Anti-HER2 ScFv Expression in Escherichia Coli SHuffleT7 Express Cells: Effects on Solubility and Biological Activity

Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer, worldwide. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-overexpressing breast cancer is correlated with poor prognosis. HER2-targeting monoclonal antibodies resulted in longer survival of HER2 breast cancer. Single-chain variable fragment (scFv) demonstrates improved penetrability into tumors. Due to the presence of two disulfide bond, scFv expression in reducing bacterial cytoplasm may cause formation of inclusion bodies. Disulfide bond can be formed properly in cytoplasm of SHuffle strain as it is trxB, gor, and overexpresses cytoplasmic DsbC chaperone. In this study, the anti-HER2 scFv was successfully expressed and purified in BL21 (DE3) and SHuffle cells. Here, significant higher soluble anti-HER2 scFv was produced in SHuffle than in BL21 strain. The specific binding of anti-HER2 scFv to HER2 was shown by flow cytometry analysis and ELISA. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the anti-HER2 scFv produced in SHuffle binds to HER2 at higher level as compared to that expressed in BL21 cells. Furthermore, competitive ELISA-based study suggested that anti-HER2 scFv recognizes the same epitope of HER2 receptor as the trastuzumab antibody. Our findings indicated that correct disulfide bond formation in SHuffle strain can result in enhanced solubility and higher biological activity level of anti-HER2 scFv.