Crystal structure of the engineered neutralizing antibody M18 complexed to domain 4 of the anthrax protective antigen

J Mol Biol. 2009 Apr 3;387(3):680-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2009.02.003. Epub 2009 Feb 10.

Abstract

The virulence of Bacillus anthracis is critically dependent on the cytotoxic components of the anthrax toxin, lethal factor (LF) and edema factor (EF). LF and EF gain entry into host cells through interactions with the protective antigen (PA), which binds to host cellular receptors such as CMG2. Antibodies that neutralize PA have been shown to confer protection in animal models and are undergoing intense clinical development. A murine monoclonal antibody, 14B7, has been reported to interact with domain 4 of PA (PAD4) and block its binding to CMG2. More recently, the 14B7 antibody was used as the platform for the selection of very high affinity, single-chain antibodies that have tremendous potential as a combination anthrax prophylactic and treatment. Here, we report the high-resolution X-ray structures of three high-affinity, single-chain antibodies in the 14B7 family; 14B7 and two high-affinity variants 1H and M18. In addition, we present the first neutralizing antibody-PA structure, M18 in complex with PAD4 at 3.8 A resolution. These structures provide insights into the mechanism of neutralization, and the effect of various mutations on antibody affinity, and enable a comparison between the binding of the M18 antibody and CMG2 with PAD4.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / genetics
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / metabolism
  • Antibody Affinity
  • Antigens, Bacterial / chemistry*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / genetics
  • Antigens, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Bacterial Toxins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics
  • Bacterial Toxins / metabolism
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Mutation
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry*
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region
  • Peptide Fragments
  • anthrax toxin

Associated data

  • PDB/3ESU
  • PDB/3ESV
  • PDB/3ET9
  • PDB/3ETB