Fast antibody fragment motion: Flexible linkers act as entropic spring

Laura R. Stingaciu, Oxana Ivanova, Michael Ohl, Ralf Biehl, Dieter Richter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

A flexible linker region between three fragments allows antibodies to adjust their binding sites to an antigen or receptor. Using Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy we observed fragment motion on a timescale of 7 ns with motional amplitudes of about 1 nm relative to each other. The mechanistic complexity of the linker region can be described by a spring model with Brownian motion of the fragments in a harmonic potential. Displacements, timescale, friction and force constant of the underlying dynamics are accessed. The force constant exhibits a similar strength to an entropic spring, with friction of the fragment matching the unbound state. The observed fast motions are fluctuations in pre-existing equilibrium configurations. The Brownian motion of domains in a harmonic potential is the appropriate model to examine functional hinge motions dependent on the structural topology and highlights the role of internal forces and friction to function.

Original languageEnglish
Article number22148
JournalScientific Reports
Volume6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 29 2016

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