Functional effects of asparagine-linked oligosaccharide on natural and variant human tissue-type plasminogen activator

Identification, characterization, and engineering of glycosylation in thrombolyticsa

Cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and pulmonary embolism, are the most common causes of disability and death worldwide. Blood clot hydrolysis by thrombolytic enzymes and thrombectomy are key clinical interventions. The most widely used thrombolytic enzyme is alteplase, which has been used in clinical practice since 1986. Another clinically used thrombolytic protein is tenecteplase, which has modified epitopes and engineered glycosylation sites, suggesting that carbohydrate modification in thrombolytic enzymes is a viable strategy for their improvement. This comprehensive review summarizes current knowledge on computational and experimental identification of glycosylation sites and glycan identity, together with methods used for their reengineering. Practical examples from previous studies focus on modification of glycosylations in thrombolytics, e.g., alteplase, tenecteplase, reteplase, urokinase, saruplase, and desmoteplase. Collected clinical data on these glycoproteins demonstrate the great potential of this engineering strategy. Outstanding combinatorics originating from multiple glycosylation sites and the vast variety of covalently attached glycan species can be addressed by directed evolution or rational design. Directed evolution pipelines would benefit from more efficient cell-free expression and high-throughput screening assays, while rational design must employ structure prediction by machine learning and in silico characterization by supercomputing. Perspectives on challenges and opportunities for improvement of thrombolytic enzymes by engineering and evolution of protein glycosylation are provided.

Reteplase Fc-fusions produced in N. benthamiana are able to dissolve blood clots ex vivo

Thrombolytic and fibrinolytic therapies are effective treatments to dissolve blood clots in stroke therapy. Thrombolytic drugs activate plasminogen to its cleaved form plasmin, a proteolytic enzyme that breaks the crosslinks between fibrin molecules. The FDA-approved human tissue plasminogen activator Reteplase (rPA) is a non-glycosylated protein produced in E. coli. rPA is a deletion mutant of the wild-type Alteplase that benefits from an extended plasma half-life, reduced fibrin specificity and the ability to better penetrate into blood clots. Different methods have been proposed to improve the production of rPA. Here we show for the first time the transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana of rPA fused to the immunoglobulin fragment crystallizable (Fc) domain on an IgG1, a strategy commonly used to improve the stability of therapeutic proteins. Despite our success on the expression and purification of dimeric rPA-Fc fusions, protein instability results in high amounts of Fc-derived degradation products. We hypothesize that the "Y"- shape of dimeric Fc fusions cause steric hindrance between protein domains and leads to physical instability. Indeed, mutations of critical residues in the Fc dimerization interface allowed the expression of fully stable rPA monomeric Fc-fusions. The ability of rPA-Fc to convert plasminogen into plasmin was demonstrated by plasminogen zymography and clot lysis assay shows that rPA-Fc is able to dissolve blood clots ex vivo. Finally, we addressed concerns with the plant-specific glycosylation by modulating rPA-Fc glycosylation towards serum-like structures including α2,6-sialylated and α1,6-core fucosylated N-glycans completely devoid of plant core fucose and xylose residues.

Design of Novel Thrombolytic Agents via Domain Modifications*

Generation of plasmin in the vicinity of a blood clot has proven to be an effective approach for treating thrombotic disorders, particularly myocardial infarction. Conceptually, the ideal thrombolytic agent would initiate the formation of plasmin, primarily in association with fibrin incorporated into the occlusive thrombus. Thus, thrombolytic agents that exhibit relative fibrin specificity and, thus, presumably clot selectivity (e.g., tissue plasminogen activator) were expected to have a marked clinical benefit compared to agents that do not display affinity for fibrin (e.g., streptokinase). However, results obtained recently from clinical trials indicate that these 2 agents essentially were equally effective in treating myocardial infarction. With these findings in mind, efforts are being made to develop novel thrombolytic agents that might achieve more rapid and specific thrombolysis than that achieved by presently available agents and, thus, could be administered earlier because of an improved margin of safety. The available data suggest that tissue-type PA (tPA) mutants possessing resistance to endogenous inhibitors, altered fibrin affinity, and/or slower rates of clearance may prove beneficial in this regard. In addition, adjunctive therapies (i.e., anti-platelet and anti-thrombin compounds) have been found to decrease the time necessary to achieve reperfusion and have reduced rates of reocclusion. These efforts are expected to yield therapeutic agents in the 1990s and beyond that, when administered in combination, would exhibit increased efficacy in the treatment of myocardial infarction and other thrombotic disorders.

Structural Biology and Protein Engineering of Thrombolytics

Myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke are the most frequent causes of death or disability worldwide. Due to their ability to dissolve blood clots, the thrombolytics are frequently used for their treatment. Improving the effectiveness of thrombolytics for clinical uses is of great interest. The knowledge of the multiple roles of the endogenous thrombolytics and the fibrinolytic system grows continuously. The effects of thrombolytics on the alteration of the nervous system and the regulation of the cell migration offer promising novel uses for treating neurodegenerative disorders or targeting cancer metastasis. However, secondary activities of thrombolytics may lead to life-threatening side-effects such as intracranial bleeding and neurotoxicity. Here we provide a structural biology perspective on various thrombolytic enzymes and their key properties: (i) effectiveness of clot lysis, (ii) affinity and specificity towards fibrin, (iii) biological half-life, (iv) mechanisms of activation/inhibition, and (v) risks of side effects. This information needs to be carefully considered while establishing protein engineering strategies aiming at the development of novel thrombolytics. Current trends and perspectives are discussed, including the screening for novel enzymes and small molecules, the enhancement of fibrin specificity by protein engineering, the suppression of interactions with native receptors, liposomal encapsulation and targeted release, the application of adjuvants, and the development of improved production systems.

Penta-L-lysine Potentiates Fibrin-Independent Activity of Human Tissue Plasminogen Activator

The therapeutic action of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) is a two-step process: (1) binding to lysine-rich fibrin (Km event) and (2) converting local plasminogen into plasmin (Kcat event). Overcoming limitations of other structural biophysics methods, we wanted to employ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to visualize what shape changes occur/accompany t-PA activation, but the prime hurdle was the polydisperse nature of the fibrin, which occluded scattering information from t-PA. Earlier, larger polylysine peptides have been used to potentiate activation of t-PA, so while screening short polylysine peptides as alternatives to fibrin or larger peptides, we found that penta-polylysine (P5) specifically activates t-PA in a dose-dependent manner, averaging to almost 3-fold more than in the absence of any peptide. SAXS data analysis confirmed that P5 does not induce association of t-PA molecules, and a narrower peak profile of the Kratky plot indicated that P5 binding quenches inherent motion in t-PA. Shape reconstruction of t-PA ∓ P5 revealed that P5 closes the "gap" between the two gross domains of t-PA, viz. fused F/E, K1 and K2 domains, and the P domain. Docking experiments suggested that, while other polylysine peptides preferentially interacted with the surfaces of kringle domains, P5 "slipped into" the gap/groove between K2 and P domains, thereby mediating a substantial increase in the number of long-range interactions between the K2 domain and exosites in the P domain. We report here dissection of shape events involved in between Km/Kcat steps of t-PA activation, which can pave the way toward the search for small molecule function regulator(s) of t-PA.

Lanoteplase

Lanoteplase is a recombinant plasminogen activator, which when administered as a single bolus intravenous injection, displays thrombolytic activity. In the phase II InTIME trial, lanoteplase dose-dependently increased reperfusion rates at 60 and 90 minutes in patients with acute myocardial infarction and at 90 (but not 60) minutes lanoteplase 120 kU/kg was significantly superior to alteplase in restoring TIMI grade 2 and 3 flow (in 83.0 and 71.4% of patients, respectively). Preliminary results from the phase III InTIME-II study showed that lanoteplase was as effective as alteplase in decreasing 30-day mortality. At 30 days, the combined incidence of death, reinfarction, major bleeding and heart failure was lower with lanoteplase 120 kU/kg than with alteplase 100mg. From preliminary results of the large InTIME-II study, lanoteplase 120 kU/kg showed a greater incidence of intracranial haemorrhage and mild bleeding than alteplase <or=100mg, but a similar incidence of stroke. The smaller InTIME study showed a tendency for fewer adverse events with lanoteplase.

Carbohydrates and activity of natural and recombinant tissue factor

The effect of glycosylation on tissue factor (TF) activity was evaluated, and site-specific glycosylation of full-length recombinant TF (rTF) and that of natural TF from human placenta (pTF) were studied by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The amidolytic activity of the TF.factor VIIa (FVIIa) complex toward a fluorogenic substrate showed that the catalytic efficiency (V(max)) of the complex increased in the order rTF(1-243) (Escherichia coli) < rTF(1-263) (Sf9 insect cells) < pTF for the glycosylated and deglycosylated forms. Substrate hydrolysis was unaltered by deglycosylation. In FXase, the K(m) of FX for rTF(1-263)-FVIIa remained unchanged after deglycosylation, whereas the k(cat) decreased slightly. A pronounced decrease, 4-fold, in k(cat) was observed for pTF.FVIIa upon deglycosylation, whereas the K(m) was minimally altered. The parameters of FX activation by both rTF(1-263D)-FVIIa and pTF(D)-FVIIa were identical and similar to those for rTF(1-243)-FVIIa. In conclusion, carbohydrates significantly influence the activity of TF proteins. Carbohydrate analysis revealed glycosylation on asparagines 11, 124, and 137 in both rTF(1-263) and pTF. The carbohydrates of rTF(1-263) contain high mannose, hybrid, and fucosylated glycans. Natural pTF contains no high mannose glycans but is modified with hybrid, highly fucosylated, and sialylated sugars.

Glycosylation variant analysis of recombinant human tissue plasminogen activator produced in urea-cycle-enzyme-expressing Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) was produced in ornithine transcarbamoylase (OTC) cells by introducing the tPA gene into OTC cells. OTC cells were originally derived from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and express the first two enzymes of the urea cycle, carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I (CPS I) and OTC. To investigate glycosylation variants, tPA variants produced in serum-supplemented culture medium of OTC-tPA cells were separated by lysine-Sepharose 4B chromatography. Unlike in previous studies that used lysine-Sepharose chromatography, two peaks were identified to correspond to eluted glycosylation variants type I and II and type II and the percentages of the type I and type II variants were found to be 23% and 77%, respectively. The biological activities of the type I and II and type II variants were twofold that of the Third International tPA Standard (98/714) produced in the CHO cell line, and the activity of type II variant was 12.6% higher than that of the type I and II variants. These results demonstrate that tPA produced in urea-cycle-enzyme-producing OTC cells have a very high biological activity and the percentage of type II variant which is very valuable for the biopharmaceutical industry is higher than that of any report using CHO cells.

Comparison of pharmacokinetics of lanoteplase and alteplase during acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

Lanoteplase is a rationally designed variant of tissue plasminogen activator. The aim of this study was to examine the pharmacokinetics and functional activity of a single intravenous bolus dose of lanoteplase with those of a bolus plus two-step infusion of alteplase.

DESIGN

Seven-centre substudy of the InTIME-I angiographic trial in patients presenting within 6 hours of onset of suspected acute myocardial infarction.

PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS

A total of 31 patients (28 males, 3 females) enrolled in this substudy [mean age 59 (range 26 to 76) years].

METHODS

Twenty-three patients randomised to lanoteplase received single bolus doses of 15 kU/kg (n = 5), 30 kU/kg (n = 3), 60 kU/kg (n = 9), or 120 kU/kg (n = 6). Eight patients received alteplase <or=100mg as a bolus followed by a two-stage 90 min infusion. Blood samples were analysed for antigen concentration and plasminogen activator (PA) activity.

RESULTS

The distribution plasma half-life of approximately 35 min for lanoteplase was at least five times longer than that of alteplase. Lanoteplase plasma clearance averaged 3 L/h (50 ml/min), whereas the mean plasma clearance of approximately 24 L/h (400 ml/min) for alteplase approaches hepatic blood flow following acute myocardial infarction. PA activity after lanoteplase 120 kU/kg remained for 6 hours, compared with less than 4 hours after alteplase 100mg.

CONCLUSIONS

The longer antigen and activity half-lives, slower clearance and less complicated administration of lanoteplase compared with alteplase suggest that it may offer advantages for use as a single intravenous bolus to achieve reperfusion after myocardial infarction.

Pharmacology and clinical trial results of lanoteplase in acute myocardial infarction

New bolus fibrinolytic agents derived from the recombinant human tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) have emerged as a new means of dissolution of the occlusive thrombosis associated with acute myocardial infarction. Lanoteplase is a fibrinolytic drug derived from t-PA by deleting its fibronectin finger-like and epidermal growth factor domains and mutating Asn(117) to Gln(117). Lanoteplase has a reduced plasma clearance and a prolonged half-life such that it can be administered as a single bolus. In the InTIME I trial, patency (TIMI grade 2 or 3 flow) with the 120 KU/kg dose was higher compared with front-loaded t-PA. The InTIME II trial demonstrated that lanoteplase was as effective as alteplase with regard to mortality. However, the rate of intracranial haemorrhage was significantly higher in lanoteplase-treated patients and further development of this compound has been halted.

Recombinant glycodelin carrying the same type of glycan structures as contraceptive glycodelin-A can be produced in human kidney 293 cells but not in chinese hamster ovary cells

We have produced human recombinant glycodelin in human kidney 293 cells and in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Structural analyses by lectin immunoassays and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry showed that recombinant human glycodelin produced in CHO cells contains only typical CHO-type glycans and is devoid of any of the N, N'-diacetyllactosediamine (lacdiNAc)-based chains previously identified in glycodelin-A (GdA). By contrast, human kidney 293 cells produced recombinant glycodelin with the same type of carbohydrate structures as GdA. The presence of a beta1-->4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase functioning in the synthesis of lacdiNAc-based glycans in human kidney 293 cells is concluded to be the cause of the occurrence of lacdiNAc-based glycans on glycodelin produced in these cells. Furthermore, human kidney 293 cells were found to be particularly suited for the production of recombinant glycodelin when they were cultured in high glucose media. Lowering the glucose concentration and the addition of glucosamine resulted in higher relative amounts of oligomannosidic-type glycans and complex glycans with truncated antennae. Human glycodelin is an attractive candidate for the development of a contraceptive agent, and this study gives valuable information for selecting the proper expression system and cell culture conditions for the production of a correctly glycosylated recombinant form.

Modification of a recombinant GPI-anchored metalloproteinase for secretion alters the protein glycosylation

The N-linked glycans of recombinant leishmanolysin (GP63) expressed as a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored membrane protein or modified for secretion in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were analyzed by fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry (FAB-MS). The glycans isolated from both membrane and secreted protein were predominantly complex biantennary structures. However other aspects of the glycan profiles showed striking differences. The degree of sialylation of the membrane form was greatly reduced and the core fucosylation of biantennary structures was increased compared to the secreted form. Glycans isolated from membrane expressed protein also contained a higher proportion of lactosamine repeats. Residence times in the secretory pathway were similar for both secreted and membrane protein. Glycosylation differences may therefore be due to differences in protein conformation and accessibility to glycosyltransferases or glycosidases. These differences in glycosylation represent an important factor when considering modifying membrane expressed proteins for secreted production.

Evaluation of a weight-adjusted single-bolus plasminogen activator in patients with myocardial infarction: a double-blind, randomized angiographic trial of lanoteplase versus alteplase

BACKGROUND

Lanoteplase (nPA) is a rationally designed variant of tissue plasminogen activator with greater fibrinolytic potency and slower plasma clearance than alteplase.

METHODS AND RESULTS

InTIME (Intravenous nPA for Treatment of Infarcting Myocardium Early), a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, double-placebo angiographic trial, evaluated the dose-response relationship and safety of single-bolus, weight-adjusted lanoteplase. Patients (n=602) presenting within 6 hours of acute myocardial infarction were randomized and treated with either a single-bolus injection of lanoteplase (15, 30, 60, or 120 kU/kg) or accelerated alteplase. The primary objective was to determine TIMI grade flow at 60 minutes. Angiographic assessments were also performed at 90 minutes and on days 3 to 5. Follow-up was continued for 30 days. Lanoteplase achieved its primary objective, demonstrating a dose-response in TIMI grade 3 flow at 60 minutes (23.6% to 47.1% of subjects, P<0. 001). Similar results were observed at 90 minutes (26.1% to 57.1%, P<0.001). At 90 minutes, coronary patency (TIMI 2 or 3) increased across the dose range up to 83% of subjects at 120 kU/kg lanoteplase compared with 71.4% with alteplase. Thus, at this dose, lanoteplase was superior to alteplase in restoring coronary patency (difference, 12%; 95% CI, 1% to 23%). The early safety experience in this study suggests that lanoteplase was well tolerated at all doses with safety comparable to that of alteplase.

CONCLUSIONS

Lanoteplase, a single-bolus, weight-adjusted agent, increased coronary patency at 60 and 90 minutes in a dose-dependent fashion. Coronary patency at 90 minutes was achieved more frequently with 120 kU/kg lanoteplase than alteplase. In this study, safety with lanoteplase and alteplase was comparable. InTIME-II, a worldwide mortality trial, will evaluate efficacy and safety with this promising new agent.

Comparison of thrombolytic therapies with mutant tPA (lanoteplase/SUN9216) and recombinant tPA (alteplase) for acute myocardial infarction

The fibrinolytic capacity of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is known to be impaired. The primary regulatory element of the fibrinolytic system is plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI). It has been previously observed that there are 2 peaks in the plasma PAI level of AMI patients at 4h and 16h after thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA). Lanoteplase/SUN9216 is a mutant tPA with a biological half-life longer than that of rtPA. Thrombolytic therapy with mutant tPA or rtPA was carried out consecutively in 21 patients with AMI (8 patients as the mutant tPA group, and 13 patients as the rtPA group). The recanalization time of the mutant tPA group was significantly faster than that of the rtPA group (16.1 +/- 3.9 min vs 39.6 +/- 4.8 min, p<0.01). The PAI activity at 4h after the initiation of thrombolysis was significantly lower in the mutant tPA group than in the rtPA group (8.74 +/- 5.46IU/L vs 26.74 +/- 3.35 IU/L, p<0.01). There was a one mild peak in serial plasma PAI activity levels 24h after the initiation of thrombolysis. The results suggest that thrombolytic therapy with mutant tPA reduced the impairment of fibrinolytic capacity. The mutant tPA gives faster recanalization and lower PAI activity after successful thrombolysis, compared with rtPA.

