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Kjeldsen TB, Hubálek F, Hjørringgaard CU, Tagmose TM, Nishimura E, Stidsen CE, Porsgaard T, Fledelius C, Refsgaard HHF, Gram-Nielsen S, Naver H, Pridal L, Hoeg-Jensen T, Jeppesen CB, Manfè V, Ludvigsen S, Lautrup-Larsen I, Madsen P. Molecular Engineering of Insulin Icodec, the First Acylated Insulin Analog for Once-Weekly Administration in Humans. J Med Chem 2021; 64:8942-8950. [PMID: 33944562 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Here, we describe the molecular engineering of insulin icodec to achieve a plasma half-life of 196 h in humans, suitable for once-weekly subcutaneously administration. Insulin icodec is based on re-engineering of the ultra-long oral basal insulin OI338 with a plasma half-life of 70 h in humans. This systematic re-engineering was accomplished by (1) further increasing the albumin binding by changing the fatty diacid from a 1,18-octadecanedioic acid (C18) to a 1,20-icosanedioic acid (C20) and (2) further reducing the insulin receptor affinity by the B16Tyr → His substitution. Insulin icodec was selected by screening for long intravenous plasma half-life in dogs while ensuring glucose-lowering potency following subcutaneous administration in rats. The ensuing structure-activity relationship resulted in insulin icodec. In phase-2 clinical trial, once-weekly insulin icodec provided safe and efficacious glycemic control comparable to once-daily insulin glargine in type 2 diabetes patients. The structure-activity relationship study leading to insulin icodec is presented here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas B Kjeldsen
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
| | - František Hubálek
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
| | | | - Tina M Tagmose
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Erica Nishimura
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Drug Discovery, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Carsten E Stidsen
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Drug Discovery, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Trine Porsgaard
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Drug Discovery, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Christian Fledelius
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Drug Discovery, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Hanne H F Refsgaard
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Drug Discovery, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Sanne Gram-Nielsen
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Drug Discovery, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Helle Naver
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Lone Pridal
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Thomas Hoeg-Jensen
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Claus Bekker Jeppesen
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Drug Discovery, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Valentina Manfè
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Svend Ludvigsen
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Inger Lautrup-Larsen
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Peter Madsen
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Maaloev, Denmark
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Crosslinking of human plasma C-reactive protein to human serum albumin via disulfide bond oxidation. Redox Biol 2021; 41:101925. [PMID: 33714740 PMCID: PMC7966873 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.101925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Inter- and intra-molecular crosslinks can generate protein dysfunction, and are associated with protein aggregate accumulation in aged and diseased tissues. Crosslinks formed between multiple amino acid side chains can be reversible or irreversible. Disulfides formed either enzymatically, or as a result of oxidant-mediated reactions, are a major class of reversible crosslinks. Whilst these are commonly generated via oxidation of Cys thiol groups, they are also formed by ‘oxidant-mediated thiol-disulfide reactions’ via initial disulfide oxidation to a thiosulfinate or zwitterionic peroxide, and subsequent reaction with another thiol including those on other proteins. This generates new intermolecular protein-protein crosslinks. Here we demonstrate that photooxidation, or reaction with the biological oxidants HOCl and ONOOH, of the single disulfide present in the major human plasma inflammatory protein, C-reactive protein (CRP) can give rise to reversible disulfide bond formation with human serum albumin (HSA). This occurs in an oxidant dose-, or illumination-time-, dependent manner. These CRP-HSA crosslinks are formed both in isolated protein systems, and in fresh human plasma samples containing high, but not low, levels of CRP. The inter-protein crosslinks which involve Cys36 of CRP and Cys34 of HSA, have been detected by both immunoblotting and mass spectrometry (MS). The yield of protein-protein crosslinks depends on the nature and extent of oxidant exposure, and can be reversed by dithiothreitol and tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride. These data indicate that oxidation of disulfide bonds in proteins can be a source of novel inter-protein crosslinks, which may help rationalize the accumulation of crosslinked proteins in aged and diseased tissues. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a major acute phase inflammatory protein in human plasma. Oxidation of the single Cys36-Cys97 disulfide in CRP generates reactive intermediates. The oxidized disulfide reacts with Cys34 of human serum albumin to forms a new crosslink. The inter-protein CRP-HSA crosslink has been characterized by immunoblotting and LS-MS/MS. This novel crosslink may be a long-lived plasma marker of inflammation-induced damage.
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Zapadka KL, Becher FJ, Gomes Dos Santos AL, Jackson SE. Factors affecting the physical stability (aggregation) of peptide therapeutics. Interface Focus 2017; 7:20170030. [PMID: 29147559 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2017.0030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The number of biological therapeutic agents in the clinic and development pipeline has increased dramatically over the last decade and the number will undoubtedly continue to increase in the coming years. Despite this fact, there are considerable challenges in the development, production and formulation of such biologics particularly with respect to their physical stabilities. There are many cases where self-association to form either amorphous aggregates or highly structured fibrillar species limits their use. Here, we review the numerous factors that influence the physical stability of peptides including both intrinsic and external factors, wherever possible illustrating these with examples that are of therapeutic interest. The effects of sequence, concentration, pH, net charge, excipients, chemical degradation and modification, surfaces and interfaces, and impurities are all discussed. In addition, the effects of physical parameters such as pressure, temperature, agitation and lyophilization are described. We provide an overview of the structures of aggregates formed, as well as our current knowledge of the mechanisms for their formation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frederik J Becher
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | | | - Sophie E Jackson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
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Wu F, Mayer JP, Gelfanov VM, Liu F, DiMarchi RD. Synthesis of Four-Disulfide Insulin Analogs via Sequential Disulfide Bond Formation. J Org Chem 2017; 82:3506-3512. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.6b03078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fangzhou Wu
- Department
of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - John P. Mayer
- Novo Nordisk
Research
Center Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46241, United States
| | - Vasily M. Gelfanov
- Novo Nordisk
Research
Center Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46241, United States
| | - Fa Liu
- Novo Nordisk
Research
Center Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46241, United States
| | - Richard D. DiMarchi
- Department
of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
- Novo Nordisk
Research
Center Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46241, United States
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Ren G, Ke N, Berkmen M. Use of the SHuffle Strains in Production of Proteins. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 85:5.26.1-5.26.21. [PMID: 27479507 DOI: 10.1002/cpps.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Escherichia coli continues to be a popular expression host for the production of proteins, yet successful recombinant expression of active proteins to high yields remains a trial and error process. This is mainly due to decoupling of the folding factors of a protein from its native host, when expressed recombinantly in E. coli. Failure to fold could be due to many reasons but is often due to lack of post-translational modifications that are absent in E. coli. One such post-translational modification is the formation of disulfide bonds, a common feature of secreted proteins. The genetically engineered SHuffle cells offer an expression solution to proteins that require disulfide bonds for their folding and activity. The purpose of this protocol unit is to familiarize the researcher with the biology of SHuffle cells and guide the experimental design in order to optimize and increase the chances of successful expression of their desired protein of choice. Example of the expression and purification of a model disulfide-bonded protein DsbC is described in detail. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Na Ke
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts
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