Immunological characterization of riboflavin carrier proteins using monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies to chicken riboflavin carrier protein have been produced by fusing immunized mouse spleen cells with myeloma SP2/O-Ag 14. The three different monoclonal antibodies specifically bound 125I-labelled chicken riboflavin carrier protein and were characterized with respect to their affinities to bind the antigen, subclass and isotype. These three monoclonal antibodies had similar affinities for holo-, apo- and SDS-denatured riboflavin carrier protein but were unable to recognize the reduced and carboxymethylated protein indicating that they were directed to specific conformational epitopes on the native avian protein. Succinylation of the vitamin carrier protein while still retaining flavin binding characteristics totally abolished the cross-reactivity with all the three monoclonal antibodies indicating that lysine residues were involved at the antigenic sites of the protein. This shows that the antigenic loci may be distinct from the flavin binding sites in the protein. All three antibodies were able to recognize riboflavin carrier protein present in the sera of pregnant rats, monkeys and humans indicating that the epitopes to which they are directed are conserved throughout evolution. These antibodies can therefore be effectively used for radioimmunoassays and further studies on the functional aspects of this protein in higher mammals.     

Effects of antibodies against chicken riboflavin carrier protein on fetal hepatic cell ultrastructure

Day 12 pregnant mice administered antibodies to cRCP exhibited riboflavin deprival, which resulted in progressive alteration in the fetal hepatic cell structure, which eventually led to fetal wastage and termination of pregnancy. These changes were evident as early as 1 h following antiserum treatment. Three hours following treatment, other degenerative changes such as disorganization of glycogen particles and endoplasmic reticulum and degranulation of mitochondria were observed. Nuclear pycnosis, and increased myelin figures, accumulation of lysosomes, all indicative of autolytic changes, occurred 6 h following treatment.     

A rapid method of epitope analysis using Superose 12 gel filtration. A study with monoclonal antibodies to chicken riboflavin carrier protein

A novel and rapid method is described for determining the epitope specificities of monoclonal antibodies. The method utilises a highly reproducible, wide range gel filtration medium, Superose 12. nmol of monoclonal antibodies are incubated with pmol quantities of radiolabelled antigen, and the mixture filtered through Superose 12. Fractions are collected and radioactivity monitored. The size of the resultant immune complex indicates whether two monoclonal antibodies (mixed with the antigen) recognise the same or different epitope(s) of the antigen. The applicability of the above analytical method is illustrated with monoclonal antibodies raised against chicken egg riboflavin carrier protein.     

A comparison of two dissimilar monoclonal antibodies that are directed to a common epitope in the reduced and carboxymethylated chicken riboflavin carrier protein

Two monoclonal antibodies, D2A1 and D5G3 were elicited by immunization with a preparation of chicken egg riboflavin carrier protein which had been reduced and carboxymethylated. Epitopes recognised by the monoclonal antibodies were mapped using the Pepscan method. Epitopic determinants for D2A1 as well as D5G3 were identified within a region spanning 13 amino acids (residues 170–182) in the primary sequence of riboflavin carrier protein. Interestingly, these monoclonal antibodies, despite sharing a common epitope exhibited a marked difference in their binding to native (folded) riboflavin carrier protein versus reduced carboxymethylated (unfolded) riboflavin carrier protein. Both monoclonal antibodies bound reduced carboxymethylated riboflavin carrier protein to comparable extents in solid phase (ELISA and immunoblots) and liquid phase (radioimmunoassay) assays. However, while D5G3 could bind native riboflavin carrier protein in solid and liquid phase assays, D2A1 showed negligible binding to the native structure. Alanine substituted peptide analogs of the epitope in question defined the crucial amino acids of the epitope needed for binding to the two antibodies.     

A comparison of two dissimilar monoclonal antibodies that are directed to a common epitope in the reduced and carboxymethylated chicken riboflavin carrier protein

Two monoclonal antibodies, D2A1 and D5G3 were elicited by immunization with a preparation of chicken egg riboflavin carrier protein which had been reduced and carboxymethylated. Epitopes recognised by the monoclonal antibodies were mapped using the Pepscan method. Epitopic determinants for D2A1 as well as D5G3 were identified within a region spanning 13 amino acids (residues 170-182) in the primary sequence of riboflavin carrier protein. Interestingly, these monoclonal antibodies, despite sharing a common epitope exhibited a marked difference in their binding to native (folded) riboflavin carrier protein versus reduced carboxymethylated (unfolded) riboflavin carrier protein. Both monoclonal antibodies bound reduced carboxymethylated riboflavin carrier protein to comparable extents in solid phase (ELISA and immunoblots) and liquid phase (radioimmunoassay) assays. However, while D5G3 could bind native riboflavin carrier protein in solid and liquid phase assays, D2A1 showed negligible binding to the native structure. Alanine substituted peptide analogs of the epitope in question defined the crucial amino acids of the epitope needed for binding to the two antibodies.     

抗鸡γ-干扰素单克隆抗体的研制及初步鉴定

目的:制备抗鸡γ-干扰素单克隆抗体(mAb)。方法:应用淋巴细胞杂交瘤技术,以重组菌BL21(DE3)(pET-ChIFN-γ)表达产物的包涵体作为抗原免疫BALB/c鼠,以纯化的GST-ChIFN-γ作为检测抗原,制备抗鸡γ-干扰素mAb;采用ELISA、Dot-ELISA和Westernblot鉴定mAb的特异性。结果:获得2株可稳定分泌抗鸡γ-干扰素mAb的杂交瘤细胞株1G5、5E3,其Ig亚类均为IgG2a,腹水mAb1G5、5E3的ELISA效价分别为1∶1600000,1∶120000。在Dot-ELISA试验中,这2株mAb均只与表达His-ChIFN-γ及GST-ChIFN-γ的重组大肠杆菌反应,与未表达这2种IFN-γ的其他8种菌株均不发生反应。在蛋白质印迹试验中,2株mAb均能与融合蛋白GST-ChIFN-γ、His-ChIFN-γ发生反应,出现特异性条带。结果表明,mAb1G5、5E3是针对鸡γ-干扰素的特异性mAb。结论:成功地制备抗鸡γ-干扰素的mAb,它们在免疫检测、免疫细胞功能分析和免疫调节研究等方面有应用价值。     

A monoclonal antibody recognizing the C-terminal region of chicken egg white riboflavin carrier protein terminates early pregnancy in mice.

In order to identify the functionally relevant epitopes on chicken riboflavin carrier protein, we have raised monoclonal antibodies to the vitamin carrier. One of these, 6B2C12, was found to interact specifically with a synthetic oligopeptide corresponding to the C-terminal 17 amino acid residues of the chicken egg white riboflavin carrier protein, which is missing in part in the egg yolk riboflavin carrier protein. This epitope is conserved through evolution in mammals including humans. Administration of the ascites fluid of 6B2C12 to pregnant mice intraperitoneally, resulted in the termination of pregnancy indicating that this epitope is involved in or closely associated with the transplacental transport of the vitamin from the maternal circulation to the growing fetus.     

Strain-dependent variability in immune response to chicken riboflavin carrier protein in mice with different haplotypes

Active immunization of fertile female mice, rats and sub-human primates with linearized chicken riboflavin carrier protein (RCP) curtailed pregnancy suggesting that sequence-specific RCP antibodies interfere with fertilization/early embryo development. To investigate the genetic basis of variations in immunogenecity, antibody response to reduced and carboxymethylated RCP (RCM-RCP) was studied in different strains of mice of independent H-2 haplotypes. Among these, AKR (H-2k) were low or non-responders. Measurement of antibody titers in hyperimmune sera showed that among responder strains of mice, C57BL/6 (H-2b) and BALB/c (H-2d) generated higher levels of antibody compared to mice of SJLJ (H-2S). The relative affinities of these antibodies also varied depending upon the strain, with BALB/c mice showing highest affinity. Epitope mapping by pepscan ELISA revealed significant variability in determinant-specific antibody populations, with SJLJ strain lacking antibodies to N-terminal half of RCP sequence. However, four immunodominant sequential epitopes (residues 100-107, 134-141, 174-181 and 200-207) common to all the three strains of mice have been identified. Binding to these regions was not haplotype restricted although there were qualitative differences in recognition patterns. Present investigations have shown that site-specific antibodies directed towards any one of the four epitopic regions comprising of residues 3-24, 64-83, 130-147 and 200-219 in chicken RCP sequence effectively interfered with pregnancy establishment in female BALB/c mice. This implies the propensity of RCP antibodies to curtail pregnancy in the other two responder mouse strains also.     

Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to Pneumocystis carinii.

Hybridoma-producing monoclonal antibodies against Pneumocystis carinii were produced by the fusion of nonsecreting mouse myeloma cells (P3X63-Ag8.653) with splenocytes from BALB/c mice that had been immunized with partially purified preparations of P. carinii. Of 227 hybridoma clones producing antibodies against P. carinii, as measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, 12 monoclonal antibodies showing the highest reactivity in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were further characterized. The majority (11 of 12) of the monoclonal antibodies did not cross-react with Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, or Mycobacterium avium as determined by absorption experiments. By using the indirect immunofluorescence assay, serological reactivity was shown for these antibodies with titers ranging from 1:40 to 1:10,240. By using a competitive binding assay, these 12 monoclonal antibodies could be divided into seven groups, each group reacting with a different antigenic determinant of P. carinii. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis of P. carinii, followed by Western immunoblot analysis, allowed the identification of one major antigen with an apparent molecular weight of 110,000 by all 12 monoclonal antibodies. Other minor bands with molecular weights of approximately 116,000, 90,000, 55,000, and 35,000 were recognized by several of the monoclonal antibodies.     

Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to bovine brain calcineurin

Three monoclonal antibodies (MAb's) against bovine brain calcineurin, a Ca++-calmodulin dependent phosphatase, have been developed and characterized. Among these antibodies, two are alpha-subunit (60,000 Mr) specific and one is beta-subunit (19,000 Mr) specific. These antibodies also cross-react with similar proteins obtained from brains of human, rat and mouse. The methodology for raising these antibodies and their properties are described.     

抗醛糖还原酶单克隆抗体的制备与特性鉴定

目的:制备抗醛糖还原酶(AR)的单克隆抗体(mAb),并与本室制备的抗醛糖还原酶相似蛋白(ARL-1)mAb进行比较。方法:经RT-PCR获得AR基因,将基因插入pGEX-4T-1(His)6C中,构建重组质粒pGEX-4T-1(His)6C-AR,以重组质粒转化E.coliRosetta诱导表达GST-AR蛋白。以纯化的GST-AR蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠,采用杂交瘤技术制备mAb。应用间接ELISA和Western blot方法对mAb进行筛选和鉴定。使用Clustalx和Antheprot软件,比较AR与ARL-1的同源性,表达GST-dAR[80~142氨基酸(aa)],与ARL-1差异较大;并分析AR的抗原性,表达GST-dA1(1~79aa)、GST-dA2(80~99aa)、GST-dA3(111~142aa)、GST-dA4(143~316aa)。利用AR全长及截短蛋白,采用Western blot分析制备的抗AR mAb识别AR抗原的部位。结果:获得3株稳定分泌抗AR mAb的杂交瘤细胞系ARB3、AR7B3G4和ARF10。3株抗GST-AR的mAb均为IgG1(κ型),腹水mAb效价为1∶4×105,细胞培养上清mAb效价为1∶1×104,3株mAb均可与胎盘组织中的AR蛋白起反应,而与GST-ARL-1和GST蛋白无交叉反应。它们分别为抗GST-dA1、GST-dA3和GST-dA4蛋白的mAb。结论:成功地制备了3株特异性抗AR mAb,可分别识别AR的1~79、111~142、143~316位氨基酸。将它们与抗ARL-1mAb联合应用,将有助于进一步研究AR与ARL-1蛋白的功能,并为深入探讨AR、ARL-1与相关疾病的关系及进行大规模的流行病学调查提供了有力的工具。     

