Role of antibody paratope conformational flexibility in the manifestation of molecular mimicry.

ABSTRACT: Molecular mimicry is a recurrent theme in host defense processes. The correlation of functional mimicry with the structural features of the antibody paratope has been investigated, addressing the consequences of mimicry in host immune mechanisms. Two anti-mannopyranoside antibodies, 1H7 and 2D10, representing the possible extremes of the recognition spectrum with regard to peptide-carbohydrate mimicry were examined. Crystallographic and molecular dynamics simulation analyses established correlation between the antibody flexibility and the manifestation of mimicry. It was evident that monoclonal antibody (mAb) 1H7, which has a narrow specificity in favor of the immunizing antigen, exhibited structural invariance. On the other hand, the antigen-combining site of 2D10, the mimicry-recognizing

SUBMITTER: Krishnan L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2212675 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature