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The conformational flexibility of a human immunoglobulin κIV light-chain variable domain, LEN, which can undergo conversion to amyloid under destabilizing conditions, was investigated at physiological and acidic pH on a residue-specific basis by multidimensional solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods. Measurements of backbone chemical shifts and amide (15)N longitudinal and transverse spin relaxation rates and steady-state nuclear Overhauser enhancements indicate that, on the whole, LEN retains its native three-dimensional fold and dimeric state at pH 2 and that the protein backbone exhibits limited fast motions on the picosecond to nanosecond time scale. On the other hand, (15)N Carr--Purcell--Meiboom--Gill (CPMG) relaxation dispersion NMR data show that LEN experiences considerable slower, millisecond time scale dynamics, confined primarily to three contiguous segments of about 5-20 residues and encompassing the N-terminal β-strand and complementarity determining loop regions 2 and 3 in the vicinity of the dimer interface. Quantitative analysis of the CPMG relaxation dispersion data reveals that at physiological pH these slow backbone motions are associated with relatively low excited-state protein conformer populations, in the ~2-4% range. Upon acidification, the minor conformer populations increase significantly, to ~10-15%, with most residues involved in stabilizing interactions across the dimer interface displaying increased flexibility. These findings provide molecular-level insights about partial protein unfolding at low pH and point to the LEN dimer dissociation, initiated by increased conformational flexibility in several well-defined regions, as being one of the important early events leading to amyloid assembly.

Amyloid fibrils and partially unfolded intermediates may be distinguished serologically from native amyloidogenic precursor proteins or peptides. In this regard, we had previously reported that the IgG1 mAb 11-1F4, generated by immunizing mice with a thermally denatured variable region fragment of the human Igkappa4 Bence Jones protein Len, reacted specifically with light chain (LC) fibrils, irrespective of kappa or lambda isotype but, notably, did not with native molecules (Hrncic, R. et al. (2000) Am. J. Pathol. 157, 1239-1246). To elucidate the molecular basis of this specificity, we have used a europium-linked fluorescent immunoassay, where it was demonstrated through epitope mapping that mAb 11-1F4 recognizes a conformational determinant contained within the first (N-terminal) 18 amino acids of misfolded LCs. The nature of this epitope was evidenced in competition studies where the peptide Len (1-18), but not the intact protein or other LCs, inhibited the binding of the antibody to fibrils. This unique reactivity was dependent on the structural integrity of this portion of the molecule, particularly the presence of a highly conserved prolyl residue at position 8. On the basis of our experimental data, we posit that the mAb 11-1F4 binding site found on partially denatured and fibrillar LCs involves an inducible N-terminal main chain reversal that results in the formation of a proline anchored beta-turn. Our delineation of this LC fibril-associated epitope provides the rationale for the design of novel amyloid-reactive antibodies with diagnostic and therapeutic potential for patients with LC-associated and other forms of amyloidosis.

The sequence and structure of a second human kappa 1 immunoglobulin light-chain variable domain, Wat, has been determined. The R-factor is 15.7% for 1.9-A data. One hundred and ninety-five water molecules were identified; 30 water molecules were located in identical positions in each of the monomers. Some of the water molecules are integral parts of the domains. This light chain is encoded by the same variable domain gene that encoded the previously characterized kappa I variable domain, Rei. Due to limited somatic mutation, the two highly homologous proteins differ in only 20 of the 108 residues. Wat crystallized in space group P6(4) while Rei crystallized in space group P6(1); in both crystals, the asymmetric unit was the noncovalent dimer. Although the basic domain structure is the same for both proteins, the relative positions of the domains within the two dimers differ. This difference is most likely accounted for by the replacement of Tyr36 in Rei by Phe in the Wat protein. Residue Tyr36 is part of the hydrogen-bonding network in the interface between the domains in Rei. Losing the hydrogen-bonding capability of residue 36 by replacement of Tyr by Phe alters the network of hydrogen bonds between the domains, resulting in a different domain-domain contact. The details of lattice contacts in the two crystals were compared. One type of contact that extends the beta-sheet of the individual domains was conserved, but because it involved different symmetry elements within the crystal, different crystal packing resulted. In the Wat crystal, one of the contacts shows an example of how a symmetrical binding site can "bind" an asymmetrical object. Further, the examination of the Wat crystal also illustrates how the different crystalline environments of the domains of the dimer results in different distributions of temperature factors for the residues within the domains.

