Structural basis of the cross-reactivity of genetically related human anti-HIV-1 mAbs: implications for design of V3-based immunogens
Burke, V., Williams, C., Sukumaran, M., Kim, S.S., Li, H., Wang, X.H., Gorny, M.K., Zolla-Pazner, S., Kong, X.P.(2009) Structure 17: 1538-1546
- PubMed: 19913488
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.str.2009.09.012
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
3GHB, 3GHE - PubMed Abstract:
Human monoclonal antibodies 447-52D and 537-10D, both coded by the VH3 gene and specific for the third variable region (V3) of the HIV-1 gp120, were found to share antigen-binding structural elements including an elongated CDR H3 forming main-chain interactions with the N terminus of the V3 crown. However, water-mediated hydrogen bonds and a unique cation-pi sandwich stacking allow 447-52D to be broadly reactive with V3 containing both the GPGR and GPGQ crown motifs, while the deeper binding pocket and a buried Glu in the binding site of 537-10D limit its reactivity to only V3 containing the GPGR motif. Our results suggest that the design of immunogens for anti-V3 antibodies should avoid the Arg at the V3 crown, as GPGR-containing epitopes appear to select for B cells making antibodies of narrower specificity than V3 that carry Gln at this position.
Organizational Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.