Biotecnologia Aplicada Elfos Scientiae ISSN: 0684-4551 Vol. 14, Num. 1, 1997, pp. 55

NOVEL AFFINITY SITE FOR ANTIBODY MEDIATED DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC TARGETING

Heinz Kohler^1 and Gabriela Pavlinkova^2

^1 Department of Microbiology & Immnunology, University of Kentucky, Lexington USA.
^2 Immpheron Inc. Lexington, USA.

Code Number:BA97017
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The recent discovery (PNAS 93:6019-6024, 1996) of a novel affinity site on antibodies offers a new methodology to couple to antibodies therapeutically active and radio-image producing compounds.

Furthermore, this new affinity linking technology allows the chemical attachment of reporter molecules for immuno-assays and in situ diagnostic. Currently applied coupling methods attach randomly active compounds to the antibody surface which can alter or block the sensitive antibody binding site. The new method takes advantage of a naturally existing site which has high affinity for heterocyclic structures such as ATP and Adenosine. The phosphate group and the ribose of both compounds can be used to attach chelates for tumor imaging and radio-immunotherapy, oligonucleotides for antisense gene therapy and reporter molecules for immuno-detection assays.

For example, biotin was conjugated to Azido-ATP via a phosphate ester linkage and to the oxidized ribose of azido-adenosine via aldehyde condensation reaction. Photo-affinity biotinylated antibodies showed excellent signal-to-noise ratios in ELISA, FACS and Western blots. Furthermore tumor imaging with photo-affinity-chelated antibodies produced high uptake of isotope labeled antibodies by tumors in an animal model. Finally, this new affinity linker technology can be performed on antibody containing solutions without prior and post reaction purification steps.

Copyright 1997 Elfos Scientiae