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S J Tendler

Publications and source records attributed to S J Tendler.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

The discrimination of IgM and IgG type antibodies and Fab' and F(ab)2 antibody fragments on an industrial substrate using scanning force microscopy.

We have previously employed scanning force microscopy (SFM) to study antibody-antigen molecular interactions on microtiter wells used for enzyme linked immunosorbant assays (ELISA). Here we demonstrate the ability of SFM to image and discriminate different types of antibody and antibody fragments bound to an ELISA well surface. The samples studied include a type IgG antibody with a proportion of bound IgM and two-dimensional films of whole IgG antibody, and Fab' and F(ab)2 antibody fragments. Molecular resolution is achieved in each case despite the size of substrate features exceeding most of the molecular dimensions observed. Analysis of the data shows that the SFM overestimates molecular dimensions by an approximately constant amount, which is proposed to principally result from the effects of a finite probe size and not from deformation of the molecular species due to the imaging forces employed.

Animals↗

The role of scanning probe microscopy in drug delivery research.

The success of a drug delivery system is often dependent on the surface properties of the device. These surface properties will determine the complex dynamic interfacial events that occur when the system is introduced into the aqueous environment of a patient. Development of the scanning probe microscopes has provided a number of very powerful new surface analytical techniques that are making a significant contribution to the characterization of drug delivery systems and the interfacial processes that occur when such systems are exposed to aqueous living environments. In this review, we describe the design and attributes of these instruments and discuss the impact of the techniques on a wide range of drug delivery research. The scanning probe microscopes are providing new insights into important problems concerning drug delivery, including the molecular structure of polymeric biomaterial surfaces, the conformation of target biomolecules, the influence of morphology on biodegradation, the adsorption of proteins to synthetic surfaces, and the structure and interactions of colloidal particles. As the whole field of scanning probe microscopy continues to advance, drug delivery research is set to benefit; in the final section of the review, the future potential derived from the ability to characterize new surface properties under aqueous conditions is discussed.

Drug Delivery Systems↗

Primary sequence determination and molecular modelling of the variable region of an antiMUC1 mucin monoclonal antibody.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products representative of the DNA sequence coding for the variable heavy (VH) and the variable light (VL) chains of an antiMUC1 mucin monoclonal antibody, C595, have been produced. These products were cloned, sequenced, and the primary amino acid sequences of the VH and VL regions deduced. The hypervariable complementarity determining regions (CDRs) and framework regions in the heavy and light chains were located, and homologies with canonical forms for the CDR loops L1, L2, L3, H1 and H2 were identified by database searching. The structure for the H3 loop was calculated directly. Computational molecular modelling was accomplished using the fully automated AbM package (Oxford Molecular, Oxford, U.K.). Energy minimisation was performed using the program InsightII (Biosym, San Diego, California, U.S.A.). The investigation provides a basis for the molecular analysis of the antigen binding site of the C595 antibody with the aim to identify key residues and interactions involved in the immune recognition of the C595 antibody defined epitope, which is expressed in the majority of breast and ovarian carcinomas.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterisation of a recombinant Fv fragment of anti-MUC1 antibody HMFG1.

A recombinant Fv (variable fragment) has been produced for the murine monoclonal antibody HMFG1. This antibody was raised against human milk fat globules and reacts with an epitope (PDTR) in the protein core of MUC1 mucins, which are up-regulated in human breast and other carcinomas. Binding specificity of the Fv fragment has been demonstrated through immunoaffinity purification, and by radioimmunoassay. The affinity constants for this Fv fragment and for the proteolytically produced Fab (antigen binding fragment) of the related humanised antibody HuHMFG1 were determined by monitoring the fluorescence quenching of the antibody fragments whilst adding aliquots of MUC1 related antigenic peptides KAPDTRPAPG and VTSAPDTRPAPG. Using these techniques it has been demonstrated that the products of these different methods of antibody fragmentation are comparable, and suitable for solution structure analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

Animals↗

A scanning tunnelling microscopy comparison of passive antibody adsorption and biotinylated antibody linkage to streptavidin on microtiter wells.

An antiferritin antibody was either, (a) passively adsorbed to microwells or (b) biotinylated and immobilised to streptavidin coated microwells. Scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) imaging of these well surfaces coated with a platinum (95%) carbon (5%) coating (Pt/C) conductive layer showed a randomly oriented array of antibodies for passive adsorption whereas for biotin-streptavidin immobilisation there was a more uniform and even distribution of antibodies on the well surface. On further incubation with ferritin STM imaging showed that for passive adsorption approximately 5% of the surface was functional, while for the biotinylated antibody it was greater than 60%. The images presented in this paper show graphically the loss of functionality that occurs using passive adsorption and, conversely, the preservation of antibody functionality using the biotin-streptavidin linkage for antibody immobilisation. These results correlate well with the work of others in the field.

Adsorption↗

Atomic force microscopy and scanning tunnelling microscopy: refining techniques for studying biomolecules.

