Recognition of human tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) by therapeutic antibody fragment: energetics and structural features.

ABSTRACT: Human tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) exists in its functional state as a homotrimeric protein and is involved in inflammation processes and immune response of a human organism. Overproduction of TNF-α results in the development of chronic autoimmune diseases that can be successfully treated by inhibitors such as monoclonal antibodies. However, the nature of antibody-TNF-α recognition remains elusive due to insufficient understanding of its molecular driving forces. Therefore, we studied the energetics of binding of a therapeutic antibody fragment (Fab) to the native and non-native forms of TNF-α by employing calorimetric and spectroscopic methods. Global thermodynamic analysis of data obtained from the corresponding binding and urea-induced denaturation experiments has been supported by s

SUBMITTER: Marusic J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3318754 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature