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Bioanalytical approaches to assess the proteolytic stability of therapeutic fusion proteins. Bioanalysis 2015; 7:3035-51. [DOI: 10.4155/bio.15.217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic fusion proteins (TFPs) are designed to improve the therapeutic profile of an endogenous protein or protein fragment with a limited dose frequency providing the desired pharmacological activity in vivo. Fusion of a therapeutic protein to a half-life extension or targeting domain can improve the disposition of the molecule or introduce a novel mechanism of action. Prolonged exposure and altered biodistribution of an endogenous protein through fusion technology increases the potential for local protein unfolding during circulation increasing the chance for partial proteolysis of the therapeutic domain. Characterizing the proteolytic liabilities of a TFP can guide engineering efforts to inhibit or hinder partial proteolysis. This review focuses on considerations and techniques for evaluating the stability of a TFP both in vivo and in vitro.
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Clapp C, Thebault S, Jeziorski MC, Martínez De La Escalera G. Peptide hormone regulation of angiogenesis. Physiol Rev 2009; 89:1177-215. [PMID: 19789380 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00024.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now apparent that regulation of blood vessel growth contributes to the classical actions of hormones on development, growth, and reproduction. Endothelial cells are ideally positioned to respond to hormones, which act in concert with locally produced chemical mediators to regulate their growth, motility, function, and survival. Hormones affect angiogenesis either directly through actions on endothelial cells or indirectly by regulating proangiogenic factors like vascular endothelial growth factor. Importantly, the local microenvironment of endothelial cells can determine the outcome of hormone action on angiogenesis. Members of the growth hormone/prolactin/placental lactogen, the renin-angiotensin, and the kallikrein-kinin systems that exert stimulatory effects on angiogenesis can acquire antiangiogenic properties after undergoing proteolytic cleavage. In view of the opposing effects of hormonal fragments and precursor molecules, the regulation of the proteases responsible for specific protein cleavage represents an efficient mechanism for balancing angiogenesis. This review presents an overview of the actions on angiogenesis of the above-mentioned peptide hormonal families and addresses how specific proteolysis alters the final outcome of these actions in the context of health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Clapp
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico.
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Such-Sanmartín G, Bosch J, Segura J, Gutiérrez-Gallego R. Generation of 5 and 17 kDa human growth hormone fragments through limited proteolysis. Growth Factors 2009; 27:255-64. [PMID: 19603307 DOI: 10.1080/08977190903110121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The reported presence of two fragments of 5 and 17 kDa originating from the 22 kDa human growth hormone (hGH) in blood and tissues, postulated as the sequences AA 1-43 and AA 44-191, has led to the hypothesis of a post-translational proteolytic origin with respect to the abundant 22 kDa variant (AA 1-191). To evaluate this hypothesis, the activity of several endo-proteases on the 22 kDa hGH protein has been evaluated. METHODS Proteolysis using pepsin, trypsin, V8-protease, proteinase K and thermolysin were explored under several conditions, including incubation time and pH. Results were monitored by MALDI-TOF and HPLC-ESI mass spectrometry. Proteolytic 5 and 17 kDa fragments were purified through reversed phase HPLC-UV, and their immuno-affinity properties evaluated by surface plasmon resonance. RESULTS Thermolysin was shown to target mainly the AA 43-44 bond of the 22 kDa sequence at physiological pH. Interaction studies of the purified fragments with anti-GH antibodies showed some reactivity for the 17 kDa fragment. CONCLUSIONS Thermolysin processes hGH generating 5 and 17 kDa fragments, demonstrating the feasibility of this reaction, although the enzyme responsible for this process in humans is still unknown. Specific antibodies should be used to detect these fragments in human specimens, and, at the same time, the 17 kDa fragment could constitute an interference in some hGH immunoassays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Such-Sanmartín
- Bio-Analysis Group, Neuropsychopharmacology Program, Municipal Institute for Medical Research-Hospital del Mar, Parque de Investigación Biomédica de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Such-Sanmartín G, Bosch J, Segura J, Wu M, Du H, Chen G, Wang S, Vila-Perelló M, Andreu D, Gutiérrez-Gallego R. Characterisation of the 5 kDa growth hormone isoform. Growth Factors 2008; 26:152-62. [PMID: 18569023 DOI: 10.1080/08977190802127952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The 5 kDa N-terminal fragment of 43 amino acids of human growth hormone (GH) shows a specific and significant in-vivo insulin-like activity. This isoform can be easily obtained by solid phase synthesis methods. Our objective in this study is to describe this procedure in detail and to provide structural information of the protein. METHODS Solid phase synthesis was employed for the synthesis of the 5 kDa GH isoform. Circular dichroism and limited proteolysis have been carried out to provide structural information about the folded state of the protein in solution. Surface plasmon resonance was used to compare the structural equivalence between the synthetic protein and a proteolytic homologue at an antibody binding level. For this purpose, a murine monoclonal antibody specific for the 5 kDa isoform was generated and characterised employing this and several other GH isoforms. RESULTS Circular dichroism and proteolysis results suggested that the C-terminal segment of the 5 kDa protein folds in an alpha-helix. The comparison of the synthetic product to its proteolytic homologue at an antibody binding level suggested structural equivalency. A highly specific antibody against the 5 kDa GH isoform was generated with null cross-reactivity for 17, 20 and 22 kDa isoforms. Kinetic data on the interaction with the synthetic 5 kDa GH was obtained. CONCLUSIONS The structure of the protein appears to be different in comparison to when it is included within the 22 kDa GH isoform. Finally, a highly specific antibody has been generated. The possible significance of the 5 kDa protein as a potential agent for obesity-related diseases is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Such-Sanmartín
