Multimers, tetramers and octamers

1. A protein multimer of at least first, second, third and fourth copies of an effector domain or a peptide, wherein the multimer is multimerized by first, second, third and fourth self-associating tetramerization domains (TDs) which are associated together, wherein each tetramerization domain is comprised by a respective engineered polypeptide comprising one or more copies of said effector domain or peptide,

wherein

(i) each TD is a p53 TD or a homologue or orthologue thereof;

(ii) the multimer is soluble in an aqueous medium and is obtainable by extracellular secretion from a eukaryotic cell; and

(iii) wherein the multimer comprises eukaryotic cell glycosylation.

2. The multimer of claim 1 , wherein:

(i) the multimer comprises a tetramer or an octamer of said domain or peptide;

(ii) the multimer comprises a tetramer or octamer of an immunoglobulin superfamily binding site;

(iii) the effector domain is an immunoglobulin superfamily domain; or

(iv) the effector domain or peptide is an antibody variable or constant domain, a TCR variable or constant domain, an incretin, an insulin peptide, or a hormone peptide.

3. The multimer of claim 1 , wherein each engineered polypeptide comprises first and second copies of said effector domain or peptide, wherein each engineered polypeptide comprises in N- to C-terminal direction (i) a first of said copies—TD— the second of said copies; (ii) TD—the first and second copies; or (iii) said first and second copies—TD.

4. The multimer of claim 1 , wherein the engineered polypeptide comprises one or more copies of a second type of effector domain or peptide, wherein the second type of effector domain or peptide is different from the first effector domain or peptide.

5. The multimer of claim 1 , wherein the multimer:

(i) comprises 4 TDs and 4, 8, 12 or 16 copies of the effector domain or peptide;

(ii) comprises first, second, third and fourth identical copies of an engineered polypeptide, the polypeptide comprising a TD and one, two or more copies of the effector domain or peptide;

(iii) comprises a single type of engineered polypeptide, wherein the multimer is obtainable at >90% purity;

(iv) consists of copies of the engineered polypeptide; or

(v) is bispecific for antigen or pMHC binding.

6. The multimer of claim 1 , wherein each TD comprises (i) an amino acid sequence identical to SEQ ID NO: 10 or 126 or at least 80% identical thereto.

7. The multimer of claim 1 , wherein the multimer comprises a tetramer or octamer of an antigen binding site of an antibody selected from the group consisting of REOPRO®; Abciximab; RITUXAN®; Rituximab; ZENAPAX®; Daclizumab; SIMULECT®; Basiliximab; SYNAGIS®; Palivizumab; REMICADE®; Infliximab; HERCEPTIN®; MYLOTARG®; Gemtuzumab; CAMPATH®; Alemtuzumab; ZEVALIN®; Ibritumomab; HUMIRA®; Adalimumab; XOLAIR®; Omalizumab; BEXXAR®; Tositumomab; RAPTIVA™; Efalizumab; ERBITUX®; Cetuximab; AVASTIN®; Bevacizumab; TYSABRI®; Natalizumab;-ACTEMRA®; Tocilizumab; VECTIBIX®; Panitumumab; LUCENTIS®; Ranibizumab; SOLIRIS®; Eculizumab; CIMZIA®; Certolizumab; SIMPONI®; Golimumab, ILARIS®; Canakinumab; STELARA®; Ustekinumab; ARZERRA®; Ofatumumab; PROLIA®; Denosumab;-NUMAX™; Motavizumab; ABTHRAX™; Raxibacumab; BENLYSTA®; Belimumab; YERVOY®; Ipilimumab; ADCETRIS®; Brentuximab Vedotin; PERJETA®; Pertuzumab; KADCYLA®; Ado-trastuzumab; KEYTRUDA®, OPDIVO®, GAZYVA® and Obinutuzumab.

8. A tetramer or octamer of

(a) TCR V domains or TCR binding sites, wherein the tetramer or octamer is soluble in aqueous solution;

(b) antibody single variable domains, wherein the tetramer or octamer is soluble in aqueous solution;

(c) TCR V domains or TCR binding sites, wherein the tetramer or octamer is capable of being extracellularly expressed by HEK293 cells; or

(d) antibody variable domains, wherein the tetramer or octamer is capable of being extracellularly expressed by HEK293 cells,

wherein the tetramer or octamer comprises eukaryotic cell glycosylation.

9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the multimer claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.

