CA2183564C - Methods for altering fertility - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for enhancing fertility by reducing the activities and/or levels of circulating glycoprotein hormones having lutropin (LH) activity. The molecules of the invention are antibodies or other binding agents that reduce the biological activities of LH. The present invention also relates to novel methods for devising and/or selecting antibodies to specific portions of proteins including LH and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to permit their biological activities to be reduced to desired degrees. The present invention also relates to the preparation of single subunit gonadotropins and gonadotropin antagonists for use in stimulating and inhibiting fertility and for controlling ovarian hyperstimulation. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention pertains to a method for stimulating fertility in mammals by reducing the activity of glycoprotein hormones having luteinizing hormone activity in circulation and thereby stimulating the production of follicle stimulating hormone which comprises administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a binding agent that binds luteinizing hormone.

Description

Z ~ ' ~ woss/22340 2 ~ 8 3 ~ 6 ~

METEIODS FOR ALTERING FERTILIl~

R~Tr~.ROuND OF T~lE INVENTION
Field of the Invention Tbe present inverltion relates to metbods for enhancing fertility by reducing the activities and/or levels of circulating ~ ,uyl~ hormones having lutropin (~I) activity. Tbe molecules of tbe invention are antibodies or other 20 binding agents that reduce the biological activities of LH. The present invention also relates to novel methods for devising and/or selecting antibodies to specific portions of proteins including LH and hurnan chorionic ., ~l (hCG) to permit tbeir biological activities to be reduced to desired degrees. The presentinvention furtber relates to novel ~ u~lu~il~ hormone agonists and antagonists 25 that reduce the activities of hormones witb LH activities and/or increase the activities of hormones witb follitropin activity.
of the IL.~L.~ ' 3 o Tbe disclosures referred to herein to illustrate the ~., ' of the invention and to provide additional detail with respect to its practice are i~u.r ' herein by reference and, for ~. , are numerically referenced in tbe following text and ~,.,.,L~ grouped in the appended ' - " , ~.
The ~ hor~none family (I) consists of three cY,B
h~lu~h~ g'~.u~ found in tbe anterior pituitary gland where they are made. The ~ ,u~l~ hormones are luteinizing hormone (also known as lutropin or I~I), follicle ! " " hormone (follitropin or FSH), and thyroid stimulating hormone (also known as ll~.uLI~, or TSH). The hormones from humans are SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26~

WO 95112340 2 ~ 8~ ~ 6 4 ~.,., ~7

- 2, r known as hLH, hFSH, and hTSH, 1CD~ Y. In some species, a ol~.o~
hormone DUU~L~LaII~ similar to LH called chorionic i ~ r or CG, is made by the placenta and released into the ~ ' In h=, this ol~YI
hormone is termed hCG. In primates, siOnificant quantities of all the hormones are 5 also found as excretion products m urine. After mPn~.lcP, when the secretion of LH and FSH from the anterior pituitary is greatly increased, siO~ificamt quamtities of LH and FSH are found in the urine. ~ ' , extracts of urine from ' women are termed hum~m r ~ JIJ~ (hMG). Unlike hCG, which interacts like LH with LH receptors but only weakly with FSH
10 receptors, hMG mteracts with both LH and FSH receptors. The dual activity of hMG is due to the presence of hLH, hFSH, and their ~ ' in the urinary extract. Urines from pregnant and , ' vomen are major sources of i~ ' 1, activities and have import~mt ' uses.
Gu~ut-~, such as FSH, LH, and, in some species, CG play a major role m the IC,~lVdU~ . process (1-6), while the ! ' ' ~.~ related hormone,TSH, is irnport~mt for thyroid function (1). Both LH and FSH are essential for puberty and normal IC, ' ~, function. Lack of sufficient FSH, LH, or hCG at "~'I"'. times results in infertility or of pregnancy. Excessive 20 amounts of these hormones can result in premature puberty or h~ ' of the gonads. In the male, FSH is essential for the onset and of ~7,8). T ~ of FSH leads to a dirninution in D~ , ' and a loss in fertility. In the female, FSH is essential for follicular d~.~,lv~..A,ut leading to the production of the female gamete at ovvlation.
25 Polycystic ovarian disease is a common cause of infertility in women and is acondition . I. .,.. ~..;,.,l by mcomplete follicular d~,.. ', Fertility can usually be restored by ' of FSH or hMG. Fertility can also often be restored by trc-atments with U~,_UD, , ' tbat inhibit the negative feedback effect of estrogens on FSH secretion thereby vllowinO FSH levels to rise. In males, 30 LH is rcquired for puberty and, in its absence, there is a failure to acquire the sexual attributes and fertility of an adult. LH is primarily .c~ for the synrhesis of androgens m the testis. These steroids have a beneficial influence on DL)~ ' O and a' "~ ~igh levels of androgens can maintam ~, once it has been initiated (9). In females, LH is esserltial for 35 ovulation and for-m-ation of the corpus luteum. LH also has a synergistic influence with FSH on follicle ~.lul,ll.~,ul (4) and is well-known to promote the synthesis of follicular androgens. These androgens serve as precursors for FSH-stimulated estrogen formation. LH may also augment the effect of FSH on granulosa cells, L~ in the later stages of follicle maturation when the granulosa cells have SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) wo 95122340 2 i 8 3 ~ 6 ~

- 3 --acquired LH receptors. hCG made by the L~ ' is important for of pll O: secretion from the corpus luteum during early hulnan pregnancy.
The clinical activities of theæ hormones and their uses are reviewed ~A~I...;V~I~ im several standard textboo~As including that by Yen and Jaffe (2).
The differences in the effects of FSH and LH and the compleA
endocrine ~ between the two hormones cause them to have synergistic actions on follicular d~,~.,lu~. and estradiol synthesis (4). For eAample, normal ovarian estrogen production is due to the effect of LH on androgen for~nation and lû the influence of FSH on the conversion of androgens to estradiol. In turn, estradiol cam suppress FSH secretion from the pituitary gland. During the normal menstrualcycle, FSH levels decline as the follicle enlarges amd secretes increasimg amounts of estradiol. When estradiol levels reach a sufficient amount during the follicu!arphase, tbey can trigger an increase in LH secretion from the pituitary glana that 15 causes ovulation. The ratio of LH/FSH activity as well as the absolute hormone levels im blood are important for I~llU~ . functions such as follicle maturationand ovulation of the proper number of oocytes durmg the menstrual and estlus cycles.
2 û While the secretion of both LH and FSH can be inhibited by steroid hormones, the secretion of FSH is usuaUy more sensitive than that of LH to negative feedback regulation by estrogens. Indeed, m many species, high levels of estrogens can increase the secretion of LH, ~ uLul.~ if ~ ,~ levels are low. ,A.' of ~ O . , ' that disrupt the rmal negative feedback regulation of estradiol on FSH secretion, often leads to increased FSH
release and increased gamete ~ ' Clinically, ~L~ .v are widely used to increase the probability of ovulation in women having polycystic ovarian disease.
" since the negative effects of estradiol on FSH secretion are par~y l~r '~ for controlling the mDnber of follicles that develop to the point of 3 o ovalation, disruption of the normal estrogen-FSH negative feedback loop can result im ,, ~ . numbers of ova being shed. A ' that results in increased FSH secretion without ' ~ the negative feedback control of FSH secretion would have a valuable use in increasing fertility.
3 s Purified FSH is capable of stimulatmg follicle ~ ~. ', in women, ~ when some ~ - LH is also present. The ratio of FSH/LH is highest at the time of the menstrual cycle when follicular .1~. 't, is initiated. However, both hormones are essential for fertility.
T '- - of LH leads to infertility im males and females (10-12).
SUBSTITUTE SHEET ~RULE 26) WO 95122140 ~ 2 ~ 8 ~ ~ fi 4 - : P~ '7 Likewise ' ' of CG,. ~hormone which acts via LH receptors was shown to block fertility m primates (13-16). Antibodies to LH have not been shown previously to stimulate fertility.
r' ' ' antibodies to hCG (termed hCG-mAb) have been shown to inhibit the bindmg of hCG to its receptor in vitro (17). Depending on the location of their epitopes, hCG-mAbs have differing abilities to inhibit binding of hCG to LH receptors. B105 and BllO are examples of ' ' antibodies that recognize epitopes on hCG and LH that remain exposed when the hormones bmd to LH receptors (17). Complexes of the hormones with these ' l antibodies bmd to LH receptors, albeit with lower affmity than the free hormones.
,, these antibodies inhibit binding of the hormones to LH receptors.
However, the maximal degree of irlhibition observed in the preænce of exoess antibody is less than 100% a~d lower than that of antibodies which form complexes with the hormones that do not bind to LH receptors. ~n the presence of sufficient B105 or BllO, the amoumt of hormone needed to irlduce a biological response is increased. Thus, even a massive excess of either antibody sufflcient to bind virtually all the free hCG or LH m the assay is incapable of preventing a response to either hormone when the . of the l - ' ~ complexes 2 o exceed a threshold level.
As discussed earlier, " of LH was shown several years ago to prevent fertiliy. This l' occurs because the antisera that were used in these studies neutralized the biological activity of L~l. However, when ~ antisera or antibodies li~e B105 or B110 are used, the biological activiy of LH is not eliminated. Rather it is reduced by a l ' ' amount.
When this happens, androgen synthesis is reduced. Since androgens are precursorsof estrogens, estrogen synthesis is also reduced. The declme in estradiol has a larger impact on FSH secretion than on LH secretion. The secretion of FSH will be enh~mced and this will lead to am increased ratio of FSH/LH and er~banced follicular d~v~ I In females, this ratio of FSH/LH will lead to increased follicle d~ L. In males, this ratio of FSH/LH will lead to increased Sertoli cell function and increased . ~, An approach to increasing fertility that is based on reducing LH
levds has not been used previously. In part, this is due to the many reports that antibodies to LH inbibit fer~lity and because methods for rnaking and selecting antibodies that reduce but do not neutralize LH activity were previously unknown.
Thus, one would not expect that tbis approach to fertility would be successful. As SUBSTITUTE SH EET (RULE 26) ~ W0 9511~3~0 2 ~ 8 3 S 6 4 ~ ~"~ , will be discussed later, this approach to increasir~ fertility has several advantages relative to current ' , principly in women who make and release LH and FSH from their pituitary glands. Since reducing LH levels does not disrupt the normal endocrine feedback ' , between estradiol and FSH on pituitary 5 function, it has a much less likely chance to induce ovarian L~ ' than existing i ' , This means that there will be less need for expensive and demanding patient ~ In addition, only one or at most a few treatments will be required to induce fertility.
Another novel method for increasing fer~lity is to employ an LH
antagonist during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. For several years it is known that the ~ chains on the ~I~w~ . hormones are essential for their abilities to elicit signal i ' (l). (~l~, . hormones lacking ,h.~.' residues have impai~ed abilities to elicit a biological response. These 15 analogs can be used to block binding of LH to its receptors. This will reduce the activity of circulatiog LH and thereby improve fertility. D~l),~
, ' , .- have been found to have short biological half-lives and were found not to be useful for their original irltended use, namely to r~hibit fertility by reducing luteal ~ t~., syrlthesis and causing abortion. By moving the 2 o ~buhJ .' residues to alternate portions of the hormone by removing o~' signals (i.e., the amino acid sequences Asparagine-X-Threonine or Asparagine-X-Serine, where X is any amino acid e~;cept Proline) from one site and by creating ~ w~l~liul~ signals at alternate sites of the ~- and B-subunits, it is possible to design analogs with reduced agonist activity that have ~ '~ long 25 half-lives to be useful. In addition, by preparing single chain ~ ' ,, in which the c.- and B-subunits are covalently linked, it is possible to increase the stability of the hormones in ~ ' This is because the receptor binding activities and the plasma half-lives of the L~ ,, are greater than either of the subunits. Covalent linkage prevents the ~ - of the two 3 0 subunits in :
While of fertility is important to restore fertility to infertile couples, irlhibition of fertility is often desirable as a method of family plarning. In addition, inhibition of fertility would be useful in the -35 production of livestock since it would eliminate the need for castration or it wouldpreverlt the ~, ', of heat in cattle held in the feedlot. Inhibition of fertility in other animals including dogs and cats would also be desirable as a r'~ ' for spaying or castrating them. Inhibition of fertility in horses would also be preferable to gelding, ~ , if it can be reversed. As no~ed above, fertility SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) ~ t. g ~ ~ ~ 4. ~
wo ssn2340 ~ 1/1 J
-6- _ can be iDhibited by _ of ~ antibodies to LH or FSH. It can also be ir,hibited by UsiDg a vaccine to induce the formation of these antibodies.
Due to the action of hCG in ,, pregr~ncy, treatments tbat lead to dimirlished hCG secretion or activity would also be expected to cause infertility. In 5 women, it would be more desirable to iDbibit fertility by irlhibiting hCG rather than hLH or hFSH. This is because treatments tbat neutralized hLH or ~FSH would cause cessation of ovarian function and hasten the orlset of p}oblems associated with In cattle and other domestic arlimals, it would be more important to inbibit LH to prevent puberty or to disrupt heat. As noted earlier, a~
10 antibodies to chorionic ~, I ,, are able to irlbibit fertility in primates and women and the v~lu~ t of antibodies to hCG has been recogluzed to be an important poterltial method of , for many years (18). Since hCG is produced by a large rlumber of lluman cancers and since antibodies to hCG can disrupt these tumors, would also have a beneficial impact on car~cer 15 therapy or prevention (19).

Several attempts have been made to devise such an hCG-based , ~, vaccine taking into accoumt the differences between hCG and the other ol~,~,u~ hormones (14,18). ~ , ', of the vaccine 20 has been hampered by the structural I O between all the ~l~w~lu~h.
hormones. The preferred O must be highly antigenic yet not iDduce antibodies that crossreact with the other O~,u~.~ such as huDlan FSH, LH, or TSH. Based on the knowledge of ol~.,vl,lut~,~ hormone activities outlined above, a vaccine that induced antibodies tbat interacted with LH, FSH, or TSH would also 25 cause infertility and/or iDhibition of thyroid fimction. U r of LH or FSH would also result m cessation of normal menstrual cycles and the loss of estrogen production that is associated with fertility in women. Termination of ovarian function would be likely to result in premature d~ . of u~;~ and other problems associated with , Inbibition of thyroid 30 function would lead to h.~JUII~ - ' in the structures of hCG and hLH have made it I ' ~, difficult to design an a~ , " that does not generate ~,lu~ ,a~LillO antibodies. Most efforts have been devoted to making antibodies against the unique C-terminus of the hCG B-subuDit siDce tbis portion of the molecule is not found in hLH (1). However, tbis region is not very 35 antigenic. Effûrts to devise ~ have also employed peptides obtained from the B-subunit (14), conjugates of the l~-subunit with other proteins (20), or ll~t~ludi~ contaiDing hCG ~-subunits !, ,, , and ovine cY-subuDits (18).
U r ' ' ~ most of these O are not very effective and a better O is needed to malce tbis method practical.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 2183~6~
W095/22340 - ` r_~u_,_.'.

The difficulty of devising a vaccine based on hCG can be ,, by an I ' _ of the structures of the olY~u~ hormones. All of the olY~,U,u.u~ hormones contain a common ~vv-subunit. While the v~ ~ of s parts of the ^v-subunit differ in all the hormones and can be recognized by sekcted -' ' antibodies (21), portions of the a-subunit have the same cullr~,l~..o in each Olr~.u~l~ hormone. Thus, many antibodies to the vv-subuDit recognize LH, FSH, hCG, and TSH. Since anti-a~-subunit antibodies are often capable of blocking tbe activities of the hormones (22), an O which induced a response to the ^v-subunit is likely to have unwanted side effects. Therefore, most strategies for devising a ~ vaccine are directed at the hormone specif~c B-subunit of hCG.
The B-subunit of hCG is most closely related to the B-subunit of lS hLH. Many antibodies directed against the intact hCG B-subunit will also combine with the LH B-subunit. While the B-subunits of the other hormones differ , from that of hCG, some of the residues in all the B-subunits are identical and there is the possibility, albeit small, that some anti-B-subunit antibodies will crossreact with these hormones as well. The carboxy terminal 31 20 an~ino acids of the hCG B-subunit (CTP) are umelated to any of the residues in the other gl~,u,ulu~i.. hormones. In theory, antibodies to this region cannot elicit any with the other hormones. As expected, when this region is used as an . antibodies are developed that do not crossreact with any of the other ~ UUIU~ hormones Tv ~ '~" the antibodies that are produced to 2s synthetic CTP peptides do not bind with high affinity to hCG. In part, this is due to the u~ .v that this region of hCG corltains four potential serine-linked ,u~y' " sites and is highly ~ u~' ' r, much of this region of hCG is not essential for interaction with LH receptors. Thus, the antibodies directed against the CTP of hCG bind to hCG receptor complexes and are primaIily3 0 of the v type. C , ~, they do not inhibit hCG action similar to antibodies like Bl01 (22) that prevent hCG from binding to LH receptors.
Efforts have also been made to devise antibodies against other portions of the hCG B-subunit. One region that has been h..~ ~;v~ is 3s that found between cysteine residues 38 and 57. This portion of the protein is known to form a large loap and studies have shown that this loop is capable of !" " ' ~'I'~v '''-` (23,24). Thus, one would anticipate that antibûdies against this loop would be of the ~ V type. Indeed, B10l, an antibody wbich has been shown to recognize residues witbin this loop (22,25,26) is capable SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) ~vo 95n23~0 ~ 5 6 4 . ~ , o of ,.. ~ , hCG activity. The problem with using this loop structure is that the antibodies that are produced are often of low affmity. In addition, since hCG and hLH are similar in this region of the molecule (i.e., there are only three aminoacids that differ), with this loop is expected to cause the production of antibodies against hLH. Indeed, Bl0l, an antibody that binds to this region of the molecule has an, l 1~, high affnity fo} hLH.
Recent efforOE at identifymg the terliary structure of the ~Iy~ululu~
hormones have depended on c'~ - - . the binding sites of panels of ' ' antibodies (26). Antibodies have been identifled that prevent the biological activity of hCG or that only partially neutralize iOE biological activity. As outlmed in example 7 of the present ~ t;.. ~, these and similar antibodies can be used to devise " that have tbe potential to neutralize hCG but not hLH using the positive and a negative selection procedure outlined in examples 615 and 7 set out below. W~ile the hormone has been "l~ ll;~l amd a crystal structure would be valuable m :'~ . the types of " that would give a high titer immume response to particular parOE of the molecule, difficulties m solving the crystal structure have precluded this approach. Thus, at the presentstate of the knowledge of hCG structure, there is no good method that could be 2 o used to predict the type of ~, t~at would be most effective.
Another useful method for imcreasing fertility is to increase the levels of FSH activity. One way of ," _ tbis is to admituster small doses of long-acting rulliLI~, These cam be made by couplmg molecules with follitropm 25 activity to molecules with long plasma half-lives (i.e., ,,' " ) or by preparing single-chain ,~ ' ,, analogs having follitropm activity (Tables 1 and 2). Alone, or in ' with antibodies to LH and/or LH
these hormones facilitate follicle d~,v~lu~l.. in women with polycystic ovarian disease.

BRIEF DESCRlE'TION OF TIIE FIGllRES
3 5 Figure l is a graph illustrating the influence of antibodies and antisera on the binding of .~ hLH to LH receptors.
Figure 2 is a graph illustratmg the influence of antibodies and antisera on the ability of hLH to mduce ..: l~h. -:~ in vitro.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET ~RULE 26) WO 95/22340 !" ~ 5 fi ~
g Figure 3 is a graph illustrating the ir,fluence of antibodies and antisera on the ability of hLH to induce ~ - in vivo.
Figure 4 shows vectors that can be used in i ,' '~ ' selection strategies.
Figure 5 shows the types of ,, that have increased i" ~, for use in active aga,inst LH, hCG, or FSH.

Figure 6 illustrates the coding sequence for single chain O
analog #l and prisners (, ' ' d).
Figure 7 illustrates the coding sequence for single chain ,, ' ~, 15 analog #2 and primers (I ' - I).
Figure 8 illustrates the coding sequence for single chain c,..-. --1../1"l,;"
analog #3 and primers (, ' ' 1).
2 o Figure 9 illustrates the coding sequence for single chain g analog 4 and pruners (I ' ' I).
Figure 10 illustrates the coding sequence for single chain ~ . analog #5 andprimers (I ' ' 1).
Figure 11 illustrates the coding sequence for single chain ~IUIIU~, analog #6 and primers (I ' ' I).
Figure 12 illustrates the coding sequence for single chain 3 0 ,, ' ~, analog #7 and primers (I ' ' I) Figure 13 illustrates the coding sequence for single chain ~,vl~aduLI~ r- analog #8 and primers (Im~.orlin.o~l) 3 5 Figure 14 illustrates the coding sequence for single chain L, ' ~ L analog 9 and cassette (, - l) Figure 15 illustrates the coding sequence for single chain ~duLI~ . - analog 10 and cassette (, 1).
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 95/22340 ~ 5 fi~ r~ 7 Figure 16 iUustrates the ~UIC~ ;U of an alpha-subunit coding region lacking ~ -; l signal sequences.
Figure 17 illustrates the I . of a beta-subunit coding region lacking asn-linked ~liC,..- ,. ~.;1 signal sequences.
Figure 18 illustrates the coding sequence fo} single chain .",u ~ analog #la.

