EP1012310A1 - Fusion proteins comprising coiled-coil structures - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a fusion protein comprising a) a first region capable of forming a coiled-coil structure; and b) a second region not naturally associated with the first region comprising a polypeptide sequence of interest. The fusion protein of the invention is applicable to the production of very small polypeptides in transformed host cells.

Description

FUSION PROTEINS COMPRIS ING COILED-COIL STRUCTURES

The present invention relates to novel fusion partners for recombinantly-produced proteins. In particular, the invention relates to a polypeptide having a coiled coil structure which is resistant to proteolytic degradation and capable of. acting as a carrier to increase the immunogenicity of a protein fused to it.

Recombinant DNA technology has allowed industry to produce many proteins of commercial importance. Proteins are produced in a wide variety of expression systems which are based on, for example, bacterial, yeast, insect, plant and mammalian cells, one of the problems associated with the production of proteins by recombinant means is that host cells contain enzymes which degrade proteins and the presence of such enzymes present particular difficulties in the production of small polypeptides.

One approach to overcoming such difficulties is to express a recombinant protein of interest in the form of a fusion protein. DNA encoding the protein of interest is fused in-frame to a fusion partner protein and the resulting fusion is expressed. Often, a linker sequence encoding a protease cleavage sited between the two parts of the fusion is included to allow cleavage of the fusion after it has been recovered from its host cell.

The fusion partner protein is often one which may be recovered and purified by some form of highly specific affinity purification means. Examples of such proteins are well known in the art and include, for example, glutathione-S-transferase, maltose binding protein and β- lactamase.

However these fusion partner proteins are all relatively large and thus have a number of disadvantages. For example, it is essential to remove them before any meaningful procedure may be carried out on the protein of interest, since they are too large to enable it to function with any degree of independence. Many small polypeptides are still thus made by chemical synthesis.

The present invention arose in the course of our investigations into the structure of a bovine ATPase inhibitor protein, IF,. This is a small - 84 amino acid - protein which helps to regulate the activity of ATP synthase in mitochondria. Our analysis of this protein revealed that the C-terminal region of the protein (amino acids 48 to 84) forms a coiled-coil structure.

Coiled-coils are formed by two or three alpha-helices in parallel and in register and display a pattern of hydrophilic and hydrophobic residues that is repeated every seven residues (Lupas et al. , Science 252; 1162-1164, 1991). The right-handed alpha-helices are wrapped around each other with a slightly left-handed superhelical twist. Coiled-coils are well known in fibrous proteins such as keratin, myosin and tropomyosin, but are also found in other proteins such as those which contain a leucine zipper motif.

Coiled-coil regions of proteins generally comprise a heptad repeat, with the amino acids of each repeat being designated a to g. Amino acids a and d of each repeat are generally hydrophobic amino acids.

A number of algorithms for predicting the presence of coiled-coils in proteins are available. See for example Lupas et al. , 1991 and Berger et al. , Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 92; 8259- 8263, 1995. The latter is believed to be more stringent in detecting two-stranded coils but less efficient at detecting three-stranded coils.

Summary of the Invention

We have expressed in E. coli a number of fusion proteins which comprise the coiled-coil region of bovine IF, ATPase inhibitor protein and a short sequence of a second protein. We have found that these fusion proteins can be expressed at high levels and isolated in intact form, from which the second protein may efficiently be recovered. The use of coiled-coils as a fusion partner protein in a recombinant expression system thus allows expression of a desired polypeptide in a manner which protects the polypeptide from degradation in the host cell.

Thus the present invention provides a fusion protein comprising:

a) a first region capable of forming a coiled-coil structure; and

b) a second region not naturally associated with the first region comprising a polypeptide sequence of interest.

The first region may be located either N-terminal to or C-terminal to the second region. However it is preferred that it is located N-terminal to the second region, and most preferably it is at the N-terminus of the fusion protein. Preferably, the fusion protein further comprises a cleavable linker region between the first and second regions.

The invention further comprises a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein of the invention, and preferably the nucleic acid forms part of an expression vector comprising the nucleic acid operably linked to a promoter.

The invention further comprises a host cell carrying the expression vector of the invention, and a method of preparing the fusion protein of the invention comprising (i) culturing the host cell under conditions which provide for the expression of the fusion protein from the expression vector within the host cell; and (ii) recovering the fusion protein from the cell.

In cases where the fusion protein further comprises a protease cleavable linker region between the first and second regions the method optionally further comprises cleaving the protein at the protease cleavable linker and recovering the second region. Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 : Expression plasmids encoding the truncated IF, inhibitor fused to various fragments of the uncl and uncll genes expressed in E. coli C41(DE3) cells and the product separated on a coomassie stained SDS-PAGE gel. Lanes as follows: 1 : IF,; 2: IF_ral; 3: IF,-a3: 4: IF,-I1; 5: IF1-I2. Molecular weight markers are on the left; a is subunit a of the E. coli FιF₀ ATP synthase; I is subunit I of the E. coli F,F₀ ATP synthase. See Table 1 for complete nomenclature.

Figure 2: Expression of peptides ranging from 2 to 54 amino acids in length as fusions with IF, (44-84), separated on SDS-PAGE. See description for details.

Figure 3: Purification of fusion proteins on reverse phase HPLC. A and C: chromatogram of the purification of IF_ral and IF_ra3 respectively. B and D: SDS-PAGE analysis of the purification of IF_ral and IF_ra3 respectively. IB: inclusion bodies; numbers indicate the collected fractions.

Figure 4: Purification of fusion proteins on reverse phase HPLC. A and C: chromatogram of the purification of IF_rIl and IF_rI2 respectively. B and D: SDS-PAGE analysis of the purification of IF_rIl and IF,-I2 respectively. IB: inclusion bodies; numbers indicate the collected fractions.

Figure 5: Purification of fusion proteins according to the invention by other methods. II: from inclusion bodies: If-al is expressed as inclusion bodies and solubilised using 6M Guanidinium chloride and purified by reverse phase HPLC as for Figure 3. If-UCP270 fusion protein is solubilised in the presence of urea and purified on a nickel column in the presence of LDAO detergent (see text for details). 21: the three fusion proteins If- UCP1P1, If-UCP2P2 and If-UCP3P3 are soluble in the bacterial cytoplasm and are purifiedby anion exchange chromatography on S-Sepharose followed by affinity chromatography on a nickel column. All protein samples are analysed by SDS-PAGE after purification. The gels are stained with coomassie blue dye 83. Detailed Description of the Invention.

A: First region.

The first region of the fusion protein of the invention may comprise any natural or synthetic coiled-coil polypeptide. Such regions are found in a variety of proteins, including keratin, myosin, tropomyosin or laminin, or proteins such as those which contain a leucine zipper motif such as GCN4 or haemagglutinin, or other proteins such as IF, ATPase inhibitor protein, which is preferably mammalian IF, ATPase inhibitor protein. The sequence of the rat and bovine proteins are illustrated in the accompanying examples. Other mammalian IF, ATPase inhibitor proteins such as human or murine IF, ATPase inhibitor protein may be used.

It is not necessary to use the entire protein in which coiled-coil regions are found. In the case of large coiled-coil proteins which have multiple heptad repeats capable of forming coiled-coil structures, it is not necessary to use the entire coiled-coil region. A portion of that region may be used subject to the size and functional limitations discussed below.

In addition synthetic variants of such proteins or regions thereof may be used provided that they retain the ability to form coiled-coils. Because the regions of coiled-coil proteins which form coiled-coils have a heptad repeat structure, synthetic variants will generally differ from the naturally-occurring proteins by substitution, particularly conservative substitutions, or by insertion of one or more complete heptad repeats.

Where conservative substitutions are made they may be made by reference to the following table, where amino acids on the same block in the second column and preferably in the same line in the third column may be substituted for each other:

Where one or more heptad repeats are to be inserted into the structure of a naturally occurring coiled-coil protein, the insertion will be such as to maintain the a-g residue structure mentioned above. Conveniently, the insertion will be of one or more complete a- g repeats between the g and a of successive repeats of the naturally-occurring protein. However insertions may also be made between other residues of the heptad repeat so long as the insertion maintains the heptad structure.

Synthetic variants of naturally-occurring coiled-coil proteins may be made by standard recombinant^" DNA techniques. For example, site-directed mutagenesis may be used to introduce changes to the coding region of a DNA encoding a naturally-occurring coiled-coil protein. Where insertions are to be made, synthetic DNA encoding the insertion together with 5' and 3' flanking regions corresponding to the naturally -occurring sequence either side of the insertion site. The flanking regions will contain convenient restriction sites corresponding to sites in the naturally-occurring sequence so that the sequence may be cut with the appropriate enzyme(s) and the synthetic DNA ligated into the cut. The DNA is then expressed in accordance with the invention to make the encoded protein. These methods are only illustrative of the numerous standard techniques known in the art for manipulation of DNA sequences and other known techniques may also be used.

A fusion protein according to the invention will comprise as many heptad repeats as required to form a coiled coil structure. Generally, this will be three or more, (the fewer the better in order to minimize the contribution to the fusion protein of the coiled-coil forming sequence). This can be especially important where in structural determination of proteins by NMR it is often necessary to carry out isotopic labelling with ¹⁵N or ^ljC. This is expensive and with a long fusion partner much of the incorporated radioactivity is removed if the carrier protein (e.g. GST in many cases) is cleaved off. Thus the fusion partner will be between about 25 and about 100 amino acids in size, comprising from 3 to

14, preferably from 4 to 10, heptad repeat units capable of forming a coiled-coil structure.

The ability of a naturally-occurring or synthetic coiled-coil sequence to form coiled-coils may be tested by routine methods known in the art and illustrated in the accompanying examples.

The sequence of any putative coiled-coil region may be examined by the algorithms of Lupas et al. or Berger et al. The sequences may also be synthesised by recombinant DNA techniques and solutions of the sequence examined for circular dichroism spectra at different concentrations. Where coiled-coil formation occurs (as opposed to non-specific aggregation) the spectra will remain constant at a range of dilutions (whereas non-specific aggregation will be diluted out).

The first region may also comprise sequences flanking the heptad repeats. These may be necessary to maintain the overall structure of the first region so that the alpha-helical coil structure of the heptad repeats may be formed. For example the four heptad repeat units of the bovine IF, ATPase inhibitor are found at residues 53 to 80. We have found that using residues 44 to 84 of this protein is a preferred embodiment of the invention. However other suitable regions of this protein - or corresponding portions of mammalian homologues - may be used, for example from 1 to 84, e.g. from 23 to 84, or from 1 to 78, e.g. from 44 to 78.

