Avidity and Flexibility in Antibody Recognition

描述（由申请人提供）：生物过程通常通过两个实体之间的多重相互作用或多价性来增强。例如，抗体功能通过结构灵活性和高亲合力结合来调节。为了更好地理解抗体识别中的亲合力和灵活性，我们提出了一个问题，“是否存在一系列的表位之间的分离，最大限度地提高抗体识别的亲合力？“我们假设有，我们提出了一个调查计划。将合成具有以受控距离放置的表位的多价抗原，并将其沉积在金上的自组装单层上。单价和二价抗体与这些表面结合的亲和力将使用表面等离子体共振光谱法作为表位之间距离的函数来测量。最佳距离范围的存在或不存在将为基础生物化学提供关于多价抗体识别中的灵活性的重要性的有用信息。如果找到最佳值，许多应用成为可能，包括更好的抑制剂设计，更好的亲和纯化方法和更高灵敏度的检测器。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Biological processes are often enhanced by multiple interactions between two entities, or multivalency. Antibody function, for example, is modulated through structural flexibility and high-avidity binding. Toward a better understanding of avidity and flexibility in antibody recognition, we pose the question, "Is there a range of separation between epitopes that maximizes the avidity of antibody recognition?" We hypothesize that there is, and we propose a plan of investigation. Multivalent antigens with epitopes placed at controlled distances will be synthesized and deposited onto self-assembled monolayers on gold. The affinities for monovalent and bivalent antibody binding to these surfaces will be measured as a function of the distance between epitopes using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. The presence or absence of an optimal distance range would provide useful information to basic biochemistry concerning the importance of flexibility in multivalent antibody recognition. If an optimum is found, numerous applications become possible, including better design of inhibitors, better affinity purification methods, and higher sensitivity detectors.