Monoclonal antibody studies suggest a catalytic site at the interface between domains in creatine kinase.

We have located the epitopes recognized by four different monoclonal antibodies which bind to partially unfolded creatine kinase (CK) (ATP: creatine N-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.3.2) but not to the native enzyme. The epitopes appear to be buried within the CK structure in its native, proteinase-resistant, state. When the epitopes are made accessible to antibody by mild denaturation, CK becomes enzymically-inactive and can be cleaved by proteinase V8 into two large fragments which retain the epitopes and may represent domains. Epitopes on each V8 fragment are associated with highly conserved sequences and are brought physically close to the active site of the enzyme during the later stages of CK refolding and reactivation. The results suggest a catalytic site formed at the interface between two domains which carry the epitopes on their interacting surfaces. Separation of loosely associated domains before or during immunization may account for the origin of antibodies against buried epitopes.     

Threonyl-tRNA, lysyl-tRNA and arginyl-tRNA synthetases from Baker's yeast. Substrate specificity with regard to ATP analogues.

Sixteen analogues of ATP have been tested in the aminoacylation reaction of threonyl-tRNA, lysyl-tRNA, and arginyl-tRNA synthetases from baker's yeast. Two compounds are substrates for threonyl-tRNA and for lysyl-tRNA synthetases and five compounds for arginyl-tRNA synthetase. There are six inhibitors for threonyl-tRNA, nine for lysyl-tRNA, and six for arginyl-tRNA synthetase. Their Km and Ki values have been determined. Thus positions 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the purine moiety and 2' and 3' of the sugar moiety of the ATP molecule are important for catalytic action of these aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Remarkably arginyl-tRNA synthetase is the first aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase which tolerates bulky substituents at the sugar moiety of ATP. These data fit with the idea that synthetases of subunit structure need magnesium-ion-ATP complexes with an anti conformation as substrates whereas single-chain enzymes accept this substrate in the syn conformation.     

Autoantibody to the proliferating cell nuclear antigen neutralizes the activity of the auxiliary protein for DNA polymerase delta.

Two murine monoclonal antibodies to the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a rabbit anti-N-terminal peptide antibody and human auto-antibody to PCNA reacted with the auxiliary protein for DNA polymerase delta from fetal calf thymus following SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, confirming the identity of PCNA and the auxiliary protein. Undenatured auxiliary protein was immunoprecipitated by the human autoantibody, but not by the monoclonal antibodies, which were raised to SDS-denatured PCNA, nor by the anti-N-terminal peptide antibody, suggesting that the epitopes recognized by both the monoclonal antibodies and the anti-peptide antibody are not exposed in the native protein. The human anti-PCNA autoantibody neutralized the activity of the auxiliary protein for DNA polymerase delta, but did not inhibit the activity of pol delta itself. The ability of pol delta to utilize template/primers containing long stretches of single-stranded template was inhibited by the anti-PCNA autoantibody, whereas the activity of pol alpha on such templates was not affected, confirming the specificity of the auxiliary protein for pol delta. The ability of PCNA, a cell cycle-regulated protein, to regulate the activity of pol delta suggests a central role for pol delta in cellular DNA replication.     

The Humoral Immune Response to Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Envelope Glycoprotein gp46 Is Directed Primarily against Conformational Epitopes

Individuals infected with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) develop a robust immune response to the surface envelope glycoprotein gp46 that is partially protective. The relative contribution of antibodies to conformation-dependent epitopes, including those mediating virus neutralization as part of the humoral immune response, is not well defined. We assess in this report the relationship between defined linear and conformational epitopes and the antibodies elicited to these domains. First, five monoclonal antibodies to linear epitopes within gp46 were evaluated for their ability to abrogate binding of three human monoclonal antibodies that inhibit HTLV-1-mediated syncytia formation and recognize conformational epitopes. Binding of antibodies to conformational epitopes was unaffected by antibodies to linear epitopes throughout the carboxy-terminal half and central domain of HTLV-1 gp46. Second, an enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay was developed and used to measure serum antibodies to native and denatured gp46 from HTLV-1-infected individuals. In sera from infected individuals, reactivity to denatured gp46 had an average of 15% of the reactivity observed to native gp46. Third, serum antibodies from 24 of 25 of HTLV-1-infected individuals inhibited binding of a neutralizing human monoclonal antibody, PRH-7A, to a conformational epitope on gp46 that is common to HTLV-1 and -2. Thus, antibodies to conformational epitopes comprise the majority of the immune response to HTLV-1 gp46, and the epitopes recognized by these antibodies do not appear to involve sequences in previously described immunodominant linear epitopes.     

