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[Stereochemical theory of the 3-dimensional structure of globular proteins. I. Highly helical intermediate structures].

The authors analyze the physical prerequisites on which the proposed stereochemical theory of the three-dimensional structure of globular proteins is based. The theory represents a stereochemical modelling of the mechanism of protein self-organization suggested earlier by one of the authors. According to this mechanism, a highly helical intermediate structure(s) is formed at first and then it passes into the native one. In the highly-helical intermediate structure the arrangement of the polypeptide chain in space is the same as in the native structure. These two structures differ mainly by the secondary structure of the chain. The transition into the native structure proceeds under the effect of long-range interactions which transform the excess alpha-helices into beta-structural and irregular conformations. The so-called s-helices are considered (the alpha-helix, whose hydrophobic groups form a separate cluster on its surface). s-Helices can be obtained on the greater part of the polypeptide chain of any globular protein. In the unfolded protein chain they are the most stable and rapidly formed structures. It has been shown that namely s-helices are the initial blocks for the formation of the highly-helical intermediate structure. Stereochemical principles of the s-helix packing that permit to predict the three-dimensional structure of highly helical proteins have been found. According to these principles the highly helical structure represents the packing of hydrophobic surfaces and s-helices. In their turn, hydrophobic surfaces are formed as a result of complementary interaction of borders of hydrophobic clusters of two s-helices according to the "knob-hole" principle.

Models, Chemical

Solution structure of neuronal bungarotoxin determined by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy: calculation of tertiary structure using systematic homologous model building, dynamical simulated annealing, and restrained molecular dynamics.

Neuronal bungarotoxin has previously been shown, using two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy, to have a triple-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet structure which dimerizes in solution [Oswald, R.E., Sutcliffe, M.J., Bamberger, M., Loring, R.H., Braswell, E., & Dobson, C.M. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 4901-4909]. In this paper, structural calculations are described which use the 582 experimentally measured NOE restraints in conjunction with 27 phi-angle restraints from J-value measurements. The positions of the N-terminal region and C-terminal region were poorly defined in the calculated structures with respect to the remainder of the structure. The region of the structure containing the triple-stranded beta-sheet was, however, well defined and similar to that found in the structure of homologous alpha-bungarotoxin (45% amino acid identity). The experimental restraints did not result in a well-defined dimer interface region because of the small number of NOEs which could be identified in this region. An approach was therefore adopted which produced model structures based to varying degrees on the alpha-bungarotoxin structure. Fourteen different structures were generated in this manner and subsequently used as starting points for refinement using dynamical simulated annealing followed by restrained molecular dynamics. This approach, which combines NMR data and homologous model building, has enabled a family of structures to be proposed for the dimeric molecule. In particular, Phe49 has been identified as possibly playing an important role in dimer formation, this residue in one chain interacting with the corresponding residue in the adjacent chain.

Amino Acid Sequence

The three-dimensional structure of a DNA hairpin in solution two-dimensional NMR studies and structural analysis of d(ATCCTATTTATAGGAT).

The hairpin formed by d(ATCCTATTTATAGGAT) was studied by means of two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and conformational analysis. Almost all 1H resonances of the stem region could be assigned, while the 1H and 31P spectra of the loop region were interpreted completely; this includes the stereospecific assignment of the H5' and H5" resonances. The derivation of the detailed loop structure was carried out in a stepwise fashion including some improved and new methods for structure determination from NMR data. In the first step, the mononucleotide structures were examined. The conformational space available to the mononucleotide was scanned systematically by varying the glycosidic torsion angle and pseudorotational parameters. Each generated conformer was tested against the experimental J coupling constants and NOE parameters. In the following stage, the structures of dinucleotides and longer fragments were derived. Inter-residue distances between protons were calculated by means of a procedure in which the simulated NOEs, obtained via a relaxation-matrix approach, were fitted to the experimental NOEs without the introduction of a molecular model. In addition, the backbone torsion angles beta, gamma and epsilon were deduced from homocoupling and heterocoupling constants. These data served as constraints in the next step, in which the loop sequence was subjected to a multi-conformer generation procedure. The resulting structures were tested against the mentioned constraints and disregarded if these constraints were violated. This yielded a family of structures for the loop region, confined to a relatively narrow conformational space. A representative conformation was subsequently docked on a B-type stem which fulfilled the structural constraints (derived from the NMR experiments for the stem region) to yield the hairpin structure. Results obtained from subsequent restrained-molecular-mechanics as well as free-molecular-mechanics calculations are in accordance with those obtained by means of the analysis described above. The structure of the hairpin loop is a compactly folded conformation and the first base of the central TTTA region forms a Hoogsteen T-A pair with the fourth base. This Hoogsteen base pair is stacked upon the sixth base pair of the B-type double-helical stem. The second base of the loop is folded into the minor groove, whereas the third base of the loop is partly stacked on the first and fourth bases. The phosphate backbone exhibits a sharp turn between the third and fourth nucleotides of the loop. The peculiar structure of this hairpin loop is discussed in relation to loop folding in DNA and RNA hairpins and in relation to a general model for loop folding.

