Antibody could unlock treatment for lupus

Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia, have determined the shape of an antibody that could unlock treatments for the debilitating disease lupus.

"The old adage might be form follows function, but in the field of biochemistry, function follows form," said Jack Tanner, assistant professor of chemistry. "The shape of any molecule, whether it is a protein, an antibody or a strand of DNA, determines what that molecule does and how it does it."

"Knowing this, we have determined the shape of an antibody involved with lupus. This information could ultimately lead to a new generation of structure-based pharmaceuticals to treat the condition."

Although its exact cause is not known, lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease, or an illness that occurs when the body's tissues are attacked by its own immune system. Patients with lupus have unusual antibodies in their blood, and Tanner has teamed with Susan Deutscher, an associate professor of biochemistry, to study the structure of these antibodies, learn about the role they play, and understand how they react and interact with DNA.

To determine the antibody's shape, Tanner's research team used an established technology called X-ray crystallography. By bombarding a tiny, purified crystal of the antibody with X-rays, researchers calculated the exact shape of the antibody. Having this visual representation of the molecular 'lock' will allow researchers to explore potential pharmaceutical 'keys' that might combat the disease.