Interaction of eukaryotic threonyl-tRNA synthetase with high-Mr RNAs and tRNA(Thr)

Threonyl-tRNA synthetase of rabbit reticulocytes was purified to homogeneity. We have found that this enzyme can interact not only with cognate tRNA(Thr), but also with high-Mr RNAs. tRNA(Thr) removes rRNA from the complexes with threonyl-tRNA synthetase. On the other hand, rRNA is unable to dissociate tRNA(Thr) from the complexes with the enzyme. Despite its dimeric organization, threonyl-tRNA synthetase is unable to form stable ternary complexes with tRNA(Thr) and rRNA. In the extract of rabbit reticulocytes about one-third of the threonyl-tRNA synthetase molecules are in association with cognate tRNA(Thr) and thus are unable to interact with high-Mr RNAs.     

Autogenous repression of Escherichia coli threonyl-tRNA synthetase expression in vitro

Escherichia coli threonyl-tRNA synthetase (EC 6.1.1.3) expression has been examined in an acellular protein-synthesizing system programmed with a plasmid DNA carrying thrS, infC, pheS, and pheT, the gene for threonyl-tRNA synthetase, initiation factor 3, and the two protomers of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (EC 6.1.1.20), respectively. The initial rate of synthesis of L-[35S]methionine-labeled threonyl-tRNA synthetase is markedly reduced by the addition of homogeneous RNase-free threonyl-tRNA synthetase to the assay, not by that of phenylanyl- or tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (EC 6.1.1.1). The inhibition is 50% in the presence of 0.25 microM threonyl-tRNA synthetase and reaches 90% with 2 microM enzyme. Synthesis of mRNA in the acellular DNA-dependent protein-synthesizing system has been measured by molecular hybridization to gene-specific lambda DNA probes corresponding to thrS, pheS, and pheT. The addition to the assay of 2 microM threonyl-tRNA synthetase does not affect the extent of mRNA hybridizing to the thrS-specific DNA probe. This result is interpreted as reflecting an effect of the synthetase on its expression at the translational level. Analysis of the DNA sequence of the thrS gene predicts several potential secondary structures capable of forming in the thrS mRNA. One of these potential structures is a cloverleaf. The possible role of such structures in controlling expression of thrS is discussed.     

Purification and immunological characterisation of two calcium-activated neutral proteinases from rabbit skeletal muscle

Two Ca2+-activated neutral proteinases have been prepared to a high degree of purity from rabbit skeletal muscle. One, calpain I, is optimally activated by 100 microM Ca2+ and the other, calpain II, by 1 to 2 mM Ca2+. Both enzymes have two subunits of molecular weight 80 000 and 28 000. Antibodies have been raised against the native forms of both enzyme. It was found that the antibody to native calpain I reacted only with calpain I and not with calpain II, and similarly the antibody to native calpain II reacted only to calpain II. This suggested that the epitopes in the two enzymes are located in regions that are structurally different. However, immunoblotting of the denatured calpains after SDS-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis revealed cross-reaction between the two subunits for both enzymes. Therefore, although the denatured enzymes have common antigenic sites it would appear that these are not exposed equally in the native proteins.     

