Genentech, Inc.

City of Hope

Ronald B Wetzel

Herbert L Heyneker

Arthur D Riggs

William E Holmes

Shmuel Cabilly

The invention relates to processes for producing an immunoglobulin or an immunologically functional immunoglobulin fragment containing at least the variable domains of the immunoglobulin heavy and light chains. The processes can use one or more vectors which produce both the heavy and light chains or fragments thereof in a single cell. The invention also relates to the vectors used to produce the immunoglobulin or fragment, and to cells transformed with the vectors.

Methods of making antibody heavy and light chains having specificity for a desired antigen

Methods of producing immunoglobulins, vectors and transformed host cells for use therein

Altered and native immunoglobulins, including constant-variable region chimeras, are prepared in recombinant cell culture. The immunoglobulins contain variable regions which are immunologically capable of binding predetermined antigens. Methods are provided for refolding directly expressed immunoglobulins into immunologically active form.

Recombinant immunoglobin preparations

A heterologous expression product in host cells is separated from the host cell material by suspending the material in a buffered solution, disrupting the cells and separating the product as refractile material. The refractile material can be dissolved in a strongly denaturing solution, which is then weakened while keeping the protein in solution, thereby allowing unfolding and refolding of the protein.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Ronald B Wetzel