SUMl\~ARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to methods for enhancing fertility by reducing the activities and/or levels of circulating ~;ly~u~lu~h~ hormones having lutropin (L~I) activity. The molecules of the invention are antibodies or other binding agents that reduce the biological activities of LH. The present invention also relates to novel methods for devising and/or selecting antibodies to specific 20 portions of proteins including LH and human chorionic g ' ~, (hCG) to perlnit their biological activities to be reduced to desired degrees. The present invention also relates to the ~ Liu.. of single subunit g ' ,, and ~,~dul.l. antagonists for use in stimulating and inhibiting fertility and for controlling ovarian h~
In one . t, the present invention pertains to a method for stimulating fertility in mammals by reducirlg the activity of gl~.v~., hormones having luteinizing hormone activity in circulation and ~hereby stunulating the production of follicle stimulating hormone which comprises ~ to the 3 o marnmal a e r ' ~ effective amount of a binding agent that binds luteinizing hormone.
In another I hv ~ the present invention pertains to a ~I
method for stimulating fertility in marnmals by reducing but not ~ the 35 activity of ~;ly~v~ hormones having luteinizing hormone activity in circulation and thereby stimulating the production of follicle stimulating hormone which comprises the steps of:
(a) providing binding agents that bind luteinizing hormone as positive templates;
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 9~/223~0 (b) providing a library of luteinizing hormone B-subunit mutants obtained by random ~ of the luteinizing hormone B-subunit;
(c) screening the luteinizmg hormone,B-subunit mutants from step(b) with the positive template bindmg agents from step (a);
(d) discarding the luteinizing hormone B-subunit mutants tbat do not bind to the positive template bindmg agents in step (c);
(e) ~' _ the DNA sequence encoding the luteinizing hormone B-subunit mutants in step (d);
(f) selecting the DNA sequence encoding the luteinizing B-subunit mutant that differs from luteinizing hormone but binds to luteinizing hormone binding agents with high affnity m step (e);
(g) expressing the protein of the selected luteinizmg hormone B-subunit mutant from the DNA sequence in step (f) in a ylu~uli~ or eukaryotic host; and (h) _ a Ih '"I''' ';' -ll,Y effective amoumt of the protem from step (g) to the =al as an antigen to illicit an irnmume response thereby generating am antibody to luteinizing hormone to reduce but not eliminate luteinizing hormone activity and stimulate the production of follicle !'- "
hormone to stimulate fertility im the maromal.
2 0 In yet another t, the present invention pertains to a method for designing a vaccine for inducmg infertility m female mammals by reducmg the activity Of ol~.uyl~ hormones having chorionic g ~, hormone activity jm circulation which comprises the steps of:
(a) providing binding agerlts that bind chorionic O ~, hormone as positive templates;
(b) providmg a library of chorionic O ' h~, hormone B-subunit mut~mts obtained by ramdom _ of the chorionic 6uu8.1uLI~, hormone B-subunit;
(c) screening tbe chorionic _ ' ,, hormone B-subunit mutants from 3 o step (b) with the positive template bmding agerlts from step (a);
(d) discarding the chorionic ~u~duLI~, hormone B-subunit mutants that do not bind to the positive template binding agents in step (c);
(e) ~- _ the DNA sequence encodmg the chorionic ~,u~lul~"
hormone B-subunit mutants m step (d);
(f) selecting the DNA sequence encoding the chorionic ~v~luLL~ B-subunit mut~nt that differs from chorionic ~u~lull~, hormone but binds to chorionic gJll~UIULlUylll hormone bmding agents with high affmity m step (e);
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26~

2 1~`3~5~6~
WO 95/22340 r~ _ 7 (h) expressing the protein of the selected chorionic ~U~dULIU~iII hormone B-subunit mutant from the DNA sequence in step (g) in a ~uLI~yuliu or eukaryotichost; and (i) - _ a Ih- "1-- '~ lly effective arnoumt of the protein from 5 step (h) to the mammal as an antigen to illicit an immune response thereby generating an antibody to chorionic _ ,, hormone to reduce choriorlic ~, ' ,, hormone activity to induce infertility m the female mammal.
In still yet amother . t, the present inverltion pertains to a 10 method for designing a vaccine for ,, _ fertility in male huraans by reduciogthe activity of 2;1y~u~lu~hl hormones having follicle stimulating hormone activity im circulation which comprises the steps of:
(a) providing binding agents that bind follicle stimulatmg hormone as positive temp!ates;
(b) providing a library of follicle stimulating hormone B-subunit mut~mts obtained by random _ of the follicle stimulating hormone B-subunit;
(c) screening the follicle stimulating hormone B-subunit mutants from step (b) with the positive template binding agerlts from step (a);
(d) discarding the follicle stimulating hormone B-subunit mutants that do 2 û not bind to the positive template binding agerlts in step (d);
(e) ~ _ the DNA sequence encoding the follicle stimulating hormone B-subunit mutants in step (d);
(f) selecting the DNA sequence encoding the follicle stimulating B-subunit mutant tbat differs from follicle stimulating hormone but binds to follicle 25 stimulating hormone binding agents with high affinity in step (e);
(g) expressing the protein of the selected follicle stimulating hormone B-subunit mutant from the DNA sequence in step (f) in a Au~uk~yuli~ or eukaryotic host; amd (h) _ _ a i r '- lly effective amount of the protein from 30 step (h) to the male hum~m as an antigen to illicit an immune response thereby generating an antibody to follicle stimulating hormone to reduce follicle stimulating hormone activity and suppress fertility in the male h= .
In still yet another ~ ' t, the present invention pertains to a 35 method for designing a vaccme for supressing fertility in nonhuman mammals byreducing the activity of yl~u~ hormones having luteinizing hormone activity m circulation which comprises the steps of:
(a) providing binding agents that bind luteinizing hormone as positive templates;
SUBSTITUTE SHEET(RULE 26) ~1~3~

(b) providing a library of luteirlizing hormone B-subunit mutants obtained by random ~ of the luteirlizing hormone B-subunit;
(c) screerling the luteirlizing hormone B-subunit mutants from step (b) with the positive template binding agents from step (a);
(d) discarding the lutein]zing hormone B-subunit mutants that do not bind to the positive template binding agents in step (c);
(e) ~" ,, the DNA sequence encoding the luteinizing hormone B-subunit mutants in step (d);
(f) selectmg the DNA sequence encoding the luteinizing B-subunit mutant tbat differs from luteinizing hormone but binds to luteinizing hormone binding agents with high affinity m step (e);
(g) expressing the protein of the selected luteinizing hormone B-subunit mutant from the DNA sequence in step (f) in a ~u~yu~ or eukaryotic host; and (h) ~ a ~ effective amount of the protein from step (g) to the mammal as am arltigen to illicit an immune response thereby generating am antibody to luteinizing hormone to reduce luteinizing hormone activity and supress fertility in the nor~um;m mammal.
In a preferred ' " t, the methods for designing vaccmes further 2 o comprise the steps of:
(i) in step (a), further providing binding ager~ts that bind as negative templates;
~) prior to step (c), screemng the hormone B-suburlit mutants from step (b) with the negative template binding agents from steps (i); and (k) m step (c), screenmg the hormone B-subunit mutants that do not bind to the negative template binding agerlts from step a) with the positive templatebinding agents from step (a).
3 o DETAILED DESCRIPI ION OF 'l ~: INVEN~ON
The present invention relates to methods for er~mcing fertility by reducing the activities and/or levels of circulating ~Iyw~ hormones having 35 lutropin (LH) activity. The molecules of the invention are amtibodies or other bindmg agents that reduce the biological activities of LH. The binding agerlts can be r ' ' ' ' ' or produced m response to Since molecules with lutropin activity are essential for fertility, blocking their activities would be expected to decrease rather than increase fertility. However, lutropins are usually SUBSTITUTE 5HEET (RULE 26) w095~0 21 835fi ~ r~
found to enhance the production of steroids that can reduce the secretion of follitropins (FSH), hormones that have important roles in fertility. I' , '~, reduction in the activities of lutropins leads to an increase in the levels of follitropins and/or the ratios of follitropin/lutropin. When LH activity is reduced 5 but not abolished, the increase in FSH activity and/or the ratio of FSH/LH leads to enhanced production of gametes and elevated fertility in humans and animals. Thepresent invention also relates to novel methods for devising and/or selecting antibodies to specific portions of proteins including LH and human chorionic L ., (hCG) to permit their biological activities to be reduced to desired i0 degrees. E~;amples are presented herein illustrating how to devise antibodies and " against specific portions of selected o~.~dutl~, , including tbose antibodies and O that are very similar in structure. Some of these antibodies and O will have uses for ! ,, '~, fertility and othe}
antibodies and O will have uses for enhancing fertiliy.
The preserlt invention also relates to the l, of molecules which can bind to LH and FSH receptors and have eithe} fertility erlhancing or fertility ir~hibiting actions depending on the time of ' Some of these are molecules that will bind to LH receptors and block the action of LH. When 2 o these are ' in the follicular phase, they will suppress LH activity thereby androgen and estrogen secretion. C , '~, FSH levels will rise and fertility will be enhanced. When they are given after ovulation during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, they will suppress the activity of hCG and cause pregnancy to terminate. Other molecules birld to FSH receptors and have FSH
25 activity. These are long acting analogs of FSH and when given in small amounts, they will stimulate follicular Because they will stimulate estrogen synthesis, the estrogen levels will rise and the secretion of pituitary FSH levels will fall. Provided these are ' irl lilniting amounts, they will not induce ovarian h~", These will also have direct effects on stimulating fertility 3 o m males. In addition, the present invention relates to the l , of molecules that have the ability to irlhibit the actions of FSH and both FSH and LH. These molecules will be useful for treating women who have h,~ ovarian tissue, often as the result of ~ ' ,, therapy. H~l,, of the ovary is potentially fatal and these analogs bind to FSH receptors or to both FSH and LH
35 receptors to suppress further ovarian d~., , In accord with the present invention, methods are provided to improve fertility in humans and animals by the novel method of inbibiting the activity of lutropin using passive or active Previous studies have SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 2 ~ 8 3 ~ ~ ~
WO 95122340 1.,1/~ r7 shown that blocking the actions of LH will lead to irlhibitiorl of fertility. Here it is shown that a,ul~l~, LH antibodies can be used to restore or stimulate fertility.This approach should reduce the risk of h)~ and permit a more normal regulation of fertility with less ~ Several methods are provided for 5 producing arld testing the arltibodies or antisera needed to promote fertility.
Other methods are available to alter the FSH/LH ratio including methods of ' FSH or giving ,~ However, the procedure outlined here based on the use of anti-LH has important advantages over these other 10 methods. The degree of maximal ir~hibition can be carefully ~ ' for each antibody by in vitro testing. Thus, regardless of the amount of antibody d, one could prevent irlhibiting the activity of LH below a ' level by a~ ul choice of antibody. For exDmple, B105 would reduce the effective hLH levels by a factor of ~ 4 whereas B110 will 15 reduce the effective hLH levels by a factor of ~ 2. Reducing LH
levels will permit FSH levels to riæ. As FSH levels rise, they will cause follicular .'(, and the production of estrogens. When these levels have reached the ;, of ay,ul~ . follicle d~v. ', t, they will negatively irlhibit the æcretion of more FSH. Thus, the treatment described20 here retains the valuable aspects of self-regulation that are missing in existing methods that depend on of FSH or: eD~U~_~... to stimulate fertility. r unl~ce ovulation induction with GrlRH (~ ' , releasing hormone) or GnRH analogs, the method based on anti-LH does not require the pulsatile irfilsion of a hormone or hormone analog. This treatment 25 offers the potential advarltage of a single or at most a few treatments over several days. This will be ~ important in regulating ovulation in humans or anirnals. In humans, this method should be most a~lul for tteatment of polycystic ovarian disease which is often l ~- L ;~ by ~ high levels of LH. As LH levels are reduced, FSH levels will rise and follicle 3 o d~ v. ', will occur. However, as follicle ~ v, ', occurs, the rising levels of estrogens will block the secretion of additional FSH. Thus, the tendency to promote the d~v~', of too many follicles with its dangerous potential will be =jDj~I~I~
3 5 Methods are also provided here for producing a specific which is based on use of template and exclusion antibodies. Use of these antibodies will enable one to devise a specific irnmune response to particular domains of aprotein. This method will have uses in inducing or inhibiting fertility as illustrated here. Since antibodies against hCG can irlhibit tumor growth, this methûd should SUBSTITUTE SH EET (RULE 26) 2~8~6 ~;

., .
i' `~ ` `.
also be useful to devise vaccines needed to ~nhibit ~, ', or ~ ;.c~;o.. of hCG-secreting tumors. The method should also have use m any system in which a specific , is needed.
There is nothing unique about the structure of antibodies which makes them useful for inducing fertility other than the fact that they bmd hLH or other LH Thus, one would expect that portions of antibodies which retain the ability to bind LH would also have similar activity. These would include Fab fragments, (Fab')2 fragments, smgle cham antibodies, or any molecule tbat bound to hLH or LH which reduced its biological activity. The Fab fragment is a portion of an antibody that contains the antigen binding site and is generated by papaindigestion. The F(ab')2 fragment is a portion of an antibody that contains two antigen binding sites and is generated by pepsin digestion.
Preferably, the methods for enhancing fertility are carried out during the follicular phase of the mammal, and more preferably during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.
The g~ ' hormone to be regulated m the present invention is 2 o a reactant in a reaction between binding , The binding , are proteins which have a specific binding affinity for each othcr. One binding is a bindable agent which is selected from the group consisting of an antigen and a hapten. The preferrcd bindable agent is am antigen. The other binding . , is a binding agent which is selected from the group consisting of an antibody and a specific binding protein. The preferred binding agent is anantibody.
Antigens are subst;mces which are capable ut~der ~
conditions of inducing the formation of antibodies and of reacting ~;G~II~ m 3 o some detectaWe manner with the antibodies so mduced. Antigens may be soluble substances, such as toxins and foreign proteins, or particulate substances, such as bacteria or tissue cells. In general, antigens are high molecular weight substances such as simple and conjugated protei~s and ~,al~ ' ,.' Antibodies are ~,' ' ' molecules which have a specific amino acid sequence which permit it to interact only with the antigen which induced its synthesis in Iymphoid tissue or with an antigen closely related to that antigen.
~' ' are proteins made up of two light chams and two heavy chains.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 2183~6~
WO 9~/22340 The binding agent rnay also be a specific binding protein such as an unattached receptor protein or a transport protein. Receptor proteins include proteins which remain attached to cells such as antibodies and urlattached proteins which are released to blood serum and retain their specific binding aff~nity.
5 Transport proteirls are proteins that move substances in and out of cells and across epithelial layers in biological systems.
The birlding agents may be substances from natural sources or may be substances prepared by synthetic or means. In a preferred 10 ~ , the bindable agent is an antibody selected from the group consisting of proteins and synthetic peptides.
The , ' of tbe present invention can be -' ' to mammals, e.g., animals or hurnans, in amounts effective to provide tbe desired 15 activity. Since the activity of the ,~ .j..",...l~ and the degree of the desired therapeutic effect vary, the dosage level of the compound employed will also vary.
The actual dosage ' ' will also be ~ by such generally recognized factors as the body weight of the patient and the individual hJ~ of the particular patient. Thus, the unit dosage for a particular 20 patient (man) can vary from as low as about O.l~Lg per kg of body weight, which the l may titrate to the desired effect. A preferred minimum dose for titration is l~g/kg body weight.
The present invention is further illustrated by the following examples25 which are not intended to limit the effective scope of the claims. All parts and in the examples and throughout the ~ and claims are by weight of the final , unless otherwise specified.
EXAMI~ES
Binding agents that reduce the biological acffviffes of I ' ~ ho~none and hlunan chorionic g ' ' ~, to permit their biological acffviffes to be reduced to desired degrees.
Example 1 Use of anti-LH anffbodies to induce fertility Sl~ES~ S~E~ ~ E 2~

W0 951t2340 3 ~ 6 ~

Because some l antibodies inhibit the biological activity of the hormones either by preventing the hormone from binding to receptors or byincreasing its ' they will be useful for reducing the level of active hormone in, ' Antibodies to LH are capable of increasing the ratio of 5 ~ , active FSH to LH in circulation. In part, this is because they reduce the activity of LH. In addition, since LH is a hormone that stimulates the synthesis of steroid substrates that can be converted to estrogens (4), the decline in LH
activity will be , ' by a decline in estrogens. The decline in estrogen levels will reduce the inhibition of FSH secretion and levels of FSH will rise. As a , in the female, follicular ~, ', will be enhanced. In the male, will be , ' Not all antibodies have tbe ability to reduce LH levels in a ~ fashion. Antibodies that neutralize the actions of LH
completely will curtail fertility unless in a limiting fashion (i.e., the total amount of antibody given is less than the total amount of circulating LH).15 ~ ' antibodies are preferred for enhancing fertility since they can be given in excess of the total amount of LH. Thus, even although most LH may be bound to the antibodies, the LH activity is reduced but ~ot ' ' Because there is more than sufficient LH for follicle .~.,' I t, the partial reduction in LH activity does not prevent follicle .1... k, In addition, the increased 20 estrogens that are made as the follicle increases its .~ .luy~ will mimic the norfnal feedback control of FSH secretion to prevent ovarian hJl ' ~' of 10 I~g -10 mg of high affinity antibody (i.e., Ka > 5 x lû7~1) will be sufficient to induce fer~lity in women having polycystic ovarian disease.
T~l. `;r;. -';.. and .~ ;;.. of ~Iyyl~ I antibodies is illustrated in example 252.
Example 2 ~ ' ~ and selection of the best LEI antibodies Not all antibodies that inhibit LH activity will be equally useful for treatment of infertility. For example, high excess _ of antibodies like Blûl that bind to hCG and LH (albeit with lower affiDity) can prevent the hormones from binding to LH receptors (22). When preser~t in excess, antibodies 35 that prevent binding of LH or hCG to its receptors "neutralize" the biological activi~y of the hormone. While ' of LH would be followed by a decline in androgen and estrogen levels amd a rise in FSH levels, since LH is needed for fertility, the reduction of LH activity below the minimal level needed for fertility would prevent fertility as long as an excess of the antibody was present.
SllBSl~T~TE Sli~ ~P~ 281 2 1 8 3 ~ fi ~
WO 9~/22340 ~ - 19-Indeed, _ antibodies or antigens tbat elicit the production of r.. ,~,,1;,;"~
antibodies have been shown to irlhibit ferility in anirnals (10). It would be possible to administer limited amounts of " antibodies to reduce LH
to a ~ f~ . --- 1 level or to reverse the irlhibitory effect of a ' ~ antibody by ~ an anti-idiotypic antibody. However, due to the variations between individuals it would be diff~cult to determine how much antibody would be needed to obtain the desired effect unless nearly cornplete irlhibition of LH activity were desired or unless of FSH and/or gonadal function (e.g., d plasma steroid levels) were performed. While these are feasible, the need to make these reduces the ~
for usirlg antibodies tbat completely neutrali7e LH activity to augment ferility.
N~ 1i7i~ antibodies could also be given to prevert the action of LH j , 1~, until FSH levels had risen. Then the excess ' ~ antibody could be removed by _ of an anti-idiotypic antibody to neutrali7e anti-LH
15 antibodies to restore fertility or by ~,,, the effect of the antibody using LH
or CG or by using an amourt of antibody tbat would be '' '~, degraded to permit the action of the LH midcycle surge. However, tbis approach is more cornplex than use of ' ,, antibodies, illustrated below.
2 o The preferred antibodies irlhibit the activity of LH but fail to completely block its action even when given at r~ sufficierlt to bind all the LH present in ~irrAl~ti~ These arltibodies are usually capable of binding tothe free hormone as well as to I receptor complexes. They irlhibit horrnone action by lowering the affinity of the hormone for its receptor, reducing the activity of bound hormone, and/or increasing horrnone clearance. Examples of such antibodies include B105 and B110. These antibodies reduce the biological activities of the hormones to different extents (17) and can be purchased from Columbia University, New York, NY or UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ. Other '1~ available arltibodies include 518B7 (available from Dr. Janet Roser, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA) and ~MCG7 (available from Pierce Chemical Co., 3747 Norfh Meridian Road, Rockford, IL).
Because cornplexes of these antibodies with hCG can bind to receptors, the degree of inhibition is lirnited even in the presence of a massive antibody excess. Theamount of irlhibition can be ' ' from simple in vitro assays prior to their use in vivo. For example, a massive excess of B110 was shown to reduce the activity of hCG by only about half whereas a massive excess of B105 reduced the activity of hCG by about three-quarters. Each of these antibodies binds to hLH and would be expected to have the same influence on hLH activity.
~lJBSTlTIlT~ p~ 2~