The complete primary structures of both the main amyloid fibril protein component (AL-DIA) and the soluble Bence Jones protein (BJP-DIA) obtained from the same patient with AL-amyloidosis are reported for the first time. The amino acid sequences were determined by automated Edman degradation following proteolytic digestion of the isolated proteins and HPLC separation of the resulting fragments and by amino-terminal sequencing after treatment with pyroglutamate aminopeptidase. Sequencing data were confirmed by amino acid analysis and plasma desorption mass spectrometry (PDMS). Molecular weights of the complete proteins were determined by laser desorption mass spectrometry. The amyloid fibril preparation contained a complete monoclonal lambda immunoglobulin light chain (subgroup 1.2) as well as different-sized fragments thereof which were identified by immunoblotting and amino-terminal sequencing following immobilization of electrophoretically-separated proteins on poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) membranes. The soluble urinary Bence Jones protein (BJP-DIA) was a dimer of monoclonal L-chains with a primary structure identical to that of the amyloid L-chain (AL-DIA) and thus represented the amyloid precursor protein.

Amyloid fibrils and partially unfolded intermediates can be distinguished serologically from native amyloidogenic precursor proteins or peptides. In this regard, we previously had reported that mAb 11-1F4, generated by immunizing mice with a thermally denatured variable domain (VL) fragment of the human kappa4 Bence Jones protein Len, bound to a non-native conformational epitope located within the N-terminal 18 residues of fibrillar, as well as partially denatured, Ig light chains (O'Nuallain, B., et al. (2006) Biochemistry 46, 1240-1247). To define further the antibody binding site, we used random peptide phage display and epitope mapping of VL Len using wild-type and alanine-mutated Len peptides where it was shown that the antibody epitope was reliant on up to 10 of the first 15 residues of protein Len. Comparison of Vkappa and Vlambda N-terminal germline consensus sequences with protein Len and 11-1F4-binding phages indicated that this antibody's cross-reactivity with light chains was related to an invariant proline at position(s) 7 and/or 8, bulky hydrophobic residues at positions 11 and 13, and additionally, to the ability to accommodate amino acid diversity at positions 1-4. Sequence alignments of the phage peptides revealed a central proline, often flanked by aromatic residues. Taken together, these results have provided evidence for the structural basis of the specificity of 11-1F4 for both kappa and lambda light chain fibrils. We posit that the associated binding site involves a rare type VI beta-turn or touch-turn that is anchored by a cis-proline residue. The identification of an 11-1F4-related mimotope should facilitate development of pan-light chain fibril-reactive antibodies that could be used in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with AL amyloidosis.

Bence Jones proteins are typically found in patients with monoclonal plasma cell or related B-cell immunoproliferative disorders. Because of their monoclonal origin and resulting chemical homogeneity much of the fundamental information on immunoglobulin structure came initially from their analysis. Amino acid analyses of these components revealed an N-terminal variable (V) and C-terminal constant (C) domain as well as the existence within the V domain of hypervariable segments that account for the specificity and diversity of antibodies. Over the past three decades, the primary structures of hundreds of light chains (complete and partial), from human and other sources, have been determined, aligned, and archived. Bence Jones proteins and V{sub L} dimers were the crystallizable homogeneous proteins which provided much of the early three-dimensional conformational data that helped explain the structural basis of antibody function. Remarkably, a single Bence Jones protein in two solvent systems (low and high ionic strength) exhibited significant differences in the interactions of the two monomeric subunits comprising the dimer, resulting in substantial variation in the structure of the antigen combining site under the two solution conditions. This observation led to a prediction that heterogeneity of domain interactions may contribute to antibody-antigen interactions. Experimental support for this hypothesismore » has come from comparisons of the detailed structures of antibody-antigen complexes. The interactions at the interface of the V{sub L} dimer are a function of primary structure and solution conditions. Study of these interactions has led to new information on the relationship between protein structure and function and, as discussed below, can account for specific pathophysiological properties associated with Bence Jones proteins.« less

