Allotypically related sequences in the Fd fragment of rabbit immunoglobulin heavy chains

The sequence has been completed of the N-terminal 94 residues of the variable section of the Fd fragment of heavy chains from rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) of allotype As1. Most of the sequence of the same section from IgG of allotype Aa3 is also reported. These results, in conjunction with a substantial sequence of the variable region of allotype Aa2 reported elsewhere (Fleischman, 1971), show the presence of 16 positions (including six consecutive positions) in which the residue present correlates with the allotype. No allotype-related sequence variation has been found in the constant section of the Fd fragment. This evidence supports the view that two genes code for the heavy chain and it can be used as evidence in favour of somatic mutation as the origin of the variability in the sequence of the N-terminal section. The evolutionary origin of the ;a' locus allotypes of rabbit immunoglobulins remains obscure.     

Sequence studies on the constant region of the Fd sections of rabbit immunoglobulin G of different allotype.

The amino acid sequence has been completed for the constant region of the Fd fragments of heavy chains from rabbit IgG (immunoglobulin G) of allotype Aa1 and Aa3. The amino acid sequence given by Fruchter et al. [(1970) Biochem. J. 116, 249-259] for the constant region of the Fd fragment from Aa1 IgG was extended and in in part corrected to give a continuous sequence of 140 residues. No allotype-related sequence variation was found in the constant section of the Fd fragment. This evidence confirms the view that the differences in sequence between the variable regions of Aa1 and Aa3 IgG [Mole et al., (1971) Biochem. J. 124, 301-318] are responsible for the allotypic specificities.     

High-level production and secretion of a mouse-human chimeric Fab fragment with specificity to human carcino embryonic antigen in Escherichia coli

A high-level secretion system for the production of mouse-human chimeric antibody 21B2 (MHC 21B2) Fab fragment specific for human carcino embryonic antigen (hCEA) in Escherichia coli has been constructed. The genes encoding a light chain and an Fd fragment (a variable region and the CH₁ domain of a heavy chain) of a mouse-human chimeric antibody were directly fused to the signal peptide of the E. coli ompF gene sequence. E. coli cells containing expression vectors in which each of the two genes are located downstream of a separate tac promoter were able to secrete the light chain and Fd fragment as two of their major cellular proteins. The signal peptides were efficiently removed from the primary products by post-translational processing, although they formed insoluble aggregates, possibly in the periplasm. In high-cell-density culture experiments using a jar fermentor, the amount of light chain and Fd fragment produced was at levels of up to 2.88 g/l and 1.28 g/l culture, respectively. By optimizing the conditions that encourage correct folding, formation of disulphide bonds, and association of the light chain with the Fd fragment, we have established a procedure that can purify, refold, and combine aggregated products to electrophoretically homogeneous Fab fragment with a yield of approximately 47%. Fab fragment produced in this manner shows essentially the same antigen-binding activity and specificity to hCEA as the parental mouse antibody 21B2 (MoAb 21B2). Correspondence to: T. Shibui     

The N- and C-terminal amino acid sequences of the heavy chain from a pathological human immunoglobulin IgG

The heavy chain of a pathological human immunoglobulin IgG and also the Fd fragment have been isolated. No free alpha-amino group was present on either and the N-terminal sequence of both has been identified as pyrrolid-2-one-5-carbonylvalylthreonine. Splitting at the four methionine residues of the heavy chain with cyanogen bromide gave five fractions. The fraction from the C-terminal end of the chain was isolated in high yield and the amino acid sequence was: His-Glu-Ala-Leu-His-Asp(NH(2))-His-Tyr-Thr-Glu(NH(2))-Lys-Ser-Leu-Ser-Leu-Ser-Pro-Gly These results give strong support to the view that the heavy chain of immunoglobulin is a single peptide chain.     

The mechanism of reassembly of immunoglobulin G.