wo ss/22340 The ' ~ of .~ , antibodies from a panel of ' antibodies made against hLH can be made as follows. These antibodies can be obtained by st~ndard procedures (æ,27-32) by _ mice with hLH, hCG, or LH from other species, LH or hCG fragmerlts, partially or fully 5 ~IJ.,~,~' ' LH or hCG, or LH or hCG analogs capable of eliciting an immune response to the desired species of LH. These antibodies could also be obtained by selection of mar~made antibodies (33-36). This same strategy could be used to identify antibodies to LH from virtually any otber species. It could also be used to identify antisera which have similar properties. These antisera could be made in10 response to LH or hCG analogs or they could be obtained by , or removal of, ' ' ' antibody Antibodies having the desired inhibitory rl - r. h .;`1.. ` can be identified by measuring their abilities to irJhibit the binding of LH to LH receptors.
15 This type of assay can be performed by orle skilled in the art of measunng receptor binding and the followir~ example refers to how orle would select for arltibodies to hLH. Clearly, this would also be applicable to any species of LH for which antibodies were available. Since hLH binds well to }oderlt LH receptors, one need not use human LH receptors in the assay, although human LH receptors would also 20 work. A simple frst step is to monitor the influence of the antibody on the binding of ' ' ' ' ' hLH to rat ovarian luteal LH receptors. The ' ' ' ' ' hLH can be prepared by incubatmg 10 ~Lg hLH with 500 ~Ci of Nal251 for 30 seconds at 4C in a small glass tube that has been coated with 1.5 ~g lodo-Gen (Pierce Chemical Co.). 125I-hLH and unreacted 125I are separated by gel filtration. The 25 receptors can be prepared by ' _ 50 IU of pregnant mares serum g ~ ' I r- also known as PMSG or equine CG (obtained from Sigma Cher~ical Co., St. Louis MO) to female Sprague-Dawley rats that are 23-26 days old. The PMSG stimulates follicle ~,', A~ 56-65 hours later the animals are given 2~ IU of hCG (also obtai~ed from Sigma Chemical Co.) to cause 30 the formation of corpora lutea. The highly luteinized ovaries are removed oneweek later and I O ' in a buffer co~taining 40 rnM Tris (pH 7.4) and 5 r~M
MgCk. A crude nuclear and membrane fraction of the l _ is collected by .. . ~;r.., ;..~ the ~ ~ at 1000 x g for 20 mir,utes at 4C. This is washed once by . . - ~ , it in the Tris - MgC12 buffer and - ' it at 1000 x g 35 for 20 minutes at 4C. The final pellet (ter~ned the "ovarian ' " pellet") is ~ , ' ' m the Tris - MgC12 buffer using a volume of 2 ml per each ovary present at the start of I O An amount of ovarian ~~ O pellet d~ equal to 1/20 of an ovary (i.e., roughly 5 mg of material m 100 ,ul of buffer) is added to tubes that contain ~ 1-2 rlg " ' ' hLH
SUBSTITUTE SHEET ~RULE 26) Z~3~
WO 95/22340 - p,," f (i.e., ~ 100,000 cpm) and differing amounts of antibody (i.e., ranging from l pg to 10 ~g or more). ~fter the tubes have incubated suff~cient time to permit the "-~ d LH to bind to the receptors (i.e., 30-60 min at 37C or overnight at room X, ~), the receptor bound and free radiolabels are separated by diluting tbe reaction mixture to 2 ml with 0.9% NaCI solution, ;F-C ~, the mixture, and aspirating tbe supernate. The amount of "..1;~,1.1,.1, .1 hLH bound to rat ovarian LH receptors is ~' ' by analyzing the pellet in a ga1nma counter. One would expect to observe the types of inhibition shown in Figure 1. Some antibodies will completely inhibit the binding of ,_.1;"1.1"1. d hLH
0 to the same extent as a massive excess of unlabeled hLH or hCG whereas others will not inhibit binding or may even potentiate binding when present in vast molar excess relative to ~ -1 hLH. Both these types of antibodies are less desirable tban those antibodies which suppress hLH binding to an " Ievel (c.f., Figure 1). Thus, the most useful antibodies will ir~ibit the binding of the 15 "..T:.~I I.. 1.'~1 LH but not to the same extent as a massive excess of unlabeled LH.
Antibodies tbat inhibit the binding of "~' ' ' ' LEI to tbe saTne extent as a massive excess of unlabeled LH wiD also be useful but greater care will be needed to be certain tbat the antibody will not suppress LH activity too much when used in vivo. If too much LH activity is neutralized in tbe LH surge, infer~lity will result.
Anotber useful procedure to identify antibodies having the desired ability to reduoe LH activity is to perform an in v~tro test to deternline if the antibodies ir~ibit the effect of hLH on steroid b;UDJl~ .DlD. In tbis assay one can utilize testes from male rodents. A typical example using hLH is illustrated in 25 Figure 2. A crude rat Leydig cell suspension is prepared using ~ ' ,, as described (37) and the cells are incubated with varying amounts of LH and the antibodies to be tested. After ~ 2~ hours at 37C, the i content in the tubes is measured by ' ,. When increasing of hLH are incubated with the Leydig cells, they cause enhanced 30 production of u.~ and will give rise to a typical dose response curve in which hLH . of 1-10 pM will be sufficierlt to elevate steroid production by C~ 50% of the maximal level (see Figure 2, curve A).
The most useful antibodies are identified by their abilities to inhibit LH induced ' ,, When different ' ' antibodies are added to LH before the 35 hormone is added to the cells, some will be found to reduce the ability of LH to stimulate i Ull~; formation. The most useful inhibitory antibodies will shift the dose response curve to less sensitive values (see Figure 2, curves B and C).While the degree of the shift will initially be dependent on The ~ of antibody, a massive excess of antibody (i.e., more than 100-fold greater than the SUBSTITUTE SHEET(RULE 26) woss~2340 2~1 8~

mald~mal amount of hLH used) will not prevent LH-induced ~ u~ formation.
The least useful antibodies will preverlt the ~ ' of , formation when the antibody is preænt in l00-fold molar excess (see Figure 2, curve D).
This type of assay will detect antibodies that inhibit LH activity by reducing its 5 binding to LH receptors and it will also detect ar~tibodies that inhibit the activity of bound LH. Examples of useful antibodies include B105, B110, 518B7, and ZMCG7, noted above. These will need to be modified as described below before they can be used repeatedly in worQen.
Once antibodies or arltisera have been selected and found to satisfy the criteria described above and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, tbey should be tested for their abilities to inhibit the actions of LH in v~vo. Male rats are given a large excess of antibody (i.e., 1001.g or more). Twenty minutes later some of the ratsare treated with vehicle alone (control) and others are given hLH or LH similar or 15 equal in structure to that from the animal for which the amtibody is to be used. One hour laoer, the plasma i ~ levels are measured by ' J. A
qpical example is illustrated in Figure 3. The most useful antibodies or antisera will reduce the pooency of hLH but will not prevent its activiq even when present in excess of the total amount of LH giverl. Tbis assay will deoect antibodies that 20 reduce hormone activiq by inbibiting LH binding to receptors, inbibiting the activiq of bound LH, and/or increasing LH clearsmce. Regardless of the cause of irlbibition in vivo, the most useful antibodies or antisera will not prevent the activiq of high levels of LH even when they are preserlt in excess of circulating LH. This c~m be monitored by measuring the abiliq of the serum to bind ' " ' hLH
afte~ ~.1.";.. ' .~1;. of the antibody. A ærum sample (0.01 - 1 /LI) is diluted to 25 ~I with a solution containing 0.9% NaCI, 1 mg/ml bovine ærum albumin, and 0.02 M sodium phosphaoe buffer (pH 7.2). To this is added 25 ~1 of ' ' ' LH
50 nCi containing hlJ,UI~ 1 ng). The resulting solution is incubaoed 30 minutes at 37 C. A goat antimouse .,' ' ' G agG) 3 0 solution (available from Cappel, Organon Teknia Corp, West Chester, PA) containing 2 ~g IgG in 50 ~l of the NaCl-alburnin solution described above is added and the resulting solution incubated 90 mumtes at 37 C. or overnight at 4 C. To this solution is added 100 ~l of 1% IgGsorb (obtained from The Enzyme Cenoer, Inc., 36 Franklin St., Malden, MA) l~ ' in water. This suspension is mixed for 30 minuoes at 22 C and then diluted by addition of 3 ml of the NaCI-alburnin solution that is ice cold. The mixture is r _ ~ for 10 minutes at 2000 x g at 4 C. The supernate is aspiraoed a~d ' '-vily in the pellet is measured in a garnma counoer. As a negative control, one uses selum from an animal that has not been actively or passively ' As a positive control, one uses 0.1 - 1 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 9~122340 2 3 8 3 5 6 ~ ~ P~

ng of the antibody that was originally injected into the animal. The ladio~ Livily measured in the pellet from the negative control is subtracted from that in the positive control and from that in pellets of the serum samples that are being tested.
When tbe resulting values for the postive control and the serum samples are compared, serum that contains antibody in excess of LH will be able to at least 1%-10% of the ' ' ' LH as tbe positive control.
~' of antibodies to hLH in humans will reduce the 10 effective of circulating LH. The maximum amount of reduction depends on the location of the binding site of the antibody on LH. Reduction in LH
activity lowers the secretion of ovarian and testes hormones and thereby reduces the feedback inhibition of FSH. C~ " FSH levels rise and fertility is erlhanced. Antibodies to hLH that crossreact with LH from other species or 15 antibodies that have been selected for tbeir abilities to bind to LH from other species and reduce but not abolish hormone activity will have similar effects in the other species. The most a~ , arltibodies for use in humans will be those that have framework and constant regions that are similar to h= O ' ' and that are themselves not arltigenic or only weakly arltigenic when injected into 20 humans. Suitable antibodies can be prepared by "' " mouse ar~bodies (i.e., replacing the mouse framework and constant regions with similarsequences found in h= O ' ' Procedures to ,' ' this are well-known in the art (38~0). Other methods of making suitable antibodies include of primates such as the Cy '" monkey (41) followed by 25 isolating and cloning of single lr .' ~r~D (42). The ~' ' ' in these prir~ates have similar framework regions as human antibodies prepared from these animals should serve as a good starting point forantibodies that can be used in humans.
3 o Example 3 A' .~ methods for obtaining and selec~ing desired alltibodies Many antibodies that are capable of partial inhibition of hLH activity 35 have a propensity to bind to hLH or other LH molecules that have been adsorbed to plastic or other surfaces. Therefore, screening for desired arltibodies is oftenfacilitated by monitoring the abilities of the antibodies to bind to hLH or other LH
that is adsorbed to plastic microtiter plates or to LH that is bound to LH receptor .~r1~Y~c Screening for antibodies that bind to hLH that is adsorbed to a plastic SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) W0 95/22340 ~ p~_"~

surface can be ~' ' ' as follows. The wells of a plastic microtiter plate are coated with 50 ~1 of a solution containing 0 or 1 ~g hLH in 0.9% NaCI - 0.02 M
sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.2). This enables tbe hLH to be adsorbed to the surface of the microtiter plate. After l hour at 37C, the solutions are removed and replaced with 200 ,ul of 0.9% NaCI - 0.02 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) containing 200 ,ILg bovine serum albumin for longer than 1 hour at 37C. This fills most of the relnaining adsorption sites. The alburnin solution is removed and replaced with 50 ~1 of 0.9% NaCI - 0.02 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) containing 50,000 - 100,000 dpm of the test ' ' antibody labeled with 125I. Labeling of the ' ' antibody is performed using Iodo-Gen or other oxidizing agent (22,43) as described above for LH using 10 ~g of antibody and 500 ~Ci of Nal251 except that the reaction time is extended to 1-5 minutes. After 1 hour at 37C, the fluid is removed and the ladi~ iv;ly that is attached to thesurface of the microtiter plate is measured in a gamma counter. Antibodies that have a high probability of being useful for inhibiting hLH activity will be found to be bound to the wells coated with hLH in amourlts greater than those to the wells not coated with hLH. This assay will also detect other types of antibodies as well and a further screen of the positive antibodies should be performed as outlined below or as in example 2.
While binding to LH-receptor complexes does not quarantee that an antibody will be useful for partially ' ~ LH ac6vity, many of the preferred antibodies bind to LH-receptor complexes. Thus, it is possible to initially screen for desirable antibodies by measuring their abilities to bind to LH-receptor complexes. This assay is essentially the same as the Bio-IRMA that has boeen described previously (44) and can be performed in a sequa~tial or !' '' fashion. In the ! ' '' Bio-IRMA, 0.025~Ci - O.l~Ci of the "
test antibody (i.e., prepared as described above) is added to a rat ovarian (i.e., prepared as described above), and increasing amounts of LH
including 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 10, 100, and 1000 ng. After 1 hour at 37C, the palt of the I " is sedimented into a pellet by ~ ..r. ~,.,~;
at 1000 x g for 10-20 minutes, the supernate is aspirated, and the ladiO.I~,livil~ m pellet determined m a gamma counter. Arltibodies that bind to LH receptor complexes will be detected by their increased ability to bind to incubated with at least one of the LH ~ over the assay blank (i.e., no LH added). In the sequential Bio-lRMA, the ' are incubated with the LH
frrst for 1 hour at 37C, washed by ~ ~, and aspiration as described above and then incubated with 50,000 -100,000 dpm of I 1;: " ' antibody. After an additional 1 hour incubation at 37C, the bound and free antibody fractions are SUBSTITUTE SHEET(RULE 26) 2~ 83S6~ , -~ WO 9S/22340 F~

separated by, ',, and aspiration as described above and the pellet is counted in a gamma counter. Most useful antibodies will bind to the LH-receptor complexes. However, tbis procedure is only a useful screening method and a more conclusive test of an antibody mvolves use of an in vitro biological assay such as that based on u~ forrnation that is described in Example 2.
The propensity of the most useful antibodies to bind to surfaces ~hat contain LH or to complexes of LH and LH receptors can also facilitate isolation of Iylll~u~ ~o following of monkeys or rnice using a parlning 0 procedure. In tbis procedure, Iy/~ hu~D are added to plastic surfaces that have been coated with human serum albumin or other protein that prevents , -binding by exposing them to solutions containing l mg/ml of human serum albumin im 0.9% NaCl - 0.02M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) for longer than l hour at 37C. The Iy ,' ~ O tbat do not bind to these surfaces are then added to surfaces that are coated by exposing them to hLH and then to human serum albuminas above. The amount of hLH used is not critical so long as sufficient material has become adsorbed to the plastic. This can be achieved using 20-50~g of hLH/ml.
However, lesser and greater amounts will also work. The l~ ~' ,r~D that attach to surfaces coated with LH are selected and either fused with myeloma cells to 2 0 prepare hBJli~u~lao (3o), j r with r, 13all or other virus, suyected toclonmg in lambda phage (36), or single cells are selected for POIJIII~IaO~ chainreaction cloning (42). The antibodies that are produced are subjected to screening as outlined in example 2. These strategies erlhance the percerltage of arltibodies that will be desirable.
Many antibodies that are capable of partial inbibition of LH can also be selected through a prooess that depends on their abilities to bind to LH that is bound to LH receptors. Following of mice or mor~ceys with hLH, the spleen cells and other l~ ,' y~o are isolated amd layered on eukarvotic cell' ~lO that express LH receptors. These cell ' J~lo can be prepared by r ' _, cells with expression vectors capable of expressing rat (45), human (46), porcine (47), or other LH receptor cDNA by methods which are standard in the art (48,49). Ly~JLu.,yt~, that adhere to the ~Ullul~,lS are discarded.
Ly A ~ O that do not adhere to the ~ lO are added to similar ~lO
of cdls expressmg LH receptors containing hLH or other LH. These can be prepared by addmg lO0 ng of hLH or other LH to the IllvLu~l~D overnight at 4C
and washing off the hor~none that did not become boumd. Ly , ~D that adhere to these cells are selected and either fused with myeloma cells to prepare hyl (30), ~ with Epstem-Barr or other virus, or subjected to SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 2183~fi`~
WO 95122340 P~_l/L_ '7 . ~ ~ 26-pCl~ lD~ chain reaction cloning (42). The arltibodies that are produced are subjected to screening as outlined in example 2. These strategies will also eDhance the percentage of antibodies that will be desirable. Although this receptor-based strategy is more tedious than a strategy based on screening of 1~ ~D on 5 plastic surfaces coated with LH, it will yield a higher percentage of useful antibodies.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) ~i8~5fi~
WO 95~22340 P~

Example 4 Use o~ antibody to treat polycystic ovarian syndrome Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCO) is ~ h ~- ~ by incompleoe follicle d~ , - and an inability of a woman to ovulaoe normally. The ovary contains many small immature follicles, few if any of which progress to the point of ovulation in the absence of clinical - v. These wom,m of oen have elevaoed androgens amd a high ratio of LH/FSH relative to normally cyclmg fertile women.
There are two major procedures for induction of ovulation in women with PCO.
These include the ' - of FSH to boost follicle d~.', or anti-estrogens to facilitaoe the secretion of FSH from the anoerior pituitary glamd. While both treatments are capable of mducing ovulation, they have a risk of inducing multiple ovulations smce they bypass the normal negative estrogen feedback loop 15 which regulaoes FSH secretion. As a result, women treaoed with these agents are usually monitored carefully to prever~t LJI a potentially lethal side-effect of treatmerlt.
~- of 10 ~Lg -10 mg of a - ' ,, antibody to LH
2 o that causes a transient and ~1: ' ,, rise in FSH secretion will induce ovulation with less risk of h.~l thm treatment with O ' , The effect is transient because the amtibody will be . ~ or otherwise cleared from the circulation and its er~l;v.,~ will be lost within 1-2 weeks afoer . - - -The treatment is self-limiting because the negative feedback effect of estradiol on 25 FSH secretion will not be eliminaoed. Thus, as FSH levels rise and stimulaoe follicle ~ t, estradiol secretion will rise and inhibit further increases m FSH secretion.
Example 5 One or t vo dose treatment induction of ovulation.
There are no good methods that can be used to induce ovulation m women with PCO that mvolve only a single or double treatment. Most treatments 35 for this syndrome require multiple treatments with FSH, FSH plus LH or hCG, ~MG, anti-estrogens, GuRH, or various, of these agents. Some approaches have also employed GnRH antagonists to reduce the circulatmg levels of both LH and FSH so that ovulation could be induced by treatment with exogenous hormones. A single - of a high of the preferred SUBSTITUTE SHEET(RULE 26) W095/22341~ Z1~ t p_"~