Base Sequence

Structure of the L-leucine-binding protein refined at 2.4 A resolution and comparison with the Leu/Ile/Val-binding protein structure.

The three-dimensional X-ray structure of the leucine-binding protein (36,900 Mr and 346 residues), an active transport component of Escherichia coli, has been determined by the method of molecular replacement, using the refined structure of the Leu/Ile/Val-binding protein (344 residues) as the model structure. The two amino acid-binding proteins have 80% sequence identity and, although both crystallize in the same space group, they have very different unit cell dimensions. The rotation function yielded one significant peak, which subsequently led to a single self-consistent translation function solution. The model was first refined by the constrained least-squares method, with each of the two domains of the molecule treated separately to allow for any small change in the relative orientation of the two domains. The model was then modified in order to reflect the 72 changes in amino acid side-chains and two insertions in going from the Leu/Ile/Val-binding protein sequence to that of the L-leucine-binding protein. Final structure refinement, using the restrained least-squares technique, resulted in an R-factor of 0.20 for 13,797 reflections to a resolution of 2.4 A. The model is comprised of 2600 protein atoms and 91 solvent molecules. The L-leucine-binding protein structure is, as expected, very similar to the Leu/Ile/Val-binding protein structure; both are in the unliganded conformation with the cleft between the two domains wide open and easily accessible. The superimposing of the structures yields a root-mean-square difference of 0.68 A in the alpha-carbon atoms of the 317 equivalent residues. The five regions of the leucine-binding protein structure that differ by more than 1.6 A from the Leu/Ile/Val-binding protein structure are far from the major portion of the ligand-binding site, which is located in one domain of the bilobate protein. Between the structures, there are three differences in the amino acid side-chains that form the major portion of the substrate-binding sites. These substitutions, by themselves, fail to clearly explain the differences in the specificities for branched aliphatic amino acids.

Amino Acid Sequence

Determination of a high-quality nuclear magnetic resonance solution structure of the bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor and comparison with three crystal structures.

A high-quality three-dimensional structure of the bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) in aqueous solution was determined by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) spectroscopy and compared to the three available high-resolution X-ray crystal structures. A newly collected input of 642 distance constraints derived from nuclear Overhauser effects and 115 dihedral angle constraints was used for the structure calculations with the program DIANA, followed by restrained energy minimization with the program AMBER. The BPTI solution structure is represented by a group of 20 conformers with an average root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) relative to the mean solution structure of 0.43 A for backbone atoms and 0.92 A for all heavy atoms of residues 2 to 56. The pairwise RMSD values of the three crystal structures relative to the mean solution structure are 0.76 to 0.85 A for the backbone atoms and 1.24 to 1.33 A for all heavy atoms of residues 2 to 56. Small local differences in backbone atom positions between the solution structure and the X-ray structures near residues 9, 25 to 27, 46 to 48 and 52 to 58, and conformational differences for individual amino acid side-chains were analyzed for possible correlations with intermolecular protein-protein contacts in the crystal lattices, using the pairwise RMSD values among the three crystal structures as a reference.

Amino Acid Sequence

Determination of the nuclear magnetic resonance solution structure of the DNA-binding domain (residues 1 to 69) of the 434 repressor and comparison with the X-ray crystal structure.

