Patent ID: 7569664

Claim:
A single chain T cell receptor (scTCR) comprising: an α segment constituted by a human TCR α chain variable region sequence fused to the N terminus of a human TCR α chain constant region extracellular sequence, a β segment constituted by a human TCR β chain variable region sequence fused to the N terminus of a human TCR β chain constant region extracellular sequence, and a linker sequence linking the C terminus of the α segment to the N terminus of the β segment, or vice versa, the constant region extracellular sequences of the α and β segments being linked by a disulfide bond, the length of the linker sequence and the position of the disulfide bond being such that the variable region sequences of the α and β segments are mutually orientated substantially as in native αβ T cell receptors, wherein the scTCR is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a scTCR wherein the constant region extracellular sequence of the α segment includes a sequence corresponding to TRAC*01 and the β segment includes a sequence corresponding to TRBC1*01 or TRBC2*01, and a non-native disulfide bond is between cysteine residues substituted for Thr 48 of exon 1 of TRAC*01 (amino acid residue 10 of SEQ ID NO:2) and Ser 57 of exon 1 of TRBC1*01 or TRBC2*01 (amino acid residue 10 of SEQ ID NO:6); (b) a scTCR wherein a disulfide bond links cysteine residues substituted for Thr 45 of exon 1 of TRAC*01 (amino acid residue 10 of SEQ ID NO:3) and Ser 77 of exon 1 of TRBC1*01 or TRBC2*01 (amino acid residue 10 of SEQ ID NO:7); (c) a scTCR wherein a disulfide bond links cysteine residues substituted for Tyr 10 of exon 1 of TRAC*01 (amino acid residue 10 of SEQ ID NO:4) and Ser 17 of exon 1 of TRBC1*01 or TRBC2*01 (amino acid residue 10 of SEQ ID NO:8); (d) a scTCR wherein a disulfide bond links cysteine residues substituted for Thr 45 of exon 1 of TRAC*01 (amino acid residue 10 of SEQ ID NO:3) and Asp 59 of exon 1 of TRBC1*01 or TRBC2*01 (amino acid residue 10 of SEQ ID NO:9); and (e) a scTCR wherein a disulfide bond links cysteine residues substituted for Ser 15 of exon 1 of TRAC*01 (amino acid residue 10 of SEQ ID NO:5) and Glu 15 of exon 1 of TRBC1*01 or TRBC2*01 (amino acid residue 10 of SEQ ID NO:10).