antibody of the type described here can induce ovulation. This is bccause the antibody can be given safely in ~nassive excess and, since antibodies have long plasma half-lives, tbe antibody will corltinue to be effective in increasing FSHlevels for several days. Because of the natural feedback effect of estradiol on FSH
5 secretion, FSH secretion will be controlled by the estrogens ~nade by the follicle as the follicle develops. By the time tbat the dorni~mt follicle has been selected and estradiol levels have increased, much of the amtibody will have been cleared from ' The antibody will not interfere with the actions of LH surge needed for ovulation for one or more of several reasons. First, the amount LH released is in 10 excess of tbe amount needed for ovulation. Second, the antibody will only reduce the activity of LH, not neutralize it. And third, by the time of tbe LH surge much of the antibody will have been cleared from i Thus, treatment with the antibody will be followed by follicle ~ and ovulation.
Example 6 Antigens that induce ,, ~, inhibitory antisera.
~ of ayyl~ r ' ' amtibodies illustrated in Example l can 20 be used to augment fertility. However, since this is a "passive" it will require repeated ~ of antibody to keep the levels of antibody high for more than several days or weeks. Short term devation (e.g., days) is sufficient for inducing ovulation in women or increasir~ the number of ovulations in animals in one or a few cycles. When it is desired to partially suppress the activity of LH
25 and thereby augment fertility for longer periods or several cycles, it is useful to induce an immune response that causes the active forrnation of antibodies against LH. To obtain the most useful antibodies, it is necessary to design an ,, capable of inducing a response to a portion of the LH molecule similar to that recognized by BlO5, BllO, or other antibodies tbat form complexes with LH that 30 retain some LH activity. The most ~ are derived from the LH B-subunit since tbis subunit is unique to LH. The ~-subunit is common to LH, TSH, and FSH. Its r ' appears to differ slightly in the hormones (21) and, therefore, useful antibodies agaulst the ~-subunit can also be made. However, antibodies to the alpha-subunit bave the potential of inhibiting the actions of all 35 tbree hormones. If the immune response is directed agairlst hFSH, it may not enhance fertility and may cause ir~fer~ility. When it is desirable to actively immunize women against hLH to enhance fertility, care must be taken to prevent the induction of antibodies to hCG. Antibodies to hCG have the potential to reduce fertility (see below). This is usually not a problem with passive SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 2 1 8 3~
WO 9S12~340 described above since the ' amtibodies to LH are usually cleared from circulation prior to the time that hCG is needed for fertility.
Antigens capable of inducing the for~nation of antibodies against a 5 portion of LH that does not neutralize its activity (i.e., the desired immune response) contain a sequence derived from a portion of the LH B-subunit. Often this is a region of the b~r ~ that remains exposed after LH binds to LH
receptors. To be most antigenic the ,, should also contain sequences that are foreign to the person or animal to be ' If the erltire LH B-subunit is l0 used for -- . one cam get the production of antibodies that completely inhibit LH activity. High titers of ~ antibodies may result in infertility or have other negative ~ ~ ' r such as iDducing prernature , or loss of testis size or function. The best choice of LH he~ ' residues that should be included in the O are those that remain exposed when the hormone binds to LH receptors. These include the portion of the hormone near residues 74-77, aregion of the hormone that is recognized by antibodies that bind to hLH or hCG B-subunits and hLH- or hCG-receptor complexes (26,50). Regions of the B-subunit that should not be used for include sequences near residues 89-92 amd 47-51. These are the locations of the binding sites for aDtibodies tbat neutMlize 2 o activity.
The design of a miniD~I syrlthetic amtigen includes residues of hLH
B-subnDit exposed when LH is bound to LH receptors. Some of these include Pro73-Arg74-Gly75-Val76-Asp77-Pro78-Val79-Val80-Ser81. Synthetic peptides 25 containing these sequences can be coupled to large carrier molecules and used for UsiDg methods well-known in the art (14-16,51-53). The ' ~, amtibodies produced will combine with hLH and inhibit its biological activity.
Often the ability of small peptide amtigens to elicit a high titer immume response is low. The following illustrates how to create am aDtigen whichv~ill be more effective in eliciting antibodies to regions of hLH that remain exposed when the hormone binds to LH receptors. A similar approach could be used to design ~ for amy protein including other vertebrate LH. The best O are well-known to be those that differ ~ from proteins fonnd in an animal yet retain the ter~iary ~ ~l, - of the epitope or epitopes for which an innmune response is desired. An a~ O c~m be made by modifying the hLH B-subunit such that i) it ret~ins the ability to bind to B105 and/or other amtibodies that partially iDhibit the actions of hLH, ii) it loses the SUB5TITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) W095/22340 2 1 8 8~ 6~4 ~

ability to bind to antibodies that neutralize LH activity, and iii) it is antigenic.
Appropriate _ can also be designed starling with a protein other than the LH b~ and modifying it to acquire the ability to bind to Bl05 and/or other antibodies that partially inhibit the actions of hLH. Antibodies tbat partially irlhibit 5 the actions of hL~ are termed "template" antibodies and they are used to monitor and/or positively select for retention of desired epitopes. Good examples of template antibodies are those tbat are found to be effective in increasing fertility as outlined in example 2. Other antibodies which are ter ned "exclusion" antibodiesare used to select against antigen analogs containing l ' '' epitopes.
10 Examples of "exclusion" antibodies are those which completely neutralize the biological activity of hLH and/or which prevent it from binding to its receptor.
There are two overall different strategies which will be termed "A"
and "B" for bnilding the antigens using a ~ ., selection strategy based on template and exclusion antibodies. In approach "A", one starts with the LH B-subunit and uses random ~, to make ' in regions of the molecule outside the epitope recognized by the "template" antibody. The new molecules that are produced are expressed (see below) and their abilities to bind the template antibody are morlitored. Those that continue to bind to the template 20 antibody and have mutations in the other regions of the molecnle are utilized in a second round of ~ on a differerlt portion of the molecule. This process is continned nntil all regions of the protein except the one involved in the antibody binding site (e.g., Bl05) have been modified. The final analogs will bind to template antibodies but not to exclusion a~tibodies. In a variant of this procedure, 25 one begins with a hormone chimera that binds to the template antibody. Such chimeras can be prepared starting with a different species of LU known not to bind template antibodies or to induce a ' ,, immune response to hLH. Examples of this type of ~, are chimeras of the B-subunits of human LEI and bovine LH. These include bovine LH B-suburlit that has been modified by 30 proline 74 with arginine, the residue found in the hnman LH B-subunit at thisposition. Residues of hLH are substituted for l - ~ regions of the different species of LH to create the binding site for the template antibodies. The 1... ~,1,.~,.... regions are identified by aligning the sequences of hLH and the otber LH by the positions of their highly conserved cysteine residues as shown by Pierce 35 and Parsons (l).
In approach ~B" one uses a framework molecule that is not related or only weakly similar to the strncture of gl~,u~lu~l.l hormone B-subnnits. This can include any protein containing loop structures such as those found in the SUBSTITUTE SHEET(RULE 26) WO9~/22340 2t 83~;6~ P~_IIIJ ,_ /

O ' ' folds or between tbe helices in four helix bundle proteins. Tbe sequence of bLH between residues 65-85 is substituted for one of tbe loops by standard _ ~UI~ ' Wben this protein is made in a suihble E. coli expression vector (e.g., one of the T7 vectors obtainable from Novagen), it can be 5 tested for its ability to bind to - ' ' antibodies that bind to bLH-receptor ~ ,' Since only a portion of tbe residues wbicb form tbe epitope will be present in tbe expressed protein, its affinity will be lower tban t~at of bLH for tbe antibody.
To improve tbe selectivity and affinity of tbe proteins made in ~rrr~ ^hPC "A" or "B," one can use eitber a bacterial or l.~ ~, ;"~,h ~,.. expression system (34,36,55-58). In eitber case one prepares libra~ies of mutant analogs and selects tbe mutant baving the bighest affinity for B105, B110, or otber similar template antibody tbat is found to be useful in example 2. In addition, one can also 15 use negative selection using ' antibodies or antisera found not be useful in example 2. This will minimize the ability of tbe antigen to elicit, ' '' antibodies wben used in a vaccine.
The following description applies to a selection method based on 2 0 phage display but could be readily adapted by one skilled in the art of ma~ing and screening libraries to nearly any expression system. One system which is amenable to selection is that based on protein blotting (59). Several different phage display systems can also be used. One involves using a vector (i.e., pX-M13gm) similar to phGH-M13gm (34). When approach "A" discussed earlier is used, this new 25 vector termed pA-M13gm contains either hLH B-subunit or an hLH-LH B-subunit chimera in place of the growth hormone coding sequences of phGH-M13gm (Figure 4). When approach "B" discussed earlier is used, the g~owth hor~none coding sequences of phGH-M13gm are replaced with a gene encoding a molecule umrelated to hLH B-subunit except for the inclusion of the hLH beta subunit coding 30 sequences near residue 74 to give a new vector termed pB-M13gm. The coding sequence of the region of the vector encoding the "B" sequences also conhins restriction sites that perlnit cassette or other types of ,, to permit i~u~_Liull of random sequences. When random sequences are introduced into the coding regions of pA-M13gm or pB-M13gm vectors and the vectors used to 3 5 transform E. coli, a library of mutants will be created. These mutant proteins can be expressed on the surface of M13 phagemid particles as gene m fusion proteins by adding the helper phage M13K07 to the E. coli. These phagemid particles will bind to the antibody in proportion to the affinities of the modified proteins "A" or "B" for the antibody. One convenient method to select for phagen~id particles that SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) w095/22340 218;3j~fi~ r~.,. ;~

bind to template antibodies is to use a solid phase assay protocol. In this assay, the template antibody is used to coat a surface as described (22) and then a solution corltaining the phagemid particles is added. Phagernid particles that do not bind to the surface can be discarded. Those particles that do birld to the antibody on the 5 surface can be removed from the antibody by the addition of low pH buffers (i.e., pH3) and used to ., .~,., r.. E.coli. When a negative selection is desired, one can substitute the exclusion antibodies for the template antibodies on the surface. In this case the particles that attach to the surface are discarded. This process is repeated several times and then the coding regions of several genes for the ~A~ and ~B" proteins are subjected to DNA ~, ,, In this way one can identify sequences that are critical for template antibody binding. In addition, if exclusion antibodies are used, one can select against ~ '' epitopes. Also, one can identify ' in other portions of the molecule tbat have little or no effect on the (,, c~",. ";"" of the desired antibody bindirlg region. When molecules encoded by these sequences are used to immunize animals or humans, they will elicit the formation of antibodies tbat crossreact with hLH. Since these antibodies will recognize a portion of the molecule known to be exposed after hLH binds to its reoeptors, they will be able to irlhibit the actions of hLH but not completely prevent its biological activity.
In some cases template antibodies and exclusion antibodies may not be available. In these cases one can create template antisera and exclusion antisera which can be substituted for the antibodies using the following strategy. Rat ovarian corpora lutea are prepared by treatment of female-rats with P~SG and hCGas described earlier. These corpora lutea are incubated with hLH to permit the hormone to bind to the LH receptors in the ' Then the ' are washed to remove the free hLH and the ' are incubated with the antisera.
Antibodies which become bound to the hLH which is bound to the membrane LH
receptors are then separated from the remainder of the antisera by washing tbe 3 o ' These antibodies are released by treatment of the ' at a pH
below 5. This treatment releases both the antibodies and the hLH from the receptors. The antibodies are separated from hLH by gel filtration or other method and then can be used as templates. Antibodies remaining in the serum depleted oftemplate antibodies can serve as exclusion antibodies.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET(RULE 26) 21 8;356~
WO 9!ilZ2340 ' `

Example 7 D~ , ' of an O to elicit ' ~ antibodies to hCG.
The preferred , for preventing fertility will elicit the production of arltibodies against hCG but not hLH. These can be made using the ,A~I~;Ull procedure described in eAample 6 employing different antibodies. Ternplate antibodies that can be used include B107 arld B109 available from Columbia University. These antibodies bind hCG with high aff~nity and have 0 very low affiDity for the free hCG B-subunit or for hLH. Because they are specific for the h.,~ll ' form of hCG (i.e., the b;UI(IO;~IIJ active form of the molecule), because they do not bind to most other inactive forrns of hCG in the ci~c~ , and because they are ~ that can be recognized by these antibodies with high affinity (i.e., Ka > S x 107~1) will elicit the 15 formation of ' ~ antibodies to hCG. Portions of the B-subunit that should be ~ll r '- lly retained in this O include residues 43-53 and 91-92. In addition, other useful template antibodies are HCZ107 and HCO514 available from Hybritech, San Diego, CA. These antibodies bind to both hCG and its free B-subuDit with high affinity and neutraUze the activity of the hormone. Both have 20 low affinity for hLH. Residues critical for the interaction of HCZ107 with hCG
include those near 114 and residues critical for the interaction of HCO514 with hCG irlclude those r~ear 77.
Example 8 r of ' ~- ' activib.
During active agairlst LH or chorionic O ~ ~, one is creating a site-directed response. Thus, it is essential to use 3 0 proteins that are highly antigenic. This can be facilitated by using the ,' ' 't ' approach described in eAample 6 to rnake the ~, as foreign as possible. In addition, it is desirable to make the molecule .. ' to increase the chances that it will interact with the imrnune system. One good method to make the molecule .. ' is to add residues to either the C-terminus 3 5 or the N-terminus that will cause the for~Dation of an a-heUx that can form a coiled-coil with other molecules. The rules for designing peptide seque~ces that form coiled coils are well-known in the ar~ (60,61). In addition, it is also possible to use rlaturally occuring sequences from proteins known to form coiled-coils such as those found in the I ~,, protein of iDfluenza virus, lamiDin, GCN4, ûr any SUBSTmJTE SHEET(RULE 26) woss/223~0 2l 8 3 5 fi 4 r~
of several other proteirls. It is also possible to add residues to the C-terminus or the N-terminus that will result ir~ the formation of a triple helix similar to that found in collagen. These triple helices will enable tbree or more molecules of antigen tocombirle. Other strategies for increasing the ~ , of the ,, can 5 also be employed including coupling the " end-to-end to make a POI~JlU~ As outlined (Figure 5) it is possible to design a protein having any number of repeating units using this strategy.
The preferred antibodies tbat give a . ~ ,, irlhibition of LH
10 activity usually interact with the free B-subunit and the L.,L.l ' well. Thus, in preparing ~ to elicit the formation of these antibodies it is usually convenient to start with the free B-suburlit. In cor~trast, many preferred antibodies that give a ' ,, inhibition of hCG activity bind the ~, B ~._Ll~ ' better than the free hCG B-suburlit. To elicit the formation of these antibodies, it is often 15 useful to start with an O that is a fusion protem prepared by coupling the C-terminus of the peptide comprised of the hCG B-subunit residues 1-114 to the N-termmus of a flexible protein lir~cer composed of six repeating units of glycine and serme. The C-terminus of this fusion protem is then coupled to the N-terminus ofthe bovine ~-subunit residues 1-96. This provides a smgle ~ ~li~ tbat has the 2 0 overall r - of the B-subunit residues found in hCG and which can be used for directly o~ which can be used as the starting compoumd m a;ample 6. A~' of the antigen can be performed m any fashion that is well-known in the art. This includes mjection, injection in adjuvants, amd coupling the amtigen to a virus.
Example 9 Reversal of the effect of hCG.
Vaccination of women with hCG to irlduce infertility has several desirable properties including 1) the amtibodies will function only if ~ ' has occurred, 2) the treatrnent wiU be long-term (i.e., occur for m;my menstrual cycles), and 3) the women will not need to take pills or have implamts. In addition, the ~ will be reversible usmg progestins that are known to prevent 35 rejection of the fetus by the uterus. These include rn~my ~Jll " ' , ' such as d.yL10 (62). This compound is ' "~ available from Solvay Pl---.~ , 901 Sawyer Road, MoDrietta, Georgia, and has the desired property of not ~ with ~l~ O in ~D. Thus, treatment with u~L, O u..~. does not prevent accurate of ~ll O Ull. Ievels.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) ~8356i WO 95n2340 ' IU~

Women who are actively immunized against hCG will continue to have norn~l menstrual cycles and should ovulate at the e~pected tine during the midpoints of their menstrual cycle. In the procedure for inducing fertility, it is desirable to know when ovulation has occurred. However, it can also be assumed that it has occurred 5 by day 18 of the menstrual cycle. At ovulation, ~, ~, is produced by the corpus luteum under the influence of LH. The 1,l.,, Ull~ causes the increase in the basal body i , that is associated with ovulation and is a known method of ~ ovulation. Another method for ,, the LH surge is to measure LH in urine using one of the over the counter ovulation detection kits.
10 After day 20 the woman desiring to become pregnant begins taking dyL~
(3-6mg three times a day) and 0.625-1.25 mg Premarin (Ayerst Limited, New York, NY). This is sufficierlt to rnimic the secretion of luteal ~ that would be caused by hCG if it were not neutralized as the result of ~
Dydl~ O , treatmerlt is contirlued to prevent menses for 6 weeks. At that time 15 dyLuO_i,Llull., therapy is i ' If serum ~ levels are low, pregnancy has not occurred, menses will ensue, and another attempt at pregnancy can be made. If serum 1 ~ , levels are high, 1 ,. , levels will be high due to pregnancy and placental production of r ~ . Termination of ~y~ will not halt the pregnancy. The serum level of ~JlU ,_~t~l~ can 2 o also be monitored using standard ' ~ i ' , Example 10 ,'' ,, of Male Fertility by Vaccination with FSH
T ' of FSH has been shown to block ferlility in - monkeys and would be expected to block fertility in men (8). It has been extremely difficult to develop a highly-specific hFSH vaccine capable of eliciting high titer ,....1",1,,,,,~ antibodies to FSH for use in any species due to the highly conserved 30 nature of the FSH B-subunit. Methods that have been described for ~ ol of antibodies to hCG can also be applied for d~,~.', of antibodies to hFSH.
Thus, one starts with molecules in which hFSH B-subunit residues 1-111 are substituted for hCG B-suburlit residues 1-114 or 1-117. As a template antibody one can use FSG761 (Hybritech). Since ' ,. antibodies are desired, a preferred 35 starting molecule will also contain the bovine cY-suburlit ~ul~ , coupled to the hFSH B-subunit p~ly,)..~/ti~ through a glyl linker. The use of this vaccine in men will prevent fertility.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET(RULE 26) 2183-~64 WO 9!!i/223~10 Example 11 Details Of The Test Approach Of The Present Inverltion For hCG
1. One obtains ' 3 arltibodies either by making or by purchasing them. One caD also obtain . ~ antisera by rabbits or other animals against hCG. It will also be useful to obtain aDtibodies or antisera against hLH.
2. These antibodies or antisera are used as positive and negative templates to screen libraries of hCG B-subuDit mutants. These libraries can be made by random _ of the hCG B-subunit in par~icular regions of the molecule. Note that it is preferable to use an hCG B-subunit that is missing the C-termiDus or that has a different sequence for this part of the molecule to avoidselectinO for O that are ' ., One CODVenierlt procedure involves the use of phage display techniques also listed below. However p~age display is not essential for the techDique to work.
3. The mutants are permitted to bind to the negative selection antibodies first. In the present example, namely ~. ' . of an hCG vaccine, this would involve biDding to the antibodies to LH or the aDtisera to LH to remove mutants that are '~ identical to LH.

4. The mutants that did not bind to the negative selection antibodies are then permitted to bind to the positive selection antibodies, namely those that were made by hCG During the positive selection process, free hCG
B-subuDit is also added to diDliDate antibo~ies that bind the free subunit and to liDDit the selection process for those antibodies that are dimer specific. The mutants that do not bind to the positive selection antibodies are discarded. In the case of phage expressed proteins, the phage are eluted from the positive selection antibodies and used to infect E. coli.

5. This process is repeated for several rounds to eliminate potential O that are capable of binding to the hLH antibodies and to fur~er 3~ e~clude those that bave low affiDity for hCG antibodies. The DNA sequences encoding the ,, are sequenced. T ~, that differ the most from hCG yet retain the ability to bind to hCG specific antibodies or antisera with high aff~mty are used further.
SliB~TIl ll~E SHEEl lR~; ~ ~3 -i 6 4 ~ WO 95121340 P~-" -. '7

6. If needed, a second roumd of _ is performed to increase the rlumber of differences between the poter~tial ~, and hCG.
The goal is to devise am O that differs from hLH and as much as possible from hCG yet retairls the key aspects of hCG structure that enable it to elicit high titer ' ~ antibodies. These include the regions of the B-subunit other than the C-ter~ninus that differ most from hLE~ B-subunit.

7. Once the major unique antigenic ~' have been selected, the ~ is made ' . ' There are several methods for ~
this. One is to fuse the ~' to a protein that itself is ~ or that forms multimers (e.g., ~,- ). Another is to fuse residues to the protem that form coiled-coils and that will promote ~ Where possible these are from natural proteins tbat are known to elicit an immune response (e.g., flu).

