title: A functional epitope determinant on domain III of the Japanese encephalitis virus envelope protein interacted with neutralizing-antibody combining sites.
abstract: The envelope (E) protein of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is associated with viral binding to cellular receptors, membrane fusion, and the induction of protective neutralizing-antibody responses in hosts. Most previous studies have not provided detailed molecular information about the spatial configuration of the functional epitopes on domain III of the E protein. Here site-directed mutagenesis was performed to demonstrate that the functional epitope determinants at Ser331 and Asp332 on domain III of the JEV E protein interacted with neutralizing monoclonal antibody (MAb) E3.3. Bacterial expression of the recombinant Fab E3.3 confirmed the molecular interactions of Arg94 in complementary determining region H3 with Ser331 and Asp332 on domain III. This study elucidates the detailed molecular structures of the neutralizing epitope determinants on JEV domain III, which can provide useful information for designing new vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Life Science, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Suh-Chin
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism*; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000737:chemistry; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody / Q000502:physiology*; D004664:Encephalitis Virus, Japanese / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000939:Epitopes; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C080628:glycoprotein E, Japanese encephalitis virus