Crystal structure of a conformation-dependent rabbit IgG Fab specific for amyloid prefibrillar oligomers

Background

Although rabbit antibodies are widely used in research, no structures of rabbit antigen-binding fragments (Fab) have been reported. M204 is a rabbit monoclonal antibody that recognizes a generic epitope that is common to prefibrillar amyloid oligomers formed from many different amyloidogenic sequences. Amyloid oligomers are widely suspected to be a primary causative agent of pathogenesis in several age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. The detailed structure of these amyloid oligomers is not known nor is the mechanism for the recognition of the generic epitope by conformation-dependent monoclonal antibodies.

Method

As a first approach to understanding the mechanism of conformation-dependent antibody recognition, we have crystallized the Fab of M204.

Results

We have determined the structure of the Fab of M204 at 1.54 Å resolution. The crystal structure reveals details of the M204 antigen combining site and features unique to rabbit Fabs such as an interdomain disulfide bond on its light chain.

General significance

Based on the structural features of the antigen-combining site of the M204, we rule out a “steric zipper” formation, as found in numerous amyloid fibril structures, as a mechanism of antibody-antigen recognition. The details of the first rabbit immunoglobulin Fab structure might also be useful for exploiting the potential of rabbit monoclonal antibodies for the development of humanized rabbit antibodies as therapeutic agents.     

Of rabbit and man: Comparative gene mapping

Summary Nineteen cell hybrids were obtained by fusing rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus, OCU) fibroblasts and a Chinese hamster cell line HGPRT. Eleven enzymatic markers were investigated for cosegregation analysis. Seven could be assigned to OCU chromosomes: LDHA to OCU1; LDHB and TPI to OCU4; PEPB, NP, and ITP to OCU16; and G6PD to OCUX. Two assignments were considered possible: MDH2 to OCU15, and GUK to OCU3 or 15. Two could not be assigned: MDH1 and PGD. These results are consistent with the OCU-HSA chromosome homocologies previously reported, except for PEPB.     

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas of man and rat

Summary An immunohistochemical study for islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) was made on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and pancreas of man and rat, using antisera raised against a synthetic peptide of C-terminal human IAPP (24–37) and a synthetic peptide of rat IAPP (18–37). A large number of IAPP-immunoreactive cells were found in the pyloric antrum, and a small number in the body of the stomach in both man and rat. Cytoplasmic processes extended out from the bipolar peripheral region of the immunoreactive cells, rather like neuronal processes, and some appeared to make contact with other immunoreactive cells. In addition, small numbers of immunoreactive cells were also seen in the duodenum and rectum, whereas they were absent from the jejunum, ileum and large intestine. An examination was made for evidence of colocalization of IAPP-immunoreactive material with material immunoreactive for gastrin, somatostatin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, pancreatic polypeptide, insulin, and glucagon, but none was found. IAPP-immunoreactive cells were also found in the pancreas of non-diabetic and non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients, but they were completely absent from a patient with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus despite the presence of IAPP in the plasma. The results of these studies suggest that the peptide may have a biological role in situ in the GI tract and, in addition to the pancreas, may be a possible source of plasma IAPP.     

Urinary excretion of LH-RH after intravenous injection in rabbit and man]

The excretion of immunoreactive and radioactive material in urine was studied after intravenous injection of synthetic LH-RH in a rabbit and in a man. The LH-RH-like immunoreactive substance (LHRH-LIS) found in unextracted urine by radioimmunoassay was excreted within the same timelag and in the same proportions in the rabbit and in the human, but different from those of synthetic LH-RH, as shown by purifications on sephadex.     

Comparison of Schistosoma mansoni Soluble Cercarial Antigens and Soluble Egg Antigens for Serodiagnosing Schistosome Infections

A Schistosoma mansoni cercarial antigen preparation (cercarial transformation fluid – SmCTF) was evaluated for detection of anti-schistosome antibodies in human sera in 4 collaborating laboratories. The performance of SmCTF was compared with that of S. mansoni egg antigens (SmSEA) in an indirect enzyme-immunoassay (ELISA) antigen assay, the latter being used routinely in 3 of the 4 participating laboratories to diagnose S. mansoni and S. haematobium infections. In the fourth laboratory the performance of SmCTF was compared with that of S. japonicum egg antigens (SjSEA) in ELISA for detection of anti-S. japonicum antibodies. In all 4 laboratories the results given by SmCTF in ELISA were very similar to those given by the antigen preparation routinely used in the respective laboratory to detect anti-schistosome antibodies in human infection sera. In so far as the ELISA results from SmCTF are thus so little different from those given by schistosome egg antigens and also cheaper to produce, the former is a potentially useful new diagnostic aid for schistosomiasis.