Thus generally from 0 to 100, e.g. from 5 to 50 non coiled-coil forming amino acids may be present at either or both of the N- and/or C-terminals of the first region. These sequences may be from the protein from which the coiled-coil regions are derived or from any other natural or synthetic source. In principle the region is unimportant provided that it dose not affect the formation of coiled-coil structures.

B: Second Region.

The second region of the fusion protein according to the invention may comprise any polypeptide sequence of interest which is not naturally associated with the first region. Usually this will mean that the sequence of interest will be found in nature encoded by a gene different from the gene encoding the first region. This may be determined easily by examining the sequences of the first and second regions against publicly available sequence databanks. The second region may be from the same species as the first region, or from a different species. It is also possible that the first and second regions are derived from portions of the same protein but are present in the fusion protein of the invention in a manner different from the natural protein sequence.

The fusion protein according to the invention may be of any size although in general the invention is particularly useful when the polypeptide sequence of interest is short, e.g. from 2 to 100 amino acids in length, preferably 2 to 50 or even 2 to 30 or 5 to 10 amino acids in size. However larger polypeptide sequences of interest, e.g. up 150, 200, 400 or 1000 amino acids are also contemplated. The invention is particularly advantageous for the preparation of small polypeptides which are currently difficult to manufacture by recombinant means. Examples of such polypeptides include fragments of chaperone proteins, metabolic enzymes, DNA and RNA binding proteins, antibodies, viral proteins, intrinsic membrane proteins (including transport proteins from mitochondria, seven-helix receptor molecules, T-cell receptors), and cytoskeletal complexes, antibody binding peptides, peptide hormones (and other biologically active peptides made by ribosomal synthesis), and small subunits from multi-subunit biological structures such as respiratory enzymes, the ATP synthase. In general, the invention is suitable for use with peptides of any dimension, but the advantageous properties thereof are best exploited with small polypeptides. for example from 2 to 50 amino acids in length, particularly from 2 to 20 amino acids in length, and preferably from 5 to 10 amino acids in length. A particular advantage of the present invention is that peptides may be produced by recombinant DNA technology which are so short that they would previously have been made by oligopeptide synthesis techniques. Thus it is possible to produce libraries of peptides, for example of mutants of biologically active peptides, which may be screened or otherwise analysed, cheaply and efficiently in recombinant expression systems, particularly bacterial expression systems.

C: Cleavable linker region.

Where the first and second regions are linked by a cleavable linker region this may be any region suitable for this purpose. Preferably, the cleavable linker region is a protease cleavable linker, although other linkers, cleavable for example by small molecules, may be used. These include Met-X sites, cleavable by cyanogen bromide, Asn-Gly, cleavable by hydroxy lamine, Asp-Pro, cleavable by weak acid and Trp-X celavable by, inter alia, NBS- skatole. Protease cleavage sites are preferred due to the milder cleavage conditions necessary and are found in, for example, factor Xa, thrombin and collagenase. Any of these may be used. The precise sequences are available in the art and the skilled person will have no difficulty in selecting a suitable cleavage site. By way of example, the protease cleavage region targeted by Factor Xa is I E G R. The protease cleavage region targeted by Enterokinase is D D D D K. The protease cleavage region targeted by Thrombin is L V P R G.

D. Nucleic acids.

The invention also provides nucleic acid encoding the fusion proteins of the invention. These may be constructed using standard recombinant DNA methodologies. The nucleic acid may be RNA or DNA and is preferably DNA. Where it is RNA, manipulations may be performed via cDNA intermediates. Generally, a nucleic acid sequence encoding the first region will be prepared and suitable restriction sites provided at the 5' and/or 3' ends. Conveniently the sequence is manipulated in a standard laboratory vector, such as a plasmid vector based on pBR322 or pUC19 (see below). Reference may be made to

Molecular Cloning by Sambrook et al. (Cold Spring Harbor, 1989) or similar standard reference books for exact details of the appropriate techniques.

Nucleic acid encoding the second region may likewise be provided in a similar vector system. Sources of nucleic acid may be ascertained by reference to published literature or databanks such as Genbank.

Nucleic acid encoding the desired first or second region may be obtained from academic or commercial sources where such sources are willing to provide the material or by synthesising or cloning the appropriate sequence where only the sequence data are available. Generally this may be done by reference to literature sources which describe the cloning of the gene in question.

Alternatively, where limited sequence data are available or where it is desired to express a nucleic acid homologous or otherwise related to a known nucleic acid, exemplary nucleic acids can be characterised as those nucleotide sequences which hybridise to the nucleic acid sequences known in the art.

Stringency of hybridisation refers to conditions under which polynucleic acids hybrids are stable. Such conditions are evident to those of ordinary skill in the field. As known to those of skill in the art, the stability of hybrids is reflected in the melting temperature (Tm) of the hybrid which decreases approximately 1 to 1.5 °C with every 1 % decrease in sequence homology. In general, the stability of a hybrid is a function of sodium ion concentration and temperature. Typically, the hybridisation reaction is performed under conditions of higher stringency, followed by washes of varying stringency.

As used herein, high stringency refers to conditions that permit hybridisation of only those nucleic acid sequences that form stable hybrids in 1 M Na+ at 65-68 °C. High stringency conditions can be provided, for example, by hybridisation in an aqueous solution containing 6x SSC. 5x Denhardt's, 1 % SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate), 0.1 Na+ pyrophosphate and 0.1 mg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA as non specific competitor.

Following hybridisation, high stringency washing may be done in several steps, with a final wash (about 30 min) at the hybridisation temperature in 0.2 - O. lx SSC, 0.1 % SDS.

Moderate stringency refers to conditions equivalent to hybridisation in the above described solution but at about 60-62 °C. In that case the final wash is performed at the hybridisation temperature in lx SSC, 0.1 % SDS.

Low stringency refers to conditions equivalent to hybridisation in the above described solution at about 50-52 °C. In that case, the final wash is performed at the hybridisation temperature in 2x SSC, 0.1 % SDS.

It is understood that these conditions may be adapted and duplicated using a variety of buffers, e.g. formamide-based buffers, and temperatures. Denhardt's solution and SSC are well known to those of skill in the art as are other suitable hybridisation buffers (see, e.g. Sambrook, et al. , eds. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York or Ausubel, et al. , eds. (1990) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). Optimal hybridisation conditions have to be determined empirically, as the length and the GC content of the probe also play a role.

Given the guidance provided herein, nucleic acids suitable for forming the first or second region of a fusion protein according to the invention are obtainable according to methods well known in the art. For example, a DNA of the invention is obtainable by chemical synthesis, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or by screening a genomic library or a suitable cDNA library prepared from a source believed to possess the desired nucleic acid and to express it at a detectable level.

Chemical methods for synthesis of a nucleic acid of interest are known in the art and include triester, phosphite, phosphoramidite and H-phosphonate methods. PCR and other autoprimer methods as well as oligonucleotide synthesis on solid supports. These methods may be used if the entire nucleic acid sequence of the nucleic acid is known, or the sequence of the nucleic acid complementary to the coding strand is available.

Alternatively, if the target amino acid sequence is known, one may infer potential nucleic acid sequences using known and preferred coding residues for each amino acid residue.

An alternative means to isolate the gene encoding the desired region of the fusion protein is to use PCR technology as described e.g. in section 14 of Sambrook et al. , 1989. This method requires the use of oligonucleotide probes that will hybridise to the desired nucleic acid. Strategies for selection of oligonucleotides are described below.

Libraries are screened with probes or analytical tools designed to identify the gene of interest or the protein encoded by it. For cDNA expression libraries suitable means include monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies that recognise and specifically bind to the desired protein; oligonucleotides of about 20 to 80 bases in length that encode known or suspected cDNA encoding the desired protein from the same or different species; and/or complementary or homologous cDNAs or fragments thereof that encode the same or a hybridising gene. Appropriate probes for screening genomic DNA libraries include, but are not limited to oligonucleotides, cDNAs or fragments thereof that encode the same or hybridising DNA; and/or homologous genomic DNAs or fragments thereof.

A nucleic acid encoding the desired protein may be isolated by screening suitable cDNA or genomic libraries under suitable hybridisation conditions with a probe.

As used herein, a probe is e.g. a single-stranded DNA or RNA that has a sequence of nucleotides that includes between 10 and 50, preferably between 15 and 30 and most preferably at least about 20 contiguous bases that are the same as (or the complement of) an equivalent or greater number of contiguous bases from a known or desired sequence. The nucleic acid sequences selected as probes should be of sufficient length and sufficiently unambiguous so that false positive results are minimised. The nucleotide sequences are usually based on conserved or highly homologous nucleotide sequences or regions of the desired protein. The nucleic acids used as probes may be degenerate at one or more positions. The use of degenerate oligonucleotides may be of particular importance where a library is screened from a species in which preferential codon usage in that species is not known.

Preferred regions from which to construct probes include 5' and/or 3 ' coding sequences, sequences predicted to encode ligand binding sites, and the like. For example, either the full-length cDNA clone disclosed herein as SEQ. ID. No. 1 or fragments thereof can be used as probes, especially for isolating first region-encoding genes. Preferably, nucleic acid probes of the invention are labelled with suitable label means for ready detection upon hybridisation. For example, a suitable label means is a radiolabel. The preferred method of labelling a DNA fragment is by incorporating α³²P dATP with the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase in a random priming reaction, as is well known in the art. Oligonucleotides are usually end-labelled with γ³²P-labelled ATP and polynucleotide kinase. However, other methods (e.g. non-radioactive) may also be used to label the fragment or oligonucleotide, including e.g. enzyme labelling, fluorescent labelling with suitable fluorophores and biotinylation.

After screening the library, e.g. with a portion of DNA including substantially the entire desired sequence or a suitable oligonucleotide based on a portion of said DNA, positive clones are identified by detecting a hybridisation signal; the identified clones are characterised by restriction enzyme mapping and/or DNA sequence analysis, and then examined to ascertain whether they include DNA encoding a complete polypeptide (i.e., if they include translation initiation and termination codons). If the selected clones are incomplete, they may be used to rescreen the same or a different library to obtain overlapping clones. If the library is genomic, then the overlapping clones may include exons and introns. If the library is a cDNA library, then the overlapping clones will include an open reading frame. In both instances, complete clones may be identified by comparison with the DNAs and deduced amino acid sequences provided herein.

It is envisaged that the nucleic acid of the invention can be readily modified by nucleotide substitution, nucleotide deletion, nucleotide insertion or inversion of a nucleotide stretch, and any combination thereof. Such mutants can be used e.g. to produce a mutant that has an amino acid sequence differing from the sequences as found in nature. Mutagenesis may be predetermined (site-specific) or random. A mutation which is not a silent mutation must not place sequences out of reading frames and preferably will not create complementary regions that could hybridise to produce secondary mRNA structure such as loops or hairpins.

