Structural basis for selective inhibition of immunoglobulin E-receptor interactions by an anti-IgE antibody.

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies play a central role in the allergic response: interaction with FcεRI on mast cells and basophils leads to immediate hypersensitivity reactions upon allergen challenge, while interaction with CD23/FcεRII, expressed on a variety of cells, regulates IgE synthesis among other activities. The receptor-binding IgE-Fc region has recently been found to display remarkable flexibility, from acutely bent to extended conformations, with allosteric communication between the distant FcεRI and CD23 binding sites. We report the structure of an anti-IgE antibody Fab (8D6) bound to IgE-Fc through a mixed protein-carbohydrate epitope, revealing further flexibility and a novel extended conformation with potential relevance to that of membrane-bound IgE in the B cell receptor for antigen. Unlike the earlier, clinically approved anti-IgE antibody omalizumab, 8D6 inhibits binding to FcεRI but not CD23; the structure reveals how this discrimination is achieved through both orthosteric and allosteric mechanisms, supporting therapeutic strategies that retain the benefits of CD23 binding.

Synthesis and incorporation into cyclic peptides of tolan amino acids and their hydrogenated congeners: construction of an array of A-B-loop mimetics of the Cε3 domain of human IgE.

The disruption of the human immunolobulin E-high affinity receptor I (IgE-FcεRI) protein-protein interaction (PPI) is a validated strategy for the development of anti asthma therapeutics. Here, we describe the synthesis of an array of conformationally constrained cyclic peptides based on an epitope of the A-B loop within the Cε3 domain of IgE. The peptides contain various tolan (i.e., 1,2-biarylethyne) amino acids and their fully and partially hydrogenated congeners as conformational constraints. Modest antagonist activity (IC(50) ∼660 µM) is displayed by the peptide containing a 2,2'-tolan, which is the one predicted by molecular modeling to best mimic the conformation of the native A-B loop epitope in IgE.

Synthesis of the C19 methyl ether of aspercyclide A via germyl-Stille macrocyclisation and ELISA evaluation of both enantiomers following optical resolution.

Aspercyclide A (1) is a biaryl ether containing 11-membered macrocyclic natural product antagonist of the human IgE-FcεRI protein-protein interaction (PPI); a key interaction in the signal transduction pathway for allergic disorders such as asthma. Herein we report a novel approach to the synthesis of the C19 methyl ether of aspercyclide A, employing a Pd(0)-catalysed, fluorous-tagged alkenylgermane/arylbromide macrocyclisation (germyl-Stille reaction) as the key step, and evaluation of both enantiomers of this compound via ELISA following optical resolution by CSP-HPLC. A crystal structure for germyl hydride 27 is also reported.

Conformational changes in IgE contribute to its uniquely slow dissociation rate from receptor FcɛRI.

Among antibody classes, IgE has a uniquely slow dissociation rate from, and high affinity for, its cell surface receptor FcɛRI. We show the structural basis for these key determinants of the ability of IgE to mediate allergic hypersensitivity through the 3.4-Å-resolution crystal structure of human IgE-Fc (consisting of the Cɛ2, Cɛ3 and Cɛ4 domains) bound to the extracellular domains of the FcɛRI α chain. Comparison with the structure of free IgE-Fc (reported here at a resolution of 1.9 Å) shows that the antibody, which has a compact, bent structure before receptor engagement, becomes even more acutely bent in the complex. Thermodynamic analysis indicates that the interaction is entropically driven, which explains how the noncontacting Cɛ2 domains, in place of the flexible hinge region of IgG antibodies, contribute together with the conformational changes to the unique binding properties of IgE.

Total synthesis of (+/-)-aspercyclide A and its C19 methyl ether.

The total syntheses of (+/-)-aspercyclide A (1) and its C19 methyl ether (15a) featuring Heck-Mizoroki macrocyclisation to form the 11-membered (E)-styrenyl biaryl ether lactone core are described.

The crystal structure of rabbit IgG-Fc.

We report the structure of the Fc fragment of rabbit IgG at 1.95 A (1 A=0.1 nm) resolution. Rabbit IgG was the molecule for which Porter established the four-chain, Upsilon-shaped structure of the antibody molecule, and crystals of the Fc ('Fragment crystallisable') were first reported almost 50 years ago in this journal [Porter, R. R. (1959) Biochem. J. 73, 119-126]. This high-resolution analysis, apparently of the same crystal form, reveals several features of IgG-Fc structure that have not previously been described. More of the lower hinge region is visible in this structure than in others, demonstrating not only the acute bend in the IgG molecule that this region can mediate, as seen in receptor complexes, but also that this region has a tendency to adopt a bent structure even in the absence of receptor. As observed in other IgG-Fc structures, the Cgamma2 domains display greater mobility/disorder within the crystals than the Cgamma3 domains; unexpectedly the structure reveals partial cleavage of both Cgamma2 intra-domain disulphide bonds, whereas an alternative conformation for one of the cysteine residues in the intact bridge within the more ordered Cgamma3 domains is observed. The N-linked oligosaccharide chains at Asn(297) are well-defined and reveal two alternative conformations for the galactose units on each of the alpha(1-6)-linked branches. The presence of this galactose unit is important for stabilizing the structure of the entire branched carbohydrate chain, and its absence correlates with the severity of autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis in both human clinical studies and in a rabbit model of the disease. Rabbit IgG, through this high-resolution structure of its Fc region, thus continues to offer new insights into antibody structure.

Secreted proteases from pathogenic fungi.

Many species of human pathogenic fungi secrete proteases in vitro or during the infection process. Secreted endoproteases belong to the aspartic proteases of the pepsin family, serine proteases of the subtilisin family, and metalloproteases of two different families. To these proteases has to be added the non-pepsin-type aspartic protease from Aspergillus niger and a unique chymotrypsin-like protease from Coccidioides immitis. Pathogenic fungi also secrete aminopeptidases, carboxypeptidases and dipeptidyl-peptidases. The function of fungal secreted proteases and their importance in infections vary. It is evident that secreted proteases are important for the virulence of dermatophytes since these fungi grow exclusively in the stratum corneum, nails or hair, which constitutes their sole nitrogen and carbon sources. The aspartic proteases secreted by Candida albicans are involved in the adherence process and penetration of tissues, and in interactions with the immune system of the infected host. For Aspergillus fumigatus, the role of proteolytic activity has not yet been proved. Although the secreted proteases have been intensively investigated as potential virulence factors, knowledge on protease substrate specificities is rather poor and few studies have focused on the research of inhibitors. Knowledge of substrate specificities will increase our understanding about the action of each protease secreted by pathogenic fungi and will help to determine their contribution to virulence.