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Structural basis of the gp120 superantigen-binding site on human immunoglobulins
- Source :
- Scopus-Elsevier, ResearcherID
- Publication Year :
- 1998
-
Abstract
- B cell superantigens (SAg) interact with normal human nonimmune Igs (Igs), independently of the light chain isotype, and activate a large proportion of the B cell repertoire. Recently, the major envelope protein of HIV-1, gp120, was found to exhibit SAg-like properties for B cells with potential pathologic consequences for the infected host. This unconventional mode of interaction contrasts with its binding to immunization-induced Abs, which requires the tertiary structure of the heavy and light chain variable regions. In this report, we have examined the structural basis of the interaction between human Igs and gp120. We found that gp120 binding is restricted to Igs from the VH3 gene family and that the two VH genes 3-23 and 3-30, known to be overutilized during all stages of B cell development, frequently impart gp120 binding. We also provide evidence that the viral gp120 SAg can interact with only a subset of the human VH3+ Igs that can convey binding to the prototypic bacterial B cell SAg protein A from Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, we have identified amino acid positions present primarily in the first and third framework regions of the Ig heavy chain variable region, outside the conventional hypervariable loops, which correlate with gp120 binding. In a three-dimensional sequence-homology model, these residues partially overlap with the predicted SAg protein A binding site for VH3+ Igs.
- Subjects :
- Models, Molecular
Superantigens
Genes, Immunoglobulin
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
Immunology
Molecular Sequence Data
Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain
Immunoglobulin Variable Region
Antibodies, Monoclonal
HIV Antibodies
HIV Envelope Protein gp120
Recombinant Proteins
Protein Structure, Tertiary
Antigen-Antibody Reactions
Immunoglobulin M
Immunoglobulin G
Immunology and Allergy
Humans
Amino Acid Sequence
Binding Sites, Antibody
Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
Sequence Alignment
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00221767
- Volume :
- 161
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....cb273704df209d3b0e70a3f04552612a