1
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Lee EJ, Gladkov N, Miller JE, Yeates TO. Design of Ligand-Operable Protein-Cages That Open Upon Specific Protein Binding. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:157-167. [PMID: 38133598 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00383] [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: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Protein nanocages have diverse applications in medicine and biotechnology, including molecular delivery. However, although numerous studies have demonstrated the ability of protein nanocages to encapsulate various molecular species, limited methods are available for subsequently opening a nanocage for cargo release under specific conditions. A modular platform with a specific protein-target-based mechanism of nanocage opening is notably lacking. To address this important technology gap, we present a new class of designed protein cages, the Ligand-Operable Cage (LOC). LOCs primarily comprise a protein nanocage core and a fused surface binding adaptor. The geometry of the LOC is designed so that binding of a target protein ligand (or multiple copies thereof) to the surface binder is sterically incompatible with retention of the assembled state of the cage. Therefore, the tight binding of a target ligand drives cage disassembly by mass action, subsequently exposing the encapsulated cargo. LOCs are modular; direct substitution of the surface binder sequence can reprogram the nanocage to open in response to any target protein ligand of interest. We demonstrate these design principles using both a natural and a designed protein cage as the core, with different proteins acting as the triggering ligand and with different reporter readouts─fluorescence unquenching and luminescence─for cage disassembly. These developments advance the critical problem of targeted molecular delivery and detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Nika Gladkov
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Justin E Miller
- Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Todd O Yeates
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
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2
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Morselli M, Holton TR, Pellegrini M, Yeates TO, Arbing MA. Design and Construction of a Designed Ankyrin Repeat Protein (DARPin) Display Library. Curr Protoc 2024; 4:e960. [PMID: 38206591 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.960] [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: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Protein display systems are powerful techniques used to identify protein molecules that bind with high affinity to target proteins of interest. The initial challenge in implementing a display system is the construction of a high-diversity naïve library. Here, we describe the methods to generate a designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) display library using degenerate oligonucleotides. Specifically described is the construction of a single DARPin repeat module by overlap extension PCR, concatenation of the module by restriction enzyme digestion and ligation, and incorporation of the concatenated modules into a full-length DARPin sequence in a bacterial cloning or display vector containing the hydrophilic N- and C-terminal capping domains. Protocols for PCR amplification of DARPin sequences to estimate diversity of naïve and enriched libraries via next-generation sequencing are included, as is a simple Linux-based program for analysis of naïve and enriched sequences. © 2024 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Generation of a single DARPin repeat by overlap extension PCR Basic Protocol 2: Concatenation of DARPin repeats Basic Protocol 3: Ligation of internal repeats into cloning/display vector containing N- and C-terminal capping repeats Basic Protocol 4: Estimation of library size and diversity by next-generation sequencing (NGS) Basic Protocol 5: NGS analysis of naïve and enriched libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Morselli
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Current Address: Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Thomas R Holton
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Matteo Pellegrini
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Todd O Yeates
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Mark A Arbing
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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3
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Blanchard PL, Knick BJ, Whelan SA, Hackel BJ. Hyperstable Synthetic Mini-Proteins as Effective Ligand Scaffolds. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:3608-3622. [PMID: 38010428 PMCID: PMC10822706 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00409] [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: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Small, single-domain protein scaffolds are compelling sources of molecular binding ligands with the potential for efficient physiological transport, modularity, and manufacturing. Yet, mini-proteins require a balance between biophysical robustness and diversity to enable new functions. We tested the developability and evolvability of millions of variants of 43 designed libraries of synthetic 40-amino acid βαββ proteins with diversified sheet, loop, or helix paratopes. We discovered a scaffold library that yielded hundreds of binders to seven targets while exhibiting high stability and soluble expression. Binder discovery yielded 6-122 nM affinities without affinity maturation and Tms averaging ≥78 °C. Broader βαββ libraries exhibited varied developability and evolvability. Sheet paratopes were the most consistently developable, and framework 1 was the most evolvable. Paratope evolvability was dependent on target, though several libraries were evolvable across many targets while exhibiting high stability and soluble expression. Select βαββ proteins are strong starting points for engineering performant binders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul L. Blanchard
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, 421 Washington Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Brandon J. Knick
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, 421 Washington Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Sarah A. Whelan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, 421 Washington Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Benjamin J. Hackel
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, 421 Washington Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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4
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Nawarathnage S, Tseng YJ, Soleimani S, Smith T, Pedroza Romo MJ, Abiodun WO, Egbert CM, Madhusanka D, Bunn D, Woods B, Tsubaki E, Stewart C, Brown S, Doukov T, Andersen JL, Moody JD. Fusion crystallization reveals the behavior of both the 1TEL crystallization chaperone and the TNK1 UBA domain. Structure 2023; 31:1589-1603.e6. [PMID: 37776857 PMCID: PMC10843481 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.09.001] [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] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Human thirty-eight-negative kinase-1 (TNK1) is implicated in cancer progression. The TNK1 ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domain binds polyubiquitin and plays a regulatory role in TNK1 activity and stability. No experimentally determined molecular structure of this unusual UBA domain is available. We fused the UBA domain to the 1TEL variant of the translocation ETS leukemia protein sterile alpha motif (TELSAM) crystallization chaperone and obtained crystals diffracting as far as 1.53 Å. GG and GSGG linkers allowed the UBA to reproducibly find a productive binding mode against its host 1TEL polymer and crystallize at protein concentrations as low as 0.2 mg/mL. Our studies support a mechanism of 1TEL fusion crystallization and show that 1TEL fusion crystals require fewer crystal contacts than traditional protein crystals. Modeling and experimental validation suggest the UBA domain may be selective for both the length and linkages of polyubiquitin chains.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yi Jie Tseng
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Sara Soleimani
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Tobin Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Maria J Pedroza Romo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Wisdom O Abiodun
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Christina M Egbert
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA; Fritz B. Burns Cancer Research Laboratory, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Deshan Madhusanka
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA; Fritz B. Burns Cancer Research Laboratory, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Derick Bunn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Bridger Woods
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Evan Tsubaki
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Cameron Stewart
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Seth Brown
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Tzanko Doukov
- Macromolecular Crystallography Group, Structural Molecular Biology Resource, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Joshua L Andersen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA; Fritz B. Burns Cancer Research Laboratory, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
| | - James D Moody
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
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Hojjatipour T, Sharifzadeh Z, Maali A, Azad M. Chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer cells: a promising sword against insidious tumor cells. Hum Cell 2023; 36:1843-1864. [PMID: 37477869 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-00948-w] [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: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are a critical component of innate immunity, particularly in initial cancer recognition and inhibition of additional tumor growth or metastasis propagation. NK cells recognize transformed cells without prior sensitization via stimulatory receptors and rapidly eradicate them. However, the protective tumor microenvironment facilitates tumor escaping via induction of an exhaustion state in immune cells, including NK cells. Hence, genetic manipulation of NK cells for specific identification of tumor-associated antigens or a more robust response against tumor cells is a promising strategy for NK cells' tumoricidal augmentation. Regarding the remarkable achievement of engineered CAR-T cells in treating hematologic malignancies, there is evolving interest in CAR-NK cell recruitment in cancer immunotherapy. Innate functionality of NK cells, higher safety, superior in vivo maintenance, and the off-the-shelf potential move CAR-NK-based therapy superior to CAR-T cells treatment. In this review, we have comprehensively discussed the recent genetic manipulations of CAR-NK cell manufacturing regarding different domains of CAR constructs and their following delivery systems into diverse sources of NK cells. Then highlight the preclinical and clinical investigations of CAR-NK cells and examine the current challenges and prospects as an optimistic remedy in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Hojjatipour
- Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Students Research Center, School of Allied Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Amirhosein Maali
- Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciecnes, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Mehdi Azad
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedicine, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, 3419759811, Iran.
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6
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Westberg M, Song D, Duong V, Fernandez D, Huang PS, Lin MZ. Photoswitchable binders enable temporal dissection of endogenous protein function. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.14.557687. [PMID: 37745504 PMCID: PMC10515898 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.14.557687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
General methods for spatiotemporal control of specific endogenous proteins would be broadly useful for probing protein function in living cells. Synthetic protein binders that bind and inhibit endogenous protein targets can be obtained from nanobodies, designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins), and other small protein scaffolds, but generalizable methods to control their binding activity are lacking. Here, we report robust single-chain photoswitchable DARPins (psDARPins) for bidirectional optical control of endogenous proteins. We created topological variants of the DARPin scaffold by computer-aided design so fusion of photodissociable dimeric Dronpa (pdDronpa) results in occlusion of target binding at baseline. Cyan light induces pdDronpa dissociation to expose the binding surface (paratope), while violet light restores pdDronpa dimerization and paratope caging. Since the DARPin redesign leaves the paratope intact, the approach was easily applied to existing DARPins for GFP, ERK, and Ras, as demonstrated by relocalizing GFP-family proteins and inhibiting endogenous ERK and Ras with optical control. Finally, a Ras-targeted psDARPin was used to determine that, following EGF-activation of EGFR, Ras is required for sustained EGFR to ERK signaling. In summary, psDARPins provide a generalizable strategy for precise spatiotemporal dissection of endogenous protein function.
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7
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Bojti I, Wang Q, Bojti T, Bojti F, Siegel PM, Heidt T, Moser M, Bode C, Westermann D, Peter K, Diehl P. An Activation-Specific Anti-Mac-1 Designed-Ankyrin-Repeat-Protein Attenuates Colitis in Mice. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1464. [PMID: 37511839 PMCID: PMC10381548 DOI: 10.3390/life13071464] [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: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases are complex and multifactorial disorders of unknown etiology. The extravasation of activated leukocytes is a critical step in the pathogenesis of these diseases. Leukocyte integrin Mac-1 (αMβ2; CD11b/CD18) is crucial for the extravasation of myeloid cells, and a novel activation-specific anti-Mac-1 Designed Ankyrin Repeat protein (DARPin F7) is a promising therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases. In its activated conformation, Mac-1 expresses the high-affinity binding site I-domain, which the DARPin F7 selectively targets. In our study, we aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of anti-Mac-1 DARPin F7 in murine dextrane sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. (2) Methods: C57BL/6J mice received 3% DSS drinking water for five days, followed by normal drinking water for one week. The mice were treated with DARPin F7 or a control substance daily via intraperitoneal injections. Disease activity index (DAI), colon length, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity measurements, H&E staining, and qRT-PCR were conducted after euthanizing the mice on day 12. (3) Results: Treatment with DARPin F7 resulted in less pronounced colon shortening and significantly lower histological scores. The DARPin F7-treated animals experienced substantially less disease and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Animals that received DARPin F7 treatment suffered less weight loss and recovered from the weight loss more efficiently. Treatment with DARPin F7 also led to significantly reduced mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines. (4) Conclusion: Anti-Mac-1 treatment markedly reduced disease activity and inflammatory reaction accompanying DSS-induced colitis in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Istvan Bojti
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Street 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Qianqi Wang
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Street 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tibor Bojti
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Street 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Felicitas Bojti
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Street 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Malcolm Siegel
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Street 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Timo Heidt
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Street 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin Moser
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Street 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Bode
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Street 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dirk Westermann
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Street 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Karlheinz Peter
- Atherothrombosis and Vascular Biology Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Philipp Diehl
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Street 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
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8
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Nawarathnage S, Tseng YJ, Soleimani S, Smith T, Romo MJP, Abiodun WO, Egbert CM, Madhusanka D, Bunn D, Woods B, Tsubaki E, Stewart C, Brown S, Doukov T, Andersen JL, Moody JD. Fusion crystallization reveals the behavior of both the 1TEL crystallization chaperone and the TNK1 UBA domain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.14.544429. [PMID: 37398013 PMCID: PMC10312729 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.14.544429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Human thirty-eight-negative kinase-1 (TNK1) is implicated in cancer progression. The TNK1-UBA domain binds polyubiquitin and plays a regulatory role in TNK1 activity and stability. Sequence analysis suggests an unusual architecture for the TNK1 UBA domain, but an experimentally-validated molecular structure is undetermined. To gain insight into TNK1 regulation, we fused the UBA domain to the 1TEL crystallization chaperone and obtained crystals diffracting as far as 1.53 Å. A 1TEL search model enabled solution of the X-ray phases. GG and GSGG linkers allowed the UBA to reproducibly find a productive binding mode against its host 1TEL polymer and to crystallize at protein concentrations as low as 0.1 mg/mL. Our studies support a mechanism of TELSAM fusion crystallization and show that TELSAM fusion crystals require fewer crystal contacts than traditional protein crystals. Modeling and experimental validation suggest the UBA domain may be selective for both the length and linkages of polyubiquitin chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supeshala Nawarathnage
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Yi Jie Tseng
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Sara Soleimani
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Tobin Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Maria J Pedroza Romo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Wisdom Oshireku Abiodun
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Christina M. Egbert
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Deshan Madhusanka
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Derick Bunn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Bridger Woods
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Evan Tsubaki
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Cameron Stewart
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Seth Brown
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Tzanko Doukov
- Macromolecular Crystallography Group, Structural Molecular Biology Resource, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Menlo Park, California, United States of America
| | - Joshua L. Andersen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - James D. Moody
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
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9
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Guilleminault L, Conde E, Reber LL. Pharmacological approaches to target type 2 cytokines in asthma. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 237:108167. [PMID: 35283171 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Asthma is the most common chronic lung disease, affecting more than 250 million people worldwide. The heterogeneity of asthma phenotypes represents a challenge for adequate assessment and treatment of the disease. However, approximately 50% of asthma patients present with chronic type 2 inflammation initiated by alarmins, such as IL-33 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and driven by the TH2 interleukins IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13. These cytokines have therefore become important therapeutic targets in asthma. Here, we discuss current knowledge on the structure and functions of these cytokines in asthma. We review preclinical and clinical data obtained with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting these cytokines or their receptors, as well as novel strategies under development, including bispecific mAbs, designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins), small molecule inhibitors and vaccines targeting type 2 cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Guilleminault
- Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases (Infinity), INSERM UMR1291, CNRS UMR5051, University Toulouse III, 31024 Toulouse, France; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Toulouse University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Toulouse, France
| | - Eva Conde
- Unit of Antibodies in Therapy and Pathology, Institut Pasteur, UMR 1222 INSERM, F-75015 Paris, France; Sorbonne University, ED394, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Laurent L Reber
- Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases (Infinity), INSERM UMR1291, CNRS UMR5051, University Toulouse III, 31024 Toulouse, France.
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10
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Nawarathnage S, Soleimani S, Mathis MH, Bezzant BD, Ramírez DT, Gajjar P, Bunn DR, Stewart C, Smith T, Pedroza Romo MJ, Brown S, Doukov T, Moody JD. Crystals of TELSAM-target protein fusions that exhibit minimal crystal contacts and lack direct inter-TELSAM contacts. Open Biol 2022; 12:210271. [PMID: 35232248 PMCID: PMC8889177 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
While conducting pilot studies into the usefulness of fusion to TELSAM polymers as a potential protein crystallization strategy, we observed novel properties in crystals of two TELSAM-target protein fusions, as follows. (i) A TELSAM-target protein fusion can crystallize more rapidly and with greater propensity than the same target protein alone. (ii) TELSAM-target protein fusions can be crystallized at low protein concentrations. This unprecedented observation suggests a route to crystallize proteins that can only be produced in microgram amounts. (iii) The TELSAM polymers themselves need not directly contact one another in the crystal lattice in order to form well-diffracting crystals. This novel observation is important because it suggests that TELSAM may be able to crystallize target proteins too large to allow direct inter-polymer contacts. (iv) Flexible TELSAM-target protein linkers can allow target proteins to find productive binding modes against the TELSAM polymer. (v) TELSAM polymers can adjust their helical rise to allow fused target proteins to make productive crystal contacts. (vi). Fusion to TELSAM polymers can stabilize weak inter-target protein crystal contacts. We report features of these TELSAM-target protein crystal structures and outline future work needed to validate TELSAM as a crystallization chaperone and determine best practices for its use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Soleimani
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Moriah H. Mathis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Braydan D. Bezzant
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Diana T. Ramírez
- Department of Natural Sciences, California State University Chico, Chico, CA, USA
| | - Parag Gajjar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Derick R. Bunn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Cameron Stewart
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Tobin Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | | | - Seth Brown
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Tzanko Doukov
- Macromolecular Crystallography Group, Structural Molecular Biology Resource, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - James D. Moody
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
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11
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Michels A, Frank AM, Günther DM, Mataei M, Börner K, Grimm D, Hartmann J, Buchholz CJ. Lentiviral and adeno-associated vectors efficiently transduce mouse T lymphocytes when targeted to murine CD8. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2021; 23:334-347. [PMID: 34729380 PMCID: PMC8531454 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical studies on gene delivery into mouse lymphocytes are often hampered by insufficient activity of lentiviral (LV) and adeno-associated vectors (AAVs) as well as missing tools for cell type selectivity when considering in vivo gene therapy. Here, we selected designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) binding to murine CD8. The top-performing DARPin was displayed as targeting ligand on both vector systems. When used on engineered measles virus (MV) glycoproteins, the resulting mCD8-LV transduced CD8+ mouse lymphocytes with near-absolute (>99%) selectivity. Despite its lower functional titer, mCD8-LV achieved 4-fold higher gene delivery to CD8+ cells than conventional VSV-LV when added to whole mouse blood. Addition of mCD8-LV encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) specific for mouse CD19 to splenocytes resulted in elimination of B lymphocytes and lymphoma cells. For display on AAV, the DARPin was inserted into the GH2-GH3 loop of the AAV2 capsid protein VP1, resulting in a DARPin-targeted AAV we termed DART-AAV. Stocks of mCD8-AAV contained similar genome copies as AAV2 but were >20-fold more active in gene delivery in mouse splenocytes, while exhibiting >99% specificity for CD8+ cells. These results suggest that receptor targeting can overcome blocks in transduction of mouse splenocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Michels
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Annika M Frank
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Dorothee M Günther
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany.,Fries Lab, Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Mehryad Mataei
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Kathleen Börner
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF).,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK)
| | - Jessica Hartmann
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Christian J Buchholz
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany.,Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany
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12
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Thermostable designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) as building blocks for innovative drugs. J Biol Chem 2021; 298:101403. [PMID: 34793836 PMCID: PMC8683736 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) are antibody mimetics with high and mostly unexplored potential in drug development. By using in silico analysis and a rationally guided Ala scanning, we identified position 17 of the N-terminal capping repeat to play a key role in overall protein thermostability. The melting temperature of a DARPin domain with a single full-consensus internal repeat was increased by 8 °C to 10 °C when Asp17 was replaced by Leu, Val, Ile, Met, Ala, or Thr. We then transferred the Asp17Leu mutation to various backgrounds, including clinically validated DARPin domains, such as the vascular endothelial growth factor-binding domain of the DARPin abicipar pegol. In all cases, these proteins showed improvements in the thermostability on the order of 8 °C to 16 °C, suggesting the replacement of Asp17 could be generically applicable to this drug class. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the Asp17Leu mutation reduces electrostatic repulsion and improves van-der-Waals packing, rendering the DARPin domain less flexible and more stable. Interestingly, this beneficial Asp17Leu mutation is present in the N-terminal caps of three of the five DARPin domains of ensovibep, a SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitor currently in clinical development, indicating this mutation could be partly responsible for the very high melting temperature (>90 °C) of this promising anti-COVID-19 drug. Overall, such N-terminal capping repeats with increased thermostability seem to be beneficial for the development of innovative drugs based on DARPins.
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13
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Shin C, Kim SS, Jo YH. Extending traditional antibody therapies: Novel discoveries in immunotherapy and clinical applications. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2021; 22:166-179. [PMID: 34514097 PMCID: PMC8416972 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has been well regarded as one of the safer and antigen-specific anti-cancer treatments compared to first-generation chemotherapy. Since Coley's discovery, researchers focused on engineering novel antibody-based therapies. Including artificial and modified antibodies, such as antibody fragments, antibody-drug conjugates, and synthetic mimetics, the variety of immunotherapy has been rapidly expanding in the last few decades. Genetic and chemical modifications to monoclonal antibody have been brought into academia, in vivo trials, and clinical applications. Here, we have looked around antibodies overall. First, we elucidate the antibody structure and its cytotoxicity mechanisms. Second, types of therapeutic antibodies are presented. Additionally, there is a summarized list of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapeutic antibodies and recent clinical trials. This review provides a comprehensive overview of both the general function of therapeutic antibodies and a few main variations in development, including recent advent with the proposed mechanism of actions, and we introduce types of therapeutic antibodies, clinical trials, and approved commercial immunotherapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Shin
- Chadwick International, Incheon 22002, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Soo Kim
- Biomedical Science Institute, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Hwa Jo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
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14
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Izert MA, Szybowska PE, Górna MW, Merski M. The Effect of Mutations in the TPR and Ankyrin Families of Alpha Solenoid Repeat Proteins. FRONTIERS IN BIOINFORMATICS 2021; 1:696368. [PMID: 36303725 PMCID: PMC9581033 DOI: 10.3389/fbinf.2021.696368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein repeats are short, highly similar peptide motifs that occur several times within a single protein, for example the TPR and Ankyrin repeats. Understanding the role of mutation in these proteins is complicated by the competing facts that 1) the repeats are much more restricted to a set sequence than non-repeat proteins, so mutations should be harmful much more often because there are more residues that are heavily restricted due to the need of the sequence to repeat and 2) the symmetry of the repeats in allows the distribution of functional contributions over a number of residues so that sometimes no specific site is singularly responsible for function (unlike enzymatic active site catalytic residues). To address this issue, we review the effects of mutations in a number of natural repeat proteins from the tetratricopeptide and Ankyrin repeat families. We find that mutations are context dependent. Some mutations are indeed highly disruptive to the function of the protein repeats while mutations in identical positions in other repeats in the same protein have little to no effect on structure or function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Matthew Merski
- *Correspondence: Maria Wiktoria Górna, ; Matthew Merski,
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15
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Golinski AW, Mischler KM, Laxminarayan S, Neurock NL, Fossing M, Pichman H, Martiniani S, Hackel BJ. High-throughput developability assays enable library-scale identification of producible protein scaffold variants. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2026658118. [PMID: 34078670 PMCID: PMC8201827 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2026658118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteins require high developability-quantified by expression, solubility, and stability-for robust utility as therapeutics, diagnostics, and in other biotechnological applications. Measuring traditional developability metrics is low throughput in nature, often slowing the developmental pipeline. We evaluated the ability of 10 variations of three high-throughput developability assays to predict the bacterial recombinant expression of paratope variants of the protein scaffold Gp2. Enabled by a phenotype/genotype linkage, assay performance for 105 variants was calculated via deep sequencing of populations sorted by proxied developability. We identified the most informative assay combination via cross-validation accuracy and correlation feature selection and demonstrated the ability of machine learning models to exploit nonlinear mutual information to increase the assays' predictive utility. We trained a random forest model that predicts expression from assay performance that is 35% closer to the experimental variance and trains 80% more efficiently than a model predicting from sequence information alone. Utilizing the predicted expression, we performed a site-wise analysis and predicted mutations consistent with enhanced developability. The validated assays offer the ability to identify developable proteins at unprecedented scales, reducing the bottleneck of protein commercialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander W Golinski
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Katelynn M Mischler
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Sidharth Laxminarayan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Nicole L Neurock
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Matthew Fossing
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Hannah Pichman
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Stefano Martiniani
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Benjamin J Hackel
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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16
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Tušar L, Usenik A, Turk B, Turk D. Mechanisms Applied by Protein Inhibitors to Inhibit Cysteine Proteases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:997. [PMID: 33498210 PMCID: PMC7863939 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22030997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein inhibitors of proteases are an important tool of nature to regulate and control proteolysis in living organisms under physiological and pathological conditions. In this review, we analyzed the mechanisms of inhibition of cysteine proteases on the basis of structural information and compiled kinetic data. The gathered structural data indicate that the protein fold is not a major obstacle for the evolution of a protease inhibitor. It appears that nature can convert almost any starting fold into an inhibitor of a protease. In addition, there appears to be no general rule governing the inhibitory mechanism. The structural data make it clear that the "lock and key" mechanism is a historical concept with limited validity. However, the analysis suggests that the shape of the active site cleft of proteases imposes some restraints. When the S1 binding site is shaped as a pocket buried in the structure of protease, inhibitors can apply substrate-like binding mechanisms. In contrast, when the S1 binding site is in part exposed to solvent, the substrate-like inhibition cannot be employed. It appears that all proteases, with the exception of papain-like proteases, belong to the first group of proteases. Finally, we show a number of examples and provide hints on how to engineer protein inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livija Tušar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (L.T.); (A.U.); (B.T.)
- Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins (CIPKeBiP), Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Aleksandra Usenik
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (L.T.); (A.U.); (B.T.)
- Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins (CIPKeBiP), Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Boris Turk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (L.T.); (A.U.); (B.T.)
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 113, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Bol’shaya Pirogovskaya Ulitsa, 19c1, 119146 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dušan Turk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (L.T.); (A.U.); (B.T.)
- Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins (CIPKeBiP), Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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17
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Zajc CU, Salzer B, Taft JM, Reddy ST, Lehner M, Traxlmayr MW. Driving CARs with alternative navigation tools - the potential of engineered binding scaffolds. FEBS J 2020; 288:2103-2118. [PMID: 32794303 PMCID: PMC8048499 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
T cells that are genetically engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR T cells) have shown impressive clinical efficacy against B‐cell malignancies. In contrast to these highly potent CD19‐targeting CAR T cells, many of those directed against other tumor entities and antigens currently suffer from several limitations. For example, it has been demonstrated that many scFvs used as antigen‐binding domains in CARs show some degree of oligomerization, which leads to tonic signaling, T cell exhaustion, and poor performance in vivo. Therefore, in many cases alternatives to scFvs would be beneficial. Fortunately, due to the development of powerful protein engineering technologies, also non‐immunoglobulin‐based scaffolds can be engineered to specifically recognize antigens, thus eliminating the historical dependence on antibody‐based binding domains. Here, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of such engineered binding scaffolds, in particular with respect to their application in CARs. We review recent studies, collectively showing that there is no functional or biochemical aspect that necessitates the use of scFvs in CARs. Instead, antigen recognition can also be mediated efficiently by engineered binding scaffolds, as well as natural ligands or receptors fused to the CAR backbone. Finally, we critically discuss the risk of immunogenicity and show that the extent of nonhuman amino acid stretches in engineered scaffolds—even in those based on nonhuman proteins—is more similar to humanized scFvs than might be anticipated. Together, we expect that engineered binding scaffolds and natural ligands and receptors will be increasingly used for the design of CAR T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte U Zajc
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Next Generation CAR T Cells, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benjamin Salzer
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Next Generation CAR T Cells, Vienna, Austria.,St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Joseph M Taft
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sai T Reddy
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Manfred Lehner
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Next Generation CAR T Cells, Vienna, Austria.,St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Pediatrics, St. Anna Kinderspital, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael W Traxlmayr
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Next Generation CAR T Cells, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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18
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Krzyscik MA, Zakrzewska M, Otlewski J. Site-Specific, Stoichiometric-Controlled, PEGylated Conjugates of Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF2) with Hydrophilic Auristatin Y for Highly Selective Killing of Cancer Cells Overproducing Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1 (FGFR1). Mol Pharm 2020; 17:2734-2748. [PMID: 32501706 PMCID: PMC7588128 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c00419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
![]()
In
spite of significant progress in the field of targeted anticancer
therapy, the FDA has approved only five ADC-based drugs. Hence the
search for new targeted anticancer agents is an unfulfilled necessity.
