Importance

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Abstract

A cell-specific toxin molecule is prepared containing an enzymatically active toxin moiety coupled to a cell-specific binding ligand. The toxin moiety may be a diphtheria toxin, and has a non-naturally occurring cysteine residue encoded by a DNA sequence including a non-naturally occurring cysteine codon. The ligand may be a peptide hormone, proteinaceous growth factor, antibody of steroid hormone, and is derivatized with a sulfhydryl group reactive with the cysteine residue of the toxin moiety to couple the ligand to the toxin moiety via a disulfide bond. Derivatization of the ligand may be by providing the ligand with a non-naturally occurrring cysteine residue encoded by a DNA sequence including a non-naturally occurring cysteine codon. The toxin moiety exhibits cytotoxic activity but fails to exhibit generalized eukaryotic cell binding, and may be used to treat medical disorders.

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First Claim