Xoma Corporation

Randolph Wall

Marc D Better

Randy R Robinson

Shau-Ping Lei

Gary L Wilcox

Alvin Y Liu

Arnold H Horwitz

Arnold H Horowitz

Modular assembly of antibody genes, antibodies prepared thereby and use

The invention is directed to the pectate lyase B secretion signal and its use to express operably linked sequences in bacterial hosts.

Pectate lyase signal sequence

The invention relates to cDNA genetic sequences, vehicles containing same as well as hosts transformed therewith, for the production of chimeric immunoglobulin molecules, functional fragments thereof and immunoglobulin derivatives exhibiting novel functional properties comprising human constant region modules and non-human variable region modules, or for class switching antibody molecules and/or chains. The invention also relates to DNA coding for pectate lyase signal peptide has been cloned on a plasmid to create a secretion vector which is capable of producing a chosen protein which is transported across the bacterial membrane. The secretion vector has been used to secrete extracellular thaumatin and extracellular chimeric antibody fragments. The proteins produced by this vector have biological activity. The thaumatin is properly folded and the antibody fragments are capable of binding antigens on target cancer cells. The invention also relates to the secretion of chimeric antibodies and fragments thereof from yeast in functional form.

The invention relates to the secretion of heavy chain immunoglobulin fragments and light chain immunoglobulins from prokaryotic hosts using a prokaryotic secretion signal peptide wherein the heavy chain fragments and light chains are capable of associating to form an antigen binding antibody fragment.

The invention relates to cDNA genetic sequences, vehicles containing same as well as hosts transformed therewith, for the production of chimeric immunoglobulin molecules, functional fragments thereof and immunoglobulin derivatives exhibiting novel functional properties comprising human constant region modules and non-human variable region modules, or for class switching antibody molecules and/or chains. The invention also relates to DNA coding for pectate lyase signal peptide has been cloned on a plasmid to create a secretion vector which is capable of producing a chosen protein which is transported across the bacterial membrane. The secretion vector has been used to secrete extracellular thaumatin and extracellular chimeric antibody fragments. The proteins produced by this vector have biological activity. The thaumatin is properly folded and the antibody fragments are capable-of binding antigens on target cancer cells. The invention also relates to the secretion of chimeric antibodies and fragments thereof from yeast in functional form.

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Sherman Oaks, CA, United States of America

Randolph Wall