The noncovalent interaction of light (L) chain with heavy (H) chain or Fd isolated from a human myeloma protein Jo (IgG1, kappa) was studied by following circular dichroic (CD) change at 235 nm. The dimerization constants of Jo-L chain determined by measuring the CD change at 293 nm with protein concentration showed that the Jo-L chain exists as the monomeric form under the experimental conditions used for recombination with H chain. The second-order rate constants for the interaction between H and L chains were in good agreement with those for the interaction between Fd and L chain at various pH values. The binding behavior of L chain to Fd could be described by a single association constant. In the interpretation of the binding of L chain to H chain, however, it was necessary to assume that the binding of L chain to one of the two sites on H chain dimer (H2) decreases the affinity of the other site for L chain. The binding constant of the first L chain to H2 was the same as that of L chain to Fd. Renaturation processes of L chain, Fd, Fab(SS) fragment (with intact interchain disulfide bond), and Fab(RA) fragment (in which the interchain disulfide bond had been reduced and alkylated) from the denatured states in 0.5 or 1 M acetic acid on neutralization were studied. The renaturation of Fd occurred very rapidly, while that of L chain consisted of a very rapid process and a slow process which followed first-order kinetics. The renaturation process of Fab(SS) consisted of rapid and slow phases, of which the latter followed first-order kinetics. The renaturation process of Fab(RA) also consisted of rapid and slow phases, but the latter process followed second-order kinetics. The overall rate constant of renaturation of Fab(RA) was the same as that of the reformation of Fab(RA) from isolated Fd and L chain. On the basis of these facts, the kinetic mechanism by which Fd and L chain recombine to yield Fab(RA) can be described in terms of the scheme Fd + L in equilibrium Fd ... L leads to Fab(RA), where Fd ... L is an intermediate, and CD change is only observed in the second unimolecular process and not in the first bimolecular process.     

抗破伤风类毒素单抗可变区基因的克隆及在大肠杆菌中表达的三种工程抗体

The heavy and light chain variable region genes of anti-tetanus toxoid (TT) antibody and the heavy chain Fd genes were amplified and cloned through RT-PCR from mouse hybridoma cells. The sequences of VH and VK were determined. Fd gene fragments were expressed in E. coli. The ELISA results indicated that the expressed Fd showed antigen binding activity but was nonspecific. Furthermore, through SOE and PCR techniques, the VH and VK gene fragments together with ScFv linker were assembled into single chain antibody (ScFv) gene fragment. While together with human heavy chain CH 1 gene fragment and Fab linker, they were assembled into chimeric Fab gene fragment. The two assembled gene fragments were separately inserted into phagemid pHEN 1, which was a fd-based vector containing gene 3 encoding the minor coat protein. In presence of helper phage M 13-VCS the anti-TT phage-ScFv or phage-Fab were displayed on the surface of phage particles respectively. Results from phage-ELISA indicated that both phage antibodies were TT-specific.     

抗破伤风类毒素单抗可变区基因的克隆及在大肠杆菌中表达的三种工程抗体

我们采用RT-PCR,从小鼠杂交瘤细胞中扩增并克隆了抗破伤风类毒素(TT)抗体轻、重链可变区,重链Fd区基因,测定了其VH、Vk序列。并在大肠杆菌中表达了Fd片段,ELISA分析的结果表明Fd片段具有抗原结合的能力,但特异性很差。进一步采用SOE,和PCR技术,将VH、VK基因与ScFv连接片段组装成单链抗体(ScFv)基因片段,以及将人重链CH1和Fab基因连接片段组装成Fab基因片段。将它们分别插入含噬菌体fd外壳蛋白3基因的phagem-id pHEN 1中,在辅助噬菌体M 13-VCS作用下,噬菌体表面表达了抗TT的噬菌体单链抗体(phage-ScFv)与噬菌体Fab(phage-Fab),经ELISA检测,表明它们都能与TT特异结合。     

The Fab and Fc fragments of IgA1 exhibit a different arrangement from that in IgG: a study by X-ray and neutron solution scattering and homology modelling