The DNA-binding domain of the phage 434 repressor consisting of N-terminal residues 1 to 69 (434 repressor(1-69)), was expressed in Escherichia coli with natural isotope abundance, uniform 15N-labeling and biosynthetically directed fractional 13C-labeling in extent of about 10%. With these protein preparations the three-dimensional structure was determined in solution. The techniques used were nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) spectroscopy for the collection of conformational constraints, calculation of the protein structure from the n.m.r. data with the program DIANA and structure refinements by restrained energy minimization with a modified version of the program AMBER. A group of 20 conformers characterizes a well-defined structure for residues 1 to 63, with an average of 0-6 A for the root-mean-square deviations (RMSD) calculated for the backbone atoms of the individual conformers relative to the mean co-ordinates. The spatial structure of C-terminal residues 64 to 69 is not defined by the n.m.r. data. The molecular architecture of the 434 repressor(1-69) in solution includes five alpha-helices extending from residues 2 to 13, 17 to 24, 28 to 35, 45 to 52 and 56 to 60, which enclose a well-defined hydrophobic core. The n.m.r. structure is closely similar to the reported crystal structure of the 434 repressor(1-69), with an RMSD value of 1.1 A for the backbone atoms of residues 1 to 63. Small differences between the two structures in regions of the first helix and the loop between helices 3 and 4 were analyzed relative to possible correlations with protein-protein contacts in the crystal lattice and the different milieus of pH and ionic strength in the crystals and n.m.r. samples. Further systematic comparisons of local conformational features indicated that there are correlations between amino acid types, local precision of the structure determination by both techniques and local differences between the structures in the crystals and in solution. Overall, hydrophobic residues are most precisely characterized and agree most closely in the two environments.

Amides

Modeling the three-dimensional structure of the monocyte chemo-attractant and activating protein MCAF/MCP-1 on the basis of the solution structure of interleukin-8.

A model of the three-dimensional structure of the monocyte chemo-attractant and activating protein MCAF/MCP-1 is presented. The model is predicted based on the previously determined solution structure of interleukin-8 (IL-8/NAP-1) [Clore, G.M., Appella, E., Yamada, M., Matsushima, K. and Gronenborn, A.M. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 1689-1696]. Both proteins belong to a superfamily of cytokine proteins involved in cell-specific chemotaxis, host defense and the inflammatory response. The amino acid sequence identity between the two proteins is 24%. It is shown that the regular secondary structure elements of the parent structure can be retained in the modeled structure, such that the backbone hydrogen bonding pattern is very similar in the two structures. The polypeptide backbone is superimposable with an atomic r.m.s. difference of 0.9 A and all side chains can be modeled by transferring the parent side chain conformation to the new structure. Thus, the deduced structure, like the parent one, is a dimer and consists of a six-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet, formed by two three-stranded Greek keys, one from each monomer, upon which lie two symmetry-related antiparallel alpha-helices, approximately 24 A long and separated by approximately 14 A. All amino acid sequence changes can be accommodated within the parent polypeptide framework without major rearrangements. This is borne out by the fact that the IL-8/NAP-1 and modeled MCAF/MCP-1 structures have similar non-bonding energies. These results strongly suggest that both proteins and all other members of the superfamily most likely have the same tertiary structure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence

Correlation of secondary structure with biological activity for a leader peptide: circular dichroism-derived structure and in vitro biological activities of preproparathyroid hormone peptide and its analogs.

Leader or signal sequences are specialized domains within precursor proteins which serve an essential role in interacting with the cellular secretory apparatus to enable intracellular transport and secretion of proteins. Despite many differences in primary amino acid sequences, signal domains interact with a common set of intracellular components, presumably because the signal sequences share an overall conformational similarity. In a few instances, mutant signal peptides from prokaryotes have been studied and their structures correlated with function (export) in vivo. A series of analogs of the precursor-specific region of preproparathyroid hormone have been prepared which contain substitutions of either proline or a charged amino acid within the hydrophobic core. These synthetic "mutants" have previously been evaluated in several in vitro assays to determine their functionality with regard to protein secretion and suitability as substrates for signal peptidase. The secondary structural content of each peptide, as well as the native sequence and sulfur-free analog, was determined in aqueous and nonaqueous conditions by circular dichroism (CD) as a function of time. The structures obtained were correlated with in vitro bioactivities. Unlike the findings or previous CD studies, all the peptides examined here had low to undetectable alpha-helical content in both aqueous and nonaqueous buffers. The unsubstituted and sulfur-free analogs had high (80-85%) beta-structure in aqueous conditions which was reduced to approximately 30% in nonaqueous solvent. The proline- and charged-substituted peptides contained about half the beta-structure content (35-55%) in aqueous buffer; in nonaqueous solvent their structure was similar to the unsubstituted peptides. The structure-activity correlates found were as follows: a high degree of structure (aqueous conditions) correlated with interaction with signal recognition particle and substrate suitability for signal peptidase; a low degree of structure (nonaqueous environment) correlated with activity in the translocation assay.

