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Antibody fragments as tools in crystallography
Clinical and Experimental Immunology
|June 9, 2011
Summary
Antibody fragments act as crystallization chaperones, enabling structural determination of difficult-to-crystallize proteins for drug discovery. This technique aids in designing new chemical entities for therapeutic development.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Structural Biology
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Antibody-based therapeutics are established, but antibodies as research tools in drug discovery are emerging.
- Many target proteins are 'uncrystallizable' or 'undruggable' using conventional methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the use of antibody fragments as crystallization chaperones.
- To highlight the application of antibody-mediated structures in designing new chemical entities.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing antibody fragments as crystallization chaperones.
- Structural determination of target proteins.
Main Results:
- Antibody fragments facilitate the structural determination of challenging proteins.
- Antibody-mediated structures can guide the design of novel therapeutic compounds.
Conclusions:
- Antibody fragments offer a promising approach for structural biology in drug discovery.
- This technology can overcome limitations in determining structures of 'undruggable' targets and inform new drug design.
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The Y-Shaped Structure of Antibodies Consists of Four Polypeptide Chains
Antibodies consist of four polypeptide chains: two identical heavy...
Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins (Ig), are essential players of the adaptive immune system. These antigen-binding proteins are produced by B cells and make up 20 percent of the total blood plasma by weight. In mammals, antibodies fall into five different classes, which each elicits a different biological response upon antigen binding.
The Y-Shaped Structure of Antibodies Consists of Four Polypeptide Chains
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Overview
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The Y-Shaped Structure of Antibodies Consists of Four Polypeptide Chains
Antibodies consist of four polypeptide chains: two identical heavy...
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The Y-Shaped Structure of Antibodies Consists of Four Polypeptide Chains
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The basic structure of an antibody consists of four protein chains: two identical heavy chains and two identical light chains. These chains are held together by disulfide bonds and other non-covalent interactions, forming a Y-shaped structure.
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Antibodies, or immunoglobulins, are critical players in the immune system's arsenal against invading pathogens. Produced by B cells and plasma cells, their primary role is to detect and bind to specific antigens, molecules found on the surface of pathogens like bacteria or viruses. Beyond antigen recognition, antibodies perform several vital functions that contribute to immune defense.
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