8.A. It is essential to get titers high against the mtact hCG molecule if it is desired to prevent fertilit,v. This may require combining hCG with a molecule tbat is similar to an ~-subunit, The ~Y-sublmit of other gl~u~ is suitable as a starting material.
2û
8.B. A molecule tbat is also a suitable starting poimt is one tbat has the desirable properties of being a single ~l~li~ and that retains the structureof the h~t~"od~_l. In this case, it is desirable to also make mutations in the portion of the molecule derived from the tY-subunit.
8.C. The O can be produced using any convenient method such as expression in E. coli, yeast, or ' cells. It is not required that the ~, be ~l~.,u~ ' The ,, can also be DNA or RNA. They can also be integrated into the coats of viruses.
8.D. It is also not required to start with the hCG B-subunit. One can start with any protein. The key is to use the template strategy to select the proteins that one wants. Por example, one can start with a f helix bundle and ~`"I'' the amino acid sequences from portions of the hCG B-subunit that are near residues 38-57 and 91-92. One can also start with an ,, including one that is an " ~,~.., ' ' antibody to an hCG-specific antibody.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 9!;1223 iO 2 i ~ 4 P~ l/, 7 `38' Figure l is a graph illustrating the influence of antibodies and antiæra on the binding of ~ rJ hLH to LH receptors. Figure 1 illustrates the influence of three different types of antibodies or antisera on tbe binding of hLH
to LH receptors. Antibody "A" has little or no effect on the binding of the 5 hormone to receptors. Its main potential inhibitory influence in vivo would be on the .-~ ' of the hormone. Antibody "B" has the ability to partially block the binding of hLH to LH receptors. Thus, although the antibody would be inhibitory in vivo, even a very large excess of tbis antibody relative to LH would be uliable to reduce its activity below 40% as shown here. Note that different antibodies can be 10 produced that have different abilities to block the activities of LH (e.g., Bl05 and BllO), Antibody ~B" is an example of the general type of antibody that is most useful in vivo. Antibody rc" is a ' , antibody since at high it can prevent the activity of hLH. Due to its potential to preverlt LH activity, an excess of this antibody would inhibit fertility.
Figure 2 is a graph ill istrating the influence of arltibodies and antisera on the ability of hLH to induce L' ~ J~ - ` in vitro. Figure 2 illustrates the effects of three antibodies on the ability of LH to induce h~ IL71J~ synthesis (i.e., :,14l~, l~.r,. -:~) from rat testes Leydig cell , Curve "A"
20 illustrates the ability of hLH to induce ', in the absence of antibodies.
Curve "B" illustrates the ability of hLH to ,induce ~Ll-- l-.~,. in the presence of a rnassive excess of antibody that can reduce hLH activity by d~ 3-fold.
Curve "C" illustrates the ability of hLH to induce - l-.," ~ in the presence of a massive excess of antibody tbat can reduce hLH activity by 3~ 20-25 fold. Curve "D" illustrates the ability of hLH to induce ' " in the presence of a massive excess of antibody that can neutralize hLH activity. The decision to use antibody ~B" and/or "C" in vivo will depend on the ratio of LH/FSH and the extent that one desires to suppress LH activity. When hLH levels are high and need to be reduced the most, antibody "C" would be preferred. When 30 hLH/bFSH ratios are only slightly elevated, antibody "B" would be preferred~ Use of antibody "D" at very high doses would result in infertility. It is anticipated that many useful antibodies will be found having the ability to reduce the activity of hLH or other LH on ovarian cells as well as testes cells.
Figure 3 is a graph illusbatmg the influence of anbbodies and antisera on the ability of hLH to induce (. .i..~, ... in vivo. Figure 3 illusbates the effects of three different anbbodies on i formation in males when massive amounts of the anbbodies are r ' ' ' ' i.V. prior to different amounts of hLH also given i.v. In all the examples illusbated, the quanbty of anbbody SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) l 2183~6~
~vo 95/22340 P~ 7 ' greatly exceeds that of hLH on a molar basis. Similar effects would be expected for the antibodies on ~ in females. Curve "A" shows the effect of hLH on ~ m the absence of antibody. Curve "B" illustrates the effect of a massive amount of antibody which can inhibit the activity of hLH by 5 40% at most. Curve "C" illustrates the influence of a massive amount of antibody which can inhibit the activity of hLE~ by 95% at most. Curve "D" illustrates theeffects of a massive amount of a l ~ arltibody.
Figure 4 shows vectors that can be used in i ,' '.
0 sdection strategies. These vectors are sirnilar in design as that described by Bass et al. (34) and are made by replacing the coding sequences for humam growth hormone with those of the cY-subunits of hLH or an hLH chimera using pol~
chain reaction ~ procedures that are standard in the art such as the SOEing procedure described by Ho, et al. (63). Similar vectors for the generation 15 of O to hCG and hFSH could be made by replacing the growth hormone sequence with the coding sequences of the hCG B-subunit residues 1-114, hFSH B-subunit residues 1-111, the coding sequences of the hCG B-subunit residues 1-114coupled 5' of the coding sequences for amino acids ol~ L~
ol~~l ol~''l ~~ v~ ol~ ~~ ~ coupled 5 of the coding 2 o sequences for the bovine c~-subunit, or the coding sequerlces of the hFSH B-subunit residues 1-111 coupled 5' of the coding sequences for arnino acids Ol~. -Ol~n ~ coupled 5of the coding sequences for the bovine cY-subunit. In tbis Figure the "lac p"
represents the lac promoter, Sm represerlts the leader secquence, "hLH beta"
25 represents the hurnan LH beta subunit coding sequence from codon 1 to codon 114, "M13 gene m~ represents the coding sequence of the M13 gene protein codons 198410 in the same reading frame as the Sm and human LH beta codons. "Amp resistance: is the gene from the pBR322 that encodes the B l en~yme, "322 ori" is the origin of replication from pBR322, and "fl ori" is the origin of 3 o replication from M13. Mutations would be made m the "bLH beta" portion of this vector. In addition, the "hLH beta" codons could be replaced with the codons forthe other proteins described in the text.
Figure 5 shows the types of O that have increased 35 allliO_Ifi~ y for use in active against LH, hCG, or FSH. Some of these have the heptad repeat known to form a coiled-coil (panel A). Others have a repeat known to form a triple heli~ (panel B). These give enhanced because they æ polymeric. Other methods of rnaking polymeric include preparing fusion proteins with either the C-terminus (panel C) or the N-SUBSTITUTE SHEET(RULE 26) W0 95/22340 ~ r~
terminus of ~' " (panel D). A single chain ~O comprised of a fusion protein of the bovine a-subunit and tbe B-subunits of hCG and hFSH would have enhanced ~i~_..._;iy in humans.
Illustration A: The codons for two or more heptad repeats are inserted in frame between codon 114 and the i codon of the LH or analog B-subunit. Design of the heptad repeat is silnilar to tbat described m reference 60.
Each repeat contains 7 amino acids labeld in order "A, B, C, D, E, F, G" tbat have the following properties. Amino acids a and d are L,l~l' ' and are leucine, isoleucine, or valine. Amino acids E amd G are charged amino acids. Amino acid E should have the opposite charge as amino acid G to forrn ~~ ~ ' Thus if E
is a glutamate, then G should be a Iyslne. Amino acids "B,C,F" can be nearly anytype that favors helix formation. Thus, they should contam few if any prolines or glycines.
Illustration B: The codorls for 6 or more triplet amino acid repeats are inserted in frame be~ween codon 114 and the i codon of the B-unit.
These triplets encode amino acids glycine, X, Y wherer X and Y are any amino acid known to be part of the collagen sequence that forms a triple helix.
Illustration C: The codons for the IgG heavy chain are inserted 5'of codon 1 of the B-suburlit. When these genes are co-expressed with lamda or kappa IgG light chain, they will cause the production of an IgG
containing two B-subunits at its C-terrninus.
Illustration D: The codons for tbe IgG heavy chain region lacking the variable and fir$ constant region are inserted in frame between codon 114 and the l codon of the B-subunit.
3 o Illustration E: Codons for a g1~. repeat sequerlce (i.e., GS
repeat) such as the sequence olYI- -olY~~L-~~
gly.,l~ c glyl ~ c-OI~I L_l~-glycine are inserted in frame between codon 114 and the, codon of a B-subunit analog. The last codon of this analog becomes 126. Next, codons 1-96 for the bovine or other ~Y-subunit or 3 5 codons 1-92 of the h= cY-subunit are ir~serted in frame between codons 126 and the codon of the B-subunit construct conlaining the poly-~l~, - -tail. This for~ns a single subunit ~ ' ,, that conveys the structure of ~he o~UI~ ~ hormone h~,~.~ ' .
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) ~ ~2l8336~
WO 95117.340 r~

Illustration F: Codons for the human, bovine, othe} vertebrate ~-subunit, or analog sequence are added between the last codon and the i codon of a gene coding for a heptad repeat containing only positively charged amrno acids at positions E and G in the heptade repeat (i.e., Heptad repeat #l) 5 using methods known to any expert skilled in standard DNA
techniques for preparing and expressing genes. When this gene is expressed in bacterial, or yeast, or other eukaryotic cells or orgaoisms it will produce a protein having the positively charged heptad repeat at its amino terminus and an a-subunit or a-subunit analog at its carboxy ter~ninus. Codons for a heptad repeat encoding 10 negatively charged arnino acids at positions E and G (i.e., Heptad repeat #2) are added between the last codon and the l codon for a B-subunit analog.
When this gene is expressed in bacteria or yeast or other eukaryotic cells or organisms, it will produce a protein having a B-subunit or analog at its amino terminus and the negatively charged heptad repeat at its carboxy ter~ninus.
Illustration G: This shows the h~,~.. that is forlned when the proteins having the form described in illustration F are mixed. The sequences ofheptad repeat #l and heptad repeat #2 are chosen to foster the for~nation of h~ ,., " aod reduce the for~nation of ' Illustration H: Multimers are formed when the , in F aod G are mixed due to the: of the a- and B-subulots and the heptad repeats. In A - H, the ~N-" and n-c" refer to the amino terminus aod the carboxy terminus of the proteios. The ri" refers to a single wot 25 that can be repeated several times. Note also that while the heptad repeats illustrated here are identical, use of identical repeats is not essen~ial. There are large numbers of proteios that contain .w.. heptad repeats that are able to form I or ~ L (60).
3 0 Single chain " ' ~, with lutropin arld/or ~ ~, sctlvib.
Example 12 I~, ' and use of Analog #l (c.f., Table l), a single chain ~ A
with lutropin activib. (See Flgure 63 The coding sequences for analog #l listed in Table l can be ~L~,i,~d using the block ligation approach described (54) or they can be prepared starting with the coding sequerlces for the hCG B-subunit aod the h=
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) wo ssn2340 ~ P~ _. r ~-subunit. These can be cloned from a human placental cDNA librarv. The sequences encoding the signal peptide from the human ~-subnnit are deleted and the coding sequences for the proteins are spliced together using the SOEing technique (63) as follows: Primer #l (lO0 ng) having the sequence 5'-GCTGCT-3' and primer #2 (lO0 ng) having the sequence 3'-GGGAGCCTGTGGGGCTAGGAGGGGGTTCCTAGGCCATCGCCTAGACCAT
CG-S' are rnLxed with the hCG l~-subunit cDNA (l ,ag) which serves as a templateand PCR is performed for 25 l cycles of 94C (30 seconds), 50C (60 10 seconds), 72C (60 seconds) using Pfu DNA ~Jlr~~ purchased from Strate-gene, LaJolla, CA and ~' !r ' ' i .' l' and PCR buffer as described (63). Primer #3 (lO0 ng) having the sequence 5'-GGATCCGGTAGCGGATCTGGTAGCGCTCCTGATGTGCAGGATTGCCCA-3 ' and primer #4 (lO0 ng) having the sequence 3'-GATTAGGCCT-S' are mixed with human ~-subunit cDNA (l~g) which serves as a template and PCR is perforrned for 25 , cycles of 94C (30 seconds), 50C (60 seconds), 72C (60 seconds) using Pfu DNA pvl~_.~. and u~,lwLid~ ,' and PCR buffer as described (63). These two PCR
20 reactions give products that serve as ' ternplates in a third (final) PCR
reaction that gives the desired constructs in a form suitable for cloning. The final PCR reaction is performed by mixing l ~l of the products fror~ the first two PCRreactions along with primer #5 having the sequence 5'-ATGAAATCGACGGAATCAGACTCGAGCCAAGG-3' and primer #6 having the 25 sequence 3'-ATTCCATGGCCTAGGTAGAGTTCGATTAGGCCT-5' for 25 cycles of 94C (30 seconds), 50C (60 seconds), 72C (60 seconds) using Pfu DNA ~ l~., additional .I;V~I.~I.,I.,VL;.~ ,' ', and PCR
buffer. The final PCR product is digested with restriction enzymes XhoI and BglII
and ligated into pSVL (an expression vector obtained from Pharrnacia, Piscataway, 3 o Nn that has been digested with Xhol and BamHI to create a vector that will direct the synthesis of Analog l. The XhoI site of the PCR product will ligate to the Xhol site of pSVL and the BglII site of the PCR product will ligate to the BarnHI site of pSVL. The XhoI site will be , ' and the BglII and BamEII sites will be eliminated. The sequences of the coding regions (i.e., between the Xbal and KpnI35 sites, c.f., Figure 6) of several constructs are ~' ' until one is found ~at encodes a protein having the desired amino acid sequence illustrated in Figure 6.
This is done to eliminate the possible errors that arise as the result of PCR and other DNA , ' and is a standard precaution to be certain that the desired sequence is obtained. The expressed protein is e~pected to lack arnino acid residues SUB5TITUTE SHEET(RULE 26) ~2,1~8,3,~ fi.~
wo ssr 2340 ' ' , r~ 7 MEMFQl~T T.T T T T T CMGGTWA tbat are the part of the signal sequence found m hCG B-subunit and which are removed by tbe cell during protein syntbesis. This vector is expressed in COS-7 cells as described (64) and the protem released into the medium is tested for its ability to iDhibit the binding of ~; ' ' hCG to ' antibodies or to antisera prepared against hCG. The protein made by the COS-7 cells will compete with ' ' ' hCG for binding to one or more of the following antibodies: B101 (obtained from Columbia University), B105 (obtamed from Columbia University), B107 (obtamed from Columbia University), B109 (obtained from Columbia University), A201 (obtained from Columbia University), HCU061 (obtained from Hybritech), HCZ107 (obtained from Hybritech), or HCO514 (obtained from Hybritech), ZMCG18 (obtained from Pierce), ZMCG13 (obtained from Pierce), or ZMCG7 (obtained from Pierce) or 518B7 (obtained from Dr. Janet Roser, University of California at Davis). The protein released mto the medium will compete with ~ , I hCG for bindmg to receptors on corpora lutea as described by Campbell, Dean-E~ug, and Moyle (64).
It would be expected to stimulate i formation in a Leydig cell assay performed similar to that described by Moyle et al. (37) and to stimulate ovulation m female animals and to stimulate, ~ formation m male marnmals. This analog would also be expected to be a good starting poimt for use in a , ~
vaccme using the template approach outlined in Example 11. This analog is shown im Table 1 as Analog #1 and contaiDs a liDker sequence of GSGSGSGS. This liDker can be modified by digesting the e~pression vector with Apal and Eco47m restriction enzymes, discarding the short piece, ligating a cassette of synthetic double stranded DNA with the desired amino acid codons containing any Dumber of glycine or serine codons or other amino acid codons into the ApaI/Eco47m site by standard methods, sequencing the region between the Apal/Eco47m to coDfirm the desired mutations have been made, and expressing the protein in COS-7 cells. This can be done to optimize the activity of the single cbain ,, ' ~, The protenn is expected to function as a monomer or to combine to form active L____-- In addition, several copies of the protein would be expected to combine to fo~m multimers.
Example 13 F~ and use of Analog #2, a single chain O ' ., with lutropin activi~. (See Figure 7) The coding sequences for Analog ,Y2 listed m Table 1 can be using the block ligation approach described (54) or they can be SUBSTITUTE SH EET (RU LE ~6) wog~o ~ 6i .~". .-, ~
prepared by PCR using primers #l and #7 and the expression construct deæribed inExample 12 and in Figure 6 as a template. The sequence of primer #7 is 3'-TGGTGGGGAACTGGACACTACTGGGCGCCCCTAGGCCATCG-5'. The final PCR product is digested with restriction enzymes XhoI and BamHI and ligated withthe large fraglnent of DNA obtained by digesting the expression construct described im Example 12 with Xhol and BamHI. The sequences of the coding regions between the XhoI and BarnHI sites of several constructs ate determined until one is found that encodes a protein having the amino acid sequence described in Figure 7 is obtamed. This will insure that clonmg a~tifacts are not present m the region that has been altered. The expressed protein is expected to lack an~ino acid residuesMEMFQ~'.r T .T T J .T 3 CMGGTWA that are the part of the signal sequence found in hCG B-subunit and which are temoved by the cell during protein synthesis. This vector is expressed in COS-7 cells and the protem released into the medium is tested for its ability to inhibit the binding of ' ' hCG to antibodies or to antisera prepared against hCG. The protenn made by the COS-7 cells will compete with hCG for binding to one or more of tbe following antibodies: B101 (obtained from Columbia Urliversity), Bl05 (obtained from Columbia University), B107 (obtained from Columbia University), B109 (obtained from Columbia Urliversity), A201 (obtained from Columbia University), ~CU061 (obtained from Hybritech), or HCO514 (obtained from Hybritech), ZMCG18 (obtained from Pierce), ZMCG13 (obtained fro~n Pierce), or ZMCG7 (obtamed from Pierce) or 518B7 (obtained from Dr. Janet Roær, University of CaTifornia at Davis). The proteim released into the medium will compete with "..1,.~1-1,.1~1 hCG for binding to receptors on corpora lutea as described by 25 Campbell, D 1~:~" and Moyle (6~'.). It would be expected to stimu.'ate formation in a Leydig cell assay performed similar to that described by Moyle et al. (37) and to stimulate ovulation in female animals and to stimulate u _ formation in male mammals. This anaTog wou,'d also be expected to be a good startulg point for use in a ~ .., vaccine using tbe template approach 30 outlined in Example 11 This analog is shown in Table 1 as Analog #2 and contains a linker sequence of GCf~t'T~ . This Iinker can be modified by digesting the expression vector with SstlI and EcO47m restriction enzymes, discarding the short piece, ligating a cassette of synthetic double stranded DNA with the desired amino acid codons containing any number of glycine or 3s SD codons or other amino acid codons irlto the SstII/Eco47m site by standard methods, sequencing the region between the SstL/Eco47m to conf~rm the desired mutations have been made, and expressing the protein m COS-7 cells. This can be done to optim ze the activity of the single chain ", ~( . The protein is expected to function as a monomer or to combine to form active ~ In SUBSTITUTE SHEET(RULE26) W095/22340 - ~ r~". 7 addition, several copies of the protein would be expected to combine to form multimers.
Ex~unple 14 and use of Analog #3, a single chain ~ , with lutropin activity. (See Figu}e ~) The coding sequences for analog #3 listed in Table 1 can be 0 Dy~lh~D~ using tbe block ligation approach described (54) or they can be prepared in the fashion as described for Analog #2 in Example 13 except that primers #1 and #7 are replaced with primers #8 and #9 and that the hLH B-subunitcDNA is used as a template in place of the hCG B-subunit cDNA. The hLH B-subunit cDNA can be obtained by screening a human pituitary library. The 15 sequence of primer #8 is 5'-ATGAAATCGACGGAATCAGACTCGAGCCAAGGAATGGAGATGCTCCAGG
GGCTGCT-3' and the sequence of primer #9 is 3'-GTGGGGAACTGGACACTGGTGGGGGTTCCTAGGCCATCGCCTAGACCATC
G-S'. The final PCR product is digested with restriction enzymes XhoI and BamHI
20 and subcloned into the XhoI/BamHI sites of the expression vector created as described in Example 12. The sequences of the coding regions between the XhoI
and BamHI sites of several constructs are ;l~ ' until one is foun~ that encodes a protein having the amino acid sequence shown in Figure 8. The expressed protein is expected to laclc amino acid residues MEMLQt~.T T T T T T T Q~ ~GGAWA tbat are 2 5 the part of the signal sequence found in hLH B-subunit and which are removed by the cell during protein sy-nthesis. This vector is e~pressed in COS-7 cells and the protein released into the medium is tested for its ability to inhibit the binding of - -- hCG to ' ' antibodies or to arltisera prepared agairlst hCG.
The protein made by the COS-7 cells will compete with ' ' ' hCG for 3 o binding to one or more of the following arltibodies: B101 (obtained from Columbia University), B105 (obtained from Columbia University), A201 (obtained from Columbia University), HCU061 (obtained from Hybritech), ZMCG7 (obtained from Pierce) or 518B7 (obtained from Dr. Janet Roser, University of California at Davis). The protein released into the medium will compete with ' ' ' ' hCG
35 for binding to receptors on corpora lutea as described by Campbell, Dean-Emig, and Moyle (64). It would be expected to stimulate i formation in a Leydig cell assay performed similar to that described by Moyle et al. (37) and to stimulate ovulation in femaTe anitnals and to stimulate i formation in male mammals. This analog would also be expected to be a good starting point for SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO95t22340 use m designing vaccmes to enb;mce or inhibit fertility using tbe template procedure outlined earlier. This analog is shown in Table I as Analog #3 and contains a linker sequence of GSGSGSG~. This linker cam be modified by digestmg the expression vector with BamHI and Eco47m . ' ' restriction enzymes, 5 discarding tbe short piece, ligating a cassette of syrlthetic double stranded DNA
with the desired amino acid codons containing any number of glycine or serine codons or other amino acid codons imto the BamHI/Eco47m site by standard methods, sequencing the region between the BamHI/Eco47III to confirm the desiredmutations have been made, and expressing the protein m COS-7 cells. This cam be 10 done to optimize the activity of the single cham ~ul~ull,r The protem is expected to function as a monomer or to combine to form active l - ~ In addition, several copies of the protein would be expected to combine to form multimers.
Example 15 E~, and use of Analog #4, a single chain ~ with ~ollitropin actinb. (See Figure 9) The coding sequences for analog #4 listed in Table 1 can be ~ ' ' using the block ligation approach described (54) or they can be prepared m the fashion as described for Analog #2 m Example 13 except that primers #l and #7 are replaced with primers #10 and #11 and tbat the hFSH B-subunit cDNA is used as a template in place of the hCG B-subunit cDNA. The 25 hFSH ~subunit cDNA cam be obtained from a human pituitary gland library. The sequence of primer #10 is 5'-ATGAAATCGACGGAATCAGACTCGAGCCAAGGATGAAGACACTCCAGTT
C-3' and the sequence of primer #11 is 3'-GACGAGGAAACCACTTTA~ l AGGCCATCGCCTAGACCA-S ' .
30 The final PCR product is digested with restriction enzymes XhoI and Ban~II and subcloned into the XhoI/BamHI sites of the expression vector created as described m Example 12. The sequences of the coding regions between the Xbal and Barn~l[
sites of several constructs are determined lmtil one is found tbat encodes a protein having the amino acid sequence illustrated m Figure 9. The expressed protein is 3 5 expected to lack D acid residues MKTI12FFFLFCCWKAICC that are the part of the signal sequence foumd in hFSH B-subunit and which are removed by the cellduring protem synthesis. The vector is expressed in COS-7 cells and the protem made by the cells will compete with ' ' ' hFSH for bmding to one or more of the following antibodies: ZMFSl (obtamed from Pierce), A201 (obtamed SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26~

