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Malakoutikhah M, Mahran R, Gooran N, Masoumi A, Lundell K, Liljeblad A, Guiley K, Dai S, Zheng Q, Zhu L, Shokat KM, Kopra K, Härmä H. Nanomolar Protein Thermal Profiling with Modified Cyanine Dyes. Anal Chem 2023; 95:18344-18351. [PMID: 38060502 PMCID: PMC10733900 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Protein properties and interactions have been widely investigated by using external labels. However, the micromolar sensitivity of the current dyes limits their applicability due to the high material consumption and assay cost. In response to this challenge, we synthesized a series of cyanine5 (Cy5) dye-based quencher molecules to develop an external dye technique to probe proteins at the nanomolar protein level in a high-throughput one-step assay format. Several families of Cy5 dye-based quenchers with ring and/or side-chain modifications were designed and synthesized by introducing organic small molecules or peptides. Our results showed that steric hindrance and electrostatic interactions are more important than hydrophobicity in the interaction between the luminescent negatively charged europium-chelate-labeled peptide (Eu-probe) and the quencher molecules. The presence of substituents on the quencher indolenine rings reduces their quenching property, whereas the increased positive charge on the indolenine side chain improved the interaction between the quenchers and the luminescent compound. The designed quencher structures entirely altered the dynamics of the Eu-probe (protein-probe) for studying protein stability and interactions, as we were able to reduce the quencher concentration 100-fold. Moreover, the new quencher molecules allowed us to conduct the experiments using neutral buffer conditions, known as the peptide-probe assay. These improvements enabled us to apply the method in a one-step format for nanomolar protein-ligand interaction and protein profiling studies instead of the previously developed two-step protocol. These improvements provide a faster and simpler method with lower material consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Randa Mahran
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Turku, Henrikinkatu 2, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Negin Gooran
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Turku, Henrikinkatu 2, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Ahmadreza Masoumi
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Turku, Henrikinkatu 2, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Katri Lundell
- Laboratory
of Synthetic Drug Chemistry, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Arto Liljeblad
- Laboratory
of Synthetic Drug Chemistry, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Keelan Guiley
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- Current
address: Rezo Therapeutics, Inc., San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Shizhong Dai
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- Current
address: Department of Genetics, Stanford
University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Qinheng Zheng
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Lawrence Zhu
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Kevan M. Shokat
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Kari Kopra
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Turku, Henrikinkatu 2, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Harri Härmä
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Turku, Henrikinkatu 2, 20500 Turku, Finland
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
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Västberg A, Bolinsson H, Leeman M, Nilsson L, Nylander T, Sejwal K, Sintorn IM, Lidayova K, Sjögren H, Wahlgren M, Elofsson U. Investigating Thermally Induced Aggregation of Somatropin- New Insights Using Orthogonal Techniques. Int J Pharm 2023; 637:122829. [PMID: 36948472 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.122829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Three orthogonal techniques were used to provide new insights into thermally induced aggregation of the therapeutic protein Somatropin at pH 5.8 and 7.0. The techniques were Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Asymmetric Flow-Field Flow-Fractionation (AF4), and the TEM-based analysis system MiniTEM™. In addition, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used to study the thermal unfolding and stability. DSC and DLS were used to explain the initial aggregation process and aggregation rate at the two pH values. The results suggest that electrostatic stabilization seems to be the main reason for the faster initial aggregation at pH 5.8, i.e., closer to the isoelectric point of Somatropin. AF4 and MiniTEM were used to investigate the aggregation pathway further. Combining the results allowed us to demonstrate Somatropin's thermal aggregation pathway at pH 7.0. The growth of the aggregates appears to follow two steps. Smaller elongated aggregates are formed in the first step, possibly initiated by partly unfolded species. In the second step, occurring during longer heating, the smaller aggregates assemble into larger aggregates with more complex structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Västberg
- Research Institutes of Sweden, Drottning Kristinas väg 61B, 11428 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Food Technology, Engineering and Nutrition, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hans Bolinsson
- Department of Food Technology, Engineering and Nutrition, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Lars Nilsson
- Department of Food Technology, Engineering and Nutrition, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Tommy Nylander
- Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | - Marie Wahlgren
- Department of Food Technology, Engineering and Nutrition, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ulla Elofsson
- Research Institutes of Sweden, Drottning Kristinas väg 61B, 11428 Stockholm, Sweden
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Instability Challenges and Stabilization Strategies of Pharmaceutical Proteins. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14112533. [PMID: 36432723 PMCID: PMC9699111 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintaining the structure of protein and peptide drugs has become one of the most important goals of scientists in recent decades. Cold and thermal denaturation conditions, lyophilization and freeze drying, different pH conditions, concentrations, ionic strength, environmental agitation, the interaction between the surface of liquid and air as well as liquid and solid, and even the architectural structure of storage containers are among the factors that affect the stability of these therapeutic biomacromolecules. The use of genetic engineering, side-directed mutagenesis, fusion strategies, solvent engineering, the addition of various preservatives, surfactants, and additives are some of the solutions to overcome these problems. This article will discuss the types of stress that lead to instabilities of different proteins used in pharmaceutics including regulatory proteins, antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates, and then all the methods for fighting these stresses will be reviewed. New and existing analytical methods that are used to detect the instabilities, mainly changes in their primary and higher order structures, are briefly summarized.
