Abstract
Antibody modeling is an interesting option to gain structure–function insights and to allow rational engineering of these molecules in the absence of experimental data. Among a diversity of algorithms, software packages, and specialized Web servers, the protocol described here presents the following main features: (1) nonautomatic modeling process guided by direct application of antibody modeling principles; (2) local generation of molecular models using free software which can be used in most common operational systems; and (3) the resulting model quality is comparable to models generated by Web servers which represent the current standard of antibody modeling. Briefly, hybrid models of heavy- and light-chain variable domains are separately built by grafting segments from homologous templates (framework regions and complementarity-determining regions). Next, hybrid models are mutated to comply with the target’s sequence and associated by fitting into a template structure that closely matches the predicted packing angle for the target variable domains. After a few cycles of energy minimization the model can be submitted to CDR-H3 optimization or its quality can be directly assessed.
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- VD:
-
Variable domain
- FR:
-
Framework region
- CDR:
-
Complementarity-determining region
- HV:
-
Antibody heavy-chain variable domain
- LV:
-
Antibody light-chain variable domain
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Ramos, O.H.P. (2012). Computer-Assisted Modeling of Antibody Variable Domains. In: Chames, P. (eds) Antibody Engineering. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 907. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-974-7_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-974-7_2
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Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
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