Antibody 4C6 Fab fragment (4C6 Fab)

Antibody 4C6 is a well-characterized catalytic antibody, or abzyme, specifically engineered to catalyze the hydrolysis of cocaine. By mimicking the transition state of cocaine's benzoyl ester hydrolysis, the 4C6 Fab fragment facilitates the degradation of the drug into inactive metabolites, thereby potentially reducing its reinforcing effects and toxicity. It is a prominent example in structural biology and protein engineering, with its crystal structure (e.g., PDB 1NCW) providing insights into the mechanisms of antibody-mediated catalysis. Although it has been investigated as a therapeutic candidate for treating cocaine addiction and overdose, it is fundamentally a catalytic agent rather than a biological target or receptor. In research, it serves as a model for developing artificial enzymes and understanding the structural basis of high-affinity ligand binding and chemical transformation. Additionally, the clone name 4C6 is used for various other research antibodies targeting proteins like Tau and Prion Protein, but the '4C6 Fab fragment' specifically refers to the catalytic abzyme in most structural biology contexts.

Other names

Abzyme 4C6Catalytic antibody 4C6Anti-cocaine catalytic antibodyClone 4C6

Catalytic hydrolysis of cocaine into non-psychoactive metabolites, specifically ecgonine methyl ester and benzoic acid, by stabilizing the transition state of the benzoyl ester bond cleavage.