In conformational diseases, native protein conformers convert to pathological intermediates that polymerize. Structural characterization of these key intermediates is challenging. They are unstable and minimally populated in dynamic equilibria that may be perturbed by many analytical techniques. We have characterized a forme fruste deficiency variant of α(1)-antitrypsin (Lys154Asn) that forms p...

Broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies effective against the majority of circulating isolates of HIV-1 have been isolated from a small number of infected individuals. Definition of the conformational epitopes on the HIV spike to which these antibodies bind is of great value in defining targets for vaccine and drug design. Drawing on techniques from compressed sensing and information theory,...

The gamma-aminobutyrate-synthesizing enzyme glutamate decarboxylase (GAD; L-glutamate 1-carboxy-lyase, EC 4.1.1.15) is a major target of autoantibodies associated with both early and late stages of pancreatic beta-cell destruction and development of type 1 diabetes. We have used five monoclonal anti-islet-cell antibodies (MICAs 1,2,3,4, and 6) derived from a newly diagnosed diabetic patient to ...

For efficient ligand binding, integrins must be activated. Specifically, a conformational change has been proposed in a ligand binding domain present within some integrins, the inserted (I) domain [Lee, J., Bankston, L., Arnaout, M. & Liddington, R. C. (1995) Structure (London) 3, 1333-1340]. This proposal remains controversial, however, despite extensive crystal structure studies on the I doma...

The P6 outer membrane protein is a highly conserved molecule which is present on the surface of all strains of Haemophilus influenzae. Sixty strains of nontypeable H. influenzae which caused invasive disease or colonized the female urogenital tract were studied with monoclonal antibodies 7F3 and 4G4, which recognize different surface-exposed epitopes on the P6 molecule. All 60 strains expressed...

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) neutralizing antibody 4E10 binds to a linear, highly conserved epitope within the membrane-proximal external region of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp41. We have delineated the peptide epitope of the broadly neutralizing 4E10 antibody to gp41 residues 671 to 683, using peptides with different lengths encompassing the previously suggested core e...

BACKGROUND Peanut and tree nut allergies can be life-threatening, and they appear to be growing in prevalence. Jug r 1, a 2S albumin seed storage protein, was previously characterized as a major English walnut food allergen. OBJECTIVE We sought to identify the linear IgE-binding epitopes of Jug r 1 and to determine which, if any, amino acids are necessary for this binding to occur. METHODS ...