Objetivo
It is now firmly established that antibodies can act as efficient catalysts. These catalytic antibodies (abzymes) are classically elicited by using transition state analogues as antigens. The Russian group participating in this project has pioneered an alternative idea, i.e. possible catalytic activity of anti-idiotypic antibodies, and has demonstrated the presence of natural catalytic autoantibodies in sera of patients with autoimmune diseases. On the other hand, the French group, also participating in this project, has demonstrated the possibility of eliciting catalytic anti-idiotypic antibodies as internal images of enzyme active sites used as antigens.
This project, a joint investigation, is devoted to the search for new variants of natural catalytic antibodies and their comparison with corresponding analogues elicited by the anti-idiotypic approach. The project includes the study of general principles of antibody mediated catalysis and cloning of selected antibody genes in order to model and analyse the three-dimensional structures of their variable domains.
Tema(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
Data not availableRégimen de financiación
Data not availableCoordinador
60206 Compiègne
Francia