Haloperidol binding to monoclonal antibodies. Hypervariable region amino acid sequence determination

The 3' part of the immunoglobulin kappa locus of the mouse

A detailed restriction map of a 430-kb contig comprising the single Ckappa, the 5 Jkappa and the adjoining 22 Vkappa gene segments is presented. The first 12 Vkappa genes following the JkappaCkappa region belong to the Vkappa21 family, the subsequent ones to the closely related families Vkappa8 and Vkappal 9/ 28. Previous difficulties in cloning all Vkappa21 genes can now be explained by the presence of a duplicated region in this part of the locus. The structure was established by analysis of yeast artificial chromosome, bacterial artificial chromosome and cosmid clones and by the so-called long template PCR technique. The distance between Ckappa and the proximal Vkappa21 gene is 22 kb and the average distances between the Vkappa genes are about 20 kb. Of the 12 Vkappa21 genes 5 were sequenced for the first time and 8 of the 12 genes were found to be expressed. Of the 10 Vkappa8 and Vkappa19/28 germline genes 9 are new; expression products of 8 of the 10 genes were known. The known 5', 3' polarities allow to specify for the 22 Vkappa genes whether they are rearranged to the JkappaCkappa element by a deletion or an inversion mechanism. Also the formation of interesting rearrangement products in classical cell lines as MPC11, MOPC41 and PC 7043 can be explained now. The non-Vkappa sequence L10 whose rearrangement by inversion has been described earlier (Hoechtl and Zachau, Nature 1983. 302: 260-263) was now localized downstream of JkappaCkappa.

Anti-digoxin scFv fragments expressed in bacteria and in insect cells have different antigen binding properties

A gene encoding a single-chain antibody fragment directed against digoxin (named 1C10 scFv) was cloned in two expression systems. For this purpose, a new baculovirus transfer cassette fully compatible with the procaryotic pHEN vector was constructed. Baculovirus production led to higher yield than did Escherichia coli expression. The procaryotic fragment showed variations in the fine specificity profile but an affinity constant nearly identical to that of the 1C10 Fab, whereas the eucaryotic scFv fragment had a lower affinity with a specificity profile identical to original mAb. The half-lives of the digoxin:scFv complexes and the global specificity are compatible with therapeutic use of this antibody fragment.

Antigen binding and cytotoxic properties of a recombinant immunotoxin incorporating the lytic peptide, melittin

BACKGROUND

The majority of immunotoxins studied to date incorporate toxins that act in the cytosol and thus need to be endocytosed by the target cell. An alternative strategy for immunotoxin development is the use of membrane active toxins, such as the pore-forming proteins. Melittin, a 26 amino acid cytolytic peptide from bee venom, is such a protein.

OBJECTIVES

We report here the construction, production and functional analysis of a recombinant immunotoxin obtained by fusion of genes which encode an antibody fragment (scFv) with an oligonucleotide encoding melittin.

STUDY DESIGN

The antibody fragment was derived from a murine monoclonal antibody, K121, which recognises a specific epitope (KMA) expressed on the surface of human kappa myeloma and lymphoma cells, and on human free kappa Bence Jones protein (BJP). Melittin is a 26-amino acid, membrane-lytic peptide which is a major component of bee venom. The scFv of K121 was constructed by PCR to link VH and VL genes via an oligonucleotide which encodes a flexible, hydrophilic peptide. An oligonucleotide encoding melittin and the peptide marker sequence FLAG was fused to the scFv construct using a similar linker peptide. The gene construct (scFv-mel) was inserted into the secretion vector pPOW and expressed in Escherichia coli (TOPP2).

RESULTS

Expression of the recombinant scFv-mel gene and purification of the protein product was monitored by Western blot analysis. Following purification by anti-FLAG affinity chromatography, the recombinant immunotoxin (scFv-mel) was assessed for antigen binding and for cytotoxic activity by flow cytometry using antigen-expressing and non-expressing cell targets. The scFv-mel was found to exhibit binding and killing properties consistent with the specificity of the original K121 antibody. Moreover, the cytolytic activity of the scFv-mel was significantly greater on a molar basis than that of native melittin alone.

CONCLUSION

The data presented here constitute the first report of a melittin-based recombinant immunotoxin and demonstrate that such a membrane active immunotoxin can be synthesised in a bacterial expression. Linking of melittin to an antibody fragment overcame the non-specific toxicity of melittin as the recombinant immunotoxin exhibited specific toxicity towards antigen-bearing target cells. The observation that the immunotoxin exhibited enhanced cytotoxic activity over the free toxin indicates the potential of this approach for the development of an effective therapeutic agent.