Inclusion bodies and purification of proteins in biologically active forms

Even though recombinant DNA technology has made possible the production of valuable therapeutic proteins, its accumulation in the host cell as inclusion body poses serious problems in the recovery of functionally active proteins. In the last twenty years, alternative techniques have been evolved to purify biologically active proteins from inclusion bodies. Most of these remain only as inventions and very few are commercially exploited. This review summarizes the developments in isolation, refolding and purification of proteins from inclusion bodies that could be used for vaccine and non-vaccine applications. The second section involves a discussion on inclusion bodies, how they are formed, and their physicochemical properties. In vivo protein folding in Escherichia coli and kinetics of in vitro protein folding are the subjects of the third and fourth sections respectively. The next section covers the recovery of bioactive protein from inclusion bodies: it includes isolation of inclusion body from host cell debris, purification in denatured state alternate refolding techniques, and final purification of active molecules. Since purity and safety are two important issues in therapeutic grade proteins, the following three sections are devoted to immunological and biological characterization of biomolecules, nature, and type of impurities normally encountered, and their detection. Lastly, two case studies are discussed to demonstrate the sequence of process steps involved.

Mutational analysis of N-linked glycosylation of esterase 6 in Drosophila melanogaster

The primary sequence of the esterase 6 (EST6) enzyme of Drosophila melanogaster contains four potential N-linked glycosylation sites, at residues 21, 399, 435, and 485. Here we determine the extent to which EST6 is glycosylated and how the glycosylation affects the biochemistry and physiology of the enzyme. We have abolished each of the four potential glycosylation sites by replacing the required Asn residues with Gln by in vitro mutagenesis. Five mutant genes were made, four containing mutations of each site individually and the fifth site containing all four mutations. Germline transformation was used to introduce the mutant genes into a strain of D. melanogaster null for EST6. Electrophoretic and Western blot comparisons of the mutant strains and wild-type controls showed that each of the four potential N-linked glycosylation sites in the wild-type protein is glycosylated. However, the fourth site is not utilized on all EST6 molecules, resulting in two molecular forms of the enzyme. Digestion with specific endoglycosidases showed that the glycan attached at the second site is of the high-mannose type, while the other three sites carry more complex oligosaccharides. The thermostability of the enzyme is not affected by abolition of the first, third, or fourth glycosylation sites but is reduced by abolition of the second site. Anomalously, abolition of all four sites together does not reduce thermostability. Quantitative comparisons of EST6 activities showed that abolition of glycosylation does not affect the secretion of the enzyme into the male sperm ejaculatory duct, its transfer to the female vagina during mating, or its subsequent translocation into her hemolymph. However, the activity of the mutant enzymes does not persist in the female's hemolymph for as long as wild-type esterase 6. The latter effect may compromise the role of the transferred enzyme in stimulating egg-laying and delaying receptivity to remating.

Role of N-linked glycosylation in human osteonectin. Effect of carbohydrate removal by N-glycanase and site-directed mutagenesis on structure and binding of type V collagen

In this study we demonstrate that the binding region of recombinant truncated human bone osteonectin (tHON) for type V collagen resides between amino acids 1 and 146. After removal of oligosaccharide chain structures from tHON, bovine bone osteonectin (BBON) and human platelet osteonectin (HPON) by N-glycanase, their ability to bind to type V collagen is increased, and HPON affinity to collagen V is the same as that of BBON. These data suggest that glycosylation of osteonectin has a direct or regulatory effect on osteonectin binding to collagen V and that the increase in tHON binding upon removal of carbohydrate is the result of a loss of a down-regulation site or direct interference of the carbohydrate at the binding site. To determine the specific role of each N-glycosylation site in tHON, Asn71 and Asn99 were mutated to Gln (N71Q, N99Q) and Thr73 and Thr101 mutated to Ala (T73A, T101A) to selectively inhibit oligosaccharide attachment. The binding affinity of N99Q and T101Q to collagen V is markedly increased over wild-type tHON, whereas N71Q and T73A are the same as wild-type tHON. The doubled mutant (N71,99Q) binds identically to collagen V as N99Q and T101A. These data suggest that only the position 99 glycosylation site (Asn99-X-Thr101) in tHON is important in the reduction of binding of osteonectin to collagen V. Consistent with the binding data is the observation that both the N71Q and T73A mutant proteins migrate on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels identically to wild-type tHON, suggesting that there is little or no N-glycosylation of residue 71 in wild-type osteonectin.