The constant fragment of the immunoglobulin light chain (type lambda) has two trytophyl residues at positions 150 and 187. Trp-150 is buried in the interior, and Trp-187 lies on the surface of the molecule. The hydrogen-deuterium exchange kinetics of the indole NH proton Trp-150 were studied at various pH values at 25/sup 0/C by /sup 1/H nuclear magnetic resonance. Exchange rates were approximately first order in hydroxyl ion dependence above pH 8, were relatively independent of pH between pH 7 and 8, and decreased below pH 7. On the assumption that the exchange above pH 8 proceeds through local fluctuations of the protein molecule, the exchange rates between pH 7 and 8 through global unfolding were estimated. The exchange rate constant within this pH range at 25/sup 0/C thus estimated was consistent with that of the global unfolding of the constant fragment under the same conditions as those reported previously. The activation energy for the exchange process at pH 7.8 was the same as that for the unfolding process by 2 M guanidine hydrochloride. The exchange rates of backbone NH protons were almost the same as that of the indole NH proton of Trp-150 at pH 7.l. These observations alsomore » indicated that the exchange between pH 7 and 8 occurs through global unfolding of the protein molecule and is rate-limited by the unfolding. At around pH 9, on the other hand, the activation energy for the exchange process of the indole NH proton of Trp-150 was smaller than that for the unfolding process, and the exchange rates differed according to the different signals of backbone NH protons. These findings together with the pH dependence of the rate constant indicated that exchange due to local fluctuations is predominant above pH 8.« less

Human Bence Jones proteins of lambda type, Wh and Nei, both of which belong to subgroup II, contain an asparagine-linked sugar chain. Their carbohydrate moieties were liberated as oligosaccharides by hydrazinolysis and labeled by reduction with NaB3H4 after N-acetylation. Structural studies of each oligosaccharide by sequential exoglycosidase digestion in combination with methylation analysis revealed that Wh lambda contains the mono- and disialylated oligosaccharides (Formula: see text). These oligosaccharides are different from the oligosaccharides found in another lambda-type Bence Jones protein, Sm lambda, by Chandrasekaran et al. [Chandrasekaran, E. V., Mendicino, A., Garver, F. A., & Mendicino, J. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 1549-1555] and Garver et al. [Garver, F. A., Chang, L. S., Kiefer, C. R., Mendicino, J., Chandrasekaran, E. V., Isobe, T., & Osserman, E. F. (1981) Eur. J. Biochem. 115, 643-652].

Immunoglobulins fragments are composed of globular domains linked by extended polypeptide segments. The molecular flexibility inherent in this arrangement allows for significant potential differences between structures observed in the crystalline state and those attained in solution. Small-angle neutron scattering measurements in dilute solution were performed on the Mcg Bence-Jones protein dimer, for which performed on the Mcg Bence-Jones protein dimer, for which accurate atomic coordinates have been determined by crystallographic methods [Edmundson, A. B., Ely, K. R., Abola, E. E., Schiffer, M., & Panagiotopoulos, N. (1975) Biochemistry 14, 3953-3961; Schiffer, M. (1980) Biophys. J. 32, 230-232]. The measured radius of gyration (Rg) in H2O buffer is 24.0 +/- 0.4 A and in D2O buffer is 23.3 +/- 0.1 A; the calculated value of Rv (Rg in vacuo) is 24.0 A. The above values compare well with the calculated Rg value of 23.6 A when refined coordinates of the trigonal crystal form of the Mcg Bence-Jones protein are used. On the basis of a match point of 44.2% D2O concentration, the experimental partial specific volume is 0.74 cm3/g. The experimentally derived molecular weight of 47 000 is in very good agreement with that (45 500) calculated from the amino acid composition. For comparison with different Fab's (antigen binding fragments) exhibiting various "elbow bends" due to the flexibility of the switch peptide between variable and constant domains of the immunoglobulin chains, calculation of the Rg value of the Mcg dimer was performed as a function of the elbow bend. The Rg varied from 22.8 to 26.0 A as the elbow bend was opened from 100 degrees to 180 degrees; the maximum radius of gyration of the particle was 26.5 A with the switch peptide stretched by separating the variable and constant domains by an additional 1.5 A at an elbow bend of 180 degrees.

