Immunochemical cross-reactivity between cyanogen bromide fragments of human serum albumin

The antigenic structure of human albumin was investigated in order to establish whether or not there was any similarity between its antigenic sites. Using immunoadsorbent columns prepared with cyanogen bromide fragments of human serum albumin, antibodies directed against different portions of the albumin molecules were isolated. Measurement of the amount of the antibodies isolated and study of their specificity by inhibition techniques show that these subpopulations of antibodies reacted not only with the fragment used for their isolation (homologous) but also with the other fragments (heterologous). Heterologous fragments were inhibiting only at a very high concentration with regard to the homologous ones. These results show that there is a weak cross-reactivity between different portions of the albumin molecule. This reaction is most probably due to the homology existing in the sequence of the human albumin molecule which has arisen by gene duplication. The same type of behavior can be predicted to extent to other molecules which have evolved by similar mechanisms.     

Localization and verification by synthesis of five antigenic sites of bovine serum albumin.

Recently we have shown that the major antigenic sites of bovine serum albumin exhibit functional equivalence progessively increasing with the time at which antibodies are obtained after the first immunization. Analysis of our recent immunochemical findings and the known covalent structure of bovine serum albumin have enabled us to predict the locations of five antigenic sites of bovine serum albumin. The predicted locations were synthesized, and immunochemical studies with late-course antisera showed them to constitute antigenic sites of native bovine serum albumin.     

Delineation of four antigenic sites on a paramyxovirus glycoprotein via which monoclonal antibodies mediate distinct antiviral activities

Six hybridoma antibodies specific for the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) molecule of the parainfluenza type 1 virus strain 6/94 were used to demonstrate the existence of four distinct antigenic sites on the HN molecule. Three of the sites (A, B-C, D) are topologically nonoverlapping, because antibodies to these sites bind noncompetitively to the HN molecule. Two sites (B, C) are operationally nonoverlapping, because mutations in site B do not detectably modify the antigenic site C. Although antibodies to each site had similar potencies (activity per microgram of antibody) in hemagglutination inhibition tests, antibodies to sites A and C or D differed approximately 100-fold in their potency to neutralize virus. Also, the antibody to site A strongly inhibited viral neuraminidase activity, whereas antibodies to sites C and D (and to a lesser extent to site B) enhanced the neuraminidase activity. Lastly, only antibodies to sites C and D formed precipitates in Ouchterlony double diffusion against detergent-disrupted virus. Because all six anti-HN antibodies are of IgG isotype and exhibited similar avidity for HN, these findings suggest that the ability of anti-HN antibodies to interact with the viral protein and to alter viral functions is largely dependent on their fine specificity.     

Immunologically reactive tryptic fragments of human prostatic acid phosphatase.

Three peptide fragments (designated II, III and IV) of human prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) were isolated to homogeneity from a limited tryptic hydrolysate of PAP by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, followed by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-75. The homogeneity was confirmed by disc poly-acrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The Mr values were 32 500, 25 000 and 11 000 as estimated by gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Immunoprecipitation study revealed that only fragment II formed an immune precipitate with anti-PAP antibodies. Fragment II exhibited 45% of maximum inhibitory activity on the reaction between PAP and goat anti-PAP IgG (immunoglobulin G) antibodies (or rabbit anti-PAP antibodies), whereas fragments III and IV demonstrated 24% (or 23%) and 29% (or 27%) inhibition respectively. A mixture of these three tryptic fragments of PAP result in 96% (for goat anti-PAP antibodies) and 94% (for rabbit anti-PAP antibodies) inhibitory activities, which were equivalent to the sum of maximum inhibitory activity of the three fragments individually. The results demonstrated that these three tryptic peptide fragments carried all the antigenic active sites of the native PAP, and suggested that the entire molecule of human PAP comprised a minimum of four distinguishable, nonoverlapping antigenic determinants. These three fragments also were shown to retain all the disulphide bonds of the native PAP, and thus were useful reagents for the elucidation of PAP molecular structure.     

The Molar Combining Ratio of Anti-Albumin Fab' Fragments to Homologous and Heterologous Serum Albumins

The number of antibody combining sites on bovine (BSA), goat (GSA) and sheep (SSA) serum albumins was studied using rabbit and chicken antibodies. In homologous reactions, the profiles of quantitative precipitations with chicken antibody were similar to those with rabbit antibody reported previously (12), and the antigenic valence in the extreme antibody excess zone was found to be 6–7 for each albumin. The univalent Fab' fragments of rabbit and chicken antibodies were prepared. The stoichiometry of the soluble complex formed with the Fab' fragment and fluorescence labeled albumin was analyzed by gel filtration, and the number of Fab' fragment molecules capable of binding to an albumin molecule was estimated. In a homologous reaction with both rabbit and chicken Fab' fragments, the Fab' to albumin combining ratio revealed from the molecular weight of the soluble complex was 14:1. In the heterologous reactions, the combining ratio was 5:1 for rabbit Fab' fragment to BSA, and 9:1 for chicken Fab' fragment to BSA. From the heterologous reactions between GSA and SSA, it was demonstrated that the combining ratios were 10–11:1 with rabbit Fab' fragment and 11–13:1 with chicken Fab' fragment.     

Paramyxovirus membrane protein enhances antibody production to new antigenic determinants in the actin molecule: a model for virus-induced autoimmunity.

Paramyxovirus membrane (M) protein specifically binds to cellular actin but not to bovine serum albumin or myoglobin, as determined by affinity chromatography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The binding site for M protein on actin is different from the binding sites for antiactin antibodies. The interaction of M protein with actin resulted in production of antibodies to several new antigenic sites on the actin molecule. Five rabbits immunized with actin alone produced antibodies against the N-terminal sequence (residues 1 to 39). Another five rabbits immunized with a mixture of M protein and actin produced antibodies against a C-terminal fragment and a central region as well as the N-terminal fragment. By immunoblotting with proteolytic fragments of actin, the new antigenic sites were located between amino acid residues 40 to 113, 114 to 226, and 227 to 375. Antisera taken from some patients with recent measles virus infections demonstrated antiactin antibodies to sites other than the N-terminal fragment of actin (amino acids 1 to 39). The interaction of paramyxovirus M protein with actin and the subsequent production of antibodies to new antigenic sites may serve as a model for one of the mechanisms of virus-induced autoimmunity.     

Studies on the allergenic significance and structure of rat serum albumin

This study evaluated the capacity of rat serum albumin and of its proteolytic fragments to activate human basophils for IgE-mediated histamine release. The leukocytes from 8 out of 33 patients allergic to rats released histamine with rat serum albumin. Two proteolytic fragments of rat serum albumin, each constituting half of the molecule, were used to study the IgE-reactive antigenic sites. These fragments released histamine with the cells of some of the donors, thus demonstrating the presence of at least 2 antigenic determinants on each fragment for a total minimum of 4 sites on the intact rat serum albumin molecule. Most of the allergenic activity, however, was not recovered in the 2 fragments (total recovery mean = 6.4%, range between 0.1 and 31%). This loss could be due to cleavage of the rat albumin molecule in the middle of the third domain with loss of antigenic sites and/or due to minor conformational changes in the fragments as compared with the intact molecule. There was up to a 500-fold difference in the percent of activity recovered in the fragments when tested on cells from different patients. Therefore, there is no single immunodominant site on the molecule equally important for all patients. The cells of all 8 patients also reacted with mouse serum albumin but only 2 with bovine serum albumin. At least 1 determinant on mouse and rat serum albumin is cross-reactive with IgE.     

Antibodies to synthetic antibody-combining sites. Antibodies against a surface-simulation peptide with antibody-combining activity toward lysozyme antigenic site 3 react with lysozyme antibodies

Recently, we reported the synthesis and immunochemistry of two peptides designed, by complementarity and surface-simulation synthesis, to mimic antibody-combining sites against two antigenic sites of lysozyme. In the present work antibodies were raised against one of these peptides, which is complementary to antigenic site 3 of lysozyme, to determine whether these antibodies will react with anti-lysozyme antibodies. Radioiodinated antipeptide antibodies were bound by immunoadsorbents of the immune IgG from two goats anti-lysozyme antisera but not by adsorbents of myoglobin, non-immune goat IgG or immune IgG of antisera against cytochrome c. The binding of anti-peptide antibodies to adsorbents of anti-lysozyme antibodies was fully inhibited by free lysozyme but not by bovine serum albumin, human hemoglobin A, horse cytochrome c or bovine ribonuclease A. Thus, antisera against an antibody-combining site can be raised by immunizing with a peptide which probably does not exist in the antibody but is designed by surface-simulation synthesis to mimic an antibody-combining site.     

