Why human anti-Galα1–4Galβ1–4Glc natural antibodies do not recognize the trisaccharide on erythrocyte membrane? Molecular dynamics and immunochemical investigation

Abstract Background Human blood contains a big variety of natural antibodies, circulating throughout life at constant concentration. Previously, we have found natural antibodies capable of binding to trisaccharide Galα1-4Galβ1-4Glc (P k ) practically in all humans. Intriguingly, the same trisaccharide is a key fragment of glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3Cer) – normal component of erythrocyte and endothelial cell membrane, i.e. the antibodies and their cognate antigen coexist without any immunological reaction. Aim To explain the inertness of human anti-P k antibodies towards own cells. Materials and methods We used a combination of immunochemical and molecular dynamics (MD) experiments. Antibodies were isolated using affinity media with P k trisaccharide, their epitope specificity was characterized using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) with a set of synthetic glycans related to P k synthetic glycans and FACS (Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting) analysis of cells with inserted natural Gb3Cer and its synthetic analogue. Conformations and clustering of glycolipids immersed into a lipid bilayer were studied using MD simulations. Results Isolated specific antibodies were completely unable to bind natural Gb3Cer both inserted into cells and in artificial membrane, whereas strong interaction took place with synthetic analogue differing by the presence of a spacer between trisaccharide and lipid part. MD simulations revealed: i) although membrane-bound glycans do not form stable long-living aggregates, their transient packing is more compact in natural Gb3 as compared with the synthetic analog, ii) similar conformation of P k glycan in composition of the glycolipids, iii) no effect on the mentioned above results when cholesterol was inserted into membrane, and iv) better accessibility of the synthetic version for interaction with proteins. Conclusions Both immunochemical and molecular dynamics data argue that the reason of the “tolerance” of natural anti-P k antibodies towards cell-bound Gb3Cer is the spatial inaccessibility of P k glycotope for interaction. We can conclude that the antibodies are not related to the blood group P system.