Biographical Memoirs Volume 83 (2003) / Chapter Skim
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Alfred Nisonoff
Alfred Nisonoff
Pages 160-175
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From page 161... ...
In aciclition to funciamental work that helpecl to define the nature of antibodies en cl the genes encocling them, he was an astute critic with penetrating analytical skills. His monograph The Antibody Molecule stancis as the clefinitive reference work on the subject to 1975, the time of its publication.
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From page 162... ...
New Haven: Yale University Press, 1985~. Although Al was assigned to a fairly routine task, testing various latex compounds for their ability to adhere to the nylon coral required to strengthen airplane tires, he soon macle a critical observation that changecl the procluction of these tires so important for the war effort.
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out an extensive series of experiments exploring the specificity of antibodies clirectecl against haptenic determinants. These studies introclucecl the technique of quantitative hapten inhibition, an important extension of the experimental approach pioneered by Karl Lancisteiner.
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out, the experiment lecl to an even more interesting conclusion. Disulficle bond cleavage is not required to produce the active univalent antibody fragments after papain cleavage, but it is required to produce univalent fragments after limitecl digestion with pepsin.
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From page 165... ...
The next logical step, taken by Nisonoff just as he was moving from Roswell Park to a position as associate professor of microbiology at the University of Illinois, Urbana, was to show that the univalent Fab' fragments generated by successive pepsin digestion and reduction could be recombined into the bivalent F(ab') 2 fragment by oxiciation, allowing the creation of bivalent antibodies of mixecl specificity.
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From page 166... ...
in obtaining crystals of Fab fragments clerivecl from human IgG myeloma proteins. Preliminary structural work was carried out in colIaboration with Roberto Poijak's group, later more detailed studies carried out by PoIjak en cl others lecl to a cletailecl unclerstancling of the structure of the Fab fragment, inclucling localization of the active site, the basic features of the Ig foIcI, en cl the orientation of V en cl C domains.
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genes encocling antibody V regions proviclecl means for tracking clonal lines of B-lymphocytes. In the 1960s evidence began to accumulate indicating that a single germline gene conic!
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a clefinitive summary of the protein phase of molecular immunology en cl set the stage for the genetic era that was soon to follow. A clecacle later Nisonoff wrote an introductory text of molecular immunology that showocl not only his superb command of the subject but also his skill in presenting complex material.
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From page 169... ...
provicle an unambiguous answer to a meaningful question. Nisonoff's characteristic modesty is epitomized in the format of his curriculum vitae in which his honors are buried in a section captioned "Other Data." He received the Mecial of the Pasteur Institute in 1971, was a foreign corresponclent of the Beigian Academy of Medicine in 1977, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts en cl Sciences in 1982, en cl became a member of the National Academy of Science in 1984.
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After retirement from Brancleis he coached kicis in math en cl recent immigrants in English, and he was planning to take a course on teaching English as a seconc! language.
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critical insights into the molecular nature of the antibody molecule en cl the genetic basis for antibody diversity. He approached important bioTogical questions with the rigor of the chemist.
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Separation of univalent fragments from the bivalent rabbit antibody molecule by reduction of disulfide bonds.
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Crystallization of fragment Fab of human IgG myeloma proteins. Biochem.
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VI. Idiotypic specificity as a potential genetic marker for the variable regions of mouse immunoglobulin polypeptide chains.
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From page 175... ...
Sunderland, Mass.: Sinauer Associates. 1991 American Association of Immunologists Presidential Address.
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