Binding dynamics in biological systems. Interaction of MOPC-315 with 19F labelled nitrophenyl haptens

We have studied the dynamics of binding of ¹⁹F labelled haptens by mouse plasmacytoma antibody MOPC-315, a protein which shows specificity for nitrophenyl haptens. The off-rates for the dissociation of hapten from MOPC-315 proteins (7S, Fab′ and Fv) were determined by the application of several methods including a technique which, in certain cases, allows the direct determination of the rate of exchange of nuclei between magnetically non-equivalent sites without requiring prior knowledge of intrinsic line widths. Used in conjunction with independently determined data on line widths, chemical shifts, and binding affinities, these studies show that the rates for hapten association to, or dissociation from, the intact 7S antibody, the Fab′ fragment, and the Fv fragment of MOPC-315 are essentially the same. They also indicate the presence, probably in the Fv region, of a low affinity (K～ 10³ M^?1) site(s) for hapten binding. The mobility of the hapten combining site decreases as the size of the protein increases. These rate data, which were determined at relatively high protein concentrations (up to 40 mg ml^?1), agree with on-rates determined at much lower protein concentrations (≤1 mg ml^?1); we therefore conclude that protein aggregation, if it does occur, does not significantly affect binding in these systems.