In:
The Journal of Immunology, The American Association of Immunologists, Vol. 167, No. 4 ( 2001-08-15), p. 2179-2186
Abstract:
During an immune response, somatic mutations are introduced into the VH and VL regions of Ig chains. The consequences of somatic mutation in highly conserved residues are poorly understood. Ile51 is present in 91% of murine VH complementarity-determining region 2 sequences, and we demonstrate that single Ile51→Arg or Lys substitutions in the PCG1-1 Ab are sufficient to severely reduce Ig secretion (1–3% of wild-type (WT) levels). Mutant H chains, expressed in the presence of excess L chain, associate with Ig binding protein (BiP) and GRP94 and fail to form HL and H2L assembly intermediates efficiently. The mutations do not irreversibly alter the VH domain as the small amount of mutant H chain, which assembles with L chain as H2L2, is secreted. The secreted mutant Ab binds phosphocholine-protein with avidity identical with that of WT Ab, suggesting that the combining site adopts a WT conformation. A computer-generated model of the PCG1-1 variable region fragment of Ig (Fv) indicates that Ile51 is buried between complementarity-determining region 2 and framework 3 and does not directly contact the L chain. Thus, the Ile51→Arg or Ile51→Lys mutations impair association with the PCG1-1 L chain via indirect interactions. These interactions are in part dependent on the nature of the L chain as the PCG1-1 VH single Ile51→Arg or Ile51→Lys mutants were partially rescued when expressed with the J558L λ1 L chain. These results represent the first demonstration that single somatic mutations in VH residues can impair Ig secretion and suggest one reason for the conservation of Ile51 in so many Ig VH.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0022-1767
,
1550-6606
DOI:
10.4049/jimmunol.167.4.2179
Language:
English
Publisher:
The American Association of Immunologists
Publication Date:
2001
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1475085-5
