Biomedical subjects

R Hauhart

Publications and source records attributed to R Hauhart.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Independently melting modules and highly structured intermodular junctions within complement receptor type 1.

A segment of complement receptor type 1 (CR1) corresponding to modules 15-17 was overexpressed as a functionally active recombinant protein with N-glycosylation sites ablated by mutagenesis (referred to as CR1 approximately 15-17(-)). A protein consisting of modules 15 and 16 and another corresponding to module 16 were also overexpressed. Comparison of heteronuclear nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra for the single, double, and triple module fragments indicated that module 16 makes more extensive contacts with module 15 than with module 17. A combination of NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, circular dichroism, and tryptophan-derived fluorescence indicated a complex unfolding pathway for CR1 approximately 15-17(-). As temperature or denaturant concentration was increased, the 16-17 junction appeared to melt first, followed by the 15-16 junction, and module 17 itself; finally, modules 15 and 16 became denatured. Modules 15 and 16 adopted an intermediate state prior to total denaturation. These results are compared with a previously published study [Clark, N. S., Dodd, I, Mossakowska, D. E., Smith, R. A. G., and Gore, M. G. (1996) Protein Eng. 9, 877-884] on a fragment consisting of the N-terminal three CR1 modules which appeared to melt as a single unit.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Structure-function analysis of the active sites of complement receptor type 1.

Two functionally distinct but homologous sites in complement receptor type 1 (CR1) (CD35) were further characterized by homologous substitution mutagenesis of two CR1 derivatives, each containing one site. In both sites, reducing negative and/or increasing positive charge augmented interaction with iC3/C3b and C4b, supporting a role of ionic forces in the binding reaction. In one case, substitution of Asp at the end of complement control protein repeat (CCP) 2 with an Asn transformed the protein, with negligible cofactor activity and iC3 binding, into a mutant with activities similar to native CR1. Consequently, this protein, one-fourth the size of CR1, is a therapeutic candidate for a complement inhibitor. Another important observation is that the residues between two CCPs contribute to activity, probably because they influence positioning of one CCP relative to the next. The initial characterization of the third CCP of an active site led to identification of three peptides necessary for binding. In line with earlier findings for the first two CCPs, interactions with iC3/C3b are similar but not identical to those with C4b, implying overlapping but distinct binding domains. Moreover, changes in cofactor activity usually, but not always, parallel alterations in binding, indicating that these two activities are separable. We also mapped epitopes for a blocking and a function enhancing monoclonal antibody. Their effects can be explained by epitope location. The first antibody binds near functionally important residues. The second may shield inhibitory (negatively charged) residues. These results represent a comprehensive analysis of the active sites of CR1, which is built of modules found in more than 50 mammalian proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Mapping epitopes for 20 monoclonal antibodies to CR1.

Complement receptor type one (CR1; CD35) binds and processes C3b and C4b opsonized immune complexes and regulates complement activation. We have characterized the epitopes of 13 previously reported and seven new MoAbs to human CR1. The MoAbs formed seven groups based on their reactivity with a panel of deletion forms of CR1. Seventeen of the MoAbs reacted with CR1 at more than one site, a consequence of its repetitive sequence. All five of the MoAbs recognizing epitopes in the nearly identical repeats 3, 10, and 17, as well as one MoAb which reacted with repeats 8 or 1/2 of 9 and 15 or 1/2 of 16, blocked cofactor activity for C3b. Knowledge of the repeats bearing the epitopes for these MoAbs should facilitate the further characterization of CR1.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Analysis of the functional domains of complement receptor type 1 (C3b/C4b receptor; CD35) by substitution mutagenesis.

The complement receptor type 1 (CR1; CD35), carrying 30 short consensus repeats (SCRs), has two sites. Site 1 contains SCR-1 and SCR-2 and binds C4b. Site 2 contains SCR-8 and SCR-9 and was reported to bind mainly C3b (Klickstein, L. B., Bartow, T. J., Miletic, V., Rabson, L. D., Smith, J. A., and Fearon, D. T. (1988) J. Exp. Med. 168, 1699-1717). For the functional analysis we used two constructs, each with one site. CR1-4, composed of eight and one-half initial SCRs, carries site 1, binds C4b, and is cofactor for C4b cleavage. CR1-4(8,9), obtained from CR1-4 by converting site 1 to site 2, binds iC3/C3b and, unexpectedly, C4b. It is a cofactor for cleavage of both ligands. Its cofactor activity for C4b cleavage is greater than that of site 1. Analysis of the mutants constructed by interchanging homologous peptides between the two sites identified no sequences necessary for cofactor activity other than those required for binding. In site 2, peptides important for both ligands were found. Some modifications of either site led to higher activity for both ligands. Thus the activity of complement regulators can be increased by changing a few amino acids within SCRs, an important step toward the generation of more effective inhibitors of complement activation. Knowledge of the active sites of CR1 should be applicable to other SCR-containing proteins and should provide insights into the evolution of these proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