Broadly distributed chemical reactivity of natural antibodies expressed in coordination with specific antigen binding activity

Antibody (Ab) nucleophilic reactivity was studied using hapten and polypeptide antigens containing biotinylated phosphonate diester groups (covalently reactive antigen analogs, CRAs). Polyclonal IgG from healthy donors formed covalent adducts with a positively charged hapten CRA at levels superior to trypsin. Each of the 16 single chain Fv clones studied expressed a similar reactivity, indicating the V domain location of the nucleophiles and their broad distribution in diverse Abs. The formation of hapten CRA-Fv adducts was correlated with Fv proteolytic activity determined by cleavage of a model peptide substrate. Despite excellent nucleophilicity, proteolysis by IgG proceeded at lower rates than trypsin, suggesting that events occurring after nucleophilic attack on the substrate limit the rate of Ab proteolysis. The extracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor with phosphonate diester groups at Lys side chains and a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 421- 431 of human immunodeficiency virus glycoprotein (gp) 120 with the phosphonate diester at the C terminus formed covalent adducts with specific polyclonal and monoclonal Abs raised by immunization with epidermal growth factor receptor and synthetic gp120-(421- 436) devoid of phosphonate diester groups, respectively. Adduct formation was inhibited by extracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (exEGFB) and synthetic gp120-(421- 436) devoid of phosphonate groups, suggesting that the nucleophiles are located within the antigen binding sites. These results suggest the innate character of the Ab nucleophilic reactivity, its functional coordination with non-covalent adaptive binding interactions developing over the course of B cell maturation, and novel routes toward permanent inhibition of Abs.