Inventors:
Randy Robinson - Los Angeles CA, US
Alvin Liu - Oceanside CA, US
Arnold Horwitz - Los Angeles CA, US
Marc Better - Los Angeles CA, US
Randolph Wall - Sherman Oaks CA, US
Gary Wilcox - Malibu CA, US
International Classification:
C12P021/02, C07H021/04, C12N005/06, C07K016/40
US Classification:
435/069100, 435/320100, 530/388260, 435/338000, 536/023530
Abstract:
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.