The scanning tunnelling microscope and the atomic force microscope offer the prospect of real-time, nanometre-scale imaging of biomolecules and biosurfaces under physiological environments. Much effort is therefore being made to establish these techniques as routine biophysical tools. The considerable recent progress that has been made in biotechnological applications is reviewed, highlighting specific examples of the applications of this new and exciting method of analysis.

Biological Products↗

Immune recognition of human colonic-tumour-associated MUC-2 mucins using an anti-peptide antibody.

In human intestinal malignancy, alterations occur in the expression of mucins defined by the MUC-2 gene. These changes include the unmasking of epitopes in the mucin protein core. In order to probe these modifications associated with mucins of the malignant phenotype, a monoclonal antibody (MAb) was developed against synthetic peptide with a sequence based upon that of the protein core of the MUC-2 mucin. The antibody (designated 996) was shown to recognize a high-molecular-weight glycoprotein from colonic carcinoma tissue. The material reacted uniformly with Concanavalin A but variably with other lectins, indicating heterogeneity in the associated oligosaccharide side chains. The protein core was accessible both to 996 antibody binding and to degradation with proteases. Immunization with the affinity-purified mucin-like material elicited antibodies reactive with both the immunogen and the synthetic peptides, confirming the immunogenic character of protein-core determinants. Epitope mapping studies, using synthetic peptides in solution and synthetic peptides tethered to the heads of plastic pins, indicated that the minimum epitope for the 996 antibody is a tetramer of T G T Q. Antibody interaction with the glutamine (Q) residue was determined to be of major importance in the antigen-antibody reaction. The findings illustrate the characterization of an anti-peptide antibody which may be used to probe alterations in MUC-2 mucin expression associated with human intestinal malignant disease.

Adsorption↗

Measurement of antibody binding to antigenic peptides conjugated in situ to albumin-coated microtitre plates.

Monoclonal antibodies have been prepared against a synthetic peptide with a sequence corresponding to a repeated hydrophilic region of the protein core of the human MUC-2 gastrointestinal mucin. Peptide conjugates, prepared by glutaraldehyde cross-linking with keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) and bovine serum albumin (BSA), were employed as the immunogen and target antigen (for screening by ELISA), respectively. However, for the measurement of antibody binding to peptide by an ELISA procedure, an alternative strategy was developed and is described in this report: peptides were conjugated directly to BSA immobilized by physical adsorption to the surface of microtitre plate wells. This procedure permits peptides to be tested as target antigens by ELISA without prior preparation of peptide-carrier conjugates.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Fine specificity of antibody recognition of carcinoma-associated epithelial mucins: antibody binding to synthetic peptide epitopes.

The protein core of polymorphic epithelial mucins consists predominantly of a repeating 20 amino acid peptide motif. Many monoclonal antibodies reactive with breast carcinomas recognise determinants located within the mucin protein core, and epitope mapping techniques have demonstrated that these antibodies bind to epitopes of three, four or five amino acids within the hydrophilic sequence, P D T R P A P. Each of these mucin core-reactive antibodies map to epitopes containing the central arginine residue. The fine specificity of a panel of anti-mucin antibodies binding to the tetrameric peptides P D T R or R P A P (synthesised on the heads of polyethylene pins) was examined by systematically replacing each amino acid in turn with all other 19 natural amino acids, and then testing these analogues for antibody binding. We have (i) identified those amino acids in epitopes which are essential for antibody binding, (ii) shown that for each epitope there is a hierarchy of residues required for immune recognition--certain amino acids may be replaced with little or no loss of antibody binding, while the presence of others is essential, and (iii) concluded that antibody specificity is further regulated by the residue(s) flanking an epitope motif which may impose conformational constraints upon the presentation of the epitope to an antibody.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural and computational investigations of the conformation of antigenic peptide fragments of human polymorphic epithelial mucin.

Human polymorphic epithelial mucins (PEM) are complex glycoproteins that are associated with breast and ovarian carcinomas. The PEM core protein consists of variable numbers of a tandem repeat sequence which contains a short antigenic hydrophilic region (Pro1-Asp-Thr-Arg-Pro-Ala-Pro7). High-field n.m.r. studies undertaken on antigenic 20- and 11-amino acid fragments of the PEM core protein in dimethyl sulphoxide have identified a type-I beta-turn to be present in the region Pro1-Asp-Thr-Arg4. This region includes and overlaps the identified type-I (Asp2-Thr-Arg4) and type-II (Arg4-Pro-Ala6) epitopes of anti-PEM monoclonal antibodies. The studies indicate that the beta-turn is stabilized by the presence of a salt-bridge interaction between Asp-2 and Arg-4. In order to probe the conformations accessible to the PEM peptides a computational study was undertaken independently on the peptide Pro-Asp-Thr-Arg-Pro using a modified Metropolis Monte Carlo algorithm. This study identified the n.m.r.-observed salt-bridge type-I beta-turn as the major low-energy conformer. These results suggest that this structural motif may be involved in the immune recognition of PEM.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Peptide epitope binding and fluorescence quenching with the anti-mucin antibody C595.

