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Fu L, Ellin NR, Pizzala NJ, Baez Bolivar EG, McLuckey SA. Digital Ion Trap Isolation and Mass Analysis of Macromolecular Analytes with Multiply Charged Ion Attachment. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2024; 35:2237-2247. [PMID: 39158841 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.4c00292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Multiply charged ions produced by electrospray ionization (ESI) of heterogeneous mixtures of macromolecular analytes under native conditions are typically confined to relatively narrow ranges of mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio, often with extensive overlap. This scenario makes charge and mass assignments extremely challenging, particularly when individual charge states are unresolved. An ion/ion reaction strategy involving multiply charged ion attachment (MIA) to the mixture components in a narrow range of m/z can facilitate charge and mass assignment. In MIA operation, multiply charged reagent ions are attached to the analyte ions of opposite polarity to provide large m/z displacements resulting from both large changes in mass and charge. However, charge reduction of the high m/z ions initially generated under native ESI conditions requires the ability to isolate high m/z ions and to analyze even higher m/z product ions. Digital ion trap (DIT) operation offers means for both high m/z ion isolation and high m/z mass analysis, in addition to providing conditions for the reaction of oppositely charged ions. The feasibility of conducting MIA experiments in a DIT that takes advantage of high m/z ion operation is demonstrated here using a tandem 2D-3D DIT instrument. Proof-of-concept MIA experiments with cations derived from β-galactosidase using the 20- charge state of human serum immunoglobulin G (IgG, ∼149 kDa) as the reagent anion are described. MIA experiments involving mixtures of ions derived from the E. coli. ribosome are also described. For example, three components in a mixture of 70S particles (>2.2 MDa) were resolved and assigned with masses and charges following an MIA experiment involving the 20- charge state of human serum IgG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangxuan Fu
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2084, United States
| | - Nicholas R Ellin
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2084, United States
| | - Nicolas J Pizzala
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2084, United States
| | - Erick G Baez Bolivar
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2084, United States
| | - Scott A McLuckey
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2084, United States
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2
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Skjærvø Ø, Togle A, Sutton H, Han X, Rauniyar N. Dimethyl sulfoxide as a gas phase charge-reducing agent for the determination of PEGylated proteins' intact mass. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2024. [PMID: 38685882 DOI: 10.1039/d4ay00660g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Determination of PEGylated proteins' intact mass by mass spectrometry is challenging due to the molecules' large size, excessive charges, and instrument limitations. Previous efforts have been reported. However, signal variability, ion coalescence, and a generally low degree of robustness have been observed. In this work, we have explored the capabilities of post-column infusion of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) following reversed-phase liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (RP-LCMS) to determine PEG-filgrastim' intact mass, and to characterize its PEG moiety. The method was optimized around reproducibility (six preparations, and three injection replicates) with an in-house prepared PEG-filgrastim standard. The method showed a mass accuracy of ≤1.2 Da. The average molecular weight (MWEO=483) was 40 147.9 Da. The number average molecular weight (Mn) and the weight average molecular weight (Mw) were observed to be 40 101.1 and 40 113.9 Da, respectively, both with an RSD of 0.03%. The molecular weight distribution of ethylene oxide (EO), the polydispersity index (PDI), was 1.0003 for all preparations with a minimum and maximum number of EO units of 448 ± 2 and 516 ± 2, respectively. The method was finally applied to commercially available Neulasta® lots where the Mn and Mw were 39 995.8 and 40 008.8 Da, respectively, both with an RSD of 0.1%. The minimum and maximum EO units across the lots were observed to be 444.5 ± 1.5 and 514 ± 3, respectively. The PDI for all Neulasta® lots was 1.0003. This study provides an insightful characterization of Neulasta® and describes a robust LC-MS methodology for the characterization of the PEGylated proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Øystein Skjærvø
- Tanvex BioPharma USA, Inc., 10394 Pacific Center Ct, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
| | - Alyssa Togle
- Tanvex BioPharma USA, Inc., 10394 Pacific Center Ct, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
| | - Haley Sutton
- Tanvex BioPharma USA, Inc., 10394 Pacific Center Ct, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
| | - Xuemei Han
- Tanvex BioPharma USA, Inc., 10394 Pacific Center Ct, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
| | - Navin Rauniyar
- Tanvex BioPharma USA, Inc., 10394 Pacific Center Ct, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
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3
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Kaltashov IA, Ivanov DG, Yang Y. Mass spectrometry-based methods to characterize highly heterogeneous biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and nonbiological complex drugs at the intact-mass level. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2024; 43:139-165. [PMID: 36582075 PMCID: PMC10307928 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The intact-mass MS measurements are becoming increasingly popular in characterization of a range of biopolymers, especially those of interest to biopharmaceutical industry. However, as the complexity of protein therapeutics and other macromolecular medicines increases, the new challenges arise, one of which is the high levels of structural heterogeneity that are frequently exhibited by such products. The very notion of the molecular mass measurement loses its clear and intuitive meaning when applied to an extremely heterogenous system that cannot be characterized by a unique mass, but instead requires that a mass distribution be considered. Furthermore, convoluted mass distributions frequently give rise to unresolved ionic signal in mass spectra, from which little-to-none meaningful information can be extracted using standard approaches that work well for homogeneous systems. However, a range of technological advances made in the last decade, such as the hyphenation of intact-mass MS measurements with front-end separations, better integration of ion mobility in MS workflows, development of an impressive arsenal of gas-phase ion chemistry tools to supplement MS methods, as well as the revival of the charge detection MS and its triumphant entry into the field of bioanalysis already made impressive contributions towards addressing the structural heterogeneity challenge. An overview of these techniques is accompanied by critical analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, and a brief overview of their applications to specific classes of biopharmaceutical products, vaccines, and nonbiological complex drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor A. Kaltashov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst MA 01003
| | - Daniil G. Ivanov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst MA 01003
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4
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Aung T, Grubbe WS, Nusbaum RJ, Mendoza JL. Recent and future perspectives on engineering interferons and other cytokines as therapeutics. Trends Biochem Sci 2023; 48:259-273. [PMID: 36241490 PMCID: PMC9974544 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2022.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
As crucial mediators and regulators of our immune system, cytokines are involved in a broad range of biological processes and are implicated in various disease pathologies. The field of cytokine therapeutics has gained much momentum from the maturation of conventional protein engineering methodologies such as structure-based designs and/or directed evolution, which is further aided by the advent of in silico protein designs and characterization. Just within the past 5 years, there has been an explosion of proof-of-concept, preclinical, and clinical studies that utilize an armory of protein engineering methods to develop cytokine-based drugs. Here, we highlight the key engineering strategies undertaken by recent studies that aim to improve the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profile of interferons and other cytokines as therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theint Aung
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - William S Grubbe
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Rebecca J Nusbaum
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Juan L Mendoza
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
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5
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Ngere J, Ebrahimi KH, Williams R, Pires E, Walsby-Tickle J, McCullagh JSO. Ion-Exchange Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry in Life Science, Environmental, and Medical Research. Anal Chem 2023; 95:152-166. [PMID: 36625129 PMCID: PMC9835059 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Judith
B. Ngere
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
| | - Kourosh H. Ebrahimi
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s
College London, London SE1 9NH, U.K.
| | - Rachel Williams
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
| | - Elisabete Pires
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
| | - John Walsby-Tickle
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
| | - James S. O. McCullagh
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.,
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6
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Hecht ES, Obiorah EC, Liu X, Morrison L, Shion H, Lauber M. Microflow size exclusion chromatography to preserve micromolar affinity complexes and achieve subunit separations for native state mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 2022; 1685:463638. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2022.463638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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7
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Blevins MS, Juetten KJ, James VK, Butalewicz JP, Escobar EE, Lanzillotti MB, Sanders JD, Fort KL, Brodbelt JS. Nanohydrophobic Interaction Chromatography Coupled to Ultraviolet Photodissociation Mass Spectrometry for the Analysis of Intact Proteins in Low Charge States. J Proteome Res 2022; 21:2493-2503. [PMID: 36043517 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.2c00450] [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: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The direct correlation between proteoforms and biological phenotype necessitates the exploration of mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods more suitable for proteoform detection and characterization. Here, we couple nano-hydrophobic interaction chromatography (nano-HIC) to ultraviolet photodissociation MS (UVPD-MS) for separation and characterization of intact proteins and proteoforms. High linearity, sensitivity, and sequence coverage are obtained with this method for a variety of proteins. Investigation of collisional cross sections of intact proteins during nano-HIC indicates semifolded conformations in low charge states, enabling a different dimension of separation in comparison to traditional, fully denaturing reversed-phase separations. This method is demonstrated for a mixture of intact proteins from Escherichia coli ribosomes; high sequence coverage is obtained for a variety of modified and unmodified proteoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly S Blevins
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Kyle J Juetten
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Virginia K James
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Jamie P Butalewicz
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Edwin E Escobar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Michael B Lanzillotti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - James D Sanders
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Kyle L Fort
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bremen 28199, Germany
| | - Jennifer S Brodbelt
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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8
