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. 1995 May 23;92(11):5214–5218. doi: 10.1073/pnas.92.11.5214

Transplantation of a 17-amino acid alpha-helical DNA-binding domain into an antibody molecule confers sequence-dependent DNA recognition.

K E McLane 1, D R Burton 1, P Ghazal 1
PMCID: PMC41879  PMID: 7761476

Abstract

Recombinant antibodies capable of sequence-specific interactions with nucleic acids represent a class of DNA- and RNA-binding proteins with potential for broad application in basic research and medicine. We describe the rational design of a DNA-binding antibody, Fab-Ebox, by replacing a variable segment of the immunoglobulin heavy chain with a 17-amino acid domain derived from TFEB, a class B basic helix-loop-helix protein. DNA-binding activity was studied by electrophoretic mobility-shift assays in which Fab-Ebox was shown to form a specific complex with DNA containing the TFEB recognition motif (CACGTG). Similarities were found in the abilities of TFEB and Fab-Ebox to discriminate between oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing altered recognition sequences. Comparable interference of binding by methylation of cytosine residues indicated that Fab-Ebox and TFEB both contact DNA through interactions along the major groove of double-stranded DNA. The results of this study indicate that DNA-binding antibodies of high specificity can be developed by using the modular nature of both immunoglobulins and transcription factors.

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