Intracellular folding of tissue-type plasminogen activator. Effects of disulfide bond formation on N-linked glycosylation and secretion

The addition of N-linked core oligosaccharides to membrane and secretory glycoproteins occurs co-translationally at asparagine residues in the tripeptide sequon Asn-Xaa-Ser/Thr soon after translocation of the nascent polypeptide into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. However, the presence of the sequon does not automatically ensure core glycosylation, as many proteins contain sequons that remain either unglycosylated or glycosylated to a variable extent. To investigate whether intracellular protein folding can influence sequon utilization, we have expressed tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) in cell culture in the presence of mild concentrations of the reducing agent dithiothreitol to prevent co-translational disulfide bond formation in the endoplasmic reticulum. We show that conditions that prevent disulfide bond formation lead to complete glycosylation of a sequon that otherwise undergoes variable glycosylation in untreated cells. This demonstrated that folding and disulfide bond formation of t-PA determines its extent of core N-linked glycosylation. When dithiothreitol was removed from the cells, the reduced and overglycosylated t-PA formed disulfide bonds, folded, and was secreted. We also show t-PA present within cells is more susceptible to reduction with low concentrations of dithiothreitol than secreted t-PA.

Analysis of protein glycosylation by mass spectrometry

There is a growing pharmaceutical market for protein-based drugs for use in therapy and diagnosis. The rapid developments in molecular and cell biology have resulted in production of expression systems for manufacturing of recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies. These proteins are glycosylated when expressed in cell systems with glycosylation ability. For glycoproteins intended for therapeutic administration it is important to have knowledge about the structure of the carbohydrate side chains to avoid cell systems that produce structures, which in humans can cause undesired reactions, e.g., immunological and unfavorable serum clearance rate. Structural analysis of glycoprotein oligosaccharides requires sophisticated instruments like mass spectrometers and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers. However, before the structural analysis can be conducted, the carbohydrate chains have to be released from the protein and purified to homogeneity, and this is often the most time-consuming step. Mass spectrometry has played and still plays an important role in analysis of protein glycosylation. The superior sensitivity compared to other spectroscopic methods is its main asset. Structural analysis of carbohydrates faces several problems, however, due to the chemical nature of the constituent monosaccharide residues. For oligosaccharides or glycoconjugates, the structural information from mass spectrometry is essentially limited to monosaccharide sequence, molecular weight, an only in exceptional cases glycosidic linkage positions can be obtained. In order to completely establish an oligosaccharide structure, several other structural parameters have to be determined, e.g., linkage positions, anomeric configuration and identification of the monosaccharide building blocks. One way to address some of these problems is to work on chemical pretreatment of the glycoconjugate, to specifically modify the carbohydrate chain. In order to introduce specific modifications, we have used periodate oxidation and trifluoroacetolysis with the objective of determining glycosidic linkage positions by mass spectrometry.

Glycosylation of two recombinant human uterine tissue plasminogen activator variants carrying an additional N-glycosylation site in the epidermal-growth-factor-like domain

Recombinant human uterine tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) glycosylation mutants carrying an additional N-glycosylation site in the epidermal-growth-factor-like domain due to the replacement of either Tyr67 by Asn (YN-tPA) or Gly60 by Ser (GS-tPA) were expressed in mouse epithelial cells (C127) in the presence of [6-3H]glucosamine. Glycopeptides comprising individual glycosylation sites were isolated and oligosaccharides attached were liberated by treatment with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H or peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase F. Oligosaccharide alditols obtained after reduction were either directly characterized by high-pH anion-exchange chromatography (high-mannose and hybrid-type glycans) or preparatively subfractionated after enzymic desialylation and separation from sulphated asialooligosaccharides (complex-type sugar chains). Individual (sub)fractions of glucans were studied by methylation analysis, liquid secondary-ion mass spectrometry and, in part, by exoglycosidase digestion, whereas corresponding deglycosylated peptides were identified by amino acid analysis and N-terminal amino acid sequencing. The results revealed that Asn117 of YN-tPA carried exclusively high-mannose-type glycans with five to nine mannose residues similar to wild-type tPA expressed in this cell line [Pfeiffer, G., Schmidt, M., Strube, K.-H. & Geyer, R. (1989) Eur. J. Biochem. 186, 273-286]. In contrast, Asn117 of GS-tPA carried only small amounts (about 25%) of high-mannose and hybrid-type species and predominantly complex-type sugar chains (about 75%) which were partially incomplete and mostly devoid of fucose. Newly introduced N-glycosylation sites at Asn67 (YN-tPA) or Asn58 (GS-tPA) as well as those at Asn184 and Asn448 were solely substituted by complex-type glycans. Each carbohydrate attachment site displayed a peculiar oligosaccharide pattern with regard to branching and substitution by Gal alpha 3-residues, sulphate groups, intersecting GlcNAc and lactosamine repeats. Our study clearly demonstrates that creation of a new glycosylation site at Asn58 influenced the oligosaccharide processing and, hence, the glycosylation pattern at Asn117, whereas introduction of a new site at Asn67 did not. The relative amounts of complex-type glycans at Asn117 of GS-tPA correlated with the degree of carbohydrate substitution of Asn58. Therefore, it can be concluded that the presence of a sugar chain at the position and not the Gly to Ser mutation itself is responsible for the observed alteration of GS-tPA glycosylation.

