1
|
Guimaraes GJ, Kim J, Bartlett MG. Characterization of mRNA therapeutics. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2024; 43:1066-1090. [PMID: 37401740 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic messenger RNAs (mRNAs) have emerged as powerful tools in the treatment of complex diseases, especially for conditions that lack efficacious treatment. The successful application of this modality can be attributed to its ability to encode entire proteins. While the large nature of these molecules has supported their success as therapeutics, its extended size creates several analytical challenges. To further support therapeutic mRNA development and its deployment in clinical trials, appropriate methods to support their characterization must be developed. In this review, we describe current analytical methods that have been used in the characterization of RNA quality, identity, and integrity. Advantages and limitations from several analytical techniques ranging from gel electrophoresis to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and from shotgun sequencing to intact mass measurements are discussed. We comprehensively describe the application of analytical methods in the measurements of capping efficiency, poly A tail analysis, as well as their applicability in stability studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme J Guimaraes
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Jaeah Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Michael G Bartlett
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Popova AM, Jain N, Dong X, Abdollah-Nia F, Britton RA, Williamson JR. Complete list of canonical post-transcriptional modifications in the Bacillus subtilis ribosome and their link to RbgA driven large subunit assembly. Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae626. [PMID: 39036956 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Ribosomal RNA modifications in prokaryotes have been sporadically studied, but there is a lack of a comprehensive picture of modification sites across bacterial phylogeny. Bacillus subtilis is a preeminent model organism for gram-positive bacteria, with a well-annotated and editable genome, convenient for fundamental studies and industrial use. Yet remarkably, there has been no complete characterization of its rRNA modification inventory. By expanding modern MS tools for the discovery of RNA modifications, we found a total of 25 modification sites in 16S and 23S rRNA of B. subtilis, including the chemical identity of the modified nucleosides and their precise sequence location. Furthermore, by perturbing large subunit biogenesis using depletion of an essential factor RbgA and measuring the completion of 23S modifications in the accumulated intermediate, we provide a first look at the order of modification steps during the late stages of assembly in B. subtilis. While our work expands the knowledge of bacterial rRNA modification patterns, adding B. subtilis to the list of fully annotated species after Escherichia coli and Thermus thermophilus, in a broader context, it provides the experimental framework for discovery and functional profiling of rRNA modifications to ultimately elucidate their role in ribosome biogenesis and translation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Popova
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Nikhil Jain
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- INSITRO, 279 E Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Xiyu Dong
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Farshad Abdollah-Nia
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Robert A Britton
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - James R Williamson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Herbert C, Valesyan S, Kist J, Limbach PA. Analysis of RNA and Its Modifications. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (PALO ALTO, CALIF.) 2024; 17:47-68. [PMID: 38594935 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anchem-061622-125954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) are key biomolecules responsible for the transmission of genetic information, the synthesis of proteins, and modulation of many biochemical processes. They are also often the key components of viruses. Synthetic RNAs or oligoribonucleotides are becoming more widely used as therapeutics. In many cases, RNAs will be chemically modified, either naturally via enzymatic systems within a cell or intentionally during their synthesis. Analytical methods to detect, sequence, identify, and quantify RNA and its modifications have demands that far exceed requirements found in the DNA realm. Two complementary platforms have demonstrated their value and utility for the characterization of RNA and its modifications: mass spectrometry and next-generation sequencing. This review highlights recent advances in both platforms, examines their relative strengths and weaknesses, and explores some alternative approaches that lie at the horizon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra Herbert
- Rieveschl Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA;
| | - Satenik Valesyan
- Rieveschl Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA;
| | - Jennifer Kist
- Rieveschl Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA;
| | - Patrick A Limbach
