Immunocytochemistry of a vasopressin (AVP) receptor with anti-idiotype antibody: inhibition of staining with a peptide (PVA) encoded by an RNA that is complementary to AVP mRNA

A complementary La/SSB epitope anchored to Sequential Oligopeptide Carrier regulates the anti-La/SSB response in immunized animals

Complementary peptide epitopes, derived from complementary RNA sequences, have been used for suppressing the autoimmune response in experimental autoimmune diseases as myasthenia gravis, allergic neuritis and allergic encephalomyelitis. Aiming at contributing to the development of a tool that could regulate the autoantibody production against La/SSB, which is the main target of autoantibodies in Sjogren's syndrome (SS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the complementary epitope, cpep349-364, of the minor T/major B cell epitope of La/SSB, pep349-364, was utilized for the induction of neutralizing anti-cpep349-364 antibodies in rabbit immunizations. Complementary peptides were coupled to an artificial carrier, developed in our laboratory, in order to enhance the complementary potency of cpep349-364 and its counterpart. This carrier, named Sequential Oligopeptide Carrier, SOC(n), formed by the repeating tripeptide Lys-Aib-Gly, adopts helical conformation, which allows the anchored peptide epitopes to preserve their initial reactivity such as molecular recognition, antigenicity/immunogenicity. Our study provides proof of evidence of specific interactions between idiotypic (Id)/anti-idiotypic (anti-Id) antibodies generated in immunized animals by the sense epitope (conjugate I) of La/SSB and its complementary counterpart (conjugate II). It was also demonstrated that the Id/anti-Id association is specifically disrupted by adding either the sense epitope (conjugate I) or its complementary counterpart (conjugate II). A mutual neutralization of Id/anti-Id antibodies was observed in vivo, which implies that generation of anti-Id antibodies by immunization with the complementary La/SSB epitope could scavenge the anti-La/SSB response.

Technical aspects of opioid receptor localization: detection of opioid receptor proteins by immunocytochemistry or with a biotinylated dynorphin analog

Opioid receptors were localized at the cellular level, using either anti-opioid receptor antibodies or a biotinylated opioid ligand. In addition, a simple method was developed for selection of second antisera on their potencies to detect particular monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Most anti-opioid receptor antibodies tested were not able to recognize the opioid receptor in frozen or fixed tissue sections, which was in contrast with their ability to recognize opioid receptors in isolated membrane fractions. However, one batch of anti-idiotypic mAbs gave a good immunocytochemical staining. Distribution of immunoreactivity suggested that these antibodies recognized more than one opioid receptor subtype. After very short fixation times, staining with a biotinylated kappa-selective ligand (DAKLIB) could be observed in the neural and intermediate lobe of pituitary. This binding could be displaced by non-biotinylated DAKLI. The pattern of DAKLIB staining in the neural lobe had the appearance of binding to both nerve fibres and astrocytes. The present results show successful staining of tissue sections with anti-idiotypic antibodies and with a biotinylated ligand. The specificity is discussed in the light of control experiments, pharmacological data and previous studies.

Lack of interaction of vasopressin with its antisense peptides: a functional and immunological study

The peptide encoded in the 5' to 3' direction by rat vasopressin complementary RNA, rat PVA (H-Ser-Ser-Trp-Ala-Val-Leu-Glu-Val-Ala- OH) and the corresponding bovine PVA (H-Ala-Pro-Trp-Ala-Val-Leu-Glu-Val-Ala-OH) were investigated with respect to their interaction with [8-arginine] vasopressin (AVP) and V2 vasopressin receptor binding and function. Rat or bovine PVA did neither affect the binding of the hormone to the V2 receptor of bovine kidney membranes and LLC-PK1 pig kidney cells nor influence the AVP-induced cAMP-production in LLC-PK1 cells. Rat PVA was further investigated by the use of vasopressin-specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies with different affinity and epitope specificity. Consistent with receptor binding studies no inhibition of [3H]AVP-binding in fluid- or solid-phase antibody binding tests after preincubation with PVA was found. Direct interaction of rat PVA and [3H]AVP measured on solid surface was not observed in contrast to specific binding of the hormone with NP II and antibodies. In our study no evidence for an interaction of AVP and its antisense peptides was found.