21 83~ 64 ~
WO95122340 - ' }~~

from Columbia University), HCU061 (obtained from Hybritech), FSG761 (obtained from Hybritech), FSR093.3 (obtained from Hybritech), FSH107 (obtained from Hybritech), FSB061 (obtamed from Hybritech), FSM210 (obtained from Hybritech), and FSM268 (obtamed from Hybritech). The protein released 5 mto the medium will compete with hFSH for binding to receptors on bovine testes as described by Campbell, Dean-Emig, and Moyle (6~TI). It would be expected to stimulate estradiol formation in a granulosa cell assay performed similar to that described by Skaf et al (65) and to stimulate follicle ~ .', and ' ~ in female and male mammals. This analog is also a useful starting 10 compolmd to select for an , that elicits antibodies to FSH and is part of a CUIIlIO.L~ , vaccine. This analog is sho vn in Table 1 as Analog #4 and contains a linker sequence of (~T~ T~, This lir~ker can be modified by digesting the expression vector with Apal and Eco47m ' ' restriction enzymes, discarding the short piece, ligating a cassette of synthetic double stranded DNA5 with the desired amino acid codons containing any number of glycine or serine codons or other arnino acid codons into the BamHI/Eco47m site by standard methods, sequencing the region between the ApaI/Eco47m to conflrm the desired mutations have been made, and expressing the protein in COS-7 cells. This can bedone to optimize the activity of the single chain i. ' , The protem is 2 o expected to fimction as a monomer or to combirle to form active ' " In addition, several copies of the protein would be e~pected to combine to form multimers.
E xample 16 Fa ~, and use of Analog #5, a single chain ~ ' ' ., with FSII
activity that is ~ more similar to hCG than hFSH. (See Figure 10) The coding sequences for analog #5 listed m Table 1 can be 3 0 ~J - ' ' using the block ligation approach described (S4) or they can be prepared in the fashion as described for Analog #2 in Example 13 except that primer #7 is replaced with primer #12. The sequence of primer #12 is 3'-CGACAGTCGACAGTTACACGTGAGACGCTGTCG~ J l GACTAACATG
ACACGCTCCGGACCCCGGGTCGATGACGAGGAAACCACTTTA~
35 CTAGGCCATCa3'. The final PCR product is digested with restriction enzymes XhoI and BamHI and subcloned into the XhoVBamHI sites of the expression vector created as described in Example 12. The sequences of the coding regions between the XbaI and BamHI sites of several constructs are deterlnined ur~il one is fonnd that encodes a protein having the amino acid sequence illustrated in Figure 10. The SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE Z6) WO 95/2 ~40 2 ~ g ~ - T._~ll . /
- 4~3 -expressed protem is expected to lack amino acid residues MEMLOt'lT .T .T .r .T T .T .QI' ~GGAWA that are the part of the signal sequence found in hCG B-subunit and which are removed by the cell during protein synthesis. This vector is expressed in COS-7 cells and the protem released mto the medium is 5 tested for its ability to inhibit the binding of ' ' hCG to ' antibodies or to antisera prepared against hCG. The protein made by the COS-7 cells will compete with - - - hCG for binding to one or more of the followirlg antibodies: B101 (obtained from Columbia University), B105 (obtairledfrom Columbia University), B107 (obtairled from Columbia University). B109 10 (obtained from Columbia University), A201 (obtairled from Columbia University), HCU061 (obtained from Hybritech), or HCO514 (obtamed from H.~. b), ZMCG18 (obtained from Pierce), ZMCG13 (obtained from Pierce), or ZMCG7 (obtained from Pierce) or 518B7 (obtained from Dr. Janet Roser, University of Califorlua at Davis). The protein released into the medinm will compete with 15 hFSH for binding to receptors on bovine testes as described by Campbell, Dean-Emig, and Moyle (64). It would be expected to stimulate estradiol for~nation in a granulosa cell assay performed similar to that described by Skaf et al (65) and to stimulate follicle d~, ". and . ~ in female and rnale mammals.
This analog is shown in Table 1 as Analog #5 and contains a linker sequence of 20 GSGSGSGS. This linker can be modified by digesting the expression vector with ApaI and Eco47m restriction enzymes. discarding the sho~t piece, ligating a cassette of syntbetic double stranded DNA with tbe desired amino acidcodons containing any nnnnber of glycine or serine codons or other amino acid codons into the BamHI/Eco47m site by standard methods, sequencing the region 25 between the ApaI/Eco47m to conf~m the desired mutations have been made, and expressing the protein in COS-7 cells. This can be done to optimize the activity of the single chain , . The protein is expected to function as a monomer or to combine to form active l - In addition. several copies of the protein would be expected to combine to form multimers.
Example 17 and use of Analog #6, a single c~hain O ' ., with FSH and LH activities that is ~ more silmilar to hCG than hFSH. (See Figure 3 5 11) The codmg sequences for analog #6 listed in Table 1 can be ~ ' using the block ligation approach described (54) or they can be prepared in the fashion as described for Analog #2 in Example 13 except that SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) i ~ ~ ~I 8~6~
WO 9S/22340 P.,l/. _ _.

primer #7 is replaced with primer #13. The sequence of primer #13 is 3'-ACGGCGGCGTCGTGGTGACTGACGTGACACGCTCCGGACCCCGGGTCGA
TGACGAGGAAACCACTTTA ;~ lAGGCCATCaS'. The final PCR
product is digested with restriction enzymes XhoI and BamHI and subcloned into the XhoI/Ban~HI sites of the expression vector created as described in Example 12.
The sequences of the coding regions between the XbaI and BamHI sites of several constructs are deter nined until one is found that encodes a protein having the amino acid æquence illustrated in Figure 11. The expressed protein is expected to lack amino acid residues ME~fLQr.T T T T T T T Qr f CGAWA that are the palt of the signal sequence found in hCG-subunit and which are removed by the cell during protein synthesis. This vector is expressed in COS-7 cells and the protein released into the medium is tested for its ability to inhibit the binding of " ' hCG to l antibodies or to antisera prepared against hCG. The protein made by the COS-7 cells will compete with " ' hCG for binding to one or more of the following antibodies: B101 (obtained from Columbia University), B105 (obtained from Columbia University), B107 (obtained from Columbia University), B109 (obtained from Columbia University), A201 (obtained from Columbia University), HCU061 (obtained from Hybritech), or HCO514 (obtained from Hybritech), ZMCG18 (obtained from Pierce), ZMCG13 (obtained from Pierce), or ZMCG7 (obtained from Pierce) or 518B7 (obtained from Dr. Janet Roser, University of California at Davis). The protein released into the medium will compete with hFSH for binding to receptors on bovine testes as described by Campbell, Dean-Emig, and Moyle (64). It would be expected to stimulate estradiolformation in a grar~losa ceD assay performed similar to that described by Skaf et al (65) and to stimulate follicle ~. r ' and sl ~ in female and male mammals. The protein released into the medium will compete with ~
hCG for binding to receptors on corpora lutea as described by Campbell, Dean-Emig, and Moyle (64). It would be expected to stimulate i ~.( formation in a Leydig cell assay perfolmed similar to that described by Moyle et al. (37) and to stimulate ovulation in female animals and to stimulate i ~ formation in male mammals. This analog is shown in Table 1 as Analog #6 and conblins a linker sequence of GSGSGSGS. This linker can be modified by digesting the expression vector with ApaI and Eco47m ' ' restriction enzymes, discarding the short piece, ligating a cassette of synthetic double stranded DNAwith the desired amino acid wdons wntaining any r~nber of glycine or serine wdons or other amino acid codons into the BarnHI/Eco47m site by standard methods, sequencing the region between the Apal/Eco47m to confrm the desired mutations have been made, and expressing the protein in COS-7 oells. This can bedone to optimize the activity of the single chain g.. ~ "~ The protein is SU~SllTUTE SHEEr (~ 26~

2183~64 WO 9~/22340 expected to function as a monomer or to combine to for~n active l In addition, several copies of the protein would be expected to combine to form multimers.
Example 18 ~, and use of Analog #7, a single chain ~ ;vith FSH and LH activities that is ~1. . "~ more simTlar to hCG than hFSH.
The coding sequences for aTlalog #7 listed in Table 1 can be DJII~ D;~i using the block ligation approach described (54) or they can be prepared in the fashion as described for Analog #2 in Example 13 except that primer #7 is replaced with primer #14. The sequence of primer #14 is 3'-ACGGCGGCGTCGTGGTGACTGACGTGACACGCTCCGGACCCCGGGTCGA
TGACGAGGAAACCACTTCCTAGGCCATCG-5'. The fmal PCR product is digested with restriction enzymes XhoI and BamHI and subcloned into the XhoVBamHI sites of the expression vector created as described in l~xample 12.
The sequences of the coding regions between the Xbal and BaTnHI sites of severalconstructs are deterlnined until one is found that encodes a protein having the amino acid sequence illustrated in Figure 12. The expressed protein is expected to lack aTnino acid residues MEMLQr~T T~T T T T T .~r'''~WA that are the part of the signal sequence found in hCG B-subunit aTIo which are removed by the cell during protein synthesis. This vector is expressed in COS-7 cells and the protein released into the medium is tested for its ability to ir~hibit tbe binding of ' hCG to ' ' antibodies or to antisera prepared against hCG. The protein made by the COS-7 cells will compete with ' hCG for binding to one or more of the following aTItibodies: B101 (obtained from Columbia University), B105 (obtained from Columbia University), B107 (obtained from Columbia University), B109 (obtained from Columbia University), A201 (obtained from Colur~bia University), HCU061 (obtained from ~Iybritech), or HCO514 (obtained from Hybritech), ZMCG18 (obtained from Pierce), ZMCG13 (obtained from Pierce), or ZMCG7 (obtained from Pierce) or 518B7 (obtained from Dr. Janet R~ser, University of California at Davis). The protein released into the medium will compete witb hFSH for binding to receptors on bovine testes as described by 3 5 Campbell, D E-l~;6. aTId Moyle (64). It would be expected to stimulate estradiol formation in a granulosa cell assay performed siTnilar to that described by Skaf et al (65) aTId to stimulate follicle d~v~lv~ and . , in female aTId male mammals. The protein released iTltO the medium will compete with ~ ,f l~
hCG for binding to receptors on corpora lutea as described by Campbell, Dean-SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) ~1 83S6~
WO 95~22340 p~"~

Emig, and Moyle (64). It would be expected to stimulate uue fûrmation in a Leydig cell assay performed similar to that described by Moyle et al. (37) and to stimulate ovulation in female animals and to stimulate Ull~:: formation in male mammals. This analog is shown in Table 1 as Analog #17 and contains a 5 linker sequence of GSGSGSGS. This linker can be modified by digesting the expression vector with Apal and Eco47III ' ' restriction enzymes, discarding the short piece, ligating a cassette of synthetic double stranded DNAwith the desired amino acid codons containing any number of glycine or serine codons or other amino acid codons mto the BarnHI/Eco47m site by standard 10 methods, sequencing the region between the ApaI/Eco47m to confirm the desiredmutations have been made, and expressing the protein in COS-7 cells. This can bedone to optimize the activity of the single chain b~,u~uL,~I The protein is expected to function as a monomer or to combine to form active ~ In addition, several copies of the protein would be expected to combine to form 15 multimers.
Example 19 2 0 1~ smd use of Analog #8, a Dingle chain O ' ~ ~ - with FSH smd LEI activities that is Dl~ more similar to hCG than hFSEI. (See Figure 13) The coding sequences for analog #8 listed in Table 1 can be 25 D.~` h~Di~d using the block ligation approach described (54) or they can be prepared in the fashion as described for Analog #2 in Example 13 except that primer #7 is replaced with primer #15. The sequence of primer #lS is 3'-ACGGCGGC~ l ~'~i l GGTGACTGACGTGACACGCTCCGGACCCCGGGTCGA
TGACGCTACTGGGCGCCCCTAGGCCATCG-5'. The final PCR product is 3 0 digested with restriction enzymes XhoI and B~mTTT and subcloned into the XhoI/BamHI sites of the expression vector created as described in Example 12.
The sequences of the coding regions between the XbaI and BamHI sites of several constructs are ' ' un~il one is found that encodes a protein having the amino acid sequence illustrated in Figure 13. The expressed protein is expected to lack 35 amino acid residues MEMLO~Tr T T T T T T ,C~r 'GGAWA that are the part of the signal sequence found in hCG B-subunit and which are removed by the cell during proteinsynthesis. This vector is expressed in COS-7 cells and the protein releæed into the medium is tested for its ability to inbibit the bindmg of . ' hCG to ' ' antibodies or to antisera prepared against hCG. The protein made by SUBSmUTE SHEET (RULE 26) ~f 83s~`k WO 95n2.^~40 the COS-7 ceDs will compete with I- ' hCG for binding to one or more of the foDowing antibodies: B101 (obtained from Columbia University), B105 (obtained from Columbia University), B107 (obtained from Columbia University), B109 (obtained from Columbia University), A201 (obtained from Columbia University), HCU061 (obtained from Hybritech), or HCO514 (obtained from Hybritech), ZMCG18 (obtained from Pierce), ZMCG13 (obtained from Pierce), or ZMCG7 (obtained from Pierce) or 518B7 (obtained from Dr. Janet Roser, University of California at Davis). The protein released into the medium wiD
compete with hFSH for binding to receptors on bovine testes as described by Campbell, Dean-Emig, and Moyle (64). It would be expected to stimulate estradiolformation in a granulosa cell assay performed similar to that described by Skaf et al (65) and to stimulate foDicle J~v. ' ~ and, ,, in female and male mammals. The protein released into the medium wi'll compete with ' ' ' ' hCG for binding to receptors on corpora lutea as described by Campbell, Deam-Emig, and Moyle (64). It would be expected to stimulate Ull~ formation in a Leydig cell assay perfor~ned similar to that described by Moyle et al. (37) and to stimulate ovulation in female animals and to stimulate i u~ for~nation in male mammals. This analog is shown in Table 1 as Analog #8 and contains a linker sequence of GS~SGSGS. This Iinker can be modified by digesting the expression vector with Apal and Eco47IlI ' ' restriction enzymes, discarding the short piece, ligating a cassette of synthetic double stranded DNAwith the desired a~nino acid codons corltaining any number of glycine or serme codons or other amino acid codons into the BarnHI/Eco47m site by standard methods, sequencing the region between the ApallEco47IlI to conf~rm the desired mutations have been made, and expressmg the protein in COS-7 ceDs. This can be done to optimize the activity of the single cham g ' u~, he protein is expected to function as a monomer or to combine to form active '~-- ' In addition, several copies of the protein would be expected to combine to form multimers.
Example 20 ~, and use of Ana'log #9, a single chain ' ~ . w,ith follitropin activity. (See Figure 14) The coding sequences for ana'log ,Y9 listed in Table 1 cam be D.~ h~.O;~I usmg the block ligation approach described (54) or they can be prepared by digestmg the construct described m Example 15 used to express Analog4 with the restriction enzymes Apal and BamHI. The small piece is replaced with a SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) wo 95/22340 2 ~ 8 3 5 fi ~ P~