Amino Acid Sequence

Recognition of tertiary structure in tRNAs by Rh(phen)2phi3+, a new reagent for RNA structure-function mapping.

With photoactivation Rh(phen)2phi3+ promotes strand cleavage at sites of tertiary interaction in tRNA. The rhodium complex, which binds double-helical DNA by intercalation in the major groove, yields no cleavage in double-helical regions of the RNA or in unstructured single-stranded regions. Instead, Rh(phen)2phi3+ appears to target regions which are structured so that the major groove is open and accessible for stacking with the complex, as occurs where bases are triply bonded. So as to examine the specificity of this novel reagent and to evaluate its use in probing structural changes in RNAs, cleavage studies have been conducted on two structurally characterized tRNAs, tRNA(Phe) and tRNA(Asp) from yeast, the unmodified yeast tRNA(Phe) transcript, and a chemically modified tRNA(Phe), as well as on a series of tRNA(Phe) mutants. On tRNA(Phe) strong cleavage is observed at residues G22, G45, U47, psi 55, and U59; weaker cleavage is observed at A44, m7G46, and C48. On tRNA(Asp) cleavage is found at residues A21 through G26, psi 32, and U48, with minor cleavage apparent at A44, G45, A46, psi 55, U59, and U60. There is a striking similarity in cleavage observed on these tRNAs, and the sites of cleavage mark regions of tertiary folding. Cleavage on the unmodified tRNA(Phe) transcript resembles closely that found on native yeast tRNA(Phe), but additional sites, primarily in the anticodon loop and stem, are evident. The results indicate that globally the structures containing or lacking the modified bases appear to be the same; the differences in cleavage observed may reflect a loosening or alteration in the structure due to the absence of the modified bases. Cleavage results on mutants of tRNA(Phe) illustrate Rh(phen)2phi3+ as a sensitive probe in characterizing tRNA tertiary structure. Results are consistent with other assays for structural or functional changes. Uniquely, Rh(phen)2phi3+ appears to target directly sites of tertiary interaction. Cleavage results on mutants which involve base changes within the triply bounded region of the molecule indicate that it is the structure of the triply bonded array rather than the individual nucleotides which are being targeted. Chemical modification to promote selective depurination of the third base (m7G46) involved in the triple in the folded, native tRNA leads to the reduction of cleavage by the metal complex; this result shows directly the importance of the stacked triple base structure for recognition by the metal complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

2,2'-Dipyridyl

1.67-A X-ray structure of the B2 immunoglobulin-binding domain of streptococcal protein G and comparison to the NMR structure of the B1 domain.

The structure of the B2 immunoglobulin-binding domain of streptococcal protein G has been determined at 1.67-A resolution using a combination of single isomorphous replacement (SIR) phasing and manual fitting of the coordinates of the NMR structure of B1 domain of streptococcal protein G [Gronenborn, A. M., et al. (1991) Science 253, 657-661]. The final R value was 0.191 for data between 8.0 and 1.67 A. The structure described here has 13 residues preceding the 57-residue Ig-binding domain and 13 additional residues following it, for a total of 83 residues. The 57-residue binding domain is well-determined in the structure, having an average B factor of 18.0. Only residues 8-77 could be located in the electron density maps, with the ends of the structure fading into disorder. Like the B1 domain, the B2 domain consists of four beta-strands and a single helix lying diagonally across the beta-sheet, with a -1, +3 chi, -1 topology. This small structure is extensively hydrogen-bonded and has a relatively large hydrophobic core. These structural observations may account for the exceptional stability of protein G. A comparison of the B2 domain X-ray structure and the B1 domain NMR structure showed minor differences in the turn between strands and two and a slight displacement of the helix relative to the sheet. Hydrogen bonds between crystallographically related molecules account for most of these differences.

