New Delhi [India], August 25 (ANI): In a significant scientific development, researchers have discovered that Immunoglobulin M (IgM), the largest antibody in the human body, not only defends against bacterial toxins but also enhances the mechanical stability of proteins.
According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, this newly identified property of IgM changes the existing understanding of antibodies from being mere chemical keys that fit into microbial locks to functioning as mechanical engineers. The discovery suggests that antibodies can alter the physical properties of molecules to protect the human body, potentially inspiring new therapies by designing antibodies that mechanically stiffen dangerous proteins and disarm them.
“Our immune system is armed with many types of antibodies, each with unique roles. Among them, IgM is the largest and one of the first antibodies our body produces when fighting infections,” the ministry stated.
The findings emerged from a study conducted by researchers at the SN Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The study revealed that IgM not only binds to pathogens but can also mechanically stabilize bacterial toxins, preventing them from harming cells.
The research focused on Protein L, a molecule from the bacterium Finegoldia magna. Protein L is considered a “superantigen” because it binds antibodies in unusual ways, potentially disrupting normal immune function. What made this study remarkable was the use of single-molecule force spectroscopy — a cutting-edge technique that applies precise, tiny forces to individual molecules to observe how they behave under stress.
The scientists discovered that when IgM binds to Protein L, it significantly increases the protein’s mechanical stability. “In simple terms, IgM acts like a brace, making it harder for the protein to unfold or break apart under force. This effect was concentration-dependent — higher amounts of IgM gave Protein L greater resistance to mechanical stress,” the study noted.
To explain this effect, the researchers observed that IgM’s multiple binding sites can attach to Protein L at several points, creating a synergistic stabilizing influence. The findings underscore an underappreciated role of antibodies — not just as chemical binders but also as mechanical modulators in the body’s fight against disease.
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