Infection-induced antibodies against the major outer membrane protein of Campylobacter jejuni mainly recognize conformational epitopes

The major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Campylobacter jejuni is an abundant surface protein with a pore-forming function and may be a potential candidate for vaccine development. Despite the fact that MOMP is immunogenic and the recombinant MOMP (rMOMP) can be readily produced in Escherichia coli, the nature of the antibody response to MOMP during in vivo infection is not well understood. In this study, various methods involving detergent replacement and liposome reconstitution were used to refold rMOMP, and antibody responses to MOMP elicited in Campylobacter-colonized chickens were evaluated using sera from chickens either naturally or experimentally infected by C. jejuni. The results demonstrated that proteoliposomes restored the reactivity of rMOMP to rabbit antibodies elicited by native MOMP, indicating the recovery of native MOMP conformation by this refolding method. Importantly, sera from naturally or experimentally infected chickens reacted weakly with denatured rMOMP, but strongly with rMOMP reconstituted in proteoliposome, suggesting that the chicken antibody response to MOMP is predominantly directed against conformational epitopes. These observations provide direct evidence for conformation-dependent humoral responses to MOMP induced by Campylobacter infection, demonstrate that C. jejuni MOMP is immunogenic in its natural host and suggest that proteoliposomes may be potentially used for the evaluation of rMOMP-based vaccines.     

Threonyl-tRNA synthetase from Chinese hamster ovary cells is phosphorylated on serine

A Chinese hamster ovary cell line, 2000A, in which threonyl-tRNA synthetase accounts for 1.5% of the total soluble protein, was used to demonstrate that this enzyme is a phosphoprotein. Threonyl-tRNA synthetase was isolated by immunoprecipitation from cells labeled with 32Pi for 18 h. Phosphoamino acid analysis of radiolabeled threonyl-tRNA synthetase showed that phosphorylation occurs on serine.     

Molecular Analysis of the Gal/GalNAc Adhesin of Entamoeba histolytica1

Attachment of Entamoeba histolytica to colonic epithelium and a variety of other target cells is mediated by a galactosc/N-acetyl D-galactosamine (Gal/GalNAc) inhibitable adhesin. Seven monoclonal antibodies specific for nonoverlapping epitopes of the 170 kDa subunit have been shown to have distinct effects on adherence. Four of these monoclonal antibodies inhibit or have no effect on amebic adherence while two others enhance amebic adherence. The epitopes recognized by these seven monoclonal antibodies have been mapped to the extracellular cysteine rich region of the 170 kDa subunit. The conformational nature of the epitopes was examined by testing monoclonal antibody reactivity with isolated regions of the 170 kDa subunit expressed as fusion proteins in E. coli and also with denatured native adhesin. These analyses suggested that three of monoclonal antibodies recognized conformational epitopes while the remaining four recognized linear epitopes. The mapping of these monoclonal antibodies have identified functionally important regions of the Gal/GalNAc adhesin and have also shown that recombinant Gal/GalNAc adhesin, when expressed in E. coli, retained at least some of its native conformation.     

Influence of free thiol group(s) on autoantibody-defined epitope of proliferating cell nuclear antigen.

Proliferating cell nuclear Ag (PCNA) is an intranuclear protein involved in DNA replication directed by DNA polymerase delta and is the target Ag of autoantibodies in some patients with SLE. There is evidence that the epitope on PCNA recognized by human autoantibodies is conformation-dependent and is not a continuous peptide sequence. Thimerosal, a mercury-containing sulfhydryl blocking compound, markedly reduced or abolished the reactivity of this autoantibody-defined PCNA epitope. The thimerosal effect was observed in various Ag-detecting systems including indirect immunofluorescence, immunodiffusion, immunoprecipitation, and flow cytometry. The mechanism of the thimerosal effect appeared to be mediated through free but not readily accessible sulfhydryl group or groups. The sulfhydryl-modification by thimerosal could be reversed by competition with thiol-containing compounds. Experimentally induced mAb to PCNA generated by immunization with purified PCNA have been shown to recognize epitopes that are continuous peptide sequences and these epitopes were not affected by thimerosal. It has been shown that the human autoantibody-defined epitope is related to the function of PCNA because autoantibodies are able to inhibit DNA polymerase delta directed DNA replication, whereas experimentally induced antibodies are not. These studies show that certain sulfhydryl groups in PCNA have a role in determining the antigenicity of the epitope recognized by autoantibody and raise the possibility that certain sulfhydryl groups might also be associated with its function.     

