PDBsum entry: 1a8j

Immunoglobulin

PDB id: 1a8j

Contents

Protein chains

216 a.a. *

Ligands

PME ×2

* Residue conservation analysis

PDB id:

1a8j

Name:

Immunoglobulin

Title:

Immunoglobulin lambda light chain dimer (mcg) complex with aspartame

Structure:

Immunoglobulin lambda light chain dimer (mcg). Chain: l, h. Other_details: light chain dimer with aspartame

Source:

Homo sapiens. Human. Organism_taxid: 9606. Other_details: found in the urine of patient mcg with a multiple myeloma and amyloidosis

Biol. unit:

Dimer (from PDB file)

Resolution:

2.70Å R-factor: 0.220 R-free: 0.380

Authors:

A.B.Edmundson,C.V.Manion

Key ref:

A.B.Edmundson and C.V.Manion (1998). Treatment of osteoarthritis with aspartame. Clin Pharmacol Ther, 63, 580-593. PubMed id: 9630831

Date:

26-Mar-98 Release date: 17-Jun-98

Protein chains

P01709  (LV206_HUMAN) -  Ig lambda chain V-II region MGC

Seq: 111 a.a.

Struc: 216 a.a.*

* PDB and UniProt seqs differ at 1 residue position (black cross)

 Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation 

• Cellular component: extracellular region (1 term)
• Biological process: immune response (1 term)
• Biochemical function: antigen binding (1 term)

Clin Pharmacol Ther 63:580-593 (1998)

PubMed id: 9630831

Treatment of osteoarthritis with aspartame.

A.B.Edmundson, C.V.Manion.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The binding of sweet-tasting compounds in a human (Mcg) Bence-Jones dimer has been characterized by x-ray crystallography. Aspartame binding in this immunoglobulin fragment is remarkable. Unexpected pain relief noted by A.B.E., a crystallographer with diagnosed osteoarthritis, suggested that the accommodation of aspartame in the active site of the dimer may represent surrogate binding by other proteins, with analgesia as the outcome. METHODS: X-ray analysis of the complex of aspartame and the Bence-Jones dimer was conducted with crystalline Mcg protein and pure aspartame. A single-blind (n = 1) study to confirm analgesia was completed by administration of aspartame to A.B.E. A controlled double-blind trial was performed in patients with x-ray-documented osteoarthritis. Pain and performance changes were evaluated with use of two doses of placebo and two doses of aspartame. Effects on bleeding time were then evaluated by determination of template bleeding times in 34 normal volunteers. Finally, antipyretic effects were studied in Sprague-Dawley rats given intramuscular turpentine injections. RESULTS: Aspartame binding in the Bence-Jones dimer was verified by x-ray crystallography. Improvements in performance and pain relief were observed in A.B.E. at p < 0.001. Decreased pain and improved performance were also observed in patients with osteoarthritis (p < 0.001). Mild antihemostatic responses were observed in bleeding times after aspartame treatment. Modified template bleeding times increased at p < 0.01. Aspartame blocked the turpentine-mediated febrile responses in the treated rats (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: L-Aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester is biologically active and appears to relieve pain, induce mild antithrombotic effects in humans, and decrease fever in animals.