Multiple paths to multispecificity.
The limited primary antibody repertoire uses multiple mechanisms to account for the large number of potential antigens. In this issue of Immunity, Sethi et al. (2006) describe a new means for expanding the antibody repertoire, whereby a single antibody isomer binds diverse antigens at different regions of the binding site.
Mariuzza
Roy A
RA
Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology, W.M. Keck Laboratory for Structural Biology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, Rockville, 20850, USA.
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D000916:Antibody Diversity / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology*; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions / Q000276:immunology*; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans
D000906:Antibodies; D000941:Antigens