Here, we present novel types of protein–drug conjugates (PDCs)
that exhibit superior anticancer activities. Instead of a monoclonal
antibody, we used fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) as a targeting
molecule. FGF2 is a natural ligand of fibroblast growth factor receptor
1 (FGFR1), a transmembrane receptor overproduced in various types
of cancers. We synthesized site-specific and stoichiometric-controlled
conjugates of FGF2 with a highly potent, hydrophilic derivative of
auristatin called auristatin Y. To increase the hydrophilicity and
hydrodynamic radius of conjugates, we employed PEG4 and PEG27 molecules
as a spacer between the targeting molecule and the cytotoxic payload.
All conjugates were selective to FGFR1-positive cell lines, effectively
internalized via the FGFR1-dependent pathway, and exhibited a highly
cytotoxic effect only on FGFR1-positive cancer cell lines.
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19
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Frank AM, Weidner T, Brynza J, Uckert W, Buchholz CJ, Hartmann J. CD8-Specific Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins Improve Selective Gene Delivery into Human and Primate T Lymphocytes. Hum Gene Ther 2020; 31:679-691. [PMID: 32160795 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2019.248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive T cell immunotherapy in combination with gene therapy is a promising treatment concept for chronic infections and cancer. Recently, receptor-targeted lentiviral vectors (LVs) were shown to enable selective gene transfer into particular types of lymphocytes both in vitro and in vivo. This approach might facilitate the genetic engineering of a patient's own T lymphocytes, possibly even shifting this concept from personalized medicine to an off-the shelf therapy in future. Here, we describe novel high-affinity binders for CD8 consisting of designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins), which were selected to bind to the CD8 receptor of human and nonhuman primate (NHP) cells. These binders were identified by ribosome display screening of DARPin libraries using recombinant human CD8 followed by receptor binding analysis on primary lymphocytes. CD8-targeted LVs (CD8-LVs) were then generated that delivered genes exclusively and specifically to human and NHP T lymphocytes by using the same targeting domain. These CD8-LVs were as specific for human T lymphocytes as their single-chain variable fragment-based counterpart, but they could be produced to higher titers. Moreover, they were superior in transducing cytotoxic T cells both in vitro and in vivo when equal particle numbers were applied. Since the here described CD8-LVs transduced primary T lymphocytes from NHP and human donors equally well, they offer the opportunity for preclinical studies in different animal models including large animals such as NHPs without the need for modifications in vector design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika M Frank
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Tatjana Weidner
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Julia Brynza
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Uckert
- Molecular Cell Biology and Gene Therapy, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian J Buchholz
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Jessica Hartmann
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
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20
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Zimmermann I, Egloff P, Hutter CAJ, Kuhn BT, Bräuer P, Newstead S, Dawson RJP, Geertsma ER, Seeger MA. Generation of synthetic nanobodies against delicate proteins. Nat Protoc 2020; 15:1707-1741. [PMID: 32269381 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-020-0304-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Here, we provide a protocol to generate synthetic nanobodies, known as sybodies, against any purified protein or protein complex within a 3-week period. Unlike methods that require animals for antibody generation, sybody selections are carried out entirely in vitro under controlled experimental conditions. This is particularly relevant for the generation of conformation-specific binders against labile membrane proteins or protein complexes and allows selections in the presence of non-covalent ligands. Sybodies are especially suited for cases where binder generation via immune libraries fails due to high sequence conservation, toxicity or insufficient stability of the target protein. The procedure entails a single round of ribosome display using the sybody libraries encoded by mRNA, followed by two rounds of phage display and binder identification by ELISA. The protocol is optimized to avoid undesired reduction in binder diversity and enrichment of non-specific binders to ensure the best possible selection outcome. Using the efficient fragment exchange (FX) cloning method, the sybody sequences are transferred from the phagemid to different expression vectors without the need to amplify them by PCR, which avoids unintentional shuffling of complementary determining regions. Using quantitative PCR (qPCR), the efficiency of each selection round is monitored to provide immediate feedback and guide troubleshooting. Our protocol can be carried out by any trained biochemist or molecular biologist using commercially available reagents and typically gives rise to 10-30 unique sybodies exhibiting binding affinities in the range of 500 pM-500 nM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iwan Zimmermann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Linkster Therapeutics AG, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Egloff
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Linkster Therapeutics AG, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cedric A J Hutter
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benedikt T Kuhn
- Institute of Biochemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Philipp Bräuer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Simon Newstead
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Roger J P Dawson
- Linkster Therapeutics AG, Zurich, Switzerland.,Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Eric R Geertsma
- Institute of Biochemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Markus A Seeger
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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21
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Yao Q, Weaver SJ, Mock JY, Jensen GJ. Fusion of DARPin to Aldolase Enables Visualization of Small Protein by Cryo-EM. Structure 2019; 27:1148-1155.e3. [PMID: 31080120 PMCID: PMC6610650 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2019.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Solving protein structures by single-particle cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) has become a crucial tool in structural biology. While exciting progress is being made toward the visualization of small macromolecules, the median protein size in both eukaryotes and bacteria is still beyond the reach of cryo-EM. To overcome this problem, we implemented a platform strategy in which a small protein target was rigidly attached to a large, symmetric base via a selectable adapter. Of our seven designs, the best construct used a designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) rigidly fused to tetrameric rabbit muscle aldolase through a helical linker. The DARPin retained its ability to bind its target: GFP. We solved the structure of this complex to 3.0 Å resolution overall, with 5-8 Å resolution in the GFP region. As flexibility in the DARPin position limited the overall resolution of the target, we describe strategies to rigidify this element.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Yao
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Sara J Weaver
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Jee-Young Mock
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Grant J Jensen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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22
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Röth S, Fulcher LJ, Sapkota GP. Advances in targeted degradation of endogenous proteins. Cell Mol Life Sci 2019; 76:2761-2777. [PMID: 31030225 PMCID: PMC6588652 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03112-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 03/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Protein silencing is often employed as a means to aid investigations in protein function and is increasingly desired as a therapeutic approach. Several types of protein silencing methodologies have been developed, including targeting the encoding genes, transcripts, the process of translation or the protein directly. Despite these advances, most silencing systems suffer from limitations. Silencing protein expression through genetic ablation, for example by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, is irreversible, time consuming and not always feasible. Similarly, RNA interference approaches warrant prolonged treatments, can lead to incomplete protein depletion and are often associated with off-target effects. Targeted proteolysis has the potential to overcome some of these limitations. The field of targeted proteolysis has witnessed the emergence of many methodologies aimed at targeting specific proteins for degradation in a spatio-temporal manner. In this review, we provide an appraisal of the different targeted proteolytic systems and discuss their applications in understanding protein function, as well as their potential in therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Röth
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Luke J Fulcher
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Gopal P Sapkota
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK.
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23
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Hober S, Lindbo S, Nilvebrant J. Bispecific applications of non-immunoglobulin scaffold binders. Methods 2019; 154:143-152. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2018.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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24
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Richards DA. Exploring alternative antibody scaffolds: Antibody fragments and antibody mimics for targeted drug delivery. DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY. TECHNOLOGIES 2018; 30:35-46. [PMID: 30553519 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The field of targeted therapeutics has benefitted immeasurably from the development of high-affinity antibodies. These important ligands have facilitated the development of effective therapies, particularly when conjugated to potent cytotoxic payloads i.e. in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The success of ADCs is evidenced by rapid adoption within the pharmaceuticals community; many major companies have dedicated ADC research programmes. However, despite the advantages, the field of ADCs has failed to live up to its full potential. Studies have emerged suggesting that traditional IgG scaffolds may not be the optimal format for targeted payload delivery. In response, the protein engineering community has begun to explore alternative high-binding protein scaffolds as antibody mimics. In this short review I will summarise the generation, modification, and application of emerging antibody fragments and synthetic antibody mimics, with a focus on their use as drug carriers. The review aims to highlight the advantages of antibody mimics, and how they could be employed to overcome the issues and limitations of traditional ADCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Richards
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.