- Pharmacology Research Unit, Municipal Institute for Medical Research (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
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Abstract
Drug metabolism information is a necessary component of drug discovery and development. The key issues in drug metabolism include identifying: the enzyme(s) involved, the site(s) of metabolism, the resulting metabolite(s), and the rate of metabolism. Methods for predicting human drug metabolism from in vitro and computational methodologies and determining relationships between the structure and metabolic activity of molecules are also critically important for understanding potential drug interactions and toxicity. There are numerous experimental and computational approaches that have been developed in order to predict human metabolism which have their own limitations. It is apparent that few of the computational tools for metabolism prediction alone provide the major integrated functions needed to assist in drug discovery. Similarly the different in vitro methods for human drug metabolism themselves have implicit limitations. The utilization of these methods for pharmaceutical and other applications as well as their integration is discussed as it is likely that hybrid methods will provide the most success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry J Jolivette
- Preclinical Drug Discovery, Cardiovascular and Urogenital Centre of Excellence in Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA
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SHIMIZU T, MURAKAMI Y, NISHIKI M, KOSHIMURA K, OKI Y, KATO Y. Contents and release of human growth hormone1-43 (hGH1-43) in human pituitary glands and hGH-producing pituitary adenoma cells. Biomed Res 2004. [DOI: 10.2220/biomedres.25.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Wroblewski VJ, McCloud C, Davis K, Manetta J, Micanovic R, Witcher DR. Pharmacokinetics, metabolic stability, and subcutaneous bioavailability of a genetically engineered analog of DcR3, FLINT [DcR3(R218Q)], in cynomolgus monkeys and mice. Drug Metab Dispos 2003; 31:502-7. [PMID: 12642478 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.31.4.502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) is a novel member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, which binds to and blocks the activities of the ligands, FasL and LIGHT (a cellular ligand for herpes virus entry mediator and lymphotoxin receptor), that play an important role in regulating apoptosis in normal physiology. DcR3 was rapidly degraded to a major circulating metabolic fragment, DcR3(1-218), after subcutaneous administration in primates and mice. DcR3 was molecularly engineered by changing the arginine residue at position 218 to glutamine to generate a potentially stable analog, DcR3(R218Q), which we termed FasLigand inhibitor protein [FLINT (LY498919)]. The influence of this modification on the kinetics and bioavailability of DcR3 was evaluated in primates and mice. After i.v. administration of FLINT and DcR3, both compounds were cleared from the plasma in a bi-phasic manner, with the terminal phase half-life being somewhat longer for FLINT than for DcR3. After s.c. administration, the exposure to the full-length form of FLINT was 5.7- to 6-fold greater than for DcR3. In both primates and mice, greater than 90% of circulating immunoreactivity after s.c. administration of FLINT was associated with intact molecule, whereas only 17 to 37% was associated with intact molecule after administration of DcR3. The absolute s.c. bioavailability of intact FLINT was approximately 4- to 6-fold higher than for DcR3. The improved s.c. bioavailability of FLINT is related to the increased metabolic stability afforded to the molecule as a result of the amino acid mutation at position 218 of the primary sequence of DcR3 and may translate to the need for lower therapeutic doses in a number of disease indications.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Area Under Curve
- Biological Availability
- CHO Cells
- Cell Line
- Cricetinae
- Drug Administration Routes/veterinary
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Fas Ligand Protein
- Humans
- Macaca fascicularis
- Male
- Membrane Glycoproteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Membrane Glycoproteins/chemistry
- Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics
- Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism
- Membrane Glycoproteins/pharmacokinetics
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred Strains
- Peptide Fragments/chemistry
- Peptide Fragments/genetics
- Peptide Fragments/pharmacokinetics
- Plasma/metabolism
- Receptors, Cell Surface/chemistry
- Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics
- Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor/metabolism
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 14
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 6b
- Receptors, Virus/metabolism
- Time Factors
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor J Wroblewski
- Department of Drug Disposition Development/Commercialization, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly & Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA.