- Rieveschl Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Popova AM, Jain N, Dong X, Abdollah-Nia F, Britton RA, Williamson JR. Complete list of canonical post-transcriptional modifications in the Bacillus subtilis ribosome and their link to RbgA driven large subunit assembly. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.10.593627. [PMID: 38765983 PMCID: PMC11100780 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.10.593627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Ribosomal RNA modifications in prokaryotes have been sporadically studied, but there is a lack of a comprehensive picture of modification sites across bacterial phylogeny. B. subtilis is a preeminent model organism for gram-positive bacteria, with a well-annotated and editable genome, convenient for fundamental studies and industrial use. Yet remarkably, there has been no complete characterization of its rRNA modification inventory. By expanding modern MS tools for the discovery of RNA modifications, we found a total of 25 modification sites in 16S and 23S rRNA of B. subtilis, including the chemical identity of the modified nucleosides and their precise sequence location. Furthermore, by perturbing large subunit biogenesis using depletion of an essential factor RbgA and measuring the completion of 23S modifications in the accumulated intermediate, we provide a first look at the order of modification steps during the late stages of assembly in B. subtilis. While our work expands the knowledge of bacterial rRNA modification patterns, adding B. subtilis to the list of fully annotated species after E. coli and T. thermophilus, in a broader context, it provides the experimental framework for discovery and functional profiling of rRNA modifications to ultimately elucidate their role in ribosome biogenesis and translation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. Popova
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Nikhil Jain
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA, Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xiyu Dong
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Farshad Abdollah-Nia
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Robert A. Britton
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA, Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - James R. Williamson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Baek A, Rayhan A, Lee GE, Golconda S, Yu H, Kim S, Limbach PA, Addepalli B, Kim S. Mapping m 6A Sites on HIV-1 RNA Using Oligonucleotide LC-MS/MS. Methods Protoc 2024; 7:7. [PMID: 38251200 PMCID: PMC10801558 DOI: 10.3390/mps7010007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The biological significance of chemical modifications to the ribonucleic acid (RNA) of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) has been recognized. However, our understanding of the site-specific and context-dependent roles of these chemical modifications remains limited, primarily due to the absence of nucleotide-resolution mapping of modification sites. In this study, we present a method for achieving nucleotide-resolution mapping of chemical modification sites on HIV-1 RNA using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). LC-MS/MS, a powerful tool capable of directly analyzing native RNAs, has proven effective for mapping RNA modifications in small RNA molecules, including ribosomal RNA and transfer RNA. However, longer RNAs have posed challenges, such as the 9 Kb HIV-1 virion RNA, due to the complexity of and ambiguity in mass differences among RNase T1-cleaved RNA fragments in LC-MS/MS data. Here, we introduce a new target RNA enrichment method to isolate small local RNA fragments of HIV-1 RNA that potentially harbor site-specific N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications. In our initial trial, we used target-specific DNA probes only and encountered insufficient RNA fragmentation due to inefficient S1 digestion near the target site. Recognizing that inefficient S1 digestion by HIV-1 RNA is likely due to the formation of secondary structures in proximity to the target site, we designed multiple DNA probes annealing to various sites of HIV-1 RNA to better control the structures of RNA substrates for S1 digestion. The use of these non-target DNA probes significantly improved the isolation of more homogeneous target RNA fragments of approximately 50 bases in length. Oligonucleotide LC-MS/MS analysis of these isolated target RNA fragments successfully separated and detected both m6A-methylated and non-methylated oligomers at the two m6A-predicted sites. The principle of this new target enrichment strategy holds promise and should be broadly applicable to the analysis of any lengthy RNA that was previously deemed infeasible for investigation using oligonucleotide LC-MS/MS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alice Baek
- Center for Retrovirus Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (A.B.); (G.-E.L.); (S.G.); (H.Y.); (S.K.)
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Translational Data Analytics Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Asif Rayhan
- Rieveschl Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA; (A.R.); (P.A.L.)
| | - Ga-Eun Lee
- Center for Retrovirus Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (A.B.); (G.-E.L.); (S.G.); (H.Y.); (S.K.)
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Translational Data Analytics Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Sarah Golconda
- Center for Retrovirus Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (A.B.); (G.-E.L.); (S.G.); (H.Y.); (S.K.)
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Translational Data Analytics Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Hannah Yu
- Center for Retrovirus Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (A.B.); (G.-E.L.); (S.G.); (H.Y.); (S.K.)
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Translational Data Analytics Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Shihyoung Kim
- Center for Retrovirus Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (A.B.); (G.-E.L.); (S.G.); (H.Y.); (S.K.)
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Translational Data Analytics Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Patrick A. Limbach
- Rieveschl Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA; (A.R.); (P.A.L.)
| | - Balasubrahmanyam Addepalli
- Rieveschl Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA; (A.R.); (P.A.L.)
| | - Sanggu Kim
- Center for Retrovirus Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (A.B.); (G.-E.L.); (S.G.); (H.Y.); (S.K.)
