| abstract |
The invention is directed to growth factors or precursors of catalytic antibodies comprising a B-cell surface molecule binding portion, which can induce B-cell mitogenesis. The preferred B-cell surface molecule binding portions are the immunoglobulin binding molecules of protein L from peptostreptococcus magnus, protein A, protein G and protein H. The growth factor having an ability to induce B-cell mitogenesis can be further linked to a target antigen to which catalytic antibodies are sought. B-cell mitogenesis is then dependent on the catalytic cleavage of the antigen portion of the growth factor by catalytic antibodies on the surface of B cells. The method of the present invention is useful for generating catalytic antibodies for both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. |