Correlating the Impact of Well-Defined Oligosaccharide Structures on Physical Stability Profiles of IgG1-Fc Glycoforms

As part of a series of articles in this special issue describing 4 well-defined IgG1-Fc glycoforms as a model system for biosimilarity analysis (high mannose-Fc, Man5-Fc, GlcNAc-Fc and N297Q-Fc aglycosylated), the focus of this work is comparisons of their physical properties. A trend of decreasing apparent solubility (thermodynamic activity) by polyethylene glycol precipitation (pH 4.5, 6.0) and lower conformational stability by differential scanning calorimetry (pH 4.5) was observed with reducing size of the N297-linked oligosaccharide structures. Using multiple high-throughput biophysical techniques, the physical stability of the Fc glycoproteins was then measured in 2 formulations (NaCl and sucrose) across a wide range of temperatures (10°C-90°C) and pH (4.0-7.5) conditions. The data sets were used to construct 3-index empirical phase diagrams and radar charts to visualize the regions of protein structural stability. Each glycoform showed improved stability in the sucrose (vs. salt) formulation. The HM-Fc and Man5-Fc displayed the highest relative stability, followed by GlcNAc-Fc, with N297Q-Fc being the least stable. Thus, the overall physical stability profiles of the 4 IgG1-Fc glycoforms also show a correlation with oligosaccharide structure. These data sets are used to develop a mathematical model for biosimilarity analysis (as described in a companion article by Kim et al. in this issue).

Assessing the Utility of Circular Dichroism and FTIR Spectroscopy in Monoclonal-Antibody Comparability Studies

Protein characterization is a necessary activity during development, technical transfers, and licensure. One important aspect of protein characterization is higher order structure assessment, which can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies provide global higher order structure and are routinely used to measure the overall structure for product characterization; however, their use as comparability tools is uncertain because of their insensitivity to local or small structure changes. We use a monoclonal antibody (mAb) to explore the usefulness of CD and FTIR compared with other indirect methods of structure characterization such as size-exclusion and ion-exchange chromatographies (SEC and IEC). A panel of degraded samples of a mAb was generated; their higher order structure evaluated using CD and FTIR and was found to be largely unchanged. However, the SEC and IEC chromatograms of certain degraded samples were found to have measurable changes. Based on these studies, we conclude that the application of CD and FTIR should be reserved for global higher order structure identification or product characterization only. The use of CD or FTIR comparability of mAbs should be carefully evaluated, as comparability can be sensitively determined using indirect methods based on chromatography.

Correlations between changes in conformational dynamics and physical stability in a mutant IgG1 mAb engineered for extended serum half-life

This study compares the local conformational dynamics and physical stability of an IgG1 mAb (mAb-A) with its corresponding YTE (M255Y/S257T/T259E) mutant (mAb-E), which was engineered for extended half-life in vivo. Structural dynamics was measured using hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange mass spectrometry while protein stability was measured with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The YTE mutation induced differences in H/D exchange kinetics at both pH 6.0 and 7.4. Segments covering the YTE mutation sites and the FcRn binding epitopes showed either subtle or no observable differences in local flexibility. Surprisingly, several adjacent segments in the CH2 and distant segments in the VH, CH1, and VL domains had significantly increased flexibility in the YTE mutant. Most notable among the observed differences is increased flexibility of the 244-254 segment of the CH2 domain, where increased flexibility has been shown previously to correlate with decreased conformational stability and increased aggregation propensity in other IgG1 mAbs (e.g., presence of destabilizing additives as well as upon de-glycosylation or methionine oxidation). DSC analysis showed decreases in both thermal onset (Tonset) and unfolding (Tm1) temperatures of 7°C and 6.7°C, respectively, for the CH2 domain of the YTE mutant. In addition, mAb-E aggregated faster than mAb-A under accelerated stability conditions as measured by SEC analysis. Hence, the relatively lower physical stability of the YTE mutant correlates with increased local flexibility of the 244-254 segment, providing a site-directed mutant example that this segment of the CH2 domain is an aggregation hot spot in IgG1 mAbs.

Getting to the core of protein pharmaceuticals--Comprehensive structure analysis by mass spectrometry

Protein pharmaceuticals are the fastest growing class of novel therapeutic agents, and have been a major research and development focus in the (bio)pharmaceutical industry. Due to their large size and structural diversity, biopharmaceuticals represent a formidable challenge regarding analysis and characterization compared to traditional small molecule drugs. Any changes to the primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary structure of a protein can potentially impact its function, efficacy and safety. The analysis and characterization of (structural) protein heterogeneity is therefore of utmost importance. Mass spectrometry has evolved as a powerful tool for the characterization of both primary and higher order structures of protein pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, the chemical and physical stability of protein drugs, as well as their pharmacokinetics are nowadays routinely determined by mass spectrometry. Here we review current techniques in primary, secondary and tertiary structure analysis of proteins by mass spectrometry. An overview of established top-down and bottom-up protein analyses will be given, and in particular the use of advanced technologies such as hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) for higher-order structure analysis will be discussed. Modification and degradation pathways of protein drugs and their detection by mass spectrometry will be described, as well as the growing use of mass spectrometry to assist protein design and biopharmaceutical development.