The foregoing methods may, of course, be applied to the identification and modification or generation of sequences useful in any part of the fusion protein of the invention. In particular, the sequence of the IF, polypeptide coiled coil provided herein as SEQ. ID. No. 1. or suitable fragments thereof as discussed above, may be used as a probe for the identification of further suitable sequences.

The first or second region may also be manipulated to introduce an appropriate restriction enzyme site at the terminus which is to be linked to the nucleic acid encoding the first region via a corresponding restriction enzyme site. Desirably the sites will be either the same or at least have matching cohesive ends. Of course, the first and second regions may be joined by alternative means; for example, first region may be incorporated into primers used to isolate or replicate the second region.

Where a protease cleavable linker region is required, this maybe introduced into the linked first and second regions (e.g. into the restriction site linking the two) or introduced into one or the other prior to their combination.

E. Expression vectors and host cells.

The nucleic acid encoding a fusion protein according to the invention, or constituent part(s) thereof, can be incorporated into vectors for further manipulation. As used herein, vector (or plasmid) refers to discrete elements that are used to introduce heterologous DNA into cells for either expression or replication thereof. Selection and use of such vehicles are well within the skill of the artisan. Many vectors are available, and selection of appropriate vector will depend on the intended use of the vector, i.e. whether it is to be used for DNA amplification or for DNA expression, the size of the DNA to be inserted into the vector, and the host cell to be transformed with the vector. Each vector contains various components depending on its function (amplification of DNA or expression of

DNA) and the host cell for which it is compatible. The vector components generally include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: an origin of replication, one or more marker genes, an enhancer element, a promoter, a transcription termination sequence and a signal sequence.

Both expression and cloning vectors generally contain nucleic acid sequences that enable the vector to replicate in one or more selected host cells. Typically in cloning vectors, these sequences enable the vector to replicate independently of the host chromosomal DNA, and includes origins of replication or autonomously replicating sequences. Such sequences are well known for a variety of bacteria, yeast and viruses. The origin of replication from the plasmid pBR322 is suitable for most Gram-negative bacteria, the 2μ plasmid origin is suitable for yeast, and various viral origins (e.g. SV 40, polyoma, adeno virus) are useful for cloning vectors in mammalian cells. Generally, the origin of replication component is not needed for mammalian expression vectors unless these are used in mammalian cells competent for high level DNA replication, such as COS cells.

Most expression vectors are shuttle vectors, i.e. they are capable of replication in at least one class of organisms but can be transfected into another organism for expression. For example, a vector is cloned in E. coli and then the same vector is transfected into yeast or mammalian cells even though it is not capable of replicating independently of the host cell chromosome. DNA may also be replicated by insertion into the host genome. However, the recovery of genomic DNA encoding the fusion protein of the invention is more complex than that of exogenously replicated vector because restriction enzyme digestion is required to excise the DNA. DNA can be amplified by PCR and be directly transfected into the host cells without any replication component. Advantageously, an expression and cloning vector may contain a selection gene also referred to as selectable marker. This gene encodes a protein necessary for the survival or growth of transformed host cells grown in a selective culture medium. Host cells not transformed with the vector containing the selection gene will not survive in the culture medium. Typical selection genes encode proteins that confer resistance to antibiotics and other toxins, e.g. ampicillin, neomycin, methotrexate or tetracycline. complement auxotrophic deficiencies, or supply critical nutrients not available from complex media.

As to a selective gene marker appropriate for yeast, any marker gene can be used which facilitates the selection for transformants due to the phenotypic expression of the marker gene. Suitable markers for yeast are, for example, those conferring resistance to antibiotics G418, hygromycin or bleomycin, or provide for prototrophy in an auxotrophic yeast mutant, for example the URA3, LEU2, LYS2, TRP1, or HIS3 gene.

Since the replication of vectors is conveniently done in E. coli, an E. coli genetic marker and an E. coli origin of replication are advantageously included. These can be obtained from E. coli plasmids, such as pBR322, Bluescript^® vector or a pUC plasmid, e.g. pUC18 or pUC19, which contain both E. coli replication origin and E. coli genetic marker conferring resistance to antibiotics, such as ampicillin.

Suitable selectable markers for mammalian cells are those that enable the identification of cells competent to take up vector nucleic acid, such as dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR, methotrexate resistance), thymidine kinase, or genes conferring resistance to G418 or hygromycin. The mammalian cell transformants are placed under selection pressure which only those transformants which have taken up and are expressing the marker are uniquely adapted to survive. In the case of a DHFR or glutamine synthase (GS) marker, selection pressure can be imposed by culturing the transformants under conditions in which the pressure is progressively increased, thereby leading to amplification (at its chromosomal integration site) of both the selection gene and the linked DNA that encodes the fusion protein. Amplification is the process by which genes in greater demand for the production of a protein critical for growth, together with closely associated genes which may encode a desired protein, are reiterated in tandem within the chromosomes of recombinant cells.

Increased quantities of desired protein are usually synthesised from thus amplified DNA.

Expression and cloning vectors usually contain a promoter that is recognised by the host organism and is operably linked to the fusion-protein encoding nucleic acid. Such a promoter may be inducible or constitutive. The promoters are operably linked to DNA encoding the fusion protein by removing the promoter from the source DNA by restriction enzyme digestion and inserting the isolated promoter sequence into the vector. Both the native promoter sequence of one of the constituents of the fusion protein and many heterologous promoters may be used to direct amplification and/or expression of the DNA. The term "operably linked" refers to a juxtaposition wherein the components described are in a relationship permitting them to function in their intended manner. A control sequence "operably linked" to a coding sequence is ligated in such a way that expression of the coding sequence is achieved under conditions compatible with the control sequences.

Promoters suitable for use with prokaryotic hosts include, for example, the β-lactamase and lactose promoter systems, alkaline phosphatase, the tryptophan (tip) promoter system and hybrid promoters such as the tac promoter. Their nucleotide sequences have been published, thereby enabling the skilled worker operably to ligate them to DNA encoding the fusion protein using linkers or adaptors to supply any required restriction sites. Promoters for use in bacterial systems will also generally contain a Shine-Delgarno sequence operably linked to the DNA encoding the fusion protein.

Preferred expression vectors are bacterial expression vectors which comprise a promoter of a bacteriophage such as phagex or T7 which is capable of functioning in the bacteria. In one of the most widely used expression systems, the nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein may be transcribed from the vector by T7 RNA polymerase (Studier et al, Methods in Enzymol. 185; 60-89, 1990). In the E. coli BL21(DE3) host strain, used in conjunction with pET vectors, the T7 RNA polymerase is produced from the λ-lysogen DE3 in the host bacterium, and its expression is under the control of the IPTG inducible lac UV5 promoter. This system has been employed successfully for over-production of many globular proteins, but in many other cases significant over-production cannot be achieved because of the toxicity of over-expression (Studier et α/. ,1990; George et al, J.

Mol. Biol. 235; 424-435, 1994) . Alternatively the polymerase gene may be introduced on a lambda phage by infection with an int- phage such as the CE6 phage which is commercially available (Novagen, Madison, USA). other vectors include vectors containing the lambda PL promoter such as PLEX (Invitrogen, NL) , vectors containing the trc promoters such as pTrcHisXpressTm (Invitrogen) or pTrc99 (Pharmacia Biotech,

SE) , or vectors containing the tac promoter such as pKK223-3 (Pharmacia Biotech) or

PMAL (New England Biolabs, MA, USA).

Moreover, the fusion protein gene according to the invention may include a secretion sequence in order to facilitate secretion of the polypeptide from bacterial hosts, such that it will be produced as a soluble native peptide rather than in an inclusion body. The peptide may be recovered from the bacterial periplasmic space, or the culture medium, as appropriate.

Suitable promoting sequences for use with yeast hosts may be regulated or constitutive and are preferably derived from a highly expressed yeast gene, especially a Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene. Thus, the promoter of the TRP1 gene, the ADHI or ADHII gene, the acid phosphatase (PH05) gene, a promoter of the yeast mating pheromone genes coding for the a- or -factor or a promoter derived from a gene encoding a glycolytic enzyme such as the promoter of the enolase, glyceraldehyde-3 -phosphate dehydrogenase (GAP), 3-phospho gly cerate kinase (PGK), hexokinase, pyruvate decarboxylase, phosphofructokinase, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, 3-phosphoglycerate mutase, pyruvate kinase, triose phosphate isomerase, phosphoglucose isomerase or glucokinase genes, the S. cerevisiae GAL 4 gene, the S. pombe nmt 1 gene or a promoter from the TATA binding protein (TBP) gene can be used. Furthermore, it is possible to use hybrid promoters comprising upstream activation sequences (UAS) of one yeast gene and downstream promoter elements including a functional TATA box of another yeast gene, for example a hybrid promoter including the UAS(s) of the yeast PH05 gene and downstream promoter elements including a functional TATA box of the yeast GAP gene (PH05-GAP hybrid promoter). A suitable constitutive PHO5 promoter is e.g. a shortened acid phosphatase PH05 promoter devoid of the upstream regulatory elements (UAS) such as the PH05 (-173) promoter element starting at nucleotide -173 and ending at nucleotide -9 of the PH05 gene.

Fusion protein gene transcription from vectors in mammalian hosts may be controlled by promoters derived from the genomes of viruses such as polyoma virus, adenovirus, fowlpox virus, bovine papilloma virus, avian sarcoma virus, cytomegalo virus (CMV), a retrovirus and Simian Virus 40 (SV40), from heterologous mammalian promoters such as the actin promoter or a very strong promoter, e.g. a ribosomal protein promoter, and from the promoter normally associated with the gene encoding a component of the fusion protein, provided such promoters are compatible with the host cell systems.

Transcription of a DNA encoding the fusion protein by higher eukaryotes may be increased by inserting an enhancer sequence into the vector. Enhancers are relatively orientation and position independent. Many enhancer sequences are known from mammalian genes (e.g. elastase and globin). However, typically one will employ an enhancer from a eukaryotic cell virus. Examples include the SV40 enhancer on the late side of the replication origin (bp 100-270) and the CMV early promoter enhancer. The enhancer may be spliced into the vector at a position 5' or 3' to the coding sequence, but is preferably located at a site 5' from the promoter.

Advantageously, a eukaryotic expression vector encoding the fusion protein may comprise a locus control region (LCR). LCRs are capable of directing high-level integration site independent expression of transgenes integrated into host cell chromatin, which is of importance especially where the fusion protein gene is to be expressed in the context of a permanently-transfected eukaryotic cell line in which chromosomal integration of the vector has occurred, in vectors designed for gene therapy applications or in transgenic animals.

