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Pisano R, Arsiccio A, Collins V, King P, Macis M, Cabri W, Ricci A. Understanding Glucagon Aggregation: In Silico Insights and Experimental Validation. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:3815-3823. [PMID: 39046445 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.4c00038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Peptide aggregation poses a significant challenge in biopharmaceutical development and neurodegenerative diseases. This study combines computational simulations and experimental validation to uncover the underlying mechanisms and countermeasures for the aggregation of glucagon, a peptide with a high tendency to aggregate. In silico simulations demonstrate that lactose and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (2-HPβCD) influence glucagon aggregation differently: lactose stabilizes glucagon by increasing the α-helical content, while 2-HPβCD disrupts protein-protein interactions. According to the simulations, 2-HPβCD is particularly effective at preserving the monomeric form of glucagon. Experimental validation with microfluidic modulation spectroscopy (MMS) confirms these findings, showing that glucagon in the presence of 2-HPβCD remains structurally stable, supporting the antiaggregation effect of this excipient. This research provides essential insights into glucagon aggregation obtained through a new powerful tool for monitoring the critical properties of peptide aggregation, suggesting new strategies for addressing this challenge in therapeutic peptide development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Pisano
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, 24 corso Duca degli Abruzzi, Torino IT-10129, Italy
| | - Andrea Arsiccio
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, 24 corso Duca degli Abruzzi, Torino IT-10129, Italy
| | - Valerie Collins
- Redshift Bioanalytics, 80 Central Street, Boxborough, Massachusetts MA-01719, United States
| | - Patrick King
- Redshift Bioanalytics, 80 Central Street, Boxborough, Massachusetts MA-01719, United States
| | - Marco Macis
- Fresenius Kabi iPSUM, 108 via Roma, Cassina de Pecchi IT-20081, Italy
| | - Walter Cabri
- Fresenius Kabi iPSUM, 108 via Roma, Cassina de Pecchi IT-20081, Italy
- Center for Chemical Catalysis Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Antonio Ricci
- Fresenius Kabi iPSUM, 108 via Roma, Cassina de Pecchi IT-20081, Italy
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2
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Bao Z, Cheng YC, Luo MZ, Zhang JY. Analysis of aggregation profile of glucagon using SEC-HPLC and FFF-MALS methods. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304086. [PMID: 38771849 PMCID: PMC11108154 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Recently, the first generic glucagon for injection was approved for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia. Unlike its brand name recombinant glucagon, the generic glucagon is synthetic. Since glucagon has a high propensity to form aggregates in solution, it is essential to assess the aggregation profile of the synthetic glucagon compared to the recombinant glucagon. In this study, two robust separation methods, size-exclusion chromatography (SEC-HPLC) and field-flow fractionation coupled with a multi-angle light scattering detector (FFF-MALS), were employed to characterize generic and brand glucagon aggregation in six lots (three newly released, three expired). The presence of aggregation in samples was determined from the generated chromatograms and analyzed. The study showed that both products have comparable aggregation profiles. The SEC-HPLC demonstrated that in both glucagon versions, the expired lots had a higher percentage of dimers than the newly released lots, but even at expiration, the amount was negligible (∼0.1%). The FFF-MALS method did not detect any dimers or higher molecular weight aggregates. Further evaluation of the detection limit found that FFF-MALS was unable to detect aggregates at amounts lower than 0.5% of total glucagon. The negligible amounts of dimer detected in the generic and brand glucagon indicate that both versions are physically stable and are not prone to aggregation under clinically relevant conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongli Bao
- Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Rancho Cucamonga, California, California, United States of America
| | - Ya-Chi Cheng
- Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Rancho Cucamonga, California, California, United States of America
| | - Mary Ziping Luo
- Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Rancho Cucamonga, California, California, United States of America
| | - Jack Yongfeng Zhang
- Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Rancho Cucamonga, California, California, United States of America
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3
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Desai AA, Zupancic JM, Trzeciakiewicz H, Gerson JE, DuBois KN, Skinner ME, Sharkey LM, McArthur N, Ferris SP, Bhatt NN, Makowski EK, Smith MD, Chen H, Huang J, Jerez C, Kane RS, Kanaan NM, Paulson HL, Tessier PM. Flow cytometric isolation of drug-like conformational antibodies specific for amyloid fibrils. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.04.547698. [PMID: 37461643 PMCID: PMC10349928 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.04.547698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Antibodies that recognize specific protein conformational states are broadly important for research, diagnostic and therapeutic applications, yet they are difficult to generate in a predictable and systematic manner using either immunization or in vitro antibody display methods. This problem is particularly severe for conformational antibodies that recognize insoluble antigens such as amyloid fibrils associated with many neurodegenerative disorders. Here we report a quantitative fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) method for directly selecting high-quality conformational antibodies against different types of insoluble (amyloid fibril) antigens using a single, off-the-shelf human library. Our approach uses quantum dots functionalized with antibodies to capture insoluble antigens, and the resulting quantum dot conjugates are used in a similar manner as conventional soluble antigens for multi-parameter FACS selections. Notably, we find that this approach is robust for isolating high-quality conformational antibodies against tau and α-synuclein fibrils from the same human library with combinations of high affinity, high conformational specificity and, in some cases, low off-target binding that rival or exceed those of clinical-stage antibodies specific for tau (zagotenemab) and α-synuclein (cinpanemab). This approach is expected to enable conformational antibody selection and engineering against diverse types of protein aggregates and other insoluble antigens (e.g., membrane proteins) that are compatible with presentation on the surface of antibody-functionalized quantum dots.
