Bifunctional polypeptides
A bifunctional polypeptide comprising a specific binding partner for a peptide-MHC epitope, such as an antibody or T cell receptor, and an immune effector, such as an antibody or a cytokine, the immune effector part being linked to the N-terminus of the peptide-MHC binding part.
1. A bifunctional molecule, comprising:
a heterodimeric αβ T-Cell Receptor (αβ TCR), wherein the αβ TCR binds specifically to a given pMHC epitope, and
an immune effector polypeptide,
wherein:
the N-terminus of the α chain of the αβ TCR is linked to the C-terminus of a single chain of an immune effector polypeptide comprising CDRs of an anti-CD3 antibody, and
the bifunctional molecule is capable of binding to the given pMHC epitope and CD3, each on a different cell, and thus simultaneously binding to two different cells.
2. A bifunctional molecule, comprising:
a heterodimeric αβ T-Cell Receptor (αβ TCR), wherein the αβ TCR binds specifically to a given pMHC epitope, and
an immune effector polypeptide,
wherein:
the N-terminus of the β chain of the αβ TCR is linked to the C-terminus of a single chain of an immune effector polypeptide comprising CDRs of an anti-CD3 antibody, and
the bifunctional molecule is capable of binding to the given pMHC epitope and CD3, each on a different cell, and thus simultaneously binding to two different cells.
3. The bifunctional molecule of claim 1 , wherein the immune effector polypeptide is a single chain immunoglobulin (scFv) which specifically binds to CD3.
4. The bifunctional molecule of claim 2 , wherein the immune effector polypeptide is a single chain immunoglobulin (scFv) which specifically binds to CD3.
5. The bifunctional molecule of claim 3 , wherein the single chain immunoglobulin comprises SEQ ID NO: 3.
6. The bifunctional molecule of claim 4 , wherein the single chain immunoglobulin comprises SEQ ID NO: 3.