Somatic mutations within the antibody variable domains are critical to the immense capacity of the immune repertoire. Here, via a deep mutational scan, we dissect how mutations at all positions of the variable domains of a high-affinity anti-VEGF antibody G6.31 impact its antigen-binding function. The resulting mutational landscape demonstrates that large portions of antibody variable domain positions are open to mutation, and that beneficial mutations can be found throughout the variable domains. We determine the role of one antigen-distal light chain position 83, demonstrating that mutation at this site optimizes both antigen affinity and thermostability by modulating the interdomain conformational dynamics of the antigen-binding fragment. Furthermore, by analyzing a large number of human antibody sequences and structures, we demonstrate that somatic mutations occur frequently at position 83, with corresponding domain conformations observed for G6.31. Therefore, the modulation of interdomain dynamics represents an important mechanism during antibody maturation in vivo. Deciphering the molecular mechanism of SHMs in improving antibodies is critical for understanding the evolution of the immune repertoire. It is well recognized that mutations at the CDRs or FWR structurally adjacent to the CDRs can modulate and optimize the antigen-binding interface (4-7), and several studies have used saturated mutagenesis of CDR position to explore the effect of various mutations on affinity and specificity (8-11).The role of SHM in antigen-distal FWR is less well understood, however. Previous studies have suggested that the antigen-distal FWR contributes primarily to the variable domain structural integrity; thus, mutations at these positions would be either detrimental to or neutral for antigen-binding function (12)(13)(14). Other authors have characterized the potential of antigen-distal framework mutation as beneficial for antigen-binding function. For example, framework mutations can compensate for the destabilizing effect of mutations at CDRs needed for antigen binding (15). In other cases, non-CDR SHMs have been shown to be required for the neutralization activity of broadly neutralizing anti-HIV antibodies (16).Thus far, the roles of SHM have been studied primarily by examining the functional consequences of reverting the somatic mutation of selected antibodies back to the germline sequences (15-21). Although these studies have demonstrated that antibodies depend on somatic mutations to achieve high-affinity antigen binding, the approach is limited to the small set of mutations present in a given antibody.Here we took a systematic approach to assessing the mutability of the whole variable domain for maintaining or improving folding stability and antigen binding. We used a welloptimized anti-vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), G6.31, with high affinity (K d = 0.4 nM) and excellent thermostability [fragment antigen-binding (Fab) melting temperature (T m ) = 84°C]. G6.31 derives its HC and LC variable domains ...