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Desai AA, Zupancic JM, Smith MD, Tessier PM. Isolating Anti-amyloid Antibodies from Yeast-Displayed Libraries. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2491:471-490. [PMID: 35482203 PMCID: PMC9351425 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2285-8_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Conformational antibodies specific for amyloid-forming peptides and proteins are important for a range of biomedical applications, including detecting, inhibiting, and potentially treating protein aggregation disorders ranging from Alzheimer's to Parkinson's diseases. Generation of anti-amyloid antibodies is greatly complicated by the complex, heterogeneous and insoluble nature of amyloid antigens. Here we describe systematic methods for isolating and affinity maturing anti-amyloid antibodies using yeast surface display. Magnetic-activated cell sorting is used to sort single-chain antibody libraries positively for binding to amyloid antigens and negatively against the corresponding disaggregated antigens to remove antibodies that bind in a conformation-independent manner. Isolated lead antibody clones with conformational specificity are affinity matured via targeted CDR mutagenesis and magnetic-activated cell sorting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec A Desai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jennifer M Zupancic
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Matthew D Smith
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Peter M Tessier
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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5
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Desai AA, Smith MD, Zhang Y, Makowski EK, Gerson JE, Ionescu E, Starr CG, Zupancic JM, Moore SJ, Sutter AB, Ivanova MI, Murphy GG, Paulson HL, Tessier PM. Rational affinity maturation of anti-amyloid antibodies with high conformational and sequence specificity. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100508. [PMID: 33675750 PMCID: PMC8081927 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of amyloidogenic polypeptides is strongly linked to several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Conformational antibodies that selectively recognize protein aggregates are leading therapeutic agents for selectively neutralizing toxic aggregates, diagnostic and imaging agents for detecting disease, and biomedical reagents for elucidating disease mechanisms. Despite their importance, it is challenging to generate high-quality conformational antibodies in a systematic and site-specific manner due to the properties of protein aggregates (hydrophobic, multivalent, and heterogeneous) and limitations of immunization (uncontrolled antigen presentation and immunodominant epitopes). Toward addressing these challenges, we have developed a systematic directed evolution procedure for affinity maturing antibodies against Alzheimer's Aβ fibrils and selecting variants with strict conformational and sequence specificity. We first designed a library based on a lead conformational antibody by sampling combinations of amino acids in the antigen-binding site predicted to mediate high antibody specificity. Next, we displayed this library on the surface of yeast, sorted it against Aβ42 aggregates, and identified promising clones using deep sequencing. The resulting antibodies displayed similar or higher affinities than clinical-stage Aβ antibodies (aducanumab and crenezumab). Moreover, the affinity-matured antibodies retained high conformational specificity for Aβ aggregates, as observed for aducanumab and unlike crenezumab. Notably, the affinity-maturated antibodies displayed extremely low levels of nonspecific interactions, as observed for crenezumab and unlike aducanumab. We expect that our systematic methods for generating antibodies with unique combinations of desirable properties will improve the generation of high-quality conformational antibodies specific for diverse types of aggregated conformers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec A Desai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Matthew D Smith
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yulei Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Emily K Makowski
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Julia E Gerson
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Edward Ionescu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Charles G Starr
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jennifer M Zupancic
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Shannon J Moore
- Protein Folding Disease Initiative, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Alexandra B Sutter
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Biophysics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Magdalena I Ivanova
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Biophysics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Geoffrey G Murphy
- Protein Folding Disease Initiative, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Henry L Paulson
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Protein Folding Disease Initiative, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Peter M Tessier
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Protein Folding Disease Initiative, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
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6
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Lou W, Stimple SD, Desai AA, Makowski EK, Kalyoncu S, Mogensen JE, Spang LT, Asgreen DJ, Staby A, Duus K, Amstrup J, Zhang Y, Tessier PM. Directed evolution of conformation-specific antibodies for sensitive detection of polypeptide aggregates in therapeutic drug formulations. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 118:797-808. [PMID: 33095442 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Biologics such as peptides and proteins possess a number of attractive attributes that make them particularly valuable as therapeutics, including their high activity, high specificity, and low toxicity. However, one of the key challenges associated with this class of drugs is their propensity to aggregate. Given the safety and immunogenicity concerns related to polypeptide aggregates, it is particularly important to sensitively detect aggregates in therapeutic drug formulations as part of the quality control process. Here, we report the development of conformation-specific antibodies that recognize polypeptide aggregates composed of a GLP-1 receptor agonist (liraglutide) and their integration into a sensitive immunoassay for detecting liraglutide amyloid fibrils. We sorted single-chain antibody libraries against liraglutide fibrils using yeast surface display and magnetic-activated cell sorting, and identified several antibodies with high conformational specificity. Interestingly, these antibodies cross-react with amyloid fibrils formed by several other polypeptides, revealing that they recognize molecular features common to different types of fibrils. Moreover, we find that our immunoassay using these antibodies is >50-fold more sensitive than the conventional method for detecting liraglutide aggregation (Thioflavin T fluorescence). We expect that our systematic approach for generating a sensitive, aggregate-specific immunoassay can be readily extended to other biologics to improve the quality and safety of formulated drug products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjia Lou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Samuel D Stimple
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Alec A Desai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Emily K Makowski
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Sibel Kalyoncu
- Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yulei Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Peter M Tessier
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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7
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Staby A, Steensgaard DB, Haselmann KF, Marino JS, Bartholdy C, Videbæk N, Schelde O, Bosch-Traberg H, Spang LT, Asgreen DJ. Influence of Production Process and Scale on Quality of Polypeptide Drugs: a Case Study on GLP-1 Analogs. Pharm Res 2020; 37:120. [DOI: 10.1007/s11095-020-02817-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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