Localization of an idiotope on the L chain dimer and intact IgG1 immunoglobulin from the patient Mcg

A monoclonal anti-idiotype (M3.9) raised against the covalently linked Mcg lambda chain dimer binds with a similar affinity to the Mcg IgG immunoglobulin and covalent heterodimers of Mcg with other human L chains. Despite having identical amino acid sequences, the two light chains in the Mcg dimer adopt different conformations with monomer 1 acting as a heavy chain analog and monomer 2 behaving like a light chain component of an Fab. As the lambda chain in the Mcg IgG and at least one hybrid L chain dimer (Mcg X Weir) assumes a conformation similar to that of monomer 2 and the binding of anti-idiotype requires only the presence of a single Mcg lambda chain, we conclude that the idiotope is restricted to the monomer 2 type of the Mcg lambda chain conformational isomer. Cooperative binding of two molecules of rhodamine 123 in the main cavity of the Mcg dimer block the binding of the anti-idiotype whereas the binding of one molecule of bis(DNP)lysine has no significant effect on the idiotype-anti-idiotype system. Previous crystallographic analyses indicated that bound rhodamine 123 protrudes outside the rim while bis(DNP)lysine is completely immersed in the cavity. At high concns bis(DNP)lysine penetrates through the floor of the main cavity and forms a virtually irreversible complex with the dimer. Production of this complex is accompanied by conformational changes, which are presumed to be correlated with observed inhibition of binding with the anti-idiotype M3.9. Expression of the idiotope probably involves more than one linear sequence since reduction and alkylation of the intra- and inter-chain disulphide bonds in 8 M urea leads to a complete loss of binding of the anti-idiotype. The inhibition data suggest involvement of residues on or near the rim of the main cavity. Distribution of potential contact residues for rhodamine 123 is asymmetric only in the case of aspartic acid 97, which is located on the cavity rim in only one conformational isomer (monomer 2). The homologous residue in monomer 1 is directed away from the cavity and is unlikely to participate in the epitope recognized by M3.9. Attempts to define the epitope in more detail by simulation with multiple peptides have been initiated in collaboration with the laboratory of H. M. Geysen.