Overpassing an aberrant V(kappa) gene to sequence an anti-idiotypic abzyme with (beta)-lactamase-like activity that could have a linkage with autoimmune diseases

A monoclonal antibody 9G4H9 that exhibits a beta-lactamase-like activity was previously obtained in accordance with the idiotypic network theory. This abzyme presents the most catalytic efficiency in amidase activity described in literature (kcat = 0.9 min-1). Some reports have demonstrated that functionality as complex as catalysis may be mimicked in this way. Comparison of the catalytic properties of both enzyme and abzyme previously allowed us to obtain better knowledge about 9G4H9 abzymatic machinery. In attempt to characterize this abzyme, the variable regions of kappa and heavy chain were cloned. We present a 'universal' method to clone the correct Vkappa gene to bypass aberrant Vkappa (abVkappa) produced by MOPC-21-derived hybridomas. Sequences obtained are compared in the GenBank database. The VH and Vkappa genes present some important sequence homology with autoantibodies suggesting a direct relationship between catalytic anti-idiotypic antibody and autoimmunity.

A suicide-substrate mechanism for hydrolysis of beta-lactams by an anti-idiotypic catalytic antibody

The catalytic mechanism of an anti-idiotypic antibody, 9G4H9, displaying a beta-lactamase activity was investigated. Kinetics experiments suggest that some penicillinic derivatives behave both as substrates and inactivators. Biochemical and immunological experiments strongly indicate that ampicillin may be regarded as a suicide substrate for hydrolysis by 9G4H9. The anti-idiotypic network appears as a way to create enzyme mimics with modified catalytic activities.

Excess substrate inhibition of soybean lipoxygenase-1 is mainly oxygen-dependent

Soybean lipoxygenase-1 kinetics are known to show product and substrate inhibition. With linoleic acid as the substrate and using a simple Michaelis-Menten formulation, we have shown that K(ss), the substrate inhibition constant was increased by more than five-fold when initial oxygen concentration was increased from 228 to 1140 microM. Excess substrate inhibition is in fact almost avoided at high initial oxygen concentration. This modification seems correlated with enzyme saturation with oxygen relative to linoleic acid, as reflected by alterations of the substrate conversion rate. Possible implications for the enzyme kinetics are discussed.