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25
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Aker M, Ohanona S, Fisher S, Katsman E, Dvorkin S, Kopelowitz E, Goldstein M, Barnett-Itzhaki Z, Amitay M. CDB—a database for protein heterodimeric complexes. Protein Eng Des Sel 2018; 31:361-365. [DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzy030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Malka Aker
- Department of Bioinformatics, Jerusalem College of Technology, 21 Havaad Haleumi Street, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shirly Ohanona
- Department of Bioinformatics, Jerusalem College of Technology, 21 Havaad Haleumi Street, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shira Fisher
- Department of Bioinformatics, Jerusalem College of Technology, 21 Havaad Haleumi Street, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Efrat Katsman
- Department of Bioinformatics, Jerusalem College of Technology, 21 Havaad Haleumi Street, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shirit Dvorkin
- Department of Bioinformatics, Jerusalem College of Technology, 21 Havaad Haleumi Street, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Efrat Kopelowitz
- Department of Bioinformatics, Jerusalem College of Technology, 21 Havaad Haleumi Street, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Moshe Goldstein
- Department of Computer Science, Jerusalem College of Technology, 21 Havaad Haleumi St., Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Zohar Barnett-Itzhaki
- Department of Bioinformatics, Jerusalem College of Technology, 21 Havaad Haleumi Street, Jerusalem, Israel
- Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, 39 Yirmiyahu Street, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Moshe Amitay
- Department of Bioinformatics, Jerusalem College of Technology, 21 Havaad Haleumi Street, Jerusalem, Israel
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26
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Hartmann J, Münch RC, Freiling RT, Schneider IC, Dreier B, Samukange W, Koch J, Seeger MA, Plückthun A, Buchholz CJ. A Library-Based Screening Strategy for the Identification of DARPins as Ligands for Receptor-Targeted AAV and Lentiviral Vectors. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2018; 10:128-143. [PMID: 30101151 PMCID: PMC6077149 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Delivering genes selectively to the therapeutically relevant cell type is among the prime goals of vector development. Here, we present a high-throughput selection and screening process that identifies designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) optimally suited for receptor-targeted gene delivery using adeno-associated viral (AAV) and lentiviral (LV) vectors. In particular, the process includes expression, purification, and in situ biotinylation of the extracellular domains of target receptors as Fc fusion proteins in mammalian cells and the selection of high-affinity binders by ribosome display from DARPin libraries each covering more than 1012 variants. This way, DARPins specific for the glutamate receptor subunit GluA4, the endothelial surface marker CD105, and the natural killer cell marker NKp46 were generated. The identification of DARPins best suited for gene delivery was achieved by screening small-scale vector productions. Both LV and AAV particles displaying the selected DARPins transduced only cells expressing the corresponding target receptor. The data confirm that a straightforward process for the generation of receptor-targeted viral vectors has been established. Moreover, biochemical analysis of a panel of DARPins revealed that their functional cell-surface expression as fusion proteins is more relevant for efficient gene delivery by LV particles than functional binding affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Hartmann
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Robert C. Münch
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Ruth-Therese Freiling
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Irene C. Schneider
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Birgit Dreier
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Washington Samukange
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Joachim Koch
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Mainz Medical Center, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Markus A. Seeger
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Plückthun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian J. Buchholz
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany
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27
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Dahan I, Sorrentino S, Boujemaa-Paterski R, Medalia O. Tiopronin-Protected Gold Nanoparticles as a Potential Marker for Cryo-EM and Tomography. Structure 2018; 26:1408-1413.e3. [PMID: 30078643 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2018.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 06/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and their conjugation to biological samples have numerous potential applications. When combined with cryo-electron microscopy and tomography analysis, AuNPs may provide a versatile and powerful tool to identify and precisely localize proteins even when attached to cellular components. Here, we describe a general and facile approach for the synthesis of homogeneous and stable AuNPs, which can readily be conjugated to a molecule of interest and imaged by cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET). We demonstrate the synthesis of 2.2 ± 0.45-nm tiopronin-protected AuNPs, followed by their conjugation with recombinant proteins and peptides. Visualization of the ∼2.2-nm gold-tagged peptides by cryo-ET reveals the potential use of this strategy to label and localize accessible proteins in a cellular environment with nanometric resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idit Dahan
- Department of Life Sciences and the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Simona Sorrentino
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rajaa Boujemaa-Paterski
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Université Grenoble Alpes, 38400 Grenoble, France
| | - Ohad Medalia
- Department of Life Sciences and the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel; Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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28
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Kasaraneni N, Chamoun-Emanuelli AM, Wright GA, Chen Z. A simple strategy for retargeting lentiviral vectors to desired cell types via a disulfide-bond-forming protein-peptide pair. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10990. [PMID: 30030466 PMCID: PMC6054614 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29253-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite recent improvements in the engineering of viral envelope proteins, it remains a significant challenge to create lentiviral vectors that allow targeted transduction to specific cell populations of interest. In this study, we developed a simple ‘plug and play’ strategy to retarget lentiviral vectors to any desired cell types through in vitro covalent modification of the virions with specific cell-targeting proteins (CTPs). This strategy exploits a disulfide bond-forming protein-peptide pair PDZ1 and its pentapeptide ligand (ThrGluPheCysAla, TEFCA). PDZ1 was incorporated into an engineered Sindbis virus envelope protein (Sind-PDZ1) and displayed on lentiviral particles while the TEFCA pentapeptide ligand was genetically linked to the CTP. Her2/neu-binding designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPin) were used as our model CTPs. DARPin-functionalized unconcentrated lentiviral vectors harboring Sind-PDZ1 envelope protein (Sind-PDZ1-pp) exhibited >800-fold higher infectious titer in HER2+ cells than the unfunctionalized virions (8.5 × 106 vs. <104 IU/mL). Moreover, by virtue of the covalent disulfide bond interaction between PDZ1 and TEFCA, the association of the CTP with the virions is nonreversible under non-reducing conditions (e.g. serum), making these functionalized virions potentially stable in an in vivo setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagarjun Kasaraneni
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College Station, Texas, 77843, USA
| | - Ana M Chamoun-Emanuelli
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College Station, Texas, 77843, USA
| | - Gus A Wright
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Zhilei Chen
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College Station, Texas, 77843, USA.
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29
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DeRosa JR, Moyer BS, Lumen E, Wolfe AJ, Sleeper MB, Bianchi AH, Crawford A, McGuigan C, Wortel D, Fisher C, Moody KJ, Blanden AR. RPtag as an Orally Bioavailable, Hyperstable Epitope Tag and Generalizable Protein Binding Scaffold. Biochemistry 2018; 57:3036-3049. [PMID: 29722979 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies are the most prolific biologics in research and clinical environments because of their ability to bind targets with high affinity and specificity. However, antibodies also carry liabilities. A significant portion of the life-science reproducibility crisis is driven by inconsistent performance of research-grade antibodies, and clinical antibodies are often unstable and require costly cold-chain management to reach their destinations in active form. In biotechnology, antibodies are also limited by difficulty integrating them in many recombinant systems due to their size and structural complexity. A switch to small, stable, sequence-verified binding scaffolds may overcome these barriers. Here we present such a scaffold, RPtag, based on a ribose-binding protein (RBP) from extremophile Caldanaerobacter subterraneus. RPtag binds an optimized peptide with pM affinity, is stable to extreme temperature, pH, and protease treatment, readily refolds after denaturation, is effective in common laboratory applications, was rationally engineered to bind bioactive PDGF-β, and was formulated as a gut-stable orally bioavailable preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R DeRosa
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Brandon S Moyer
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Ellie Lumen
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Aaron J Wolfe
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Meegan B Sleeper
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Anthony H Bianchi
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Ashleigh Crawford
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Connor McGuigan
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Danique Wortel
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Cheyanne Fisher
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Kelsey J Moody
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Adam R Blanden
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
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30
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Zimmermann I, Egloff P, Hutter CA, Arnold FM, Stohler P, Bocquet N, Hug MN, Huber S, Siegrist M, Hetemann L, Gera J, Gmür S, Spies P, Gygax D, Geertsma ER, Dawson RJ, Seeger MA. Synthetic single domain antibodies for the conformational trapping of membrane proteins. eLife 2018; 7:34317. [PMID: 29792401 PMCID: PMC5967865 DOI: 10.7554/elife.34317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanistic and structural studies of membrane proteins require their stabilization in specific conformations. Single domain antibodies are potent reagents for this purpose, but their generation relies on immunizations, which impedes selections in the presence of ligands typically needed to populate defined conformational states. To overcome this key limitation, we developed an in vitro selection platform based on synthetic single domain antibodies named sybodies. To target the limited hydrophilic surfaces of membrane proteins, we designed three sybody libraries that exhibit different shapes and moderate hydrophobicity of the randomized surface. A robust binder selection cascade combining ribosome and phage display enabled the generation of conformation-selective, high affinity sybodies against an ABC transporter and two previously intractable human SLC transporters, GlyT1 and ENT1. The platform does not require access to animal facilities and builds exclusively on commercially available reagents, thus enabling every lab to rapidly generate binders against challenging membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iwan Zimmermann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Egloff
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cedric Aj Hutter
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fabian M Arnold
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Stohler
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Bocquet
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Melanie N Hug
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sylwia Huber
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Siegrist
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lisa Hetemann
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Gera
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Samira Gmür
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Peter Spies
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Gygax
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Eric R Geertsma
- Institute of Biochemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Roger Jp Dawson
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus A Seeger
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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31
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Deonarain MP, Yahioglu G, Stamati I, Pomowski A, Clarke J, Edwards BM, Diez-Posada S, Stewart AC. Small-Format Drug Conjugates: A Viable Alternative to ADCs for Solid Tumours? Antibodies (Basel) 2018; 7:E16. [PMID: 31544868 PMCID: PMC6698822 DOI: 10.3390/antib7020016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) have been through multiple cycles of technological innovation since the concept was first practically demonstrated ~40 years ago. Current technology is focusing on large, whole immunoglobulin formats (of which there are approaching 100 in clinical development), many with site-specifically conjugated payloads numbering 2 or 4. Despite the success of trastuzumab-emtansine in breast cancer, ADCs have generally failed to have an impact in solid tumours, leading many to explore alternative, smaller formats which have better penetrating properties as well as more rapid pharmacokinetics (PK). This review describes research and development progress over the last ~10 years obtained from the primary literature or conferences covering over a dozen different smaller format-drug conjugates from 80 kDa to around 1 kDa in total size. In general, these agents are potent in vitro, particularly more recent ones incorporating ultra-potent payloads such as auristatins or maytansinoids, but this potency profile changes when testing in vivo due to the more rapid clearance. Strategies to manipulate the PK properties, whilst retaining the more effective tumour penetrating properties could at last make small-format drug conjugates viable alternative therapeutics to the more established ADCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahendra P Deonarain
- Antikor Biopharma Ltd., Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage Herts SG12FX, UK.
