IMMUNOGLOBULIN BINDING SPECIFICITIES OF THE HOMOLOGY REGIONS (DOMAINS) OF PROTEIN-A

Protein A binds immunoglobulins and it has two target structures, one in Fcgamma (C(H)) and the other in selected VH regions. The protein has five homology regions (domains), A, B, C, D, and E. Fc-binding and V(H)-binding have been reported to be non-competitive, suggesting that different domains are responsible for the binding of the two ligands. On the other hand, all five domains have been reported to bind Fc. I studied binding of different immunoglobulins by protein A or its domain B (rBB). The results show that separate domains bind V(H) and Fc. If all five domains are capable of binding Fc, the ones that bind V(H) have low affinity for Fc. Furthermore, the number of Fc-binding domains varies depending on the type of the IgG being bound. Human IgG1 or IgG2 or rabbit IgG (Fc) seem to be bound by several domains (possibly four), and domain B is one of them. Mouse IgG1 or IgG2b are bound by fewer domains not including B. Murine IgG2a is also bound by fewer domains but B is one of them.