The structure of the variable portions of a K-type Bence-Jones protein REI forming a dimer has been determined by X-ray diffraction to a resolution of 2.0 A. The structure has been refined using a constrained crystallographic refinement procedure. The final R value is 0.24 for 15000 significantly measured reflections; the estimated standard deviation of atomic positions is 0.09 A. A more objective assessment of the error in the atomic positions is possible by comparing the two independently refined monomers. The mean deviation of main-chain atoms of the two chains in internal segments in 0.22 A, of main-chain dihedral angles 6.3 degrees for these segments. The unrefined molecular structure of the VREI dimer has been published (Epp, O., Colman, P., Fehlhammer, H., Bode, W., Schiffer, M., Huber, R., and Palm, W. (1974), Eur. J. Biochem. 45, 513). Now a detailed analysis is presented in terms of hydrogen bonds and conformational angles. Secondary structural elements (antiparallel beta structure, reverse turns) are defined. A more precise atomic arrangement of the amino acid residues forming the contact region and the hapten binding site is given as well as the localization of solvent molecules. Two cis-prolines (Pro-8 and Pro-95) were detected. The intrachain disulfide bridge (Cys-23-Cys-88) occurs statistically in two alternative conformations. The structure suggests reasons for strong conservation of several amino acid residues. The knowledge of the refined molecular structure enables crystal structure analyses of related molecules to be made by Patterson search techniques. The calculated phases based on the refined structure are much improved compared to isomorphous phases. Therefore the effects of hapten binding on the molecular structure can be analyzed by the difference Fourier technique with more reliability. Hapten binding studies have been started.

To provide information on the tertiary structure of the antibody molecule we have investigated the luminescent properties of the light polypeptide chain of human immunoglobulins. The fluorescence and phosphorescence yields, spectra, lifetimes, and anisotropies of a large number of homogeneous light chains, i.e., Bence--Jones proteins and light chains derived from myeloma proteins, were measured. No two proteins gave identical tyrosyl or tryptophyl fluorescence spectra in comparative studies on over 75 proteins belonging to the four basic subgroups of kappa chains and of lambda chains. Spectral differences were apparent even among proteins exhibiting more than 85 percent amino acid sequence identity. The fluorescence yields of tyrosine and tryptophan varied 10- and 100-fold, respectively; the Stokes' shift of tryptophan ranged from 328 to 365 nm, but that for tyrosine was apparently invariant (305 to 307 nm). Emission as well as excitation spectra showed tyrosyl and tryptophyl residues interact minimally or not at all. Fluorescence lifetimes of the tyrosyl and tryptophyl contributions were measured separately, and the apparent natural lifetimes were calculated. Proteins could be grouped in accordance with similarities in fluorescence lifetimes and fluorescence yields; there was no evident relationship between these groupings and the light chain type (kappa or lambda), aminomore » acid sequence, or tryptophan content.« less