An expression vector includes any vector capable of expressing nucleic acids that are operatively linked with regulatory sequences, such as promoter regions, that are capable of expression of such DNAs. Thus, an expression vector refers to a recombinant DNA or RNA construct, such as a plasmid, a phage, recombinant virus or other vector, that upon introduction into an appropriate host cell, results in expression of the cloned DNA.

Appropriate expression vectors are well known to those with ordinary skill in the art and include those that are replicable in eukaryotic and/or prokaryotic cells and those that remain episomal or those which integrate into the host cell genome. For example, DNAs encoding the fusion protein according to the invention may be inserted into a vector suitable for expression of cDNAs in mammalian cells, e.g. a CMV enhancer-based vector such as pEVRF (Matthias, et al. , (1989) NAR 17, 6418).

Particularly useful for practising the present invention are expression vectors that provide for the transient expression of DNA encoding the fusion protein in mammalian cells. Transient expression usually involves the use of an expression vector that is able to replicate efficiently in a host cell, such that the host cell accumulates many copies of the expression vector, and, in turn, synthesises high levels of fusion protein. For the purposes of the present invention, transient expression systems are useful e.g. for identifying fusion protein mutants, to identify potential phosphorylation sites, or to characterise functional domains of the protein.

Construction of vectors according to the invention employs conventional ligation techniques. Isolated plasmids or DNA fragments are cleaved, tailored, and religated in the form desired to generate the plasmids required. If desired, analysis to confirm correct sequences in the constructed plasmids is performed in a known fashion. Suitable methods for constructing expression vectors, preparing in vitro transcripts, introducing DNA into host cells, and performing analyses for assessing expression and function are known to those skilled in the art. Gene presence, amplification and/or expression may be measured in a sample directly, for example, by conventional Southern blotting, Northern blotting to quantitate the transcription of mRNA, dot blotting (DNA or RNA analysis), or in situ hybridisation, using an appropriately labelled probe based on a sequence provided herein.

Those skilled in the art will readily envisage how these methods may be modified, if desired. The invention moreover provides an expression vector comprising a fitst nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide capable of forming a coiled coil structure operably linked to a promoter capable of expressing the first nucleic acid sequence in a host cell, and, linked to the nucleic acid sequence, a cloning site permitting the insertion of a second nucleic acid sequence such that it is capable of being expressed in fusion with the first nucleic acid sequence. Such a vector is a useful vehicle for expressing nucleic acids encoding any desired polypeptide in the form of a fusion protein according to the invention.

A further embodiment of the invention provides host cells transformed or transfected with the vectors for the replication and expression of polynucleotides of the invention. The cells will be chosen to be compatible with the vector and may for example be bacterial, yeast, insect or mammalian.

Such host cells such as prokaryote, yeast and higher eukaryote cells may be used for replicating DNA and producing the fusion protein. Suitable prokaryotes include eubacteria, such as Gram-negative or Gram-positive organisms, such as E. coli, e.g. E. coli K-12 strains, DH5a and HB101, or Bacilli. Further hosts suitable for fusion protein encoding vectors include eukaryotic microbes such as filamentous fungi or yeast, e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Higher eukaryotic cells include insect and vertebrate cells, particularly mammalian cells. In recent years propagation of vertebrate cells in culture (tissue culture) has become a routine procedure. Examples of useful mammalian host cell lines are epithelial or fibroblastic cell lines such as Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, NIH 3T3 cells, HeLa cells or 293T cells. The host cells referred to in this disclosure comprise cells in in vitro culture as well as cells that are within a host animal.

DNA may be stably incorporated into cells or may be transiently expressed using methods known in the art. Stably transfected mammalian cells may be prepared by transfecting cells with an expression vector having a selectable marker gene, and growing the transfected cells under conditions selective for cells expressing the marker gene. To prepare transient transfectants, mammalian cells are transfected with a reporter gene to monitor transfection efficiency.

To produce such stably or transiently transfected cells, the cells should be transfected with a sufficient amount of fusion protein-encoding nucleic acid to form the fusion protein. The precise amounts of DNA encoding the fusion protein may be empirically determined and optimised for a particular cell and assay.

Host cells are transfected or, preferably, transformed with the above-captioned expression or cloning vectors of this invention and cultured in conventional nutrient media modified as appropriate for inducing promoters, selecting transformants, or amplifying the genes encoding the desired sequences. Heterologous DNA may be introduced into host cells by any method known in the art, such as transfection with a vector encoding a heterologous DNA by the calcium phosphate coprecipitation technique or by electroporation. Numerous methods of transfection are known to the skilled worker in the field. Successful transfection is generally recognised when any indication of the operation of this vector occurs in the host cell. Transformation is achieved using standard techniques appropriate to the particular host cells used.

Incorporation of cloned DNA into a suitable expression vector, transfection of eukaryotic cells with a plasmid vector or a combination of plasmid vectors, each encoding one or more distinct genes or with linear DNA, and selection of transfected cells are well known in the art (see, e.g. Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press).

Transfected or transformed cells are cultured using media and culturing methods known in the art, preferably under conditions, whereby the fusion protein encoded by the DNA is expressed. The composition of suitable media is known to those in the art, so that they can be readily prepared. Suitable culturing media are also commercially available. Microorganisms, and especially bacteria such as Escherichia coli, are among the most successful vehicles for over-expression of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic proteins (for reviews see Hockney, 1994; Grisshammer & Tate, 1995). Accordingly, host cells according to the invention includes microorganisms transformed with vectors encoding fusion proteins according to the invention. However, expression systems employed to express many prokaryotic proteins, including membrane proteins, some cytoplasmic proteins (Dong et al. ,

1995) and cell division proteins (de Boer et al. , 1988; Gutzman et al. , 1992) as well as the expression of toxic proteins such as DNAse (Doherty et al. , 1993) can in certain circumstances be toxic to the host bacterium.

The expression of eukaryotic proteins in microorganisms can be equally problematical. Over expression of such proteins can also be toxic to the cell. Nonetheless, bacterial expression systems are used in industry and have been used to express a wide variety of proteins, including chymosin, insulin, interferons, insulin-like growth factors, antibodies including humanised antibodies, or fragments thereof.

We have found that by recovering cells from a culture of host cells transformed with an expression vector encoding a fusion protein according to the invention following induction of the gene encoding the fusion protein such that a toxic effect is observable in the host, and cultivating such cells under selective conditions, it is possible to recover from the culture cells which are capable of expressing high levels of the fusion protein without the deleterious effects on the cells normally observed. Surprisingly, the effect observed is general, in that it is observed whatever the target polypeptide which is encoded by the expression system. The cells are thus "resistant to expression system toxicity", as opposed to being resistant to the expression of a particular toxic gene.

Thus, in a preferred aspect, the invention provides a method for improving an expression system comprising the steps of:

(a) preparing an expression system consisting essentially of a host cell transformed with an inducible expression vector encoding a fusion polypeptide according to the invention and a selectable marker; (b) culturing cells transformed with the expression system under selection pressure compatible with the selectable marker;

(c) inducing the expression system to produce the fusion polypeptide. such that a toxic effect is observable in the host; (d) recovering host cells from the culture and growing them under a selection pressure and inducing conditions; and

(e) selecting viable host cells which continue to produce the fusion polypeptide.

The generation of mutants resistant to expression system toxicity is disclosed in UK patent application 9614700.4 filed on 12th July 1996 in the name of the present applicant and its contents are incorporated herein by reference.

The fusion polypeptide is a fusion protein according to the invention, comprising a coiled coil region and a further region encoding a desired protein product. Examples of such desired proteins include bovine oxoglutarate-malate carrier, ADP/ATP translocase, rat uncoupling proteins UCP1 and UCP2, Escherichia coli unc I , E. coli F-ATPase subunit a, bovine F-ATPase subunit epsilon and human immuno-defficiency virus TAT protein.

Preferred bacterial hosts which may be used in the above method include B strains of E. coli such as BL21 or a K strain such as JM109. These strains are widely available in the art from academic and/or commercial sources. The B strains are deficient in the Ion protease and other strains with this genotype may also be used. Preferably the strain should not be defective in recombination genes.

Most preferably the strain is BL21(DE3), as disclosed in Studier et al. (1990) . Bacteria obtainable by the above selection method, optionally cured of the vector, may also be used as host cells in the present invention. Particular bacteria include E. coli C43 (DE3) (deposited at the European Collection of Cell Cultures (ECCC) , Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK on 4th July 1996 asB96070445); E. coli C0214(DE3) (deposited at the National Collections of Industrial and Marine Bacteria on 25th June 1997 as NCIMB 40884); E. coli DK8(DE3)S (deposited at the National Collections of Industrial and Marine Bacteria on 25th June 1997 as NCIMB 40885); or E. coli C41(DE3) (deposited at the ECCC on 4th

July 1996 as B96070444). Such bacteria, when cured, provide a host for the expression of fusion proteins of the invention and are especially suitable for the expression of fusion proteins whose expression is toxic to bacteria.

F. Selection Method.

Although the above-described selection method is fully disclosed in UK patent application 9614700.4, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, the method is preferably carried out as follows:

Cultivation of the host cells will take place in the presence of selection pressure, usually in the presence of an antibiotic which is metabolised by the selectable marker gene of the vector. The concentration of antibiotic used will depend upon the exact nature of the resistance gene and the concentration at which untransformed cells are killed by the antibiotic. In the case of ampicillin, somewhere between 20 and 200 μg per ml of culture will usually be sufficient, although this may be determined empirically if need be by those of skill in the art. In general, suitable concentrations of antibiotics may be determined by reference to standard laboratory reference books (e.g. Sambrook et al, 1989).

Because of the toxicity to the cell of the expression system, the hosts initially will be cultivated under conditions where little or no expression of the target gene occurs so that log phase growth of the cells are achieved. For E.coli this will typically mean that the cells are grown to a density of around 10 cells per ml, for example in the range of from 10 to 10 per ml. The cell density may be measured using optical density measurements. Alternatively, the cells may be grown for a suitable period of time, e.g. from 1 to 6, e.g. from 3 to 4 hours at 37°C.

The cells may also be cultured at a lower or higher temperature. This may be useful where for example the expression of the target polypeptide is linked to a temperature-sensitive gene. In such a situation the cells would first be grown at the non-permissive temperature, i.e. the temperature where expression of the target gene does not occur. Following the culturing of the cells under selection pressure the culture will be induced to express the target gene. A number of inducible promoters operable in bacteria are available. Some promoters, such as the trpE promoter, are inducible by the presence or absence of metabolites or catabolites in the media (namely tryptophan in the case of the trpE promoter). Other promoters include the tac promoter or the lambda P_R promoter.