Human immunoglobulin A (IgA) is an abundant antibody that mediates immune protection at mucosal surfaces as well as in plasma. The IgA1 isotype contains two four-domain Fab fragments and a four-domain Fc fragment analogous to that in immunoglobulin G (IgG), linked by a glycosylated hinge region made up of 23 amino acid residues from each of the heavy chains. IgA1 also has two 18 residue tailpieces at the C terminus of each heavy chain in the Fc fragment. X-ray scattering using H2O buffers and neutron scattering using 100 % 2H2O buffers were performed on monomeric IgA1 and a recombinant IgA1 that lacks the tailpiece (PTerm455). The radii of gyration RG from Guinier analyses were similar at 6.11-6.20 nm for IgA1 and 5.84-6.16 nm for PTerm455, and their cross-sectional radii of gyration RXS were also similar. The similarity of the RG and RXS values suggests that the tailpiece of IgA1 is not extended outwards in solution. The IgA1 RG values are higher than those for IgG, and the distance distribution function P(r) showed two distinct peaks, whereas a single peak was observed for IgG. Both results show that the hinge of IgA1 results in an extended Fab and Fc arrangement that is different from that in IgG. Automated curve-fit searches constrained by homology models for the Fab and Fc fragments were used to model the experimental IgA1 scattering curves. A translational search to optimise the relative arrangement of the Fab and Fc fragments held in a fixed orientation resembling that in IgG was not successful in fitting the scattering data. A new molecular dynamics curve-fit search method generated IgA1 hinge structures to which the Fab and Fc fragments could be connected in any orientation. A search based on these identified a limited family of IgA1 structures that gave good curve fits to the experimental data. These contained extended hinges of length about 7 nm that positioned the Fab-to-Fab centre-to-centre separation 17 nm apart while keeping the corresponding Fab-to-Fc separation at 9 nm. The resulting extended T-shaped IgA1 structures are distinct from IgG structures previously determined by scattering and crystallography which have Fab-to-Fab and Fab-to-Fc centre-to-centre separations of 7-9 nm and 6-8 nm, respectively. It was concluded that the IgA1 hinge is structurally distinct from that in IgG, and this results in a markedly different antibody structure that may account for a unique immune role of monomeric IgA1 in plasma and mucosa.     

Studies on complement-fixation reaction in equine infectious anemia. II. Identification of complement-fixing inhibitors.

The substances responsible for inhibiting complement-fixation (CF) reaction of the late-stage serum of an equine infectious anemia (EIA)-infected horse were investigated. It was found that the IgG and IgG(T) classes in the late-stage serum were responsible for the CF inhibition. IgA could not be detected in partially purified IgG(T) by an immunodiffusion test using rabbit anti-human IgA serum. Other serum components could not be demonstrated in purified IgG by immunoelectrophoresis using rabbit anti-horse serum. The IgG class simultaneously showed CF and CF-inhibiting (CFI) activities, whereas the IgG(T) class showed only CFI activity. The IgG(T) class could exert CFI activity only when it had been reacted with the EIA antigen before addition of the reference CF serum and complement. In contrast, the IgG class converted the CF-active reference serum into a non-CF-reactive one irrespective of whether it was simultaneously reacted with the EIA antigen and the reference CF serum, whether it was added to the reaction mixture of the EIA antigen and the reference CF serum, or whether it was sensitized with the EIA antigen before addition of the reference CF serum. Inhibitory activities of the IgG and IgG(T) classes seemed to be different from each other in their reaction pattern as far as tested under our experimental conditions. Their CFI activities seemed to be specific for EIA, being negative in CFI activity in reaction with other antigens.     

Bacterial expression and purification of the Fab fragment of a monoclonal antibody specific for the low-density lipoprotein receptor-binding site of human apolipoprotein E.

We report the bacterial expression and the purification of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific for an epitope that coincides with the LDL receptor (LDLr)-binding domain of human apolipoprotein E (apoE). This antibody resembles the LDLr in its primary structure and its specificity for apoE variants. The recombinant Fab (rFab) fragment of mAb 2E8, consisting of the entire light chain and the Fd portion of the heavy chain, was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Purification was facilitated by including a five-histidine carboxyl-terminal extension on the Fd chain. A 5- to 10-fold difference in yield of the antibody was observed when the plasmid was expressed in two different strains of E. coli. Typically 2-6 mg of rFab per liter of culture medium was recovered in the periplasm of the TG1 strain and less than 1 mg was recovered in the periplasm of the XL1-Blue strain. Culture temperatures above 35 degrees C or inclusion of sucrose in the medium reduced rFab yields. The 2E8 rFab was indistinguishable from Fab prepared from 2E8 hybridoma-generated IgG with respect to its affinity and fine specificity. We are using this system to express a panel of 2E8 variant Fabs that will be used as probes to establish the structural features responsible for the binding of apoE to the LDLr.     

