1
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Siegall WB, Lyon RB, Kelman Z. An important consideration when expressing mAbs in Escherichiacoli. Protein Expr Purif 2024; 220:106499. [PMID: 38703798 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2024.106499] [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] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a driving force in the biopharmaceutical industry. Therapeutic mAbs are usually produced in mammalian cells, but there has been a push towards the use of alternative production hosts, such as Escherichia coli. When the genes encoding for a mAb heavy and light chains are codon-optimized for E. coli expression, a truncated form of the heavy chain can form along with the full-length product. In this work, the role of codon optimization in the formation of a truncated product was investigated. This study used the amino acid sequences of several therapeutic mAbs and multiple optimization algorithms. It was found that several algorithms incorporate sequences that lead to a truncated product. Approaches to avoid this truncated form are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- William B Siegall
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), The University of Maryland (UMD), 9600 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Rachel B Lyon
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), The University of Maryland (UMD), 9600 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA; Biomolecular Labeling Laboratory, IBBR, 9600 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Zvi Kelman
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), The University of Maryland (UMD), 9600 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA; National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 9600 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA; Biomolecular Labeling Laboratory, IBBR, 9600 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA.
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2
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Kraemer S, Schneider DJ, Paterson C, Perry D, Westacott MJ, Hagar Y, Katilius E, Lynch S, Russell TM, Johnson T, Astling DP, DeLisle RK, Cleveland J, Gold L, Drolet DW, Janjic N. Crossing the Halfway Point: Aptamer-Based, Highly Multiplexed Assay for the Assessment of the Proteome. J Proteome Res 2024. [PMID: 39038188 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.4c00411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Measuring responses in the proteome to various perturbations improves our understanding of biological systems. The value of information gained from such studies is directly proportional to the number of proteins measured. To overcome technical challenges associated with highly multiplexed measurements, we developed an affinity reagent-based method that uses aptamers with protein-like side chains along with an assay that takes advantage of their unique properties. As hybrid affinity reagents, modified aptamers are fully comparable to antibodies in terms of binding characteristics toward proteins, including epitope size, shape complementarity, affinity and specificity. Our assay combines these intrinsic binding properties with serial kinetic proofreading steps to allow highly effective partitioning of stable specific complexes from unstable nonspecific complexes. The use of these orthogonal methods to enhance specificity effectively overcomes the severe limitation to multiplexing inherent to the use of sandwich-based methods. Our assay currently measures half of the unique proteins encoded in the human genome with femtomolar sensitivity, broad dynamic range and exceptionally high reproducibility. Using machine learning to identify patterns of change, we have developed tests based on measurement of multiple proteins predictive of current health states and future disease risk to guide a holistic approach to precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Kraemer
- SomaLogic, 2495 Wilderness Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States of America
| | - Daniel J Schneider
- SomaLogic, 2495 Wilderness Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States of America
| | - Clare Paterson
- SomaLogic, 2495 Wilderness Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States of America
| | - Darryl Perry
- SomaLogic, 2495 Wilderness Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States of America
| | - Matthew J Westacott
- SomaLogic, 2495 Wilderness Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States of America
| | - Yolanda Hagar
- SomaLogic, 2495 Wilderness Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States of America
| | - Evaldas Katilius
- SomaLogic, 2495 Wilderness Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States of America
| | - Sean Lynch
- SomaLogic, 2495 Wilderness Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States of America
| | - Theresa M Russell
- SomaLogic, 2495 Wilderness Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States of America
| | - Ted Johnson
- SomaLogic, 2495 Wilderness Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States of America
| | - David P Astling
- SomaLogic, 2495 Wilderness Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States of America
| | - Robert Kirk DeLisle
- SomaLogic, 2495 Wilderness Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States of America
| | - Jason Cleveland
- SomaLogic, 2495 Wilderness Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States of America
| | - Larry Gold
- SomaLogic, 2495 Wilderness Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States of America
| | - Daniel W Drolet
- SomaLogic, 2495 Wilderness Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States of America
| | - Nebojsa Janjic
- SomaLogic, 2495 Wilderness Place, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States of America
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3
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Moss MJ, Chamness LM, Clark PL. The Effects of Codon Usage on Protein Structure and Folding. Annu Rev Biophys 2024; 53:87-108. [PMID: 38134335 PMCID: PMC11227313 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-030722-020555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The rate of protein synthesis is slower than many folding reactions and varies depending on the synonymous codons encoding the protein sequence. Synonymous codon substitutions thus have the potential to regulate cotranslational protein folding mechanisms, and a growing number of proteins have been identified with folding mechanisms sensitive to codon usage. Typically, these proteins have complex folding pathways and kinetically stable native structures. Kinetically stable proteins may fold only once over their lifetime, and thus, codon-mediated regulation of the pioneer round of protein folding can have a lasting impact. Supporting an important role for codon usage in folding, conserved patterns of codon usage appear in homologous gene families, hinting at selection. Despite these exciting developments, there remains few experimental methods capable of quantifying translation elongation rates and cotranslational folding mechanisms in the cell, which challenges the development of a predictive understanding of how biology uses codons to regulate protein folding.