A preferred promoter is however a bacteriophage promoter which requires a bacteriophage polymerase for expression. As mentioned above, a preferred promoter is the T7 promoter which may be used in conjunction with a cell in which the T7 polymerase gene has been cloned and placed under the control of a separate inducible promoter. The T7 polymerase is selective for its promoter binding site and is thus particularly useful since in the absence of T7 polymerase little expression of the target gene will occur. The gene encoding the polymerase is introduced into the cell in a lambda phage and is situated in the phage genome within the int gene so that the phage needs a helper phage for integration or excision from the genome. The polymerase gene is linked to the UV5 promoter which is inducible by isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) so that addition of IPTG to the culture induces the production of T7 polymerase. Alternatively the gene may be introduced on a lambda phage by infection with an inf phage such the CE6 phage which is commercially available (Novagen, Madison, USA).

Following induction of the gene encoding the fusion polypeptide, toxic effects on the cell will be observed, and the culture should be maintained for a suitable period of time such that cell death starts to occur, and cells in the culture start to loose the vector encoding the target polypeptide. Usually the cells should be maintained in liquid culture until no more than 50% and preferably no more than 10%, e.g. 1 % or 0.1 % of cells retain the vector. This may be determined by plating duplicate aliquots of the culture on solid medium with and without the selection pressure and determining the ratio between the number of colonies which grow under selective and non-selective conditions.

Following growth and induction, the cells of the culture are recovered and grown on fresh medium under selection and inducing conditions. The fresh medium is desirably a solid medium, typically agar which contains the necessary nutrients for cell growth. Survivors are examined for the presence of the target gene. We have surprisingly found that some of the colonies recovered from this medium contain cells which are resistant to the toxic effects of the target gene. This is in contrast to normal practice in the art which has regarded the "spent" culture as a waste product following recovery of the target polypeptide.

G. Production of fusion proteins and their processing.

Host cells of the invention may be cultured under conditions in which expression of the fusion protein occurs. The fusion protein may be recovered by any suitable means, for example affinity chromatography or HPLC. Where small fusion proteins are involved HPLC is particularly suitable.

The fusion protein may be cleaved, e.g. using an appropriate protease, to provide the polypeptide sequence of interest and this sequence may be recovered from the resulting mixture of first and second regions of the fusion protein.

Alternatively the fusion protein may find application as such, for example as an immunogen where the coiled-coils form aggregates. This avoids the necesssity for preparing immunogenic material form small proteins and peptides by coupling them by separate chemical reaction to a carrier protein such as key-hole limpet hemocyanin (KLH).

H. Production of Antibodies.

Fusion proteins according to the invention may be used directly as immunogens, without the use of further adjuvants, to generate antisera and monoclonal antibodies.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, there are provided antibodies specifically recognising and binding the fusion proteins according to the invention. More preferably, however, the antibodies are specific for the second region of the fusion proteins, that is the polypeptide which is fused to the gene product of the invention in order to achieve expression thereof. Advantageously, the second region of the fusion protein is recognised by the antibodies when in its natural context. Thus, where the second region is an isolated peptide or domain from a larger protein, that peptide or domain is recognised by the antibodies of the invention in the context of the whole of the larger protein.

The invention moreover provides a method for preparing an immunoglobulin, comprising the steps of:

a) immunising an animal with a fusion protein according to any one of claims 1 to 7: and b) recovering immunoglobulin specific for a region of the fusion protein from the serum of the animal.

The antibodies (or immunoglobulins) may be isolated in the form of a crude preparation, i.e. an antiserum, by affinity chromatography against the fusion protein or the protein from which one region of the fusion protein is derived. Advantageously, this region is the second region. Alternatively, where the antibody recognises both the coiled coil and the fused protein, it may be isolated using a different fusion between the fused protein and a different colied coil structure.

The animals used for antibody production may be any animals normally employed for the purpose, particularly mammals. Especially indicated are mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits.

In the following description, both antibodies directed to the fusion protein and antibodies raised against the fusion protein which are specific for the one region thereof are referred to as "anti-fusion protein" antibodies.

Antibodies according to the invention may be whole antibodies of natural classes, such as IgE and IgM antibodies, but are preferably IgG antibodies. Moreover, the invention includes antibody fragments, such as Fab, F(ab')2, Fv and ScFv. Small fragments, such

Fv and ScFv, possess advantageous properties for diagnostic and therapeutic applications on account of their small size and consequent superior tissue distribution.

The antibodies according to the invention are especially indicated for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Accordingly, they may be altered antibodies comprising an effector protein such as a toxin or a label. Especially preferred are labels which allow the imaging of the distribution of the antibody in a tumour in vivo. Such labels may be radioactive labels or radioopaque labels, such as metal particles, which are readily visualisable within the body of a patient. Moreover, the may be fluorescent labels or other labels which are visualisable on tissue samples removed from patients.

Recombinant DNA technology may be used to improve the antibodies of the invention. Thus, chimeric antibodies may be constructed in order to decrease the immunogenicity thereof in diagnostic or therapeutic applications. Moreover, immunogenicity may be minimised by humanising the antibodies by CDR grafting [see European Patent Application 0 239 400 (Winter)] and, optionally, framework modification. Alternatively, human antibodies may be synthesised using phage display selection techniques.

Antibodies according to the invention may be obtained from animal serum, or. in the case of monoclonal antibodies or fragments thereof, produced in cell culture. Recombinant DNA technology may be used to produce the antibodies according to established procedure, in bacterial or preferably mammalian cell culture. The selected cell culture system preferably secretes the antibody product.

Therefore, the present invention includes a process for the production of an antibody according to the invention comprising culturing a host, e.g. E. coli or a mammalian cell, which has been transformed with a hybrid vector comprising an expression cassette comprising a promoter operably linked to a first DNA sequence encoding a signal peptide linked in the proper reading frame to a second DNA sequence encoding said protein, and isolating said protein. Multiplication of hybridoma cells or mammalian host cells in vitro is carried out in suitable culture media, which are the customary standard culture media, for example Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) or RPMI 1640 medium, optionally replenished by a mammalian serum, e.g. foetal calf serum, or trace elements and growth sustaining supplements, e.g. feeder cells such as normal mouse peritoneal exudate cells, spleen cells, bone marrow macrophages, 2-aminoethanol, insulin, transferrin, low density lipoprotein, oleic acid, or the like. Multiplication of host cells which are bacterial cells or yeast cells is likewise carried out in suitable culture media known in the art, for example for bacteria in medium LB, NZCYM, NZYM, NZM, Terrific Broth, SOB, SOC, 2 x YT, or M9

Minimal Medium, and for yeast in medium YPD, YEPD, Minimal Medium, or Complete Minimal Dropout Medium.

In vitro production provides relatively pure antibody preparations and allows scale-up to give large amounts of the desired antibodies. Techniques for bacterial cell, yeast or mammalian cell cultivation are known in the art and include homogeneous suspension culture, e.g. in an airlift reactor or in a continuous stirrer reactor, or immobilised or entrapped cell culture, e.g. in hollow fibres, microcapsules, on agarose microbeads or ceramic cartridges.

Large quantities of the desired antibodies can also be obtained by multiplying mammalian cells in vivo. For this purpose, hybridoma cells producing the desired antibodies are injected into histocompatible mammals to cause growth of antibody-producing tumours. Optionally, the animals are primed with a hydrocarbon, especially mineral oils such as pristane (tetramethyl-pentadecane), prior to the injection. After one to three weeks, the antibodies are isolated from the body fluids of those mammals. For example, hybridoma cells obtained by fusion of suitable myeloma cells with antibody-producing spleen cells from Balb/c mice, or transfected cells derived from hybridoma cell line Sp2/0 that produce the desired antibodies are injected intraperitoneally into Balb/c mice optionally pre-treated with pristane, and, after one to two weeks, ascitic fluid is taken from the animals. The cell culture supernatants are screened for the desired antibodies, preferentially by immunofluorescent staining of cells expressing the fusion protein, by immunoblotting, by an enzyme immunoassay, e.g. a sandwich assay or a dot-assay, or a radio immunoassay.

For isolation of the antibodies, the immunoglobulins in the culture supernatants or in the ascitic fluid may be concentrated, e.g. by precipitation with ammonium sulphate, dialysis against hygroscopic material such as polyethylene glycol, filtration through selective membranes, or the like. If necessary and/or desired, the antibodies are purified by the customary chromatography methods, for example gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography, chromatography over DEAE-cellulose and/or immuno-affinity chromatography, e.g. affinity chromatography with the relevant (part of the) fusion protein or with Protein-A.

The invention further concerns hybridoma cells secreting the monoclonal antibodies of the invention. The preferred hybridoma cells of the invention are genetically stable, secrete monoclonal antibodies of the invention of the desired specificity and can be activated from deep-frozen cultures by thawing and recloning.

The invention also concerns a process for the preparation of a hybridoma cell line secreting monoclonal antibodies directed to the fusion proteins characterised in that a suitable mammal, for example a Balb/c mouse, is immunised with purified fusion protein, or with cells bearing the fusion protein, antibody-producing cells of the immunised mammal are fused with cells of a suitable myeloma cell line, the hybrid cells obtained in the fusion are cloned, and cell clones secreting the desired antibodies are selected. For example spleen cells of Balb/c mice immunised with the fusion protein are fused with cells of the myeloma cell line PAI or the myeloma cell line Sp2/0-Agl4, the obtained hybrid cells are screened for secretion of the desired antibodies, and positive hybridoma cells are cloned.

Preferred is a process for the preparation of a hybridoma cell line, characterised in that Balb/c mice are immunised by injecting suitable amounts of fusion protein according to the invention subcutaneously and/or intraperitoneally several times, e.g. four to six times, over several months, e.g. between two and four months, and spleen cells from the immunised mice are taken two to four days after the last injection and fused with cells of the myeloma cell line PAI in the presence of a fusion promoter, preferably polyethylene glycol.

Preferably the myeloma cells are fused with a three- to twentyfold excess of spleen cells from the immunised mice in a solution containing about 30 % to about 50 % polyethylene glycol of a molecular weight around 4000. After the fusion the cells are expanded in suitable culture media as described hereinbefore, supplemented with a selection medium, for example HAT medium, at regular intervals in order to prevent normal myeloma cells from overgrowing the desired hybridoma cells.

The invention also concerns recombinant nucleic acids comprising an insert coding for a heavy chain variable domain and/or for a light chain variable domain of antibodies directed to the fusion proteins of the invention. By definition such DNAs comprise coding single stranded DNAs, double stranded DNAs consisting of said coding DNAs and of complementary DNAs thereto, or these complementary (single stranded) DNAs themselves.

