Stabilization of antibody fragments in adverse environments.
Antibody fragments have the potential to be used as sensitive and specific binding agents in a broad range of industrial applications. Genetic manipulation has been used to design a series of antibody fragment configurations with a flexible linker and/or a disulphide bond between the heavy chain and light chain of an antibody fragment against the herbicide atrazine. The thermostability and stability to a range of denaturants, polar and non-polar solvents, surfactants and proteases have been compared. It has been found that a novel antibody fragment construct (STAB: stabilized antibody) containing both a flexible linker and a disulphide bond can be effectively produced and shows greatly improved stability in these diverse environments. These STABs should be useful in environmental diagnostics and remediation, and may provide a generic approach for stabilizing antibody fragments in formulations containing detergents and penetrants for topical application in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
Dooley
H
H
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, U.K.
Grant
S D
SD
Harris
W J
WJ
Porter
A J
AJ
D001280:Atrazine / Q000378:metabolism; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004220:Disulfides / Q000737:chemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D006540:Herbicides / Q000378:metabolism; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments / Q000737:chemistry*; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
D004220:Disulfides; D006540:Herbicides; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001280:Atrazine