Inventors:
Thomas L. Ciardelli - Sharon VT
Kirk Johnson - Moraga CA
Assignee:
Chiron Corporation - Emeryville CA
Trustee of Dartmouth College - Hanover NH
International Classification:
C07K 14435
C07K 14705
C07K 14715
C12N 1512
Abstract:
Coiled-coil molecular recognition is a primary mode of subunit assembly in a large variety of naturally occurring macromolecular complexes. Here we report the use of coiled-coil mediated solution assembly to form a stable, heteromeric complex of Interleukin-2 receptor ectodomains that binds IL-2 cooperatively and with an affinity approaching the comparable cell surface complex. Cross-linking of homomeric or heteromeric receptor subunits is the common signal transmission mechanism employed by hematopoietin receptors. Individual receptor ectodomains, however, often do not bind ligand with measurable affinity. The claimed invention is useful for coiled-coil mediated assembly of receptor complexes for solution analysis. It also shows that hetero-oligomeric complexes can be formed using a leucine zipper domain.