Comparison of the dimensions of the combining sites of the dinitrophenyl-binding immunoglobulin A myeloma proteins MOPC 315, MOPC 460 and XRPC 25 by spin-label mapping

The mouse immunoglobulin A myeloma proteins MOPC 315, MOPC 460 and XRPC 25 all possess dinitrophenyl (Dnp)-binding activity. Differences in specificities were shown by measuring the affinities of a variety of haptens. By using a series of Dnp-spin-labelled haptens, the dimensions of the binding sites of the three myeloma proteins were compared by the method described for protein MOPC 315 [Sutton, Gettins, Givol, Marsh, Wain-Hobson, Willan & Dwek (1977) Biochem. J.165, 177-197]. The dinitrophenyl ring is rigidly held in all three sites. The depths of the sites are all 1.1-1.2nm, but there are differences in the lateral dimensions at the entrance to the sites. For protein XRPC 25 these dimensions are 0.75nmx0.8nm, which may be compared with 0.85nmx1.1nm for protein MOPC 315 and >/=1.0nmx1.1nm for protein MOPC 460. The site in protein MOPC 460 is more symmetrical with respect to the plane of the dinitrophenyl ring than in either of the other two myeloma proteins and also allows greater penetration of solvent. In protein XRPC 25 a positively charged residue was located at the entrance to the site, similarly positioned to that reported for protein MOPC 315 [Sutton, Gettins, Givol, Marsh, Wain-Hobson, Willan & Dwek (1977) Biochem.J.165, 177-197]. All three proteins possess lanthanide-binding sites, but only in protein MOPC 315 is there antagonism between lanthanide and hapten binding. However, the effects of the diamagnetic La(III) on the electron-spin-resonance spectra of bound Dnp spin labels in both proteins MOPC 460 and XRPC 25 suggest an interaction between the two sites. Comparison of this effect with that caused by the addition of the paramagnetic Gd(III) enables the distance between the lanthanide- and hapten-binding sites to be calculated. In both proteins MOPC 460 and MOPC 315 the metal site is approx. 1.0nm from the nitroxide moiety of the spin-labelled hapten, but in protein XRPC 25 this distance is at least 2.0nm.     

Symmetry of binding sites of a mouse IgA myeloma protein (MOPC 315)

We have investigated the mechanism of monovalency of the 7S subunit of a mouse IgA myeloma protein (MOPC 315) against a large antigen. This subunit, although it clearly can bind two molecules of a small hapten, fails to precipitate or hemagglutinate the relevant multivalent antigen. In an equilibrium Farr assay, we have shown that the subunit has only one valence for a univalent 40,000 molecular weight antigen (dinitrophenyl-dextran). We have investigated how various levels of affinity labeling quantitatively affect (a) the valence observed in the equilibrium Farr assay against a large antigen, and (b) the binding of the MOPC 315 to an insoluble antigenic matrix. Our results indicate that the Fab regions of the 7S subunit are arranged symmetrically and that the inactivity of one of them toward a large antigen is probably due to steric hindrance caused by the antigen bound to the adjacent site.     

The binding of 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl derivatives to the mouse myeloma immunoglobulin A protein MOPC 315

The binding of Tnp (2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) derivatives to the Fv fragment (variable region of heavy and light chains) of the mouse myeloma IgA protein MOPC 315 was investigated by 270MHz proton nuclear magnetic resonance. Two of the haptens, Tnp-glycine and Tnp-l-aspartate, are in fast exchange with the Fv fragment, and the changes in chemical shifts for both protein and hapten resonances were determined by titrations. For the tightly binding hapten epsilon-N-Tnp-alpha-N-acetyl-l-lysine, which is in slow exchange with the Fv fragment, the changes in chemical shifts for the hapten H(3)+H(5) resonances were determined by cross-saturation. By using these data and the known structure of the combining site of protein MOPC 315 [Dwek, Wain-Hobson, Dower, Gettins, Sutton, Perkins & Givol (1977), Nature (London) 266, 31-37] the mode of binding of Tnp derivatives is deduced by ring-current calculations. The trinitrophenyl ring stacks with tryptophan-93(L) (light chain) in the ;aromatic box' formed by tryptophan-93(L), tyrosine-34(L) and phenyl-alanine-34(H) (heavy chain). Further evidence for the stacking interaction with a tryptophan residue is provided by the similarity of the optical-difference spectra observed with Tnp-aminomethylphosphonate in the presence of either the Fab fragment (light chain and N-terminal half of heavy chain) of protein MOPC 315 or tryptophan. These data show that the modes of binding of all the Tnp derivatives are very similar, despite a 100-fold range in their affinities. It is also concluded that the modes of binding of Dnp (2,4-dinitrophenyl) and Tnp derivatives to protein MOPC 315 are very similar, and that the structural basis for this is that the aromatic box is large enought to allow the trinitrophenyl ring to stack with tryptophan-93(L) while still forming hydrogen bonds to asparagine-36(L) and tyrosine-34(L).     

