In 1981, Auffray et al. [Auffray, C., Sikorav, J. L., Ollo, R. & Rougeon, F. (1981) Ann. Immunol. (Inst. Pasteur) 132D, 77-88] reported a partial cDNA sequence of the heavy chain from the ABPC48 plasmacytoma whose protein product had previously been shown to bind bacterial and grass levan. In the cDNA sequence the second half-cystine of the heretofore invariant disulfide bridge had been replace...

To develop a general approach to designing cofactor-binding sites for catalytic antibodies, we characterized structural patterns in the binding sites of antibodies and zinc enzymes. Superposition of eight sets of antibody light- and heavy-chain variable domains identified structurally conserved sites within the sequence-variable complementarity determining regions. The pattern for catalytic zin...

Although the heavy and light chain domains of some antibody variable region fragments (Fvs) readily dissociate under physiological conditions, the Fvs are stable in the presence of antigen. This 'antigen-driven Fv stabilization mechanism' was applied to the selection of clones with specificity toward target antigens. The results can be summarized as follows. (i) Some of the residues in the heav...

Underlying the development of antibody diversity is a unique pattern of gene organization and molecular events. THREE FAMILIES OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN GENES exist in mammals, one encoding HEAVY chains, another KAPPA chains, and the third LAMBDA chains. Each of these clusters contains one or more constant region genes and a number of variable region gene segments. The formation of a complete variable ...

The expansion of follicular lymphomas (FLs) resembles, both morphologically and functionally, normal germinal center B-cell growth. The tumor cells proliferate in networks of follicular dendritic cells and are believed to be capable of somatic hypermutation and isotype switching. To investigate the relation between somatic mutation and heavy chain isotype expression, we analyzed the variable he...

Human factor VIII circulates as a series of active heterodimers composed of a light chain (83 kDa) linked by divalent metal ion(s) to a variable sized heavy chain (93-210 kDa). Purified factor VIII subunits were modified with sulfhydryl-specific fluorophores. Probe selection was based upon the limited number of free cysteine residues in each subunit. Levels of probe incorporation suggested the ...

Variable-(diversity)-joining (V(D)J) recombination at loci encoding the immunoglobulin heavy chain (Igh) and immunoglobulin light chain (Igk) takes place sequentially during successive stages in B cell development. Using three-dimensional DNA fluorescence in situ hybridization, here we identify a lineage-specific and stage-specific interchromosomal association between these two loci that marks ...

A mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) prepared by hybridoma technology could recognize the Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) coat protein. The Fab fragments (antigen-binding site, one complete light chain, and part of one heavy chain) genes encoding the light chain and the Fd (a monovalent antigen-binding fragment consisting of a complete light chain paired with the variable region and the first constant...

mammalians express several subclasses of the igg molecule. in human being there are four homologous igg subclasses, each of which is structurally unique and has different functions. quantification of igg subclasses is fundamental to clinical assessment and diagnosis of many diseases as such assessments depends on the availability of subclassspecific antibodies (abs), particularly monoclonal ant...

Cattle have a limited range of immunoglobulin genes which are further diversified by antigen independent somatic hypermutation in fetuses. Junctional diversity generated during somatic recombination contributes to antibody diversity but its relative significance has not been comprehensively studied. We have investigated the importance of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) -mediated jun...