Secretion of T cell receptor fragments from recombinant host cells

摘要

Variable domain murine T-cell receptor genes have been isolated and used to construct cloning and expression vectors. Valpha, Vbeta, and single chain Valpha-Vbeta fragments have been expressed as secreted domains in Escherichia coli using the vectors. The domains are secreted into the culture supernatant in milligram quantities. The single domains and the single chain T-cell receptors are folded into beta-pleated sheet structures similar to those of immunoglobulin variable domains. The secreted fragments may be useful for immunization to generate anti-clonotypic antibodies, in vaccination or for high resolution structural studies. The genes encoding these domains may also serve as templates for in vitro mutagenesis and improvement of affinities of the TCR fragments for their interaction with cognate peptide-MHC complexes.