Identification of mar mutations in herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein B which alter antigenic structure and function in virus penetration.

Analysis of six monoclonal antibody-resistant (mar) mutants in herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein B identified two type-common (II and III) and two type-specific (I and IV) antigenic sites on this molecule. To derive additional information on the location of these sites, mar mutations were mapped and nucleotide alterations were identified by DNA sequencing. Each mutant carried a single amino acid substitution resulting from a G-to-A base transition. Alterations affecting antibody neutralization were identified at residues 473, 594, 305, and 85 for mutants in sites I through IV, respectively. Two clonally distinct site II antibodies each selected mar mutants (Gly to Arg at residue 594) that exhibited a reduction in the rate of entry (roe) into host cells. A site II mar revertant that regained sensitivity to neutralization by site II antibodies also showed normal entry kinetics. DNA sequencing of this virus identified a single base reversion of the site II mar mutation, resulting in restoration of the wild-type sequence (Arg to Gly). This finding demonstrated that the mar and roe phenotypes were the result of a single mutation. To further define structures that contributed to antibody recognition, monoclonal antibodies specific for all four sites were tested for their ability to immune precipitate a panel of linker-insertion mutant glycoprotein B molecules. Individual polypeptides that contained single insertions of 2 to 28 amino acids throughout the external domain were not recognized or were recognized poorly by antibodies specific for sites II and III, whereas no insertion affected antibody recognition of sites I and IV. mar mutations affecting either site II or III were previously shown to cause temperature-sensitive defects in glycoprotein B glycosylation, and variants altered in both these sites were temperature sensitive for virus production. Taken together, the data indicate that antigenic sites II and III are composed of higher-order structures whose integrity is linked with the ability of glycoprotein B to function in virus infectivity.     

Antibodies to the N-terminus of calpactin II (p35) affect Ca2+ binding and phosphorylation by the epidermal growth factor receptor in vitro

Calpactins I and II are related 39-kilodalton (kDa) proteins that interact with phospholipids and actin in a calcium-dependent manner and are substrates of tyrosine protein kinases. They contain a short amino-terminal tail attached to a 36-kDa core domain. Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were raised to bovine calpactin II and used as site-specific probes of its structure and function. All of the antibodies reacted with native calpactin II and gave rise to a single band of 39 kDa among total cell protein displayed on Western blots. Most of the antibodies (9/14) reacted with determinants on the tail as shown by Western blots and competition with a synthetic tail peptide. Four antibodies reacted with determinants on the core and a 10-kDa tryptic fragment. Antibody-calpactin II complexes were tested for their ability to interact with lipid, actin, and Ca2+ and to serve as substrates of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor tyrosine protein kinase. Whereas none of the antibodies had a detectable effect on actin binding, two anticore antibodies reduced calpactin's affinity for phospholipid. Ca2+-binding sites are known to reside within the core region, yet most antitail antibodies markedly increased the affinity of calpactin II for Ca2+, with four Ca2+-binding sites observed. Antitail antibodies either (i) abolished or (ii) greatly stimulated (10-fold) the phosphorylation of calpactin II by the EGF receptor. These results suggest that the interactions between calpactin II and Ca2+, phospholipid, or the EGF receptor are more complex than previously thought and can be modulated by interactions occurring in the tail.     

Nonoverlapping antigenic sites of woodchuck hepatitis virus surface antigen and their cross-reactivity with ground squirrel hepatitis virus and hepatitis B virus surface antigens.

Five nonoverlapping antigenic sites (sites I through V) of woodchuck hepatitis virus surface antigen were identified with competitive binding assays involving monoclonal antibodies. Site I contributed to cross-reactions among surface antigens of hepatitis B-like viruses infecting woodchucks, ground squirrels, and humans. At least three distinct sites (sites I, II, and III) are responsible for cross-reactions between woodchuck and ground squirrel hepatitis virus surface antigens. Sites IV and V of woodchuck hepatitis virus surface antigen are not major cross-reactive sites, suggesting that these elicit virus-specific antibodies. There were no cross-reactions with duck hepatitis B virus surface antigen.     