Inhibited fragmentation of mAbs in buffered ionic liquids

Choline-based buffered ionic liquids have been demonstrated to greatly inhibit enzymatic degradation of antibodies, and are promising as next-generation biological buffers.

Using lysine-reactive fluorescent dye for surface characterization of a mAb

The biopharmaceutical industry increasingly demands thorough characterization of protein conformation and conformational dynamics to ensure product quality and consistency. Here, we present a chromatography-based method that is able to characterize protein conformation and conformational dynamics at peptide level resolution in a high-throughput manner. The surface lysine residues of the protein were labeled with a fluorescent dye prior to enzyme digestion. The resulting peptide maps were monitored by fluorescence detection where fluorescence peak area indicates higher solvent accessibility at a specific site. The peptides of reactivity difference and the extent of the difference can be detected by HPLC with fluorescent detector alone, whereas the identity of these peptides can then be determined by mass spectrometry if desired. We first demonstrated this method is suitable for probing protein surface/conformation by studying the effect of deglycosylation on a recombinant mAb, IgG 1. We then applied our method to study the interaction of the mAb with a common excipient, polysorbate-20 (PS-20). The presence of PS-20 increased the fluorescent labeling of several lysine residues on the mAb. This result provides a first insight into PS20-mAb interaction at peptide level resolution.

Physical stability comparisons of IgG1-Fc variants: effects of N-glycosylation site occupancy and Asp/Gln residues at site Asn 297

The structural integrity and conformational stability of various IgG1-Fc proteins produced from the yeast Pichia pastoris with different glycosylation site occupancy (di-, mono-, and nonglycosylated) were determined. In addition, the physical stability profiles of three different forms of nonglycosylated Fc molecules (varying amino-acid residues at site 297 in the CH 2 domain due to the point mutations and enzymatic digestion of the Fc glycoforms) were also examined. The physical stability of these IgG1-Fc glycoproteins was examined as a function of pH and temperature by high-throughput biophysical analysis using multiple techniques combined with data visualization tools (three index empirical phase diagrams and radar charts). Across the pH range of 4.0-6.0, the di- and monoglycosylated forms of the IgG1-Fc showed the highest and lowest levels of physical stability, respectively, with the nonglycosylated forms showing intermediate stability depending on solution pH. In the aglycosylated Fc proteins, the introduction of Asp (D) residues at site 297 (QQ vs. DN vs. DD forms) resulted in more subtle changes in structural integrity and physical stability depending on solution pH. The utility of evaluating the conformational stability profile differences between the various IgG1-Fc glycoproteins is discussed in the context of analytical comparability studies.

Protein comparability assessments and potential applicability of high throughput biophysical methods and data visualization tools to compare physical stability profiles

In this review, some of the challenges and opportunities encountered during protein comparability assessments are summarized with an emphasis on developing new analytical approaches to better monitor higher-order protein structures. Several case studies are presented using high throughput biophysical methods to collect protein physical stability data as function of temperature, agitation, ionic strength and/or solution pH. These large data sets were then used to construct empirical phase diagrams (EPDs), radar charts, and comparative signature diagrams (CSDs) for data visualization and structural comparisons between the different proteins. Protein samples with different sizes, post-translational modifications, and inherent stability are presented: acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1) mutants, different glycoforms of an IgG1 mAb prepared by deglycosylation, as well as comparisons of different formulations of an IgG1 mAb and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF). Using this approach, differences in structural integrity and conformational stability profiles were detected under stress conditions that could not be resolved by using the same techniques under ambient conditions (i.e., no stress). Thus, an evaluation of conformational stability differences may serve as an effective surrogate to monitor differences in higher-order structure between protein samples. These case studies are discussed in the context of potential utility in protein comparability studies.

Studies of the aggregation of RNase Sa

Thirty-eight mutants of RNase Sa (ribonuclease from Streptomyces aureofaciens) were examined for their structure, thermal sensitivity, and tendency to aggregate. Although a biphasic correlation was seen between the effect of temperature on structure and the free energy of transfer changes in many of the mutants, little correlation was seen between the time at which aggregation is initiated or the rate of aggregation and the thermal sensitivity of the mutants. It is hypothesized that the nature of contacts between protein molecules in the associated (aggregated) phase rather than structural changes dominates the aggregation process for these series of mutants.