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Arámburo C, Carranza M, Reyes M, Luna M, Martinez-Coria H, Berúmen L, Scanes CG. Characterization of a bioactive 15 kDa fragment produced by proteolytic cleavage of chicken growth hormone. Endocrine 2001; 15:231-40. [PMID: 11720252 DOI: 10.1385/endo:15:2:231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
There is evidence for a cleaved form of GH in the chicken pituitary gland. A 25 kDa band of immunoreactive-(ir-)GH, as well as the 22 kDa monomeric form and some oligomeric forms were observed when purified GH or fresh pituitary extract were subjected to SDS-PAGE under nonreducing conditions. Under reducing conditions, the 25 kDa ir-GH was no longer observed, being replaced by a 15 kDa band, consistent with reduction of the disulfide bridges of the cleaved form. The type of protease involved was investigated using exogenous proteases and monomeric cGH. Cleaved forms of chicken GH were generated by thrombin or collagenase. The site of cleavage was found in position Arg133-Gly134 as revealed by sequencing the fragments produced. The NH2-terminal sequence of 40 amino acid residues in the 15 kDa form was identical to that of the rcGH and analysis of the remaining 7 kDa fragment showed an exact identity with positions 134-140 of cGH structure. The thrombin cleaved GH and the 15 kDa form showed reduced activity (0.8% and 0.5% of GH, respectively) in a radioreceptor assay employing a chicken liver membrane preparation. However, this fragment had a clear bioactivity in an angiogenic bioassay and was capable to inhibit the activity of deiodinase type III in the chicken liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Arámburo
- Centro de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro.
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Garcia-Barros M, Devesa J, Arce VM. Proteolytic processing of human growth hormone (GH) by rat tissues in vitro: influence of sex and age. J Endocrinol Invest 2000; 23:748-54. [PMID: 11194709 DOI: 10.1007/bf03345065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Although a wealth of evidence exists indicating that proteolytic cleavage can enhance the biological activity of the growth hormone (GH) molecule, the mechanisms responsible for the generation of GH fragments are not completely understood. In the present work we investigated the ability of different rat tissues to cleave 22 kDa GH, as well as the influence of sex and age, the two major physiological regulators of GH secretion on this process. Our results show that tissue homogenates obtained from rat liver, skeletal muscle or adipose tissue (three well-documented target organs for the hormone) are able to cleave 22K-GH, while the hormone is resistant to cleavage by rat brain homogenates. This process is rather selective for 22K-GH, since the 20 kDa GH variant exhibits stability to degradation by all tissue homogenates investigated. Moreover, only a minor fraction of 22 kDa GH is cleaved under our experimental conditions, suggesting that GH microheterogeneity within the 22 kDa range may also determine hormone susceptibility. Finally, we also found that 22K-GH processing shows important age-related changes (the greatest intensity observed in 4-day-old pups), while no gender-related differences exist in any of the tissues investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Garcia-Barros
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Lang SR, Staudenmann W, James P, Manz HJ, Kessler R, Galli B, Moser HP, Rummelt A, Merkle HP. Proteolysis of human calcitonin in excised bovine nasal mucosa: elucidation of the metabolic pathway by liquid secondary ionization mass spectrometry (LSIMS) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI). Pharm Res 1996; 13:1679-85. [PMID: 8956334 DOI: 10.1023/a:1016492723930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Two calcitonins, i.e. human calcitonin (hCT) and, for comparison, salmon calcitonin (sCT), were chosen as peptide models to investigate nasal mucosal metabolism. METHODS The susceptibility of hCT and sCT to nasal mucosal enzymes was assessed by in-and-out reflection kinetics experiments in an in vitro model based on the use of freshly excised bovine nasal mucosa, with the mucosal surface of the mucosa facing the peptide solution. The kinetics of CT degradation in the bulk solution was monitored by HPLC. Peptide sequences of the main