Preliminary characterization and partial purification of rat uterine nuclear type II Binding sites

These studies represent the first biochemical characterization and purification of nuclear type II binding sites from the rat uterus. Uterine nuclei from estradiol-implanted rats were digested with DNA'se and RNA'se, washed with Na deoxycholate-Tween 40 and extracted with 0.4 M ammonium sulfate (AmSO4). Nuclear type II sites in the AmSO4 extract eluted as a single peak during DEAE ion exchange chromatography, HPLC (Waters DEAE 5PW column) and Sephadex G-100 chromatography with a molecular weight of approximately 37K. DEAE and quercetin-sepharose affinity chromatography resulted in significant purification (greater than 800-fold) of nuclear type II sites with a 49% yield. Type II sites were not recognized by rat ER antibodies (Abbot ER-EIA kit) which immunoadsorbed ER from these preparations. These biochemical and immunological studies suggest that the ER and type II sites are likely to be different proteins.     

Demonstration of immunoreactive sites on cartilage after in vivo administration of biotinylated anti-type II collagen antibodies

Administration of biotinylated monoclonal antibodies provides the basis of a simple technique for identifying immunoreactive sites in vivo. Biotinylated anti-type II collagen antibodies were injected intraperitoneally into normal DBA/1 mice. The mice were sacrificed after 96 hr and the front paws removed and decalcified to allow tissue sectioning before snap-freezing. Binding of antibodies in vivo was visualized with affinity cytochemical staining using avidin-biotin-peroxidase complexes. Specific binding of antibodies to cartilaginous structures was seen after injection of 20-500 micrograms biotinylated monoclonal or polyclonal anti-type II collagen antibodies, but not after injection of a biotinylated control antibody. This technique should further the detection and localization studies of tissue components involved in the dynamics of physiological and pathological processes.     

Mannose 6-phosphate/insulin like growth factor II receptor: the two types of ligands bind simultaneously to one receptor at different sites

Pentamannose 6-phosphate/trilysine substituted aprotinin (PMP-lys-aprotinin) and insulin like growth factor II (IGF II) were used as affinity ligands for the mannose 6-phosphate (M6P) and IGF II binding sites of the M6P/IGF II receptor. Both ligands were cross linked to intact receptor and tryptic fragments of the receptor. The pattern of receptor fragments with M6P and IGF II binding sites differed indicating that the two binding sites are located on different segments of the receptor. The receptor was incubated with [125I]IGF II and pentamannose 6-phosphate substituted bovine serum albumin (PMP-BSA). From these mixtures [125I]IGF II receptor complexes could be precipitated with antibodies against the PMP-BSA indicating that the M6P/IGF II receptor can bind simultaneously IGF II and M6P-containing ligands.     

Linear and Conformation-Dependent Antigenic Sites on the Nucleoprotein of Rabies Virus

A set of 29 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for the rabies virus nucleoprotein (N protein) was prepared and used to analyze the topography of antigenic sites. At least four partially overlapping antigenic sites were delineated on the N protein of rabies virus by competitive binding assays. Indirect immunofluorescent antibody tests using MAbs with a series of rabies and rabies-related viruses showed that epitopes shared by various fixed and street strains of rabies virus were mainly localized at antigenic sites II and III, while epitopes representing the genus-specific antigen of Lyssavirus were widely presented at sites I, III and IV. All but one of seven MAbs specific for antigenic sites I, IV and bridge site (I and II) reacted with the antigen that had been denatured by sodium dodecyl sulfate or 2-mercaptoethanol, as well as with the denatured N protein in Western blotting assays. However, none of the MAbs against antigenic sites II and III reacted with the denatured antigen. These data indicate that antigenic sites I and IV, and sites II and III on the N protein of rabies virus are composed of linear and conformation-dependent epitopes, respectively.     

Identification of nuclear type II [(3)H]estradiol binding sites as histone H4

[3H]Luteolin binds covalently to uterine nuclear type II sites [B. Markaverich, K. Shoulars, M.A. Alejandro, T. Brown, Steroids 66 (2001) 707] and was used to identify this protein(s). SDS-PAGE analyses of [3H]luteolin-labeled type II site preparations revealed specific binding to 11- and 35-kDa proteins. The 11-kDa protein was identified as histone H4 by amino acid sequencing. Western blotting confirmed that the 11- and 35-kDa proteins were acetylated forms of histone H4. Anti-histone H4 antibodies (but not H2A, H2B, or H3 antibodies) quantitatively immunoadsorbed type II binding sites from nuclear extracts. Binding analyses by [3H]estradiol exchange, using luteolin as a competitor, detected specific type II binding activity to histone H4 (but not histones H2A, H2B, or H3) generated in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate translation system and confirmed that histone H4 is the type II site.     

The human immune response to reconstituted bovine collagen

The human immune response to bovine dermal collagen was characterized through histologic, serologic, and immunoblotting methods. Collagen-sensitive patients were identified by hypersensitivity to intradermal exposure to ZYDERM Collagen Implant--a pepsin-solubilized, reconstituted, bovine dermal collagen. Biopsies of test sites in the forearm were obtained from several collagen-sensitive patients. Histologic examination revealed an implant-associated palisading foreign body granuloma. The lesion also contained a mixed cell infiltrate of histiocytes, lymphocytes, and eosinophils. Sera were collected from patients who developed erythema or induration at intradermal test or treatment sites, and were evaluated for antibodies to bovine dermal collagen by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sera with anti-collagen antibodies were further characterized in this study. The circulating antibodies were reactive with both native and heat-denatured bovine dermal collagen. By using purified alpha 1(I) and alpha 2(I) polypeptides, these sera were found to have antibodies reactive with both alpha-chains. Each alpha-chain was fragmented by using cyanogen bromide (CB). The CB peptides were electrophoretically separated, and these sera were evaluated for antibodies to the major fragments by using an immunoblotting technique. Of the sera evaluated by this method, 89% (23/26) had antibodies to alpha 1-CB6; 77% (20/26) had antibodies to alpha 2-CB4; and 65% (17/26) had antibodies reactive with both CB fragments. In addition, most sera (77%) contained antibodies reactive with two or more (up to five) of the major CB peptides. The least antigenic fragment was alpha 2-CB3,5 (8%). In addition, these sera had antibody activity against both native and heat-denaturated bovine types III and II collagens. Little or no interspecies (rat or guinea pig) cross-reactivity (types I and II) was detected. Furthermore, these sera did not have antibodies against human types I, II, and III collagens.     

The identification of epitopic sites in human alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor.

Human alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-PI) yielded nine fragments on cleavage with CNBr. The amino acid sequences of these fragments were determined. Three of these CNBr-cleavage fragments, namely fragment I (residues 64-220), fragment II (residues 243-351) and fragment III (residues 1-63), were found to bind rabbit polyclonal antibodies against chemically oxidized alpha 1-PI and mouse polyclonal antibodies against native alpha 1-PI by the Bio-Dot method (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on nitrocellulose). These fragments, I, II and III, inhibited by 60%, 25% and 5% respectively the binding between alpha 1-PI and the rabbit antibodies. Fragments I, II and III were subjected to proteolytic digestion, and 15, ten and five peptides were obtained from these fragments respectively. Only four of these peptides showed binding to the mouse antibodies against native alpha 1-PI. These were residues 40-63, 79-86, 176-206 and 299-323. A panel of monoclonal antibodies was prepared by conventional hybridoma technology, with chemically oxidized alpha 1-PI as the antigen. The ability of the monoclonal antibodies to bind native alpha 1-PI and CNBr-cleavage fragments I-III was determined. The monoclonal antibodies fell into three categories. Most (over 90%) belonged to group I, which was capable of binding alpha 1-PI and only fragment I. Antibodies in groups II and III bound alpha 1-PI and either fragment II or fragment III respectively. The ability of the peptides derived from proteolytic digestion of fragments I, II and III to bind three monoclonal antibodies representing each of the three groups was determined. Among all the peptides tested, only one (residues 176-206) derived from fragment I showed binding to the antibodies from group I, one (residues 299-323) derived from fragment II showed binding to the antibodies from group II, and one (residues 40-63) from fragment III showed binding to the antibodies from group III. Each of these three peptides also inhibited the binding between alpha 1-PI and the corresponding monoclonal antibodies. From these data we concluded that at least four epitopic regions (residues 40-63, 79-86, 176-206 and 299-323) were present in alpha 1-PI. Specific monoclonal antibodies to three of these sites were obtained.     

