H1 Domains Research Articles

Dynamical Structure of the Hinge Region of Immunoglobulin G as Studied by 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

The segmental flexibility of the hinge region of immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecules has been considered to play important roles in the mediation between antigen recognition and effector functions. Here we report the result of a 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance study of the dynamical structure of the hinge region of a mouse monoclonal IgG2a antibody. In the present work, a variety of IgG2a analogs selectively labeled with 13C at the carbonyl carbon atom were prepared. The flexibility of the hinge region was discussed on the basis of the linewidth data 13C resonances obtained using a Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill pulse train. It was concluded that the hinge region of the mouse IgG2a molecule has a mosaic structure with heterogeneous nature of flexibility with the rigid core part flanked by upper and lower hinges, which are highly flexible peptide segments. Cleavage of the inter-chain disulfide bridges led to homogeneous flexibility of the hinge region, except for the N-terminal side of the upper hinge. It was suggested that the rigidity in the N-terminal side of the upper hinge is due to the interaction with the C H1 domain. Biological significance of the mosaic structure of the hinge region was briefly discussed.

Mutations in the H1 and 1A Domains in the Keratin 1 Gene in Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis

In the autosomal dominant disorder epidermolytic hyperkeratosis, the structural integrity of the keratin intermediate filaments is altered in the suprabasal layers of the epidermis. We and others have used genetic linkage studies and mutation analysis to establish that single amino acid substitutions in either the keratin 1 or keratin 10 chains can cause epidermolytic hyperkeratosis. However, a larger database of mutations is required to better understand the relationship between specific mutations in these keratin chains and their effect on keratin filament structure. A larger database will also provide a catalog that may be useful for genetic counseling purposes. In this paper, we report the identification of three new mutations of the keratin 1 chain of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis probands in highly conserved residues in the H1 or beginning of the 1A rod domain segments. These correspond to regions involved in molecular overlaps between neighboring molecules in keratin filaments. Using an in vitro assay, synthetic peptides bearing these substitutions show diminished capacity to disassemble preformed filaments in vitro in comparison to the wild type peptides. Moreover, analyses of all mutations in epidermolytic hyperkeratosis known to date demonstrate remarkable clustering in the molecular overlap region. We conclude that non-conservative substitutions in the overlap region are likely to interfere with normal keratin filament structure and function, leading to pathology.

Molecular structural studies of effector functions of a mouse immunoglobulin G that lacks the entire C H1 domain: Small-angle X-ray scattering, nanosecond fluorescence depolarization and stable isotope-aided NMR analyses

Molecular structural studies are reported of a short-chain mouse IgG2a antibody that lacks the entire C H1 domain. We have recently shown that (1) this short-chain antibody comprises two components in which the inter light-chain disulflde bridge does and does not exist, and (2) these two components are different in the constitutive complement-activating activity [Mizutani et al. (1993) J. Immunol. 150, 131–138]. Structures were compared for these two components on the basis of small-angle X-ray scattering, nanosecond fluorescence depolarization and isotope-aided NMR data. It has been discussed how the presence and absence of the inter light-chain disulfide bridges affect the complement-activating activity of the two components of the short-chain antibody.

The conserved H1 domain of the type II keratin 1 chain plays an essential role in the alignment of nearest neighbor molecules in mouse and human keratin 1/keratin 10 intermediate filaments at the two- to four-molecule level of structure.

A number of fundamental questions pertaining to the registration and packing of the constituent coiled-coil molecules in keratin intermediate filaments, and to the regions of the sequences that are responsible for these levels of organization, remain to be elucidated. In this study, small assembly-competent oligomers of mouse and human keratin 1/keratin 10 keratin filaments were cross-linked by the formation of disulfide bonds catalyzed by the copper-phenanthroline reaction. By isolation and characterization of cross-linked peptides, it has been possible to establish two major modes of molecule alignment: an antiparallel arrangement of half-staggered molecules with their 2B segments overlapping and an antiparallel arrangement of molecules in close axial registration. These data confirm earlier models based on theoretical considerations (Crewther, W. G., Dowling, L. M., Steinert, P. M., and Parry, D. A. D. (1983) Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 5, 267-274). Interestingly, these models place the conserved H1 and H2 end domain segments, which flank the ends of the rod domains of the type II keratin 1 chain, in alignment with either the ends of the rod domains and/or with the L2 segment near the center of the rod domains, of the nearest neighbor molecules. Competition experiments with synthetic peptides suggest that the conserved H1 (and possibly H2) subdomain sequences unique to type II keratin chains play pivotal roles in the registration of neighboring molecules in keratin filaments. The data thus afford a molecular explanation for why keratin filaments require a type II chain for assembly in vivo and in vitro.

Antibodies to soluble human T cell receptor β chain recognize multiple epitopes on cell surface TcR

The T cell receptor (TcR) is an integral membrane protein occurring as a disulfide linked heterodimer, non-covalently associated with CD3 on the surface of T lymphocytes. Antibodies to the TcR have been shown to be effective for treating autoimmune disorders in animals. We describe here a method for producing antibodies to cell surface determinants of the human TcR, using a soluble form of the receptor as antigen. Soluble Vα1.2, Vβ8.1, Vβ11 TcR chains are expressed from a construct in which the extracellular domains of the TcR are fused to the mouse γ2a heavy chain constant region lacking the C H1 domain. These chimeric molecules contain both immunoglobulin and TcR determinants, as revealed by antibody probes. Amino-terminal sequence analysis of a chimeric Vβ8.1 molecule indicates that the TcR leader peptide is correctly processed from the soluble form. Antibodies raised against the soluble human Vβ8.1 molecule recognize the native determinants on Jurkat cells, and on natural T cells derived from resting human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Epitope mapping studies using competitive binding assays suggest that the anti-Vβ8 antibodies produced using soluble antigen recognize multiple overlapping determinants on the cell surface form of the TcR.

Accessibility and Structural Role of Histone Domains in Chromatin. Biophysical and Immunochemical Studies of Progressive Digestion with Immobilized Proteases

The accessibility and role of histone regions in chromatin fibres were investigated using limited proteolysis with enzymes covalently bound to collagen membranes. The changes in chromatin conformation and condensation monitored by various biophysical methods, were correlated to the degradation of the histone proteins revealed by antibodies specific for histones and histone peptides. Upon digestion with trypsin and subtilisin, chromatin undergoes successive structural transitions. The cleavage of the C-terminal domains of H1, H2A and H2B, and of the N-terminal tail of H3 led to a decondensation of chromatin fibres, indicated by increases in electric birefringence and orientational relaxation times. It corresponds to a 15% increase in linear dimensions. The degradation of the other terminal regions of histones H3, H2A and H2B resulted in the appearance of hinge points between nucleosomes without alteration of the overall orientation of polynucleosome chains. Despite the loss of all the basic domains of H1, H3, H2A and H2B, no significant change in DNA-protein interactions occurred, suggesting that most of these protease-accessible regions interact weakly, if at all, with DNA in chromatin. Further proteolysis led to H4 degradation and other additional cleavages of H1, H2B and H3. This caused the relaxation of no more than 8% of the total DNA but resulted in changes in the ability of chromatin to condense at high ionic strength. More extensive digestion resulted in a total unravelling of nucleosomal chains which acquired properties similar to those of H1-depleted chromatin, although the globular part of H1 was still present. The data suggest that histone-histone interactions between H1 and core histone domains play a central role in stabilizing the chromatin fibres, and cuts in H3, H2A and H2B as well as H1, seem necessary for chromatin expansion. On the contrary, H4 might be involved in the stabilization of nucleosomes only.

Structural features of the McPC603 F ab fragment not defined in the X-ray structure

The proteolytic F ab fragment of the well characterized antibody McPC603 was compared to the recombinant F ab fragment, which was obtained in functional form from an Escherichia coli expression system [(1989) Methods Enzymol. 178, 497-515]. We found evidence that the proteolytic fragment is glycosylated at Asn H160 in the C H1 domain, where additional electron density had been observed in the crystal structure [J. Mol. Biol. 190, 593-604]. In addition, its heavy chain is about 30 amino acids longer than visible in the electron density and thus contains the complete hinge region. These structural differences between the recombinant F ab fragment, which had been designed exactly according to the defined electron density, and the proteolytic F ab fragment of McPC603 had no effect on the hapten binding properties of these antigen binding fragments. Yet, it may be important to be aware of these structural features of McPC603 in folding studies and some comparative analyses of antibody structures.

Location of sequences within rotavirus SA11 glycoprotein VP7 which direct it to the endoplasmic reticulum.

The Simian 11 rotavirus glycoprotein VP7 is directed to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the cell and retained as an integral membrane protein. The gene coding for VP7 predicts two potential initiation codons, each of which precedes a hydrophobic region of amino acids (H1 and H2) with the characteristics of a signal peptide. Using the techniques of gene mutagenesis and expression, we have determined that either hydrophobic domain alone can direct VP7 to the ER. A protein lacking both hydrophobic regions was not transported to the ER. Some polypeptides were directed across the ER membrane and then into the secretory pathway of the cell. For a variant retaining only the H1 domain, secretion was cleavage dependent, since an amino acid change which prevented cleavage also stopped secretion. However, secretion of two other deletion mutants lacking H1 and expressing truncated H2 domains was unaffected by this mutation, suggesting that these proteins were secreted without cleavage of their NH2-terminal hydrophobic regions or secreted after cleavage at a site(s) not predicted by current knowledge.