cassette of synthetic DNA to give the sequence illustrated in Figure 14. The coding sequence between the ApaI and BamHI sites of several constructs is ~ ' until one is found that encodes a protein having the amino acid sequence illustrated in Figure 14. The expressed protein is expected to lack amino acid residues 5 MKTLQFFFLFCCWKAICC that are the part of the signal sequence found in hFSH
M-subunit and which are removed by the cell during protein synthesis. The vector is expressed in COS-7 cells and the proteirl made by the cells will compete with - " ' hFSH for binding to one or more of the following antibodies:
ZMFS1 (obtained from Pierce), A201 (obtained from Columbia University), HCU061 (obtained from Hybritech), FSG761 (obtained from Hybritech), FSR093.3 (obtained from Hybritech), FSH107 (obtained from Hybritech), FSB061 (obtained from Hybritech), FSM210 (obtained from Hybritech), and FSM268 (obtained from Hybritech). The protein released into the medium will compete with hFSH for binding to receptors on bovine testes as described by Campbell, Dean-Emig, and Moyle (64). It would be expected to stimulate estradiol formationin a grar~losa cell assay performed similar to that described by Skaf et al (65) and to stimulate follicle ~ and, O in female and male mammals. This analog is also a useful starting compound to select for an ,7 that elicits antibodies to FSH and is part of a ~ vaccine.
This analog is shown in Table 1 as Analog #9 and contains a linker sequence of GSGSGSGS. This linker can be modified by digesting the expression vector with ApaI and Eco47m ' ' restriction enzymes, discarding the short piece, ligating a cassette of synthetic double stranded DNA with the desired amino acidcodons containing arly rlumber of glycine or serine codons or other amino acid codons into the BamHI/Eco47III site by standard methods, sequencing the region between the ApaI/Eco47m to conf~rm the desired mutations have been made, and expressing the protein in COS-7 cells. This can be done to optimize the activity of the single chain g ' ~, The protein is expected to function as a monomer or to combine to form active 1 ' In addition, several copies of the protein 3 o would be expected to combine to form multimers.
E:xample 21 and use of Analog #10, a single chain 1 ' ., ~with follitropin actinb. (See Flgure 15) The coding sequences for Analog #10 listed in Table 1 can be ~y..lh~i.;~l using the block ligation approach described (54) or they can be prepared by digesting the const~uct described in Example 15 used to express Analog SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) ~18~564 W0 95/22340 . ~ ~ r ~- ~ P~ '7 4 with the restriction enzymes Apal and BamHI. The small piece is replaced with a cassette of synthetic DNA to give the sequenoe illustrated in Figure 15. The coding sequence between the Apal and BamHI sites of several constructs is determined until one is found that encodes a protein having the amino acid sequence illustrated in Figure 15. The expressed protein is expected to lack amino acid residues MKTLQFFFLFCCWKAICC that are the part of the signal sequence found in hFSH
fi-subunit and which are removed by the cell during protein synthesis. The vector is expressed in COS-7 cells and the protein made by the oells will compete with ~;: ' ' hFSH for binding to one or more of the following antibodies:
ZMFS1 (obtained from Pierce), A201 (obtained from Columbia University), HCU061 (obtained from Hybritech), FSG761 (obtained from Hybritech), FSR093.3 (obtained from Hybritech), FSH107 (obtained from Hybritech), FSB061 (obtained from Hybritech), FSM210 (obtained from Hybritech), and FSM268 (obtained from Hybritech). The protei~ released into the medium will compete with hFSH for binding to receptors on bovine testes as described by Campbell, 1~_ E~b, and Moyle (64). It would be expected to stimulate estradiol formation in a granulosa cell assay performed similar to that described by Skaf et al (65) and to stimulate follicle d.t.'. and ~ ~ irl female and male mammals. This analog is also a useful starting compound to select for an ~ that dicits arltibodies to FSH and is part of a ~ , vaccine.
This analog is shown in Table 1 as Analog #10 and cor~tains a linker sequence ofGSGSGSGS. This linker can be modifled by digesting the expression vector with Apal and Eco47m ï ~ ~ restriction enzymes, discarding the short piece, ligating a cassette of syrlthetic double stranded DNA wi~h the desired amino acid codons containing any number of glycirle or serine codons or other amino acid codons into the Bam~/Eco47III site by standard methods, sequencing the region between the Apal/Eco47m to confilm the desired mutatiorls have been rnade, and expressing the,protein in COS-7 cells. This can be done to optimize the activity of the single chain ~ ' ., The protein is expected to function as a monomer or to combine to form active ~ In addition, several copies of the protein would be expected to combine to form multimers.
Example 22 ~, " of an ~subunit analog lacking g l~. ,' sites. (See Figure 16) Analogs 1-10 are expected to contain 4 , _ -lirked nlic,. .- .. ,1. -. ;.lr ~ since they contain 4 sets of codons for the sequence Asparagine-X-SUBSTITUTE SHEEl (RUL~ 26) . 2183~6~
WO 95~0 ~ 7 Threonine/Serine where X is any amino acid except proline. Removal of the ~linked ~1;6.~ ' ;A `, ~ those of the ~-subunit, has been shown to reduce hormone efficacy. The ~a~ ,ua~lAtiv~ signals can be removed from the ~-sAbunit portion of the single chain ~ , ' using PCR
5 aS described here. PCR primer 16 having the sequence: 5'-TGCTTCTCTAGAGCATATCCCACTCCACTAAGGTCCAAGAAGACGATGTT
GGTCCAAAAGCAAGTCACCT-3' and PCR primer 17 having the sequence: 3'-CAAAGTTTCAC~'l ~J l l '~ l ~ l ~CCGCACGGTGACGTCATGAACAATAATA
GTGTTTAGAATTCCATGGCCATG-5' are used in a PCR reaction with a the 10 vector tbat is capable of directing the expression of Analog 1 and that was described in Example 12 and FigAre 6. After 2S cycles in the conditions described in Example 12, the PCR product and the expression vector are digested with Xbal andKpnI. The small fragment produced by digestion of the vector is discarded and the digested PCR product is ligated into the vector in its place. This produces an 15 expression vector that encodes An~Aog 11, an analog that contains onAy 2 Asn-linked ~ "v~' ' signals but that is expected to retain its affinity for antibodies and antisera that bind to hCG. It is also expected to retain its affinity for LHreceptors as shown by its abiAity to compete with hCG for binding to .. h. ~
from rat corpora lutea. However, it is expected to have a reduced ability to induce signal ~ ' ' expeciaUy when its ability to dicit cyclic AMP ' ' is tested t37). It is possible to create similar derivatives of Analogs 2-10 in which the ~1;~".- -. .1- ;~1. ~ are removed from the portion of tbe protein derived from the ~-subunit by digesting each of the expression vectors with BamHI and Kpnl, discarding the smaller piece, and ligating the small BamHI/KpnI fragment obtained by digestion of Analog 11 Thus, Analog 2 would become Analog 12, Aoalog 3 would become Analog 13, Analog 4 would become Analog 14, AnAlog 5 would become Analog 15, Analog 6 would become Analog 16, Analog 7 would become Analog 17, An~Aog 8 would beco~ne An~Aog 18, Analog 9 would become Analog 19, and AnAlog 10 would become Analog 20. Note tbat it would also be possible to3 0 remove only one of the two ~ .va,~' " signals on tbe portion of the single chain ,, ' ~,,' derived from the ~-subunit simply by changing the sequences of primers 16 and 17 during their synthesis and following the prvtocol outlined here.
Each of these analogs would exhibit the same antibody and receptor binding as their They would have reduced efficacy and as a ~ , they would iDhibit signal i ' ' Analogs 11, 12, and 13 would reduce the activity of LH and would stimulate fertility when given in the early part of the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. They would reduce the activity of hCG and would prevent fertility when ~ J near the time of expected menses.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) wo 95/22340 2 i 8 3 5 6 ~ . ~". . . -, ~56-Example 23 n~ of Analog la lacking , ' ' ` q,, ' ' (See Figures 17 and 18) The efficacy of O ' , is ~JIu~ulliv~l to their corltent of w.~uh,~' and while Analogs 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 have lower efficacy, it is possible to reduce their efficacy further by :' ~ all l~l;o,~ lr chains. The ~ Iirlked ~ chains can be eliminated frvm Analog 11 by PCR SOEing (63) using primers 1 and 18 in one reaction and primers 2 and 19 in a second reaction. The expression vector for Analog 11 serves as a template in both reactions. The sequence of primer #18 is 5'-CGGGGTAGGTTCGGTGGGACCGACAC~ CCGACGGGG-3' and the sequence of primer #19 is 3'-15 GTGGAGAAGGAGGGCTGCCCC~ l ~ I ~CATCACCGTCAACACCACCATC-5'. After 25 i . . cycles at 94C (30 sec), 55C (60 sec), and 72C (60 sec), 1 ~1 of each PCR reaction is mixed with primer #5 and additional primer #2, new buffer, en~yme, and .1~.~ ' ' , ' . ' The reaction product after 25 additional cycles is cut with Xhol and BarnHI and substituted for the original 2 0 DNA found between the Xhol/BarnHI sites of the vector encoding Analog 11. This is ~ ' ' by digesting the vector with XhoI and BarnHI, discarding the small fraglnent and then ligating the large fragment with the Xhol/BamHI digested PCR
product. Several clones are subjected to DNA sequencing until the one encoding the analog outlined in Figure 18 termed Analog la is obtained. When this is 25 expressed in COS-7 cells, the prvtein that is made will be recognized by the same antibodies and antisera as Analog 1. Analog la will also bind to lutropin receptors but will have reduced efficacy relative to hCG. Thus, it will be useful for reducing the function of LH or hCG. When: ' ' early in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, Anslog la will reduce androgen synthesis. As a ~ I , 3 0 estradiol synthesis will decline, FSH levels will rise and fertility will be stimulated.
Analog la will also be useful for inhibiting premature I of the follicle.
When - ~d in the luteal phase at about the time of expected menses, the analog will block the actions of hCG and serve as a menses inducer and an inhibitor of fertility. Analog la will also serve as a good starting compound to design 3 5 vaccines using the [emplate strategy described earlier.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 9S/22340 21 g`3 ~ 6 ~ . r_J~ .. 7 Example 24 E`~., - of other ~ ~, ' lacking ~, ~ '' ` ' 'i~ ' ' ' The codmg vectors for Analogs 2a, 5a, 6a, 7a, and 8a are readily prepared from Analog la and Analogs 12, 15, 16, 17, and 18. Analog la is digested with KpnI and Msm and the small fragment discarded. The large fragment is ligated separately to the small fragment prepared by R~
digestion of the coding vectors for Analogs 12, 15, 16, 17, and 18. Analogs 2a, 5a, 6a, 7a, and 8a will bind the same antibodies and receptors as Analogs 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8, I~D~ . However, their abilities to elicit signal i ' will be reduced. C , ~, they will ser~7e as inhibitors. Analog 2a will be effective primarily in blocking binding of hormones to LH receptors. Dependmg on the time that it is ' 1, Analog 2a will elicit fer~lity (i.e., when given early in the menstrual cycle) or will inhibit fer[ility (i.e., when given near the time of .' or expected menses). In this regard Analogs la and 2a will have similar activities. Analog 5a will be effective primarily in blocking binding ofhormones to FSH receptors. Analog 5a will be useful for ! ,, ' ~ ~IJIJ~U~ ' Analogs 6a, 7a, and 8a will be inhibitors of binding to LH and FSH
receptors. These will be useful for ,, ~ h.~ u~ - and for blocking prema~ure I
The coding vectors for Analogs 3a and 4a can be made by SOEing PCR (63) in which Analogs 13 and 14 serve as templates. The strategy for design of the pruners is similar as that described for the ~ of primers used to modify the expression vector for Analog la. When Analogs 3a and 4a are expressed m COS-7 cells, the proteins that are made will be recognized by the same antibodies and antisera as Analogs 3 and 4, ICD~ . Analog 3a will be useful for inhibiting the activity of hormones that bind to LH rcceptors. As such it will 3 0 stimulate fertility when given early m the follicular phase. Analog 4a will be useful for inhibitmg the activity of FSH. Analog 3a will be useful as a starting molecule for designing the vaccine to be used to increase fertility using the template strategy and antibodies that are able to parlially neutralize the activity of LH. Analog 3a will also be useful as a starting molecule for designing the vaccine to prevent fertility using the template strategy and antibodies that are able to neutralize LH
activity. Antibody 4a will also be useful as a star~ing molecule for designing the .anti-FSH vaccine described earlier using the template strategy.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) wo 95122340 1 ~. . i ~ I ~ l / . _ .

The coding vectors for Ar~logs 9a and 10a can be prepared from the coding vector for Analog 4a. The coding vector for Analog 4a is digested with BalI
and KpnI and the small fragment discarded. The small BalI-KpnI fragments from the coding vectors for analogs 19 and 20 are ligated separately with the large 5 Analog 4a fragment to produce coding vectors for Analogs 9a and 10a. When produced in COS-7 cells, Analogs 9a and 10a will have similar arltibody and FSH
receptor binding ~ as Anaiogs 9 and 10. Analogs 9a and 10a will have lower efficacy and will inhibit the actiYity of FSH. Thus, tbey will be useful for reducing ovarian ~l ' They will also be useful starting vectors for the l0 design of anti-FSH vaccines using the template strategy.
EYample 25 Typical procedure for ~ a ~1~. .,' site in a ,, ~, -Due to the positive influence of nl;~ . residues on the stability of hormones in circulation, it is often useful to add extra nl;C, - - . I~ -- ;~1.
chains to the proteinS. Addition of ~,l;c,..- . . h -- ;'I' - can also be used to prevent unwanted antibody or receptor Surfaces of the protein that do not 20 interact with receptors are useful places to add 'i,, ' ' chains that are to be used to stimulate hormone function. This can have a valuable effect in ' ' the activities of single chain g ~.U~I~ hormones or of ' ' _ the activities of the ~Y,B ~ ,U~ hormones. For example, addition of a .UD.Y' signal to FSH B-subulut at residues 71-73 to cause the creation of an 25 Sp~ -linked nl;~ at residue 71 will lead to a hormone that has higher activity. Conversely, addition of a ~ u~ residue in this region of ~e protein after the other 2;1.~ ~?~1dliu~ have been removed will enhance its inhibitory activity. Methods for ~, ~ _ the _ are standard in the art and range from total synthesis of the coding sequences by block ligation of syrlthetic 'i" ' - (54) to SOEing PCR (63). Several examples of _ by SOEing PCR have already been given.
Example 26 3 5 Use of sequences other than those derived from human subunits.
Analogs 1-20, Analogs Ib-lOb and, in particular, Analogs lA-lOa will serve as useful starting ~ ' for template directed vaccine design. For .~I~IIl.,lIL of hormone-specific vaccines for use in humans, it is useful to make SUBSTITUTE Sl IEET (RULE 26) ~21 8~S~
WO 95/22340 F~

analogs similar to those listed in Table 1 with a nonhuman cY-subunit in place of the human ~-subunit. Tbis is because the bovine ~-subunit renders the proteins more dissimilar to the human hormones than the analogs listed in Table 1. The approach to designing single chain ~ w~lu~ hormones is similar to tbat listed in Examples5 12-21 except tbat the coding sequences for the nonh= ~-subunits are substituted for the human ~-subunit sequences illustrated. Similarly, the ~ ,u~laliu~ signals can be removed by altering the codons for asparagine or serine or threonine or inser~ing a proline between asparagine and the serine or tbreonine.
In addition, when using the template st~ategy to design ~, it is often desirable to start with a nonhuman molecule that has little, if any affi}uty for the templates used in positive selection and to introduce residues that will result in selection. These analogs can be prepared by ,, the FSH, LH, or TSH
B-subunit sequences from noDhuman sources in place of the human FSH, LH, and hCG sequences illustrated in Examples 12-25 and Table 1.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) ~1.83S~4 W0 9!il2234û P~ 7 ~
-60- _ Tsble 1 Stl-uCtUre8 of Slllgle Chail~ C' ' ' ~, -Allalog Cnnnrnr~ n I n-hCG3(1-1~15~;' ' ` 1~2k 5 2 n-hCG0(1-114)-1 ~ 2k 3 n-hLH~(I-~I~) I ' ' ' '1-92)-c 4 n-hFSH~(I-III~I' ' ! '1~2k 5 n-hCG~(I 9l) L, 111) 1 ~ ' '1-92)-c 6 n-hCGB(I ,1:. ~ -111~1'' ` '1-9Z)-c 10 7 n-hCG3(1 , L , I . , '1~2k 8 n-hCG~(I , L ~ 101) DDPR-I i ' ~ ~-92k

9 ~ 92k ~ L , :C 1; ~ ' ' ' '1-92)-c 1~ n-hCG3(1-1~ ,, N~nv~ 1-92)tN52X,N78Xl-c 15 2~ n-hCGô(1-114)1N13X,N30X~-~` ' ' '1 9_)lN5_x,N78X3-c 3~ n-hLH3(1-114)1N30XJ-I` ~ ! 1-, N7~Y3-c 4~ n-hFS118(1-1~ N7AYl l ~ '~ N7V]-C
5~ n-hCG3(1-93)1N~Y N~ny ~ , 111~1 ' ! (1-:, N7~Y~
6~ D-hCG~(I ' ,, N'nV]-hF8H0(95-lll~Lin~hum nn(1-92)[N52X.N78X]-c 2 0 7~ D-hCG8(1 ,, N~n~ j L ~ ,. N7gY]~
8~ D-hCGA(I ,, N3nlR h. ~ 103) .mDR-l ` ~ ~1-! ,, N7~Y]-c 9 n-hFSH~(1-108)-1 ' ' ' '1~), N7~y~
101 n ', ~ 1: ", ,N7~y-~ ` ' ' '~2k Ibn-hCGli(l-lq ,, N3nY P78X,V79n-1; '~-92)1N52X,N78XI-c 25 2b nhCG3(1-114)1N13X~N30X~P78X~V79n-1 ~1~ ,. N7~V]c 3b n-hLlL8(l-lF;)[N3ox~n8x~v79T~ 1 ,. N70V] C
4b n-hFSH3(1-lll)lN7X.N24X.D71N.L73n-~ 92)[N52X,N78X] c 5b n-hCG~(I' ,, N3nv~78x~v79n-hFsH8(88-lll~lr ! '1-92)[N52X,N78X]c 6b n-hCGô(l ,, N~ny ~78x~v79n-hFsH8(95-lll~ J ,, N7~Y]-c 3 0 7b n-hCG~(I-lOO)IN13X,N30X,P78X,V79n k ~ -92)[N52X,N78X]-c 8b n-hCG~(I ,, N~nY P78X,V79n L n~` "nDR-I ` . ~, N7~V] C
9b 1: L N7Av n7lN~L73n-l ` ' ! ~1-92~[N52X,N78X]-c lObn-hFS}L3(1-104)1N7X,N24X,D71N,L73n-1 ` ~ ! (1 97) ' N7gVl-C
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) ~'~ 8?~ 4 wo ssn2340 .

r ~ of the letters and sequerlces ill Table 1 "n-" refers to the N-terminus of the protein.
5 "-c" refers to the C-terminus of the protein.
ahCGB(1-145)" refers to the hCG B-subunit ar~ino acid sequence residues 1-145:
SKEPLRPRCRPINATLAVEKEGCPVCI~VNl~CAGYCPTMTRVLQGVLPALP

DHPLTCDDPRFQDSSSSKAPPPSLPSPSRLPGPSDTPILPQ
rhCGB(1-114)" refers to the hCG B-subunit amino acid sequence residues 1-114:

QWCNYRDVRFESIRLPGCPRGVNPWSYAVALSCQCALCRRSTTDCGGPK
DHPLTCDDPR
~hCGB(1-93)" refers to the hCG B-subunit amino acid sequence residues 1-93:
SKEPLRPRCRPINATLAVEKEGCPVCITVN~CAGYCPTMTRVLQGVLPALP
QWCNYRDVRFESIRLPGCPRGVNPWSYAVALSCQCALC
rhLHB(1-114) n refers to the hLH B-subunit arnino acid sequence residues 1-114:
SREPLI~W~:~INAILAVEKEGCPVCITVNTTICAGYCPTMMRVLQAVLPPLP
~VV(:l ~ ~II~DPWSFPVALSCRCGPCRRSTSDCGGPKD
HPLTCDHPQ
rhFSHB(1-111)" refers to the hFSH B-subunit amino acid æquence residues 1-111:
NSCELTNITlAVEKEGCGFCITINTTWCAGYCYTRDLVYRDPAl~Kl(~
KELVYETVRVPGCAHHADSLYTYPVATQCHCr~KrnCnSTDCTVRGLGPSYC
SFGEMKE

SUBSmUTE SHEET (RULE 26 2~,~,3~6~.
WO 95/22340 P._ I/~J., _.

Def- 'tions of the letters and sequences in Table 1(~ l) "hFSHB(1-108)" refers to the hFSH B-subunit amino acid sequence residues 1-108:
5 NSCELTNmAVEKEGCGFCITINTTWCAGYCYTRDLVYKDPA~Kl(~K ~
KELVYETVRVPGCAHHADSLYTYPVATQCHCGKCDSDSTDCTVRGLGPSYC
SFGE
"hFSHB(1-104)" refers to the hFSH B-subunit arnino acid sequence residues 1-104:
NSCELTNITIAVEKEGCGFCITINI~WCA(~Y( :Y l~LVYKDPARPKIQKTCTF
KELVYETVRVPGCAHHADSLYTYPVATQCHCGKCDSDSTDCTVRGLGPSYC
"hFSHB(88-111)" refers to the hFSH B-subunit amino acid sequence residues 88-111:
DSDSTDCTVRGL~l~ Y~ ~KE
"hFSHB(95-111)" refers to the hFSH B-subunit amino acid sequence residues 95-111:
TVRGLGPSYCSFGEMKE
"hFSHB(95-108)" refers to the hFSH B-subunit amino acid sequence residues 95-108:
TVRGLGPSYCSFGE
"hFSHB(95-103)" refers to the hFSH B-subunit amino acid sequence residues 95-103:
TVRGLGPSY
"N13X" refers to the ! ~ of glutamine or other amino acid for hCG B-35 subunit residue asparagine 13 and analogs "N30X" refers to the ' of glutamine or other amino acid for hCG or hLH B-subunit residue asparagine 30 and analogs SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) -21i83~6~`
WO 95/22340 .

r ~ of the letters and sequences in Table 1 (~ ', "N52X" refers to the ' of glut~unine or other amino acid for h= ~-subunit residue asparagine 52 and analogs "N78X" refers to the ! ' "' " of glutamine or other amino acid for h= ~-subunit residue asparagine 78 and analogs rP78X" refers to the of any amino acid except proline for proline 78 in

10 the B-subunits of hCG or hLH and analogs "V79T" refers to the ' of threorline or serine for valine 79 in hCG or hLH B-subunits and analogs 5"D71N" refers to the of asparagine for aspartic acid 71 in hFSH B-subunits and analogs "L73T~ refers to the ' of tbreorline or serine for leucine 73 in hFSH B-subunits and analogs "human~(1-92)" refers to the h= ~-subunit sequence residues 1-92 APDVQDCPECTLQENPFFSQPGAPILQCMGCCFSRAYPTPT u~TnrTMT~vQKN
Vl~ VAKSYNRVTVMGGFKVENHTACH~ YY~
"Lir~lcer" refers to a sequence containing repeatirlg glycine and serine ar~ino acids such as GS, GSGS, GSGSGS, GSGSGSGS, GSGSGSGSGS or any other sequence of arnino acids that permits the B- and ~-subunit sequences of the single chain to form a complex irl which the a- and B-subunit portions combine 3 0 with the B- and ~-subunit portions of the same or other molecule "DDPR" refers to the amino acid sequence Asparagine-Asparagine-Proline-Argirline SUBSTITUTE SH EET (RULE 26) .2183~6,g,.
WO 951ZZ340 , ~ ` r~
Notes fo~ Table 1:
1. The order of the , from left to right m the table is theorder in which the ~ _, occur m the protcm from the . to the 5 carboxy-tcrminus.
2. Due to thc high . ~liù,, of sequence in all vertcbrate L ' ' ~, that can be seen from the alignment of their cystcine rcsiducs, single chain ~, ' ,, can be preparcd by ' of any ~ residues for the cu,l~ portions of the hCG, hLH, and hFSH B-subunits.
3. The sequencc of the other vertebrate 6~ UL~ Y-subunits can be substituted for humanol(l-92). This includcs but is not limited to bovine ~-subunit rcsidues 1-96.
4. As shown, the order of the ~ , has the sequences dcrivcd from the B-subunit ; ' of the sequences derivcd from the ~-subunit.
The order of the , in thc table can be reversed such that the ce-subunit sequences arc ~ ' of the ~-subunit sequences.
5. The amino acid sequences are shown in the standard single letter code except as noted.
6. Codmg sequences for all these analogs can be made by standard ' DNA methods that are well known in the art. One procedure for making these is that provided by Campbell et al. (54). They can be expressed in eukaryotic cells by methods well known m the art using vectors that have been designed for eukaryotic expression and that are available from InVitrogen, San Diego, CA. Those that do not contain ~l;o ~~ . . I~ ;.l- chains c~m also be m-4de in 3 o E. coli by methods well known in the art using vectors such as the pET vectors that cam be obtamed from Novagen.
7. The ~ ,u~ - sites at hCG B-subunit p, ~ 13 ard/or 30 c,m be destroyed by ' - of the asparagine as illustrated and/or by of residues 14 and/or 31 with a proline and/or by of residues 15 and/or 32 with any other arnino acid other than serine or threonme.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET(RULE 26) wo 95~ 0 21 8 3 5 6 ~ : ~ r~ 7 8. The ~ ,u~l~Liù site at hLH ~-subunit asparagine 3û can be destrûyed by ' ûf the asparagine as illustrated and/ûr by ' ûf residue 31 with a proline and/ûr by ' of residue 32 with any other amino acid other than serine ûr threonine.
9. The ~Iy~,u~' sites at human a!-subunit ^~ ~c; c 52 and/or 78 can be destroyed by ' of the asparagine as illustrated and/or by of residues 53 and/or 79 with a proline and/or by b~ of residues 54 and/or 80 with any other anuno acid other than serine or threonine.

