Yeast surface display of lamprey variable lymphocyte receptors

The variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs) of lamprey and hagfish comprise leucine-rich repeat modules, instead of the immunoglobulin-like domain building blocks of antibodies and T-cell receptors in jawed vertebrates. Both types of vertebrate-rearranging antigen receptors are similarly diverse, with repertoires that can potentially exceed 10(14) unique receptors. In order to characterize antigen-binding properties of the VLRs, we developed a high-throughput yeast surface display platform for the isolation of monoclonal VLRs. We have isolated VLRs that specifically bind hen egg lysozyme, β-galactosidase, cholera toxin subunit B, R-phycoerythrin, and the blood group trisaccharides A and B, with binding affinities in the mid-nanomolar to mid-picomolar range. VLRs may, thus, be excellent single-chain alternatives to Ig-based antibodies for biotechnology applications.