SINGLE CHAIN RECOMBINANT T CELL RECEPTORS

摘要

A single chain T cell receptor (scTCR) comprising an a segment constituted by a TCR alpha chain variable region sequence fused to the N terminus of a TCR alpha chain constant region extracellular sequence, a beta segment constituted by a TCR beta chain variable region fused to the N terminus of a TCR beta chain constant region extracellular sequence, and a linker sequence linking the C terminus of the alpha segment to the N terminus of the beta segment, or vice versa, the constant region extracellular sequences of the alpha and beta segments being linked by a disulfide bond, the length of the linker sequence and the position of the disulfide bond being such that the variable region sequences of the alpha and beta segments are mutually orientated substantially as in native alphabeta T cell receptors. Complexes of two or more such scTCRs, and use of the scTCRs in therapy and in various screening applications are also disclosed.