The Fab fragment of the anti-polymorphic epithelial mucin antibody C595 (IgG3, kappa) has been produced by digestion with papain. The purified antibody fragment retained its binding activity for the mucin in an indirect radioisotopic antiglobulin assay. The binding constant of the Fab fragment for the synthetic peptide (PDTRPAPGSTAPPAHGVTSA) corresponding to the 20-amino acid tandem repeat sequence found in the mucin protein core was determined to be 0.3 x 10(6) M-1 by measuring the capacity of the peptide to quench the fluorescence of the Fab fragment.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Topographical investigations of human ovarian-carcinoma polymorphic epithelial mucin by scanning tunnelling microscopy.

Human polymorphic epithelial mucin is a high-molecular-mass glycoprotein that associates to provide protection to the epithelial-cell surface and may afford the malignant cell a selective advantage for growth. The scanning-tunnelling-microscopy micrographs obtained in the present study identify the purified human ovarian-carcinoma polymorphic epithelial mucin glycoproteins as rod-shaped molecules of mixed length. The dimensions of the individual molecules range from 25 to 45 nm in length and are 3-4 nm in width. The images further suggest that lateral association of the rods occurs.

Animals↗

Structural studies on the [Bu(t)-Cys18](19-37)-fragment of human beta-calcitonin-gene-related peptide.

High-field n.m.r. studies were undertaken upon a peptide fragment of the C-terminal region of human beta-calcitonin-gene-related peptide (beta-hCGRP). Studies on the antigenic [Bu(t)-Cys18]beta-hCGRP-(19-37)-fragment revealed that several elements of secondary structure were present when the peptide was dissolved in [2H6]dimethyl sulphoxide. In particular an unspecified turn in the region of Ser19-Gly20 and a type I beta-turn in the region of Asn31-Val32-Gly33 were identified. Through-space connections between the terminal Phe37 amide group and the beta-protons of Thr50 suggest that the peptide may be folded into a loop-type conformation. These structural elements appear to overlap with the epitopes of a number of monoclonal antibodies and provide a molecular basis for understanding the role of the terminal Phe37 amide residue in the immune recognition of beta-hCGRP.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification of anti-epithelial mucin monoclonal antibodies by epitope affinity chromatography.

Monoclonal antibodies against the protein core of epithelial mucins have been found to react with the immunodominant sequence P D T R P A P (Burchell et al., 1989; Price et al., 1990a). Two immunoadsorbent matrices were prepared by linking the peptide A P D T R P A P G to CNBr-activated Sepharose and by linking the peptide C A P D T R P A P G to activated thiol-Sepharose, so that each immunoadsorbent contained the immunodominant motif. Anti-epithelial mucin antibodies (anti-breast carcinoma antibodies, anti-purified mucin antibodies and anti-human milk fat globule antibodies) were examined for reactivity with these preparations. The initial tests indicated that the substituted CNBr-activated Sepharose displayed lower non-specific antibody binding and this matrix was selected for further investigation. The anti-mucin antibodies were shown to react specifically with this affinity matrix and irrelevant antibodies failed to bind. A Sepharose-peptide immunoadsorbent column was examined for its capacity to purify several of these anti-mucin antibodies and it was determined that this procedure was highly efficient--purified IgG and IgM antibodies could be isolated from either hybridoma tissue culture supernatants or ascitic fluids. The capacity of the column was in excess of 40 mg antibody protein per ml of gel for the IgG3 antibody, C595 (anti-urinary mucin) and at least 10 mg antibody protein per ml of gel for the IgM antibody, NCRC-11 (anti-breast carcinoma). The procedure described permits the efficient purification of anti-mucin antibodies and provides a product which would be suitable for further investigations requiring highly immunoreactive antibodies (e.g., for radioimmunotherapy or immunoscintigraphy in patients with malignant disease).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Immune recognition of linear epitopes in peptide fragments of epithelial mucins.

Anti-human milk fat globule membrane monoclonal antibodies HMFG-1 and HMFG-2 recognize epitopes within the protein core of human polymorphic epithelial mucin (PEM). These have been identified as PDTR and DTR, respectively. Using the solid phase synthesis of immobilized tetrameric peptides, we have systematically investigated the contribution of each amino acid in the immune recognition of the PDTR domain by the antibodies HMFG-1 and HMFG-2. The findings obtained have been interpreted with respect to the presence of, and requirements for elements of secondary structure, which have been identified in this region of the PEM protein core.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Scanning tunneling microscopy imaging of the tumour associated antigenic 20 amino acid human polymorphic epithelial mucin core peptide fragment.

Human polymorphic epithelial mucins (PEM) are high molecular weight glycoproteins that are associated with breast cancer. Recent structural studies have identified that the protein core of PEM contains a 20 amino acid tandem repeat that has elements of secondary structure which coincide with the epitopes for a number of tumour reactive antibodies. In our continuing structural studies we have now investigated the use of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to directly image the conformation of the twenty amino acid PEM core peptide. High resolution STM images reveal that the peptide has an overall topography similar to that predicted by molecular modelling. The images identify directly that the free peptide is conformationally non-restricted and can adopt a number of discrete conformations in the solid state.

Amino Acid Sequence↗