Difference between revisions of "Part:BBa K3346004"

Latest revision as of 01:45, 12 October 2020

Anti-Estradiol Fab Fragment

Usage and Biology

Local estrogen production has been linked with the growth of lesions in endometriosis [1]. As such, many researchers have been interested in the connection between estrogen levels and the progression of endometriosis. This area of research has led to the discovery that reducing estrogen levels through low dosage hormone therapy can be beneficial for the reduction of symptoms such as pelvic pain [2]. Therefore, we postulate that a therapeutic antibody targeting estradiol, the prominent form of estrogen, could be a useful treatment for endometriosis patients in the future.

Fab fragments, consisting of variable and constant domains from full-sized antibodies, are a popular option for immunotherapy as their small sizes allow for rapid cellular diffusion and their antibody binding domains have high specificities for their target molecules [3]. Past iGEM teams have worked with Fab fragments to create efficient expression cassettes for the mass production of these therapeutic options in Escherichia coli. In particular, 2019 Aboa created a periplasmic expression vector for Fab fragments using simple SfiI digestion (BBa_K2941004). Therefore, the production of an anti-estradiol Fab fragment with high efficiency expression in Escherichia coli lends itself to the inexpensive production of a therapeutic option for endometriosis patients. The 57-2 anti-17β-estradiol Fab fragment is a strong choice for immunotherapy as it has been shown to have high production rates in E. coli with high affinity for 17β-estradiol, therefore indicating its ability to reduce estrogen levels in endometriosis [4].

This part can be used with the anionic peptide tag (BBa_K3346005) to produce a therapeutic option for endometriosis with an efficient drug delivery mechanism.

Sequence and Features