title: Linear B-cell epitopes in Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome defined by cell-free synthetic peptide binding.
abstract: Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by autoantibodies that bind to P/Q voltage-gated calcium channels at the neuromuscular junction. Using cell-free direct peptide binding in 12 LEMS patients, we find linear B-cell epitopes that reside on the extracellular peptide linkers between the S5-S6 transmembrane peptides of Domains II and IV. A major epitope is located within the S5-S6 linker peptide of Domain IV defined by the acidic amino acid sequence EDEDSDEDE.
authors.affiliation: Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Kwok
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002474:Cell-Free System; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D015624:Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000276:immunology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
chemical_list: D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D007074:Immunoglobulin G