Location of sequences within rotavirus SA11 glycoprotein VP7 which direct it to the endoplasmic reticulum.

The Simian 11 rotavirus glycoprotein VP7 is directed to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the cell and retained as an integral membrane protein. The gene coding for VP7 predicts two potential initiation codons, each of which precedes a hydrophobic region of amino acids (H1 and H2) with the characteristics of a signal peptide. Using the techniques of gene mutagenesis and expression, we have determined that either hydrophobic domain alone can direct VP7 to the ER. A protein lacking both hydrophobic regions was not transported to the ER. Some polypeptides were directed across the ER membrane and then into the secretory pathway of the cell. For a variant retaining only the H1 domain, secretion was cleavage dependent, since an amino acid change which prevented cleavage also stopped secretion. However, secretion of two other deletion mutants lacking H1 and expressing truncated H2 domains was unaffected by this mutation, suggesting that these proteins were secreted without cleavage of their NH2-terminal hydrophobic regions or secreted after cleavage at a site(s) not predicted by current knowledge.

Serologic and molecular characterization of the T15 idiotype—I. Topologic mapping of idiotopes on tepc15

The present study was designed to determine the minimum number of idiotopic determinants (Id) comprising the T15 idiotype and to construct a topological map of Id on the TEPC15 immunoglobulin molecule. Seven monoclonal anti-Id antibodies were used to map determinants by solid phase competition radioimmunoassay. The binding of some anti-Id to T15 was inhibited by phosphorylcholine-protein conjugates, while other anti-Id were not, suggesting that these anti-Id bind to different portions of T15 relative to the paratope. In addition, Id were mapped relative to one another in reciprocal competition assays between the anti-Id for binding to T15 coated plates. The topologic relationships between six Id were discerned by this method. A seventh binding site was identical or so close that it could not be discriminated. These studies suggest that the T15 idiotype is composed of at least six discrete overlapping Id whose locations range from the antigen binding region to the C H1 domain on TEPC15.

Serologic and molecular characterization of the T15 idiotype—II. Structural basis of independent idiotope expression on phosphorylcholine-specific monoclonal antibodies

We examined the expression of T15 idiotopes (Id) on phosphorylcholine (PC)-binding monoclonal immunoglobulins and defined the structural correlates of these Id. The seven monoclonal anti-Id antibodies used as probes recognize distinct determinants that range from the antigen binding site to the C H1 domain on TEPC15. Competition between a series of PC-specific immunoglobulins and radiolabelled TEPC15 for binding to anti—Id in solid phase revealed a broad spectrum of idiotopic crossreactivity. A strong crossreactivity with TEPC15 was observed only in proteins possessing the V K22 light chain. Each of the seven discrete, overlapping T15 Id may be expressed independently of each other on PC-binding immunoglobulins, indicating a significant idiotopic heterogeneity among T15 B-cell clones. No correlation was found between the public (shared) expression of an Id and its position relative to the antigen-binding site. Variations in the primary sequences of PC-binding immunoglobulins were correlated with their effect on individual Id expression. Regions influencing the expression of three Id were localized on a computer display of the three—dimensional structure of the closely related PC-binding myeloma protein McPC603. These data show that some, but not all individual Id determinants may be influenced by amino acid substitutions in the first and third hypervariable loops.

Localization of rabbit kappa light chain allotypic determinants

The amino acid sequences of the constant regions of rabbit kappa light chains (C κ) are remarkably divergent. The K1 allotypes differ at 47 of 106 positions; the K1 and K2 isotypes differ at three additional positions. Variability and structural dissimilarity plots reveal that most of these differences occur in clusters. Major hydrophilic areas are also found near some of these clusters. The structures of rabbit C κ are modeled using the known alpha-carbon backbone structure of the Fab fragment of mouse myeloma protein McPC603. The effect of sequence variations upon the hypothetical three-dimensional structures was assessed and immunogenic determinants predicted and located. It was found that predicted determinants were external and located in or near loops. Two clusters of potentially interacting regions were predicted. Within each there could be several “topographical” and overlapping sets of epitopes that are recognized by different antibody-combining sites. One of the predicted immunogenic sites clearly interacts with the C H1 domain of the heavy chain. A heavy-chain dependent serological determinant has been correlated with amino acid differences in this region (kappa chain positions 121 and 124).

Roles of H1 domains in determining higher order chromatin structure and H1 location

Peptides derived from calf thymus H1 and rat liver H1, comprising only the globular and COOH-terminal domains of the intact molecule and therefore lacking NH 2-terminal domains, have been shown by reconstitution to be as effective as the complete H1 molecule in inducing higher-order chromatin structure. As the globular domain of H1 alone cannot induce chromatin folding, our results demonstrate that this function is primarily controlled by the COOH-terminal domain of the molecule. Surprisingly, these peptides do not locate correctly with respect to the nucleosome. This is demonstrated by their failure to confer upon reconstitutes the ability to protect DNA fragments of chromatosome length when digested with micrococcal nuclease. The precise placement of the H1 molecule (globular domain) with respect to the nucleosome is shown to be influenced by the “tail” domains of both H1 and the core histones.

