title: The antigenic domain 1 of human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B contains an intramolecular disulphide bond.
abstract: Glycoprotein B (gB, gpUL55) is the major antigen recognized by the neutralizing humoral immune response against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). The immunodominant region on gB is the antigenic domain 1 (AD-1), a complex structure that requires a minimal continuous sequence of more than 75 amino acids (aa 552-635) for antibody binding. In this study, the structural requirements for antibody binding to AD-1 have been determined. The domain was expressed in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems and analysed in immunoblots under reducing and non-reducing conditions. In addition, AD-1 was purified in an immunologically active form and the concentration of sulphydryl groups was determined. The data clearly show that the only form that is recognized by antibodies is a disulphide-linked monomer of AD-1. The disulphide bond is formed between cysteines at amino acid positions 573 and 610 of gB.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische und Molekulare Virologie, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schloßgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany1.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Speckner
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische und Molekulare Virologie, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schloßgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany1.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kropff
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische und Molekulare Virologie, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schloßgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany1.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knör
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische und Molekulare Virologie, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schloßgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany1.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mach
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D013440:Sulfides; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C040495:glycoprotein B, Simplexvirus