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Park JH, Kwon S, Choi SY, Kim B, Oh J. Optimizing the Amino Acid Sequence Enhances the Productivity and Bioefficacy of the RBP-Albumin Fusion Protein. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:617. [PMID: 38927853 PMCID: PMC11200973 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11060617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The significant growth of the global protein drug market, including fusion proteins, emphasizes the crucial role of optimizing amino acid sequences to enhance the productivity and bioefficacy. Among these fusion proteins, RBP-IIIA-IB, comprising retinol-binding protein in conjunction with the albumin domains, IIIA and IB, has displayed efficacy in alleviating liver fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). This study aimed to address the issue of the low productivity in RBP-IIIA-IB. To induce structural changes, the linking sequence, EVDD, between domain IIIA and IB in RBP-IIIA-IB was modified to DGPG, AAAA, and GGPA. Among these, RBP-IIIA-AAAA-IB demonstrated an increase in yield (>4-fold) and a heightened inhibition of HSC activation. Furthermore, we identified amino acid residues that could form disulfide bonds when substituted with cysteine. Through the mutation of N453S-V480S in RBP-IIIA-AAAA-IB, the productivity further increased by over 9-fold, accompanied by an increase in anti-fibrotic activity. Overall, there was a more than 30-fold increase in the fusion protein's yield. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of modifying linker sequences and introducing extra disulfide bonds to improve both the production yield and biological efficacy of fusion proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Hoon Park
- New Drug Development Center, Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, Osong 28160, Republic of Korea; (J.H.P.); (S.-Y.C.)
| | - Sohyun Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea;
| | - So-Young Choi
- New Drug Development Center, Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, Osong 28160, Republic of Korea; (J.H.P.); (S.-Y.C.)
| | - Bongcheol Kim
- Senelix Co. Ltd., 25, Beobwon-ro 11-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05836, Republic of Korea;
| | - Junseo Oh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea;
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2
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Ma L, Li X, Petersen RB, Peng A, Huang K. Probing the interactions between amyloidogenic proteins and bio-membranes. Biophys Chem 2023; 296:106984. [PMID: 36889133 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2023.106984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Protein misfolding diseases (PMDs) in humans are characterized by the deposition of protein aggregates in tissues, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Misfolding and aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins play a central role in the onset and progression of PMDs, and these processes are regulated by multiple factors, especially the interaction between proteins and bio-membranes. Bio-membranes induce conformational changes in amyloidogenic proteins and affect their aggregation; on the other hand, the aggregates of amyloidogenic proteins may cause membrane damage or dysfunction leading to cytotoxicity. In this review, we summarize the factors that affect the binding of amyloidogenic proteins and membranes, the effects of bio-membranes on the aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins, mechanisms of membrane disruption by amyloidogenic aggregates, technical approaches for detecting these interactions, and finally therapeutic strategies targeting membrane damage caused by amyloidogenic proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ma
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan Mental Health Center, Wuhan, China; Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan Hospital for Psychotherapy, Wuhan, China
| | - Xi Li
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Robert B Petersen
- Foundational Sciences, Central Michigan University College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, MI, USA
| | - Anlin Peng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Hospital of Wuhan, Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Kun Huang
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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3
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Wang W, Roberts CJ. Protein aggregation – Mechanisms, detection, and control. Int J Pharm 2018; 550:251-268. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.08.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 08/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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4
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Biophysical virus particle specific characterization to sharpen the definition of virus stability. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2018; 132:62-69. [PMID: 30118752 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Vaccine thermostability is key to successful global immunization programs as it may have a significant impact on the continuous cold-chain maintenance logistics, as well as affect vaccine potency. Modern biological and biophysical techniques were combined to in-depth characterize the thermostability of a formulated rabies virus (RABV) in terms of antigenic and genomic titer, virus particle count and aggregation state. Tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) were used to count virus particles while simultaneously determining their size distribution. RABV antigenicity was assessed by NTA using a monoclonal antibody that recognize a rabies glycoprotein (G protein) conformational epitope, enabling to specifically count antigenic rabies viruses. Agreement between antigenicity results from NTA and conventional method, as ELISA, was demonstrated. Additionally, NTA and ELISA showed mirrored loss of RABV antigenicity during forced degradation studies performed between 5 °C and 45 °C temperature exposure for one month. Concomitant with decreased antigenicity, emergence of RABV particle populations larger than those expected for rabies family viruses was observed, suggesting RABV aggregation induced by thermal stress. Finally, using a kinetic-based modeling approach to explore forced degradation antigenicity data (NTA, ELISA), a two-step model accurately describing antigenicity loss was identified. This model predicted a RABV shelf-life of more than 3 years at 5 °C; significant loss of antigenicity was predicted for samples maintained several months at ambient temperature. This thorough characterization of RABV forced degradation study originally provided a time-temperature mapping of RABV stability.
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5
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Role of cationic carbosilane dendrons and metallic core of functionalized gold nanoparticles in their interaction with human serum albumin. Int J Biol Macromol 2018; 118:1773-1780. [PMID: 29997045 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Functionalization of gold nanoparticles by different chemical groups is an important issue regarding the biomedical applications of such particles. Therefore we have analyzed the interaction between gold nanoparticles functionalized by carbosilane dendrons with human serum albumin at different pHs, and in the presence of the protein unfolding agent, guanidine hydrochloride, using circular dichroism, zeta-potential and fluorescence quenching. The effect of a nanoparticle dendronization and pure dendrons on the immunoreactivity of albumin was estimated using ELISA. In addition, the tool to estimate the binding capacity of dendronized gold nanoparticles using a hydrophobic fluorescent probe 1,8-ANS (1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid) was chosen. We concluded that the effect of a nanoparticle on the structure, immunochemical properties and unfolding of albumin significantly decreased with second and third generations dendrons attached. Differences in pH dependence of the interaction between nanoparticles, their dendrons and albumin showed several effects of the "dendritic corona" and the metallic part of nanoparticle on the protein. These interactions indicate changes in the immunoreactivity of the protein, whereas dendron coating per se had no effect. Thus, dendronization of gold nanoparticles helps to shield them from interactions with plasma proteins.
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6
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Abstract
Protein aggregates are the pathological agents in several neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease. In the pharmaceutical industry, protein aggregation poses significant challenges to the manufacture of biologics. Nanoparticle tracking is an emerging technology that allows particle-by-particle measurement of aggregate size and concentration. The technique is solution based, and requires no labeling. Here we describe protocols for using nanoparticle tracking in protein aggregation research, and provide a few examples for illustrative purposes.
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7
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Hong T, Iwashita K, Shiraki K. Viscosity Control of Protein Solution by Small Solutes: A Review. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2018; 19:746-758. [PMID: 29237380 PMCID: PMC6182935 DOI: 10.2174/1389203719666171213114919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Viscosity of protein solution is one of the most troublesome issues for the high-concentration formulation of protein drugs. In this review, we summarize the practical methods that suppress the viscosity of protein solution using small molecular additives. The small amount of salts decreases the viscosity that results from electrostatic repulsion and attraction. The chaotrope suppresses the hydrophobic attraction and cluster formation, which can lower the solution viscosity. Arginine hydrochloride (ArgHCl) also suppresses the solution viscosity due to the hydrophobic and aromatic interactions between protein molecules. The small molecular additives are the simplest resolution of the high viscosity of protein solution as well as understanding of the primary cause in complex phenomena of protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taehun Hong
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki305-8573, Japan
| | - Kazuki Iwashita
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki305-8573, Japan
| | - Kentaro Shiraki
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki305-8573, Japan
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8
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Guidelines to reach high-quality purified recombinant proteins. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 102:81-92. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8623-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Revised: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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9
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Shcharbin D, Pedziwiatr-Werbicka E, Vcherashniaya A, Janaszewska A, Marcinkowska M, Goska P, Klajnert-Maculewicz B, Ionov M, Abashkin V, Ihnatsyeu-Kachan A, de la Mata FJ, Ortega P, Gomez-Ramirez R, Majoral JP, Bryszewska M. Binding of poly(amidoamine), carbosilane, phosphorus and hybrid dendrimers to thrombin—Constants and mechanisms. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2017; 155:11-16. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2017.03.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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10
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Sahin Z, Demir YK, Kayser V. Global kinetic analysis of seeded BSA aggregation. Eur J Pharm Sci 2016; 86:115-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2016.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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11
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Kamal MZ, Kumar V, Satyamurthi K, Das KK, Rao NM. Mutational probing of protein aggregates to design aggregation-resistant proteins. FEBS Open Bio 2016; 6:126-34. [PMID: 27239434 PMCID: PMC4821347 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.12003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Revised: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Characterization of amorphous protein aggregates may offer insights into the process of aggregation. Eleven single amino acid mutants of lipase (LipA of Bacillus subtilis) were subjected to temperature-induced aggregation, and the resultant aggregates were characterized for recovery of activity in the presence of guanidinium chloride (GdmCl). Based on activity recovery profiles of the aggregates, the mutants could be broadly assigned into four groups. By including at least one mutation from each group, a mutant was generated that showed an increase of ~ 10 °C in melting temperature (T m) compared to the wild-type and did not aggregate even at 75 °C. This method explores characterization of amorphous protein aggregates in the presence of GdmCl and helps in identifying mutations involved in protein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Zahid Kamal