Critical evaluation of a theory of molecular recognition using human insulin-like-growth-factor-I fragment 21-40 and its complementary peptide

Using solid-phase methods we have synthesized human insulin-like-growth-factor-I (IGF-I) fragment 21-40 (IGF-I 21-40) and the peptide derived from the 5'----3' translation of the complementary nucleic acid of this peptide, 'I-FGI 20-40' (the complementary peptide). According to a recently proposed theory of molecular recognition, these two peptides should bind specifically to each other. We have tested this theory by using both solid- and solution-phase direct-binding assays for this complementary-peptide pair. We have also investigated the ability of I-FGI 20-40 to interfere with native IGF-I binding during radioimmunoassay (r.i.a.), radio-receptor (r.r.a.) assay and ligand-blot analysis of IGF-binding proteins. We have obtained no evidence of any interaction between IGF-I 21-40 and I-FGI 20-40 in either solid- or solution-phase assays. In addition, I-FGI 20-40 does not interfere in the assays used to detect IGF-I binding antibodies (r.i.a.), receptors (r.r.a.) or binding proteins (ligand blots). Our data therefore question the universality of this particular theory of molecular recognition.

Properties of monoclonal antibodies to thyroliberin (TRH) induced by different immunogens: comparison with pituitary TRH receptor

Thyroliberin E-H-P-NH2 (TRH) is a small neuropeptide pGlu-His-Pro-NH2 widely distributed in neural sites. The aim of this work was to obtain an antibody molecule with the nearest properties to that of TRH-receptor in GH3 cells. Different TRH-protein conjugates were prepared and utilized to induce monoclonal antibodies in mice. Several monoclonal antibodies were obtained using E-H-P-NH2 (TRH) coupled either to the histidyl residue (immunogen I) or to the prolyl residue (immunogen II). Antibodies generated using immunogen I and immunogen II were characterized in a radioimmunoassay system and an enzyme immunoassay system respectively. Their selectivities regarding a series of TRH related peptides were compared to those of rabbit polyclonal antibodies using three differently labelled TRH (tritiated-TRH, mono-iodinated-TRH and TRH-OH-acetyl-cholinesterase) as tracers and to prolactin secreting cells TRH receptors using 3H-TRH. Whatever the immunogen, the stereospecificity of monoclonal antibodies tested were found more different from TRH receptor characteristics than rabbit polyclonal antibodies.

Binding and pharmacologic properties of peptides derived from human and rat angiotensin II (AII) mRNA

We investigated the binding and pharmacologic properties of peptides encoded by complementary mRNA derived from the human and rat angiotensinogen gene (human and rat IIA, respectively). Human IIA (identical with AII in 4 amino acids) inhibited binding of [125I]AII to rat adrenal glomerulosa particles (Ki = 0.62 +/- 0.09 microM) and competitively blocked, with similar potency, the ability of three AII receptor agonists to contract rabbit aorta. Rat IIA affected neither [125I]AII binding to glomerulosa particles nor the contractile response of AII. We conclude that rat IIA does not interact with AII or its receptors and that human IIA acts as a competitive inhibitor of AII at the receptor level.

Vasopressin antisense peptide interactions with the V1 receptor

The molecular recognition hypothesis, that peptide ligands and their receptor binding sites are encoded by complementary nucleotide sequences, was tested for arginine vasopressin (AVP) and its V1 receptor. Binding of [125I] [d(CH2)5,Sar7]AVP (a selective V1 vasopressin antagonist radioligand) or [3H]AVP to rat liver plasma membranes was inhibited by peptides known to bind to V1 receptors but not by the AVP complementary peptide (Ser-Ser-Trp-Ala-Val-Leu-Glu-Val-Ala) (PVA). Rabbit anti-PVA antibodies were nonimmunoreactive with any protein in rat liver membranes or in a partially purified preparation from rat liver containing reconstitutable vasopressin binding activity. Furthermore, there was no suppression of the AVP pressor effect by PVA in vivo using a rat blood pressure bioassay. These findings do not support the hypothesis that the V1 receptor binding site is encoded by the antisense DNA strand to AVP.

