Purification, characterization, and biotinylation of single-chain antibodies

The variable region (Fv) portion of an antibody is comprised of the antibody V(H) and V(L) domains and is the smallest antibody fragment containing a complete antigen-binding site. To stabilize the association of the recombinant V(H) and V(L) domains, they have been linked in single-chain Fv constructs with a short peptide that bridges the approx 3.5 nm between the carboxy terminus of one domain and the ammo terminus of the other (1-3). An NMR comparison of the unlinked Fv fragment of the antibody McPC603 with the corresponding scFv containing a V(H)-(Gly(4)Ser)(3)-V(L) linker has shown no perturbation of the folding of the variable domains by the linker (4,5). In comparison to the much larger Fab', F(ab')(2), and IgG forms of monoclonal antibody (MAb) from which they are derived, scFvs have lower retention times in nontarget tissues, more rapid blood clearance, and better tumor penetration (6-8). ScFvs, therefore, represent potentially very useful molecules for the targeted delivery of drugs, toxins, or radionuclides to a tumor site.