Abstract
A single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) of the humanised monoclonal antibody, hu3S193, that reacts specifically with Ley antigen expressed in numerous human epithelial carcinomas was constructed. A five-residue linker joined the C-terminus of the VH and the N-terminus of the VL, which prevented V-domain association into a monomeric scFv and instead directed non-covalent association of two scFvs into a dimer or diabody. The diabody was secreted into the E. coli periplasm using a heat-inducible vector, pPOW3, and recovered as a soluble, correctly processed protein, following osmotic shock or solubilised with 4M urea from the insoluble fraction. The diabody from both fractions was isolated by a rapid batch affinity chromatography procedure, using the FLAG affinity tag to minimise degradation and aggregation. The purified diabody has an Mr of ˜54 kDa, was stable and demonstrated similar binding activity as the parent monoclonal antibody, as measured by FACS and BIAcore analyses. The radiolabelled diabody showed a rapid tumour uptake, with fast blood clearance, proving it to be an excellent potential candidate as a tumour-imaging agent.
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Received: 16 November 2000 / Accepted: 8 March 2001
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Power, B., Caine, J., Burns, J. et al. Construction, expression and characterisation of a single-chain diabody derived from a humanised anti-Lewis Y cancer targeting antibody using a heat-inducible bacterial secretion vector. Cancer Immunol Immunother 50, 241–250 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002620100192
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002620100192