Is structural flexibility of antigen-binding loops involved in the affinity maturation of anti-DNA antibodies?

Effects of somatic mutations in Ig variable region genes on the affinity maturation of autoantibodies were investigated using single precursor B cell-derived anti-double-stranded DNA mAb generated from an autoimmune disease-prone (NZB x NZW)F1 mouse. Analyses of DNA sequences, homology modeling on a graphic computer and molecular dynamics simulation of antigen-binding sites showed that any single site of mutation and changes in the electrostatic or hydrogen-bonding potential of the residues and in the three-dimensional structure could not solely explain the difference in DNA-binding activities. However, a significant increase in the flexibility of antigen-binding Fv loops, particularly VL CDR1 and VH CDR3, was associated with affinity-maturated anti-DNA antibodies. Such high flexibility of the FV loops may provide the environment where the antibodies could effectively interact with antigen DNA, a model consistent with the 'induced-fit' hypothesis of antigen-antibody interactions.