earticle

영어

Molecular biology has started since Schrödinger published the report of “What is life” at 1944. At present, when 68 years has passed since the start point, genomics analysis for various species describes genes as vast resources of functional molecules (proteins) which have not be mimicked yet by organic molecules, and structural biology approach gets to hierarchical structure depiction that functional module units as elements are built up to the proteins as nanodevices. Advance in molecular biology has also developed various experimental technologies to analyze biological events from a molecular viewpoint; consequently, recombinant proteins with a non-native function and structure can be generated by means of molecular evolutional techniques and fusion protein engineering. In this molecular biology background, we are proposing the concept of “smart bio-design” for generating functional biomolecules from various protein modules. In the case of antibody, IgG-type antibodies are usually produced in mammalian cell expression systems, but the construction of a stable and large-scale production process in mammalian systems is laborious, time consuming, and expensive. In contrast, antibody fragments, such as single-chain Fv (scFv) and Fab fragments, can be prepared in bacterial secretory expression systems; however, the downsizing of antibodies has some benefits in protein expression processes, while it results in low affinity for antigen-displayed cell surfaces by the degrease of antigenbinding valence. Here, we propose a new construction of low molecular multivalent/bispecific antibody by conjugation of protein engineering and chemical conjugation engineering.