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 single chain T-Cell Receptor (scTCR), the scTCR comprising a TCR αor TCR β
constant region, wherein the scTCR binds specifically to a given pMHC epitope, and
an immune effector polypeptide comprising a single chain immunoglobulin (scFv) which specifically binds to CD3,
wherein:
the N-terminus of the scTCR is linked to the C-terminus of the scFv, 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. The bifunctional molecule of claim 1 , wherein the scFv comprises SEQ ID NO: 3.