Location of antigenic epitopes on antibody molecules

Using X-ray crystallographic co-ordinates of immunoglobulins, surface regions accessible to a large spherical probe, comparable in size to an antibody domain, were computed. Locations of these exposed regions were compared with those of experimentally determined antigenic sites, i.e. idiotypic, allotypic and isotypic serological markers. In all cases, an excellent agreement was found. The most prominent computed epitopes correspond to convex parts of antibody surface made by reverse turn segments of the polypeptide chain. The computed epitopes occur in homologous positions in all the immunoglobulin domains, and most of the beta-sheet surfaces on the domains are poorly antigenic. The CH2 domain (Fc fragment) has many more antigenic sites than the Fab fragments (antigen-binding fragments). Variable domain epitopes (idiotypes) involve both hypervariable and framework residues, and only about 25% of the hypervariable residues are strongly antigenic. The results indicate that, in a vertebrate body, each antibody molecule may be recognized, and its concentration regulated, by at least 40 complementary anti-immunoglobulin antibodies; therefore, a possibility of an "immune network" with much higher connectivity than is generally assumed should be seriously contemplated.     

Analysis of autoantibody binding to different regions of the human La antigen expressed in recombinant fusion proteins

To determine the specificity of autoantibodies for various antigenic sites on a self-protein molecule, sera from 19 patients with anti-La antibodies were tested for their reactivity with molecularly cloned La protein fragments. By quantitative ELISA, anti-La sera from patients with various connective tissue diseases were shown to react with La fusion proteins containing different regions of the La molecule. Two recombinant La fragments containing the carboxyl three-fourths and the middle one-third of the La sequence, respectively, bound higher levels of anti-La antibodies than the two fragments representing the amino and carboxyl terminals. Purified bovine La protein effectively competed for the binding of human autoantibodies to three of the four recombinant La fusion proteins, suggesting similarity in antigenic presentation between the La epitopes in these fusion proteins and the native La molecule. Immunoadsorption experiments showed that most anti-bovine La protein antibodies were removed from a human serum by affinity chromatography by using the fusion protein containing the carboxyl three-fourths of the La sequence, thus supporting the results obtained by quantitative solid phase ELISA. These studies demonstrate that anti-La autoantibodies recognize three La fragments representing separate nonoverlapping regions of the La sequence and are compatible with a mechanism of autoantibody production based on an immune response to the entire self-protein molecule.     

Interrelationship of concanavalin-A-binding and antigenic sites on the acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo marmorata

A preparation of purified 125I-labelled acetylcholine receptor was shown to bind to concanavalin A and to be totally bound by rabbit antiserum to Torpedo acetylcholine receptor. Pre-incubation of the receptor with F(ab')2 and Fab fragments from antibodies against Torpedo acetylcholine receptor, or with corresponding fragments from control immunoglobulin G showed that subsequent binding of the receptor to concanavalin A was specifically inhibited to a maximum of approximately 25% by the immune fragments. Treatment of acetylcholine receptor with periodate or with glycosidases apparently destroyed or removed carbohydrate residues without affecting the antigenicity of the receptor as assessed by radioimmunoassay. These results suggest that although there is a steric interrelatonship between the antigenic and concanavalin-A-binding sites of the receptor the latter sites do not contain its major antigenic determinants.     

The antigenic structure of bovine serum albumin. Evidence for multiple, different, domain-specific antigenic determinants.

Using antiserum to native bovine albumin and antigenically active fragments of the protein, we have isolated antibodies directed to each of the three domains and to several subdomains of the albumin molecule. Using albumin and these fragments as inhibitors of the reaction between 125I-albumin and any given antibody population, we have demonstrated that: (a) each domain of albumin is antigenically distinct from each of the other domains; (b) each domain possesses a minimum of two different antigenic determinants; and (c) the entire albumin molecule possesses a minimum of six different, nonrepeating, antigenic determinants.     

Following single antibody binding to purple membranes in real time

Antibody binding to surface antigens in membranes is the primary event in the specific immune defence of vertebrates. Here we used force microscopy to study the dynamics of antibody recognition of mutant purple membranes from Halobacterium salinarum containing a genetically appended anti-Sendai recognition epitope. Ligation of individual anti-Sendai antibodies to their antigenic epitopes was observed over time. Their increase in number within a small selected area revealed an apparent kinetic on-rate. The membrane-bound antibodies showed many different conformations that ranged from globular to V- and Y-like shapes. The maximum distance of two Fab fragments of the same antibody was observed to be approximately 18 nm, indicating an overall strong intrinsic flexibility of the antibody hinge region. Fab fragments of bound anti-Sendai antibodies were allocated to antigenic sites of the purple membrane, allowing the identification and localization of individual recognition epitopes on the surface of purple membranes.     

