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US 6,274,324 B1Granted
Specific binding reagent comprising a variable domain protein linked to a support or tracer
AssigneeUnilever Patent Holdings B.V.
InventorsPaul James Davis, Martine Elisa Verhoeyen, Ronald Frank Jacobus De Winter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Small specific binding molecules, such as single variable domain antibodies (Dabs) and Fv fragments, can be coupled to solid plastics surfaces or to tracers such as enzymes by means of linkers comprising polypeptides containing from 5 to 20 amino acids and which are hydrophobic and/or contain at least one lysine residue. The coupling can be achieved without significant loss of specific binding activity. The combined Dab/linker or Fv/linker can be prepared by expression in genetically-modified organisms.
Claims14
A specific binding reagent, comprising:
- (i) at least one variable domain antibody fragment which is essentially free from the rest of the originating antibody or antibodies;
- (ii) a peptide linking group, which does not contribute to the specific binding properties of the reagent, said peptide linking group being attached at or near the end of the variable domain antibody fragment and wherein said linking group comprises from 5 to 20 amino acid residues, is hydrophobic and includes at least one lysine residue and at least two amino residues selected from the group consisting of valine, leucine, iso-leucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, proline and alanine and
- (iii) a solid surface or a tracer, coupled via the lysine residue of the linking group by covalent attachment to the variable domain antibody fragment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.