Sets of short (12 residues) cellulose-bound synthetic overlapping peptides derived from the sequences of the variable regions of the heavy and light chains of three different antibodies (an anti-thyroglobulin antibody, the HyHEL-5 anti-lysozyme antibody, and an anti-angiotensin II antibody) were used to systematically assess the antigen binding capacity of peptides from the antibody paratope outside their natural molecular context. Peptides enclosing one or several of the complementarity determining region (CDR) residues had antigen binding activity, although the most active peptides were not necessarily those bearing the greatest number of CDR residues. Several residues from the framework region, preceding or following the CDR, were found to play a role in binding. Affinity constants from 4.1 ؋ 10 ؊7 to 6.7 ؋ 10 ؊8 M ؊1 for the soluble form of 9 lysozymebinding dodecapeptides were measured by BIAcore analysis. Alanine scanning of lysozyme-binding hexapeptides from the HyHEL-5 sequence identified 38 residues important for binding, of which 22 corresponded to residues that had been shown by x-ray crystallography to be at the interface between HyHEL-5 and lysozyme. Our results could be of interest for the rational identification of biologically active peptides derived from antibody sequences and in providing an experimental basis for mutagenesis of the antibody paratope.Antibody molecules bind antigens with high affinity and specificity by synergistically using multiple noncovalent forces. The combining site (paratope), whose shape is complementary to the epitope on the antigen, is made up of the hypervariable regions, also called complementarity determining regions (CDRs) 1 (1). It is commonly accepted that there are three CDRs in the light chain (L1, L2, and L3) and in the heavy chain (H1, H2, and H3). These CDRs fold into turn structures that are stabilized by the ␤-sheet framework of the variable domains. The interface between antibodies and antigens has been precisely described by x-ray crystallographic studies, and several complexes between Fab fragments of monoclonal antibodies and peptide or protein antigens have been recently described (for reviews see Refs. 2-4). The structures of antibody-antigen complexes indicate that at least four of the CDRs, and in some cases all six CDRs, contribute to antigen binding (5). Residues in the framework have rarely been reported to participate in this interaction (6, 7).Antibody-peptide or antibody-protein complexes are excellent model systems to study the physicochemical requirements for molecular recognition. Unfortunately, it is a difficult task to obtain crystals suitable for the structural elucidation of antibody fragments in complex with proteins or peptides. Therefore, other approaches to obtain information about the key residues involved in the interaction would be very useful, in particular for paratope mutagenesis. Some workers have demonstrated that synthetic peptides derived from the amino acid sequences of CDRs bind antigens with specificities similar to t...

The Spot method of multiple peptide synthesis was used to map in a systematic manner regions of the human cardiac troponin I sequence (hcTnI) involved in interactions with its physiological partner, troponin C (cTnC). Ninety-six 20-mer peptides describing the entire hcTnI sequence were chemically assembled; their reactivity with [125 I]cTnC, in the presence of 3 mM Ca 2+ , enabled the assignment of six sites of interaction (residues 19^32, 45^54, 129^138, 145^164, 161^178 and 1912 10). For several sites, a good correlation with literature data was obtained, thus validating this methodological approach. Synthetic peptides, each containing in their sequence an interaction site, were prepared. As assessed by BIACORE, all of them exhibited an affinity for cTnC in the range of 10 361 0 37 M, except for hcTnI [39^58] which showed a nanomolar affinity. This peptide was also able to block the interaction between hcTnI and cTnC. We therefore postulate that despite the existence of multiple cTnC interaction sites on the hcTnI molecule, only that region of hcTnI allows a stabilization of the complex. Residues 19^32 from the N-terminal cardio-specific extension of hcTnI were also found to be involved in interaction with cTnC; residues 19^32 may correspond to the minimal sequence of the extension which could switch between the N-and C-terminal TnC domains, depending on its phosphorylation state. Finally, two Ca 2+ -dependent cTnC binding domains within the C-terminal part of hcTnI (residues 164^178 and 191^210) were also mapped. The latter site may be linked with the cardiac dysfunction observed in stunned myocardium. ß

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We have designed two original sets of oligonucleotide primers hybridizing the relatively conserved motifs within the immunoglobulin signal sequences of each of the 15 heavy chain and 18 kappa light chain gene families. Comparison of these 5P P primers with the immunoglobulin signal sequences referenced in the Kabat database suggests that these oligonucleotide primers should hybridize with 89.4% of the 428 mouse heavy chain signal sequences and with 91.8% of the 320 kappa light chain signal sequences with no mismatch. Following PCR amplification using the designed primers and direct sequencing of the amplified products, we obtained full-length variable sequences belonging to major (VH1, VH2, VH3, VU U1 and VU U21) but also small-sized (VH9, VH14, VU U2, VU U9A/9B, VU U12/13, VU U23 and VU U33/34) gene families, from nine murine monoclonal antibodies. This strategy could be a powerful tool for antibody sequence assessment whatever the V gene family before humanization of mouse monoclonal antibody or identification of paratope-derived peptides.z 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

The presence of human cardiac troponin I (hcTnI) in serum is considered to be a highly specific biochemical marker of acute myocardial infarction. To better understand the antigenic properties of hcTnI, a set of 68 overlapping peptides covering the complete amino acid sequence of hcTnI was prepared and used in epitope mapping experiments. All 16 anti-hcTnI monoclonal antibodies tested were found to recognize a peptide epitope, indicating that recognition by anti-hcTnI monoclonal antibodies was not dependent on the tertiary structure of the protein. Furthermore, the peptide reactivity with anti-hcTnI polyclonal antibodies indicated that most of the sequence of the protein was antigenic; in particular, the N- and C-terminal extremities were found to be the strongest antigenic regions. By using accurate secondary structure prediction methods, hcTnI was found to be an all-alpha type protein, with five regions predicted as helices. Matching the results of the epitope analysis with the structural prediction led us to the view that hcTnI is not a globular protein but probably adopts an extended conformation, allowing a large part of the amino acid sequence of this molecule to be recognized by the immune system. This improved knowledge of the antigenic and structural properties of hcTnI may help in developing new antibodies and immunoassays for use in diagnosing myocardial infarction.