10. An engineered polypeptide or a monomer of the multimer of claim 1 .

11. The engineered polypeptide of claim 10 , comprising in N- to C-terminal direction:

(a) TCR V1—TCR C1—antibody CH1—optional linker—TD, wherein

(i) V1 is a Vα and C1 is a Cα;

(ii) V1 is a Vβ and C1 is a Cβ;

(iii) V1 is a Vγ and C1 is a Cγ; or

(iv) V1 is a Vδ and C1 is a Cδ;

or

(b) TCR V1—antibody CH1—optional linker—TD, wherein

(i) V1 is a Vα;

(ii) V1 is a Vβ;

(iii) V1 is a Vγ; or

(iv) V1 is a Vδ;

or

(c) antibody V1—antibody CH1—optional linker—TD, wherein

(i) V1 is a VH; or

(ii) V1 is a VL; or

(d) antibody V1—optional antibody CH1—antibody Fc—optional linker—TD, wherein

(i) V1 is a VH; or

(ii) V1 is a VL; or

(e) antibody V1—antibody CL—optional linker—TD, wherein

(i) V1 is a VH; or

(ii) V1 is a VL; or

(f) TCR V1—TCR C1—optional linker—TD, wherein

(i) V1 is a Vα and C1 is a Cα;

(ii) V1 is a Vβ and C1 is a Cβ;

(iii) V1 is a Vγ and C1 is a Cγ; or

(iv) V1 is a Vδ and C1 is a Cδ.

12. A nucleic acid encoding the engineered polypeptide or monomer of claim 10 .

13. A eukaryotic host cell comprising the nucleic acid of claim 12 for secreted expression of the engineered polypeptide or monomer.

14. A method for producing secreted multimers, wherein the method comprises secreting the multimers from eukaryotic cells comprising the nucleic acid of claim 12 .

15. A mixture comprising (i) a eukaryotic cell line encoding an engineered polypeptide of claim 10 ; and (ii) multimers, wherein the cell line is in a medium comprising secretion products of the cells, wherein the secretion products comprise the multimers.

16. The multimer of claim 1 , wherein the eukaryotic cell is a mammalian cell.

17. The multimer of claim 16 , wherein the eukaryotic cell is a Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell, HEK293 cell, or Cos cell.

18. A protein multimer of at least first, second, third and fourth copies of an effector domain or a peptide, wherein the multimer is multimerized by first, second, third and fourth self-associating tetramerization domains (TDs) which are associated together, wherein each tetramerization domain is comprised by a respective engineered polypeptide comprising one or more copies of said effector domain or peptide,

wherein

(i) each TD is a p53 TD or a homologue or orthologue thereof;

(ii) the multimer is soluble in an aqueous medium and is obtainable by extracellular secretion from a eukaryotic cell; and

(iii) wherein each engineered polypeptide comprises first and second copies of said effector domain or peptide, wherein each engineered polypeptide comprises in N- to C-terminal direction (i) a first of said copies—TD—the second of said copies; (ii) TD—the first and second copies; or (iii) said first and second copies—TD.

19. An engineered polypeptide, wherein the engineered polypeptide comprises one or more copies of an effector domain or peptide and a self-associating tetramerization domain (TD),

wherein the TD is capable of multimerizing to form a protein multimer of at least first, second, third and fourth copies of the effector domain or peptide,

wherein the TD is a p53 TD or a homologue or orthologue thereof, and

(i) each TD of the multimer is a p53 TD or a homologue or orthologue thereof; and

(ii) the multimer is soluble in an aqueous medium and is obtainable by extracellular secretion of the engineered polypeptide from a eukaryotic cell, and the engineered polypeptide comprises in N- to C-terminal direction:

(a) antibody V1—antibody CH1—optional linker—TD, wherein

(i) V1 is a VH; or

(ii) V1 is a VL; or

(b) antibody V1—optional antibody CH1—antibody Fc—optional linker—TD, wherein

(i) V1 is a VH; or

(ii) V1 is a VL; or

(c) antibody V1—antibody CL—optional linker—TD, wherein

(i) V1 is a VH; or

(i) V1 is a VL.

20. The multimer of claim 18 , wherein each TD comprises (i) an amino acid sequence identical to SEQ ID NO: 10 or 126 or at least 95% identical thereto.

21. The engineered polypeptide of claim 19 , wherein the engineered polypeptide comprises in N- to C-terminal direction: antibody V1—antibody CH1—optional linker—TD, wherein V1 is a VH; or V1 is a VL.

22. The engineered polypeptide of claim 19 , wherein each TD comprises (i) an amino acid sequence identical to SEQ ID NO: 10 or 126 or at least 95% identical thereto.

23. The multimer of claim 18 , wherein the engineered polypeptide comprises one or more copies of a second type of effector domain or peptide, wherein the second type of effector domain or peptide is different from the first effector domain or peptide.

24. The engineered polypeptide of claim 19 , wherein the engineered polypeptide comprises one or more copies of a second type of effector domain or peptide, wherein the second type of effector domain or peptide is different from the first effector domain or peptide.

25. An engineered polypeptide or a monomer of the multimer of claim 18 .