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Hyderabad India
| | - Virender Kumar
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Hyderabad India
| | - Kundarapu Satyamurthi
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Hyderabad India
| | - Kushal Kumar Das
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Hyderabad India
| | - Nalam Madhusudhana Rao
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Hyderabad India
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12
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Saha S, Deep S. Switch in the Aggregation Pathway of Bovine Serum Albumin Mediated by Electrostatic Interactions. J Phys Chem B 2014; 118:9155-66. [DOI: 10.1021/jp502435f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shivnetra Saha
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Hauz-Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Shashank Deep
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Hauz-Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
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13
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Rauk AP, Guo K, Hu Y, Cahya S, Weiss WF. Arrhenius time-scaled least squares: a simple, robust approach to accelerated stability data analysis for bioproducts. J Pharm Sci 2014; 103:2278-86. [PMID: 24974956 DOI: 10.1002/jps.24063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2014] [Revised: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Defining a suitable product presentation with an acceptable stability profile over its intended shelf-life is one of the principal challenges in bioproduct development. Accelerated stability studies are routinely used as a tool to better understand long-term stability. Data analysis often employs an overall mass action kinetics description for the degradation and the Arrhenius relationship to capture the temperature dependence of the observed rate constant. To improve predictive accuracy and precision, the current work proposes a least-squares estimation approach with a single nonlinear covariate and uses a polynomial to describe the change in a product attribute with respect to time. The approach, which will be referred to as Arrhenius time-scaled (ATS) least squares, enables accurate, precise predictions to be achieved for degradation profiles commonly encountered during bioproduct development. A Monte Carlo study is conducted to compare the proposed approach with the common method of least-squares estimation on the logarithmic form of the Arrhenius equation and nonlinear estimation of a first-order model. The ATS least squares method accommodates a range of degradation profiles, provides a simple and intuitive approach for data presentation, and can be implemented with ease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam P Rauk
- inVentiv Health Clinical, Princeton, NJ, 08540
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14
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Roberts CJ. Therapeutic protein aggregation: mechanisms, design, and control. Trends Biotechnol 2014; 32:372-80. [PMID: 24908382 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2014.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 296] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2014] [Revised: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Although it is well known that proteins are only marginally stable in their folded states, it is often less well appreciated that most proteins are inherently aggregation-prone in their unfolded or partially unfolded states, and the resulting aggregates can be extremely stable and long-lived. For therapeutic proteins, aggregates are a significant risk factor for deleterious immune responses in patients, and can form via a variety of mechanisms. Controlling aggregation using a mechanistic approach may allow improved design of therapeutic protein stability, as a complement to existing design strategies that target desired protein structures and function. Recent results highlight the importance of balancing protein environment with the inherent aggregation propensities of polypeptide chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Roberts
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
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15
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Chmielowski RA, Meissner S, Roush D, Linden TO, Glowacki E, Konietzko J, Nti-Gyabaah J. Resolution of heterogeneous charged antibody aggregates via multimodal chromatography: A comparison to conventional approaches. Biotechnol Prog 2014; 30:636-45. [DOI: 10.1002/btpr.1908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2013] [Revised: 02/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A. Chmielowski
- Merck and Co., MSD, Biologics Process Development, Process Development and Engineering; Kenilworth NJ 07033
| | - Sandra Meissner
- Merck and Co., MSD, Biologics Process Development, Process Development and Engineering; Kenilworth NJ 07033
| | - David Roush
- Merck and Co., MSD, Biologics Process Development, Process Development and Engineering; Kenilworth NJ 07033
| | - Thomas O. Linden
- Merck and Co., MSD, Biologics Process Development, Process Development and Engineering; Kenilworth NJ 07033
| | - Edward Glowacki
- Merck and Co., MSD, Biologics Process Development, Process Development and Engineering; Kenilworth NJ 07033
