Skip main navigation

Cookies Notification

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. By continuing to browse the site, you consent to the use of our cookies. Learn More
×

System Upgrade on Tue, May 28th, 2024 at 2am (EDT)

Existing users will be able to log into the site and access content. However, E-commerce and registration of new users may not be available for up to 12 hours.
For online purchase, please visit us again. Contact us at customercare@wspc.com for any enquiries.

SEARCH GUIDE  Download Search Tip PDF File

  • articleNo Access

    INTERACTION OF ANTIBODIES WITH AROMATIC LIGANDS: THE ROLE OF π-STACKING

    Antibodies are responsible for antigen recognition in vertebrate organisms. Practically any molecule can be bound by antibodies. In this work structures of 73 complexes of antibodies with small antigens were taken from PDB database and compared. The main epitope of studied ligands was an aromatic ring. Antibodies bound it with a deep cavity, lying between complementary determining regions (CDR) H3 and L3 and formed by aromatic residues. In most cases the aromatic ring of ligand was placed parallel to one or two aromatic sidechains of binding site at 3.5-4 Angstrom distance. This disposition of aromatic rings is a sign of the presence of π-stacking. It was found that small ligands with aromatics area percentage > 36% predominantly form π-stacking interaction with antibodies. Most often this interaction was observed for residues in positions H33, H95, L32 and L93.