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The critical role of agitation in moving from preliminary screening results to reproducible batch protein crystallisation. Chem Eng Res Des 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cherd.2021.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Impact of succussion on pharmaceutical preparations analyzed by means of patterns from evaporated droplets. Sci Rep 2020; 10:570. [PMID: 31953459 PMCID: PMC6969209 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-57009-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate if patterns obtained from evaporating droplets of pharmaceutical preparations reveal the impact of succussion on such medicinal products. For this purpose, five pharmaceutical preparations (Echinacea 10−2, Baptisia 10−3, Baptisia 10−4, Luffa 10−4, and Spongia 10−6) were prepared according to the European Pharmacopoeia guidelines for the production of homeopathic remedies, in three variants each: with varying numbers of succussion strokes (i) 100, (ii) 10 (succussed samples), and (iii) zero (gently mixed, unsuccussed sample). System stability was studied by means of systematic positive control experiments. Patterns were evaluated by means of computerized image analysis regarding grey level distribution, texture, and fractality. For all investigated pharmaceutical preparations, significant differences were found between the succussed and gently mixed samples; whereas, all three samples (prepared with 100, 10 and zero succussion strokes) could be significantly differentiated for Luffa 10−4 and Spongia 10−6 for one image evaluation parameter each. Control experiments showed a reasonable stability of the experimental set-up.
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Wang W, Roberts CJ. Protein aggregation – Mechanisms, detection, and control. Int J Pharm 2018; 550:251-268. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.08.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 08/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Lim JY, Lim DG, Kim KH, Park SK, Jeong SH. Effects of annealing on the physical properties of therapeutic proteins during freeze drying process. Int J Biol Macromol 2018; 107:730-740. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.09.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 09/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Fleischman ML, Chung J, Paul EP, Lewus RA. Shipping-Induced Aggregation in Therapeutic Antibodies: Utilization of a Scale-Down Model to Assess Degradation in Monoclonal Antibodies. J Pharm Sci 2017; 106:994-1000. [DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2016.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Lim JY, Kim NA, Lim DG, Eun CY, Choi D, Jeong SH. Biophysical stability of hyFc fusion protein with regards to buffers and various excipients. Int J Biol Macromol 2016; 86:622-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2015] [Revised: 01/31/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Lim JY, Kim NA, Lim DG, Kim KH, Jeong SH. Effects of thermal and mechanical stress on the physical stability of human growth hormone and epidermal growth factor. Arch Pharm Res 2014; 38:1488-98. [DOI: 10.1007/s12272-014-0521-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 11/17/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Batzli KM, Love BJ. Formation of platinum-coated templates of insulin nanowires used in reducing 4-nitrophenol. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2014; 48:103-11. [PMID: 25579902 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2014.11.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Revised: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/22/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Modern technology demands ever smaller and more efficient nanoparticles, wires and networks. The natural tendency for amyloid proteins to form fibrillar structures is leveraged in creating high aspect ratio, nano-sized protein fibers as scaffolds for metallized nanowires. The morphology of fibrils is influenced by induced strain during denaturing and early aggregation and subsequent fibril deposition with platinum leads to controlled catalyst surfaces based on the initial protein precipitate. Here we have created insulin fibrils with varying morphologies produced in the presence of heat and strain and investigated their metallization with platinum by TEM. The catalytic activity of the metal-coated protein fibrils was resolved by tracking the reaction kinetics of the conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in the presence of the produced nanowires using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The effects of fibril morphology and temperature on the pseudo-first-order kinetics of conversion are investigated. Conversion to 4-aminophenol occurs on the order of minutes and is independent of temperature in the range tested (7 to 20°C). Two regimes of conversion are identified, an early higher rate, followed by a slower later rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiersten M Batzli
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, 2300 Hayward St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Brian J Love