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Bailey AO, Huguet R, Mullen C, Syka JEP, Russell WK. Ion-Ion Charge Reduction Addresses Multiple Challenges Common to Denaturing Intact Mass Analysis. Anal Chem 2022; 94:3930-3938. [PMID: 35189062 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c04973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Complete LC-MS-based protein primary sequence characterization requires measurement of intact protein profiles under denaturing and/or reducing conditions. To address issues of protein overcharging of unstructured proteins under acidic, denaturing conditions and sample heterogeneity (macro- and micro-scales) which often confound denaturing intact mass analysis of a wide variety of protein samples, we propose the use of broadband isolation of entire charge state distributions of intact proteins followed by ion-ion proton transfer charge reduction, which we have termed "full scan PTCR" (fsPTCR). Using rapid denaturing size exclusion chromatography coupled to fsPTCR-Orbitrap MS and time-resolved deconvolution data analysis, we demonstrate a strategy for method optimization, leading to significant analytical advantages over conventional MS1. Denaturing analysis of the flexible bacterial translation initiation factor 2 (91 kDa) using fsPTCR reduced overcharging and showed an 11-fold gain in S/N compared to conventional MS1. Analysis by fsPTCR-MS of the microheterogeneous glycoprotein fetuin revealed twice as many proteoforms as MS1 (112 vs 56). In a macroheterogeneous mixture of proteins ranging from 14 to 148 kDa, fsPTCR provided more than 10-fold increased sensitivity and quantitative accuracy for diluted bovine serum albumin (66 kDa). Finally, our analysis shows that collisional gas pressure is a key parameter which can be utilized during fsPTCR to retain or remove larger proteins from acquired spectra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron O Bailey
- University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Drive, Galveston, Texas 77551, United States
| | - Romain Huguet
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, 355 River Oaks Pkwy, San Jose, California 95134, United States
| | - Christopher Mullen
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, 355 River Oaks Pkwy, San Jose, California 95134, United States
| | - John E P Syka
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, 355 River Oaks Pkwy, San Jose, California 95134, United States
| | - William K Russell
- University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Drive, Galveston, Texas 77551, United States
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9
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Studying protein structure and function by native separation–mass spectrometry. Nat Rev Chem 2022; 6:215-231. [PMID: 37117432 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-021-00353-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Alterations in protein structure may have profound effects on biological function. Analytical techniques that permit characterization of proteins while maintaining their conformational and functional state are crucial for studying changes in the higher order structure of proteins and for establishing structure-function relationships. Coupling of native protein separations with mass spectrometry is emerging rapidly as a powerful approach to study these aspects in a reliable, fast and straightforward way. This Review presents the available native separation modes for proteins, covers practical considerations on the hyphenation of these separations with mass spectrometry and highlights the involvement of affinity-based separations to simultaneously obtain structural and functional information of proteins. The impact of these approaches is emphasized by selected applications addressing biomedical and biopharmaceutical research questions.
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10
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Yang W, Ivanov DG, Kaltashov IA. Extending the capabilities of intact-mass analyses to monoclonal immunoglobulins of the E-isotype (IgE). MAbs 2022; 14:2103906. [PMID: 35895856 PMCID: PMC9336480 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2022.2103906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Mass spectrometry (MS) has become an indispensable tool in structural characterization and quality control of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Intact-mass analysis is a particularly attractive option that provides a powerful and cost-effective means to not only confirm the structural integrity of the protein, but also probe its interactions with therapeutic targets. To a certain extent, this success can be attributed to relatively modest glycosylation levels exhibited by IgG molecules, which limits their structural heterogeneity and enables straightforward mass measurements at the intact molecule level. The recent surge of interest in expanding the repertoire of mAbs to include other classes of immunoglobulins places a premium on efforts to adapt the IgG-tailored experimental strategies to other classes of antibodies, but their dramatically higher levels of glycosylation may create insurmountable obstacles. The monoclonal murine IgE antibody explored in this work provides a challenging model system, as its glycosylation level exceeds that of conventional IgG mAbs by a factor of nine. The commercial sample, which included various IgE fragments, yields a poorly resolved ionic signal in intact-mass measurements, from which little useful information can be extracted. However, coupling MS measurements with the limited charge reduction of select polycationic species in the gas phase gives rise to well-defined charge ladders, from which both ionic masses and charges can be readily determined. The measurements reveal significant variation of the extent of glycosylation within intact IgE molecules, as well as the presence of low-molecular weight impurities in the commercial IgE sample. Furthermore, incubation of the monoclonal IgE with its antigen (ovalbumin) gives rise to the formation of complexes with varying stoichiometries, which can also be uniquely identified using a combination of native MS, limited charge reduction in the gas phase and data fitting procedures. This work demonstrates that following appropriate modifications, intact-mass analysis measurements can be successfully applied to mAbs beyond the IgG isotype, providing a wealth of information not only on the mass distribution of the intact IgE molecules, but also their large-scale conformational integrity, the integrity of their covalent structure, and their interactions with antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhua Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.,College of Light Industry and Food, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Daniil G Ivanov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Igor A Kaltashov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
