Exploring Antibody Sequencing Tech: Insights into Immune Response

Antibody sequencing mainly analyzes the amino acid sequence of antibodies, including the precise determination of the variable (V) region and constant (C) region. The variable region is usually the focus of study because it contains the complementarity-determining region (CDR) where the antibody binds specifically to the antigen. This information helps to deepen the understanding of the immune response and how antibodies perform their functions by specifically recognizing and binding to antigens.

 

Antibodies are a key component of the immune system, responsible for recognizing and neutralizing external invaders such as viruses and bacteria. Each antibody is specific, meaning it can only recognize and bind to a specific antigen. Understanding the precise sequence of an antibody can help researchers design more effective vaccines or treatment methods.

 

How Is Antibody Sequencing Carried Out?

1. Mass Spectrometry-Based Methods

(1) Peptide Mapping: In this method, the antibody is first enzymatically digested (usually with trypsin), and then the resulting peptides are analyzed using mass spectrometry.

(2) Tandem Mass Spectrometry: MS/MS is used to obtain more detailed information about the peptides, such as the m/z ratio of the fragments, to further assist in sequence analysis.

 

2. Molecular Biology Methods

(1) cDNA Sequencing: First, mRNA is reverse transcribed into cDNA, then the sequence of the antibody gene is obtained through PCR amplification and subsequent DNA sequencing.

(2) High-Throughput Sequencing: This is used for simultaneous analysis of the diversity and abundance of a large number of antibody clones.

 

3. Synthetic Biology-Based Methods

Antibody Library Construction and Sequencing: A large-scale antibody library is constructed using synthetic fragments of the antibody gene, then its diversity is understood through high-throughput sequencing.

 

Application

1. Vaccine Research and Development

The antibody sequence obtained by sequencing can help researchers understand the immune response and provide more effective vaccine design ideas.

 

2. Research on Immune Diseases

Sequencing can reveal the characteristics of the antibodies that cause autoimmune diseases.

 

3. Development of Biopharmaceuticals

It can be used for the development of antibody drugs targeting specific targets.