Magnetic resonance studies of the binding site interactions between 19F-labeled nitrophenyl haptens and specific mouse myeloma immunoglobulin MOPC-315

The interactions between MOPC-315, a mouse myeloma protein with specificity for nitrophenyl haptens, and 19F-substituted haptens have been investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The haptens studied are mono- or dinitrophenyl derivatives of gamma-aminobutyric acid, lysine, or glycine which have trifuoromethyl groups attached to the phenyl rings. Upon binding to immunoglobulin, the 19F nucleus experiences a downfield shift whose magnitude depends on the position of the trifluoromethyl group on the phenyl ring but is independent of other structural changes in the hapten such as the number of nitro groups attached to the phenyl ring. Further, the chemical shift of bound hapten is not influenced by the amount of the constant region attached to the binding site; we accordingly conclude that the presence of the distal, constant regions of the immunoglobulin molecule does not influence binding site interactions.     

Specificity of interactions of hapten side chains with the combining site of the myeloma protein MOPC 315.

The pKa values of the three histidine residues in the Fv fragment (variable region of the heavy and light chains) of the mouse myeloma protein MOPC 315, measured by high resolution n.m.r. (nuclear magnetic resonance), are 5.9, 6.9 and 8.2. The perturbation of the pKa of one of the histidines (pKa 6.9) on the addition of hapten and the narrow linewidth of its proton resonances suggests that it is at the edge of the combining site. References to the model of the Fv fragment [Padlan, Davies, Pecht, Givol & Wright (1976) Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 41, in the press] allows assignment of the three histidine residues, histidine-102H, histidine-97L and histidine-44L. The determination of the pKa of the phosphorus group, by 31P n.m.r., of a homologous series of Dnp- and Tnp- (di- and tri-nitrophenyl) haptens has located a positively charged residue. Molecular-model studies on the conformations of these haptens show that the residue is at the edge of the site. The model suggests that the positively charged residue is either arginine-95L or lysine-52H.     

N.m.r. investigation of hapten binding to the myeloma protein M460

The binding of the haptens DnpOH, Dnp-lysine and Dnp-aspartate to the mouse myeloma IgA protein was studied using ¹H 270 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The n.m.r. difference spectra showed fewer resonance perturbed than expected. This is explained in terms of chemical exchange between the T and R states of the protein as described by the kinetic scheme of Lancet and Pecht (Lancet, D. and Pecht, I. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 1976, 73 3549 53). Large upfield chemical shifts were observed on the resonances of the hapten DnpOH on binding to M460. These are interpreted as indicating an aromatic environment for the Dnp ring. In contrast, the Dnp-aspartate resonances were not shifted at all, as would be expected from the observed rate constants using the kinetic scheme. The shifts observed on the hapten Dnp-lysine were much smaller than those observed for DnpOH. A range of possible values of the shifts were calculated for the T and R states, for Dnp-lysine and DnpOH. For both haptens the combining site environment differed between the T and R conformational states of M460, suggesting that the conformational change involves the combining site.     

Small-angle neutron scattering studies of the conformation of myeloma protein MOPC315 and its Fab fragment, and the interaction with a monovalent dinitrophenyl hapten

The first small-angle scattering study of an immunoglobulin A is reported. Neutron measurements have been made to determine conformational parameters of the mouse myeloma protein MOPC315 and to relate these to previous immunoglobulin G results. Use of the contrast method shows that the MOPC315 IgA molecule is not simply globular, that it has a dry volume of 220.0 +/- 4.5 nm3 corresponding to a mass density of 1.275 +/- 0.025 g cm-3 and that its full and cross-sectional radii of gyration, corrected for concentration dependence, are 7.97 +/- 0.07 nm, 2.40 +/- 0.08 nm and 1.33 +/- 0.07 nm respectively. Similar study of its Fab fragment gives a dry molecular volume of 69.0 +/- 0.7 nm3, a mass density of 1.285 +/- 0.015 g cm-3 and uncorrected radii of gyration that are consistent with those of the parent and support an overall "T" or "Y" conformation in solution. Addition to saturation of a small monovalent dinitrophenyl hapten leaves the dry volume of the whole molecule unaltered, but may slightly lower one or more of its radii of gyration. The significance of this finding is discussed. Comparative studies with rabbit anti-dinitrophenyl immunoglobulin G antibody suggest a different initial conformation but similar consequences of hapten binding, which, if real, are probably unrelated to classical complement fixation.     

