Directed evolution of human scFvs in DT40 cells.

Cells that constitutively diversify their immunoglobulin genes can be used for selection of novel antibodies and for refining existing affinities and specificities. Here, we report an adaptation of the chicken DT40 system wherein its capacity for somatic hypermutation is harnessed to evolve human antibodies expressed as single-chain variable fragments (scFvs). Expression of membrane-anchored scFvs from within the rearranged Igλ locus created self-diversifying scFv libraries from which we could both select scFvs of a desired specificity and evolve both the specificity and affinity of existing scFvs by iterative expansion and selection. From these scFvs, we were able to create fully human IgG antibodies with nanomolar affinities. We further enhanced the functionality of the system by creating a pool of DT40 scFv lines with high levels of mutation driven by the overexpression of a hyperactive variant of activation-induced deaminase. From this library, we successfully isolated scFvs that bound the spliceosome factor CWC15 and the cytokine human IFNγ. Our results demonstrate the flexibility and utility of DT40 for rapid generation of scFv repertoires and efficient selection, evolution and affinity maturation of scFv specificities.

Human monoclonal antibodies to HIV-1 gp140 from mice bearing YAC-based human immunoglobulin transloci.

Mice carrying human immunoglobulin transloci were immunised with HIV-1 gp140 antigen to gain insight into the range and nature of human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that can be elicited from such humanised mice. Using five-feature mice that harbour YAC-based germline-configuration human IgM, Igκ and Igλ transloci in a mouse background disrupted for endogenous mouse IgH and Igκ expression, gp140-specific human IgM mAbs were readily elicited following serial immunisation. These mAbs were converted to human IgG1 format and were found to bind diverse epitopes within gp140, exhibiting high functional affinity for the antigen-typically in the nanomolar or sub-nanomolar range. The number of specific, stable hybridomas per mouse was, however, low (typically around five) with the hybridomas within individual mice often being clonally related. Nevertheless, different mice used B cell clones expressing varied V(D)J combinations, with affinity maturation through somatic hypermutation making a critical contribution. Thus, a wide range of distinct high-affinity mAbs can be obtained by immunising multiple animals. The results confirm the utility of the translocus-mouse approach and give insight into strategies for possible future improvement.

Dependence of antibody gene diversification on uracil excision.

Activation-induced deaminase (AID) catalyses deamination of deoxycytidine to deoxyuridine within immunoglobulin loci, triggering pathways of antibody diversification that are largely dependent on uracil-DNA glycosylase (uracil-N-glycolase [UNG]). Surprisingly efficient class switch recombination is restored to ung(-/-) B cells through retroviral delivery of active-site mutants of UNG, stimulating discussion about the need for UNG's uracil-excision activity. In this study, however, we find that even with the overexpression achieved through retroviral delivery, switching is only mediated by UNG mutants that retain detectable excision activity, with this switching being especially dependent on MSH2. In contrast to their potentiation of switching, low-activity UNGs are relatively ineffective in restoring transversion mutations at C:G pairs during hypermutation, or in restoring gene conversion in stably transfected DT40 cells. The results indicate that UNG does, indeed, act through uracil excision, but suggest that, in the presence of MSH2, efficient switch recombination requires base excision at only a small proportion of the AID-generated uracils in the S region. Interestingly, enforced expression of thymine-DNA glycosylase (which can excise U from U:G mispairs) does not (unlike enforced UNG or SMUG1 expression) potentiate efficient switching, which is consistent with a need either for specific recruitment of the uracil-excision enzyme or for it to be active on single-stranded DNA.

Somatic hypermutation at A.T pairs: polymerase error versus dUTP incorporation.

Somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin genes occurs at both C.G pairs and A.T pairs. Mutations at C.G pairs are created by activation-induced deaminase (AID)-catalysed deamination of C residues to U residues. Mutations at A.T pairs are probably produced during patch repair of the AID-generated U.G lesion, but they occur through an unknown mechanism. Here, we compare the popular suggestion of nucleotide mispairing through polymerase error with an alternative possibility, mutation through incorporation of dUTP (or another non-canonical nucleotide).

Generation and iterative affinity maturation of antibodies in vitro using hypermutating B-cell lines.

We show that iterative antigen-mediated selection of B-cell lines that constitutively hypermutate their immunoglobulin V genes during culture can be exploited to generate antibodies in vitro. From Ramos, a hypermutating human B-cell line expressing IgM of unknown specificity, we derived descendants that exhibit stepwise improved binding to streptavidin. Binding is initially conferred by mutations in complementarity-determining regions (CDRs), but maturation is due to strategic framework mutations. A more powerful system is provided by a hypermutating chicken B-lymphoma line, owing to its rapid proliferation, high rate of mutation accumulation, and genetic tractability. Starting from a single cell, we selected parallel lineages of derivatives, making mutated antibodies of increasing affinity to independent test antigens. Selection is initiated at an exceedingly low affinity threshold, but antibodies can be delivered with nanomolar affinities. The strategy could prove useful for in vitro generation of antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies and may be extendable to the maturation of other protein-ligand interactions.

Immunoglobulin isotype switching is inhibited and somatic hypermutation perturbed in UNG-deficient mice.

BACKGROUND: We have previously proposed that deamination of cytosine to uracil at sites within the immunoglobulin loci by activation-induced deaminase (AID) triggers antibody diversification. The pattern of diversification (phase 1 or 2 hypermutation, gene conversion, or switch recombination) is viewed as depending on the mode of resolution of the dU/dG lesion. A major resolution mode involves excising the uracil, an activity that at least four different enzymes can accomplish in the mouse. RESULTS: Deficiency in UNG uracil-DNA glycosylase alone is sufficient to distort the pathway of hypermutation in mice. In ung(-/-) animals, mutations at dC/dG pairs are dramatically shifted toward transitions (95%), indicating that the generation of abasic sites (which can induce transversions) has been inhibited. The pattern of substitutions at dA/dT pairs is unaffected. Class-switch recombination is substantially, but not totally, inhibited. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide strong support for the DNA deamination model for antibody diversification with respect to class-switching as well as hypermutation and, in the context of this model, suggest that (i) UNG is the major mouse DNA glycosylase responsible for processing the programmed dU/dG lesions within the immunoglobulin locus; (ii) the second (dA/dT-biased) phase of mutation is probably triggered by recognition of the initiating dU/dG lesion; and (iii) switch recombination largely proceeds via formation of an abasic site, although (iv) an UNG-independent pathway of switch recombination exists, which could reflect action by another uracil-DNA glycosylase but might alternatively be explained by a distinct pathway of resolution, for example, one involving MSH2/MSH6 recognition of the dU/dG lesion.