The effect of high static pressures on the internal structure of the immunoglobulin light chain (Bence-Jones) dimer from the patient Mcg was assessed with measurements of intrinsic protein fluorescence polarization and intensity. Depolarization of intrinsic fluorescence was observed at relatively low pressures (less than 2 kbar), with a standard volume change of -93 mL/mol. The significant conformational changes indicated by these observations were not attributable to major protein unfolding, since pressures exceeding 2 kbar were required to alter intrinsic fluorescence emission maxima and yields. Fluorescence intensity and polarization measurements were used to investigate pressure effects on the binding of bis(8-anilino-naphthalene-1-sulfonate) (bis-ANS), rhodamine 123, and bis(N-methylacridinium nitrate) (lucigenin). Below 1.5 kbar the Mcg dimer exhibited a small decrease in affinity for bis-ANS (standard volume change approximately 5.9 mL/mol). At 3 kbar the binding activity increased by greater than 250-fold (volume change -144 mL/mol) and remained 10-fold higher than its starting value after decompression. With rhodamine 123 the binding activity showed an initial linear increase but plateaued at pressures greater than 1.5 kbar (standard volume change -23 mL/mol). These pressure effects were completely reversible. Binding activity with lucigenin increased slightly at low pressures (standard volume change -5.5 mL/mol), but the protein was partially denatured at pressures greater than 2 kbar. Taken in concert with the results of parallel binding studies in crystals of the Mcg dimer, these observations support the concept of a large malleable binding region with broad specificity for aromatic compounds.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The results of photo-CIDNP measurements of Bence Jones proteins, immunoglobulins, and their proteolytic fragments are reported. The CIDNP spectra of constant region CL fragments, which were derived from lambda-type Bence Jones proteins with three different isotypes, gave polarizations originating from two Tyr and one Trp residues. From comparisons of the results obtained by using lambda-type Bence Jones proteins that possess the known amino acid sequences with those for the CL fragments, it was concluded that the CIDNP signals observed in the case of Bence Jones proteins are all due to the hypervariable region. On the basis of the results obtained by using IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 myeloma proteins along with their Fab, Fc, and pFc' fragments, it was concluded that CIDNP signals for the Fab region all originate from the variable region. The Fc region gives two Tyr polarizations, one of which has been assigned to Tyr-296. We have also shown that the second Tyr signal is due to Tyr-373. Interaction of Fc and staphylococcal protein A has also been examined by the CIDNP technique.

We recently reported results of an investigation of the reoxidation of a human, monoclonal immunoglobulin G, following selective reduction of its interchain disulfides by dithiothreitol (Sears, D.W., et al. (1975), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 72, 353). In that work, we described the reoxidative behavior of the molecule under nondissociating conditions. In the present paper, results are presented of the reoxidation of heavy (H) and light (L) chains of this protein alone, or mixed in varying proportions after separation, or mixed with the L chains modified prior to recombination and reoxidation. The overall reoxidative asembly patterns in experiments with H and L separated prior to recombination are similar to those observed when the chains remain noncovalently associated throughout. With equimolar mixtures of H and L, the reoxidation rates also are similar to those of unseparated chains. However, when L chains are present in excess, the overall in vitro rates of covalent assembly are generally diminished, probably indicating transient nonproductive interactions. At the highest molar excesses of L (3:1), the assembly pathways may also be modified. In all experiments with excess L chains, covalent L2 dimers form at rates which are comparatively slow relative to the H2L2 assembly rates. Two kinds of reoxidation experiments with modified L chains are described here for the first time. In the first, the free half-cystine of L is irreversibly blocked by reaction with iodoacetamide, and the alkylated L chains are recombined with reduced H chains. This experiment isolates the reactions in which H2 disulfides are formed without the accompanying formation of HL bonds. Although the alkylated L chains do not play a direct role in the reoxidation, their presence is required to inhibit aggregation and precipitation of high-molecular-weight products which otherwise ensue; this suggests a possible biological role for excess L in vivo. In the second kind of experiment, covalent L2 dimers are mixed with reduced H chains. L2 rapidly disappears with the concurrent appearance of HL, H2L, and fully assembled H2L. H2 dimers are also reactive in this process. Special procedures were developed for analyzing the data from these experiments. A complete format is given for the quantitative determination of the concentration of each of the molecular components directly from spectroscopic scans of the gels. The computational methods solve the general analytical problem posed when staining is not proportional to mass and are applicable to a wide variety of systems utilizing gel electrophoresis to study subunit interactions. A theoretical analysis of pathway and kinetic cooperatively in this system is presented in the following paper (Sears, D.W., and Beychok, S. (1977), Biochemistry 16 (following paper in this issue)).

We have determined the structure of the immunoglobulin light-chain dimer Loc in a second crystal form that was grown from distilled water. The crystal structure was determined to 2.8-A resolution; the R factor is 0.22. The two variable domains are related by local 2-fold axes and form an antigen binding "pocket". The variable domain-variable domain interaction observed in this crystal form differs from the one exhibited by the protein when crystallized from ammonium sulfate in which the two variable domains formed a protrusion (Chang et al., 1985). The structure attained in the distilled water crystals is similar to, but not identical with, the one observed for the Mcg light-chain dimer in crystals grown from ammonium sulfate. Thus, two strikingly different structures were attained by this multisubunit protein in crystals grown under two different, commonly used, crystallization techniques. The quaternary interactions exhibited by the protein in the two crystal forms are sufficiently different to suggest fundamentally different interpretations of the structural basis for the function of this protein. This observation may have general implications regarding the use of single crystallographic determinations for detailed identification of structural and functional relationships. On the other hand, proteins whose structures can be altered by manipulation of crystallization conditions may provide useful systems for study of fundamental structural chemistry.

Sixteen lambda-type Bence-Jones proteins and eight constant domain fragments of lambda chains were used to measure nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal of the C2- AND C4-H protons of two histidine residues (His- 189 and His-198) which exist in the constant half of the lambda chains. The pH titration curves for the C2-H proton signals of His-189 and His-198 of six Bence-Jones dimers were compared with those for the corresponding constant fragments. It was concluded that the tertiary structure of the constant domain is well preserved even in the constant fragments which are known to exist as the monomer in solution. It was shown that the C2- and C4-H proton peaks of His-198 can be used to identify the Mcg isotype. It was also shown that the chemical shifts of the C4-H proton of His-189 and His-198 can be used to detect the amino acid substitutions at positions 153 and 190 which are the Kern and Oz markers, respectively. On the basis of the NMR measurements, it was suggested that the Kern and at least one of the Mcg markers are in close spatial proximity to His-189 and His-198, respectively. The NMR data were compared with the X-ray structure of the Fab fragment of human myeloma immunoglobulin, IgG1 (lambda) New [Poljak, R. J., Amzel, L. M., Avey, H. P., Chen, B. L., Phizacherley, R. P., & Saul, F. (1973) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 70, 3305-3310]. The NMR data are explained in terms of the crystal structure and are thus consistent with solution and crystal structure being quite similar in the constant domain of the lambda chains.

To provide information on the tertiary structure of the antibody molecule we have investigated the luminescent properties of the light polypeptide chain of human immunoglobulins. The fluorescence and phosphorescence yields, spectra, lifetimes, and anisotropies of a large number of homogeneous light chains, i.e., Bence-Jones proteins and light chains derived from myeloma proteins, were measured. No two proteins gave identical tyrosyl or tryptophyl fluorescence spectra in comparative studies on over 75 proteins belonging to the four basic subgroups of kappa chains and of lambda chains. Spectral differences were apparent even among proteins exhibiting more than 85% amino acid sequence identity. The fluorescence yields of tyrosine and tryptophan vaired 10- and 100-fold, respectively; the Stokes' shift of tryptophan ranged from 328 to 365 nm, but that for tyrosine was apparently invariant (305-307nm). Emission as well as excitation spectra showed tyrosyl and tryptophyl redidues interact minimally or not at all. Fluorescence lifetimes of the tyrosyl and tryptophyl contributions were measured spearately, and the apparent natural lifetimes were calculated. Proteins could be grouped in accordance with similarities in fluorescence lifetimes and fluorescence yields; there was no evident relationship between these groupings and the light chain type (kappa or lambda), amino acid sequence, or tryptophan content. Also apparent were individual differences among kappa light chains and among lambda light chains in respect to their tyrosyl and trptophyl phosphorescence spectra and phosphorescence lifetimes. Certain proteins showed an atypical, short-lived tryptophan phosphorescence decay time. Such variance in the luminescent behavior of the tryptophyl residue(s) indicates a conformational interaction between the V and C domains of light chains. Selective proteolytic cleavage of the light chain into VL and CL fragments permitted the comparison to be made of the luminescent properties of the V and C domains with those of the whole protein. The V domain and intact protein have luminescent features in common, whereas the C domain possesses features distinctive from that of the native protein. Data derived from fluorescence anisotropy spectral studies of intact light chains and their VL-related fragments indicate that energy transfer between tryptophyl residues occurs in the C domain. The results of emission spectroscopic measurements performed at 220 and at 77 K indicate that the observed phophorescence of light chains is mainly from a tryptophyl residue contiguous to a disulfide link. The potential for interdomain interaction in light chains is evidenced by the finding that the orientation of the tryptophyl residue(s) in the V domain can influence the tryptophyl-disulfide ling interactions in the C domain; this interaction may account further for the extensive structural diversity of antibody molecules.