| | - Janelle Konietzko
- Merck and Co., MSD, Vaccine Process Development; West Point PA 19486
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16
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Takai E, Uda K, Matsushita S, Shikiya Y, Yamada Y, Shiraki K, Zako T, Maeda M. Cysteine inhibits amyloid fibrillation of lysozyme and directs the formation of small worm-like aggregates through non-covalent interactions. Biotechnol Prog 2014; 30:470-8. [DOI: 10.1002/btpr.1866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Revised: 12/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eisuke Takai
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences; University of Tsukuba; Tsukuba Ibaraki 305-8573 Japan
| | - Ken Uda
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences; University of Tsukuba; Tsukuba Ibaraki 305-8573 Japan
| | - Shuhei Matsushita
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences; University of Tsukuba; Tsukuba Ibaraki 305-8573 Japan
| | - Yui Shikiya
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences; University of Tsukuba; Tsukuba Ibaraki 305-8573 Japan
| | - Yoichi Yamada
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences; University of Tsukuba; Tsukuba Ibaraki 305-8573 Japan
| | - Kentaro Shiraki
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences; University of Tsukuba; Tsukuba Ibaraki 305-8573 Japan
| | - Tamotsu Zako
- Bioengineering Laboratory; RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa Wako Saitama 351-0198 Japan
| | - Mizuo Maeda
- Bioengineering Laboratory; RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa Wako Saitama 351-0198 Japan
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17
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Kurouski D, Sorci M, Postiglione T, Belfort G, Lednev IK. Detection and structural characterization of insulin prefibrilar oligomers using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Biotechnol Prog 2014; 30:488-95. [PMID: 24376182 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.1852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2013] [Revised: 12/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
In vitro fibril formation typically exhibits a lag phase followed by a rapid elongation phase. Soluble prefibrilar oligomers form as multiple assembly states occur during the lag phase and, after forming a nucleus, rapidly propagate into amyloid aggregates and fibrils. The structure and morphology of amyloid fibrils have been extensively characterized over the last decades, while little is known about the structural organization of the prefibrilar oligomers or their multiple assembly states. The main difficulty in structural characterization of prefibrilar aggregates is their low concentration (pmolar) and their continual reactive conversion. Herein we overcome these difficulties by utilizing Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) with a model amyloid peptide, insulin. SERS is a powerful analytic tool that is able to provide detection of small molecules down to a single-molecule level. Using SERS we found that during the 3 lag phase before the onset of insulin fibril formation, the amount of insulin oligomers increased more than twice after the first hour of incubation under fibrillation conditions (pH 1.6, 65°C) and then slowly decreased with time. The latter finding is kinetically linked to the conversion of the prefibrilar oligomers into fibril species. This study provides valuable new information about the time-dependent structural organization of insulin oligomers and demonstrates the power and potential of SERS for detection and structural characterization of biological specimens present at low concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Kurouski
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222
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Castellanos MM, Pathak JA, Colby RH. Both protein adsorption and aggregation contribute to shear yielding and viscosity increase in protein solutions. SOFT MATTER 2014; 10:122-131. [PMID: 24651563 DOI: 10.1039/c3sm51994e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
A combination of sensitive rotational rheometry and surface rheometry with a double-wall ring were used to identify the origins of the viscosity increase at low shear rates in protein solutions. The rheology of two high molecular weight proteins is discussed: Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) in a Phosphate Buffered Saline solution and an IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in a formulation buffer containing small quantities of a non-ionic surfactant. For surfactant-free BSA solutions, the interfacial viscosity dominates the low shear viscosity measured in rotational rheometers, while the surfactant-laden mAb solution has an interfacial viscosity that is small compared to that from aggregation in the bulk. A viscoelastic film forms at the air/water interface in the absence of surfactant, contributing to an apparent yield stress (thus a low shear viscosity increase) in conventional bulk rheology measurements. Addition of surfactant eliminates the interfacial yield stress. Evidence of a bulk yield stress arising from protein aggregation is presented, and correlated with results from standard characterization techniques used in the bio-pharmaceutical industry. The protein film at the air/water interface and bulk aggregates both lead to an apparent viscosity increase and their contributions are quantified using a dimensionless ratio of the interfacial and total yield stress. While steady shear viscosities at shear rates below ∼1 s(-1) contain rich information about the stability of protein solutions, embodied in the measured yield stress, such low shear rate data are regrettably often not measured and reported in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Monica Castellanos
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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