Furthermore, DNA encoding a heavy chain variable domain and/or for a light chain variable domain of antibodies directed the fusion proteins can be enzymatically or chemically synthesised DNA having the authentic DNA sequence coding for a heavy chain variable domain and/or for the light chain variable domain, or a mutant thereof. A mutant of the authentic DNA is a DNA encoding a heavy chain variable domain and/or a light chain variable domain of the above-mentioned antibodies in which one or more amino acids are deleted or exchanged with one or more other amino acids. Preferably said modification(s) are outside the CDRs of the heavy chain variable domain and/or of the light chain variable domain of the antibody. Such a mutant DNA is also intended to be a silent mutant wherein one or more nucleotides are replaced by other nucleotides with the new codons coding for the same amino acid(s). Such a mutant sequence is also a degenerated sequence. Degenerated sequences are degenerated within the meaning of the genetic code in that an unlimited number of nucleotides are replaced by other nucleotides without resulting in a change of the amino acid sequence originally encoded. Such degenerated sequences may be useful due to their different restriction sites and/or frequency of particular codons which are preferred by the specific host, particularly E. coli, to obtain an optimal expression of the heavy chain murine variable domain and/or a light chain murine variable domain.

The term mutant is intended to include a DNA mutant obtained by in vitro mutagenesis of the authentic DNA according to methods known in the art.

For the assembly of complete tetrameric immunoglobulin molecules and the expression of chimeric antibodies, the recombinant DNA inserts coding for heavy and light chain variable domains are fused with the corresponding DNAs coding for heavy and light chain constant domains, then transferred into appropriate host cells, for example after incorporation into hybrid vectors.

The invention therefore also concerns recombinant DNAs comprising an insert coding for a heavy chain murine variable domain of an antibody directed against a fusion protein according to the invention fused to a human γ constant domain, for example γl, γ2, γ3 or γ4, preferably γl or γ4. Likewise the invention concerns recombinant DNAs comprising an insert coding for a light chain murine variable domain of an antibody directed to the fusion protein fused to a human constant domain K or λ, preferably K.

In another embodiment the invention pertains to recombinant DNAs coding for a recombinant DNA wherein the heavy chain variable domain and the light chain variable domain are linked by way of a DNA insert coding for a spacer group, optionally comprising a signal sequence facilitating the processing of the antibody in the host cell and/or a DNA coding for a peptide facilitating the purification of the antibody and/ or a DNA coding for a cleavage site and/or a DNA coding for a peptide spacer and/or a DNA coding for an effector molecule.

The DNA coding for an effector molecule is intended to be a DNA coding for the effector molecules useful in diagnostic or therapeutic applications. Thus, effector molecules which are toxins or enzymes, especially enzymes capable of catalysing the activation of prodrugs, are particularly indicated. The DNA encoding such an effector molecule has the sequence of a naturally occurring enzyme or toxin encoding DNA, or a mutant thereof, and can be prepared by methods well known in the art.

Antibodies and antibody fragments according to the invention are useful in diagnosis and therapy. Accordingly, the invention provides a composition for therapy or diagnosis comprising an antibody according to the invention.

In the case of a diagnostic composition, the antibody is preferably provided together with means for detecting the antibody, which may be enzymatic, fluorescent, radioisotopic or other means. The antibody and the detection means may be provided for simultaneous, simultaneous separate or sequential use, in a diagnostic kit intended for diagnosis.

I. Use in NMR studies

Fusion proteins according to the invention possess an extremely small fusion partner. One advantage thereof is that the fusion proteins may be employed directly in an NMR experiment without the fusion partner interfering in the spectrum received.

NMR analysis may be performed according to techniques and methododlogy which are known in the art, for example as described in K. Wϋrtrich, "NMR of Proteins and Nucleic Acids", Wiley, New York, 1986, incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the following examples. General Procedures

Over-expression of proteins and bacterial cell breakage.

One freshly transformed colony of the expression host, E. coli C41(DE3), is inocculated into 500 ml of 2xTY medium. When the culture has reached an optical density of 0.6 at 600 nm, the expression of the fusion protein is induced by addition of IPTG (0.7 mM final concentration). After induction, the temperature of growth is reduced to 25 °C, and the culture is left for 18 hours. Then the cells are harvested by centrifugation, resuspended in TEP buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 1 mM EDTA, and 0.001 % phenylmethyl sulphonyl fluoride) and broken by being passed twice through a French pressure cell. The broken cells are centrifuged (60 minutes, 100,000 x g).

Purification of soluble fusion proteins on S-Sepharose.

If the over-expressed protein is soluble in the bacterial cytosol, the supernatant from the centrifuged broken bacterial cells is applied to a column of S-Sepharose equilibrated in TEP buffer. Proteins bound to the colomn are eluted with a linear gradient of sodium chloride (0-1M). Most of the fusion proteins elute from the column at a salt concentration of about 0.5 M sodium chloride, except for the If-ADPl fusion protein, which eluted at about 0.9 M sodium chloride. The purity of the proteins is examined by SDS-PAGE. If impurities remain, appropriate fractions containing the fusion protein are loaded onto a column of Ni-NTA resin (supplied by Quiagen Inc, Chatsworth, CA91311, U. S. A. NTA is nitrilo-triacetic acid).

Purification of the fusion proteins that formed inclusion bodies. If-epsilon. The pellet resulting from the centrifugation of broken cells of E. coli

C41(DE3) is redissolved in PBS containing 6M guanidinium hydrochloride and 0.33 M sodium chloride. Insoluble material is removed by centrifugation (40,000 g, 10 min), and the fusion protein is purified from the supernatant either by reverse-phase HPLC or by Ni- NTA column chromatography, as described below.

(a) Reverse-phase HPLC. The solution of If-epsilon is applied to a column of Aquapore RP-300 (Applied Biosystems; 7 micron particle size, 330 A pore size; 10 cm x 2.1 mm internal diameter) equilibrated in 0.1 % aqueous trifluoroacetic acid. The column is eluted with a linear gradient of acetonitrile in 0.1 % aqueous trifluoroacetic acid (flow rate 0.1 ml/min). The absorbance of the effluent from the column is monitored at 225 nm. The protein eluted from the column at 41 % acetonitrile.

(b) Ni-NTA colum chromatography. The sample of If-epsilon dissolved in 6M-guanidine hydrochloride is applied to a column of n Ni-NTA resin (2 ml bed volume). The column is equilibrated in PBS containing 0.33 M sodium chloride. It is washed first with PBS containing 5 mM imidazole (20 ml), and then with PBS containing 50 mM imidazole (20 ml) to elute the If-epsilon. The protein is a detected in the effluent by monitoring the absorbance at 225 nm. The purity of the protein is confirmed by SDS-PAGE.

If-UCP270. This protein (which contains a histidineg tag at its C-terminal end) is expressed in E. coli C41(DE3), where it also forms inclusion bodies in the bacterial cytoplasm. The culture is harvested by centrifugation and the cells are resuspended in PBS buffer containing 0.3 M sodium chloride. Cells are passed twice through a French press, and unbroken cells are eliminated by low speed centrifugation (2,000 x g, 10 minutes). Inclusion bodies are collected by centrifugation (10,000g, 10 minutes). The inclusion body pellet is resuspended in PBS buffer to a protein concentration of 2 mg/ml. Four ml of the suspension are centrifuged (10 minutes, 10,000 x g) and the resultintg pellet of inclusion bodies is solubilised in buffer A, which contains 0.1 M sodium phosphate, 0.01 Tris-HCl, 8.0 and 6M guanidine hydrochloride. Any remaining insoluble material is removed by centrifugation (10.000 x g, 10 minutes). The supernatant is mixed with 2 ml of a slurry of Ni-NTA resin that has been equilibrated in the same buffer. The slurry is stirred at room temperature for 45 minutes, then poured into a 5 ml chromatography column. The column is washed successively with 10 volumes of buffer A, pH 8.0, and 5 volumes of buffer B (8 M urea. 0.1 M sodium phosphate, 0.01 M Tris-HCl, pH 6.8). The fusion protein is eluted by washing the column with 4 ml of buffer C, containing 8M urea, 0.1 M sodium phosphate, 0.01 M Tris, pH 4.5. The detergent lauryl-dimethylamine oxide (LDAO; final concentration 1 %) is added to the eluted fractions, and urea is removed by three successive dialysis steps (3 hours each) with the following buffers: first, buffer A, pH 8.0, containing 0.15 % LDAO and 4M urea; second,buffer A, pH 8.0, containing 0.15 % LDAO and 0.5M urea; third, buffer A, pH 8.0 containing 0.15 % LDAO.

Purification of fusion proteins on Ni-NTA columns after S-Sepharose chromatography.

Fractions containing the fusion protein are pooled and incubated 45 minutes at 4°C with 2 ml of Ni-NTA resin pre-equilibrated with a PBS buffer containing 0.3M sodium chloride. The mixture is then poured into a 10 ml chromatography column and washed with PBS buffer containing 5 mM imidazole (20 ml). Fusion proteins without an additional C-terminal His-tag are eluted with buffer containing 50 mM imidazole and those with an additional C-terminal His-tag with buffer containing 500 mM imidazole. The fusion proteins are dialysed against PBS buffer and concentrated by ultrafiltration with an Amicon column 3.

Example 1 Construction of a coiled coil fusion expression vector

The pMW T7 expression vector (Studier et al. , 1990; Way et al , 1990) was adapted to express fusion proteins comprising a coiled coil fusion partner consisting of amino acids 44 to 84 of IF,. To this end, the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ. ID. No. 1 , which consist of amino acids 44 to 84 of IF, preceded by an initiating ATG (Met), is linked downstream of the T7 promoter in pMW by ligating it at the Nde 1 restriction site therein.

Downstream of the IF, sequence, the cleavable linker G S P K L is inserted, which provides BamHl and Hindlll restriction endonuclease sites. This sequence is part of the reverse primer used for vector construction and corresponds to the BamHI and Hindlll sites in the vector.

Alternative vectors are constructed in an identical manner, but incorporating alternative cleavable linkers: G S I E G R, which is cleavable by Factor Xa, and G S S L V P R G S G S, which is cleavable by thrombin.

Figure 1, lane 1, shows the expression of the fusion partner plus cleavable linker alone. The expression vector is transformed into E. coli C41(DE3) cells (see UK patent application 9614700.4; also Miroux and Walker, 1996). One transformant colony is inoculated into 500ml 2x TY medium in the presence of ampicillin (100 μg/ml) and grown at 37°C until the culture has reached an ODgoo of 0.6. At this stage, fusion partner expression is induced by the addition to the culture of 0.7 mM IPTG. Cells are harvested 16 hours after induction, and lysed in SDS-PAGE solubilisation buffer. The equivalent of 7.5 μl of culture is mixed with an equal volume of SDS-PAGE buffer and loaded, without further purification, onto a 12-22% SDS-PAGE gel. The gel is then stained with coomassie blue 83 dye.

