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Dynamics behind affinity maturation of an anti‐ HCMV antibody family influencing antigen binding
Author(s) -
Di Palma Francesco,
Tramontano Anna
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1002/1873-3468.12774
Subject(s) - antibody , antigen , epitope , affinity maturation , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , somatic cell , chemistry , immunology , genetics , gene
The investigation of antibody affinity maturation and its effects on antigen binding is important with respect to understanding the regulation of the immune response. To shed light on this crucial process, we analyzed two Igs neutralizing the human cytomegalovirus: the primary germline antibody M2J1 and its related mature antibody 8F9. Both antibodies target the AD ‐2S1 epitope of the gB envelope protein and are considered to establish similar interactions with the cognate antigen. We used molecular dynamics simulations to understand the effect of mutations on the antibody–antigen interactions. The results provide a qualitative explanation for the increased 8F9 peptide affinity compared with that of M2J1. The emerging atomistic‐detailed description of these complexes reveals the molecular effects of the somatic hypermutations occurring during affinity maturation.