title: VL position 34 is a key determinant for the engineering of stable antibodies with fast dissociation rates.
abstract: Predictive engineering of antibodies exhibiting fast kinetic properties could provide reagents for biotechnological applications such as continuous monitoring of compounds or affinity chromatography. Based on covariance analysis of murine germline antibody variable domains, we selected position L34 (Kabat numbering) for mutational studies. This position is located at the VL/VH interface, at the base of the paratope but with limited antigen contacts, thus making it an attractive position for mild alterations of antigen binding properties. We introduced a serine at position L34 in two different antibodies: Fab (fragment antigen binding) 57P (Asn34Ser) and scFv (single chain fragment variable) 1F4 (Gln34Ser), that recognize peptides derived from the coat protein of tobacco mosaic virus and the oncoprotein E6, respectively. Both mutated antibodies exhibited similar properties: (i) expression levels of active fragments in Escherichia coli were markedly improved; (ii) thermostability was enhanced; and (iii) dissociation rate parameters (k(off)) were increased by 2- and at least 57-fold for scFv1F4 and Fab57P, respectively, while their association rate parameters (k(on)) remained unchanged. The L34 Ala and Thr mutants of both antibody fragments did not possess these properties. This first demontration of similar effects observed in two antibodies with different specificities may open the way to the predictive design of molecules with enhanced stability and fast dissociation rates.
authors.affiliation: UMR 7100, 'Biotechnologie des Interactions Macromoléculaires', Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg (ESBS), Parc d'Innovation, boulevard Sébastien Brant, BP 10413, F-67412 Illkirch Cedex, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hugo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weidenhaupt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beukes
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Janson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vernet
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altschuh
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D009154:Mutation; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D015202:Protein Engineering; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014027:Tobacco Mosaic Virus / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; C068651:E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D012097:Repressor Proteins