The expressed polypeptide is visible as a major constituent of the total cellular protein in the bacteria.

General utility vectors

In order to provide an expression vector which could routinely be used to clone and express a variety of peptides, the vector described above is further modified by the addition of a MCS and a His tag. The His tag facilitates isolation of the fusion protein on a nickel column, although it is not strictly necessary because the IF, 44-84 sequence itself contains

5 His residues. Example 2

Expression of fusion proteins

Fusion polypeptides are expressed by cloning nucleic acid sequences encoding amino acids 1 to 39 and 118 to 155 of subunit a of E. coli F,F₀ ATP Synthase, and amino acids 1 to 13 and 55 to 75 of subunit I of E. coli F,F₀ ATP Synthase directly onto the GSPKL extension of the 44-84 sequence of IF, in the expression vector described in Example 1. The results of the experiment are shown in Figure 1, lanes 2 to 5.

The expression vectors are transformed into E. coli C41(DE3). One transformant colony is inoculated into 500ml 2x TY medium in the presence of ampicillin (100 μg/ml) and grown at 37°C until the culture has reached an OD₆₀₀ of 0.6. At this stage, fusion partner expression is induced by the addition to the culture of 0.7 mM IPTG. Cells are cultured at the reduced temperature of 25°C and harvested by centrifugation 18 hours after induction, or 3 hours after induction in the case of the IF, (44-84)-a(l-39) fusion. The equivalent of 7.5 μl of culture is then loaded, without further purification, onto a 12-22% SDS-PAGE gel. The gel is then stained with coomassie blue 83 dye.

The expressed polypeptides are visible as major constituents of the total cellular protein in the bacteria.

Table 1 shows the results of expression experiments conducted with a number of fusion proteins. In two cases, involving fusions with a portion of the rat mitochondrial uncoupling protein, His-tags were used to further facilitate isolation on nickel columns. Two fusions with the epsilon subunit of bovine F,F₀ ATP synthase were made using alternative cleavable sequences, those for Factor Xa and Thrombin.

In all cases, E. coli C41(DE3) cells were transformed as above and the proteins isolated from the cytosol, other in soluble form or as inclusion bodies as indicated. The inclusion bodies are solubilised either in 6M-guanidium chloride or in 8M-urea and after solubilisation are centrifuged to eliminate membranes and insoluble material. The supernatant conatining the solubilized protein is injected on to a reverse phase HPLC column (C8 Aquapore RP-300, 7μm particles, 300 A pore size; 10 cm x 2.1 mm internal diameter) that has been equilibrated in 0.1 % trifluoroacetic acid and eluted with a linear gradient of acetonitrile. The eluted peptides are detected by monitoring the absorbance of the efluent at 220 nm, and they are analyzed by SDS-PAGE.

In each case, the mass of the fusion protein was calculated by theoretical means and determined experimentally by electro-spray ionisation mass spectrometry with a Perkin- Elmer Sciex API III+ triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The purified protein or peptide sample was dissolved in water or in 0.1 % trifluoroacetic acid, and introduced into the inlet stream being sprayed into the instrument. This stream consisted of 50% aqueous acetonitrile. Spectra were recorded in the mass range 10-2,400 (see Methods in Molecular Biology, Volume 61: "Protein and Peptide Analysis by Mass Spectrometry": Edited by J. R. Chapman, Humana Press, 1996; M. Mann and M. Wilm (1995) Trends Biochem Sci. 20, 219-224). The correlation between calculated and determined values is striking, indicating that the polypeptide is entirely undegraded during the synthesis procedure.

TABLE 1

name origin, sequence experimental calculated location in purification size in aa mass mass C41(DE3)

If inhibitor-(44-84)GS AX

If-al m, 39 U-GSPKL-Eca(I-39) 9931.95 9933.1994 IB reverse phase HPLC

If-a3 m, 38 U-GsPKL-Eca(l 18-155) 9444.45 9446.9 IB reverse phase HPLC

If-I l m, 13 -GSKNVM-unc\(l-13) 7010.8 7013.00 IB reverse phase HPLC

If-I2 m, 21 If-GS--uncl(59-79) 7561.5 7563.5 IB reverse phase HPLC

If-OGCPl M, 19 lϊ-GSPKLM-OGCP (1-19) soluble reverse phase HPLC

If-0GCP2 111, 19 lf-GSPKL-OGCP(266-284) 7771.28 7773.87 IB reverse phase HPLC

If-AAC2 m, 22 If-GSPΛX-AAC(258-279) 7966.33 7969.1 IB reverse phase HPLC

If-UCPl Pl 111, 14 lϊ-GSPK -VCP(I-14) 7970.58 7971.86 soluble S-Sepharose/Nickel column

EFHHHHHH lf-UCP2Pl m, 13 -GSPKLM-υCV2(l-13) 6882.32 6884.32 soluble S-Sepharose/Nickel column

If-UCP2P2 m, 15 If-GSPKL-UCP2(46-60) 7013.02 7014.8 soluble S-Sepharose

If-UCP2P3 m, . 15 U-GSPKL-υCP2(101-U5) 8176.96 8178.09 soluble S-Sepharose/Nickel column

II-UCP270 m, 69 I f-GSPKLM-VCP2 (I -69) 13801.83 IB Nickel column/8M urea, refolded by EFHHHHHH dialysis in presence of o.2 LDAO

If-ADPl g,37 If-GSrø.-ADPI 9412.6 9410.07 soluble S-Sepharose

If-Xa-epsilon g,50 If-GS/£GR--epsilon 1 1 ,216.06 1 1 ,217.83 IB reverse phase HPLC

If-Trb-epsilon g,50 If-G55 VPΛGSG5-epsilon 11 ,602.42 11 ,603.31 IB reverse phase HPLC

If-e g,70 If-GS-e 13,298.50 13,300.16 IB reverse phase HPLC

Italic letters indicate extra amino-acids, bold letters indicate the name of protein and bold numbers between bracket show the position of the peptide in the protein. The following abbreviations have been used: Inhibitor: bovine inhibitor of the F,F₀-ATP synthase; Eca: subunit a of the E. coli F,F₀-ATP synthase; uncl: subunit I of the E. coli synthase; OGCP: bovine mitochondrial oxoglutarate carrier; AAC: bovine adenine nucleotide translocator; UCPI: rat mitochondrial Uncoupling protein 1; UCP2: rat mitochondrial Uncoupling protein 2; ADPI: peptide from HIV-TAT protein; epsilon: subunit of the bovine F,F₀-ATP synthase; e: subunit of the bovine F,F₀-ATP synthase; IB: inclusion Bodies; m: membrane protein; g: globular protein; aa: amino-acid; LDAO: lauryl dimethylamine oxide.

Expression of fusion peptides

Nucleic cDNA fragments encoding a number of randomly selected peptides were ligated into the expression vectors comprising the IF, fusion. Expression of these vectors shown in Figure 2; procedure was identical to the experiments reported in Figure 1.

The peptides expressed are set forth in Table 2.

TABLE 2

Peptide Number Amino Acid Sequence Length Stop codon

GSSLSIWWLLTCIRSPRPWPVKVARWKMRLRTSI 54 Opal

SAAQRWCAPPPRTIKMSQSW

GSGPQPAWRNNKTGTAEWGRINRRLDAINVSGT 39 Ochre

GSRTAN

GSNCFFSPSSNAHALPCSSLLQ 22 Opal

GSPSVMRTRVTR 12 Ochre

GSHAHC 6 Ochre

GSLSLPFAR 9 Ochre

GSLRCFARSRSSGRC 15 Ochre

GSPPRVAATVERH 13 Opal

9 GSCAGCG 7 Amber 10 GSRY 4 Ochre 11 GS 2 Opal

12 GSRTDETYYPAD 12 Amber

Example 3

Purification of Fusion Proteins

Nickel columns Figure 5 shows the purification of fusion proteins according to the invention by nickel column and reverse phase HPLC methods. 1/ shows the purification of proteins from inclusion bodies: If-al is expressed as inclusion bodies and solubilised using 6M

Guanidinium chloride and purified by reverse phase HPLC as for Figure 3. K-UCP270 fusion protein is solubilised in the presence of urea and purified on a nickel column in the presence of LDAO detergent (see General Procedures for details).

2/ shows the purification of the three fusion proteins If-UCPlPl, If-UCP2P2 and If-

UCP3P3 on nickel columns. Thse fusions are soluble in bacterial cytoplasm and are purified by anion exchange chromatography on S-Sepharose (see General Procedures) followed by affinity chromatography on a nickel column. All protein samples are analysed by SDS-PAGE after purification. The gels are stained with coomassie blue dye 83.

Nickel columns therefore provide convenient and efficient means by which fusion protyeins according to the invention may be purified.

Reverse Phase HPLC

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the purification of fusion proteins according to the invention by reverse phase HPLC (see General Procedures; also table 1).

Polypeptides to be isolated by reverse phase HPLC are isolated from bacterial host cells in the form of inclusion bodies and approximately 150 μg of material dissolved in 6M guanidinium hydrochloride in 0.1 M Tris.HCl, pH 8.0. The sample was injected into an Aquapore RP300 column using a HP 1090 Liquid Chromatograph.

The purification of If-Il, If-I2, If-al and If- A3 is shown (see also Table 1). Example 4

Generation of Antibodies

A fusion protein comprising amino acids 44 to 84 of IF, fused, via the linker GSPKL, to residues 1 to 39 of the a subunit of E. coli F,F₀ ATP synthase is used directly for challenge of rabbits in order to generate anti-F,F₀ ATP synthase antibodies.

Immunisation is carried out according to established techniques (See "Antibodies. A Laboratory Manual" by E. Harlow and D. Lane (1988) Cold Spring Harbor, U. S. A.) The purified fusion protein (about 1 mg) was injected into a rabbit in presence of complete Freund's adjuvant. A booster injection of 0.5 mg of the fusion protein in incomplete Freund's adjuvant was made 4 weeks after the initial injection. Antibodies are isolated from rabbit serum and tested for reactivity with the a subunit of F,F₀ ATP synthase.

Antibodies capable of selective binding to the chosen polypeptide are obtained by this method.

Example 5

Direct application of fusion proteins to NMR

A fusion protein is subjected to NMR analysis according to conventional techniques (K. Wϋrtrich, "NMR of Proteins and Nucleic Acids", Wiley, New York, 1986), but without separating the fusion partner from the polypetide to be analysed.

Proton and C NMR analysis confirms the structure of the desired protein. The relevant spectra have at most minimal spectral peaks attributable to the fusion partner. References:

Ausubel, F. M., Brent, R., Kingston, R. E., Seidman, D. D., Smith, J. G., Struhl, J. A. & Struhl. K. (1987). In Current Protocols in Molecular Biology . John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York.