Previous crystallographic studies in this laboratory demonstrated that immunoglobulin light chains with the same amino acid sequence can have at least two and probably three or more conformations, depending on whether the second member of an interacting pair is a light or heavy chain. If a heavy chain is not available in the assembly medium, a second light chain plays the structural role of the heavy chain in the formation of a dimer. In the present work, the lambda-type light chains were dissociated from the heavy chains of a serum IgG1 immunoglobulin from the patient Mcg and reassembled noncovalently into a dimer. The reassembly process was completed by allowing the penultimate half-cystine residues to form an interchain disulfide bond. The covalently linked dimer was compared with the Mcg urinary Bence-Jones dimer, for which an atomic model has been fitted to a 2.3-A electron density map. The assembled dimer and the native Bence-Jones protein were indistinguishable in their chromatographic and electrophoretic properties, as well as in their activity in the binding of bis(dinitrophenyl)lysine. These results indicate that the light chains can be converted into the two types of Bence-Jones conformational isomers. The procedure was also reversed: the two Bence-Jones isomers were dissociated and reassembled as the single type of isomer associating with each of two heavy chains in the IgG1 protein. The change in activity occurring when a light chain associates with a heavy chain instead of a second light chain is illustrated by the fact that the Mcg IgG1 immunoglobulin does not bind dis(dinitrophenyl)lysine in measurable amounts.

The constant fragment of the immunoglobulin light chain in which the intramolecular disulfide bond is reduced (reduced CL fragment) assumes a conformation very similar to that of the intact CL fragment and contains two sulfhydryl groups buried in the interior of the molecule [Goto, Y., & Hamaguchi, K. (1979) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 86, 1433-1441]. In order to understand the role of the disulfide bond, a derivative in which the disulfide bond is replaced by an S-Hg-S bond was prepared and its conformation and stability were studied. The derivative was prepared by reacting the reduced CL fragment with mercuric chloride. Kinetic studies showed that the reaction is rate-limited by the unfolding process of the reduced CL fragment. The mercury derivative was as compact as the intact CL or reduced CL fragment, and a tryptophyl residue was found to be buried near the S-Hg-S bond in the interior of the protein molecule. Judging from the circular dichroic spectrum, however, the beta-structure characteristic of the immunoglobulin fold was disturbed. The stability of the derivative to guanidine hydrochloride was lower than that of the intact CL fragment, but the unfolding transition was reversible and cooperative. Decreased stability of the mercury derivative is due to its folded conformation being distorted by introduction of the S-Hg-S bond.

We have characterized and crystallized a human lambda I light-chain dimer, Bence-Jones protein Loc, which has variable (V) region antigenic determinants characteristic for the lambda I subgroup and constant (C) region determinants of the C lambda I gene Mcg. The crystal structure was determined to 3-A resolution; the R factor is 0.27. The angle formed by the twofold axes of the V and C domains, the "elbow bend", is 97 degrees, the smallest found so far for an antibody fragment. The antigen-binding site formed by the two V domains of the Loc light chain differs significantly from those of other immunoglobulin molecules (light-chain dimers and Fab fragments) for which X-ray crystallographic data are available. Whereas, in other antibody fragments, the V domains are related by a local twofold axis, a local twofold screw axis with a translational component of 3.5 A relates the V domains in protein Loc. In contrast to the classic antigen binding "pocket" formed by V domain interactions in the previously characterized antibody structures, the V region associations in protein Loc result in a central protrusion in the binding site, with grooves on two sides of the protrusion. The structure of protein Loc indicates that immunoglobulins are physically capable of forming a more diverse spectrum of antigen-binding sites than has been heretofore apparent. Moreover, the unusual protruding nature of the binding site may be analogous to structures required for some anti-idiotypic antibodies. Further, the complementarity-determining residues form parts of two independent grooves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