nasal metabolites of hCT were analyzed by using both liquid secondary ionization mass spectrometry (LSIMS), following HPLC fractionation of the metabolites, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass (MALDI) spectrometry. For sCT, the molecular weights of two major metabolites were determined by LC-MS with electrospray ionization. RESULTS Both CTs were readily metabolized by nasal mucosal enzymes. In the concentration range studied metabolic rates were higher with hCT than with sCT. Presence of endopeptidase activities in the nasal mucosa was crucial, cleaving both calcitonins in the central domain of the molecules. CONCLUSIONS Typically, initial metabolic cleavage of hCT in nasal mucosa is due to both chymotryptic- and tryptic-like endopeptidases. The subsequent metabolic break-down follows the sequential pattern of aminopeptidase activity. Tryptic endopeptidase activity is characteristic of nasal sCT cleavage.
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Affiliation(s)
- S R Lang
- Department of Pharmacy, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH)
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Nguyen DN, Becker GW, Riggin RM. Protein mass spectrometry: applications to analytical biotechnology. J Chromatogr A 1995; 705:21-45. [PMID: 7620570 DOI: 10.1016/0021-9673(94)01256-e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The advent of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in the last 5 years has greatly enhanced the area of protein mass spectrometry. This paper presents an overview of the applications of protein mass spectrometry in the area of analytical biotechnology, particularly as related to biopharmaceutical research and development. These applications include the determination of protein molecular mass, peptide mapping, peptide sequencing, ligand binding, determination of disulfide bonds, active site characterization of enzymes, protein self-association and protein folding/higher order structural characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- D N Nguyen
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis 46285, USA
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Heath RL, Barton PA, Simpson RJ, Reid GE, Lim G, Anderson MA. Characterization of the protease processing sites in a multidomain proteinase inhibitor precursor from Nicotiana alata. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 1995; 230:250-7. [PMID: 7601108 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1995.tb20558.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
A gene encoding a 40.3-kDa serine proteinase inhibitor (PI) precursor is expressed at high levels in the stigma of the ornamental tobacco, Nicotiana alata. The precursor is processed proteolytically in vivo to release five homologous proteinase inhibitors of approximately 6 kDa, as well as two flanking peptides. The five PIs have been purified from stigmas and identified by N-terminal sequencing, electrospray mass spectrometry and inhibition activity against chymotrypsin or trypsin. One of the PIs inhibits chymotrypsin and the other four are most active on trypsin. Cleavage occurs in a linker region (EEKKND) that is repeated six times in the precursor molecule. In the plant, the initial cleavage probably occurs between asparagine and the aspartate residues and ragged ends are formed by subsequent trimming. In vitro, the protease-sensitive linker region is selectively cleaved by the endoproteinases Asp-N, Glu-C and Lys-C to release fully active approximately 6-kDa PIs that are resistant to further proteolytic digestion. The precursor, produced by a recombinant baculovirus, inhibits chymotrypsin more effectively than trypsin. The stoichiometry of 2.6 trypsin molecules/1 precursor molecule indicates that processing is required to activate or expose all of the four trypsin inhibitory sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Heath
- Plant Cell Biology Research Centre, School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Heath RL, Barton PA, Simpson RJ, Reid GE, Lim G, Anderson MA. Characterization of the Protease Processing Sites in a Multidomain Proteinase Inhibitor Precursor from Nicotiana Alata. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1995. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1995.0250i.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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