Generation of antibody activity from immunoglobulin polypeptide chains produced in Escherichia coli.

Abstract

Plasmids were constructed that direct the synthesis in E. coli of H chains and/or L chains of an anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) antibody. Another plasmid was constructed for expression of a truncated form of H chain (Fd'' fragment) in E. coli. Functional CEA-binding activity was obtained by in vitro reconstitution in E. coli extracts of H chain or Fd'' fragment mixed with extracts containing L chain.