Comparison of solution structures of dihydrofolate reductases and enzyme-ligand complexes using cross-reacting antibodies

Polyclonal antibodies against dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from the human lymphoblastoid cell line WIL-2/M4 were used as probes to compare the antigenic structures in solution of native DHFRs obtained from a broad range of species and their complexes with substrate, cofactor, and folate antagonist inhibitors. All these antibodies could bind to the denatured human DHFR, indicating that they were specific for the primary structure of this enzyme. Denatured chicken liver and L1210 murine leukemic DHFRs competed for all of the antibodies that bound to the human enzyme, although less effectively than the denatured human enzyme, showing the presence of similar epitopes among the vertebrate enzymes. However, both direct binding and competition experiments showed low antibody cross-reactivities with native chicken liver (8%) and murine (10%) DHFRs, suggesting differences in the disposition of similar epitopes in these enzymes. The lactobacillus casei DHFR showed a low amount (less than 2%) of cross-reactivity with the antibodies while the same antibodies did not cross-react with the Escherichia coli enzyme. DHFR from soybean seedlings competed for a large proportion (70%) of the anti-human DHFR antibodies, indicating a close similarity in the antigenic structures of plant and animal DHFRs. Binary complexes of the L. casei, avian, murine, and human DHFRs with dihydrofolate, methotrexate (MTX), trimethoprim (TMP), NADPH, and NADP+ all showed significantly lower antibody binding capacity as compared with the corresponding free enzymes. Further, these ligands inhibited antibody binding to the enzyme to varying degrees.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Detection of multiple antigenically related proteins from various rat tissues by monoclonal antibodies against 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.

Mouse hybridomas were prepared by fusing myelomas and spleen cells from mice immunized with purified rat 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies against 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were selected by indirect enzyme-linked immunoassay and then subcloned by limiting dilution. From two mice we have obtained four positive hybridomas, three secreting high affinity immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 and one secreting IgM. Only two of these monoclonal antibodies (MAbs 3G6 and 7D3, both IgG1) recognized denatured enzyme and, therefore, were used for further immunoblotting experiments. MAb 7D3 recognized a structurally related mouse enzyme, but not the human enzyme, whereas monoclonal antibody 3G6 recognized a human enzyme, but not the mouse enzyme. When these two monoclonal antibodies were used in immunoblotting to survey the expression of 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in rat liver and a number of other tissues, striking differences were found in the protein band patterns in kidney, lung, and testis. Both MAbs 7D3 and 3G6 recognized 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, a 34-kDa 7D3 recognized a protein of the same size as the liver protein, whereas MAb 3G6 recognized a 34-kDa protein plus another protein of 36 kDa. In kidney only MAb 3G6, but not MAb 7D3, recognized a 34-kDa protein. Conversely, the 34-kDa protein in testis was recognized by MAb 7D3, but not by MAb 3G6. These findings suggest the existence of multiple antigenically related proteins in different tissues.     

Human serum thyroglobulin determination with monoclonal antibody one-step assay: minimum interference of autoantibody

Combination of two thyroglobulin monoclonal antibodies (monoAbs) recognizing epitopes which are rarely recognized by an antibody enabled us to develop a rapid one-step enzyme immunoassay of serum Tg. Of 87 monoclonal antibodies, 20 were selected for the purpose. The method is a sandwich technique employing a monoAb covering microplate and horse-radish peroxidase monoAb conjugate. A combination of monoAb 7A7A solid phase and 31A2E for the conjugate gave the best results. The assay takes 60 min and the minimal detectable amount is 2 ng/ml. Intraassay variation is from 4 to 7%. Interassay variation is 5 to 12%. The recovery rate for Tg added to normal sera is between 89 and 111%. The correlation coefficient with the polyclonal antibody method in Tg hemagglutination negative sera is 0.98. The presence of autoantibody in sera up to 10 X 2(4) hemagglutination titer does not affect the recovery rate to a statistically significant extent.     