Mass spectrometry for the biophysical characterization of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are powerful therapeutics, and their characterization has drawn considerable attention and urgency. Unlike small-molecule drugs (150-600 Da) that have rigid structures, mAbs (∼150 kDa) are engineered proteins that undergo complicated folding and can exist in a number of low-energy structures, posing a challenge for traditional methods in structural biology. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based biophysical characterization approaches can provide structural information, bringing high sensitivity, fast turnaround, and small sample consumption. This review outlines various MS-based strategies for protein biophysical characterization and then reviews how these strategies provide structural information of mAbs at the protein level (intact or top-down approaches), peptide, and residue level (bottom-up approaches), affording information on higher order structure, aggregation, and the nature of antibody complexes.

High-throughput biophysical analysis of protein therapeutics to examine interrelationships between aggregate formation and conformational stability

Stabilization and formulation of therapeutic proteins against physical instability, both structural alterations and aggregation, is particularly challenging not only due to each protein's unique physicochemical characteristics but also their susceptibility to the surrounding milieu (pH, ionic strength, excipients, etc.) as well as various environmental stresses (temperature, agitation, lyophilization, etc.). The use of high-throughput techniques can significantly aid in the evaluation of stabilizing solution conditions by permitting a more rapid evaluation of a large matrix of possible combinations. In this mini-review, we discuss both key physical degradation pathways observed for protein-based drugs and the utility of various high-throughput biophysical techniques to aid in protein formulation development to minimize their occurrence. We then focus on four illustrative case studies with therapeutic protein candidates of varying sizes, shapes and physicochemical properties to explore different analytical challenges in monitoring protein physical instability. These include an IgG2 monoclonal antibody, an albumin-fusion protein, a recombinant pentameric plasma glycoprotein, and an antibody fragment (Fab). Future challenges and opportunities to improve and apply high-throughput approaches to protein formulation development are also discussed.

Investigating monoclonal antibody aggregation using a combination of H/DX-MS and other biophysical measurements

To determine how structural changes in antibodies are connected with aggregation, the structural areas of an antibody prone to and/or impacted by aggregation must be identified. In this work, the higher-order structure and biophysical properties of two different monoclonal antibody (mAb) monomers were compared with their simplest aggregated form, that is, dimers that naturally occurred during normal production and storage conditions. A combination of hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and other biophysical measurements was used to make the comparison. The results show that the dimerization process for one of the mAb monomers (mAb1) displayed no differences in its deuterium uptake between monomer and dimer forms. However, the other mAb monomer (mAb2) showed subtle changes in hydrogen/deuterium exchange as compared with its dimer form. In this case, differences observed were located in specific functional regions of the CH 2 domain and the hinge region between CH 1 and CH 2 domains. The importance and the implications of these changes on the antibody structure and mechanism of aggregation are discussed.

Radar chart array analysis to visualize effects of formulation variables on IgG1 particle formation as measured by multiple analytical techniques

This study presents a novel method to visualize protein aggregate and particle formation data to rapidly evaluate the effect of solution and stress conditions on the physical stability of an immunoglobulin G (IgG) 1 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Radar chart arrays were designed so that hundreds of microflow digital imaging (MFI) solution measurements, evaluating different mAb formulations under varying stresses, could be presented in a single figure with minimal loss of data resolution. These MFI radar charts show measured changes in subvisible particle number, size, and morphology distribution as a change in the shape of polygons. Radar charts were also created to visualize mAb aggregate and particle formation across a wide size range by combining data sets from size-exclusion chromatography, Archimedes resonant mass measurements, and MFI. We found that the environmental/mechanical stress condition (e.g., heat vs. agitation) was the most important factor in influencing the particle size and morphology distribution with this IgG1 mAb. Additionally, the presence of NaCl exhibited a pH and stress-dependent behavior resulting in promotion or inhibition mAb particle formation. This data visualization technique provides a comprehensive analysis of the aggregation tendencies of this IgG1 mAb in different formulations with varying stresses as measured by different analytical techniques.

High-throughput biophysical analysis and data visualization of conformational stability of an IgG1 monoclonal antibody after deglycosylation

The structural integrity and conformational stability of an IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), after partial or complete enzymatic removal of the N-linked Fc glycan, were compared with the untreated mAb over a wide range of temperature (10°C-90°C) and solution pH (3-8) using circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, and static light scattering combined with data visualization employing empirical phase diagrams. Subtle-to-larger stability differences between the different glycoforms were observed. Improved detection of physical stability differences was then demonstrated over narrower pH range (4.0-6.0) using smaller temperature increments, especially when combined with an alternative data visualization method (radar plots). Differential scanning calorimetry and differential scanning fluorimetry were then utilized and also showed an improved ability to detect differences in the physical stability of a mAb glycoform. On the basis of these results, a two-step methodology was used in which conformational stability of a mAb glycoform is first screened with a wide variety of instruments and environmental stresses, followed by a second evaluation with optimally sensitive experimental conditions, analytical techniques, and data visualization methods. With this approach, a high-throughput biophysical analysis to assess relatively subtle conformational stability differences in protein glycoforms is demonstrated.