Much detailed information regarding the thermodynamic parameters of monoclonal antibody (MAb) binding to oligosaccharides is available (8,9,11,15,26,29,38,39,43). However, very little thermodynamic information regarding binding of MAbs or Fab fragments to intact polysaccharides (PSs) is available. Of particular interest is understanding the density of MAb or Fab binding along high-molecular-weight PS chains.Isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC) can be used to investigate the thermodynamics of molecular interactions such as the binding of a MAb to its epitope (10). The thermodynamic binding constant (K), the change in the enthalpy of binding (⌬H), and the stoichiometry or density of binding (N) can all be determined directly from one ITC experiment. ITC directly measures the heat evolved (or consumed) in liquid samples upon the mixing of precise, known amounts of a ligand into a solution of a macromolecule. The heat released (or consumed) after each addition of ligand is directly proportional to the amount of binding that occurs. The data are analyzed by using fitting models to calculate ⌬H, K, and N. ⌬H is proportional to the magnitude of the inflection of the binding isotherm, K is derived from the slope at the midpoint of the binding isotherm, and N is derived from the midpoint of the rise or the inflection point of the binding isotherm. The change in free energy (⌬G) and the change in the entropy of binding (⌬S) are calculated values, since ⌬G is derived from K, that is, ⌬G ϭ ϪRTlnK, where R is the universal gas constant, T is the temperature of the interaction, and ⌬S is derived from ⌬G by the equation ⌬G ϭ ⌬H Ϫ T⌬S.We report here on the thermodynamic parameters of binding, K, ⌬H, and ⌬S, as well as N, for two MAbs with different specificities for Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C capsular PS (MnC PS) and five MAbs and two Fab fragments specific for Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 4, 14, 6B, 9V, and 19F capsular PSs (Pn PSs).
MATERIALS AND METHODSThe MnC PS and the Pn PSs were obtained from Wyeth Vaccines Research. The average molecular masses of the PSs were 360 kDa for MnC PS, 500 kDa for the serotype 4 PS, 850 kDa for the serotype 14 PS, 890 kDa for the serotype 6B PS, 900 kDa for the serotype 9V PS, and 940 kDa for the serotype 19F PS. The O-acetyl content of the MnC PS was 2.24 mol/mg, which is equivalent to approximately 0.7 O-acetyl groups per N-acetylneuraminic acid residue. The methods for the production and purification of anti-MnC PS MAbs Mn207-3 (immunoglobulin G1 [IgG1]), specific for O-acetylated epitopes of MnC PS, and Mn46-1 (IgG1), not specific for O-acetylated epitopes of MnC PS, were reported previously (16). Anti-Pn PS MAbs Pn31-1 (IgG1), Pn36-1 (IgG1), Pn45-1 (IgG1), and Pn42-1 (IgG2b), specific for serotype 4, 6B, 9V, and 14 capsular PSs, respectively, were produced in SJL mice immunized with a mixture of nine Pn PS-CRM 197 conjugates containing serotype 1,4,5, 6B, 9V,14, 18C, 19F,, specific for the serotype 19F PS, was produced in Swiss Webster mice immunized with the same nin...