Insertable variable fragments of antibodies and modified A1-A2 domains of NKG2D ligands
This application relates generally to the production of polypeptides having specific antigen-binding properties of Fv domains, for example, insertable variable fragments of antibodies, and modified α1-α2 domains of NKG2D ligands.
1. A non-natural, modified α1-α2 domain molecule from a human NKG2D ligand molecule, wherein said domain molecule comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 95% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17, and wherein in said domain molecule, the cysteine at position 103 in SEQ ID NO: 17 is replaced by serine, and the arginine at position 162 in SEQ ID NO: 17 is replaced by glycine.
2. The modified α1-α2 domain molecule of claim 1 ,
wherein said domain molecule comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17 but in which the cysteine at position 103 in SEQ ID NO: 17 is replaced by serine, and the arginine at position 162 in SEQ ID NO: 17 is replaced by glycine.
3. The modified α1-α2 domain molecule of claim 1 , further comprising an attached heterologous peptide.
4. The molecule of claim 3 , wherein the attached heterologous peptide is an antibody, or fragment thereof.
5. The modified α1-α2 domain molecule of claim 3 , wherein the heterologous peptide directs the binding of the domain molecule to a target molecule on a target cell, thereby delivering the domain molecule to the target cell.
6. A composition comprising the modified α1-α2 domain molecule of claim 1 , and a carrier or excipient.
7. The modified α1-α2 domain molecule of claim 1 , which is attached to an immunogen, wherein the α1-α2 domain provides adjuvant activity to accelerate and/or enhance the potency of the immune response of the recipient animal to the immunogen.
8. The modified α1-α2 domain molecule of claim 1 , wherein said amino acid sequence has at least 96% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17.
9. The modified α1-α2 domain molecule of claim 1 , wherein said amino acid sequence has at least 97% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17.
10. The modified α1-α2 domain molecule of claim 1 , wherein said amino acid sequence has at least 98% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17.
11. The modified α1-α2 domain molecule of claim 1 , wherein said amino acid sequence has at least 99% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17.