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Translational Data Analytics Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lechner A, Wolff P. In-Gel Cyanoethylation for Pseudouridines Mass Spectrometry Detection of Bacterial Regulatory RNA. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2741:273-287. [PMID: 38217659 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3565-0_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Regulatory RNAs, as well as many RNA families, contain chemically modified nucleotides, including pseudouridines (ψ). To map nucleotide modifications, approaches based on enzymatic digestion of RNA followed by nano liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS) analysis were implemented several years ago. However, detection of ψ by mass spectrometry (MS) is challenging as ψ exhibits the same mass as uridine. Thus, a chemical labeling strategy using acrylonitrile was developed to detect this mass-silent modification. Acrylonitrile reacts specifically to ψ to form 1-cyanoethylpseudouridine (Ceψ), resulting in a mass shift of ψ detectable by MS. Here, a protocol detailing the steps from the purification of RNA by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, including in-gel labeling of ψ, to MS data interpretation to map ψ and other modifications is proposed. To demonstrate its efficiency, the protocol was applied to bacterial regulatory RNAs from E. coli: 6S RNA and transfer-messenger RNA (tmRNA, also known as 10Sa RNA). Moreover, ribonuclease P (RNase P) was also mapped using this approach. This method enabled the detection of several ψ at single nucleotide resolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antony Lechner
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, Strasbourg, France
| | - Philippe Wolff
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, Strasbourg, France.
- Plateforme protéomique Strasbourg Esplanade FRC1589 du CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Deng L, Kumar J, Rose R, McIntyre W, Fabris D. Analyzing RNA posttranscriptional modifications to decipher the epitranscriptomic code. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2024; 43:5-38. [PMID: 36052666 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of RNA silencing has revealed that non-protein-coding sequences (ncRNAs) can cover essential roles in regulatory networks and their malfunction may result in severe consequences on human health. These findings have prompted a general reassessment of the significance of RNA as a key player in cellular processes. This reassessment, however, will not be complete without a greater understanding of the distribution and function of the over 170 variants of the canonical ribonucleotides, which contribute to the breathtaking structural diversity of natural RNA. This review surveys the analytical approaches employed for the identification, characterization, and detection of RNA posttranscriptional modifications (rPTMs). The merits of analyzing individual units after exhaustive hydrolysis of the initial biopolymer are outlined together with those of identifying their position in the sequence of parent strands. Approaches based on next generation sequencing and mass spectrometry technologies are covered in depth to provide a comprehensive view of their respective merits. Deciphering the epitranscriptomic code will require not only mapping the location of rPTMs in the various classes of RNAs, but also assessing the variations of expression levels under different experimental conditions. The fact that no individual platform is currently capable of meeting all such demands implies that it will be essential to capitalize on complementary approaches to obtain the desired information. For this reason, the review strived to cover the broadest possible range of techniques to provide readers with the fundamental elements necessary to make informed choices and design the most effective possible strategy to accomplish the task at hand.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Deng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - J Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - R Rose
- Department of Advanced Research Technologies, New York University Langone Health Center, New York, USA
| | - W McIntyre
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Daniele Fabris
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
RNA modification is manifested as chemically altered nucleotides, widely exists in diverse natural RNAs, and is closely related to RNA structure and function. Currently, mRNA-based vaccines have received great attention and rapid development as novel and mighty fighters against various diseases including cancer. The achievement of RNA vaccines in clinical application is largely attributed to some methodological innovations including the incorporation of modified nucleotides into the synthetic RNA. The selection of optimal RNA modifications aimed at reducing the instability and immunogenicity of RNA molecules is a very critical task to improve the efficacy and safety of mRNA vaccines. This review summarizes the functions of RNA modifications and their application in mRNA vaccines, highlights recent advances of mRNA vaccines in cancer immunotherapy, and provides perspectives for future development of mRNA vaccines in the context of personalized tumor therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingxue Mei
