Methods of RNA display
View Patent ↗The present invention features improved methods of in vitro RNA display to allow reliable expression and selection of scFv antibody molecules from expression libraries. The improved methods, in part, involve the use of mildly reducing conditions, which favor of scFv intra-chain disulphide bond and thus correct folding of the scFv antibody molecules. Although particularly suited to expression and selection of scFv antibody molecules, the methods of the invention are also expedient for in vitro RNA display of all classes of protein.
1. A method of screening an scFv antibody RNA display library, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a library of puromycin or analogue thereof crosslinked single chain Fv (scFv) mRNA molecules, said molecules comprising an mRNA encoding a 5′ scFv and a 3′ spacer sequence, which molecules are crosslinked to a single stranded nucleic acid linker, the linker comprising a puromycin, or analogue thereof, at a 3′ end and a Psoralen C6 at a 5′ end;
(b) in vitro translating the puromycin-crosslinked scFv mRNAs in the presence of a label under mildly oxidizing conditions using oxidized glutathione/reduced glutathione such that labeled puromycin-crosslinked scFv mRNA/protein molecules are formed;
(c) purifying the labeled puromycin-crosslinked scFv mRNA/protein molecules;
(d) screening the purified labeled puromycin-crosslinked scFv mRNA/protein molecules with at least one antigen; and
(e) recovering the purified labeled puromycin-crosslinked scFv mRNA/protein molecules using magnetic beads; and optionally
(f) reverse transcribing the scFv mRNA after antigen selection to make a cDNA that is complementary to the scFV mRNA.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of (g) amplifying the cDNA.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the label is a radioactive label.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the label is 35 S methionine or cysteine.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 3′ spacer sequence comprises about 200 amino acids.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 3′ spacer sequence comprises about 16 amino acids.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 3′ spacer sequence comprises an affinity tag.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid linker comprises, from 5′ to 3′:
Psoralen C6;
2′OMe ribonucleotides comprising the sequence UAGCGGAUGC (SEQ ID NO: 20);
six Triethylene glycol or PEG-150 moieties;
two deoxycytidine residues; and,
Puromycin.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scFv mRNA molecules are photocrosslinked to the nucleic acid linker by UVA.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scFv mRNA molecules comprise a 5′ promoter selected from the group consisting of T7, SP6, and T3.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scFv mRNA molecules comprise a tobacco mosaic virus 5′ untranslated region.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the labeled puromycin-crosslinked scFv mRNA/protein molecules are purified by oligodT chromatography.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the labeled puromycin-crosslinked scFv mRNA/protein molecules are purified using anti-FLAG M2 monoclonal antibody agarose beads.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the labeled puromycin-crosslinked scFv mRNA/protein molecules are purified by oligodT chromatography and anti-FLAG M2 monoclonal antibody agarose beads.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antigen is a biotinylated peptide, protein, or hapten.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antigen is a fusion protein with human immunoglobulin fragment crystallizable (Fc).
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antigen is a fusion protein with murine immunoglobulin fragment crystallizable (Fc).
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antigen is a population of cells.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody is an anti-IL-12 antibody.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody is an anti-HA antibody.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a murine antibody.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a human antibody.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a humanized antibody.
24. The method of claim 1 , wherein in vitro translation of the puromycin-crosslinked scFv mRNA is additionally performed in the presence of protein disulphide isomerase (PDI).
25. The method of claim 1 , wherein in vitro translation of the puromycin-crosslinked scFv mRNA is additionally performed in the absence of dithiothreitol.
26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method does not comprise an mRNA capping step.
27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method does not comprise an in vitro reverse transcription step prior to the purification step.
28. The method of claim 1 , wherein an RNase inhibitor is added before, during, or after any of steps (a) through (g).
29. The method of claim 1 , wherein said purification step comprises reverse transcription of the mRNA in the absence of dithiothreitol to produce a cDNA.
30. The method of claim 1 or 29 , wherein the cDNA is eluted by alkaline hydrolysis at about pH=8.0 to about pH=10.0.
31. The method of claim 1 or 29 , wherein the cDNA is eluted by heat.
32. The method of claim 1 or 29 , wherein the cDNA is eluted by acid at about pH=3.0 to about pH=6.0.
33. The method of claim 29 , wherein the cDNA is amplified by polymerase chain reaction.
34. The method of claim 33 , wherein the polymerase chain reaction employs a thermostable DNA polymerase.
35. The method of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic beads are selected from the group consisting of streptavidin beads and neutravidin beads.