By limited proteolysis of a type kappa immunoglobulin light chain (Oku) with clostripain, both the VL and CL fragments were obtained with a high yield. The unfolding and refolding by guanidine hydrochloride of light chain Oku and its VL and CL fragments were studied at pH 7.5 and 25 degrees C with circular dichroism and tryptophyl fluorescence. The concentration of guanidine hydrochloride at the midpoint of the unfolding curve was 1.2 M for the VL fragment and 0.9 M for the CL fragment. As in the case of the CL fragment of light chain Nag (type lambda) [Goto, Y., & Hamaguchi, K. (1982) J. Mol. Biol. 156, 891-910], the unfolding and refolding kinetics of the CL fragment could be explained in principle on the basis of the three-species mechanism U1 in equilibrium U2 in equilibrium N, where N is native protein and U1 and U2 are the slow-folding and fast-folding species, respectively, of unfolded protein. The unfolding and refolding kinetics of the VL(Oku) fragment were described by a single exponential term. Double-jump experiments, however, showed that two forms of the unfolding molecule exist. The equilibrium and kinetics of unfolding of light chain Oku were explained by the sum of those of the VL and CL fragments. On the other hand, the refolding kinetics of light chain Oku were greatly different from the sum of those of the VL and CL fragments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Crystals were prepared from samples of nonjovalent and covalently linked dimers previously isolated as intermediates and end products in the interconversion of conformational isomers of immunoglobulin light chains from the patient Mcg. In ammonium sulfate these dimers crystallized in the trigonal form characteristic of the native Bence-Jones protein and in an abnormal needle form associated with conformational changes in the vicinity of the interchain disulfide bond. Trigonal forms were compared with the native covalent dimer by difference Fourier analysis at 3.5-A resolution. The packing of molecules in the trigonal crystal lattice was examined in detail to determine the steric limitations governing chemical modifications, chemical modifications within crystals or in solutions slated for crystallization. When the modifications involved only the cleavage and alkylation of the interchain disulfide bond, the difference Fourier maps indicated only local conformational changes mainly in the COOH-terminal pentapeptide segment of monomer 2 of the dimer. When light chains were dissociated from heavy chains and reassembled into a dimer, there were changes in segments which interact to stabilize the V domain dimer. These changes, as well as the more extensive changes in the needle forms, could be reversed by dissolving the crystals, cleaving the interchain disulfide bond, andmore » allowing it to reoxidize. The resulting proteins crystallized as trigonal forms indistinguishable from those of the native dimer. After the binding of two molecules of bis(dinitrophenyl)lysine and subsequent removal of the ligands by dialysis, the dimer crystallized only as needles.« less

Amino acid sequence analysis has been done on a κ Bence Jones protein (Tew) from a case of primary amyloidosis with the objective of determining the sequence of the variable region. Twenty-two tryptic peptides accounting for 182 residues were isolated and were completely or partially sequenced. Chymotryptic digestion yielded 32 peptides which supplied many overlaps. Sequenator analysis was performed for the first 42 residues of the amino terminus. From the combined data the sequence of the variable region (residues 1-108) was deduced. The composition, partial sequence data, and alignment of the peptides of the constant region (residues 109-214) correspond exactly to the sequence established for human κ light chains of the same allotype. The V region includes five extra residues (30a-30e) and is characteristic of the κII subgroup. A computer analysis of the sequence of the Tew Bence Jones protein in comparison with other human κ light chains was undertaken to establish quantitative criteria for subgroup classification. In terms of minimum nucleotide mutations the Tew protein differs from other subgroup κII proteins by an average of only 0.2 base/amino acid residue position, whereas other human κ chains differ from Tew by an average of 0.4-0.6 base/position. The Bence Jones protein and the tissue amyloid protein from this patient appear to be identical in primary structure as indicated by identity in the amino-terminal sequence for 27 residues and similarity in peptide maps, amino acid composition, and other properties.