Monoclonal antibodies molecule

Fig. 1 Diagram of an monoclonal antibody molecule. (Adapted from Ref . )...

The initial discovery and description of the constant, variable, and hypervariable domains and elucidation of the primary structures of the immunoglobulins was made possible because of the disease multiple myeloma. In multiple myeloma, a single B-cell clone (mono-clone) synthesizes large quantities of structurally identical or monoclonal antibody molecules. Isolation of immunoglobulin from multiple myeloma patients who were producing structurally different immunoglobulins... 

Myers, D., Yanishevski, Y., Masson, E., Irvin, J., Evans, W., and Uckun, F. (1995) Favorable pharmacodynamic features and superior anti-leukemic activity of B43 (anti-CD19) immunotoxins containing two pokeweed antiviral protein molecules covalently linked to each monoclonal antibody molecule. Leuk. Lymphoma 18, 93-102. 

A two-site immunometric assay of undecapeptide substance P (SP) has been developed. This assay is based on the use of two different antibodies specifically directed against the N- and C-terminal parts of the peptide (95). Affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies raised against the six amino-terminal residues of the molecule were used as capture antibodies. A monoclonal antibody directed against the carboxy terminal part of substance P (SP), covalently coupled to the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, was used as the tracer antibody. The assay is very sensitive, having a detection limit close to 3 pg/mL. The assay is fiiUy specific for SP because cross-reactivity coefficients between 0.01% were observed with other tachykinins, SP derivatives, and SP fragments. The assay can be used to measure the SP content of rat brain extracts. 

Monoclonal antibodies (mAh) are molecules that recognize and bind a specific foreign substance called an antigen. They are produced from a single clone of B lymphocytes. Conventionally, mouse mAh have been generated for experimental and diagnostic use. Techniques have been developed to humanize mouse mAh to facilitate their therapeutic use in humans. It is also now possible to make mAh which are fully human. 

Main differences between monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule receptor tyrosine kinases are described in Table 2. 

Monoclonal antibodies Small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors... 

Much effort has also been directed toward mimicking electron transfer on natural photosynthetic systems. Recently, the group of Harada has been able to prepare monoclonal antibodies against metallo porphyrins and show that the biological edifice can control photoinduced electron transfer from the porphyrin to organic acceptor molecules in solution. As it was important to design a biomolecule able to accommodate not only the metalloporphyrin unit but also organic substrates, Harada recently used a hexacoordinated phosphorus... 

The principle underlying the BAT is that the attachment of the antigen to the IgE present on the surface of the basophil leads to the activation of the basophil and the release of its mediators (histamine, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, etc.) and the expression on its membrane of molecules such as CD63, CD203c or others which are markers of basophil activation. The basophils are identified with monoclonal antibodies marked with fluorochromes and anti-IgE and anti-CD63 receptors [for a complete review, we suggest readers read references 19-22]. 

Davio et al. (43) report efforts to obtain monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to STX. Because STX is a small molecule of approximately 300 daltons, well below the size necessary for immunogenicity, a carrier molecule must be conjugated to the hapten (STX). This technique must minimize alterations of the antigenic form. For the anti-STX antibodies tested to date, the ratios of immunoassay response factor to pharmacological potency for various STX derivatives differ substantially, the immunoassay being virtually unresponsive to some of the common natural derivatives (44). 

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