Analysis of the interaction between single-chain variable fragments and their antigen in a reducing intracellular environment using the two-hybrid system

FEBS Lett. 2000 Feb 11;467(2-3):316-20. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(00)01182-0.

Abstract

The coding sequences of three single-chain variable (scFv) fragments (A4, G4 and H3), which bind to dihydroflavonol-4-reductase (DFR) of Petunia hybrida, and the DFR-encoding sequence were cloned in two-hybrid vectors. The vectors were transformed in the yeast strain HF7c (his3-200, trp1-901, leu2-3) and the scFv-DFR interaction was analyzed by measuring yeast growth on medium without histidine. ScFv-G4 and, to a lesser extent, scFv-A4 could interact with DFR in the yeast nucleus. On the contrary, scFv-H3 showed no interaction with its antigen in yeast. The results of a previous expression analysis of the same scFv fragments in the plant cytosol correlate with those of the two-hybrid test. This suggests that it is possible to evaluate the antigen-scFv interaction in a reducing subcellular environment with the two-hybrid test. Therefore, the yeast two-hybrid system can be useful to identify candidate scFv fragments for intracellular antibody applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases / immunology*
  • Antibody Affinity
  • Antigens, Fungal / immunology*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Plants
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques
  • Yeasts

Substances

  • Antigens, Fungal
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region
  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases
  • dihydroflavanol 4-reductase