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W R Tulip

Publications and source records attributed to W R Tulip.

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The structure of a complex between the NC10 antibody and influenza virus neuraminidase and comparison with the overlapping binding site of the NC41 antibody.

BACKGROUND: While it is well known that different antibodies can be produced against a particular antigen, and even against a particular site on an antigen, up until now there have been no structural studies of cross-reacting antibodies of this type. One antibody-antigen complex whose structure is known is that of the influenza virus antigen, neuraminidase, in complex with the NC41 antibody. Another anti-neuraminidase antibody, NC10, binds to an overlapping site on the antigen. The structure of the complex formed by this antibody with neuraminidase is described here and compared with the NC41-containing complex. RESULTS: The crystal structure of the NC10 Fab-neuraminidase complex has been refined to a nominal resolution of 2.5A. Approximately 80% of the binding site of the NC10 antibody on neuraminidase overlaps with that of the NC41 antibody. The epitope residues of neuraminidase are often engaged in quite different interactions with the two antibodies. Although the NC10 and NC41 antibodies have identical amino acid sequences within the first complementarity determining region of their heavy chains, this is not the basis of the cross-reaction. CONCLUSIONS: The capacity of two different proteins to bind to the same target structure on a third protein need not be based on the existence of identical or homologous amino acid sequences within those proteins. As we have demonstrated, amino acid residues on the common target structure may be in quite different chemical environments, and may also adopt different conformations within two protein-protein complexes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

N9 neuraminidase complexes with antibodies NC41 and NC10: empirical free energy calculations capture specificity trends observed with mutant binding data.

X-ray crystallographic coordinates of influenza virus N9 neuraminidase complexed with monoclonal antibodies NC41 and NC10 [Tulip et al. (1992) J. Mol. Biol. 227, 122-148] served as a starting point for calculations aimed at estimating free energy changes (delta G) of complex formation between the two antibodies and the neuraminidase. Using an empirical function incorporating hydrophobic, electrostatic, and conformational entropy effects, we estimated contributions individual neuraminidase residues make to complex formation (delta G(residue)) and compared the calculated values to experimentally measured differences in antibody binding between the wild-type and mutated neuraminidases [Nuss et al. (1993) Proteins 15, 121-132; calculations done without prior knowledge of the experimental data]. A good correspondence was found between the calculated delta G(residue) values and the mutant binding data in that side chains with large calculated delta G contributions (delta G(residue) < -1 kcal/mol) lie at sites of mutation which cause a marked reduction in antibody binding, and side chains for which delta G(residue) > -1 kcal/mol are sites at which a mutation does not have a marked effect on binding. Because most of the delta G(residue) < -1 kcal/mol side chains also make hydrogen bonds/salt bridges with the antibody, the correspondence of the effect of antibody binding with these electrostatic interactions (18 out of 27 for NC41 and, tentatively, 5 out of 7 for NC10) is about as good as that with predicted energetic residues. All the delta G(residue) < -1 kcal/mol neuraminidase side chains cluster around the most protruding surface regions and are thus spread over different epitope segments. Surprisingly, different residues were found to make the most critical contributions to the NC41 and NC10 complex stabilities despite the fact that the NC41 and NC10 antigenic epitopes overlap, having approximately 70% of surface residues in common. It is thus possible, for two different antibodies, to recognize the same protein surface in strikingly different ways. As only a fraction of the neuraminidase residues appear to make large contributions to antibody binding, the results also support the hypothesis of a "functional" epitope in antigen-antibody interactions. Positive trends between both backbone rigidity and residue accessibility in the complexed state, and contributions of these residues to binding, were also observed for the NC41 complex.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Refined crystal structure of the influenza virus N9 neuraminidase-NC41 Fab complex.

The crystal structure of the complex between neuraminidase from influenza virus (subtype N9 and isolated from an avian source) and the antigen-binding fragment (Fab) of monoclonal antibody NC41 has been refined by both least-squares and simulated annealing methods to an R-factor of 0.191 using 31,846 diffraction data in the resolution range 8.0 to 2.5 A. The resulting model has a root-mean-square deviation from ideal bond-length of 0.016 A. One fourth of the tetrameric complex comprises the crystallographic model, which has 6577 non-hydrogen atoms and consists of 389 protein residues and eight carbohydrate residues in the neuraminidase, 214 residues in the Fab light chain, and 221 residues in the heavy chain. One putative Ca ion buried in the neuraminidase, and 73 water molecules, are also included. A remarkable shape complementarity exists between the interacting surfaces of the antigen and the antibody, although the packing density of atoms at the interface is somewhat looser than in the interior of a protein. Similarly, there is a high degree of chemical complementarity between the antigen and antibody, mediated by one buried salt-link, two solvated salt-links and 12 hydrogen bonds. The antibody-binding site on neuraminidase is discontinuous and comprises five chain segments and 19 residues in contact, whilst 33 neuraminidase residues in eight segments have 899 A2 of surface area buried by the interaction (to a 1.7 A probe), including two hexose units. Seventeen residues in NC41 Fab lying in five of the six complementarity determining regions (CDRs) make contact with the neuraminidase and 36 antibody residues in seven segments have 916 A2 of buried surface area. The interface is more extensive than those of the three lysozyme-Fab complexes whose crystal structures have been determined, as judged by buried surface area and numbers of contact residues. There are only small differences (less than 1.5 A) between the complexed and uncomplexed neuraminidase structures and, at this resolution and accuracy, those differences are not unequivocal. The main-chain conformations of five of the CDRs follow the predicted canonical structures. The interface between the variable domains of the light and heavy chains is not as extensive as in other Fabs, due to less CDR-CDR interaction in NC41. The first CDR on the NC41 Fab light chain is positioned so that it could sterically hinder the approach of small as well as large substrates to the neuraminidase active-site pocket, suggesting a possible mechanism for the observed inhibition of enzyme activity by the antibody.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Crystal structures of two mutant neuraminidase-antibody complexes with amino acid substitutions in the interface.