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Affiliation(s)
- McKenze J Moss
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; , ,
| | - Laura M Chamness
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; , ,
| | - Patricia L Clark
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; , ,
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4
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Shen G, Liu J, Yang H, Xie N, Yang Y. mRNA therapies: Pioneering a new era in rare genetic disease treatment. J Control Release 2024; 369:696-721. [PMID: 38580137 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.03.056] [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] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Rare genetic diseases, often referred to as orphan diseases due to their low prevalence and limited treatment options, have long posed significant challenges to our medical system. In recent years, Messenger RNA (mRNA) therapy has emerged as a highly promising treatment approach for various diseases caused by genetic mutations. Chemically modified mRNA is introduced into cells using carriers like lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs), producing functional proteins that compensate for genetic deficiencies. Given the advantages of precise dosing, biocompatibility, transient expression, and minimal risk of genomic integration, mRNA therapies can safely and effectively correct genetic defects in rare diseases and improve symptoms. Currently, dozens of mRNA drugs targeting rare diseases are undergoing clinical trials. This comprehensive review summarizes the progress of mRNA therapy in treating rare genetic diseases. It introduces the development, molecular design, and delivery systems of mRNA therapy, highlighting their research progress in rare genetic diseases based on protein replacement and gene editing. The review also summarizes research progress in various rare disease models and clinical trials. Additionally, it discusses the challenges and future prospects of mRNA therapy. Researchers are encouraged to join this field and collaborate to advance the clinical translation of mRNA therapy, bringing hope to patients with rare genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guobo Shen
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Hanmei Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Na Xie
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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5
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Wang J, Zhu H, Gan J, Liang G, Li L, Zhao Y. Engineered mRNA Delivery Systems for Biomedical Applications. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2308029. [PMID: 37805865 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202308029] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapeutic strategies have shown remarkable promise in preventing and treating a staggering range of diseases. Optimizing the structure and delivery system of engineered mRNA has greatly improved its stability, immunogenicity, and protein expression levels, which has led to a wider range of uses for mRNA therapeutics. Herein, a thorough analysis of the optimization strategies used in the structure of mRNA is first provided and delivery systems are described in great detail. Furthermore, the latest advancements in biomedical engineering for mRNA technology, including its applications in combatting infectious diseases, treating cancer, providing protein replacement therapy, conducting gene editing, and more, are summarized. Lastly, a perspective on forthcoming challenges and prospects concerning the advancement of mRNA therapeutics is offered. Despite these challenges, mRNA-based therapeutics remain promising, with the potential to revolutionize disease treatment and contribute to significant advancements in the biomedical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Haofang Zhu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Jingjing Gan
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Gaofeng Liang
- Institute of Organoids on Chips Translational Research, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450009, China
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
- Institute of Organoids on Chips Translational Research, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450009, China
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6
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Paremskaia AI, Kogan AA, Murashkina A, Naumova DA, Satish A, Abramov IS, Feoktistova SG, Mityaeva ON, Deviatkin AA, Volchkov PY. Codon-optimization in gene therapy: promises, prospects and challenges. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1371596. [PMID: 38605988 PMCID: PMC11007035 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1371596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Codon optimization has evolved to enhance protein expression efficiency by exploiting the genetic code's redundancy, allowing for multiple codon options for a single amino acid. Initially observed in E. coli, optimal codon usage correlates with high gene expression, which has propelled applications expanding from basic research to biopharmaceuticals and vaccine development. The method is especially valuable for adjusting immune responses in gene therapies and has the potenial to create tissue-specific therapies. However, challenges persist, such as the risk of unintended effects on protein function and the complexity of evaluating optimization effectiveness. Despite these issues, codon optimization is crucial in advancing gene therapeutics. This study provides a comprehensive review of the current metrics for codon-optimization, and its practical usage in research and clinical applications, in the context of gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiia Iu Paremskaia
- Federal Research Center for Innovator and Emerging Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna A. Kogan
- Federal Research Center for Innovator and Emerging Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasiia Murashkina
- Federal Research Center for Innovator and Emerging Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Moscow, Russia
| | - Daria A. Naumova
- Federal Research Center for Innovator and Emerging Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anakha Satish
- Federal Research Center for Innovator and Emerging Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ivan S. Abramov
- Federal Research Center for Innovator and Emerging Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Moscow, Russia
- The MCSC named after A. S. Loginov, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sofya G. Feoktistova
- Federal Research Center for Innovator and Emerging Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga N. Mityaeva
- Federal Research Center for Innovator and Emerging Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrei A. Deviatkin
- Federal Research Center for Innovator and Emerging Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Moscow, Russia
| | - Pavel Yu Volchkov
- Federal Research Center for Innovator and Emerging Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Moscow, Russia
- The MCSC named after A. S. Loginov, Moscow, Russia
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Liu C, Shi Q, Huang X, Koo S, Kong N, Tao W. mRNA-based cancer therapeutics. Nat Rev Cancer 2023:10.1038/s41568-023-00586-2. [PMID: 37311817 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00586-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Due to the fact that mRNA technology allows the production of diverse vaccines and treatments in a shorter time frame and with reduced expense compared to conventional approaches, there has been a surge in the use of mRNA-based therapeutics in recent years. With the aim of encoding tumour antigens for cancer vaccines, cytokines for immunotherapy, tumour suppressors to inhibit tumour development, chimeric antigen receptors for engineered T cell therapy or genome-editing proteins for gene therapy, many of these therapeutics have shown promising efficacy in preclinical studies, and some have even entered clinical trials. Given the evidence supporting the effectiveness and safety of clinically approved mRNA vaccines, coupled with growing interest in mRNA-based therapeutics, mRNA technology is poised to become one of the major pillars in cancer drug development. In this Review, we present in vitro transcribed mRNA-based therapeutics for cancer treatment, including the characteristics of the various types of synthetic mRNA, the packaging systems for efficient mRNA delivery, preclinical and clinical studies, current challenges and future prospects in the field. We anticipate the translation of promising mRNA-based treatments into clinical applications, to ultimately benefit patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuang Liu
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anaesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Qiangqiang Shi
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anaesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiangang Huang
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anaesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Seyoung Koo
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anaesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Na Kong
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anaesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Wei Tao
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anaesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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8
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Hernandez-Alias X, Benisty H, Radusky LG, Serrano L, Schaefer MH. Using protein-per-mRNA differences among human tissues in codon optimization. Genome Biol 2023; 24:34. [PMID: 36829202 PMCID: PMC9951436 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-02868-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Codon usage and nucleotide composition of coding sequences have profound effects on protein expression. However, while it is recognized that different tissues have distinct tRNA profiles and codon usages in their transcriptomes, the effect of tissue-specific codon optimality on protein synthesis remains elusive. RESULTS We leverage existing state-of-the-art transcriptomics and proteomics datasets from the GTEx project and the Human Protein Atlas to compute the protein-to-mRNA ratios of 36 human tissues. Using this as a proxy of translational efficiency, we build a machine learning model that identifies codons enriched or depleted in specific tissues. We detect two clusters of tissues with an opposite pattern of codon preferences. We then use these identified patterns for the development of CUSTOM, a codon optimizer algorithm which suggests a synonymous codon design in order to optimize protein production in a tissue-specific manner. In human cell-line models, we provide evidence that codon optimization should take into account particularities of the translational machinery of the tissues in which the target proteins are expressed and that our approach can design genes with tissue-optimized expression profiles. CONCLUSIONS We provide proof-of-concept evidence that codon preferences exist in tissue-specific protein synthesis and demonstrate its application to synthetic gene design. We show that CUSTOM can be of benefit in biological and biotechnological applications, such as in the design of tissue-targeted therapies and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Hernandez-Alias
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Hannah Benisty
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Leandro G Radusky
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luis Serrano
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. .,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002, Barcelona, Spain. .,ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Martin H Schaefer
- IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Department of Experimental Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy.
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9
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Implementing computational methods in tandem with synonymous gene recoding for therapeutic development. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2023; 44:73-84. [PMID: 36307252 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2022.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Synonymous gene recoding, the substitution of synonymous variants into the genetic sequence, has been used to overcome many production limitations in therapeutic development. However, the safety and efficacy of recoded therapeutics can be difficult to evaluate because synonymous codon substitutions can result in subtle, yet impactful changes in protein features and require sensitive methods for detection. Given that computational approaches have made significant leaps in recent years, we propose that machine-learning (ML) tools may be leveraged to assess gene-recoded therapeutics and foresee an opportunity to adapt codon contexts to enhance some powerful existing tools. Here, we examine how synonymous gene recoding has been used to address challenges in therapeutic development, explain the biological mechanisms underlying its effects, and explore the application of computational platforms to improve the surveillance of functional variants in therapeutic design.
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10
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Li X, Wei X, Lin J, Ou L. A versatile toolkit for overcoming AAV immunity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:991832. [PMID: 36119036 PMCID: PMC9479010 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.991832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a promising delivery vehicle for in vivo gene therapy and has been widely used in >200 clinical trials globally. There are already several approved gene therapy products, e.g., Luxturna and Zolgensma, highlighting the remarkable potential of AAV delivery. In the past, AAV has been seen as a relatively non-immunogenic vector associated with low risk of toxicity. However, an increasing number of recent studies indicate that immune responses against AAV and transgene products could be the bottleneck of AAV gene therapy. In clinical studies, pre-existing antibodies against AAV capsids exclude many patients from receiving the treatment as there is high prevalence of antibodies among humans. Moreover, immune response could lead to loss of efficacy over time and severe toxicity, manifested as liver enzyme elevations, kidney injury, and thrombocytopenia, resulting in deaths of non-human primates and patients. Therefore, extensive efforts have been attempted to address these issues, including capsid engineering, plasmapheresis, IgG proteases, CpG depletion, empty capsid decoy, exosome encapsulation, capsid variant switch, induction of regulatory T cells, and immunosuppressants. This review will discuss these methods in detail and highlight important milestones along the way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Li
- The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People’s Hospital; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Shenzhen Luohu People’s Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoli Wei
- Guangzhou Dezheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinduan Lin
- The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People’s Hospital; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Ou
- Genemagic Biosciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- *Correspondence: Li Ou,
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11
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Differences in wild-type- and R338L-tenase complex formation are at the root of R338L-factor IX assay discrepancies. Blood Adv 2022; 7:458-467. [PMID: 35839077 PMCID: PMC9979717 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022007435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy has the potential to functionally cure hemophilia B by restoring factor (F)IX concentrations into the normal range. Next-generation AAV therapies express a naturally occurring gain-of-function FIX variant, FIX-Padua (R338L-FIX), that increases FIX activity (FIX:C) by approximately eightfold compared with wild-type FIX (FIX-WT). Previous studies have shown that R338L-FIX activity varies dramatically across different clinical FIX:C assays, which complicates the monitoring and management of patients. To better understand mechanisms that contribute to R338L-FIX assay discrepancies, we characterized the performance of R338L-FIX in 13 1-stage clotting assays (OSAs) and 2 chromogenic substrate assays (CSAs) in a global field study. This study produced the largest R338L-FIX assay dataset to date and confirmed that clinical FIX:C assay results vary over threefold. Both phospholipid and activating reagents play a role in OSA discrepancies. CSA generated the most divergent FIX:C results. Manipulation of FIX:C CSA kits demonstrated that specific activity gains for R338L-FIX were most profound at lower FIX:C concentrations and that these effects were enhanced during the early phases of FXa generation. Supplementing FX into CSA had the effect of dampening FIX-WT activity relative to R338L-FIX activity, suggesting that FX impairs WT tenase formation to a greater extent than R338L-FIX tenase. Our data describe the scale of R338L-FIX assay discrepancies and provide insights into the causative mechanisms that will help establish best practices for the measurement of R338L-FIX activity in patients after gene therapy.
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12
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Katneni UK, Alexaki A, Hunt RC, Hamasaki-Katagiri N, Hettiarachchi GK, Kames JM, McGill JR, Holcomb DD, Athey JC, Lin B, Parunov LA, Kafri T, Lu Q, Peters R, Ovanesov MV, Freedberg DI, Bar H, Komar AA, Sauna ZE, Kimchi-Sarfaty C. Structural, functional, and immunogenicity implications of F9 gene recoding. Blood Adv 2022; 6:3932-3944. [PMID: 35413099 PMCID: PMC9278298 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022007094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemophilia B is a blood clotting disorder caused by deficient activity of coagulation factor IX (FIX). Multiple recombinant FIX proteins are currently approved to treat hemophilia B, and several gene therapy products are currently being developed. Codon optimization is a frequently used technique in the pharmaceutical industry to improve recombinant protein expression by recoding a coding sequence using multiple synonymous codon substitutions. The underlying assumption of this gene recoding is that synonymous substitutions do not alter protein characteristics because the primary sequence of the protein remains unchanged. However, a critical body of evidence shows that synonymous variants can affect cotranslational folding and protein function. Gene recoding could potentially alter the structure, function, and in vivo immunogenicity of recoded therapeutic proteins. Here, we evaluated multiple recoded variants of F9 designed to further explore the effects of codon usage bias on protein properties. The detailed evaluation of these constructs showed altered conformations, and assessment of translation kinetics by ribosome profiling revealed differences in local translation kinetics. Assessment of wild-type and recoded constructs using a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-associated peptide proteomics assay showed distinct presentation of FIX-derived peptides bound to MHC class II molecules, suggesting that despite identical amino acid sequence, recoded proteins could exhibit different immunogenicity risks. Posttranslational modification analysis indicated that overexpression from gene recoding results in suboptimal posttranslational processing. Overall, our results highlight potential functional and immunogenicity concerns associated with gene-recoded F9 products. These findings have general applicability and implications for other gene-recoded recombinant proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Upendra K. Katneni
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Hemostasis Branch, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD
| | - Aikaterini Alexaki
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Hemostasis Branch, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD
| | - Ryan C. Hunt
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Hemostasis Branch, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD
| | - Nobuko Hamasaki-Katagiri
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Hemostasis Branch, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD
| | - Gaya K. Hettiarachchi
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Hemostasis Branch, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD
| | - Jacob M. Kames
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Hemostasis Branch, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD
| | - Joseph R. McGill
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Hemostasis Branch, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD
| | - David D. Holcomb
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Hemostasis Branch, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD
| | - John C. Athey
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Hemostasis Branch, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD
| | - Brian Lin
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Hemostasis Branch, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD
| | - Leonid A. Parunov
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Hemostasis Branch, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD
| | - Tal Kafri
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | | | | | - Mikhail V. Ovanesov
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Hemostasis Branch, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD
| | - Darón I. Freedberg
- Laboratory of Bacterial Polysaccharides, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US FDA, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Haim Bar
- Department of Statistics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT; and
| | - Anton A. Komar
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH
| | - Zuben E. Sauna
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Hemostasis Branch, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD
| | - Chava Kimchi-Sarfaty
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Hemostasis Branch, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD
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Qin S, Tang X, Chen Y, Chen K, Fan N, Xiao W, Zheng Q, Li G, Teng Y, Wu M, Song X. mRNA-based therapeutics: powerful and versatile tools to combat diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:166. [PMID: 35597779 PMCID: PMC9123296 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01007-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 96.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic use of messenger RNA (mRNA) has fueled great hope to combat a wide range of incurable diseases. Recent rapid advances in biotechnology and molecular medicine have enabled the production of almost any functional protein/peptide in the human body by introducing mRNA as a vaccine or therapeutic agent. This represents a rising precision medicine field with great promise for preventing and treating many intractable or genetic diseases. In addition, in vitro transcribed mRNA has achieved programmed production, which is more effective, faster in design and production, as well as more flexible and cost-effective than conventional approaches that may offer. Based on these extraordinary advantages, mRNA vaccines have the characteristics of the swiftest response to large-scale outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as the currently devastating pandemic COVID-19. It has always been the scientists’ desire to improve the stability, immunogenicity, translation efficiency, and delivery system to achieve efficient and safe delivery of mRNA. Excitingly, these scientific dreams have gradually been realized with the rapid, amazing achievements of molecular biology, RNA technology, vaccinology, and nanotechnology. In this review, we comprehensively describe mRNA-based therapeutics, including their principles, manufacture, application, effects, and shortcomings. We also highlight the importance of mRNA optimization and delivery systems in successful mRNA therapeutics and discuss the key challenges and opportunities in developing these tools into powerful and versatile tools to combat many genetic, infectious, cancer, and other refractory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shugang Qin
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoshan Tang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuting Chen
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kepan Chen
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Na Fan
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wen Xiao
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qian Zheng
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Guohong Li
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuqing Teng
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Min Wu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, 58203, USA
| | - Xiangrong Song
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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Research for type 2 diabetes mellitus in endemic arsenism areas in central China: role of low level of arsenic exposure and KEAP1 rs11545829 polymorphism. Arch Toxicol 2022; 96:1673-1683. [PMID: 35420349 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03279-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the major public health problems worldwide; both genetic and environmental factors are its risk factors. Arsenic, an environmental pollutant, might be a risk factor for T2DM, but the association of low-to-moderate level arsenic exposure with the risk of T2DM is still inconsistent. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can affect the development of T2DM, but the study on KEAP1 rs11545829 (G>A) SNP is few. In this paper, we explored the effect of KEAP1 rs11545829 (G>A) SNP and low-to-moderate level arsenic exposure on risk of T2DM in a cross-sectional case-control study conducted in Shanxi, China. Total of 938 participants, including 318 T2DM cases and 618 controls, were enrolled. Blood glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was detected by Automatic Biochemical Analyzer, and participants with HbA1c≧6.5% were diagnosed as T2DM. Urinary total arsenic (tAs, mg/L), as the indicator of arsenic exposure, was detected by liquid chromatography-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (LC-AFS). Genomic DNA was extracted and the genotypes of KEAP1 rs11545829 SNP were examined by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The urinary tAs concentration in recruited participants was 0.075 (0.03-0.15) mg/L, and was associated with an increased risk of T2DM (OR = 8.45, 95% CI 2.63-27.17); rs11545829 mutation homozygote AA genotype had a protective effect on risk of T2DM (OR = 0.42, 95 % CI 0.25-0.73). Although this protective effect of AA genotype was found in participants with higher urinary tAs level (>0.032 mg/L) (OR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.26-0.86), there was no interaction effect for arsenic exposure and rs11545829 SNP on risk of T2DM. In addition, BMI modified the association between rs11545829 SNP and the risk of T2DM (RERI = -1.11, 95% CI -2.18-0.04). The present study suggest that low-to-moderate level arsenic exposure may be a risk factor, while KEAP1 rs11545829 SNP mutation homozygote AA genotype may be a protective factor for risk of T2DM, especially for T2DM patients with urinary tAs level>0.032 mg/L.
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An Optimized Purification Design for Extracting Active ADAMTS13 from Conditioned Media. Processes (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/pr10020322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
ADAMTS13 is a hemostatic enzyme that breaks down pro-thrombotic ultra-large multimers of von Willebrand factor (VWF). The deficiency of ADAMTS13 increases VWF-mediated thrombogenic potential and may lead to thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Recently, clinical studies have shown the development of acquired TTP after COVID-19 infection and a correlation between low ADAMTS13 plasma levels and increased mortality. As a result, investigating ADAMTS13 as a potential recombinant therapeutic is of broad interest in the field of hematology. ADAMTS13 is considered challenging to purify in its biologically active state. Current purification methods utilize immobilized metal ions, which can interfere with ADAMTS13 metalloprotease activity. For this reason, we optimized an alternative strategy to isolate milligram quantities of highly active recombinant ADAMTS13 (rADAMTS13) from conditioned media after exogenous expression in human cell line, HEK293. HEK293 cells stably expressing C-terminal V5-His-tagged ADAMTS13 were grown in two parallel systems, culture bottles and flasks, for identifying an optimal cultivation strategy. Subsequently, we employed anion exchange followed by anti-V5-tag affinity chromatography to purify rADAMTS13, and extracted rADAMTS13 of high specific activity while preserving its native post-translational modifications. In addition, this process has been optimized and scaled up to produce active rADAMTS13 at levels sufficient for laboratory-scale structural, enzymatic, and biochemical studies.
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16
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Baptista B, Carapito R, Laroui N, Pichon C, Sousa F. mRNA, a Revolution in Biomedicine. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:2090. [PMID: 34959371 PMCID: PMC8707022 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13122090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The perspective of using messenger RNA (mRNA) as a therapeutic molecule first faced some uncertainties due to concerns about its instability and the feasibility of large-scale production. Today, given technological advances and deeper biomolecular knowledge, these issues have started to be addressed and some strategies are being exploited to overcome the limitations. Thus, the potential of mRNA has become increasingly recognized for the development of new innovative therapeutics, envisioning its application in immunotherapy, regenerative medicine, vaccination, and gene editing. Nonetheless, to fully potentiate mRNA therapeutic application, its efficient production, stabilization and delivery into the target cells are required. In recent years, intensive research has been carried out in this field in order to bring new and effective solutions towards the stabilization and delivery of mRNA. Presently, the therapeutic potential of mRNA is undoubtedly recognized, which was greatly reinforced by the results achieved in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are still some issues that need to be improved, which are critically discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Baptista
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (B.B.); (R.C.)
| | - Rita Carapito
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (B.B.); (R.C.)
| | - Nabila Laroui
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire (CBM), UPR 4301 CNRS, University of Orléans, 45071 Orléans, France;
| | - Chantal Pichon
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire (CBM), UPR 4301 CNRS, University of Orléans, 45071 Orléans, France;
| | - Fani Sousa
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (B.B.); (R.C.)
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Komar AA. A Code Within a Code: How Codons Fine-Tune Protein Folding in the Cell. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2021; 86:976-991. [PMID: 34488574 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297921080083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The genetic code sets the correspondence between the sequence of a given nucleotide triplet in an mRNA molecule, called a codon, and the amino acid that is added to the growing polypeptide chain during protein synthesis. With four bases (A, G, U, and C), there are 64 possible triplet codons: 61 sense codons (encoding amino acids) and 3 nonsense codons (so-called, stop codons that define termination of translation). In most organisms, there are 20 common/standard amino acids used in protein synthesis; thus, the genetic code is redundant with most amino acids (with the exception of Met and Trp) are being encoded by more than one (synonymous) codon. Synonymous codons were initially presumed to have entirely equivalent functions, however, the finding that synonymous codons are not present at equal frequencies in mRNA suggested that the specific codon choice might have functional implications beyond coding for amino acid. Observation of nonequivalent use of codons in mRNAs implied a possibility of the existence of auxiliary information in the genetic code. Indeed, it has been found that genetic code contains several layers of such additional information and that synonymous codons are strategically placed within mRNAs to ensure a particular translation kinetics facilitating and fine-tuning co-translational protein folding in the cell via step-wise/sequential structuring of distinct regions of the polypeptide chain emerging from the ribosome at different points in time. This review summarizes key findings in the field that have identified the role of synonymous codons and their usage in protein folding in the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton A Komar
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease and Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry and Center for RNA Science and Therapeutics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.,Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.,DAPCEL, Inc., Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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18
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Meyer D, Kames J, Bar H, Komar AA, Alexaki A, Ibla J, Hunt RC, Santana-Quintero LV, Golikov A, DiCuccio M, Kimchi-Sarfaty C. Distinct signatures of codon and codon pair usage in 32 primary tumor types in the novel database CancerCoCoPUTs for cancer-specific codon usage. Genome Med 2021; 13:122. [PMID: 34321100 PMCID: PMC8317675 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-021-00935-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gene expression is highly variable across tissues of multi-cellular organisms, influencing the codon usage of the tissue-specific transcriptome. Cancer disrupts the gene expression pattern of healthy tissue resulting in altered codon usage preferences. The topic of codon usage changes as they relate to codon demand, and tRNA supply in cancer is of growing interest. METHODS We analyzed transcriptome-weighted codon and codon pair usage based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) RNA-seq data from 6427 solid tumor samples and 632 normal tissue samples. This dataset represents 32 cancer types affecting 11 distinct tissues. Our analysis focused on tissues that give rise to multiple solid tumor types and cancer types that are present in multiple tissues. RESULTS We identified distinct patterns of synonymous codon usage changes for different cancer types affecting the same tissue. For example, a substantial increase in GGT-glycine was observed in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), and mixed invasive ductal and lobular carcinoma (IDLC) of the breast. Change in synonymous codon preference favoring GGT correlated with change in synonymous codon preference against GGC in IDC and IDLC, but not in ILC. Furthermore, we examined the codon usage changes between paired healthy/tumor tissue from the same patient. Using clinical data from TCGA, we conducted a survival analysis of patients based on the degree of change between healthy and tumor-specific codon usage, revealing an association between larger changes and increased mortality. We have also created a database that contains cancer-specific codon and codon pair usage data for cancer types derived from TCGA, which represents a comprehensive tool for codon-usage-oriented cancer research. CONCLUSIONS Based on data from TCGA, we have highlighted tumor type-specific signatures of codon and codon pair usage. Paired data revealed variable changes to codon usage patterns, which must be considered when designing personalized cancer treatments. The associated database, CancerCoCoPUTs, represents a comprehensive resource for codon and codon pair usage in cancer and is available at https://dnahive.fda.gov/review/cancercocoputs/ . These findings are important to understand the relationship between tRNA supply and codon demand in cancer states and could help guide the development of new cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Meyer
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Jacob Kames
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Haim Bar
- Department of Statistics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Anton A Komar
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Aikaterini Alexaki
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Juan Ibla
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryan C Hunt
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Luis V Santana-Quintero
- High-performance Integrated Virtual Environment, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Anton Golikov
- High-performance Integrated Virtual Environment, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Michael DiCuccio
- National Center of Biotechnology Information, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Chava Kimchi-Sarfaty
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
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19
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Emerging Immunogenicity and Genotoxicity Considerations of Adeno-Associated Virus Vector Gene Therapy for Hemophilia. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10112471. [PMID: 34199563 PMCID: PMC8199697 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10112471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector gene therapy has shown promise as a possible cure for hemophilia. However, immune responses directed against AAV vectors remain a hurdle to the broader use of this gene transfer platform. Both innate and adaptive immune responses can affect the safety and efficacy of AAV vector-mediated gene transfer in humans. These immune responses may be triggered by the viral capsid, the vector's nucleic acid payload, or other vector contaminants or excipients, or by the transgene product encoded by the vector itself. Various preclinical and clinical strategies have been explored to overcome the issues of AAV vector immunogenicity and transgene-related immune responses. Although results of these strategies are encouraging, more efficient approaches are needed to deliver safe, predictable, and durable outcomes for people with hemophilia. In addition to durability, long-term follow-up of gene therapy trial participants will allow us to address potential safety concerns related to vector integration. Herein, we describe the challenges with current methodologies to deliver optimal outcomes for people with hemophilia who choose to undergo AAV vector gene therapy and the potential opportunities to improve on the results.
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20
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Gatina DZ, Garanina EE, Zhuravleva MN, Synbulatova GE, Mullakhmetova AF, Solovyeva VV, Kiyasov AP, Rutland CS, Rizvanov AA, Salafutdinov II. Proangiogenic Effect of 2A-Peptide Based Multicistronic Recombinant Constructs Encoding VEGF and FGF2 Growth Factors. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115922. [PMID: 34072943 PMCID: PMC8198600 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronary artery disease remains one of the primary healthcare problems due to the high cost of treatment, increased number of patients, poor clinical outcomes, and lack of effective therapy. Though pharmacological and surgical treatments positively affect symptoms and arrest the disease progression, they generally exhibit a limited effect on the disease outcome. The development of alternative therapeutic approaches towards ischemic disease treatment, especially of decompensated forms, is therefore relevant. Therapeutic angiogenesis, stimulated by various cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors, provides the possibility of restoring functional blood flow in ischemic tissues, thereby ensuring the regeneration of the damaged area. In the current study, based on the clinically approved plasmid vector pVax1, multigenic constructs were developed encoding vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factors (FGF2), and the DsRed fluorescent protein, integrated via picornaviruses' furin-2A peptide sequences. In vitro experiments demonstrated that genetically modified cells with engineered plasmid constructs expressed the target proteins. Overexpression of VEGF and FGF2 resulted in increased levels of the recombinant proteins. Concomitantly, these did not lead to a significant shift in the general secretory profile of modified HEK293T cells. Simultaneously, the secretome of genetically modified cells showed significant stimulating effects on the formation of capillary-like structures by HUVEC (endothelial cells) in vitro. Our results revealed that when the multicistronic multigene vectors encoding 2A peptide sequences are created, transient transgene co-expression is ensured. The results obtained indicated the mutual synergistic effects of the growth factors VEGF and FGF2 on the proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro. Thus, recombinant multicistronic multigenic constructs might serve as a promising approach for establishing safe and effective systems to treat ischemic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilara Z. Gatina
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia; (D.Z.G.); (E.E.G.); (M.N.Z.); (G.E.S.); (A.F.M.); (V.V.S.); (A.P.K.)
| | - Ekaterina E. Garanina
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia; (D.Z.G.); (E.E.G.); (M.N.Z.); (G.E.S.); (A.F.M.); (V.V.S.); (A.P.K.)
| | - Margarita N. Zhuravleva
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia; (D.Z.G.); (E.E.G.); (M.N.Z.); (G.E.S.); (A.F.M.); (V.V.S.); (A.P.K.)
| | - Gulnaz E. Synbulatova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia; (D.Z.G.); (E.E.G.); (M.N.Z.); (G.E.S.); (A.F.M.); (V.V.S.); (A.P.K.)
| | - Adelya F. Mullakhmetova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia; (D.Z.G.); (E.E.G.); (M.N.Z.); (G.E.S.); (A.F.M.); (V.V.S.); (A.P.K.)
| | - Valeriya V. Solovyeva
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia; (D.Z.G.); (E.E.G.); (M.N.Z.); (G.E.S.); (A.F.M.); (V.V.S.); (A.P.K.)
| | - Andrey P. Kiyasov
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia; (D.Z.G.); (E.E.G.); (M.N.Z.); (G.E.S.); (A.F.M.); (V.V.S.); (A.P.K.)
| | - Catrin S. Rutland
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham LE12 5RD, UK;
| | - Albert A. Rizvanov
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia; (D.Z.G.); (E.E.G.); (M.N.Z.); (G.E.S.); (A.F.M.); (V.V.S.); (A.P.K.)
- Correspondence: (A.A.R.); (I.I.S.)
| | - Ilnur I. Salafutdinov
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia; (D.Z.G.); (E.E.G.); (M.N.Z.); (G.E.S.); (A.F.M.); (V.V.S.); (A.P.K.)
- Correspondence: (A.A.R.); (I.I.S.)
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21
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Hamilton BA, Wright JF. Challenges Posed by Immune Responses to AAV Vectors: Addressing Root Causes. Front Immunol 2021; 12:675897. [PMID: 34084173 PMCID: PMC8168460 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.675897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Host immune responses that limit durable therapeutic gene expression and cause clinically significant inflammation remain a major barrier to broadly successful development of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based human gene therapies. In this article, mechanisms of humoral and cellular immune responses to the viral vector are discussed. A perspective is provided that removal of pathogen-associated molecular patterns in AAV vector genomes to prevent the generation of innate immune danger signals following administration is a key strategy to overcome immunological barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley A Hamilton
- Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - J Fraser Wright
- Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
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22
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Discussing investigational AAV gene therapy with hemophilia patients: A guide. Blood Rev 2021; 47:100759. [DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2020.100759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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23
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Yunn NO, Park M, Park S, Lee J, Noh J, Shin E, Ryu SH. A hotspot for enhancing insulin receptor activation revealed by a conformation-specific allosteric aptamer. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:700-712. [PMID: 33410883 PMCID: PMC7826266 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa1247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides that bind to a specific target with high affinity, and are widely applied in biomedical diagnostics and drug development. However, the use of aptamers has largely been limited to simple binders or inhibitors that interfere with the function of a target protein. Here, we show that an aptamer can also act as a positive allosteric modulator that enhances the activation of a receptor by stabilizing the binding of a ligand to that receptor. We developed an aptamer, named IR-A43, which binds to the insulin receptor, and confirmed that IR-A43 and insulin bind to the insulin receptor with mutual positive cooperativity. IR-A43 alone is inactive, but, in the presence of insulin, it potentiates autophosphorylation and downstream signaling of the insulin receptor. By using the species-specific activity of IR-A43 at the human insulin receptor, we demonstrate that residue Q272 in the cysteine-rich domain is directly involved in the insulin-enhancing activity of IR-A43. Therefore, we propose that the region containing residue Q272 is a hotspot that can be used to enhance insulin receptor activation. Moreover, our study implies that aptamers are promising reagents for the development of allosteric modulators that discriminate a specific conformation of a target receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na-Oh Yunn
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Mangeun Park
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongeun Park
- Postech Biotech Center, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Jimin Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongeun Noh
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Euisu Shin
- Aptamer Sciences, Inc., Seongnam 13605, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Ho Ryu
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea.,School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
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Liu Y, Yang Q, Zhao F. Synonymous but Not Silent: The Codon Usage Code for Gene Expression and Protein Folding. Annu Rev Biochem 2021; 90:375-401. [PMID: 33441035 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-071320-112701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Codon usage bias, the preference for certain synonymous codons, is found in all genomes. Although synonymous mutations were previously thought to be silent, a large body of evidence has demonstrated that codon usage can play major roles in determining gene expression levels and protein structures. Codon usage influences translation elongation speed and regulates translation efficiency and accuracy. Adaptation of codon usage to tRNA expression determines the proteome landscape. In addition, codon usage biases result in nonuniform ribosome decoding rates on mRNAs, which in turn influence the cotranslational protein folding process that is critical for protein function in diverse biological processes. Conserved genome-wide correlations have also been found between codon usage and protein structures. Furthermore, codon usage is a major determinant of mRNA levels through translation-dependent effects on mRNA decay and translation-independent effects on transcriptional and posttranscriptional processes. Here, we discuss the multifaceted roles and mechanisms of codon usage in different gene regulatory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Liu
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9040, USA;
| | - Qian Yang
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9040, USA;
| | - Fangzhou Zhao
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9040, USA;
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Modified aptamers as reagents to characterize recombinant human erythropoietin products. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18593. [PMID: 33122796 PMCID: PMC7596557 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75713-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Reliable and reproducible monitoring of the conformational state of therapeutic protein products remains an unmet technological need. This need is amplified by the increasing number of biosimilars entering the drug development pipeline as many branded biologics are reaching the end of their market exclusivity period. Availability of methods to better characterize protein conformation may improve detection of counterfit and unlicensed therapeutic proteins. In this study, we report the use of a set of modified DNA aptamers with enhanced chemical diversity to probe the conformational state of 12 recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) therapeutic protein products; one FDA-licensed rHuEPO originator biological product, three rHuEPO products that are approved for marketing in the US or EU as biosimilars, and eight rHuEPO products that are not approved for marketing in the US or EU. We show that several of these modified aptamers are able to distinguish rHuEPO reference products or approved biosimilars from non-licensed rHuEPO products on the basis of differences in binding kinetics and equilibrium affinity constants. These reagents exhibit sensitivity to the conformational integrity of various forms of rHuEPO and as such represent powerful, simple-to-use analytical tools to monitor the conformational integrity of therapeutic-proteins during manufacture and to screen for and identify both substandard and counterfeit products.
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Nonoptimal Codon Usage Is Critical for Protein Structure and Function of the Master General Amino Acid Control Regulator CPC-1. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.02605-20. [PMID: 33051373 PMCID: PMC7554675 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02605-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Under amino acid starvation conditions, eukaryotic organisms activate a general amino acid control response. In Neurospora crassa, Cross Pathway Control Protein 1 (CPC-1), the ortholog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae bZIP transcription factor GCN4, functions as the master regulator of the general amino acid control response. Codon usage biases are a universal feature of eukaryotic genomes and are critical for regulation of gene expression. Although codon usage has also been implicated in the regulation of protein structure and function, genetic evidence supporting this conclusion is very limited. Here, we show that Neurospora cpc-1 has a nonoptimal NNU-rich codon usage profile that contrasts with the strong NNC codon preference in the genome. Although substitution of the cpc-1 NNU codons with synonymous NNC codons elevated CPC-1 expression in Neurospora, it altered the CPC-1 degradation rate and abolished its amino acid starvation-induced protein stabilization. The codon-manipulated CPC-1 protein also exhibited different sensitivity to limited protease digestion. Furthermore, CPC-1 functions in rescuing the cell growth of the cpc-1 deletion mutant and activation of the expression of its target genes were impaired by the synonymous codon changes. Together, these results reveal the critical role of codon usage in regulation of CPC-1 expression and function and establish a genetic example of the importance of codon usage in protein folding.IMPORTANCE The general amino acid control response is critical for adaptation of organisms to amino acid starvation conditions. The preference to use certain synonymous codons is a universal feature of all genomes. Synonymous codon changes were previously thought to be silent mutations. In this study, we showed that the Neurospora cpc-1 gene has an unusual codon usage profile compared to other genes in the genome. We found that codon optimization of the cpc-1 gene without changing its amino acid sequence resulted in elevated CPC-1 expression, an altered protein degradation rate, and impaired protein functions due to changes in protein structure. Together, these results reveal the critical role of synonymous codon usage in regulation of CPC-1 expression and function and establish a genetic example of the importance of codon usage in protein structure.
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Liu Y. A code within the genetic code: codon usage regulates co-translational protein folding. Cell Commun Signal 2020; 18:145. [PMID: 32907610 PMCID: PMC7488015 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-020-00642-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The genetic code is degenerate, and most amino acids are encoded by two to six synonymous codons. Codon usage bias, the preference for certain synonymous codons, is a universal feature of all genomes examined. Synonymous codon mutations were previously thought to be silent; however, a growing body evidence now shows that codon usage regulates protein structure and gene expression through effects on co-translational protein folding, translation efficiency and accuracy, mRNA stability, and transcription. Codon usage regulates the speed of translation elongation, resulting in non-uniform ribosome decoding rates on mRNAs during translation that is adapted to co-translational protein folding process. Biochemical and genetic evidence demonstrate that codon usage plays an important role in regulating protein folding and function in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Certain protein structural types are more sensitive than others to the effects of codon usage on protein folding, and predicted intrinsically disordered domains are more prone to misfolding caused by codon usage changes than other domain types. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that gene codon usage correlates with different protein structures in diverse organisms, indicating the existence of a codon usage code for co-translational protein folding. This review focuses on recent literature on the role and mechanism of codon usage in regulating translation kinetics and co-translational protein folding. Video abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Liu
- Department of Physiology, ND13.214A, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390-9040, USA.
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Fu K, March K, Alexaki A, Fabozzi G, Moysi E, Petrovas C. Immunogenicity of Protein Therapeutics: A Lymph Node Perspective. Front Immunol 2020; 11:791. [PMID: 32477334 PMCID: PMC7240201 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The continuous development of molecular biology and protein engineering technologies enables the expansion of the breadth and complexity of protein therapeutics for in vivo administration. However, the immunogenicity and associated in vivo development of antibodies against therapeutics are a major restriction factor for their usage. The B cell follicular and particularly germinal center areas in secondary lymphoid organs are the anatomical sites where the development of antibody responses against pathogens and immunogens takes place. A growing body of data has revealed the importance of the orchestrated function of highly differentiated adaptive immunity cells, including follicular helper CD4 T cells and germinal center B cells, for the optimal generation of these antibody responses. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating the antibody responses against therapeutics could lead to novel strategies to reduce their immunogenicity and increase their efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristy Fu
- Tissue Analysis Core, Immunology Laboratory, Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Kylie March
- Tissue Analysis Core, Immunology Laboratory, Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Aikaterini Alexaki
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Giulia Fabozzi
- Tissue Analysis Core, Immunology Laboratory, Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Eirini Moysi
- Tissue Analysis Core, Immunology Laboratory, Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Constantinos Petrovas
- Tissue Analysis Core, Immunology Laboratory, Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
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29
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Alexaki A, Kames J, Hettiarachchi GK, Athey JC, Katneni UK, Hunt RC, Hamasaki-Katagiri N, Holcomb DD, DiCuccio M, Bar H, Komar AA, Kimchi-Sarfaty C. Ribosome profiling of HEK293T cells overexpressing codon optimized coagulation factor IX. F1000Res 2020; 9:174. [PMID: 33014344 PMCID: PMC7509596 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.22400.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribosome profiling provides the opportunity to evaluate translation kinetics at codon level resolution. Here, we describe ribosome profiling data, generated from two HEK293T cell lines. The ribosome profiling data are composed of Ribo-seq (mRNA sequencing data from ribosome protected fragments) and RNA-seq data (total RNA sequencing). The two HEK293T cell lines each express a version of the
F9 gene, both of which are translated into identical proteins in terms of their amino acid sequences. However, these
F9 genes vary drastically in their codon usage and predicted mRNA structure. We also provide the pipeline that we used to analyze the data. Further analyzing this dataset holds great potential as it can be used i) to unveil insights into the composition and regulation of the transcriptome, ii) for comparison with other ribosome profiling datasets, iii) to measure the rate of protein synthesis across the proteome and identify differences in elongation rates, iv) to discover previously unidentified translation of peptides, v) to explore the effects of codon usage or codon context in translational kinetics and vi) to investigate cotranslational folding. Importantly, a unique feature of this dataset, compared to other available ribosome profiling data, is the presence of the
F9 gene in two very distinct coding sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aikaterini Alexaki
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, USA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Jacob Kames
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, USA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Gaya K Hettiarachchi
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, USA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - John C Athey
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, USA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Upendra K Katneni
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, USA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Ryan C Hunt
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, USA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Nobuko Hamasaki-Katagiri
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, USA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - David D Holcomb
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, USA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Michael DiCuccio
- National Center of Biotechnology Information, National Institutes of Health, USA, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Haim Bar
- Department of Statistics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Anton A Komar
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA
| | - Chava Kimchi-Sarfaty
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, USA, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
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30
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Nanomedicines to Deliver mRNA: State of the Art and Future Perspectives. NANOMATERIALS 2020; 10:nano10020364. [PMID: 32093140 PMCID: PMC7075285 DOI: 10.3390/nano10020364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The use of messenger RNA (mRNA) in gene therapy is increasing in recent years, due to its unique features compared to plasmid DNA: Transient expression, no need to enter into the nucleus and no risk of insertional mutagenesis. Nevertheless, the clinical application of mRNA as a therapeutic tool is limited by its instability and ability to activate immune responses; hence, mRNA chemical modifications together with the design of suitable vehicles result essential. This manuscript includes a revision of the strategies employed to enhance in vitro transcribed (IVT) mRNA functionality and efficacy, including the optimization of its stability and translational efficiency, as well as the regulation of its immunostimulatory properties. An overview of the nanosystems designed to protect the mRNA and to overcome the intra and extracellular barriers for successful delivery is also included. Finally, the present and future applications of mRNA nanomedicines for immunization against infectious diseases and cancer, protein replacement, gene editing, and regenerative medicine are highlighted.
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31
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Kames J, Alexaki A, Holcomb DD, Santana-Quintero LV, Athey JC, Hamasaki-Katagiri N, Katneni U, Golikov A, Ibla JC, Bar H, Kimchi-Sarfaty C. TissueCoCoPUTs: Novel Human Tissue-Specific Codon and Codon-Pair Usage Tables Based on Differential Tissue Gene Expression. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:3369-3378. [PMID: 31982380 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Protein expression in multicellular organisms varies widely across tissues. Codon usage in the transcriptome of each tissue is derived from genomic codon usage and the relative expression level of each gene. We created a comprehensive computational resource that houses tissue-specific codon, codon-pair, and dinucleotide usage data for 51 Homo sapiens tissues (TissueCoCoPUTs: https://hive.biochemistry.gwu.edu/review/tissue_codon), using transcriptome data from the Broad Institute Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) portal. Distances between tissue-specific codon and codon-pair frequencies were used to generate a dendrogram based on the unique patterns of codon and codon-pair usage in each tissue that are clearly distinct from the genomic distribution. This novel resource may be useful in unraveling the relationship between codon usage and tRNA abundance, which could be critical in determining translation kinetics and efficiency across tissues. Areas of investigation such as biotherapeutic development, tissue-specific genetic engineering, and genetic disease prediction will greatly benefit from this resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Kames
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissue and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Aikaterini Alexaki
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissue and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - David D Holcomb
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissue and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Luis V Santana-Quintero
- High Performance Integrated Environment, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - John C Athey
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissue and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Nobuko Hamasaki-Katagiri
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissue and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Upendra Katneni
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissue and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Anton Golikov
- High Performance Integrated Environment, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Juan C Ibla
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Haim Bar
- Department of Statistics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06268, USA
| | - Chava Kimchi-Sarfaty
- Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissue and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA.
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32
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Hunt R, Hettiarachchi G, Katneni U, Hernandez N, Holcomb D, Kames J, Alnifaidy R, Lin B, Hamasaki-Katagiri N, Wesley A, Kafri T, Morris C, Bouché L, Panico M, Schiller T, Ibla J, Bar H, Ismail A, Morris H, Komar A, Kimchi-Sarfaty C. A Single Synonymous Variant (c.354G>A [p.P118P]) in ADAMTS13 Confers Enhanced Specific Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20225734. [PMID: 31731663 PMCID: PMC6888508 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Synonymous variants within coding regions may influence protein expression and function. We have previously reported increased protein expression levels ex vivo (~120% in comparison to wild-type) from a synonymous polymorphism variant, c.354G>A [p.P118P], of the ADAMTS13 gene, encoding a plasma protease responsible for von Willebrand Factor (VWF) degradation. In the current study, we investigated the potential mechanism(s) behind the increased protein expression levels from this variant and its effect on ADAMTS13 physico-chemical properties. Cell-free assays showed enhanced translation of the c.354G>A variant and the analysis of codon usage characteristics suggested that introduction of the frequently used codon/codon pair(s) may have been potentially responsible for this effect. Limited proteolysis, however, showed no substantial influence of altered translation on protein conformation. Analysis of post-translational modifications also showed no notable differences but identified three previously unreported glycosylation markers. Despite these similarities, p.P118P variant unexpectedly showed higher specific activity. Structural analysis using modeled interactions indicated that subtle conformational changes arising from altered translation kinetics could affect interactions between an exosite of ADAMTS13 and VWF resulting in altered specific activity. This report highlights how a single synonymous nucleotide variation can impact cellular expression and specific activity in the absence of measurable impact on protein structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Hunt
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US FDA, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Gaya Hettiarachchi
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US FDA, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Upendra Katneni
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US FDA, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Nancy Hernandez
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US FDA, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - David Holcomb
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US FDA, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Jacob Kames
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US FDA, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Redab Alnifaidy
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US FDA, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Brian Lin
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US FDA, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Nobuko Hamasaki-Katagiri
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US FDA, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Aaron Wesley
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Present Address: Department of Emergency Medicine, Banner University Medical Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Tal Kafri
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | | | - Laura Bouché
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Present Address: Antikor Biopharma Ltd., Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage SG1 2FX, UK
| | - Maria Panico
- BioPharmaSpec Ltd., St. Saviour JE2 7LA, UK or or
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Tal Schiller
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US FDA, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Juan Ibla
- Departments of Cardiac Surgery and Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Haim Bar
- Department of Statistics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Amra Ismail
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological & Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA
| | - Howard Morris
- BioPharmaSpec Ltd., St. Saviour JE2 7LA, UK or or
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Anton Komar
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological & Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA
| | - Chava Kimchi-Sarfaty
- Hemostasis Branch, Division of Plasma Protein Therapeutics, Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, US FDA, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(240)-402-8203
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