Post-translational fate of variant MOPC 315 lambda chains in Xenopus oocytes and mouse myeloma cells

The post-translational fates of three immunoglobulin lambda chain variants of MOPC 315 were investigated in mouse plasmacytoma cell lines and in mRNA-microinjected Xenopus oocytes. Quite unexpectedly we found that one non-secretory variant chain (lambda-43) underwent extensive post-translational N-glycosylation: however the presence of the oligosaccharide moiety did not account for the nonsecretory phenotype nor did it affect the rate of degradation of this lambda chain. Another variant chain (lambda-47) at first believed to be non-secretory, was found to be secreted from oocytes at a very low level, but mostly as a lambda-lambda dimer. In myeloma cells a low level of lambda-47 chain was secreted and again lambda-lambda dimers were the favoured secretory form. The secretory lambda-48 chain also formed lambda-lambda dimers, whereas lambda-43, which was never secreted, was only found as a monomeric lambda chain in both oocytes and myeloma cells. A similar relationship between assembly and secretion was found when oocytes were coinjected with MOPC 21 heavy (gamma 1) chain mRNA and MOPC 315 lambda chain mRNAs. The wild type lambda chain (lambda-48) was able to assemble with the gamma chain in a covalently bound tetramer (gamma gamma lambda lambda). The variant lambda-47 chain was also able to form gamma gamma lambda lambda tetramers, whereas the lambda-43 was not, even when glycosylation was prevented by tunicamycin. Both types of tetramer were secreted. These data reinforce the idea that conformational changes play a major role in the routing of secretory proteins and that the cellular mechanisms by which these changes are recognized are not cell-type specific.     

Arrangement of lambda light chain genes in mutant clones of the MOPC 315 mouse myeloma cells

The synthesis of lambda light chains and the arrangement of the lambda-chain genes was examined in cells of the mouse myeloma MOPC 315, which is an alpha lambda 2 producer, and in several mutants derived from it. The mutants produce lambda 2 chains only (MOPC 315.26, MOPC 315.34, and MOPC 315.37) or fail to produce alpha and lambda 2 chains (MOPC 315.25 and MOPC 315.36). Messenger RNA from the lambda 2 chain-producing cells directed the synthesis of a lambda 2 chain precursor and a fragment of the lambda 1 chain (lambda 1 F) in a wheat embryo cellfree system, whereas mRNA from the cells that do not produce lambda 2 chains directed the synthesis of lambda 1 F only. DNA from the parental MOPC 315 cells and from the lambda 2 chain-producing cells contained discrete EcoRI restriction fragments coding for rearranged lambda 1 and lambda 23 chain genes and their respective germ-line V and J-C regions. DNA from the no-Ig-producing cells contained fragments coding for the rearranged lambda 1 chain gene and the germ-line V lambda 2 region, but it lacked the sequences coding for the rearranged lambda 2 chain gene and the germ-line V lambda 1 and J-C lambda 1 regions. These results suggest that rearrangements of the lambda 1 and lambda 2 chain genes occur on different chromosomes in MOPC 315 cells and imply that rearrangements of the lambda 1 and lambda 2 chain genes on the same chromosome may be mutually exclusive.     

Binding of antigen-bearing fluorescent liposomes to the murine myeloma tumor MOPC 315.

Small unilamellar lipid vesicles bearing the DNP-hapten on their surfaces and containing the water-soluble fluorescent dye carboxyfluorescein were formed by sonication. These vesicles were incubated with cells from the murine myeloma tumor MOPC 315, which secrete and also bear on the cell surface an immunoglobulin with affinity for the nitrophenyl hapten. At 0 degrees C the cells bound an average of several thousand vesicles at saturation. This binding was specific for the nitrophenyl hapten on the vesicle since it was abolished by an excess of soluble nitrophenyl derivative, by omission of the hapten from the vesicle, or by substitution for MOPC 315 of a tumor lacking receptors for the nitrophenyl hapten. Specific binding of vesicles was greater when cells were incubated at 37 degrees C. The study suggests that ligand-bearing vesicles can be a useful marker for cell surface immunoglobulin. However, in spite of the ability to "target" vesicles to cell surface determinants, binding did not result in increased delivery of vesicle contents to the cytoplasm.     

