Periplasmic Expression of a Recombinant Antibody (MabB9) in Escherichia coli

Expression in the periplasm of Escherichia coli of cloned heavy and light chain cDNAs for Fab fragment of a murine monoclonal antibody MabB9 (${\gamma}2b$, K), specific for human plasma apolipoprotein B-100 of LDL, was studied. For the purpose, a vector for two-cistronic expression of the heavy chain cDNA, at the 5' terminus, and light chain cDNA, at the 3' terminus, was constructed using the signal sequences, pelB (for heavy chain) and ompA (for light chain) in a pET vector system. The constructed vector was transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3). The expressed heavy chain (25 kDa) and light chain (23 kDa) of the antibody molecule were detected in total cell extracts as well as in the periplasmic extracts of E. coli.