Comparison of the antibody response to bee venom phospholipase A2 induced by natural exposure in humans or by immunization in mice

Two human and twelve murine monoclonal antibodies directed against the main bee venom allergen phospholipase A₂ (PLA) were evaluated for their fine specificity of binding to antigen and their ability to inhibit the enzymatic activity of the antigen. Antibodies were induced by natural exposure of beekeepers to bee venom or immunization of mice via different methods. Both human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) were previously shown to recognize the native three-dimensional conformation of PLA and are directed against discontinuous epitopes which include lysine residue at position 25 as a contact residue. In contrast, six of the murine monoclonal antibodies (mmAbs) bind to the denatured structure of the protein as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The epitopes recognized are located near the C-terminal end (n=8), in the centre of the polypeptide (n=1), near the N-terminal end (n=1) or include the carbohydrate part (n=2) of the PLA molecule. The capacity of the antibodies to modify the enzymatic activity was also determined. The hmAbs significantly inhibit the enzyme (70–79%), whereas the mmAbs produced various degrees of inhibition (39–100%). Since the X-ray structure of PLA is known, the epitopes can be visualized in the context of the three-dimensional structure of the antigen. A qualitative correlation was found between the location of epitopes and the inhibition pattern. Strong inhibition was seen with those antibodies that recognize epitopes that lie on the surface of the enzyme that is thought to contact the phospholipid bilayer. The results show that even though both hmAbs and most mmAbs inhibit the enzymatic activity of PLA, the antigen-binding properties of antibodies from different species raised after different routes of immunization differ significantly. Thus, detailed epitope mapping studies using murine antibodies prepared by artificial immunization may have limited value in predicting epitope patterns relevant to an antibody response to allergens in humans naturally exposed to antigen/allergen. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of catalytic properties of hen egg white lysozyme during renaturation from denatured and reduced material.

Catalytic properties of hen egg white lysozyme were analyzed during the renaturation of the enzyme from completely reduced and denatured material. The formation of intermediate folding products and the generation of native lysozyme was monitored by acetic acid/urea electrophoresis. The results showed that during the beginning of renaturation almost all reduced and denatured lysozyme is converted to forms possessing lower compactness than native lysozyme, probably as a result of formation of only one or two disulfide bonds. Kinetic analysis of lysozyme during renaturation showed that the generation of lysozyme with four disulfide bonds was not necessarily equivalent to the formation lysozyme with native-like catalytic properties. It appeared that the formation rate of the structures of the structures of the substrate binding site and of the catalytic site were limited by the generation of four disulfide bonds containing lysozyme. The catalytic properties of intermediate folding products made it evident that the final structures of the substrate binding site and of the catalytic site were formed after the generation of all disulfide bonds.     

Properties of monoclonal antibodies selected for probing the conformation of wild type and mutant forms of the P22 tailspike endorhamnosidase

Eleven species of monoclonal antibodies directed against the trimeric P22 tailspike endorhamnosidase have been selected and characterized. Seven of these antibodies recognize the native tailspike, both isolated and assembled onto the virion, and prevent phage infection. Four antibodies react with denatured forms of the tailspike as well as with the plastic absorbed tailspike. Three of these latter prevent the tailspike from assembling onto the phage head. The antibodies have been tested against tailspike proteins carrying single amino acid substitutions at 15 different sites on the protein. Two of these mutations interfere with binding by a set of the monoclonals, indicating that they disrupt the epitopes for these antibodies. Since amino acid replacements corresponding to the temperature-sensitive folding mutations do not change the conformation of the native protein, these mutant proteins may be particularly useful for mapping epitopes. Amber fragments of the tailspike chain are recognized predominantly by the anti-denatured antibodies suggesting either that they are conformationally closer to folding intermediates than to the native tailspike or that the epitopes recognized by anti-native antibodies are carried by the C-terminal end of the native protein. Immunochemical detection by an anti-denatured antibody, after sucrose gradient sedimentation of a large 55-kDa amber fragment, indicates a monomeric rather than a trimeric state. This suggests that the missing C-terminal region is important for the trimerization reaction. Such N-terminal amber fragments may be useful models for studying with the monoclonal antibodies the nascent chain emerging from the ribosome.     

