The present invention concerns methods and compositions for stably
tethered structures of defined compositions with multiple functionalities
and/or binding specificities. Particular embodiments concern stably
tethered structures comprising a homodimer of a first monomer, comprising
a dimerization and docking domain attached to a first precursor, and a
second monomer comprising an anchoring domain attached to a second
precursor. The first and second precursors may be virtually any molecule
or structure, such as antibodies, antibody fragments, antibody analogs or
mimetics, aptamers, binding peptides, fragments of binding proteins,
known ligands for proteins or other molecules, enzymes, detectable labels
or tags, therapeutic agents, toxins, pharmaceuticals, cytokines,
interleukins, interferons, radioisotopes, proteins, peptides, peptide
mimetics, polynucleotides, RNAi, oligosaccharides, natural or synthetic
polymeric substances, nanoparticles, quantum dots, organic or inorganic
compounds, etc. The disclosed methods and compositions provide a simple,
easy to purify way to obtain any binary compound attached to any
monomeric compound, or any trinary compound.