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW72AZ, UK.
| | - Gokhan Yahioglu
- Antikor Biopharma Ltd., Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage Herts SG12FX, UK.
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW72AZ, UK.
| | - Ioanna Stamati
- Antikor Biopharma Ltd., Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage Herts SG12FX, UK.
| | - Anja Pomowski
- Antikor Biopharma Ltd., Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage Herts SG12FX, UK.
| | - James Clarke
- Antikor Biopharma Ltd., Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage Herts SG12FX, UK.
| | - Bryan M Edwards
- Antikor Biopharma Ltd., Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage Herts SG12FX, UK.
| | - Soraya Diez-Posada
- Antikor Biopharma Ltd., Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage Herts SG12FX, UK.
| | - Ashleigh C Stewart
- Antikor Biopharma Ltd., Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage Herts SG12FX, UK.
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32
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Near-atomic cryo-EM imaging of a small protein displayed on a designed scaffolding system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:3362-3367. [PMID: 29507202 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1718825115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Current single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) techniques can produce images of large protein assemblies and macromolecular complexes at atomic level detail without the need for crystal growth. However, proteins of smaller size, typical of those found throughout the cell, are not presently amenable to detailed structural elucidation by cryo-EM. Here we use protein design to create a modular, symmetrical scaffolding system to make protein molecules of typical size suitable for cryo-EM. Using a rigid continuous alpha helical linker, we connect a small 17-kDa protein (DARPin) to a protein subunit that was designed to self-assemble into a cage with cubic symmetry. We show that the resulting construct is amenable to structural analysis by single-particle cryo-EM, allowing us to identify and solve the structure of the attached small protein at near-atomic detail, ranging from 3.5- to 5-Å resolution. The result demonstrates that proteins considerably smaller than the theoretical limit of 50 kDa for cryo-EM can be visualized clearly when arrayed in a rigid fashion on a symmetric designed protein scaffold. Furthermore, because the amino acid sequence of a DARPin can be chosen to confer tight binding to various other protein or nucleic acid molecules, the system provides a future route for imaging diverse macromolecules, potentially broadening the application of cryo-EM to proteins of typical size in the cell.
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33
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Advances in the Application of Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins (DARPins) as Research Tools and Protein Therapeutics. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1798:307-327. [PMID: 29868969 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7893-9_23] [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] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Nonimmunoglobulin scaffolds have been developed to overcome the limitations of monoclonal antibodies with regard to stability and size. Of these scaffolds, the class of designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) has advanced the most in biochemical and biomedical applications. This review focuses on the recent progress in DARPin technology, highlighting the scaffold's potential and possibilities.
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34
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Kong Y, Bender A, Yan A. Identification of Novel Aurora Kinase A (AURKA) Inhibitors via Hierarchical Ligand-Based Virtual Screening. J Chem Inf Model 2017; 58:36-47. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.7b00300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Kong
- State
Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Department of Pharmaceutical
Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, P.O. Box 53, 15 BeiSanHuan East Road, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
- Centre
for Molecular Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Bender
- Centre
for Molecular Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Aixia Yan
- State
Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Department of Pharmaceutical
Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, P.O. Box 53, 15 BeiSanHuan East Road, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
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35
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Kramer L, Renko M, Završnik J, Turk D, Seeger MA, Vasiljeva O, Grütter MG, Turk V, Turk B. Non-invasive in vivo imaging of tumour-associated cathepsin B by a highly selective inhibitory DARPin. Am J Cancer Res 2017; 7:2806-2821. [PMID: 28824717 PMCID: PMC5562217 DOI: 10.7150/thno.19081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cysteine cathepsins often contribute to cancer progression due to their overexpression in the tumour microenvironment and therefore present attractive targets for non-invasive diagnostic imaging. However, the development of highly selective and versatile small molecule probes for cathepsins has been challenging. Here, we targeted tumour-associated cathepsin B using designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins). The selective DARPin 8h6 inhibited cathepsin B with picomolar affinity (Ki = 35 pM) by binding to a site with low structural conservation in cathepsins, as revealed by the X-ray structure of the complex. DARPin 8h6 blocked cathepsin B activity in tumours ex vivo and was successfully applied in in vivo optical imaging in two mouse breast cancer models, in which cathepsin B was bound to the cell membrane or secreted to the extracellular milieu by tumour and stromal cells. Our approach validates cathepsin B as a promising diagnostic and theranostic target in cancer and other inflammation-associated diseases.
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36
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Bezverbnaya K, Mathews A, Sidhu J, Helsen CW, Bramson JL. Tumor-targeting domains for chimeric antigen receptor T cells. Immunotherapy 2017; 9:33-46. [PMID: 28000526 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2016-0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has been advancing steadily in clinical trials. Since the ability of engineered T cells to recognize intended tumor-associated targets is crucial for the therapeutic success, antigen-binding domains play an important role in shaping T-cell responses. Single-chain antibody and T-cell receptor fragments, natural ligands, repeat proteins, combinations of the above and universal tag-specific domains have all been used in the antigen-binding moiety of chimeric receptors. Here we outline the advantages and disadvantages of different domains, discuss the concepts of affinity and specificity, and highlight the recent progress of each targeting strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ksenia Bezverbnaya
- Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Ashish Mathews
- Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Jesse Sidhu
- Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Christopher W Helsen
- Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Jonathan L Bramson
- Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
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37
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Siegler E, Li S, Kim YJ, Wang P. Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins as Her2 Targeting Domains in Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Engineered T Cells. Hum Gene Ther 2017; 28:726-736. [PMID: 28796529 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2017.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineering is a branch of cancer immunotherapy that equips immune cells to target tumor antigens expressed on the cell surface using antibody-derived single-chain variable fragments (scFvs). However, other antibody mimetics, such as designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins), can also serve as antigen-binding domains in CARs. This study shows that CAR-engineered T (CAR-T) cells utilizing Her2-targeting DARPins G3 and 929 can target human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2)-overexpressing cancer cells as effectively as CAR-T cells with the scFv 4D5 in vitro, and G3 CAR-T cells can slow or eliminate tumor growth in vivo as effectively as 4D5 CAR-T cells. Some DARPins may offer an attractive alternative to scFv usage in CARs, as they are smaller, thermodynamically stable, poorly immunogenic, and can be generated with different binding properties from DARPin libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Siegler
- 1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California
| | - Si Li
- 2 Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California
| | - Yu Jeong Kim
- 2 Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California
| | - Pin Wang
- 1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California.,2 Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California.,3 Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California
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Woldring DR, Holec PV, Stern LA, Du Y, Hackel BJ. A Gradient of Sitewise Diversity Promotes Evolutionary Fitness for Binder Discovery in a Three-Helix Bundle Protein Scaffold. Biochemistry 2017; 56:1656-1671. [PMID: 28248518 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.6b01142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Engineered proteins provide clinically and industrially impactful molecules and utility within fundamental research, yet inefficiencies in discovering lead variants with new desired functionality, while maintaining stability, hinder progress. Improved function, which can result from a few strategic mutations, is fundamentally separate from discovering novel function, which often requires large leaps in sequence space. While a highly diverse combinatorial library covering immense sequence space would empower protein discovery, the ability to sample only a minor subset of sequence space and the typical destabilization of random mutations preclude this strategy. A balance must be reached. At library scale, compounding several destabilizing mutations renders many variants unable to properly fold and devoid of function. Broadly searching sequence space while reducing the level of destabilization may enhance evolution. We exemplify this balance with affibody, a three-helix bundle protein scaffold. Using natural ligand data sets, stability and structural computations, and deep sequencing of thousands of binding variants, a protein library was designed on a sitewise basis with a gradient of mutational levels across 29% of the protein. In direct competition of biased and uniform libraries, both with 1 × 109 variants, for discovery of 6 × 104 ligands (5 × 103 clusters) toward seven targets, biased amino acid frequency increased ligand discovery 13 ± 3-fold. Evolutionarily favorable amino acids, both globally and site-specifically, are further elucidated. The sitewise amino acid bias aids evolutionary discovery by reducing the level of mutant destabilization as evidenced by a midpoint of denaturation (62 ± 4 °C) 15 °C higher than that of unbiased mutants (47 ± 11 °C; p < 0.001). Sitewise diversification, identified by high-throughput evolution and rational library design, improves discovery efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Woldring
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities , 421 Washington Avenue Southeast, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Patrick V Holec
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities , 421 Washington Avenue Southeast, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Lawrence A Stern
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities , 421 Washington Avenue Southeast, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Yang Du
- Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University , 279 Campus Drive, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Benjamin J Hackel