Amino Acid Sequence

Solution structure of the EcoRI DNA sequence: refinement of NMR-derived distance geometry structures by NOESY spectrum back-calculations.

The solution structure of the self-complementary DNA duplex [d(CGCGAATTCGCG)]2, which contains the EcoRI restriction site sequence GAATTC at the center, has been studied by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Time-dependent nuclear Overhauser effect spectra were used to obtain the initial cross-relaxation rates between 155 pairs of protons. These initial cross-relaxation rates were converted into interproton distances and entered into a distance (bounds) matrix. A distance geometry algorithm (DSPACE) was used to create embedded starting structures and to refine these structures until they showed good agreement with the distance matrix; symmetry constraints were included in the refinement procedure, making the two strands in the refined distance geometry structures virtually identical and significantly improving the agreement with the distance matrix. The NOESY spectrum for one of these distance geometry structures was then calculated from the explicit coordinates by numerically integrating all the z-magnetization transfer pathways among neighboring protons within a specified radius. Distances in this distance geometry structure that did not agree with the experimental NOESY time course were then adjusted accordingly. This process was iterated until a good agreement between calculated and experimental NOESY spectra was reached. The final structure, which generates good agreement with the experimental NOESY spectrum, displays kinks at the C3-G4 base step and at the A6-T7 base step that appear to be similar to those reported for the EcoRI restriction site DNA bound to its endonuclease. The solution structure is not the same as the crystal structure of this DNA duplex.

Base Sequence

Molecular-mechanics modelling of drug-DNA structures; the effects of differing dielectric treatment on helix parameters and comparison with a fully solvated structural model.

This study analyses the influence that the nature of the dielectric constant has on the final structures obtained from in vacuo molecular mechanics calculations on a drug-DNA complex and compares these structures with the energy minimised complex including explicit solvent molecules. Minimisations have been performed on a proflavine-decanucleotide structure, where the drug was intercalated at the d(CpG) site of the d(GpApTpApCpGpApTpApC) decamer duplex, using two expressions for the dielectric constant: a distance-independent, epsilon ij = EPS, and a distance-dependent, epsilon ij = EPS*Rij, form and for values of EPS from 1 to 8. Significantly different structures are obtained for the distance-independent and the distance-dependent expressions of the dielectric constant. The use of a distance-independent dielectric constant leads to distorted structures, which are very sensitive to slight changes in the value of EPS. The use of a distance-dependent dielectric constant leads to less distorted and more stable structures. The effects on helical parameters are analysed in detail. The structures obtained for different values of EPS (within the distance-dependent formalism) seem to converge for values of EPS equal to 4 or greater. Based on these results a distance-dependent form of the dielectric with an EPS value of 4 is recommended in order to produce reliable refined nucleic acid structures by molecular mechanics. These conclusions have been supported by molecular-mechanics minimisation of the same structure with the inclusion of explicit water molecules and counter-ions.

Base Composition

Structural effects induced by mutagenesis affected by crystal packing factors: the structure of a 30-51 disulfide mutant of basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor.

The X-ray structure of the C30V/C51A disulfide mutant of basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) has been analyzed at 1.6 A resolution. The mutant crystallizes in a cell having two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The packing environments of these two molecules are quite different, allowing for an assessment of which among the observed structural changes result from the mutation and which are produced by lattice packing considerations. The removal of the 30-51 disulfide bridge has little apparent affect on the B-factors of segments of adjacent polypeptide chain, although there are distinct differences in the structure compared to wild-type BPTI crystal structures. Both of the two C30V/C51A molecules show differences at the mutation site when compared to another 30-51 disulfide mutant, C30A/C51A, presumably due to the larger steric bulk of a valine versus an alanine at residue 30. A comparison of the two independent C30V/C51A molecules indicates that there are significant differences between them even at the site of mutation. The description of the specific structural differences of each molecule differs in detail and suggests different conclusions about the nature of structural perturbation near 30-51. In addition, when these two molecules are compared to two different wild-type structures, which had been determined from different space groups, a somewhat different pattern of changes is observed. These findings indicate that crystal packing can influence the observed perturbations in mutant structures.

Alanine

Structure of a fluid dioleoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer determined by joint refinement of x-ray and neutron diffraction data. III. Complete structure.