Apolipoprotein A-I from normal human plasma: definition of three distinct antigenic determinants

We have prepared, selected and cloned four mouse hybridomas that secreted monoclonal antibodies against human plasma apolipoprotein A-I. These antibodies are all of the IgG-I subclass, and were named anti-A-I 6B8, 5G6, 3D4 and 5A6. We characterized the specificity of the antibodies, finding that all four of them reacted similarly, and with only the major proteins having the molecular weight and isoelectric focusing characteristics of apolipoprotein A-I. The antibodies reacted with all known charge-polymorphs of apolipoprotein A-I and pro apolipoprotein A-I. Thus, the polymorphs of apolipoprotein A-I are alike in that they all contain the antigenic sites of these four antibodies. In a solid-phase, antibody competition radioimmunoassay we found inhibition or enhancement of antibody binding to apolipoprotein A-I, according to the pair of antibodies tested. Antibodies 6B8, 5G6 and 3D4 were different from one another and reacted with different antigenic determinants, but 5A6 was similar to 3D4 and reacted at the same site. We compared the reactions of the four antibodies with CNBr-cleaved fragments of apolipoprotein A-I separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We found three different patterns of reaction with the apolipoprotein A-I fragments; 6B8, 5G6 and 3D4 were different, but 5A6 resembled 3D4. Thus, the four antibodies reacted with at least three different antigenic sites in apolipoprotein A-I, which were present in different CNBr fragments of apolipoprotein A-I, but not on fragment 4 which forms the carboxy-terminal segment.     

Isolation and study of a fragment of human serum albumin containing one of the antigenic sites of the whole molecule

1. A fragment of human serum albumin called `inhibitor' has been degraded by trypsin, and one of the degradation products, designated fragment F1, has been isolated. Fragment F1 has a molecular weight of 6600. It contains neither tyrosine nor tryptophan. It is not precipitated with rabbit anti-sera to human serum albumin. 2. Fragment F1 was coupled to p-aminobenzylcellulose to form an insoluble conjugate. Rabbit anti-(human serum albumin) antibodies reacting with fragment F1 were specifically adsorbed on this conjugate and were desorbed by glycine–hydrochloric acid buffer. The isolated antibodies are composed of γ-globulin and β₂-macroglobulin. 3. Human serum albumin and fragment F1 formed with 7s anti-(fragment F1) antibodies soluble complexes that were studied by passive haemagglutination, ultracentrifugation and electrophoresis. Fragment F1 was shown to contain only one of the antigenic sites of albumin molecule. The 7s anti-(fragment F1) antibodies were shown to be bivalent and monospecific.     

Monoclonal antibodies as probes for functional domains in cAMP-dependent protein kinase II

The antigenic regions of the type II regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent kinase from bovine heart have been correlated with the previously established domain structure of the molecule. Immunoblotting with both serum and monoclonal antibodies of fragments generated by limited proteolysis or chemical cleavage of the R-subunit established that the major antigenic sites were confined to the amino-terminal portion of the polypeptide chain (residues 1-145). Radioimmunoassays using two different antisera suggested that one or more of the high affinity serum antibody recognition sites were further restricted to residues 91-145. This amino-terminal portion of the R-subunit includes the hinge region which is particularly sensitive to proteolysis, allowing the R-subunit to be cleaved readily into a COOH-terminal domain which retains the cAMP-binding sites and an NH2-terminal fragment which appears to be the major site for interaction of the R-subunits in the native dimer. Monoclonal antibodies that recognized determinants on both sides of this hinge region were characterized and their specific recognition sites localized. Accessibility of antigenic sites in the holoenzyme in contrast to free R2 was compared. Although cAMP did tend to slightly increase the affinity of the holoenzyme for one of the monoclonal antibodies, all of the antigenic sites clearly were exposed and accessible in the holoenzyme. Furthermore, despite the presumed close proximity of antigenic sites to interaction sites between the R- and C-subunits, in no case did binding of antibody to the holoenzyme promote dissociation of the complex. The fact that the monoclonal antibodies would precipitate holoenzyme as well as free R2 was used to ascertain the importance of specific amino acid residues in the interaction of the R- and C-subunits. cAMP-binding domains were isolated following limited proteolysis with chymotrypsin and thermolysin. These fragments differed by only three amino acid residues at the NH2-terminal end. U of these fragments in conjunction with immunoadsorption established that the chymotryptic fragment, which contained the Asp-Arg-Arg preceding the site of autophosphorylation, was capable of forming a stable complex with the C-subunit. In contrast, the thermolytic fragment which differed by only those three residues no longer complexed with the C-subunit, indicating that the arginine residues not only contribute to the specificity of the phosphorylation site but also are an essential component for energetically stabilizing the holoenzyme complex.     

Quantitative analysis of the interaction between immune complex and C1q complement subcomponent. The role of interdomain interactions in rabbit IgG in binding of C1q to immune precipitates.