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Cancer Center, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Cancer Center, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Sun RX, Zuo MQ, Zhang JS, Dong MQ. Charge-State-Dependent Collision-Induced Dissociation Behaviors of RNA Oligonucleotides via High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2023. [PMID: 37463304 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.3c00073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Mass spectrometry (MS)-based analysis of RNA oligonucleotides (oligos) plays an increasingly important role in the development of RNA therapeutics and epitranscriptomics research. However, MS fragmentation behaviors of RNA oligomers are understood insufficiently. Herein, we characterized the negative-ion-mode fragmentation behaviors of 26 synthetic RNA oligos containing four to eight nucleotides using collision-induced dissociation (CID) on a high-resolution, accurate-mass instrument. We found that in CID spectra acquired under the normalized collision energy (NCE) of 35%, approximately 70% of the total peak intensity was attributed to sequencing ions (a-B, a, b, c, d, w, x, y, z), around 25% of the peak intensity came from precursor ions that experienced complete or partial loss of a nucleobase in the form of either a neutral or an anion, and the remainder were internal ions and anionic nucleobases. The top five sequencing ions were the y, c, w, a-B, and a ions. Furthermore, we observed that CID fragmentation behaviors of RNA oligos were significantly impacted by their precursor charge. Specifically, when the precursors had a charge from 1- to 5-, the fractional intensity of sequencing ions decreased, while that of precursors that underwent either neutral or charged losses of a nucleobase increased. Additionally, we found that RNA oligos containing 3'-U tended to produce precursors with HNCO and/or NCO- losses, which presumably corresponded to isocyanic acid and cyanate anion, respectively. These findings provide valuable insights for better comprehending the mechanism behind RNA fragmentation by MS/MS, thereby facilitating the future automated identification of RNA oligos based on their CID spectra in a more efficient manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Xiang Sun
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Mei-Qing Zuo
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ji-Shuai Zhang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Meng-Qiu Dong
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gau BC, Dawdy AW, Wang HL, Bare B, Castaneda CH, Friese OV, Thompson MS, Lerch TF, Cirelli DJ, Rouse JC. Oligonucleotide mapping via mass spectrometry to enable comprehensive primary structure characterization of an mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9038. [PMID: 37270636 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36193-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Oligonucleotide mapping via liquid chromatography with UV detection coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-UV-MS/MS) was recently developed to support development of Comirnaty, the world's first commercial mRNA vaccine which immunizes against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Analogous to peptide mapping of therapeutic protein modalities, oligonucleotide mapping described here provides direct primary structure characterization of mRNA, through enzymatic digestion, accurate mass determinations, and optimized collisionally-induced fragmentation. Sample preparation for oligonucleotide mapping is a rapid, one-pot, one-enzyme digestion. The digest is analyzed via LC-MS/MS with an extended gradient and resulting data analysis employs semi-automated software. In a single method, oligonucleotide mapping readouts include a highly reproducible and completely annotated UV chromatogram with 100% maximum sequence coverage, and a microheterogeneity assessment of 5' terminus capping and 3' terminus poly(A)-tail length. Oligonucleotide mapping was pivotal to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of mRNA vaccines by providing: confirmation of construct identity and primary structure and assessment of product comparability following manufacturing process changes. More broadly, this technique may be used to directly interrogate the primary structure of RNA molecules in general.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian C Gau
- BioTherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pfizer Inc, Chesterfield, MO, USA.
| | - Andrew W Dawdy
- BioTherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pfizer Inc, Chesterfield, MO, USA.
| | - Hanliu Leah Wang
- BioTherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pfizer Inc, Chesterfield, MO, USA
| | - Bradley Bare
- BioTherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pfizer Inc, Chesterfield, MO, USA
| | - Carlos H Castaneda
- BioTherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pfizer Inc, Chesterfield, MO, USA
| | - Olga V Friese
- BioTherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pfizer Inc, Chesterfield, MO, USA
| | | | - Thomas F Lerch
- BioTherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pfizer Inc, Chesterfield, MO, USA
| | - David J Cirelli
- BioTherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pfizer Inc, Andover, MA, USA
| | - Jason C Rouse
- BioTherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pfizer Inc, Andover, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Fekete S, Doneanu C, Addepalli B, Gaye M, Nguyen J, Alden B, Birdsall R, Han D, Isaac G, Lauber M. Challenges and emerging trends in liquid chromatography-based analyses of mRNA pharmaceuticals. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2023; 224:115174. [PMID: 36446261 PMCID: PMC9678211 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2022.115174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Lipid encapsulated messenger RNA (LNP mRNA) has garnered a significant amount of interest from the pharmaceutical industry and general public alike. This attention has been catalyzed by the clinical success of LNP mRNA for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination as well as future promises that might be fulfilled by the biotechnology pipeline, such as the in vivo delivery of a CRISPR/Cas9 complex that can edit patient cells to reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein. LNP mRNAs are comprised of various chemically diverse molecules brought together in a sophisticated intermolecular complex. This can make it challenging to achieve thorough analytical characterization. Nevertheless, liquid chromatography is becoming an increasingly relied upon technique for LNP mRNA analyses. Although there have been significant advances in all types of LNP mRNA analyses, this review focuses on recent developments and the possibilities of applying anion exchange (AEX) and ion pairing reversed phase (IP-RP) liquid chromatography for intact mRNAs as well as techniques for oligo mapping analysis, 5' endcap testing and lipid compositional assays.
Collapse
|
12
|
Nakayama H, Nobe Y, Koike M, Taoka M. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Based Qualitative Profiling of mRNA Therapeutic Reagents Using Stable Isotope-Labeled Standards Followed by the Automatic Quantitation Software Ariadne. Anal Chem 2022; 95:1366-1375. [PMID: 36574727 PMCID: PMC9850353 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
mRNA-based medicines are a promising modality for preventing virus-caused illnesses, including COVID-19, and treating various types of cancer and genetic diseases. To develop such medicines, methods to characterize long mRNA molecules are needed for quality control and metabolic analysis. Here, we developed an analytical platform based on isotope-dilution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) that quantitatively characterizes long, modified mRNAs by comparing them to a stable isotope-labeled reference with an identical sequence to that of the target medicine. This platform also includes database searching using the mass spectra as a query, which allowed us to confirm the primary structures of 200 to 4300 nt mRNAs including chemical modifications, with sequence coverage at 100%, to detect/identify defects in the sequences, and to define the efficiencies of the 5'-capping and integrity of the polyadenylated tail. Our findings indicated that this platform should be valuable for quantitatively characterizing mRNA vaccines and other mRNA medicines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Nakayama
- Biomolecular
Characterization Unit, RIKEN Center for
Sustainable Resource Science, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Yuko Nobe
- Department
of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Masami Koike
- Biomolecular
Characterization Unit, RIKEN Center for
Sustainable Resource Science, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Masato Taoka
- Department
of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan,
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
RNA Modification in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10071695. [PMID: 35885000 PMCID: PMC9313455 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10071695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by damage to the intestinal mucosa, which is caused by a combination of factors. These include genetic and epigenetic alterations, environmental influence, microorganism interactions, and immune conditions. Some populations with IBD show a cancer-prone phenotype. Recent studies have provided insight into the involvement of RNA modifications in the specific pathogenesis of IBD through regulation of RNA biology in epithelial and immune cells. Studies of several RNA modification-targeting reagents have shown preferable outcomes in patients with colitis. Here, we note a new awareness of RNA modification in the targeting of IBD and related diseases, which will contribute to early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and possible control by innovative therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
|
14
|
Morreel K, t’Kindt R, Debyser G, Jonckheere S, Sandra P. Diving into the Structural Details of In Vitro Transcribed mRNA Using Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry-Based Oligonucleotide Profiling. LCGC EUROPE 2022. [DOI: 10.56530/lcgc.eu.jk3969w4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The production process of in vitro transcribed messenger RNA (IVT-mRNA)-based vaccines has matured in recent years, partly due to the fight against infectious diseases such as COVID-19. One key to success has been the use of modified, next to canonical, nucleotides and the efficient addition of a Cap-structure and poly A tail to the 5’ and 3’ end, respectively, of this massive biomolecule. These important features affect mRNA stability and impact translation efficiency, consequently boosting the optimization and implementation of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS)-based oligonucleotide profiling methods for their characterization. This article will provide an overview of these LC–MS methods at a fundamental and application level. It will be shown how LC–MS is implemented in mRNA-based vaccine analysis to determine the capping efficiency and the poly A tail length, and how it allows, via RNA mapping, (i) to determine the mRNA sequence, (ii) to screen the fidelity of the manufactured modifications, and (iii) to identify and quantify unwanted modifications resulting from manufacturing or storage, and sequence variants resulting from mutation or transcription errors.
Collapse
|