Mapping the antigenic epitopes of human dihydrofolate reductase by systematic synthesis of peptides on solid supports.

All of the 181 possible overlapping hexapeptides as well as 179 octapeptides covering the amino acid sequence of human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR) were synthesized on polyethylene supports. The synthetic procedure of Geysen et al. (Geysen, H. M., Rodda, S. J., Mason, T. J., Tribbick, G., and Schoofs, P. G. (1987) J. Immunol. Methods 102, 259-274) was modified to obtain up to 100 nmol of peptide on each pin. Peptides constituting antigenic epitopes on hDHFR were identified by examining the binding of antibodies raised against both native and denatured hDHFR to these peptides by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The peptides bound in a similar pattern to polyclonal antibodies against both native and denatured dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Six major epitopes were located corresponding to residues 27-33, 45-51, 67-74, 133-139, 153-158, and 176-181 using both hexapeptides and octapeptides. An additional epitope, constituting residues 14-21, was found by the use of octapeptides. Most of the epitopes are hydrophilic and reside largely in "loop" regions at the boundaries of secondary structural elements of hDHFR. This observation is consistent with our previous results which suggested that ligand binding at the active site of the enzyme can cause a dramatic reduction in antibody binding to DHFR due to conformational constraints in flexible loop regions in various parts of the molecule. The similarity of the immunogenic profiles of native versus denatured hDHFR indicates that the two forms of the antigen share the same amino acid sequence-specific epitopes. Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the binding of anti-hDHFR antiserum to both native and denatured hDHFR was inhibited by approximately 30% by the seven antigenic peptides, indicating that a significant proportion of the antibodies elicited by this enzyme is specific for short peptides. Besides revealing the antigenic structure of DHFR our results provide a rational basis for the design of mutant DHFRs to study the importance of loop residues in the conformational dynamics of the enzyme.     

Native-like intermediate on the folding pathway of Escherichia coli succinyl-CoA synthetase

The transition between the native and denatured states of the tetrameric succinyl-CoA synthetase from Escherichia coli has been investigated by circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, cross-linking by glutaraldehyde and activity measurements. At pH 7.4 and 25 degrees C, both denaturation of succinyl-CoA synthetase by guanidine hydrochloride and refolding of the denatured enzyme have been characterized as reversible reactions. In the presence of its substrate ATP, the denatured enzyme could be successfully reconstituted into the active enzyme with a yield of 71-100%. Kinetically, reacquisition of secondary structure by the denatured enzyme was rapid and occurred within 1 min after refolding was initiated. On the other hand, its reactivation was a slow process which continued up to 25 min before 90% of the native activity could be restored. Both secondary and quaternary structures of the enzyme, reconstituted in the absence of ATP, were indistinguishable from those of the native enzyme but the renatured protein was catalytically inactive. This observation indicates the presence of catalytically inactive tetramer as an intermediate in the reconstitution process. The reconstituted protein could be reactivated by ATP even 10 min after the reacquisition of the native secondary structure by the refolding protein. However, reactivation of the protein by ATP 60 min after the regain of secondary structure was significantly less, suggesting that rapid refolding and reassociation of the monomers into a native-like tetramer and reactivation of the tetramer are sequential events; the latter involving slow and small conformational rearrangements in the refolded enzyme that are likely to be associated with phosphorylation.