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities , 421 Washington Avenue Southeast, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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Chang YN, Shaik FR, Neldner Y, Geertsma ER. Production, Purification and Crystallization of a ProkaryoticSLC26 Homolog for Structural Studies. Bio Protoc 2017; 7:e2116. [PMID: 34458442 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.2116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The SLC26 or SulP proteins constitute a large family of anion transporters that are ubiquitously expressed in pro- and eukaryotes. In human, SLC26 proteins perform important roles in ion homeostasis and malfunctioning of selected members is associated with diseases. This protocol details the production and crystallization of a prokaryotic SLC26 homolog, termed SLC26Dg, from Deinococcus geothermalis. Following these instructions we obtained well-folded and homogenous material of the membrane protein SLC26Dg and the nanobody Nb5776 that enabled us to crystallize the complex and determine its structure ( Geertsma et al., 2015 ). The procedure may be adapted to purify and crystallize other membrane protein complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Ning Chang
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Farooque R Shaik
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Yvonne Neldner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eric R Geertsma
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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40
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Teplyakov A, Malia TJ, Obmolova G, Jacobs SA, O'Neil KT, Gilliland GL. Conformational flexibility of an anti-IL-13 DARPin†. Protein Eng Des Sel 2016; 30:31-37. [PMID: 27881684 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzw059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Revised: 09/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPin®) are artificial non-immunoglobulin binding proteins with potential applications as therapeutic molecules. DARPin 6G9 binds interleukin-13 with high affinity and blocks the signaling pathway and as such is promising for the treatment of asthma and other atopic diseases. The crystal structures of DARPin 6G9 in the unbound form and in complex with IL-13 were determined at high resolution. The DARPin competes for the same epitope as the IL-13 receptor chain 13Rα1 but does not interfere with the binding of the other receptor chain, IL-4Rα. Analysis of multiple copies of the DARPin molecule in the crystal indicates the conformational instability in the N-terminal cap that was predicted from molecular dynamics simulations. Comparison of the DARPin structures in the free state and in complex with IL-13 reveals a concerted movement of the ankyrin repeats upon binding resulted in the opening of the binding site. The induced-fit mode of binding employed by DARPin 6G9 is very unusual for DARPins since they were designed as particularly stable and rigid molecules. This finding shows that DARPins can operate by various binding mechanisms and suggests that some flexibility in the scaffold may be an advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Teplyakov
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
| | - Thomas J Malia
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
| | - Galina Obmolova
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
| | - Steven A Jacobs
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
| | - Karyn T O'Neil
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
| | - Gary L Gilliland
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
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41
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Jarasch A, Kopp M, Eggenstein E, Richter A, Gebauer M, Skerra A. ANTICALIgN: visualizing, editing and analyzing combined nucleotide and amino acid sequence alignments for combinatorial protein engineering. Protein Eng Des Sel 2016; 29:263-70. [PMID: 27261456 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzw016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
ANTIC ALIGN: is an interactive software developed to simultaneously visualize, analyze and modify alignments of DNA and/or protein sequences that arise during combinatorial protein engineering, design and selection. ANTIC ALIGN: combines powerful functions known from currently available sequence analysis tools with unique features for protein engineering, in particular the possibility to display and manipulate nucleotide sequences and their translated amino acid sequences at the same time. ANTIC ALIGN: offers both template-based multiple sequence alignment (MSA), using the unmutated protein as reference, and conventional global alignment, to compare sequences that share an evolutionary relationship. The application of similarity-based clustering algorithms facilitates the identification of duplicates or of conserved sequence features among a set of selected clones. Imported nucleotide sequences from DNA sequence analysis are automatically translated into the corresponding amino acid sequences and displayed, offering numerous options for selecting reading frames, highlighting of sequence features and graphical layout of the MSA. The MSA complexity can be reduced by hiding the conserved nucleotide and/or amino acid residues, thus putting emphasis on the relevant mutated positions. ANTIC ALIGN: is also able to handle suppressed stop codons or even to incorporate non-natural amino acids into a coding sequence. We demonstrate crucial functions of ANTIC ALIGN: in an example of Anticalins selected from a lipocalin random library against the fibronectin extradomain B (ED-B), an established marker of tumor vasculature. Apart from engineered protein scaffolds, ANTIC ALIGN: provides a powerful tool in the area of antibody engineering and for directed enzyme evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Jarasch
- Munich Center for integrated Protein Science (CiPSM) and Lehrstuhl für Biologische Chemie, Technische Universität München, Emil-Erlenmeyer-Forum 5, Freising (Weihenstephan) 85354, Germany
| | - Melanie Kopp
- Munich Center for integrated Protein Science (CiPSM) and Lehrstuhl für Biologische Chemie, Technische Universität München, Emil-Erlenmeyer-Forum 5, Freising (Weihenstephan) 85354, Germany
| | - Evelyn Eggenstein
- Munich Center for integrated Protein Science (CiPSM) and Lehrstuhl für Biologische Chemie, Technische Universität München, Emil-Erlenmeyer-Forum 5, Freising (Weihenstephan) 85354, Germany
| | - Antonia Richter
- Munich Center for integrated Protein Science (CiPSM) and Lehrstuhl für Biologische Chemie, Technische Universität München, Emil-Erlenmeyer-Forum 5, Freising (Weihenstephan) 85354, Germany
| | - Michaela Gebauer
- Munich Center for integrated Protein Science (CiPSM) and Lehrstuhl für Biologische Chemie, Technische Universität München, Emil-Erlenmeyer-Forum 5, Freising (Weihenstephan) 85354, Germany
| | - Arne Skerra
- Munich Center for integrated Protein Science (CiPSM) and Lehrstuhl für Biologische Chemie, Technische Universität München, Emil-Erlenmeyer-Forum 5, Freising (Weihenstephan) 85354, Germany
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42
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Woldring DR, Holec PV, Zhou H, Hackel BJ. High-Throughput Ligand Discovery Reveals a Sitewise Gradient of Diversity in Broadly Evolved Hydrophilic Fibronectin Domains. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138956. [PMID: 26383268 PMCID: PMC4575168 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Discovering new binding function via a combinatorial library in small protein scaffolds requires balance between appropriate mutations to introduce favorable intermolecular interactions while maintaining intramolecular integrity. Sitewise constraints exist in a non-spatial gradient from diverse to conserved in evolved antibody repertoires; yet non-antibody scaffolds generally do not implement this strategy in combinatorial libraries. Despite the fact that biased amino acid distributions, typically elevated in tyrosine, serine, and glycine, have gained wider use in synthetic scaffolds, these distributions are still predominantly applied uniformly to diversified sites. While select sites in fibronectin domains and DARPins have shown benefit from sitewise designs, they have not been deeply evaluated. Inspired by this disparity between diversity distributions in natural libraries and synthetic scaffold libraries, we hypothesized that binders resulting from discovery and evolution would exhibit a non-spatial, sitewise gradient of amino acid diversity. To identify sitewise diversities consistent with efficient evolution in the context of a hydrophilic fibronectin domain, >105 binders to six targets were evolved and sequenced. Evolutionarily favorable amino acid distributions at 25 sites reveal Shannon entropies (range: 0.3-3.9; median: 2.1; standard deviation: 1.1) supporting the diversity gradient hypothesis. Sitewise constraints in evolved sequences are consistent with complementarity, stability, and consensus biases. Implementation of sitewise constrained diversity enables direct selection of nanomolar affinity binders validating an efficient strategy to balance inter- and intra-molecular interaction demands at each site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R. Woldring
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Patrick V. Holec
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Hong Zhou
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Benjamin J. Hackel
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
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43
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Helma J, Cardoso MC, Muyldermans S, Leonhardt H. Nanobodies and recombinant binders in cell biology. J Cell Biol 2015; 209:633-44. [PMID: 26056137 PMCID: PMC4460151 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201409074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies are key reagents to investigate cellular processes. The development of recombinant antibodies and binders derived from natural protein scaffolds has expanded traditional applications, such as immunofluorescence, binding arrays, and immunoprecipitation. In addition, their small size and high stability in ectopic environments have enabled their use in all areas of cell research, including structural biology, advanced microscopy, and intracellular expression. Understanding these novel reagents as genetic modules that can be integrated into cellular pathways opens up a broad experimental spectrum to monitor and manipulate cellular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Helma
- Department of Biology II, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich and Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - M Cristina Cardoso
- Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Serge Muyldermans
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Heinrich Leonhardt
- Department of Biology II, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich and Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
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44
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Zwerger M, Roschitzki-Voser H, Zbinden R, Denais C, Herrmann H, Lammerding J, Grütter MG, Medalia O. Altering lamina assembly reveals lamina-dependent and -independent functions for A-type lamins. J Cell Sci 2015; 128:3607-20. [PMID: 26275827 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.171843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Lamins are intermediate filament proteins that form a fibrous meshwork, called the nuclear lamina, between the inner nuclear membrane and peripheral heterochromatin of metazoan cells. The assembly and incorporation of lamin A/C into the lamina, as well as their various functions, are still not well understood. Here, we employed designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) as new experimental tools for lamin research. We screened for DARPins that specifically bound to lamin A/C, and interfered with lamin assembly in vitro and with incorporation of lamin A/C into the native lamina in living cells. The selected DARPins inhibited lamin assembly and delocalized A-type lamins to the nucleoplasm without modifying lamin expression levels or the amino acid sequence. Using these lamin binders, we demonstrate the importance of proper integration of lamin A/C into the lamina for nuclear mechanical properties and nuclear envelope integrity. Finally, our study provides evidence for cell-type-specific differences in lamin functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Zwerger
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Heidi Roschitzki-Voser
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Reto Zbinden
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Celine Denais
- Cornell University, Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Weill Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Harald Herrmann
- Functional Architecture of the Cell, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Jan Lammerding
- Cornell University, Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Weill Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Markus G Grütter