The amino acid sequence of boar H1t, a testis-specific H1 histone variant.

H1t is a testis-specific H1 variant found in spermatocytes and spermatids of mammals. The complete amino acid sequence has been determined for H1t isolated from boar testes. The protein is composed of 211 amino acids with the composition 3 aspartic acids, 6 asparagines, 13 threonines, 21 serines, 7 glutamic acids, 7 glutamines, 15 prolines, 14 glycines, 37 alanines, 11 valines, 1 methionine, 3 isoleucines, 14 leucines, 1 tyrosine, 1 phenylalanine, 42 lysines, 15 arginines and a calculated molecular weight of 22,059 disregarding the post-translational acetylation of the amino-terminal alanine. The protein shows typical H1 domains with basic amino- and carboxyl-terminal regions separated by a conserved, presumably globular, core sequence. The core region is very homologous to the highly conserved core sequence found in somatic mammalian H1 histones but does differ from this sequence in 15 places. Accordingly, it may be appropriate to consider H1t as new variant category. The carboxyl-terminal half of H1t is distinguished from the standard somatic family by being somewhat shorter and by the presence of 10 arginine residues. In contrast to many H1 proteins, the carboxyl-terminal region of H1t does not show an obvious pattern of peptide repeats.

The role of histone H1 and non-structured domains of core histones in maintaining the orientation of nucleosomes within the chromatin fiber

Calf thymus chromatin was digested with trypsin and the structural alterations which occured were followed by flow linear dichroism. After a sharp initial increase, the amplitude of the positive signal gradually decreased followed by a change of the sign of the dichroism and further increase of the negative signal up to a plateau. These changes of the dichroism were compared to the respective changes in the histone pattern. It was shown that the positive dichroism of chromatin did not depend on the condensation state of chromatin, and that the orientation of the nucleosomes along the chromatin fiber was maintained by the globular domain of H1 and the non-structured parts of core histones.

Immunoglobulin γ1 heavy chain gene: Structural gene sequences cloned in a bacterial plasmid

Immunoglobulin γ1 heavy chain cDNA was cloned into an Escherichia coli plasmid pCR1 and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The hybrid plasmid contained approx. 900-bases-long γ1 chain cDNA sequence, including the complete sequence of the C H2 and C H3 domains and the 3′ untranslated region, and a partial sequence of the C H1 domain. The nucleotide sequence predicts an extra lysine at the carboxyl-terminus of the γ1 chain. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of 3′ untranslated regions of the immunoglobulin γ1 chain and κ light chain showed a significant homology although lengths are quite divergent.

Energy transfer distance measurements in immunoglobulins: II. Localization of the hapten binding sites and the interheavy chain disulfide bond in rabbit antibody

The distance between the hapten combining site and the single interheavy chain disulfide bond in rabbit immunoglobulin G has been determined by measuring the efficiency of energy transfer between chromophores specifically attached at these sites on the molecule. The donor chromophore, DnsLys ‡ ‡ Abbreviations used: Dns-, dimethylaminonaphthalenesulfonyl-; (DnsLys) 2, di(ϵ-Dns-lysine); Fl, fluoresceinthiocarbamyl-; (Fl) 2Cys, difluoresceinthiocarbamylcysteine; FICys, fluorescein-thiocarbamylcysteine; diFlCys, di-(fluoresceinthiocarbamyl)- d,l-cystine. , was non-covalently bound in the combining sites of high-affinity antiDns antibody molecules, in one case, and in the combining site of the pepsin Fab′ fragment of antiDns in another. The acceptor chromophore, fluorescein, was covalently attached by disulfide interchange of di-FlCys with sulfhydryls generated by selective reduction of the interheavy chain disulfide bond of whole antiDns antibody and of the (Fab′) 2 pepsin fragment. The presence of acceptor decreased the donor fluorescence lifetime by about 1.0 nanosecond in both cases, i.e. for the whole antibody, from 23.6 to 22.7 nanoseconds, and for the Fab′ fragment from 23.6 to 22.5 nanoseconds. An average separation distance of 81 Å was calculated from an average observed transfer efficiency of 3.7%. This value agrees closely with the over-all length of a Fab′ fragment of a human IgG myeloma protein (Poljak et al., 1972). These results strongly suggest that the antibody combining site is at, or very close to, the tip of the Fab fragment and that the inter-heavy chain disulfide bond is at or near the edge of the C L−C H1 domain.