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, 2300 Hayward St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Macromolecular Science and Engineering Research Center, University of Michigan, 2300 Hayward St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biologic and Materials Sciences (Dentistry), University of Michigan, 2300 Hayward St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
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Batzli KM, Love BJ. Agitation of amyloid proteins to speed aggregation measured by ThT fluorescence: a call for standardization. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2014; 48:359-64. [PMID: 25579934 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2014.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
This retrospective study of protein aggregation measured by Thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assay in published literature has assessed protein sensitivity to denaturing conditions that include elevated temperatures, fluctuations in pH, and concentration and, in particular, agitation to induce amyloid structure formation. The dynamic tracking of fluorescence shows a sigmoidal evolution as aggregates form; the resulting kinetics of association have been analyzed to explore the range of aggregation behavior which occurs based on environmental parameters. Comparisons between the experimental results of different groups have been historically difficult due to subtleties of experimental procedures including denaturing temperature, protein type and concentration, formulation differences, and how agitation is achieved. While it is clear that agitation has a strong influence on the driving force for aggregation, the use of magnetic stirring bar or shaker table rotational speed is insufficient to characterize the degree of turbulence produced during shear. The pathway forward in resolving dependence of aggregate formation on shear may require alternative methodologies or better standardization of the experimental protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiersten M Batzli
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Brian J Love
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Macromolecular Science and Engineering Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biologic and Materials Sciences (Dentistry), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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Wiesbauer J, Prassl R, Nidetzky B. Renewal of the air-water interface as a critical system parameter of protein stability: aggregation of the human growth hormone and its prevention by surface-active compounds. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2013; 29:15240-50. [PMID: 24224491 DOI: 10.1021/la4028223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Soluble proteins are often highly unstable under mixing conditions that involve dynamic contacting between the main liquid phase and a gas phase. The recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) was recently shown to undergo aggregation into micrometer-sized solid particles composed of non-native (mis- or unfolded) protein, once its solutions were stirred or shaken to generate a continuously renewed air-water interface. To gain deepened understanding and improved quantification of the air-water interface effect on rhGH stability, we analyzed the protein's aggregation rate (r(agg)) at controlled specific air-water surface areas (a(G/L)) established by stirring or bubble aeration. We show that in spite of comparable time-averaged values for a(G/L) (≈ 100 m(2)/m(3)), aeration gave a 40-fold higher r(agg) than stirring. The enhanced r(agg) under aeration was ascribed to faster macroscopic regeneration of free a(G/L) during aeration as compared to stirring. We also show that r(agg) was independent of the rhGH concentration in the range 0.67 - 6.7 mg/mL, and that it increased linearly dependent on the available a(G/L). The nonionic surfactant Pluronic F-68, added in 1.6-fold molar excess over rhGH present, resulted in complete suppression of r(agg). Foam formation was not a factor influencing r(agg). Using analysis by circular dichroism spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering, we show that in the presence of Pluronic F-68 under both stirring and aeration, the soluble protein retained its original fold, featuring native-like relative composition of secondary structural elements. We further provide evidence that the efficacy of Pluronic F-68 resulted from direct, probably hydrophobic protein-surfactant interactions that prevented rhGH from becoming attached to the air-water interface. Surface-induced aggregation of rhGH is suggested to involve desorption of non-native protein from the air-water interface as the key limiting step. Proteins or protein aggregates released back into the bulk liquid appear to be essentially insoluble.
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Bolivar JM, Consolati T, Mayr T, Nidetzky B. Quantitating intraparticle O2gradients in solid supported enzyme immobilizates: Experimental determination of their role in limiting the catalytic effectiveness of immobilized glucose oxidase. Biotechnol Bioeng 2013; 110:2086-95. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.24873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2012] [Revised: 01/29/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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