10. The ~ ,u~' sites at nonhuman ~-subunit ~ . ,, 56 and/or 82 can be destroyed by ' of the asparagine with any other am no acid and/or by ' of residues 57 and/or 83 with a proline and/or by of residues 58 and/or 84 with any other amino acid other tban serine or 15 threonine.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) i I ~7 -~
WO 95122340 2 ~ 8 3 ~ 6 ~

Table 2 Proper~es and uses of the analogs illuslrated in Table 1.

Ao lo~ Acbvity 11se I LH Irduce ovnl~tion Incn~se nude fettiliry 2 LH Indnce ovUt~tiDn; IncteAsc nmle fettility 3 LH Indncc ovnl tion; Incteue m~d~ fettility 4 FSH Irdnce foUicle developmem; Incn cse m le fettility FSH Induce fodicle developmen~; Incteue m le f trdity 6 FSHImdLH Inducefollicledovelopmenl;Incte semtl~fettdity 7 FSH Imd LH Induc~ foUicb development; Inctetse m le fettility 8 FSH Imd LH Induce foUicle developmem; Inctetse m le fettdiry 9 FSH Irduce foUicle development; Incneue m~le kttility FSH Induce foUicle developmem; Incn se mtde fettdity 2 0 1' ~nti-LH F~cilimte ovnlition; Tetmin te Pre8n ncY;
Rednce t~ndmgen secletion 21 And-LH 'F cilit~ne ovul-bon; Tetmin te ~regr7mcy;
Rednce Imdtngen ecredon 3~ ~nti-LH 'F cdin~te ovnl tion; Termin te Pte8mmcY;
2 5 Reduce u~dmgen ecreti~m 4~~nti-FSH Tte tnvui n . Reduce petnt Ingene5is 5~~nti-FSH Tn~tov rbm r . Reduce ~m~togenesis 6~Ami-FSH ~md ~nti-LH TteJt ovuum I Rednce sperm togenesis ~~mi FSH Imd Anti-LH Tre t ovul7m b Reduce sperm7 tngemesis 3 o 8~ ~mi-FSH ~md Anti-LH Tre t ov ri7m 1 . Rednce perm r)genesis 9~mi-FSH Tn~rtovui7m~ Reduce sperluto~ene is 10Anti-FSH Tn~tov ri7m1 Rednce petm~nn~enesis Ib Anti-LH 'F~cilit te ovnbtion; Termin~te pnegn nq;
Reduce ~mren see~m 2b Anti-LH 'Fcilit7neovnbbon;Terminnepregn7mq;
Reduee rdro~en sectetion 3b ~nti-LH 'F~ctlin~e ovnl-bon; Terminrne pregn mq;
Rednce unlm~en secretion ~b ~nti-FSH Tre tov ri7m1 . R~duce~nngenesis 4 0 5b ~nti-FSH Tn7 t ov ri n L r ' ' ' . Rednce 5permrdngene5i56b Anti-FSH 7rd Ami-LH Tn7 t nv ri7m 1~ Reduce sperm togenesis 7b ~nti-FSH ndAnti-LH Tn7~tov7n~7m ~. Reduce sperm tn~enesis 8b Ami-FSH ~md Ami-LH Tns t ov ri7m b~ Reduce perm rngeresis 9b ~nti-FS}I Tl~at ovui7m b Rednce spemlcmgeresis 10b Anti-FSH Tn!uovt1ri7ml Rednce SUBmTUTE SHEET (RULE 26) ~.. 218.3~6~
wo ss/22340 ~ I ~"' The, . of the present invention can be ' ' to mammals, e.g., animals or huraans, in amolmts effective to provide the desired 5 therapeutic effect. Since the activity of the c----r and the degree of thedesired therapeutic effect vary, the dosage level of the compound employed will also vary. The actual dosage r- ' ' will also be ~ ' by such generally recognized factors as the body weight of the patient and the individual L.y~ .... .of the particular patient.

_ this ~rp~ inn various ~ have been ~f.or~nr~A The disclosures in these r are , ' herein by reference in order to more fully describe the state of the art.
~ A
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SUBSTITUTE SHEET(RULE 26) WO 95122340 ~8 3 ~

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WO 95/22340 1 _J/V

51. Stevens VC (1990) Birth control vaccines and ~
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WO 95122340 r~

60. Cohen, C. and Parry, D.A.D. (1990) ~-Helical coiled coils and bundles: how to design am ~-helical protein. Proteins: structure, function, and genetics 7: 1-15.
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serum which modulate rat grar~losa cell ~ r ~ Y 117:106-The invention being tbus described, it will be obvious tbat the same may be varied m many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a deparb~refrom the spirit and scope of the invention and all such "~ are intended to be mcluded witbin the scope of the following claims.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (~(ULE 26)

Claims (40)

I claim:

1. A method for stimulating fertility in mammals by reducing the activity of glycoprotein hormones having luteinizing hormone activity in circulation and thereby stimulating the production of follicle stimulating hormone which comprises administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a binding agent that binds luteinizing hormone.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mammal is female.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mammal is a human and the luteinizing hormone is human luteinizing hormone.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the binding agent binds to an epitope on the .beta.-subunit of luteinizing hormone at a position that remains exposed when luteinizing hormone binds to a luteinizing hormone receptor.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the binding agent binds one of the residues between positions 70-80 of the .beta.-subunit of luteinizinghormone.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the binding agent binds one of the residues between positions 74-77 of the .beta.-subunit of luteinizinghormone.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the binding agent is an antibody.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the antibody is a nonneutralizing antibody and the method further comprises reducing but not eliminating the activiy of the glycoprotein hormone having luteinizing hormone activiy.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the nonneutralizing antibody is B105.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the nonneutralizing antibody is B110.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises regulating ovulation in female humans.

12. A vaccination method for stimulating fertility in mammals by reducing but not eliminating the activity of glycoprotein hormones having luteinizing hormone activity in circulation and thereby stimulating the production of follicle stimulating hormone which comprises the steps of:
(a) providing binding agents that bind luteinizing hormone as positive templates;
(b) providing a library of luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants obtained by random mutagenesis of the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit;
(c) screening the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants from step (b) with the positive template binding agents from step (a);
(d) discarding the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants that do not bind to the positive template binding agents in step (c);
(e) determining the DNA sequence encoding the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants in step (d);
(f) selecting the DNA sequence encoding the luteinizing .beta.-subunit mutant that differs from luteinizing hormone but binds to luteinizing hormone binding agents with high affinity in step (e);
(g) expressing the protein of the selected luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutant from the DNA sequence in step (f) in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host; and (h) administering a therapeutically effective amount of the protein from step (g) to the mammal as an antigen to illicit an immune response thereby generating an antibody to luteinizing hormone to reduce but not eliminate luteinizing hormone activity and stimulate the production of follicle stimulating hormone to stimulate fertility in the mammal.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the positive templates in step (a) comprise luteinizing hormone .alpha.-subunits and .beta.-subunit mutants.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the positive templates are selected from the group consisting of B105, B110, 518B7, and ZMCG7.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
(i) in step (a), further providing binding agents that bind luteinizing hormone as negative templates;

(j) prior to step (c), screening the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants from step (b) with the negative template binding agents from steps (i); and (k) in step (c), screening the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants that do not bind to the negative template binding agents from step (j) with the positive template binding agents from step (a).

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the negative templates in step (i) are selected from the group consisting of B107, B109, and antisera to the .alpha.-subunit.

17. A vaccination method for stimulating fertility in mammals by reducing but not eliminating the activity of glycoprotein hormones having luteinizing hormone activity in circulation and thereby stimulating the production of follicle stimulating hormone which comprises the steps of:
(a) providing binding agents tbat bind luteinizing hormone as positive templates;
(b) providing a library of luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants obtained by random mutagenesis of the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit;
(c) screening the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants from step (b) with the positive template binding agents from step (a);
(d) discarding the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants that do not bind to the positive template binding agents in step (c);
(e) determining the DNA sequence encoding the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants in step (d);
(f) selecting the DNA sequence encoding the luteinizing .beta.-subunit mutant that differs from luteinizing hormone but binds to luteinizing hormone binding agents with high affinity in step (e); and (g) administering a therapeutically effective amount of the DNA sequence encoding the luteinizing .beta.-subunit mutant protein from step (f) to the mammal to elicit the expression of antigen and thereby illicit an immune response generating an antibody to luteinizing hormone to reduce but not eliminate luteinizing hormone activity and stimulate the production of follicle stimulating hormone to stimulate fertility in the mammal.

18. A method for designing a vaccine for inducing infertility in female mammals by reducing the activity of glycoprotein hormones having chorionic gonadotropin hormone activity in circulation which comprises the steps of:
(a) providing binding agents tbat bind chorionic gonadotropin hormone as positive templates;

(b) providing a library of chorionic gonadotropin hormone .beta.-subunit mutants obtained by random mutagenesis of the chorionic gonadotropin hormone .beta.-subunit;
(c) screening the chorionic gonadotropin hormone .beta.-subunit mutants from step (b) with the positive template binding agents from step (a);
(d) discarding the chorionic gonadotropin hormone .beta.-subunit mutants that do not bind to the positive template binding agents in step (c);
(e) determining the DNA sequence encoding the chorionic gonadotropin hormone .beta.-subunit mutants in step (d);
(f) selecting the DNA sequence encoding the chorionic gonadotropin .beta.-subunit mutant that differs from chorionic gonadotropin hormone but binds to chorionic gonadotropin hormone binding agents with high affinity in step (e);
(h) expressing the protein of the selected chorionic gonadotropin hormone .beta.-subunit mutant from the DNA sequence in step (g) in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host; and (i) administering a therapeutically effective amount of the protein from step (h) to the mammal as an antigen to illicit an immune response thereby generating an antibody to chorionic gonadotropin hormone to reduce chorionic gonadotropin hormone activity to induce infertility in the female mammal.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the library in step (b) is prepared from a single chain gonadotropins.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the single chain gonadotropin comprises a chorionic gonadotropin .beta.-subunit at the N-terminus, a vertebrate .alpha.-subunit at the C-terminus, and a linker having from 1 to 16 amino acid residues connecting the chorionic gonadotropin .beta.-subunit to the vertebrate .alpha.-subunit.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the single chain gonadotropin comprises a vertebrate .alpha.-subunit at the N-terminus, a chorionic gonadotropin .beta.-subunit at the C-terminus, and a linker having from 1 to 16 amino acid residues connecting the chorionic gonadotropin .beta.-subunit to the vertebrate .alpha.-subunit.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the activity of glycoprotein hormones having chorionic gonadotropin activity in circulation is eliminated.

23. The method according to claim 18, wherein the binding agent is a neutralizing antibody.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the neutralizing antibody is selected from the group consisting of B109, B107, HCZ107, and HCO514.

25. The method according to claim 18, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
(i) in step (a), further providing binding agents that bind luteinizing hormone as negative templates;
(j) prior to step (c), screening the chorionic gonadotropin hormone .beta.-subunit mutants from step (b) with the negative template binding agents from steps (i); and (k) in step (c), screening the chorionic gonadotropin hormone .beta.-subunit mutants that do not bind to the negative template binding agents from step (j) with the positive template binding agents from step (a).

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the negative templates are selected from the group consisting of polyclonal antisera to luteinizing hormone.

27. A method for designing a vaccine for inducing infertility in female mammals by reducing the activity of glycoprotein hormones having chorionic gonadotropin hormone activity in circulation which comprises the steps of:
(a) providing binding agents that bind chorionic gonadotropin hormone as positive templates;
(b) providing a library of chorionic gonadotropin hormone .beta.-subunit mutants obtained by random mutagenesis of the chorionic gonadotropin hormone .beta.-subunit;
(c) screening the chorionic gonadotropin hormone .beta.-subunit mutants from step (b) with the positive template binding agents from step (a);
(d) discarding the chorionic gonadotropin hormone .beta.-subunit mutants that do not bind to the positive template binding agents in step (c);
(e) determining the DNA sequence encoding the chorionic gonadotropin hormone .beta.-subunit mutants in step (d);
(f) selecting the DNA sequence encoding the chorionic gonadotropin .beta.-subunit mutant that differs from chorionic gonadotropin hormone but binds to chorionic gonadotropin hormone binding agents with high affinity in step (e); and (g) administering a therapeutically effective amount of the DNA sequence encoding the chorionic gonadotropin .beta.-subunit mutant protein from step (f) to the mammal to elicit the expression of antigen and thereby illicit an immune response generating an antibody to chorionic gonadotropin hormone to reduce chorionic gonadotropin hormone activity to induce infertility in the female mammal.

28. A method for designing a vaccine for suppressing fertility in male humans by reducing the activity of glycoprotein hormones having follicle stimulating hormone activity in circulation which comprises the steps of:
(a) providing binding agents that bind follicle stimulating hormone as positive templates;
(b) providing a library of follicle stimulating hormone .beta.-subunit mutants obtained by random mutagenesis of the follicle stimulating hormone .beta.-subunit;
(c) screening the follicle stimulating hormone .beta.-subunit mutants from step (b) with the positive template binding agents from step (a);
(d) discarding the follicle stimulating hormone .beta.-subunit mutants that do not bind to the positive template binding agents in step (d);
(e) determining the DNA sequence encoding the follicle stimulating hormone .beta.-subunit mutants in step (d);
(f) selecting the DNA sequence encoding the follicle stimulating .beta.-subunit mutant that differs from follicle stimulating hormone but binds to follicle stimulating hormone binding agents with high affinity in step (e);
(g) expressing the protein of the selected follicle stimulating hormone .beta.-subunit mutant from the DNA sequence in step (f) in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host; and (h) administering a therapeutically effective amount of the protein from step (h) to the male human as an antigen to illicit an immune response thereby generating an antibody to follicle stimulating hormone to reduce follicle stimulating hormone activity and suppress fertility in the male human.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the activity of glycoprotein hormones having follicle stimulating activity in circulation is eliminated.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the binding agent is a neutralizing antibody.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the neutralizing antibody is FSG761.

32. The method according to claim 28, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
(i) in step (a), further providing binding agents that bind .alpha.-subunits as negative templates;
(j) prior to step (c), screening the follicle stimulating hormone .beta.-subunitmutants from step (b) with the negative template binding agents from steps (i); and (k) in step (c), screening the follicle stimulating hormone .beta.-subunit mutants that do not bind to the negative template binding agents from step (j) with the positive template binding agents from step (a),

33. A method for designing a vaccine for suppressing fertility in male humans by reducing the activity of glycoprotein hormones having follicle stimulating hormone activity in circulation which comprises the steps of:
(a) providing binding agents that bind follicle stimulating hormone as positive templates;
(b) providing a library of follicle stimulating hormone .beta.-subunit mutants obtained by random mutagenesis of the follicle stimulating hormone .beta.-subunit;
(c) screening the follicle stimulating hormone .beta.-subunit mutants from step (b) with the positive template binding agents from step (a);
(d) discarding the follicle stimulating hormone .beta.-subunit mutants that do not bind to the positive template binding agents in step (c);
(e) determining the DNA sequence encoding the follicle stimulating hormone .beta.-subunit mutants in step (d);
(f) selecting the DNA sequence encoding the follicle stimulating .beta.-subunit mutant that differs from follicle stimulating hormone but binds to follicle stimulating hormone binding agents with high affinity in step (e); and (g) administering a therapeutically effective amount of the DNA sequence encoding the follicle stimulating .beta.-subunit mutant protein from step (f) to the mammal to elicit the expression of antigen and thereby illicit an immune response generating an antibody to follicle stimulating hormone to reduce follicle stimulating hormone activity and suppress fertility in the male human.

34. A method for designing a vaccine for supressing fertility in nonhuman mammals by reducing the activity of glycoprotein hormones having luteinizing hormone activity in circulation which comprises the steps of:
(a) providing binding agents that bind luteinizing hormone as positive templates;
(b) providing a library of luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants obtained by random mutagenesis of the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit;

(c) screening the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants from step (b) with the positive template binding agents from step (a);
(d) discarding the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants that do not bind to the positive template binding agents in step (c);
(e) determining the DNA sequence encoding the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants in step (d);
(f) selecting the DNA sequence encoding the luteinizing .beta.-subunit mutant that differs from luteinizing hormone but binds to luteinizing hormone binding agents with high affinity in step (e);
(g) expressing the protein of the selected luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutant from the DNA sequence in step (f) in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host; and (h) administering a therapeutically effective amount of the protein from step (g) to the mammal as an antigen to illicit an immune response thereby generating an antibody to luteinizing hormone to reduce luteinizing hormone activity and supress fertility in the nonhuman mammal.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the activity of glycoprotein hormones having luteinizing activity in circulation is eliminated.

36. The method according to claim 34, wherein the binding agent is a neutralizing antibody.

37. The method according to claim 34, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
(i) in step (a), further providing binding agents that bind .alpha.-subunits as negative templates;
(j) prior to step (c), screening the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants from step (b) with the negative template binding agents from steps (i); and (k) in step (c), screening the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants that do not bind to the negative template binding agents from step (j) with the positive template binding agents from step (a).

38. A method for designing a vaccine for supressing fertility in nonhuman mammals by reducing the activity of glycoprotein hormones having luteinizing hormone activity in circulation which comprises the steps of:
(a) providing binding agents that bind luteinizing hormone as positive templates;
(b) providing a library of luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants obtained by random mutagenesis of the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit;

(c) screening the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants from step (b) with the positive template binding agents from step (a);
(d) discarding the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants that do not bind to the positive template binding agents in step (c);
(e) determining the DNA sequence encoding the luteinizing hormone .beta.-subunit mutants in step (d);
(f) selecting the DNA sequence encoding the luteinizing .beta.-subunit mutant that differs from luteinizing hormone but binds to luteinizing hormone binding agents with high affinity in step (e);
(g) administering a therapeutically effective amount of the DNA sequence encoding the luteinizing .beta.-subunit mutant protein from step (f) to the mammal to elicit the expression of antigen and thereby illicit an immume response generating an antibody to luteinizing hormone to reduce luteinizing hormone activity and suppress fertility in the male human.

39. A single chain gonadotropin comprising a chorionic gonadotropin .beta.-subunit at the N-terminus, a vertebrate .alpha.-subunit at the C-terminus, and a linker having from 1 to 16 amino acid residues connecting the chorionic gonadotropin .beta.-subunit to the vertebrate .alpha.-subunit.

40. A single chain gonadotropin comprising a vertebrate .alpha.-subunit at the N-terminus, a chorionic gonadotropin .beta.-subunit at the C-terminus, and a linker having from 1 to 16 amino acid residues connecting the chorionic gonadotropin .beta.-subunit to the vertebrate .alpha.-subunit.