Differences in V kappa gene utilization and VH CDR3 sequence among anti-DNA from C3H-lpr mice and lupus mice with nephritis

To investigate the molecular properties of anti-DNA from lpr mice that express high levels of anti-DNA without immune-mediated nephritis, the sequences of VH and V kappa genes encoding 11 monoclonal anti-DNA antibodies derived from C3H-lpr/lpr (C3H-lpr) mice were studied. All of the C3H-lpr monoclonal anti-DNA bound single-stranded DNA while five also bound double-stranded DNA. Two of the hybridomas were clonally related as determined by Southern analysis and sequencing. Sequence analysis of C3H-lpr anti-DNA revealed the use of VH genes that encode anti-DNA from the MRL-lpr/lpr and (NZB X NZW) F1 mouse models of lupus, although differences occurred in the VH CDR3 amino acid content. In contrast, the V kappa genes from C3H-lpr mice lacked significant identity with previously reported V kappa genes for anti-DNA from lupus models. These results indicate that anti-DNA from C3H-lpr mice differ from anti-DNA from lupus mice with nephritis in patterns of V gene expression and suggest a molecular basis for the lack of pathogenicity of anti-DNA in these mice.

Molecular cloning of cDNAs for immunoglobulin variable regions of a monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody specific for sigma receptors

In previous work on sigma (sigma) receptors, we established a hybridoma cell line, 10G9, producing a monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody (anti-Id mAb) to the monoclonal and anti-haloperidol antibody. The anti-Id mAb showed specific binding affinity to sigma receptors in immunoprecipitation and competition experiments. Here we isolated and sequenced cDNA clones for the variable regions of the anti-Id mAb. These combinations of segments and formation of the unique CDR3 were considered to be the structural basis for the diversity of the antigen-binding site of our anti-Id mAb and, therefore, for its binding activity to sigma receptors.

Kinetics of haloperidol binding to monoclonal antibodies as measured by direct fluorescence quenching

Monoclonal antibodies which bind small neurogenic ligands may mimic certain aspects of the stereospecific binding present in the natural biological receptor, and may prove useful in designing engineered protein receptors, provided their interactions are correctly understood. We report here the kinetic and equilibrium characteristics of ligand-antibody complexes of haloperidol, a dopaminergic antagonist, with three of its monoclonal antibodies as studied by fluorescence quenching techniques. These antibodies possessed moderate to high affinity constants, ranging from 10(5) to 10(9) M-1, and caused fluorescence quenching of a fluorescein-labeled haloperidol as well as quenching (40-60%) of the internal tryptophan fluorescence. The dissociation rates of the ligand from the complexes were measured at different conditions of temperature, pH and ionic strength. The results provide important information regarding the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the binding pockets of these antibodies.

Analysis of the structural diversity of monoclonal antibodies to cyclosporine

The immunosuppressive cyclic undecapeptide cyclosporine (Cs) represents a useful model for studying the molecular basis of antibody-antigen interactions. The three-dimensional structure of the Cs molecule is known and a large panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to Cs has been well characterized by cross-reactivity studies with numerous Cs analogs. In the present study, the sequences of the variable regions of seven mAbs to Cs were determined and a striking relationship was found between the expressed variable region genes and the Cs recognition pattern. An analysis of the length and hydrophobic content of the hypervariable regions and sequence similarities suggested that the heavy chain plays a major role in Cs recognition. Different fine specificities were observed for mAbs exhibiting identical light chains, while two antibodies differed by only a single amino acid located in the heavy chain. The presence of a duplication of 12 nucleotides within the heavy chain third hypervariable region of two antibodies suggests the existence of an additional mechanism for creating antibody diversity.

Antibodies with high affinity for spiroperidol--II. Cross reactivity with iodobenzamide and domperidone

Three radioligands, 3H-spiroperidol (3H-SPD), 3H-domperidone (3H-DOMP) and 125I-iodobenzamide (125I-IBZM), were used to investigate the antibody response to two haptens, aminospiroperidol (NH2SPD) and N-aminophenethylspiroperidol (NAPS). Although structurally different, these three radioligands each bind with high affinity to the D2 dopamine receptor. Antibodies with high affinity for 3H-SPD were elicited in rabbits following immunization with the hapten NH2SPD covalently linked to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). In addition, antibodies in the rabbit anti-NH2SPD antisera bound 125I-IBZM or 3H-DOMP. Rabbit anti-NH2SPD antibodies that bound 125I-IBZM or 3H-DOMP were found to have higher affinity for IBZM or DOMP, respectively, than for SPD. The binding properties of the anti-NH2SPD antibodies that bound 3H-SPD, 125I-IBZM and 3H-DOMP were characterized using a panel of competitive inhibitors and each radioligand appeared to bind to a distinct subpopulation of anti-NH2SPD antibodies. BALB/c mice were immunized with NH2SPD-KLH or NAPS-KLH. A population of antibodies that bound 3H-SPD and a population of antibodies that bound 3H-DOMP were detected. The population of antibodies that bound 3H-DOMP was found to be heteroclitic for DOMP, since DOMP was a more effective competitive inhibitor than SPD. Binding sites for 125I-IBZM were not detected in either the anti-NH2SPD or the anti-NAPS BALB/c antisera. However, two anti-NAPS monoclonal antibodies, N6-24 and N6-29, that bind 3H-SPD with high affinity (Kd = 10(-9) M), were also found to bind IBZM (Ki = 2 x 10(-7) M) and DOMP (Ki = 2 x 10(-6) M). Although anti-NH2SPD and anti-NAPS antibodies were identified that appeared to bind 3H-SPD, 3H-DOMP or 125I-IBZM with high affinity, none of the populations of polyclonal antibodies or monoclonal antibodies bound all three ligands with high affinity.