Interactions of the lanthanide- and hapten-binding sites in the Fv fragment from the myeloma protein MOPC 315.

1. The interactions of lanthanide metals and dinitrophenyl spin-label haptens with the Fv fragment of the mouse myeloma protein MOPC 315 were investigated by the techniques of fluorescence, e.s.r. (electron spin resonance) and high-resolution n.m.r. (nuclear magnetic resonance). 2. The protein fluorescence of Fv fragment at 340nm is quenched by the haptens (fluorescence enhancement, epsilon=0.15) and enhanced by Gd(III) (epsilon=1.14) and other lanthanides. The binding of the haptens studied here is insensitive to pH in the range 5.5-7.0 (dissociation constant KH=0.3-1.0 muM) and shows 1:1 stoicheiometry. The binding of Gd(III) also shows 1:1 stoicheiometry, but is pH-dependent; the binding constant (KM) varies from 10 muM at pH7.0 to 700 muM at pH4.8. La(III) binding is less sensitive to pH. The pH-dependences of the metal-binding constants imply that a group in the protein with pKa greater than or equal to 6.2 is involved in the binding, and probably also other groups with lower pKa values. 3. The apparent binding of the haptens is weakened about 20-fold by Gd(III), and vice versa. An equilibrium scheme involving a ternary complex with an interaction between the two binding sites is derived in Appendix I to explain the experimental results at two pH values. 4. Time-dependent fluorescence changes are observed in the presence of Gd(III) at pH5.5. A two-state kinetic scheme involving a 'slow' conformational change in the Fv fragment is derived in Appendix II to explain this time-dependence. This scheme is consistent with the antagonistic equilibrium behaviour. 5. The e.s.r. changes in the spin-label haptens on binding to Fv fragment and on the subsequent addition of lanthanides are consistent with the binding scheme for haptens and lanthanides proposed from the fluorescence studies. A difference between the limiting quenching of the e.s.r. signal from the bound haptens in the presence of saturating concentrations of Gd(III) and La(III) is attributed to dipolar interactions between bound Gd(III) and the nitroxide moiety of the bound hapten. The residual quenching with Gd(III) allows an estimate of 1.2nm to be made for the distance between the two paramagnetic centres. 6. The 270 MHz proton difference spectrum of the Fv fragment resulting from the addition of La(III) suggests that any metal-induced conformational changes are small and involve relatively few amino acid residues on the Fv fragment...     

The role of nitro groups in the binding of nitroaromatics to protein MOPC 315.

Two series of dinitrophenyl haptens, in which chlorine replaces one or both nitro groups, were used to investigate, by a combination of high-resolution 1H n.m.r. and fluorescence quenching, the presence of groups in the combining site of protein MOPC 315, which form hydrogen bonds to the aromatic-ring substituents of the hapten. The large differences in binding constants on successive replacement of nitro groups were shown to be due to specific hapten-substituent-protein interactions by (a) showing that there was little difference in the interaction between these haptens and 3-methylindole (a model for the residue tryptophan-93L with which the hapten stacks in protein MOPC 315), (b) proving by 1H n.m.r. that the mode of hapten binding is constant and (c) showing that the differences in Kd were consistent with the relative hydrogen-bonding capacities of chlorine and the nitro moiety. In this way it was established that each nitro group forms a hydrogen bond. Furthermore, from consideration of the 1H n.m.r. chemical shifts of several dinitrophenyl haptens and their trinitrophenyl analogues, it was shown that there is no distortion of the o-nitro group on binding to the variable fragment of protein MOPC 315.     

Dual binding specificities in MOPC 384 and 870 murine myeloma immunoglobulins.

Homogeneous murine myeloma immunoglobulins (IgA, kappa), M 384, and M 870, bind methyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside and phosphorylcholine at different subsites. Heterologous recombinant immunoglobulins of these two immunoglobulins with M 603 (a homogeneous IgA, kappa with known phosphorylcholine specificity) also bind phosphorylcholine.