PEGylation near a Patch of Nonpolar Surface Residues Increases the Conformational Stability of the WW Domain

Molecular Dynamics Simulations for Rationalizing Polymer Bioconjugation Strategies: Challenges, Recent Developments, and Future Opportunities

The covalent modification of proteins with polymers is a well-established method for improving the pharmacokinetic properties of therapeutically valuable biologics. The conjugated polymer chains of the resulting hybrid represent highly flexible macromolecular structures. As the dynamics of such systems remain rather elusive for established experimental techniques from the field of protein structure elucidation, molecular dynamics simulations have proven as a valuable tool for studying such conjugates at an atomistic level, thereby complementing experimental studies. With a focus on new developments, this review aims to provide researchers from the polymer bioconjugation field with a concise and up to date overview of such approaches. After introducing basic principles of molecular dynamics simulations, as well as methods for and potential pitfalls in modeling bioconjugates, the review illustrates how these computational techniques have contributed to the understanding of bioconjugates and bioconjugation strategies in the recent past and how they may lead to a more rational design of novel bioconjugates in the future.

Protein PEGylation: Navigating Recombinant Protein Stability, Aggregation, and Bioactivity

Enzymes play a powerful role as catalysts with high specificity and activity under mild environmental conditions. Significant hurdles, such as reduced solubility, reduced shelf-life, aggregate formation, and toxicity, are still ongoing struggles that scientists come across when purifying recombinant proteins. Over the past three decades, PEGylation techniques have been utilized to significantly overcome low solubility; increased protein stability, shelf-life, and bioactivity; and prevented protein aggregate formation. This review seeks to highlight the impact of PEG-based formulations that are significantly utilized to obtain favourable protein physiochemical properties. The authors further discuss other techniques that can be employed such as coexpression studies and nanotechnology-based skills to obtaining favourable protein physiochemical properties.