6p4d

Publication Abstract from PubMed

Conformational diversity and self-cross-reactivity of antigens have been correlated with evasion from neutralizing antibody responses. We utilized single cell B cell sequencing, biolayer interferometry and X-ray crystallography to trace mutation selection pathways where the antibody response must resolve cross-reactivity between foreign and self-proteins bearing near-identical contact surfaces, but differing in conformational flexibility. Recurring antibody mutation trajectories mediate long-range rearrangements of framework (FW) and complementarity determining regions (CDRs) that increase binding site conformational diversity. These antibody mutations decrease affinity for self-antigen 19-fold and increase foreign affinity 67-fold, to yield a more than 1,250-fold increase in binding discrimination. These results demonstrate how conformational diversity in antigen and antibody does not act as a barrier, as previously suggested, but rather facilitates high affinity and high discrimination between foreign and self.

Conformational diversity facilitates antibody mutation trajectories and discrimination between foreign and self-antigens.,Burnett DL, Schofield P, Langley DB, Jackson J, Bourne K, Wilson E, Porebski BT, Buckle AM, Brink R, Goodnow CC, Christ D Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Sep 8;117(36):22341-22350. doi:, 10.1073/pnas.2005102117. Epub 2020 Aug 27. PMID:32855302^[2]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.