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11
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Saha-Shah A, Sun S, Kong J, Zhong W, Mann BF. Design and Study of PEG Linkers That Enable Robust Characterization of PEGylated Proteins. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2021; 4:1280-1286. [PMID: 34423265 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Several PEGylated therapeutic proteins are approved drugs, and more are under development. However, the synthesis and characterization of these bioconjugates, especially heterogeneous mixtures of PEGylated proteins, are challenging. The present study focuses on the development of PEG linkers that can be installed through biocatalytic route and render much simpler and insightful analytical characterization of PEG-protein conjugates. This linker enables traditional peptide mapping assay to determine protein sequence coverage, natural PTMs, and PEG attachment sites. Novel PEG linkers are cleavable during traditional sample preparation, leaving behind reporter amino acids to allow the determination of PEG attachment sites by peptide mapping. Products of transglutaminase-catalyzed bioconjugation of 5K PEG to Interferon α-2b were analyzed, and K31, K134, and K164 were identified as the PEGylation sites; the former two being newly determined sites demonstrates the sensitivity of the approach. In another instance, conjugation sites on Interleukin-2-PEG conjugation were found to be K31, K47, K48, and K75.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anumita Saha-Shah
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co. Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Shuwen Sun
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co. Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - John Kong
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co. Inc., 126 E. Lincoln Ave, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Wendy Zhong
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co. Inc., 126 E. Lincoln Ave, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Benjamin F Mann
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co. Inc., 126 E. Lincoln Ave, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
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12
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The challenge of structural heterogeneity in the native mass spectrometry studies of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interactions with its host cell-surface receptor. Anal Bioanal Chem 2021; 413:7205-7214. [PMID: 34389878 PMCID: PMC8362873 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-021-03601-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Native mass spectrometry (MS) enjoyed tremendous success in the past two decades in a wide range of studies aiming at understanding the molecular mechanisms of physiological processes underlying a variety of pathologies and accelerating the drug discovery process. However, the success record of native MS has been surprisingly modest with respect to the most recent challenge facing the biomedical community—the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The major reason for the paucity of successful studies that use native MS to target various aspects of SARS-CoV-2 interaction with its host is the extreme degree of heterogeneity of the viral protein playing a key role in the host cell invasion. Indeed, the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S-protein) is extensively glycosylated, presenting a formidable challenge for native MS as a means of characterizing its interactions with both the host cell–surface receptor ACE2 and the drug candidates capable of disrupting this interaction. In this work, we evaluate the utility of native MS complemented with the experimental methods using gas-phase chemistry (limited charge reduction) to obtain meaningful information on the association of the S1 domain of the S-protein with the ACE2 ectodomain, and the influence of a small synthetic heparinoid on this interaction. Native MS reveals the presence of several different S1 oligomers in solution and allows the stoichiometry of the most prominent S1/ACE2 complexes to be determined. This enables meaningful interpretation of the changes in native MS that are observed upon addition of a small synthetic heparinoid (the pentasaccharide fondaparinux) to the S1/ACE2 solution, confirming that the small polyanion destabilizes the protein/receptor binding.
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13
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Yang W, Tu Z, McClements DJ, Kaltashov IA. A systematic assessment of structural heterogeneity and IgG/IgE-binding of ovalbumin. Food Funct 2021; 12:8130-8140. [PMID: 34287434 DOI: 10.1039/d0fo02980g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Ovalbumin (OVA), one of the major allergens in hen egg, exhibits extensive structural heterogeneity due to a range of post-translational modifications (PTMs). However, analyzing the structural heterogeneity of native OVA is challenging, and the relationship between heterogeneity and IgG/IgE-binding of OVA remains unclear. In this work, ion exchange chromatography (IXC) with salt gradient elution and on-line detection by native electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) was used to assess the structural heterogeneity of OVA, while inhibition-ELISA was used to assess the IgG/IgE binding characteristics of OVA. Over 130 different OVA proteoforms (including glycan-free species and 32 pairs of isobaric species) were identified. Proteoforms with acetylation, phosphorylation, oxidation and succinimide modifications had reduced IgG/IgE binding capacities, whereas those with few structural modifications had higher IgG/IgE binding capacities. OVA isoforms with a sialic acid-containing glycan modification had the highest IgG/IgE binding capacity. Our results demonstrate that on-line native IXC/MS with salt gradient elution can be used for rapid assessment of the structural heterogeneity of proteins. An improved understanding of the relationship between IgG/IgE binding capacity and OVA structure provides a basis for developing biotechnology or food processing methods for reducing protein allergenicity reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhua Yang
- College of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Yichun University, Yichun, Jiangxi 336000, People's Republic of China.