Epitopes of herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein gC are clustered in two distinct antigenic sites.

Epitopes of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) strain KOS glycoprotein gC were identified by using a panel of gC-specific, virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and a series of antigenic variants selected for resistance to neutralization with individual members of the antibody panel. Variants that were resistant to neutralization and expressed an antigenically altered form of gC were designated monoclonal antibody-resistant (mar) mutants. mar mutants were isolated at frequencies of 10(-3) to 10(-5), depending on the antibody used for selection. The epitopes on gC were operationally grouped into antigenic sites by evaluating the patterns of neutralization observed when a panel of 22 antibodies was tested against 22 mar mutants. A minimum of nine epitopes was identified by this process. Three epitopes were assigned to one antigenic site (I), and six were clustered in a second complex site (II) composed of three distinct subsites, IIa, IIb, and IIc. The two antigenic sites were shown to reside in physically distinct domains of the glycoprotein, by radioimmunoprecipitation of truncated forms of gC. These polypeptides lacked portions of the carboxy terminus and ranged in size from approximately one-half that of the wild-type molecule to nearly full size. Antibodies recognizing epitopes in site II immunoprecipitated the entire series of truncated polypeptides and thereby demonstrated that site II resided in the N-terminal half of gC. Antibodies reactive with site I, however, did not immunoprecipitate fragments smaller than at least two-thirds the size of the wild-type polypeptide, suggesting that site I was located in the C-terminal portion. Sites I and II were also shown to be spatially separate on the gC polypeptide by competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with monoclonal antibodies representative of different site I and site II epitopes.     

Identification of the antigenic epitopes in staphylococcal enterotoxins A and E and design of a superantigen for human cancer therapy

Monoclonal antibodies have a potential for cancer therapy that may be further improved by linking them to effector molecules such as superantigens. Tumor targeting of a superantigen leads to a powerful T cell attack against the tumour tissue. Encouraging results have been observed preclinically and in patients using the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A, SEA. To further improve the concept, we have reduced the reactivity to antibodies against superantigens, which is found in all individuals. Using epitope mapping, antibody binding sites in SEA and SEE were found around their MHC class II binding sites. These epitopes were removed genetically and a large number of synthetic superantigens were produced in an iterative engineering procedure. Properties such as decreased binding to anti-SEA as well as higher selectivity to induce killing of tumour cells compared to MHC class II expressing cells, were sequentially improved. The lysine residues 79, 81, 83 and 84 are all part of major antigenic epitopes, Gln204, Lys74, Asp75 and Asn78 are important for optimal killing of tumour cells while Asp45 affects binding to MHC class II. The production properties were optimised by further engineering and a novel synthetic superantigen, SEA/E-120, was designed. It is recognised by approximately 15% of human anti-SEA antibodies and have more potent tumour cell killing properties than SEA. SEA/E-120 is likely to have a low toxicity due to its reduced capacity to mediate killing of MHC class II expressing cells. It is produced as a Fab fusion protein at approximately 35 mg/l in Escherichia coli.     

Antigenic site II of the rabies virus glycoprotein: structure and role in viral virulence.

