Crystal structure of a glycosylated Fab from an IgM cryoglobulin with properties of a natural proteolytic antibody.

The 2.6 A (1 A=0.1 nm) resolution structure has been determined for the glycosylated Fab (fragment antigen binding) of an IgM (Yvo) obtained from a subject with Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia. Dynamic light scattering was used to estimate the gel point and monitor the formation of an ordered hydroscopic gel of Yvo IgM upon cooling. If a cryoglobulin forms gels in peripheral tissues and organs, the associated swelling and damage to microvasculature can result in considerable morbidity and mortality. The three-dimensional structure of the branched N-linked oligosaccharide associated with the CH1 domain (first constant domain of heavy chain) is reported. The carbohydrate may act to shield part of the lateral surface of the CH1 domain and crowd the junction between the CH1 and CH2 domains, thereby limiting the segmental flexibility of the Fab arms in intact Yvo IgM, especially at low temperatures. Recently, Yvo IgM was shown to have the properties of a naturally occurring proteolytic antibody [Paul, Karle, Planque, Taguchi, Salas, Nishiyama, Handy, Hunter, Edmundson and Hanson (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 39611-39619; Planque, Bangale, Song, Karle, Taguchi, Poindexter, Bick, Edmundson, Nishiyama and Paul (2004) J. Biol Chem. 279, 14024-14032]. The Yvo protein displayed the ability to cleave, by a nucleophilic mechanism, the amide bonds of a variety of serine protease substrates and the gp120 coat protein of HIV. An atypical serine, arginine and glutamate motif is located in the middle of the Yvo antigen-binding site and displays an overall geometry that mimics the classical serine, histidine and aspartate catalytic triad of serine proteases. Our present findings indicate that pre-existing or natural antibodies can utilize at least one novel strategy for the cleavage of peptide bonds.

Three-dimensional structures of a humanized anti-IFN-gamma Fab (HuZAF) in two crystal forms.

Three-dimensional structures were determined for two crystal forms (orthorhombic P2(1)2(1)2(1) and monoclinic C2) of the Fab from the humanized version of a murine monoclonal antibody (AF2) that possesses binding and potent neutralizing activity against human interferon gamma (IFN-gamma). This humanized antibody (HuZAF; USAN name fontolizumab) is currently in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of Crohn's disease. HuZAF exhibits binding and IFN-gamma neutralizing capacities that closely approximate those of the original antibody. It is shown that HuZAF, whose VH domain was designed using a best-sequence-fit approach, is closer structurally to its mouse precursor than is a version whose VH was constructed using a human sequence with lower homology to the original mouse sequence. This work thus offers direct structural evidence in support of the best-sequence-fit approach and adds to previous results of biological and biochemical evaluations of distinctly engineered antibodies that also favored the use of a best-sequence-fit strategy. A second crystal type appeared during attempts to crystallize the Fab-IFN-gamma complex. The antibody-antigen complex that existed in solution dissociated in the crystallization mixture. A conformationally altered but unliganded HuZAF protein crystallized in a different space group (C2), with two Fab molecules in the asymmetric unit. In this crystal lattice, no space was available for accommodating the IFN-gamma antigen. Thus, there are currently three slightly different structures of the HuZAF Fab.