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VanDyke D, Xu L, Sargunas PR, Gilbreth RN, Baca M, Gao C, Hunt J, Spangler JB. Redirecting the specificity of tripartite motif containing-21 scaffolds using a novel discovery and design approach. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105381. [PMID: 37866632 PMCID: PMC10694607 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105381] [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: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Hijacking the ubiquitin proteasome system to elicit targeted protein degradation (TPD) has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to target and destroy intracellular proteins at the post-translational level. Small molecule-based TPD approaches, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and molecular glues, have shown potential, with several agents currently in clinical trials. Biological PROTACs (bioPROTACs), which are engineered fusion proteins comprised of a target-binding domain and an E3 ubiquitin ligase, have emerged as a complementary approach for TPD. Here, we describe a new method for the evolution and design of bioPROTACs. Specifically, engineered binding scaffolds based on the third fibronectin type III domain of human tenascin-C (Tn3) were installed into the E3 ligase tripartite motif containing-21 (TRIM21) to redirect its degradation specificity. This was achieved via selection of naïve yeast-displayed Tn3 libraries against two different oncogenic proteins associated with B-cell lymphomas, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein 1 (MALT1) and embryonic ectoderm development protein (EED), and replacing the native substrate-binding domain of TRIM21 with our evolved Tn3 domains. The resulting TRIM21-Tn3 fusion proteins retained the binding properties of the Tn3 as well as the E3 ligase activity of TRIM21. Moreover, we demonstrated that TRIM21-Tn3 fusion proteins efficiently degraded their respective target proteins through the ubiquitin proteasome system in cellular models. We explored the effects of binding domain avidity and E3 ligase utilization to gain insight into the requirements for effective bioPROTAC design. Overall, this study presents a versatile engineering approach that could be used to design and engineer TRIM21-based bioPROTACs against therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek VanDyke
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Biologics Engineering, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Linda Xu
- Biologics Engineering, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Paul R Sargunas
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ryan N Gilbreth
- Biologics Engineering, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Manuel Baca
- Biologics Engineering, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Changshou Gao
- Biologics Engineering, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - James Hunt
- Biologics Engineering, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jamie B Spangler
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Bloomberg∼Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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Boggiano-Ayo T, Palacios-Oliva J, Lozada-Chang S, Relova-Hernandez E, Gomez-Perez J, Oliva G, Hernandez L, Bueno-Soler A, Montes de Oca D, Mora O, Machado-Santisteban R, Perez-Martinez D, Perez-Masson B, Cabrera Infante Y, Calzadilla-Rosado L, Ramirez Y, Aymed-Garcia J, Ruiz-Ramirez I, Romero Y, Gomez T, Espinosa LA, Gonzalez LJ, Cabrales A, Guirola O, de la Luz KR, Pi-Estopiñan F, Sanchez-Ramirez B, Garcia-Rivera D, Valdes-Balbin Y, Rojas G, Leon-Monzon K, Ojito-Magaz E, Hardy E. Development of a scalable single process for producing SARS-CoV-2 RBD monomer and dimer vaccine antigens. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1287551. [PMID: 38050488 PMCID: PMC10693982 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1287551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We have developed a single process for producing two key COVID-19 vaccine antigens: SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) monomer and dimer. These antigens are featured in various COVID-19 vaccine formats, including SOBERANA 01 and the licensed SOBERANA 02, and SOBERANA Plus. Our approach involves expressing RBD (319-541)-His6 in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells, generating and characterizing oligoclones, and selecting the best RBD-producing clones. Critical parameters such as copper supplementation in the culture medium and cell viability influenced the yield of RBD dimer. The purification of RBD involved standard immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC), ion exchange chromatography, and size exclusion chromatography. Our findings suggest that copper can improve IMAC performance. Efficient RBD production was achieved using small-scale bioreactor cell culture (2 L). The two RBD forms - monomeric and dimeric RBD - were also produced on a large scale (500 L). This study represents the first large-scale application of perfusion culture for the production of RBD antigens. We conducted a thorough analysis of the purified RBD antigens, which encompassed primary structure, protein integrity, N-glycosylation, size, purity, secondary and tertiary structures, isoform composition, hydrophobicity, and long-term stability. Additionally, we investigated RBD-ACE2 interactions, in vitro ACE2 recognition of RBD, and the immunogenicity of RBD antigens in mice. We have determined that both the monomeric and dimeric RBD antigens possess the necessary quality attributes for vaccine production. By enabling the customizable production of both RBD forms, this unified manufacturing process provides the required flexibility to adapt rapidly to the ever-changing demands of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and different COVID-19 vaccine platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammy Boggiano-Ayo
- Process Development Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | | | | | - Gonzalo Oliva
- Process Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Alexi Bueno-Soler
- Process Development Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Osvaldo Mora
- Process Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Dayana Perez-Martinez
- Immunology and Immunobiology Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Beatriz Perez-Masson
- Immunology and Immunobiology Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | - Yaima Ramirez
- Immunology and Immunobiology Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Judey Aymed-Garcia
- Immunology and Immunobiology Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Yamile Romero
- Immunology and Immunobiology Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Tania Gomez
- Quality Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | - Annia Cabrales
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Playa, Cuba
| | - Osmany Guirola
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Playa, Cuba
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Gertrudis Rojas
- Immunology and Immunobiology Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Kalet Leon-Monzon
- Immunology and Immunobiology Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Eugenio Hardy
- Process Development Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
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