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14
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Bobst CE, Sperry J, Friese OV, Kaltashov IA. Simultaneous Evaluation of a Vaccine Component Microheterogeneity and Conformational Integrity Using Native Mass Spectrometry and Limited Charge Reduction. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2021; 32:1631-1637. [PMID: 34006091 PMCID: PMC8514165 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.1c00091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Analytical characterization of extensively modified proteins (such as haptenated carrier proteins in synthetic vaccines) remains a challenging task due to the high degree of structural heterogeneity. Native mass spectrometry (MS) combined with limited charge reduction allows these obstacles to be overcome and enables meaningful characterization of a heavily haptenated carrier protein CRM197 (inactivated diphtheria toxin conjugated with nicotine), a major component of a smoking cessation vaccine. The extensive conjugation results in a near-continuum distribution of ionic signal in electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectra of haptenated CRM197 even after size-exclusion chromatographic fractionation. However, supplementing the ESI MS measurements with limited charge reduction of ionic populations selected within narrow m/z windows gives rise to well-resolved charge ladders, from which both masses and charge states of the ionic species can be readily deduced. Application of this technique to a research-grade material of CRM197/H7 conjugate not only reveals its marginal conformational stability (manifested by the appearance of high charge-density ions in ESI MS) but also establishes a role of the extent of haptenation as a major factor driving the loss of the higher order structure integrity. The unique information provided by native MS used in combination with limited charge reduction provides a strong argument for this technique to become a standard/required tool in the analytical arsenal in the field of biotechnology and biopharmaceutical analysis, where protein conjugates are becoming increasingly common.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cedric E. Bobst
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Justin Sperry
- BioTherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pfizer, St. Louis, MO 63017
| | - Olga V. Friese
- BioTherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pfizer, St. Louis, MO 63017
| | - Igor A. Kaltashov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
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15
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Yang Y, Ivanov DG, Kaltashov IA. The challenge of structural heterogeneity in the native mass spectrometry studies of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interactions with its host cell-surface receptor. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021. [PMID: 34189525 DOI: 10.1101/2021.06.20.449191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Native mass spectrometry (MS) enjoyed tremendous success in the past two decades in a wide range of studies aiming at understanding the molecular mechanisms of physiological processes underlying a variety of pathologies and accelerating the drug discovery process. However, the success record of native MS has been surprisingly modest with respect to the most recent challenge facing the biomedical community â€" the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The major reason for the paucity of successful studies that use native MS to target various aspects of SARS-CoV-2 interaction with its host is the extreme degree of structural heterogeneity of the viral protein playing a key role in the host cell invasion. Indeed, the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S-protein) is extensively glycosylated, presenting a formidable challenge for native mass spectrometry (MS) as a means of characterizing its interactions with both the host cell-surface receptor ACE2 and the drug candidates capable of disrupting this interaction. In this work we evaluate the utility of native MS complemented with the experimental methods using gas-phase chemistry (limited charge reduction) to obtain meaningful information on the association of the S1 domain of the S-protein with the ACE2 ectodomain, and the influence of a small synthetic heparinoid on this interaction. Native MS reveals the presence of several different S1 oligomers in solution and allows the stoichiometry of the most prominent S1/ACE2 complexes to be determined. This enables meaningful interpretation of the changes in native MS that are observed upon addition of a small synthetic heparinoid (the pentasaccharide fondaparinux) to the S1/ACE2 solution, confirming that the small polyanion destabilizes the protein/receptor binding.