A monoclonal anti-peptide antibody recognizes the adrenocorticotropic receptor

We have produced a monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes the adrenocorticotropic receptor on rat adrenal cells. The immunogen was designed from an RNA sequence complementary to the mRNA coding for ACTH1-24. This complementary peptide, termed HTCA, has been shown to specifically bind ACTH and was proposed to mimic the ACTH binding site of the hormone receptor. The monoclonal anti-HTCA antibody recognized a restricted domain of the HTCA peptide, bound to Y-1 adrenal cells with a KD of 1.8 nM, and blocked the binding of 125I-ACTH to rat adrenal cells. These findings show that anti-HTCA competes with ACTH for binding to the ACTH receptor.

Antisense peptide recognition of sense peptides: sequence simplification and evaluation of forces underlying the interaction

Structural principles were studied which underlie the recognition of sense peptides (sense DNA encoded) by synthetic peptides encoded in the corresponding antisense strand of DNA. The direct-readout antisense peptides corresponding to ribonuclease S-peptide bind to an affinity matrix containing immobilized S-peptide with significant selectivity and with dissociation constants in the range of 10(-6) M as judged by analytical affinity chromatography. Synthetic, sequence-modified forms of antisense peptides also exhibit substantial binding affinity, including a "scrambled" peptide in which the order of residue positions is changed while the overall residue composition is retained. The antisense mutants, as the original antisense peptides, bind at saturation with greater than 1:1 stoichiometry to immobilized S-peptide. The data suggest significant sequence degeneracy in the interaction of antisense with sense peptide. In contrast, selectivity was confirmed by the inability of several control peptides to bind to immobilized S-peptide. The idea was tested that the hydropathic pattern of the amino acid sequence serves to induce antisense peptide recognition. A hydropathically sequence-simplified mutant of antisense peptide was made in which all strongly hydrophilic (charged) residues were replaced by Lys, all strongly hydrophobic residues by Leu, and all weakly hydrophilic and hydrophobic residues by Ala, except Gly which was unchanged. This "KLAG" mutant also binds to immobilized S-peptide, with an affinity only an order of magnitude less than that with the original antisense peptide and with multiple stoichiometry. Mutants of the KLAG model, in which the hydropathic pattern was changed substantially, exhibited a lower binding affinity for S-peptide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Conformational behavior of fragments of adrenocorticotropin and their antisense peptides determined by NMR spectroscopy and CD spectropolarimetry

An 'antisense' peptide ('HTCA'), whose sequence was generated by reading the antisense RNA sequence corresponding to ACTH (1-24) was shown to bind ACTH (1-24) with a Kd of 0.3 nM in a solid-matrix binding assay [( 1986) Biochem. J. 234, 679 683]. Two-dimensional NMR spectra were used to examine the conformational behavior in methanol and in water solution of two fragments of adrenocorticotropin, ACTH(1-24) and ACTH (1-13), as well as their antisense peptides, HTCA and HTCA(12-24). The conformations are extended chains in these solutions, both as isolated molecules and when mixed with their antisense complements. The Kd values are greater than 1 mM.

Monoclonal antibody against a peptide specified by [Met]-enkephalin complementary RNA recognizes the delta-class opioid receptor

Monoclonal antibodies (MAB) were developed which recognize a peptide, His-Glu-Ala-Pro-Ile (HEAPI), encoded by the RNA complementary to the mRNA specifying [Met]-enkephalin. One such MAB (designated 6193) exhibited a high degree of reactivity to the peptide sequence. Other characteristics of 6193 MAB include: the ability to block opioid ligand binding in a radioreceptor assay; agonist activity similar to opioid peptides in suppressing cAMP production; and the recognition of a 58 kDa protein on the surface of the neuroblastoma x glioma cell line, NG108-15. These results are consistent with a reactivity of 6193 MAB with the delta-class opioid receptor.

Complementary peptides as interactive sites for protein binding

The observation that pairs of peptides encoded from complementary strands of nucleic acids can bind one another suggested to us that proteins might use similar "complementary peptide" sequences to facilitate their interactions with other proteins or peptides. Here we review evidence to support this hypothesis. Investigations by us and by others showed that receptors and their ligands may use complementary peptide sequences or their analogs to facilitate binding. In addition, antibodies made against pairs of complementary peptides bind one another in an idiotypic/anti-idiotypic fashion. Taken together, these findings suggest that complementary peptide sequences may be used as recognition units by pairs of proteins which interact.