In vitro molecular evolution of antibody genes mimicking receptor revision

• Antibody evolution in vivo proceeds mainly by stepwise improvements, accomplished by single base pair substitutions. Lately, receptor revision, i.e. exchange of large parts of the V gene for another sequence, has been suggested to provide a complementary route for affinity maturation. By employing a receptor revision like evolution process in vitro using combinatorial libraries and phage display selection, we demonstrate here that maturation of a clone may preferentially proceed through exchange of a large gene segment rather than via minor sequence changes. These modifications of a CD40-specific human antibody fragment outline how receptor revision like events may provide an advantage to a particular clonotype put under selective pressure. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Immunologi inom det medicinska området (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Immunology in the medical area (hsv//eng)

Keyword

phage display

affinity maturation

antibody

receptor revision

somatic hypermutation

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)