Thrombolytic effect of a plasminogen-plasminogen activator chimera in a photochemically induced thrombosis (PIT) model

The thrombolytic effects of the plasminogen/plasminogen activator chimera (SUN9216), comprising the fibrin-binding kringle 1 domain of plasminogen and two kringle and the serine protease domain of the wild-type tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) including a modification of the mannose glycosylation on the kringle 1 of t-PA (PK1 delta FE1X), was compared with tht of t-PA by use of a photochemically induced thrombus (PIT) in the rat femoral artery. When SUN9216 was administered either as an i.v. infusion (1.0 mg kg-1) or as a single bolus i.v. injection (1.0 mg kg-1), all parameters were markedly improved compared to t-PA administered as an i.v. infusion (3.0 mg kg-1). A higher concentration of plasminogen activator (PA) activity in plasma was observed after administration of SUN9216 which persisted for longer than that after t-PA. It is concluded that the thrombolytic effect of SUN9216 is markedly greater than that of t-PA.

Process economics of animal cell and bacterial fermentations: a case study analysis of tissue plasminogen activator

One link in the complex chain of medical economics is the cost of bringing new drugs and biologicals to the market. Advances in recombinant-DNA technology permit production of therapeutically active proteins in effectively unlimited quantities. Nevertheless, each expression system has a characteristic influence on the nature of the product produced and the process required to obtain it. In this case study we compare experiences with recombinant-tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) produced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and in Escherichia coli, with the aim of understanding the roles of some of the parameters that affect process economics. tPA belongs to the group of highly specific serine proteases that convert plasminogen to plasmin, which in turn degrades several protein substrates including fibrin, thus making it an effective thrombolytic agent. The treatment of acute myocardial infarction with such thrombolytic agents can result in early discharge of patients and decreased medical costs. However, there are major differences in the prices of the various available agents. The price of the FDA-licensed tPA product is $2,200 per dose or $22,000 per gram. It is believed that a significant portion of this price relates to manufacturing costs. We examine by way of case study illustration the cost breakdown for the two processes, and highlight important process, design and economic considerations that ultimately define a particular protein product.

Protein glycosylation

Glycan structures can modulate the biological properties and functions of glycoproteins. This has been shown by investigation of the biological activities and glycan structures of several recombinant glycoproteins. Glycan structures of glycoproteins differ according to the species and tissue producing them, and selection of an appropriate host-cell type can generate recombinant glycoproteins with new characteristics.

Liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis of permethylated, n-hexylamine derivatized oligosaccharides. Application to baculovirus expressed mouse interleukin-3

Reductive amination with n-hexylamine followed by permethylation was used as a procedure for the liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry (LSIMS) analysis of Asn-linked oligosaccharides. Initial experiments with this procedure were performed on maltoheptaose. These experiments show that exhaustive methylation at the newly formed secondary nitrogen forms a quaternary ammonium salt. When this is subjected to positive ion LSIMS, an abundant M(+) ion is observed. This procedure was applied to the Asn-linked oligosaccharides released from human transferrin and ribonuclease-B. The reductively aminated, permethylated mixture of oligosaccharides from ribonuclease-B afforded a positive ion LSI mass spectrum in which M(+) ions for Mans5-9GlcNAc2 could be assigned. The positive ion LSI mass spectrum obtained from the mixture of oligosaccharides isolated from human transferrin showed M(+) ions that could be assigned to both monosialylated and disialylated biantennary complex type oligosaccharides. Reductive amination followed by permethylation of the Asn-linked oligosaccharides isolated from baculovirus expressed mouse interleukin-3 produced in Bombyx mori gave a positive ion LSI mass spectrum in which the oligosaccharides could be assigned the monosaccharide composition Man2-4[Fuc]GlcNAc2 and Man2GlcNAc2. These are believed to be dimannose, trimannose, and tetramannose chitobiose core oligosaccharides, three of which are fucosylated.

