Human Myeloma Immunoglobulins of the Fourth Subclass (IgG4 MAM) Contain a Fraction with Different Properties of C_H2 Domains

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V. M. Tischenko

Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Institutskaya 3, 142290 Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia; fax: (4967) 33-0553; E-mail: tischen@vega.protres.ru

Received March 31, 2014; Revision received September 2, 2014

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A long-lived metastable minor fraction has been detected and characterized in myeloma protein IgG4 MAM by hydro- and thermodynamic methods. The sedimentation constants of the minor and the major protein fractions are different. The stability of the two C_H2 domains in the minor fraction varies. The unique characteristics of these IgG4 MAM conformers arise from the fact that on exchange of the heavy chains between IgG4 molecules, in some of them only one noncanonical bond Cys226–Cys229 is formed in the central part of the “hinge region” instead of two canonical interchain disulfide bonds Cys226–Cys226 and Cys229–Cys229. This leads to asymmetric structure of the IgG4 MAM molecules.

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KEY WORDS: immunoglobulin IgG4, C_H2-domain, stability, carbohydrate moiety, disulfide bond

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297915010034

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