Impact of Antigen Density on the Binding Mechanism of IgG Antibodies.

ABSTRACT: The density and distribution pattern of epitopes at the surface of pathogens have a profound impact on immune responses. Although multiple lines of evidence highlight the significance of antigen surface density for antibody binding, a quantitative description of its effect on recognition mechanisms is missing. Here, we analyzed binding kinetics and thermodynamics of six HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies as a function of the surface density of envelope glycoprotein gp120. Antibodies that recognize gp120 with low to moderate binding affinity displayed the most pronounced sensitivity to variation in antigen density, with qualitative and substantial quantitative changes in the energetics of the binding process as revealed by non-equilibrium and equilibrium thermodynamic analyses. In contrast, the

SUBMITTER: Hadzhieva M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5476644 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature