Intrabodies

Intrabodies are antibodies that are engineered to function within the cell. Unlike conventional antibodies which are secreted or located on the cell surface, intrabodies are designed to reside in specific intracellular compartments such as the cytoplasm, nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, or mitochondria. They are typically produced by introducing genes encoding antibody fragments into cells, often using viral vectors or other gene delivery methods. The primary goal of intrabody technology is to modulate the function of intracellular proteins. This can be achieved by binding to target proteins and either inhibiting their activity, preventing their proper folding or assembly, or targeting them for degradation.

The development of intrabodies involves several key steps. First, a target intracellular protein is identified. Then, antibody fragments, commonly single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) or fragment antigen-binding (Fab) fragments, are generated against this target. These fragments are engineered with appropriate signal sequences to direct them to their intended intracellular location. Once inside the cell, the intrabody can bind to its target, altering its biological activity.

Intrabodies hold significant promise in various fields, particularly in therapeutic applications. They can be used to treat diseases caused by malfunctioning or overexpressed intracellular proteins, such as viral infections, cancer, and genetic disorders. By neutralizing or degrading disease-causing proteins within the cell, intrabodies offer a highly specific and localized therapeutic approach. Research is ongoing to improve their stability, delivery, and efficacy within the complex intracellular environment.