Comparative analysis of the adjuvant action of fab-fragments of normal rabbit IgG obtained using pepsin and papain]

The capacity of Fab fragments of normal rabbit IgG to enhance the immune response to sheep erythrocytes in the homologous recipients was determined by the structure of the C-terminal part of the heavy chain Fd fragment. This followed from the fact that pepsin F(a')2 and Fab' fragments enhanced considerably the hemagglutinin production and proliferation of the antibody-forming cells in the spleen, whereas papain Fab fragments, used in the same dose as the pepsin fragments, possessed only negligible adjuvant activity. As shown the adjuvant activity of pepsin and papain fragments displayed an inverse correlation with the titres and papain homoreactants in the sera of the homologous recipients. The data obtained suggested that the target cells for Fab fragments were lymphocytes carrying cytophilic homoreactants as receptors for the fragments.     

Comparison of two forms of catalytic antibody displayed on yeast-cell surface

Two forms of the Fab fragment of the catalytic antibody 6D9 were individually displayed on yeast-cell surface in fusion to the C-terminal half of -agglutinin: one was 6D9 Fab1, in which the light chain of the Fab (Lc) fragment is displayed on cell surface and the heavy chain of the Fab (Fd) fragment is secreted and linked to the Lc fragment with a disulfide bond; the other was 6D9 Fab2, in which the Fd fragment is displayed on cell surface and the Lc fragment is secreted and linked to the Fd fragment with a disulfide bond. Analysis by flow cytometry indicated that some 6D9 Fab2 fragments were unable to construct an appropriate conformation, and that most of the 6D9 Fab1 fragments displayed on yeast-cell surface exhibited higher binding affinity, stability, and catalytic activity. Conformation of the surface-displayed hetero-dimeric Fab fragment mainly depended on the intermolecular disulfide bond between the Lc and Fd fragments. The conformation of 6D9 Fab1 was more stable than that of Fab2. In the reducing environment of solution containing 25 nM DTT, the function of 6D9 Fab2 was almost completely lost. The successful display of 6D9 Fab1 on yeast-cell surface provides a novel approach to the engineering of catalytic antibodies.     

Studies on Complement-Fixation Reaction in Equine Infectious Anemia

The substances responsible for inhibiting complement-fixation (CF) reaction of the late-stage serum of an equine infectious anemia (EIA)-infected horse were investigated. It was found that the IgG and IgG(T) classes in the late-stage serum were responsible for the CF inhibition. IgA could not be detected in partially purified IgG(T) by an immunodiffusion test using rabbit anti-human IgA serum. Other serum components could not be demonstrated in purified IgG by immunoelectrophoresis using rabbit anti-horse serum. The IgG class simultaneously showed CF and CF-inhibiting (CFI) activities, whereas the IgG(T) class showed only CFI activity. The IgG(T) class could exert CFI activity only when it had been reacted with the EIA antigen before addition of the reference CF serum and complement. In contrast, the IgG class converted the CF-active reference serum into a non-CF-reactive one irrespective of whether it was simultaneously reacted with the EIA antigen and the reference CF serum, whether it was added to the reaction mixture of the EIA antigen and the reference CF serum, or whether it was sensitized with the EIA antigen before addition of the reference CF serum. Inhibitory activities of the IgG and IgG(T) classes seemed to be different from each other in their reaction pattern as far as tested under our experimental conditions. Their CFI activities seemed to be specific for EIA, being negative in CFI activity in reaction with other antigens.     

Enzymic degradation of the Fc fragment of rabbit immunoglobulin IgG

The digestion of the Fc fragment of rabbit immunoglobulin IgG by several proteolytic enzymes was investigated by using gel filtration and starch-gel electrophoresis in 8m-urea-formate as criteria of the extent of degradation. Though fragment Fc and mildly reduced fragment Fc proved resistant to tryptic hydrolysis, papain and pepsin cleaved the fragment at acidic pH values and appeared to give rise to a similar spectrum of products. A (limit) peptide comprising the C-terminal 113 residues of the heavy chain was isolated and identified from the pepsin-digest products of fragment Fc. The products of proteolytic digestion of fragment Fc were no longer able to inhibit passive cutaneous anaphylaxis by rabbit anti-(bovine serum albumin) or demonstrate reversed passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in the guinea pig. Nor were they able to inhibit the intestinal absorption of heterologous immunoglobulin IgG in the young mouse. These studies imply that the site or sites responsible for these biological properties of intact fragment Fc reside in the N-terminal 30-40% of the fragment.     

