Construction, expression and characterization of a dual cancer-specific fusion protein targeting carcinoembryonic antigen in intestinal carcinomas

Protein Expr Purif. 2010 Jan;69(1):120-5. doi: 10.1016/j.pep.2009.08.007. Epub 2009 Aug 15.

Abstract

The abundantly expressed carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) on several cancer types is an attractive target for antibody-directed therapy. However, CEA is also present in some normal tissues. Here, we produced a dual functioning protein, designated as CAtin that exhibits both specific binding and killing functions, by fusing a tumor-specific apoptosis-inducing molecular Apoptin to C-terminus of an anti-CEA single-chain disulfide-stabilized Fv antibody (scdsFv). The CAtin proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli), refolded and purified on an immobilized Ni2+ affinity chromatography column. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting revealed that the recombinant protein was well-expressed and the yield was approximately 250mg/L. We demonstrated by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence assays that CAtin could bind specifically to human colon carcinoma cells (LoVo), but almost not to human uterine cervix (Hela). The results suggest that CAtin is active and specific toward CEA-positive cells and may potentially be used in CEA-targeted cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Western
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen / chemistry
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen / isolation & purification
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Intestinal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / chemistry
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / isolation & purification
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / metabolism*
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Folding
  • Protein Structure, Secondary

Substances

  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion