title: Synthesis of Rh Fv phage-antibodies using VH and VL germline genes.
abstract: Antibodies to the D antigen of the Rh system use a restricted set of immunoglobulin V and J gene segments, especially VH DP50 and DP63, JH6, Vlambda DPL16 and Jlambda 2/3. These gene segments may confer a natural affinity on the antibodies for the D antigen and this hypothesis has been tested by constructing two single-chain Fv phage-antibody libraries based on the germline gene segments DP50 and DP63; structural variability was obtained by insertion of 11 amino acids in random sequence in the VHCDR3. 10 anti-D antibodies were selected from these libraries, each with a unique VHCDR3. In contrast, selections with the CcEe antigens produced antibodies reacting with the Rh polypeptide molecules but without strict blood group specificity. One of these latter DP50-based antibodies was converted into 12 different antibodies with specificity for E by replacing the original germline light chain with chains from a rearranged L chain library. The CDR1 and CDR2 sequences of the DP50-based antibodies were common to both anti-D and anti-E molecules; differentiation between D and E specificity was dependent on VHCDR3 sequences and their correct pairing with an appropriate L chain.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Immunopathology Unit and Centre for Protein Engineering, Medical Research Council, Cambridge.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Hughes-Jones
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bye
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Gorick
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Ouwehand
mesh_terms: D000918:Antibody Specificity; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006801:Humans; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin
chemical_list: D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains; D007518:Isoantibodies; C033242:RH-antibodies; C061961:RHO(D) antibody; D018029:Rho(D) Immune Globulin