Structure-Guided Design of Antibodies
Justin A Caravella, Deping Wang, Scott M Glaser
1Physical Biochemistry, Drug Discovery, Biogen Idec Inc., 14 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. alexey.lugovskoy@biogenidec.com.
Abstract:
Monoclonal antibodies capable of recognizing antigens with high affinity and specificity represent a wellestablished class of biological agents. Since the development of hybridoma technology in 1975, advances in recombinant DNA technologies and computational and biophysical methods have allowed us to develop a better understanding of the relationships between antibody sequence, structure, and function. These advances enable us to manipulate antibody sequences with the goal of improving upon, or creating new biological or biophysical properties. In this review we will focus on recent successes in using structure-guided computational methods to design antibodies and antibody-like molecules with optimized affinity and specificity to antigen and for enhancing protein stability.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Antibody Structure
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
Antibodies consist of four polypeptide chains: two identical heavy...
01:10Antibody Structure
01:25Antibody Structure and Classes
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.
01:28Structure-Activity Relationships and Drug Design
SAR studies the intricate relationship between a drug's chemical structure and biological activity. It focuses on understanding how modifications to a drug's structure can influence...