Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vol.96, No.1, 81-88, 2012
Efficient heterologous expression and secretion in Aspergillus oryzae of a llama variable heavy-chain antibody fragment V-HH against EGFR
We have constructed a filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae that secretes a llama variable heavy-chain antibody fragment (V-HH) that binds specifically to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in a culture medium. A major improvement in yield was achieved by fusing the V-HH with a Taka-amylase A signal sequence (sTAA) and a segment of 28 amino acids from the N-terminal region of Rhizopus oryzae lipase (N28). The yields of secreted, immunologically active anti-EGFR V-HH reached 73.8 mg/1 in a Sakaguchi flask. The V-HH fragments were released from the sTAA or N28 proteins by an indigenous A. oryzae protease during cultivation. The purified recombinant V-HH fragment was specifically recognized and could bind to the EGFR with a high affinity.