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Construction, Bacterial Expression and Characterization of a Bifunctional Single–Chain Antibody–Phosphatase Fusion Protein Targeted to the Human ERBB–2 Receptor

Bio/Technology volume 10, pages 1128–1132 (1992)Cite this article

Abstract

We have constructed genes expressing single–chain antigen binding proteins (scFv) which recognize the human erbB–2 receptor. These genes encode the heavy and light chain variable domains of an erbB–2 receptor specific monoclonal antibody, MAb FRP5, connected by a peptide linker. In order to express a bifunctional molecule, a bacterial alkaline phosphatase gene was fused 3′ to the scFv gene. The scFv(FRP5) and scFv(FRP5)–alkaline phosphatase fusion protein (scFv(FRP5)–PhoA) expressed in E. coli specifically recognize the human erbB–2 protein and compete with MAb FRP5 for binding to the receptor. The bound scFv(FRP5)–PhoA protein can be detected directly on tumor cells using a substrate for alkaline phosphatase, showing that the chimeric protein retains both binding and enzymatic activity.

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  1. Winfried Wels: Corresponding author.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Friedrich Miescher Institute, P.O. Box 2543, CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland

    Winfried Wels, Ina-Maria Harwerth, Bernd Groner & Nancy E. Hynes

  2. Department of Molecular Biology, Biotechnology Section, CIBA-GEIGY AG, CH-4000, Basel, Switzerland

    Marcus Zwickl & Norman Hardman

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Wels, W., Harwerth, IM., Zwickl, M. et al. Construction, Bacterial Expression and Characterization of a Bifunctional Single–Chain Antibody–Phosphatase Fusion Protein Targeted to the Human ERBB–2 Receptor. Nat Biotechnol 10, 1128–1132 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1092-1128

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1092-1128

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