A novel method was developed for the analysis of the interaction of large multivalent ligands with surfaces (matrices) to analyse the binding of complement subcomponent C1q to immune precipitates. Our new evaluation method provides quantitative data characteristic of the C1q-immune-complex interaction and of the structure of the immune complex as well. To reveal the functional role of domain-domain interactions in the Fc part of IgG the binding of C1q to different anti-ovalbumin IgG-ovalbumin immune complexes was studied. Immune-complex precipitates composed of rabbit IgG in which the non-covalent or covalent bonds between the heavy chains had been eliminated were used. Non-covalent bonds were abolished by splitting off the CH3 domains, i.e. by using Facb fragments, and the covalent contact was broken by reduction and alkylation of the single inter-heavy-chain disulphide bond. The quantitative analysis of the binding curves provides a dissociation constant (K) of 200 nM for the interaction between C1q and immune precipitate formed from native IgG. Surprisingly, for immune precipitates composed of Facb fragments or IgG in which the inter-heavy-chain disulphide bond had been selectively reduced and alkylated, stronger binding (K = 30 nM) was observed. In this case, however, changes in the structure of the immune-complex matrix were also detected. These structural changes may account for the strengthening of the C1q-immune-complex interaction, which can be strongly influenced by the flexibility and the binding-site pattern of the immune-complex precipitates. These results suggest that domain-domain interactions in the Fc part of IgG affect the segmental mobility of IgG molecules and the spatial arrangement of the immune-complex matrix rather than the affinity of individual C1q-binding sites on IgG.     

Three distinct epitopes within the loop region of hen egg lysozyme defined with monoclonal antibodies.

Five monoclonal antibodies specific for the loop region of hen egg lysozyme were prepared by immunisation with a synthetic conjugate of a proteolytic fragment of lysozyme coupled to bovine serum albumin. Their fine specificities were investigated using a panel of variant lysozymes and peptide fragments of lysozyme in a quantitative radio-immunoassay procedure. Knowledge of the structure of hen lysozyme to high resolution and the use of computer graphics enables the localisation of the epitopes recognised by the antibodies with some precision. The antibodies were shown to define three distinct, overlapping epitopes within what was previously considered to be a single antigenic site. These results are discussed in relation to current ideas of the antigenic nature of proteins and other recent studies in which anti-protein antibodies have been elicited by immunisation with small peptides.     

Immunochemical properties of the aminopropeptide of procollagen type III

The precursor-specific aminopropeptide of bovine type III procollagen is a strong immunogen in rabbits, guinea pigs and mice and induces antibodies which do not cross-react with type I procollagen. The antibody response is regulated by immune response genes associated with the major histocompatibility complex. Major antigenic determinants were found in the compact, non-collagenous domain (fragment Col 1) located at the N terminus of the aminopropeptide and were destroyed by reduction of disulfide bonds. Minor antigenic determinants independent of disulfide bonds also exist in fragment Col 1 and could be localized on a distinct tryptic peptide. Fragment Col 1 showed a lower affinity for antibody when compared with the intact aminopropeptide which causes a non-parallel shift in radioimmuno-inhibition profiles. Monovalent antibody fragments showed an average tenfold reduction in affinity constant and failed to distinguish between aminopropeptide and fragment Col 1. This indicates that the stronger binding of bivalent antibody by the triple-stranded aminopropeptide is due to multiple interactions with both antibody binding sites which are lost for a single-stranded antigen (Col 1) or with monovalent antibody fragments.     

Topographic antigenic determinants recognized by monoclonal antibodies to sperm whale myoglobin

Monoclonal antibodies of high affinity (approximately 10(9) M-1) for sperm whale myoglobin were studied to pinpoint the antigenic determinants with which they interact. None of 6 different monoclonal antibodies tested reacted with any of the 3 CNBr cleavage fragments which encompass the whole sequence of myoglobin, an indication that they react with determinants present only on the native structure. To identify these sites, we compared the affinities of each antibody for a series of 14 mammalian myoglobins of known sequence and similar tertiary structure. Correlation of sequence differences with relative affinities allowed us, thus far, to identify critical antigenic residues recognized by 3 of the antibodies. Two of these antibodies recognize groups of residues which are far apart in primary structure but close together in the 3-dimensional structure of the native myoglobin molecule, i.e. topographic determinants. The third antibody distinguishes 140 Lys leads to Asn plus, probably, surface residues nearby. These determinants differ from previously reported antigenic sites on sperm whale myoglobin both in that they are topographic, rather than sequential, and in that almost all the critical residues recognized by these antibodies are outside the previously reported sites. Monoclonal antibodies are sensitive to subtle changes, e.g. Glu leads to Asp, in the antigenic site.