Fc and Fab Fragments from IgG<Subscript>2</Subscript> Human Immunoglobulins Characterized

Papain digestion of 7S immunoglobulin G (IgG) produces two 3.5S Fab fragments and one 3.5S Fc fragment^1–8. The Fab fragment contains one light chain and one Fd fragment and is still able to combine specifically univalently with antigen. The Fc fragment is a dimer of the carboxyl terminal half of the heavy chain. Pepsin splits 7S IgG into some small peptides derived from Fc and one 5S F(ab′)₂ fragment, which contains both antigen-binding sites. Based on this information, some investigators^6,7 have postulated that pepsin splits the γ chains at the C-terminal side of the inter-heavy chain disulphide bridges, whereas papain splits at the N-terminal side of the inter-heavy chain disulphide bridges. We report here evidence that this model does not apply to all IgG subclasses. In the case of human IgG₂ subclass myeloma proteins, papain splits initially at the C-terminal side of inter-heavy chain disulphide bridges. We also show that the amino-acid sequence of the Fc fragment of human IgG₂ subclass so far determined has approximately 95% homology with that of human IgG₁ and IgG₄ subclasses reported by others^9–15.     

Studies on the influence of different designs of eukaryotic vectors on the expression of recombinant IgA

Production and application of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are second only to vaccines in the world pharmaceutical market. The most common therapeutic antibodies are monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) of the IgG isotype that are produced in eukaryotic CHO cells. In recent years, there has been a considerable interest in developing treatment medications based on IgA antibodies, which can have a wide range of effector functions on human mucous membranes. To study the expression level of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in mammal cells, we designed a set of bipromoter (CMV and EF1α) vectors. The vectors contain gene fragments that encode the heavy chain variable domain (VH) and the light chain variable domain (VL) of the human monoclonal antibody FI6v3 against the hemagglutinin of influenza virus A. They also contain gene fragments that encode the light chain (kappa type) constant domain and the heavy chain constant domain of the human antibody IgA1. The expression vectors differed in the orientation of the promoters and the presence or absence of introns. Two variants of the full-length light and heavy chains were cloned into a eukaryotic expression vector in head-to-head and head-to-tail orientations. The resulting plasmids were transfected into CHO-DG44 and HEK-293T cells. The antibody expression level for the stable transfection of CHO-DG44 and HEK-293T cell cultures was determined by ELISA. The results of the experiments showed that the expression of FI6v3-IgA1 antibodies significantly increased when eukaryotic cells were transfected with the plasmid pBiPr-ABIgA1FI6-Iht in which the heavy chain of IgA1 contains introns and the promoters are arranged head-to-tail.     

Generation of monoclonal antibodies to Macaca mulatta (rhesus) IgA

One IgG1 and five IgM murine monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific for rhesus (Rh) IgA were generated. These mAbs bound to Rh IgA but not IgG or IgM when tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunoblotting revealed that the mAbs reacted with the alpha heavy chain of Rh but not human IgA. The IgG1 anti-Rh IgA mAb detected IgA-producing cells in sections of monkey gut examined by immunofluorescent staining. These mAbs should be useful for characterizing IgA responses in the Rh monkey.     

Purification and Characterization of Canine Serum Ferritin-binding Proteins

Ferritin-binding protein (FBP) is known to interact with circulating ferritins in mammals. Canine FBPs were purified from canine serum by affinity chromatography and were identified as IgM, IgG, and IgA by immunoblotting with alkaline phosphatase-labeled antibodies to canine IgM, IgG, and IgA heavy chains. Following further purification by application to a Sephacryl S-300 column, canine FBPs were separated into 81.3- and 27.7-kDa bands by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacryamide gel electrophoresis, and the 81.3-kDa band reacted with the anti-canine IgM heavy chain antibody. Purified canine FBP bound to canine liver ferritin, but not to canine albumin and transferrin. FBP showed greater binding to the expressed bovine ferritin H-chain homopolymer than to the expressed bovine ferritin L-chain homopolymer. The binding of FBP with canine liver ferritin was dose-dependently inhibited by anti-rat liver ferritin antibody, and the anti-ferritin antibody dissociated the bound FBP in a dose-dependent manner, even after binding FBP with liver ferritin. The canine ferritin H subunit peptide fragment with amino acid residues 148–155 (NH₂-GDHVTNLR-COOH) in its C-terminal region was recognized by FBP. These results indicate that canine serum FBPs are autoantibodies to ferritin (IgM, IgG, and IgA) and that anti-ferritin autoantibody (IgM) recognizes the C-terminal region of ferritin H subunit.