Computer models of the human immunoglobulins Binding sites and molecular interactions

In last month's issue(1) Richard Pumphrey showed how low resolution computer models could be used to investigate the shape and segmental flexibility of human immunoglobulin molecules. In this article, he extends the use of these models to the study of interactions between immunoglobulins and other molecules, such as their receptors, J chain, secretory component and complement fragments. Although precise studies of molecular interaction require computation in atomic detail, there is still much to be learnt from low resolution modelling, in which atomic details are glossed over but general principles become more obvious.