Twelve monoclonal antibodies neutralizing the CVS strain of rabies virus were used to characterize antigenic site II of the viral glycoprotein. Nineteen antigenic mutants resistant to neutralization by some of these antibodies were selected; some continued to normally or partially bind the antibody, whereas others did not. Mutations conferring resistance to neutralization by site II-specific monoclonal antibodies were localized into two clusters, the first between amino acids 34 and 42 (seven groups of mutants) and the second at amino acids 198 and 200 (three groups of mutants). Two intermediate mutations were identified at positions 147 and 184. Four mutations resulted in reduced pathogenicity after intramuscular inoculation of the virus in adult mice. One of the mutants, M23, was 300 times and the others were 10 to 30 times less pathogenic than CVS. In three cases the attenuated phenotype was related to an important modification of antigenic site II, whereas the other known antigenic sites were unchanged.     

Cartilage contains mixed fibrils of collagen types II, IX, and XI

The distribution of collagen XI in fibril fragments from 17-d chick embryo sternal cartilage was determined by immunoelectron microscopy using specific polyclonal antibodies. The protein was distributed throughout the fibril fragments but was antigenically masked due to the tight packing of collagen molecules and could be identified only at sites where the fibril structure was partially disrupted. Collagens II and IX were also distributed uniformly along fibrils but, in contrast to collagen XI, were accessible to the antibodies in intact fibrils. Therefore, cartilage fibrils are heterotypically assembled from collagens II, IX, and XI. This implies that collagen XI is an integral component of the cartilage fibrillar network and homogeneously distributed throughout the tissue. This was confirmed by immunofluorescence.     

Mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor: distinct binding sites for mannose 6-phosphate and insulin-like growth factor II

Pentamannosyl phosphate substituted bovine serum albumin (PMP-BSA) and insulin like growth factor II (IGF II) bind specifically to immobilized mannose 6-phosphate/insulin like growth factor II receptor. An excess of IGF II inhibited binding of PMP-BSA by less than or equal to 20%, and an excess of PMP-BSA inhibited binding of IGF II by less than or equal to 10%. Polyclonal antibodies against the receptor purified from human liver inhibited preferentially the binding of PMP-BSA, and a monocloncal antibody 2C2 inhibited only the binding of IGF II to the receptor. Similar results were obtained for binding of PMP-BSA and IGF II to human skin fibroblasts. These results suggest that the binding sites for mannose 6-phosphate and IGF II reside in different portions of the receptor.     

Plasmepsin II, an acidic hemoglobinase from the Plasmodium falciparum food vacuole, is active at neutral pH on the host erythrocyte membrane skeleton.

Plasmepsin II, an aspartic protease from the human intraerythrocytic parasite Plasmodium falciparum, is involved in degradation of the host cell hemoglobin within the acidic food vacuole of the parasite. Previous characterization of enzymatic activities from Plasmodium soluble extracts, responsible for in vitro hydrolysis of erythrocyte spectrin, had shown that the hydrolysis process occurred at pH 5.0 and involved aspartic protease(s) cleaving mainly within the SH3 motif of the spectrin alpha-subunit. Therefore, we used a recombinant construct of the erythroid SH3 motif as substrate to investigate the involvement of plasmepsins in spectrin hydrolysis. Using specific anti-plasmepsin II antibodies in Western blotting experiments, plasmepsin II was detected in chromatographic fractions enriched in the parasite SH3 hydrolase activity. Involvement of plasmepsin II in hydrolysis was demonstrated by mass spectrometry identification of cleavage sites in the SH3 motif, upon hydrolysis by Plasmodium extract enzymatic activity, and by recombinant plasmepsin II. Furthermore, recombinant plasmepsin II digested native spectrin at pH 6.8, either purified or situated in erythrocyte ghosts. Additional degradation of actin and protein 4.1 from ghosts was observed. Specific antibodies were used in confocal imaging of schizont-infected erythrocytes to localize plasmepsin II in mature stages of the parasite development cycle; antibodies clearly labeled the periphery of the parasites. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that, in addition to hemoglobin degradation, plasmepsin II might be involved in cytoskeleton cleavage of infected erythrocytes.     