We present in this paper the complete structure of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) in the L alpha phase (66% RH, 23 degrees C) obtained by the joint refinement of neutron and x-ray lamellar diffraction data. The structural details obtained have previously required a large number of neutron diffraction experiments, using numerous specifically-deuterated phospholipid isomorphs (Büldt et al., 1978. Nature (Lond.). 271:182-184). The joint-refinement approach minimizes specific deuteration by utilizing independent neutron and x-ray data sets. The method yields a quasimolecular structure consisting of a series of multiatomic fragments that are each represented by one or several Gaussian distributions whose positions and widths can be determined to within 0.06 to 0.52 A exclusive of the methylene region. The image of DOPC at 66% RH (5.36 +/- 0.08 waters per lipid) is consistent with many aspects of bilayer structure previously determined by structural and spectroscopic studies. The most striking feature of the structure is the large amount of transbilayer thermal motion suggested by the widths and overlaps of the Gaussian envelopes of the quasimolecular fragments. We discuss the "dynamic bilayer thickness" which describes the minimum effective thickness of the hydrocarbon permeability barrier in terms of the thermal motion of the water. A gradient of thermal motion exists that increases in either direction away from the glycerol backbone which is the most constrained portion of the bilayer. The steric interactions between headgroups of apposed bilayers, expected at the hydration level of our experiments, are clearly revealed. A useful consequence of the quasimolecular structure is that average boundaries within bilayers calculated using composition and volumetric data and ad hoc assumptions can be related to the positions of the principal structural groups. Several measures of "bilayer thickness" in common use can be identified as the positions of the cholines for Luzzati's d1 (Luzzati and Husson. 1962. J. Cell Biol. 12:207-219) and the glycerols for Small's dL (Small. 1967. J. Lipid Res. 8:551-556). We do not know if these relations will be true at other hydrations or for other lipids. Of particular interest is the fact that the position of the carbonyl groups marks the average hydrocarbon/headgroup boundary. It must be emphasized, however, that this region of the bilayer must be generally characterized as one of tumultuous chemical heterogeneity because of the thermal motion of the bilayer.

Biophysical Phenomena

Comparison of the NMR solution structure with the X-ray crystal structure of the activation domain from procarboxypeptidase B.

The NMR solution structure of the activation domain isolated from porcine procarboxypeptidase B is compared with the X-ray crystal structure of the corresponding segment in the intact proenzyme. For the region of the polypeptide chain that has a well-defined three-dimensional structure in solution, i.e., the backbone atoms of residues 11-76 and 25 amino acid side chains in this segment that form a hydrophobic core in the activation domain, the root-mean-square distance between the two structures is 1.1.A. There are no significant differences in average atom positions between the two structures, but only the NMR structure shows increased structural disorder in three outlying loops located along the same edge of the activation domain. These regions of increased structural disorder in the free domain coincide only partially with the interface to the enzyme domain in the proenzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence

Three-dimensional structure of murine anti-p-azophenylarsonate Fab 36-71. 2. Structural basis of hapten binding and idiotypy.

Comparison between the structures and solvent-accessible surfaces of the antigen-binding fragments of two murine anti-p-azophenylarsonate monoclonal antibodies, one bearing a major cross-reactive idiotype of A/J strain mice (36-71) and one lacking the idiotype (R19.9; Lascombe et al., 1989), highlight the structural basis for the determination of hapten affinity and idiotypy. Since the sequence of R 19.9 is identical with the germline-encoded sequence at 16 positions in both heavy-chain and light-chain variable regions where somatic mutations and junctional differences have occurred to produce the 36-71 sequence, the structure of R 19.9 can be used to model the structure of the germline-encoded antibody (36-65) in the regions around these sites. These 16 sequence differences exclude the third heavy-chain complementarity-determining region because R 19.9 utilizes a D gene segment not associated with the predominant idiotype, which is 4 residues longer than the canonical D gene segment utilized in the sequences of 36-71 and 36-65. This difference between the structures of R 19.9 and 36-71 does not affect the validity of using the structure of R 19.9 to model the structure of 36-65 since the third heavy-chain complementarity-determining region is highly solvent-exposed in both 36-71 and R 19.9, and does not interact with any of these 16 sites. Comparing the structures of 36-71 and R 19.9 suggests that only three of the differences in the heavy-chain sequences, and three of the differences in the light-chain sequences of 36-71 and 36-65, increase the affinity for hapten.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence