Immunotoxin conjugates design

Figure 21.1 The basic design of an immunotoxin conjugate consists of an antibody-targeting component crosslinked to a toxin molecule. The complexation typically includes a disulfide bond between the antibody portion and the cytotoxic component of the conjugate to allow release of the toxin intracellularly. In this illustration, an intact A-B toxin protein provides the requisite disulfide, but the linkage also may be designed into the crosslinker itself.

MDX-RA , an immunotoxin conjugated to an antibody designed to prevent secondary cataracts, phase III clinical trials, enrollment stopped. Medarex, Annandale, NJ. 

Fig. 3.3. Principle of design of immunotoxin conjugates by chemical coupling of toxins, or through their recombinant synthesis as fusion proteins. The antibody components which are parts of the Fah fusion and single-chain fusion are shown in Fig. 3.4.

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