Monoclonal antibodies as structural probes of surface residues in the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase II from porcine heart

Two murine monoclonal antibodies (H5 and B6) generated against bovine heart type II regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase were shown to cross-react equally well with the homologous subunit from porcine heart. The antibodies demonstrated specificity for only the type II regulatory subunit and showed negligible cross-reactivity with the type I regulatory subunit, the catalytic subunit, and cGMP-dependent protein kinase. Following limited proteolysis of type II regulatory subunit with chymotrypsin, the H5 monoclonal antibody was shown to cross-react with the Mr = 37,000 cAMP-binding domain corresponding to the COOH-terminal region of the polypeptide chain. To more specifically localize the antigenic sites, the porcine type II regulatory subunit was carboxymethylated and cleaved with cyanogen bromide. Both monoclonal antibodies cross-reacted with the NH2-terminal CNBr peptide, and this peptide demonstrated affinities similar to native bovine type II regulatory subunit in competitive displacement radioimmunoassays. Tryptic cleavage of this CNBr fragment destroyed all antigenicity for both monoclonal antibodies, whereas antigenicity was retained following chymotryptic digestion. A single major immunoreactive chymotryptic fragment that cross-reacted with H5 was isolated by gel filtration and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. this peptide retained the complete antigenic site and had the following sequence: Asn-Pro-Asp-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Asp-Thr-Asp-Pro-Arg-Val-Ile-His-Pro-Lys-Thr-Asp-Gl n. This antigenic site was localized just beyond the major site of autophosphorylation, approximately a third of the distance from the NH2-terminal end of the polypeptide chain.     

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.     

Mechanism of action of monoclonal antibodies that block the light activation of the guanyl nucleotide-binding protein, transducin

Seven monoclonal antibodies to the alpha subunit (G alpha) of the frog photoreceptor guanyl nucleotide-binding protein (transducin or G-protein) have been characterized as to their effect on G-protein function, and this has been correlated in the accompanying paper (Deretic, D., and Hamm, H. E. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 10839-10847) with the antibody-binding sites on G alpha tryptic fragments. Antibodies 4A, 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D are members of a class of antibodies that block G-protein activation by light and therefore also block activation of the cGMP phosphodiesterase. All these blocking antibodies also block the interaction of G-protein with rhodopsin as measured by the light-scattering "binding signal," and as measured by the stabilization of meta-rhodopsin II by bound G-protein (extra-meta-rhodopsin II). The antibodies (or Fab fragments) also solubilize G alpha beta gamma from the membrane in the dark under isosmotic conditions and thus interfere with G alpha interaction with the membrane. Antibody 4A also blocks the extra-meta-rhodopsin II generated by G-protein-rhodopsin interaction in detergent solubilized membranes. Thus, even in the absence of phospholipids, antibody 4A blocks G-protein-rhodopsin interaction. Therefore, we suggest that the antibodies recognize a region of G alpha involved with binding to rhodopsin. An alternative hypothesis is that this antigenic site is a region of interaction between the alpha and beta gamma subunits, disruption of this interaction leading to removal of both the alpha and beta gamma subunits from the membrane and blocking interaction with rhodopsin. This does not seem to be the case because the antibodies immunoprecipitate the alpha beta gamma complex, and not just the alpha subunit. Other antibodies, 4C and 4H, do not block phosphodiesterase activation, the light-scattering signal, extra-meta-rhodopsin II formation, or interaction with the membrane in the dark and therefore recognize other sites on G alpha.     

Evidence for at least two dominant neutralization antigens on human rhinovirus 14.

A collection of 28 mutants of human rhinovirus 14, selected for resistance to 10 individual neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, was used to identify two major neutralization antigens, N-Ag I and N-Ag II. Isoelectric analysis showed that all 16 of the N-Ag I mutants analyzed were charge altered in VP1;8 of 12 N-Ag II mutants were altered in VP3. These results suggest that N-Ag I resides on VP1, whereas N-Ag II lies on VP3. The frequency of charge alterations was much higher than predicted by the genetic code, suggesting that charged amino acids on the antigenic sites play an important role in interaction with neutralizing antibody. Antibodies against N-Ag I and N-Ag II neutralize with widely different efficiencies.