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16
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Ma F, Raoufi F, Bailly MA, Fayadat-Dilman L, Tomazela D. Hyphenation of strong cation exchange chromatography to native mass spectrometry for high throughput online characterization of charge heterogeneity of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. MAbs 2021; 12:1763762. [PMID: 32370592 PMCID: PMC7299211 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2020.1763762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Characterization of charge heterogeneity in monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is needed during developability assessment and downstream development of drug candidates. Charge heterogeneity can come from post-translational modifications like deamidation, isomerization, and sialylation. Elucidation of charge variants with mass spectrometry (MS) has historically been challenging. Due to the nonvolatility and high ionic strength of conventional buffer systems, labor-intensive offline fractionation followed by MS analysis is routinely used. Here, we describe an alternative strategy that directly couples strong cation exchange (SCX) chromatography to high-resolution Orbitrap MS for online native MS analysis (SCX-MS). A combined pH and salt gradient was used for universal separation of mAbs from a wide range of pI values (6.38 ~ 9.2), including infliximab (Remicade®, chimeric IgG1/kappa), NISTmab (humanized IgG1/kappa) and trastuzumab (Herceptin®, humanized IgG1/kappa), without tailoring of chromatographic profiles. Liquid chromatography and MS parameters were optimized to achieve high-quality spectra and enhanced detection of low abundant species under high flow rate conditions. Genedata Expressionist, a vendor agnostic software, was used for data processing. This integrated strategy allows unbiased characterization of numerous charge variant species and low molecular weight fragments (<0.05%) without post-column flow splitting. The application was further expanded with middle-up approaches for subdomain analysis, which demonstrated the versatility of the strategy for analysis of various construct types. With our analysis of mAbs during developability assessment and forced degradation studies, which aimed at assessing potential critical quality attributes in antibody drug molecules, we provide, for the first time, direct visualization of molecular alterations of mAbs at intact level. Furthermore, strong correlation was observed between this novel MS approach and analysis by capillary isoelectric focusing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengfei Ma
- Protein Sciences, Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Fahimeh Raoufi
- Protein Sciences, Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Marc Andre Bailly
- Protein Sciences, Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Daniela Tomazela
- Protein Sciences, Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
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17
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Yang Y, Niu C, Bobst CE, Kaltashov IA. Charge Manipulation Using Solution and Gas-Phase Chemistry to Facilitate Analysis of Highly Heterogeneous Protein Complexes in Native Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2021; 93:3337-3342. [PMID: 33566581 PMCID: PMC8514162 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c05249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Structural heterogeneity is a significant challenge complicating (and in some cases making impossible) electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) analysis of noncovalent complexes comprising structurally heterogeneous biopolymers. The broad mass distribution exhibited by such species inevitably gives rise to overlapping ionic signals representing different charge states, resulting in a continuum spectrum with no discernible features that can be used to assign ionic charges and calculate their masses. This problem can be circumvented by using limited charge reduction, which utilizes gas-phase chemistry to induce charge-transfer reactions within ionic populations selected within narrow m/z windows, thereby producing well-defined and readily interpretable charge ladders. However, the ionic signal in native MS typically populates high m/z regions of mass spectra, which frequently extend beyond the precursor ion isolation limits of most commercial mass spectrometers. While the ionic signal of single-chain proteins can be shifted to lower m/z regions simply by switching to a denaturing solvent, this approach cannot be applied to noncovalent assemblies due to their inherent instability under denaturing conditions. An alternative approach explored in this work relies on adding supercharging reagents to protein solutions as a means of increasing the extent of multiple charging of noncovalent complexes in ESI MS without compromising their integrity. This shifts the ionic signal down the m/z scale to the region where ion selection and isolation can be readily accomplished with a front-end quadrupole, followed by limited charge reduction of the isolated ionic population. The feasibility of the new approach is demonstrated using noncovalent complexes formed by hemoglobin with structurally heterogeneous haptoglobin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 240 Thatcher Road, Amherst, MA 01003
| | | | - Cedric E. Bobst
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 240 Thatcher Road, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Igor A. Kaltashov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 240 Thatcher Road, Amherst, MA 01003
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18
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Brown KA, Melby JA, Roberts DS, Ge Y. Top-down proteomics: challenges, innovations, and applications in basic and clinical research. Expert Rev Proteomics 2020; 17:719-733. [PMID: 33232185 PMCID: PMC7864889 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2020.1855982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Introduction- A better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanism of diseases is critical for developing more effective diagnostic tools and therapeutics toward precision medicine. However, many challenges remain to unravel the complex nature of diseases. Areas covered- Changes in protein isoform expression and post-translation modifications (PTMs) have gained recognition for their role in underlying disease mechanisms. Top-down mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics is increasingly recognized as an important method for the comprehensive characterization of proteoforms that arise from alternative splicing events and/or PTMs for basic and clinical research. Here, we review the challenges, technological innovations, and recent studies that utilize top-down proteomics to elucidate changes in the proteome with an emphasis on its use to study heart diseases. Expert opinion- Proteoform-resolved information can substantially contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying various diseases and for the identification of novel proteoform targets for better therapeutic development . Despite the challenges of sequencing intact proteins, top-down proteomics has enabled a wealth of information regarding protein isoform switching and changes in PTMs. Continuous developments in sample preparation, intact protein separation, and instrumentation for top-down MS have broadened its capabilities to characterize proteoforms from a range of samples on an increasingly global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A. Brown
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Jake A. Melby
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
| | - David S. Roberts
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Ying Ge
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
- Human Proteomics Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
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19
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Kaltashov IA, Bobst CE, Pawlowski J, Wang G. Mass spectrometry-based methods in characterization of the higher order structure of protein therapeutics. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2020; 184:113169. [PMID: 32092629 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2020.113169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Higher order structure of protein therapeutics is an important quality attribute, which dictates both potency and safety. While modern experimental biophysics offers an impressive arsenal of state-of-the-art tools that can be used for the characterization of higher order structure, many of them are poorly suited for the characterization of biopharmaceutical products. As a result, these analyses were traditionally carried out using classical techniques that provide relatively low information content. Over the past decade, mass spectrometry made a dramatic debut in this field, enabling the characterization of higher order structure of biopharmaceuticals as complex as monoclonal antibodies at a level of detail that was previously unattainable. At present, mass spectrometry is an integral part of the analytical toolbox across the industry, which is critical not only for quality control efforts, but also for discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor A Kaltashov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.
| | - Cedric E Bobst
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Jake Pawlowski
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Guanbo Wang
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, PR China
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20
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Foreman DJ, McLuckey SA. Recent Developments in Gas-Phase Ion/Ion Reactions for Analytical Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2020; 92:252-266. [PMID: 31693342 PMCID: PMC6949396 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b05014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David J Foreman
- Department of Chemistry , Purdue University , West Lafayette , Indiana 47907-2084 , United States
| | - Scott A McLuckey
- Department of Chemistry , Purdue University , West Lafayette , Indiana 47907-2084 , United States
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21
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Site-Specific characterization of peptide-polymer conjugates in various stoichiometries by MALDI-Tandem mass spectrometry. Microchem J 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2019.104467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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22
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Belén LH, Rangel-Yagui CDO, Beltrán Lissabet JF, Effer B, Lee-Estevez M, Pessoa A, Castillo RL, Farías JG. From Synthesis to Characterization of Site-Selective PEGylated Proteins. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:1450. [PMID: 31920645 PMCID: PMC6930235 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Covalent attachment of therapeutic proteins to polyethylene glycol (PEG) is widely used for the improvement of its pharmacokinetic and pharmacological properties, as well as the reduction in reactogenicity and related side effects. This technique named PEGylation has been successfully employed in several approved drugs to treat various diseases, even cancer. Some methods have been developed to obtain PEGylated proteins, both in multiple protein sites or in a selected amino acid residue. This review focuses mainly on traditional and novel examples of chemical and enzymatic methods for site-selective PEGylation, emphasizing in N-terminal PEGylation, that make it possible to obtain products with a high degree of homogeneity and preserve bioactivity. In addition, the main assay methods that can be applied for the characterization of PEGylated molecules in complex biological samples are also summarized in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisandra Herrera Belén
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Carlota de Oliveira Rangel-Yagui
- Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jorge F. Beltrán Lissabet
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Brian Effer
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Manuel Lee-Estevez
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco, Chile
| | - Adalberto Pessoa
- Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo L. Castillo
- Department of Internal Medicine East, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Jorge G. Farías
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
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23
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Füssl F, Criscuolo A, Cook K, Scheffler K, Bones J. Cracking Proteoform Complexity of Ovalbumin with Anion-Exchange Chromatography–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry under Native Conditions. J Proteome Res 2019; 18:3689-3702. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.9b00375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Füssl
- NIBRT—The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Foster Avenue,
Mount Merrion, Blackrock, Co. Dublin A94 X099, Ireland
| | - Angela Criscuolo
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Hanna-Kunath-Strasse 11, 28199 Bremen, Germany
| | - Ken Cook
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Stafford House, 1 Boundary Park, Hemel Hempstead HP2 7GE, United Kingdom
| | - Kai Scheffler
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Dornierstrasse 4, 82110 Germering, Germany
| | - Jonathan Bones
- NIBRT—The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Foster Avenue,
Mount Merrion, Blackrock, Co. Dublin A94 X099, Ireland
- School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4 D04 V1W8, Ireland
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24
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Beck A, D’Atri V, Ehkirch A, Fekete S, Hernandez-Alba O, Gahoual R, Leize-Wagner E, François Y, Guillarme D, Cianférani S. Cutting-edge multi-level analytical and structural characterization of antibody-drug conjugates: present and future. Expert Rev Proteomics 2019; 16:337-362. [DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2019.1578215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alain Beck
- Biologics CMC and Developability, IRPF - Centre d’Immunologie Pierre-Fabre (CIPF), Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, France
| | - Valentina D’Atri
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, CMU, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anthony Ehkirch
- Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse BioOrganique, IPHC UMR 7178, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Szabolcs Fekete
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, CMU, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Oscar Hernandez-Alba
- Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse BioOrganique, IPHC UMR 7178, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Rabah Gahoual
- Unité de Technologies Biologiques et Chimiques pour la Santé (UTCBS), Paris 5-CNRS UMR8258 Inserm U1022, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Leize-Wagner
- Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse des Interactions et des Systèmes (LSMIS), UMR 7140, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Yannis François
- Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse des Interactions et des Systèmes (LSMIS), UMR 7140, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Davy Guillarme
