 × 10−7 to 6.7 × 10−8m−1 for the soluble form of 9 lysozyme-binding dodecapeptides were measured by BIAcore analysis. Alanine scanning of lysozyme-binding hexapeptides from the HyHEL-5 sequence identified 38 residues important for binding, of which 22 corresponded to residues that had been shown by x-ray crystallography to be at the interface between HyHEL-5 and lysozyme. Our results could be of interest for the rational identification of biologically active peptides derived from antibody sequences and in providing an experimental basis for mutagenesis of the antibody paratope. Sets of short (12 residues) cellulose-bound synthetic overlapping peptides derived from the sequences of the variable regions of the heavy and light chains of three different antibodies (an anti-thyroglobulin antibody, the HyHEL-5 anti-lysozyme antibody, and an anti-angiotensin II antibody) were used to systematically assess the antigen binding capacity of peptides from the antibody paratope outside their natural molecular context. Peptides enclosing one or several of the complementarity determining region (CDR) residues had antigen binding activity, although the most active peptides were not necessarily those bearing the greatest number of CDR residues. Several residues from the framework region, preceding or following the CDR, were found to play a role in binding. Affinity constants from 4.1 × 10−7 to 6.7 × 10−8m−1 for the soluble form of 9 lysozyme-binding dodecapeptides were measured by BIAcore analysis. Alanine scanning of lysozyme-binding hexapeptides from the HyHEL-5 sequence identified 38 residues important for binding, of which 22 corresponded to residues that had been shown by x-ray crystallography to be at the interface between HyHEL-5 and lysozyme. Our results could be of interest for the rational identification of biologically active peptides derived from antibody sequences and in providing an experimental basis for mutagenesis of the antibody paratope. Antibody molecules bind antigens with high affinity and specificity by synergistically using multiple noncovalent forces. The combining site (paratope), whose shape is complementary to the epitope on the antigen, is made up of the hypervariable regions, also called complementarity determining regions (CDRs) 1The abbreviations used are: CDR, complementarity determining region; VH, variable region of the heavy chain; VL, variable region of the light chain; Fmoc,N-(9-fluorenyl)methoxycarbonyl; HPLC, high pressure liquid chromatography. (1Wu T. Kabat E. J. Exp. Med. 1970; 132: 211-250Crossref PubMed Scopus (935) Google Scholar). It is commonly accepted that there are three CDRs in the light chain (L1, L2, and L3) and in the heavy chain (H1, H2, and H3). These CDRs fold into turn structures that are stabilized by the β-sheet framework of the variable domains. The interface between antibodies and antigens has been precisely described by x-ray crystallographic studies, and several complexes between Fab fragments of monoclonal antibodies and peptide or protein antigens have been recently described (for reviews see Refs.2Davies D. Sheriff S. Padlan E. J. Biol. Chem. 1988; 263: 10541-10544Abstract Full Text PDF P