抗土拨鼠肝炎病毒核心蛋白单克隆抗体的制备、性质鉴定及初步应用

目的研制出能特异与土拨鼠肝炎病毒核心蛋白（WHc）结合的单克隆抗体,使之能特异性地对土拨鼠肝炎病毒（WHV）进行检测,并可能应用于相关肝炎病毒的筛查。方法以原核表达的土拨鼠肝炎病毒重组核心蛋白（WHc 1～149氨基酸）免疫BALB/c小鼠,常规杂交瘤技术进行细胞融合,有限稀释法克隆化,间接酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）和免疫组织化学（IHC）筛选、鉴定。结果筛选出5株（4B1E、6C5D、6C5C、6D1D、6D1G）能稳定分泌抗土拨鼠肝炎病毒核心蛋白抗体的杂交瘤细胞株。此5株单抗适用于ELISA、IHC、Western blot等方面的研究,与HBcAg有交叉反应,并且在部分中国旱獭的肝脏组织进行IHC检测呈现阳性反应。结论制备的5株单抗可用于土拨鼠肝炎病毒等嗜肝脱氧核糖核酸病毒的研究,可能在寻找新的相关肝炎病毒中起重要作用。     

Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies reactive with paraquat

A set of three anti-paraquat monoclonal antibodies(MoAbs), named APM-1, APM-2 and APM-3, has been isolated. In order to evaluate the ability of these MoAbs to recognize various kinds of bipyridyl herbicides and similar congeners of paraquat, a competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using avidin-biotin complex (ABC) was developed. All three antibodies strongly recognized paraquat and slightly did the other analogs. These three MoAbs are therefore advantageous to a toxicological study of paraquat and of its localization in tissues.     

Development and characterization of rat monoclonal antibodies to denatured mouse angiotensin-converting enzyme

Four new rat monoclonal antibodies, generated to denatured mouse somatic angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, CD143), detect mouse ACE with high sensitivity in Western blotting. Epitope mapping for the monoclonal antibodies--B12, 4G6 and 5C4--was also performed. Two monoclonal antibodies--B12 and 5C4--are directed to various epitopes on the N-domain--i.e., they recognized only the somatic isoform of mouse ACE. The monoclonal antibody H7 recognized an epitope on the C-domain of mouse ACE. The monoclonal antibody 4G6 was directed to a sequence on the N-domain of mouse ACE, which is homologous to a region of the C-domain and, as a result, also recognizes mouse testicular ACE (tACE) by means of Western blotting. In paraffin-embedded mouse tissues, all monoclonal antibodies detected all known expression sites of somatic ACE (sACE), e.g., the epithelial cells of the kidney proximal tubules, intestine and epididymis, and heterogeneously in endothelial cells. The monoclonal antibodies 4G6 and H7 additionally stained mouse tACE in spermatozoa and in mature spermatids. The monoclonal antibody 4G6 also demonstrated cross-reactivity with sACE from a broad spectrum of animal species, including human, rat, rabbit and bovine. However, this monoclonal antibody did not recognize the testicular isoform of ACE of these species. This set of monoclonal antibodies is useful for identifying even subtle changes in mouse ACE conformation because of denaturation. These monoclonal antibodies are also sensitive tools for the detection of mouse ACE in biological fluids and tissues by using proteomics approaches. Their high reactivity in paraffin-embedded tissues opens up opportunities to study possible changes in the pattern of ACE expression in knockout mouse models and may prove useful for correlating ACE expression in these models with human diseases.     

Immunocontraceptive efficacy of synthetic peptides corresponding to major antigenic determinants of chicken riboflavin carrier protein in the female rats

PROBLEM: Earlier studies have demonstrated that antibodies directed towards the N-terminal (residues 10-17) and C-terminal (residues 200-207) regions on chicken riboflavin carrier protein (RCP; 219 AA) are effective in pregnancy termination in rodents and sub-human primates. In the present study, the immunocontraceptive potential of three additional immunodominant sequences comprising of residues 33-49, 64 83 and 130-147 (CYA, CED and CGE peptides, respectively) of chicken RCP was investigated. METHOD OF STUDY: The three antigenic peptides were synthesized by using Fmoc chemistry. Oligoclonal antibodies were generated in rabbits. Bioneutralizing capacity of these peptides was assessed by passive and active immunoneutralization studies. RESULTS: All the three peptides-specific antisera recognized their cognate epitopes on native RCP. When the affinity purified peptide IgG were administered on three consecutive days to pregnant rats (on days 10, 11 and 12), it was observed that the rats injected with CED and CGE-IgG failed to deliver any pups whereas the animals which received CYA IgG delivered normal pups. Active immunization of fertile female rats with CED or CGE peptide conferred protection from pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the presence of two additional stretches in chicken RCP which can serve as mini-vaccines.     

AsiaI口蹄疫病毒VP1蛋白单克隆抗体的制备与鉴定

目的：制备AsiaI口蹄疫病毒VP1蛋白单克隆抗体（mAb）并进行鉴定。方法：用纯化的AsiaI型口蹄疫病毒VP1表位重组蛋白为抗原免疫6～8周龄的雌性BALB／c小鼠，经过3次免疫后，取其脾细胞与sp2／0骨髓瘤细胞融合。采用有限稀释法和间接ELISA克隆和筛选阳性杂交瘤细胞株，用SDS-PAGE电泳、间接ELISA以及微量细胞中和试验对所获得的mAb的特异性进行鉴定。结果：成功获得3株能稳定传代并分泌抗AsiaImAb的杂交瘤细胞株，分别命名为：188、5E1、5E2，其分泌的mAb为IgG1（188）和IgG2a（5E1、5E2）亚类，他们均能特异性的识别VP1重组蛋白和AsiaI型全病毒，其腹水效价在1：10^5～1：10^6。微量细胞中和试验表明该mAb能很好地识别灭活的FMDV，中和效价达1：1024以上。交叉试验表明该mAb具有高度特异性，型间无交叉反应，证明所获得的mAb均完全针对AsiaI FMDV抗原决定簇。结论：在口蹄疫病毒mAb的研究中，VP1重组蛋白有望代替活病毒来制备mAb。AsiaI口蹄疫病毒VP1 mAb的成功制备，为进一步研究和开发新型口蹄疫的检测方法和抗原表位奠定了基础。     

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies to chicken gizzard talin.

Eleven monoclonal antibodies against chicken gizzard talin, a major focal adhesion protein, have been produced. In order to determine the degree of homology between talin molecules from different sources, these antibodies were used to immunolocalize talin in five different vertebrate species. Three representative talin antibodies are described in this report.     

抗人滋养细胞单克隆抗体的制备及其免疫生物学特性鉴定

研制抗人滋养细胞单克隆抗体并分析其免疫生物学特性。方法采用滋养细胞免疫Ｂａｌｂ／ｃ小鼠;用细胞ＥＬＩＳＡ法鉴定ｍＡｂ的特异性;用补体依赖的溶细胞作用测定ｍＡｂ的细胞毒性。结论利用细胞免疫法所获该组ｍＡｂ所针对的抗原表位,可能是诱发免疫性流产的滋养细胞膜特异性抗原。     

Preparation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to rotavirus

By utilizing a strain of cultivable simian rotavirus (SA-11) as an immunizing antigen, we prepared 4 clones of mouse-mouse hybridoma, namely C127, C139, C172, and C214 which secreted monoclonal antibodies against the immunogen itself, SA-11 and also against other group A strains such as Wa and S2. Western blot analyses revealed that all of these antibodies are directed against VP6, a 42 kDa major inner capsid protein of group A rotavirus. Competitive experiments suggested that C127, C172 and C214 recognized three distinct epitopes on VP6, while C139 appeared to react with an epitope at or near the same epitope recognized by C172. We developed a two-step ELISA with excellent sensitivity and specificity for rotavirus detection by utilizing C127 and/or C214 as a capture antibody and rabbit anti-rotavirus conjugated with horseradish peroxidase as a probe. Also, when both monoclonal C127 capture antibody and polyclonal rabbit anti-rotavirus-HRP were incubated with rotavirus simultaneously in a one-step assay, equivalent sensitivity and specificity were observed. The data show that these generated anti-rotavirus antibodies can be utilized effectively as reagents for the detection of human rotaviruses in stool specimens.     

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to ARVCF

We have generated the first monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to Armadillo repeat gene deleted in velo-cardiofacial syndrome (ARVCF), a recently identified Armadillo repeat-containing protein closely related to the catenin p120ctn. Six ARVCF-specific MAbs were characterized for isotype, species cross-reactivity, and utility in assays including immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, and Western blotting. All six antibodies were isotyped as IgG1 and several cross-reacted with ARVCF from a variety of species including human, rat, dog, and monkey, but not mouse. Importantly, none of the ARVCF MAbs cross-reacted with p120ctn, despite the high homology between these proteins. MAbs 3B2 and 4B1 were consistently the best in all applications and will provide valuable tools for further study of the role of ARVCF in cells.