PME68 Antibody

MP68/p68: Protein Overview

MP68 (UniProt ID: P56378), also known as ATP5MJ or C14orf2, is a 58-amino-acid mitochondrial proteolipid involved in ATP synthase activity . The p68 antigen (68 kDa) is distinct, linked to autoimmune and cellular regulation pathways . Key characteristics include:

Antibody Development and Applications

Antibodies targeting MP68/p68 are primarily used in research and diagnostics. Examples include:

Autoimmunity in Rheumatoid Arthritis

• p68 is a glycoantigen in RA, with autoantibodies targeting N-acetylglucosamine-modified epitopes .

• Mechanism: Patient-derived anti-p68 antibodies fail to bind deglycosylated p68, implicating carbohydrate-dependent antigenicity .

• Clinical Relevance: p68 autoantibodies show high specificity for RA (vs. other autoimmune diseases) .

Cancer Immunotherapy

• The p68-derived peptide YLLPAIHVI, presented by HLA-A*0201, is a target for monoclonal antibody RL6A TCRm:

  • Function: Reduces tumor growth in orthotopic breast cancer models .

  • Validation: Expressed in primary breast tumors but not normal tissue .

T-Cell Regulation

• Anti-p68 monoclonal antibodies enhance T-lymphocyte proliferation in response to:

  • Suboptimal lectins (e.g., phytohemagglutinin) .

  • Phorbol esters or tetanus toxoid .

Future Directions

• RA Diagnostics: Developing anti-p68 assays for early RA detection .

• Cancer Therapy: Optimizing TCRm antibodies (e.g., RL6A) for clinical trials .

• Mitochondrial Studies: Clarifying MP68’s role in ATP synthase assembly .