Bertin, B., Freissmuth, M., Breyer, R.M., Schutz, W., Stosberg, A. D., and Marullo, S. (1991). Functional expression of the human serotonin 5-HT1A receptor in Escherichia coli. J. Biol. Chem., 267, 8200-8206.

Chalfie, M., Tu, Y., Euskirchen, G., Ward, W. W. & Prasher, D. C. (1994). Green fluorescent protein as a marker for gene expression. Science 263, 802-805.

Chapot, M.P. , Eshdat, Y., Marullo, S. , Guillet, J.G., Charbit , A., Strosberg, A.D., Delavier-Klutchko, C. (1990). Localization and characterization of three different beta- adrenergic receptors expressed in Escherichia coli. Eur J Biochem 187 (1): 137-144 .

Collinson, I. R., van Raaij, M. J., Runswick, M. J., Fearnley, I. M., Skehel, J. M., Orriss, G., Miroux, B. & Walker, J. E. (1994). ATP synthase from bovine heart mitochondria: in vitro assembly of a stalk complex in the presence of F,-ATPase and in its absence. J. Mol. Biol. 242, 408-421. de Boer et al , (1983) PNAS (USA) 80:21-25. de Boer, P. A. J., Crossley, R. E. & Rothfield, L. I. (1988). Isolation and properties of B, a complex genetic locus involved in correct placement of the division site in Escherichia coli. J. Bad. 170, 2106-2112.

Doherty, A. J., Connolly, B. A. & Worrall, A. F. (1993). Overproduction of the toxic protein bovine pancreatic DNAse I in Escherichia coli using a tightly controlled T7 promoter based vector. Gene 136, 337-340. Dong, H., Nilsson, L. & Kurland, C. G. (1995). Gratuitous overexpression of genes in Escherichia coli leads to growth inhibition and ribosome destruction. J. Bacteriol. Ill, 1497- 1504. Fiermonte, G., Walker, J. E. & Palmieri, F. (1993). Abundant bacterial expression and reconstitution of an intrinsic membrane transport protein from bovine mitochondria.

Biochem. J. 294, 293-299.

Fillingame, R. H. (1990). Molecular mechanics of ATP synthesis by F,F₀-type H⁺- transporting ATPases. The Bacteria 12, 345-391.

Friedberg, E. C, Walker, G. C. & Siede, W. (1995). In DNA repair and mutagenesis . ASM Press, Washington DC.

George, J. W., Brosh Jr, R. M. & Matson, S. W. (1994). A dominant negative allele of the Escherichia coli uvrD gene encoding DNA helicase II. J. Mol Biol. 235, 424-435. Grisshammer, R. & Tate, C. G. (1995). Overexpression of integral membrane proteins for structural studies. Qu. Rev. Biophys. 28, 315-422.

Guzman et al , (1995) J. Bacteriol. 177:4121-4130.

Guzman, L. M., Barondess, J. J. & Beckwith, J. (1992). Fts L, an essential cytoplasmic membrane protein involved in cell division in Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 174, 7716-7728. Hockney, R. C. (1994). Recent developments in heterologous protein production in Escherichia coli. Trends Biotechnol. 12, 456-463. lost, I. & Dreyfus, M. (1995). The stability of Escherichia coli lacZ mRNA depends upon the simultaneity of its synthesis and translation. EMBO J. 14, 3252-3261.

Kamata, H., Akiyama, S., Morosawa, H., Ohta, T., Hamamoto, T., Kambe, T., Kagawa, Y. & Hirata, H. (1992). Primary structure of the alanine carrier protein of thermophilic bacterium PS3. J. Biol. Chem. 267, 21650-21655.

Kane. J. F. (1995). Effects of rare codon clusters on high-level expression of heterologous proteins in Escherichia coll. Curr. Opinion Biotechnol. 6, 494-500.

Kiefer. H., J. Krieger, J. D. Olszewski, G. Von Heijne, G. D. Prestwich, and H. Breer. (1996). Expression of an olfactory receptor in Escherichia coli: purification, reconstitution, and ligand binding. Biochemistry 35:16077-16084. Laemmli, U. K. (1970). Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head of bacteriophage T4. Nature 227, 680-685.

Makarova, O. V., Makarov, E. M., Sousa, R. & Dreyfus, M. (1995). Transcribing of Escherichia coli genes with mutant T7 RNA polymerases: Stability of lacZ mRNA inversely correlates with polymerase speed. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 92, 12250-12254.

Moffatt, B. A. & Studier, F. W. (1987). T7 lysozyme inhibits transcription by T7 RNA polymerase. Cell 49, 221-227.

Murli, S. & Walker, G. C. (1993). SOS mutagenesis. Current Opinion Genetics and Development 3, 719-725. Orriss, G. L., Runswick, M. J., Collinson, I. R., Miroux, B., Feamley, I. M., Skehel, J. M. & Walker, J. E. (1996). The δ- and e-subunits of bovine F,-ATPase interact to form a heterodimeric subcomplex. Biochem. J. 314, 695-700.

Runswick, M. J., Powell, S. J., Nyren, P. & Walker, J. E. (1987). Sequence of the bovine mitochondrial phosphate carrier protein: structural relationship to ADP/ATP translocase and the brown fat mitochondrial uncoupling protein. EMBO J. 6, 1367-1373.

St. Johnston, D., Beuchle, D. & Nϋsslein-Volhard, C. (1991). Staufen, a gene required to localise maternal RNAs in the Drosophila egg. Cell 66, 51-63.

Studier, F. W., Rosenberg, A. H., Dunn, J. J. & Dubendorff, J. W. (1990). Use of T7 RNA polymerase to direct expression of cloned genes. Methods in Enzymol. 185, 60-89. Tucker, J., and Grisshammer R. (1996). Purification of a rat neurotensin receptor expressed in Escherichia coli. Biochem. J. 317, 891-899.

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Walker, J. E. & Runswick, M. J. (1993). The mitochondrial transport protein super-family. J. Bioenerget. Biomembranes 25, 435-467. Walker, J. E., Runswick, M. J. & Poulter, L. (1987). ATP synthase from bovine mitochondria: characterisation and sequence analysis of two membrane associated subunits and of their corresponding c-DNAs. J. Mol Biol. 197, 89-100.

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SEQUENCE LISTING

(1) GENERAL INFORMATION:

(i) APPLICANT:

(A) NAME : Medical Research Council

(B) STREET: 20 Park Crescent

(C) CITY: London (E) COUNTRY: UK

(F) POSTAL CODE (ZIP) : WIN 4AL

(G) TELEPHONE: +171 636 5422 (H) TELEFAX: +171 323 1331 (ii) TITLE OF INVENTION: Recombinant Production of Proteins

(iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 2

(iv) COMPUTER READABLE FORM: (A) MEDIUM TYPE: Floppy disk

(B) COMPUTER: IBM PC compatible

(C) OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS

(D) SOFTWARE: Patentin Release #1.0, Version #1.30 (EPO)

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO : 1:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:

(A) LENGTH: 141 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid

(C) STRANDEDNESS : single

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA to mRNA

(iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO

(iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: C-terminal

(vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:

(A) ORGANISM: Bos bovis (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE:

(B) CLONE: IF1 ATPase Inhibitor

(ix) FEATURE:

(A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION:!..141 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 1:

ATG GCC TTG AAG AAA CAC CAT GAA AAT GAG ATC TCT CAT CAT GCA AAG 48 Met Ala Leu Lys Lys His His Glu Asn Glu lie Ser His His Ala Lys 1 5 10 15

GAG ATT GAG CGC CTG CAG AAA GAA ATT GAG CGG CAT AAG CAG TCG ATC 96 Glu lie Glu Arg Leu Gin Lys Glu lie Glu Arg His Lys Gin Ser lie 20 25 30

AAG AAA CTA AAA CAG AGT GAG GAT GAC GAC GGA TCC CCG AAG CTT 141

Lys Lys Leu Lys Gin Ser Glu Asp Asp Asp Gly Ser Pro Lys Leu 35 40 45

(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO : 2:

(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 47 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid

(D) TOPOLOGY: linear

(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein

(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 2:

Met Ala Leu Lys Lys His His Glu Asn Glu lie Ser His His Ala Lys 1 5 10 15

Glu lie Glu Arg Leu Gin Lys Glu lie Glu Arg His Lys Gin Ser lie 20 25 30

Lys Lys Leu Lys Gin Ser Glu Asp Asp Asp Gly Ser Pro Lys Leu 35 40 45

Claims

1. A fusion protein comprising:

a) a first region capable of forming a coiled-coil structure; and b) a second region not naturally associated with the first region comprising a polypeptide sequence of interest.

2. A fusion protein according to claim 1 which further comprises a cleavable linker region between the first and second regions.

3. A fusion protein according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the first region is at or proximal to the N-terminus of the protein.

4. A fusion protein according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the polypeptide sequence of interest is from 2 to 100 amino acids in length.

5. A fusion protein according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the polypeptide sequence of interest is a mammalian hormone.

6. A fusion protein according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first region comprises from 4 to 10 heptad repeat units capable of forming a coiled-coil structure.

7. A fusion protein according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first region comprises all or part of the bovine IF, ATPase inhibitor protein.

8. A nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein of any one of the preceding claims.

9. An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim 8 operably linked to a promoter.

10. An expression vector comprising a fitst nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide capable of forming a coiled coil structure operably linked to a promoter capable of expressing the first nucleic acid sequence in a host cell, and, linked to the nucleic acid sequence, a cloning site permitting the insertion of a second nucleic acid sequence such that it is capable of being expressed in fusion with the first nucleic acid sequence.

11. A host cell transformed with the expression vector of claim 9 or claim 10.

12. A method of preparing a fusion protein comprising:

(i) transforming a host cell according to claim 11, which method comprises culturing the host cell under conditions which provide for the expression of the fusion protein from the expression vector within the host cell; and (ii) recovering the fusion protein.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the host cell is E. coli.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the expression vector comprises a bacteriophage T7 promoter.

15. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the fusion protein further comprises a protease cleavable linker region between the first and second regions and which method further comprises cleaving the protein at the protease cleavable linker and recovering the second region.

16. A polypeptide when prepared by the method of any one of claims 12 to 15.

17. Use of a polypeptide capable of forming a coiled coil structure as a fusion partner in the construction of a fusion protein.

18. Use according to claim 17, wherein the fusion protein is a fusion protein according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

19. Use of a fusion protein according to any one of claims 1 to 7 in NMR studies.

20. A method for preparing an immunoglobulin, comprising the steps of:

a) immunising an animal with a fusion protein according to any one of claims 1 to 7: and b) recovering immunoglobulin specific for a region of the fusion protein from the serum of the animal.