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Ohad Medalia
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich 8057, Switzerland Department of Life Sciences and the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
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45
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Lomonosova AV, Ovchinnikova EV, Kazakov AS, Denesyuk AI, Sofin AD, Mikhailov RV, Ulitin AB, Mirzabekov TA, Permyakov EA, Permyakov SE. Extremophilic 50S Ribosomal RNA-Binding Protein L35Ae as a Basis for Engineering of an Alternative Protein Scaffold. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0134906. [PMID: 26247602 PMCID: PMC4527664 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their remarkably high structural stability, proteins from extremophiles are particularly useful in numerous biological applications. Their utility as alternative protein scaffolds could be especially valuable in small antibody mimetic engineering. These artificial binding proteins occupy a specific niche between antibodies and low molecular weight substances, paving the way for development of innovative approaches in therapeutics, diagnostics, and reagent use. Here, the 50S ribosomal RNA-binding protein L35Ae from the extremophilic archaea Pyrococcus horikoshii has been probed for its potential to serve as a backbone in alternative scaffold engineering. The recombinant wild type L35Ae has a native-like secondary structure, extreme thermal stability (mid-transition temperature of 90°C) and a moderate resistance to the denaturation by guanidine hydrochloride (half-transition at 2.6 M). Chemical crosslinking and dynamic light scattering data revealed that the wild type L35Ae protein has a propensity for multimerization and aggregation correlating with its non-specific binding to a model cell surface of HEK293 cells, as evidenced by flow cytometry. To suppress these negative features, a 10-amino acid mutant (called L35Ae 10X) was designed, which lacks the interaction with HEK293 cells, is less susceptible to aggregation, and maintains native-like secondary structure and thermal stability. However, L35Ae 10X also shows lowered resistance to guanidine hydrochloride (half-transition at 2.0M) and is more prone to oligomerization. This investigation of an extremophile protein’s scaffolding potential demonstrates that lowered resistance to charged chemical denaturants and increased propensity to multimerization may limit the utility of extremophile proteins as alternative scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V. Lomonosova
- Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya str., 7, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290, Russia
| | - Elena V. Ovchinnikova
- Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya str., 7, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290, Russia
| | - Alexei S. Kazakov
- Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya str., 7, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290, Russia
| | - Alexander I. Denesyuk
- Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya str., 7, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290, Russia
- Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland
| | - Alexander D. Sofin
- Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya str., 7, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290, Russia
| | - Roman V. Mikhailov
- Antherix, Institutskaya str., 7, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290, Russia
| | - Andrei B. Ulitin
- Antherix, Institutskaya str., 7, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290, Russia
| | - Tajib A. Mirzabekov
- Antherix, Institutskaya str., 7, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290, Russia
- Biomirex Inc., 304 Pleasant Street, Watertown, Massachusetts, 02472, United States of America
| | - Eugene A. Permyakov
- Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya str., 7, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290, Russia
| | - Sergei E. Permyakov
- Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya str., 7, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290, Russia
- * E-mail:
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46
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Non-immunoglobulin scaffolds: a focus on their targets. Trends Biotechnol 2015; 33:408-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2015.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 03/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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47
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Obmolova G, Teplyakov A, Malia TJ, Keough E, Luo J, Sweet R, Jacobs SA, Yi F, Hippensteel R, O'Neil KT, Gilliland GL. Induced conformational change in human IL-4 upon binding of a signal-neutralizing DARPin. Proteins 2015; 83:1191-7. [PMID: 25900776 PMCID: PMC5029753 DOI: 10.1002/prot.24815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Revised: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The crystal structure of DARPin 44C12V5 that neutralizes IL-4 signaling has been determined alone and bound to human IL-4. A significant conformational change occurs in the IL-4 upon DARPin binding. The DARPin binds to the face of IL-4 formed by the A and C α-helices. The structure of the DARPin remains virtually unchanged. The conformational changes in IL-4 include a reorientation of the C-helix Trp91 side chain and repositioning of CD-loop residue Leu96. Both side chains move by >9 Å, becoming buried in the central hydrophobic region of the IL-4:DARPin interface. This hydrophobic region is surrounded by a ring of hydrophilic interactions comprised of hydrogen bonds and salt bridges and represents a classical "hotspot." The structures also reveal how the DARPin neutralizes IL-4 signaling. Comparing the IL-4:DARPin complex structure with the structures of IL-4 bound to its receptors (Hage et al., Cell 1999; 97, 271-281; La Porte et al., Cell 2008, 132, 259-272), it is found that the DARPin binds to the same IL-4 face that interacts with the junction of the D1 and D2 domains of the IL-4Rα receptors. Signaling is blocked since IL-4 cannot bind to this receptor, which it must do first before initiating a productive receptor complex with either the IL-13α1 or the γc receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina Obmolova
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Biotechnology Center of ExcellenceSpring HousePennsylvania19477
| | - Alexey Teplyakov
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Biotechnology Center of ExcellenceSpring HousePennsylvania19477
| | - Thomas J. Malia
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Biotechnology Center of ExcellenceSpring HousePennsylvania19477
| | - Edward Keough
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Biotechnology Center of ExcellenceSpring HousePennsylvania19477
| | - Jinquan Luo
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Biotechnology Center of ExcellenceSpring HousePennsylvania19477
| | - Raymond Sweet
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Biotechnology Center of ExcellenceSpring HousePennsylvania19477
- Present address: Raymond Sweet's current address is 700 Oak Springs Rd.Bryn MawrPA19010
| | - Steven A. Jacobs
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Biotechnology Center of ExcellenceSpring HousePennsylvania19477
| | - Fang Yi
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Biotechnology Center of ExcellenceSpring HousePennsylvania19477
| | - Randi Hippensteel
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Biotechnology Center of ExcellenceSpring HousePennsylvania19477
- Present address: Randi Hippensteel's current address is Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories2425 New Holland PikeLancasterPA17601
| | - Karyn T. O'Neil
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Biotechnology Center of ExcellenceSpring HousePennsylvania19477
| | - Gary L. Gilliland
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Biotechnology Center of ExcellenceSpring HousePennsylvania19477
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48
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A transcription blocker isolated from a designed repeat protein combinatorial library by in vivo functional screen. Sci Rep 2015; 5:8070. [PMID: 25627011 PMCID: PMC4308713 DOI: 10.1038/srep08070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 01/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A highly diverse DNA library coding for ankyrin seven-repeat proteins (ANK-N5C) was designed and constructed by a PCR-based combinatorial assembly strategy. A bacterial melibiose fermentation assay was adapted for in vivo functional screen. We isolated a transcription blocker that completely inhibits the melibiose-dependent expression of α-galactosidase (MelA) and melibiose permease (MelB) of Escherichiacoli by specifically preventing activation of the melAB operon. High-resolution crystal structural determination reveals that the designed ANK-N5C protein has a typical ankyrin fold, and the specific transcription blocker, ANK-N5C-281, forms a domain-swapped dimer. Functional tests suggest that the activity of MelR, a DNA-binding transcription activator and a member of AraC family of transcription factors, is inhibited by ANK-N5C-281 protein. All ANK-N5C proteins are expected to have a concave binding area with negative surface potential, suggesting that the designed ANK-N5C library proteins may facilitate the discovery of binders recognizing structural motifs with positive surface potential, like in DNA-binding proteins. Overall, our results show that the established library is a useful tool for the discovery of novel bioactive reagents.
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49
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Doshi R, Chen BR, Vibat CRT, Huang N, Lee CW, Chang G. In vitro nanobody discovery for integral membrane protein targets. Sci Rep 2014; 4:6760. [PMID: 25342225 PMCID: PMC4208029 DOI: 10.1038/srep06760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Accepted: 10/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanobodies (Nbs) or single-domain antibodies are among the smallest and most stable binder scaffolds known. In vitro display is a powerful antibody discovery technique used worldwide. We describe the first adaptation of in vitro mRNA/cDNA display for the rapid, automatable discovery of Nbs against desired targets, and use it to discover the first ever reported nanobody against the human full-length glucose transporter, GLUT-1. We envision our streamlined method as a bench-top platform technology, in combination with various molecular evolution techniques, for expedited Nb discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupak Doshi
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Beverly R Chen
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | | | - Norman Huang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Chang-Wook Lee
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Geoffrey Chang
- 1] Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093 [2] Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
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Combined inhibition of caspase 3 and caspase 7 by two highly selective DARPins slows down cellular demise. Biochem J 2014; 461:279-90. [PMID: 24779913 DOI: 10.1042/bj20131456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Caspases play important roles during apoptosis, inflammation and proliferation. The high homology among family members makes selective targeting of individual caspases difficult, which is necessary to precisely define the role of these enzymes. We have selected caspase-7-specific binders from a library of DARPins (designed ankyrin repeat proteins). The DARPins D7.18 and D7.43 bind specifically to procaspase 7 and active caspase 7, but not to other members of the family. Binding of the DARPins does not affect the active enzyme, but interferes with its activation by other caspases. The crystal structure of the caspase 7-D7.18 complex elucidates the high selectivity and the mode of inhibition. Combining these caspase-7-specific DARPins with the previously reported caspase-3-inhibitory DARPin D3.4S76R reduces the activity of caspase 3 and 7 in double-transfected HeLa cells during apoptosis. In addition, these cells showed less susceptibility to TRAIL (tumour-necrosis-factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand)-induced apoptosis in living cell experiments. D7.18 and D7.43 are therefore novel tools for in vitro studies on procaspase 7 activation as well as for clarifying the role of its activation in different cellular processes. If applied in combination with D3.4S76R, they represent an excellent instrument to increase our understanding of these enzymes during various cellular processes.
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