Preparation of Fab' from murine IgG2a for thiol reactive conjugation

Lysyl endopeptidase (LE) from Achromobacter lyticus M497-1 (EC 3.4.21.50) was utilized to prepare F(ab')2 fragments from mouse anti-P-glycoprotein IgG2a obtained from the UIC2 hybridoma. This report describes a novel single step purification procedure for F(ab')2 fragments that eliminates residual LE activity responsible for secondary cleavage of F(ab')2 to Fab fragments. The purification of F(ab')2 and Fc fragments was accomplished utilizing protein G affinity chromatography and either gradient or step changes in the pH/ionic strength for elution of the Fc and F(ab')2 fragments. Residual LE was eluted from the protein G column with buffer containing 200 mM L-lysine prior to elution of F(ab')2 and Fc fragments. The activity of LE was monitored using the fluorogenic substrate Boc-Val-Leu-Lys-7-amido 4-methyl coumarin. A similar purification procedure for F(ab')2 fragments produced following pepsin digestion of IgG2a is also outlined. The ability of Fab' fragments, from reduced F(ab')2 fragments following LE digestion of IgG2a, to conjugate to thiol reactive groups was demonstrated using N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer-meso chlorin e6 mono (N-2-aminoethylamide) (Mce6) conjugates containing reactive maleimide groups. The biological activity of the Fab' targeted HPMA copolymer-Mce6 conjugates was tested against the P-glycoprotein expressing human ovarian carcinoma A2780/AD cell line utilizing a cell survival assay. Fab' targeted HPMA copolymer-Mce6 conjugate demonstrated significantly higher cytotoxicity than either a monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeted HPMA copolymer-Mce6 conjugate or a non-targeted HPMA copolymer-Mce6 conjugate, p < 0.05.