The site on influenza virus N9 neuraminidase recognized by NC41 monoclonal antibody comprises 19 amino acid residues that are in direct contact with 17 residues on the antibody. Single sequence changes in some of the neuraminidase residues in the site markedly reduce antibody binding. However, two mutants have been found within the site, Ile368 to Arg and Asn329 to Asp selected by antibodies other than NC41, and these mutants bind NC41 antibody with only slightly reduced affinity. The three-dimensional structures of the two mutant N9-NC41 antibody complexes as derived from the wild-type complex are presented. Both structures show that some amino acid substitutions can be accommodated within an antigen-antibody interface by local structural rearrangements around the mutation site. In the Ile368 to Arg mutant complex, the side-chain of Arg368 is shifted by 2.9 A from its position in the uncomplexed mutant and a shift of 1.3 A in the position of the light chain residue HisL55 with respect to the wild-type complex is also observed. In the other mutant, the side-chain of Asp329 appears rotated by 150 degrees around C alpha-C beta with respect to the uncomplexed mutant, so that the carboxylate group is moved to the periphery of the antigen-antibody interface. The results provide a basis for understanding some of the potential structural effects of somatic hypermutation on antigen-antibody binding in those cases where the mutation in the antibody occurs at antigen-contacting residues, and demonstrate again the importance of structural context in evaluating the effect of amino acid substitutions on protein structure and function.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Refined atomic structures of N9 subtype influenza virus neuraminidase and escape mutants.

The crystal structure of the N9 subtype neuraminidase of influenza virus was refined by simulated annealing and conventional techniques to an R-factor of 0.172 for data in the resolution range 6.0 to 2.2 A. The r.m.s. deviation from ideal values of bond lengths is 0.014 A. The structure is similar to that of N2 subtype neuraminidase both in secondary structure elements and in their connections. The three-dimensional structures of several escape mutants of neuraminidase, selected with antineuraminidase monoclonal antibodies, are also reported. In every case, structural changes associated with the point mutation are confined to the mutation site or to residues that are spatially immediately adjacent to it. The failure of antisera to cross-react between N2 and N9 subtypes may be correlated with the absence of conserved, contiguous surface structures of area 700 A2 or more.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Three antibody molecules can bind simultaneously to each monomer of the tetramer of influenza virus neuraminidase and the trimer of influenza virus hemagglutinin.

Trimeric hemagglutinin and tetrameric neuraminidase molecules isolated from influenza virus bind an average of 9 and 13 molecules respectively of monovalent antibody fragments prepared from IgG isolated from polyclonal sera. In each case this represents an average of approximately three molecules of antibody binding to each protomer. Although there is compelling evidence for the presence of multiple adjacent and overlapping epitopes covering the surface of these two viral antigens, steric hindrance ensures that even under saturating conditions only three molecules of monovalent antibody fragments can be simultaneously accommodated on each monomer.

Animals↗

Three-dimensional structures of influenza virus neuraminidase-antibody complexes.

X-ray diffraction analysis of crystals of a monoclonal Fab fragment NC41 bound to a viral antigen, influenza virus neuraminidase, shows an epitope involving five surface loops of the antigen. In addition it reveals an unusual pairing pattern between the domains of light and heavy chains in the variable module of the antibody. We interpret this result to imply that association with antigen can induce changes in the quaternary structure of the Fab, through a sliding of domains at the variable light/variable heavy chains (VL-VH) interface. In addition, Fab binding has altered the conformation of some of the surface loops of the antigen. The structure of the NC10 Fab-neuraminidase complex has now also been solved. It binds an epitope that overlaps the NC41 epitope. In this structure, there is no electron density for the C-module of the Fab fragment, implying it is disordered in the crystal lattice. The implications of these, and other antibody-antigen structures, for immune recognition are discussed.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Conformations of immunoglobulin hypervariable regions.

On the basis of comparative studies of known antibody structures and sequences it has been argued that there is a small repertoire of main-chain conformations for at least five of the six hypervariable regions of antibodies, and that the particular conformation adopted is determined by a few key conserved residues. These hypotheses are now supported by reasonably successful predictions of the structures of most hypervariable regions of various antibodies, as revealed by comparison with their subsequently determined structures.

Amino Acid Sequence↗