| Background: CD20 is an important cell surface receptor that is used for target therapy of B cell lymphoma and some related blood diseases due to vital function of CD20. In previous studies, a Rituximab based humanized single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody showed good reactivity against B cell related cancer cells. But this recombinant protein produced Inclusion Bodies (IBs) in Escherichia coli (E. coli ) cytoplasm. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of coexpression with cytoplasmic chaperones on expression and solubility of humanized anti-CD20 scFv in E. coli . Methods: For this purpose, the fragment coding for anti-CD20 huscFv subcloned into the pET22b (+) and transformed into the E. coli BL21 (DE3) was evaluated. In order to inhibit the production of IBs, the effects of co-expression with cytoplasmic chaperones GroEL, DnaK, GroES, Tig, DnaJ and GrpE were investigated. Result: Coexpression with cytoplasmic chaperones led to increased soluble expression of anti-CD20 recombinant protein. Among investigated chaperones, pKJE7 chaperone plasmid containing DnaJ, GrpE, DnaK chaperone genes had significant effects with an expression yield of 325 μ g/ml soluble anti-CD20 scFv. Conclusion: The result of this study demonstrated remarkable effect of pKJE7 chaperone on enhancement of soluble expression of anti-CD20 huscFv antibody in E. coli . |