The Identification Of Discountinous Epitope In The Human Cystatin C - Monoclonal Antibody Hcc3 Complex

Human cystatin C (hCC) is a cysteine proteinase inhibitor involved in pathophysiological processes of dimerization and amyloid formation. These processes are directly associated with a number of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease or hereditary cystatin C amyloid angiopathy (HCCAA). One of the ideas on how to prevent amyloid formation is to use immunotherapy. HCC3 is one of a group of antibodies binding to hCC and reducing the in vitro formation of cystatin C dimers. Therefore, identification of the binding sites in the hCC-HCC3 complex may facilitate a search of effective drugs against HCCAA as well as understanding the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders.