Prokaryotically produced antibodies and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and compositions for improved expression and production of recombinant antibodies in prokaryotic expression systems. Particularly contemplated are prokaryotic expression and production of full length aglycosylated antibodies. The antibody products of the invention can be used in various aspects of biological research, diagnosis and medical treatment.

1 . A polynucleotide molecule encoding an immunoglobulin, said polynucleotide molecule comprising (1) a first promoter and a first cistron forming a first promoter-cistron pair and (2) a second promoter and a second cistron forming a second promoter-cistron pair, wherein the first cistron of said first promoter-cistron pair comprises a first translational initiation region (TIR-L) operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding an immunoglobulin light chain and the second cistron of said second promoter-cistron pair comprises a second translational initiation region (TIR-H) operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding an immunoglobulin heavy chain, wherein upon expression of said polynucleotide in a prokaryotic host cell, the light and heavy chains are folded and assembled to form a biologically active immunoglobulin.  
     
     
         2 . The polynucleotide molecule of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second promoters are prokaryotic promoters selected from the group consisting of phoA, tac, lpp, lac-lpp, lac, ara, trp, trc and T7 promoters.  
     
     
         3 . The polynucleotide molecule of  claim 2 , wherein both promoters are PhoA promoters.  
     
     
         4 . The polynucleotide molecule of  claim 1 , wherein each of the TIR-L and TIR-H comprises a prokaryotic secretion signal sequence or variant thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The polynucleotide molecule of  claim 4 , wherein the prokaryotic secretion signal sequence is selected from the group consisting of STII, OmpA, PhoE, LamB, MBP and PhoA secretion signal sequences.  
     
     
         6 . The polynucleotide molecule of  claim 1 , wherein the TIR-L and TIR-H provide approximately equal translational strengths.  
     
     
         7 . The polynucleotide molecule of  claim 6 , wherein the relative translational strength combination is about (1-TIR-L, 1-TIR-H).  
     
     
         8 . A recombinant vector for expressing an immunoglobulin in a prokaryotic host cell, said vector comprising the polynucleotide molecule of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         9 . A prokaryotic host cell comprising the recombinant vector of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         10 . The prokaryotic host cell of  claim 9  which is a gram-negative bacterial cell.  
     
     
         11 . The host cell of  claim 10  which is  E. coli.    
     
     
         12 . The host cell of  claim 11 , further comprising a polynucleotide encoding at least one prokaryotic polypeptide selected from the group consisting of DsbA, DsbC, DsbG and FkpA.  
     
     
         13 . The host cell of  claim 12 , wherein the polynucleotide encodes both DsbA and DsbC.  
     
     
         14 . The host cell of  claim 11 , wherein the  E. coli  is of a strain deficient in endogenous protease activities.  
     
     
         15 . The host cell of  claim 14 , wherein the genotype of the  E. coli  strain lacks degP and prc genes and harbors a mutant spr gene.  
     
     
         16 . A process for producing a biologically active immunoglobulin in a prokaryotic host cell, said process comprising expressing in the host cell a polynucleotide comprising (1) a first promoter and a first cistron forming a first promoter-cistron pair and (2) a second promoter and a second cistron forming a second promoter-cistron pair, wherein the first cistron of said first promoter-cistron pair comprises a first translational initiation region (TIR-L) operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding an immunoglobulin light chain and the second cistron of said second promoter-cistron pair comprises a second translational initiation region (TIR-H) operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding an immunoglobulin heavy chain, wherein upon expression of said polynucleotide, said light chain and heavy chain are folded and assembled to form a biologically active immunoglobulin; and recovering said immunoglobulin.  
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the first and the second promoters are prokaryotic promoters selected from the group consisting of phoA, tac, lpp, lac-lpp, lac, ara, trp, tre and T7 promoters.  
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein both the first and the second promoters are PhoA promoters.  
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein each of the TIR-L and TIR-H comprises a prokaryotic secretion signal sequence or variant thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 19 , wherein the prokaryotic secretion signal sequence is selected from the group consisting of STII, OmpA, PhoE, LamB, MBP and PhoA secretion signal sequences.  
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the TIR-L and TIR-H provide approximately equal translational strengths.  
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 21 , wherein the relative translational strength combination is about (1-TIR-L, 1-TIR-H).  
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the prokaryotic host cell is  E. coli.    
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 16 , further comprising expressing in the prokaryotic host cell a polynucleotide encoding at least one prokaryotic polypeptide selected from the group consisting of DsbA, DsbC, DsbG and FkpA.  
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 24 , wherein the polynucleotide encodes both DsbA and DsbC.  
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 23 , wherein the  E. coli  is of a strain deficient in endogenous protease activities.  
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 26 , wherein the genotype of the  E. coli  lacks degP and prc genes and harbors a mutant spr gene.  
     
     
         28 . An aglycosylated full length antibody produced by a process according to  claim 16 .  
     
     
         29 - 30 . (canceled)  
     
     
         31 . The aglycosylated full length antibody of  claim 28 , wherein the antibody is humanized.  
     
     
         32 . The aglycosylated full length antibody of  claim 28 , which is a human antibody.  
     
     
         33 . An immunoconjugate comprising the aglycosylated fill length antibody of  claim 28  conjugated with a cytotoxic agent.  
     
     
         34 . The immunoconjugate of  claim 33 , wherein the cytotoxic agent is selected from the group consisting of a radioactive isotope, a chemotherapeutic agent and a toxin.  
     
     
         35 . The immunoconjugate of  claim 34 , wherein the toxin is selected from the group consisting of calichemicin, maytansine and trichothene.  
     
     
         36 . A composition comprising the aglycosylated full length antibody of  claim 28  and a carrier.  
     
     
         37 . (canceled)  
     
     
         38 . A composition comprising the immunoconjugate of  claim 33  and a carrier.  
     
     
         39 - 41 . (canceled)