Novel vectors for the expression of antibody molecules using variable regions generated by polymerase chain reaction

A new family of vectors has been produced which facilitates the cloning and expression of immunoglobulin variable regions cloned by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The vectors are designed to express the cloned variable regions joined to human constant regions and take advantage of priming in the leader sequence so that no amino acid changes will be introduced into the mature antibody molecule. Both the heavy chain and light chain vectors utilize a murine V11 promoter provided with an EcoRV restriction site so that the amplified variable regions can be directly cloned into a functional promoter. For the heavy chain an NheI restriction site has been generated at the first two amino acids of C11l and the cloned leader and variable region are fused directly to the C11l domain of the constant region. When the leader and variable regions of the light chain were fused directly to Cκ, no expression was observed. Therefore the light chain expression vector was designed with a Sall restriction site for cloning into a splice junction 3′ of the variable region; VL then is joined to Cκ by splicing. Both vectors direct the expression of functional. fully assembled immunoglobulin molecules with the expected molecular weight. Use of redundant oligomers to prime the PCR permits the cloning and expression of recombinant antibodies without any prior information as to their sequence and makes it possible to rapidly generate recombinant antibodies from any monoclonal antibody producing cell line.