The Oligosaccharides of Glycoproteins: Bioprocess Factors Affecting Oligosaccharide Structure and their Effect on Glycoprotein Properties

In this review, we organize the recent data concerning the effects of bioprocess factors on the oligosaccharide structure of human therapeutic glycoproteins, with particular emphasis on the influence of the host cell. We also discuss the effect of oligosaccharide structure on glycoprotein properties, including antigenicity, immunogenicity and plasma clearance rate.

Structural classification of carbohydrates in glycoproteins by mass spectrometry and high-performance anion-exchange chromatography

A general strategy has been developed for determining the structural class (oligomannose, hybrid, complex), branching types (biantennary, triantennary, etc.), and molecular microheterogeneity of N-linked oligosaccharides at specific attachment sites in glycoproteins. This methodology combines mass spectrometry and high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection to take advantage of their high sensitivity and the capability for analysis of complex mixtures of oligosaccharides. Glycopeptides are identified and isolated by comparative HPLC mapping of proteolytic digests of the protein prior to, and after, enzymatic release of carbohydrates. Oligosaccharides are enzymatically released from each isolated glycopeptide, and the attachment site peptide is identified by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) of the mixture. Part of each reaction mixture is then permethylated and analyzed by FAB-MS to identify the composition and molecular heterogeneity of the carbohydrate moiety. Fragment ions in the FAB mass spectra are useful for detecting specific structural features such as polylactosamine units and bisecting N-acetylhexosamine residues, and for locating inner-core deoxyhexose residues. Methylation analysis of these fractions provides the linkages of monomers. Based on the FAB-MS and methylation analysis data, the structural classes of carbohydrates at each attachment site can be proposed. The remaining portions of released carbohydrates from specific attachment sites are preoperatively fractionated by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography, permethylated, and analyzed by FAB-MS. These analyses yield the charge state and composition of each peak in the chromatographic map, and provide semiquantitative information regarding the relative amounts of each molecular species. Analytically useful data may be obtained with as little as 10 pmol of derivatized carbohydrate, and fmol sensitivity has been achieved. The combined carbohydrate mapping and structural fingerprinting procedures are illustrated for a recombinant form of the CD4 receptor glycoprotein.

Environmental effects on protein glycosylation

Cultured mammalian cells are being used to produce proteins for therapeutic and diagnostic use because of their ability to perform complex post-translational modifications, including glycosylation. The oligosaccharide moieties can play an important role in defining several biological properties of glycoproteins, including clearance rate, immunogenicity, and biological specific activity. There is a growing interest in defining the factors that influence glycosylation, including the cell culture environment. In this review we organize the published data from in vitro cell culture and tissue culture studies that demonstrate direct effects of the culture environment on N-linked glycosylation.

Carbohydrate structure of recombinant human uterine tissue plasminogen activator expressed in mouse epithelial cells

Recombinant human uterine tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), in part metabolically labeled with [6-3H]glucosamine or [35S]sulfate, was isolated from mouse epithelial cells (C127). Oligosaccharides present were liberated by treatment of tryptic glycopeptides with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H or peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase F and fractionated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The glycans were characterized by digestion with exoglycosidases, methylation analysis and, in part, by acetolysis and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Glycopeptides comprising individual glycosylation sites were identified by N-terminal amino acid sequencing. The results demonstrate that recombinant tPA from C127 cells carries at Asn117 oligomannosidic glycans with 5-8 mannose residues as well as small amounts of hybrid-type species. Asn184 is only partially glycosylated and substituted by fucosylated triantennary and small amounts of diantennary N-acetyllactosaminic glycans. Likewise, Asn448 carries predominantly fucosylated triantennary species, in addition to, small amounts of diantennary and tetraantennary oligosaccharides. As a characteristic feature, part of the triantennary glycans at Asn184 and Asn448 contain additional Gal(alpha 1-3) substituents and/or sulfate groups linked to position six of beta-galactosyl residues forming NeuAc(alpha 2-3)[HO3S-6]Gal(beta 1-4) units. Oligosaccharides attached to Asn448 are almost completely substituted by (alpha 2-3)- or (alpha 2-6)-linked sialic acid residues and carry the majority of sulfate groups present. Glycans at Asn184 were found to be less sialylated and sulfated.