- Biologics CMC and Developability, IRPF - Centre d’Immunologie Pierre-Fabre (CIPF), Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, France
| | - Sarah Cianférani
- Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse BioOrganique, IPHC UMR 7178, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, France
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25
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Ozeki Y, Omae M, Kitagawa S, Ohtani H. Electrospray ionization-ion mobility spectrometry-high resolution tandem mass spectrometry with collision-induced charge stripping for the analysis of highly multiply charged intact polymers. Analyst 2019; 144:3428-3435. [PMID: 31012442 DOI: 10.1039/c8an02500b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Polymers with large molecular weight are difficult to interpret using electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) due to the generation of various highly multiply charged analytes. Although ESI-ion mobility spectrometry (IMS)-MS is effective in reducing the complexity of the mass spectrum, this approach is insufficient for analyzing highly multiply charged polymers. In this study, we propose a method combining tandem mass spectrometry (quadrupole and high-resolution time-of-flight MS, QMS/TOFMS), IMS, and collision-induced charge stripping (CICS) for analyzing large intact polymers (∼40 kDa), which are highly multiply charged. The number of charges can be estimated from a Fourier transform power spectrum of a mass spectrum when the charge number is less than approximately 20. Interpretations of the spectra of poly(ethylene oxide)s (PEOs) weighing 20 kDa, poly(methyl methacrylate)s weighing 22 kDa, and methoxy-PEO-maleimide weighing 40 kDa were successfully demonstrated with isotope level and polymerization degree level separations, respectively. In the proposed method, a mixture can be analyzed for relatively small (a few kDa) and large (a few tens of kDa) polymers simultaneously without any sample pretreatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Ozeki
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan.
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26
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Füssl F, Trappe A, Cook K, Scheffler K, Fitzgerald O, Bones J. Comprehensive characterisation of the heterogeneity of adalimumab via charge variant analysis hyphenated on-line to native high resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry. MAbs 2018; 11:116-128. [PMID: 30296204 PMCID: PMC6343805 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2018.1531664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Charge variant analysis is a widely used tool to monitor changes in product quality during the manufacturing process of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Although it is a powerful technique for revealing mAb heterogeneity, an unexpected outcome, for example the appearance of previously undetected isoforms, requires further, time-consuming analysis. The process of identifying these unknowns can also result in unwanted changes to the molecule that are not attributable to the manufacturing process. To overcome this, we recently reported a method combining highly selective cation exchange chromatography-based charge variant analysis with on-line mass spectrometric (MS) detection. We further explored and adapted the chromatographic buffer system to expand the application range. Moreover, we observed no salt adducts on the native protein, also supported by the optimal choice of MS parameters, resulting in increased data quality and mass accuracy. Here, we demonstrate the utility of this improved method by performing an in-depth analysis of adalimumab before and after forced degradation. By combining molecular mass and retention time information, we were able to identify multiple modifications on adalimumab, including lysine truncation, glycation, deamidation, succinimide formation, isomerisation, N-terminal aspartic acid loss or C-terminal proline amidation and fragmentation along with the N-glycan distribution of each of these identified proteoforms. Host cell protein (HCP) analysis was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry that verified the presence of the protease Cathepsin L. Based on the presence of trace HCPs with catalytic activity, it can be questioned if fragmentation is solely driven by spontaneous hydrolysis or possibly also by enzymatic degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Füssl
- a Characterisation and Comparability Lab , NIBRT - The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training , Co , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Anne Trappe
- a Characterisation and Comparability Lab , NIBRT - The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training , Co , Dublin , Ireland.,b School of Biotechnology , Dublin City University , Dublin 9 , Ireland
| | - Ken Cook
- c Thermo Fisher Scientific , Hemel Hempstead , UK
| | | | - Oliver Fitzgerald
- e St. Vincent's University Hospital , Dublin 4 , Ireland.,f Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research , University College Dublin , Dublin 4 , Ireland
| | - Jonathan Bones
- a Characterisation and Comparability Lab , NIBRT - The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training , Co , Dublin , Ireland.,g School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin , Dublin 4 , Ireland
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27
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Bailey AO, Han G, Phung W, Gazis P, Sutton J, Josephs JL, Sandoval W. Charge variant native mass spectrometry benefits mass precision and dynamic range of monoclonal antibody intact mass analysis. MAbs 2018; 10:1214-1225. [PMID: 30339478 PMCID: PMC6284562 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2018.1521131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The preponderance and diversity of charge variants in therapeutic monoclonal antibodies has implications for antibody efficacy and degradation. Understanding the extent and impact of minor antibody variants is of great interest, and it is also a critical regulatory requirement. Traditionally, a combination of approaches is used to characterize antibody charge heterogeneity, including ion exchange chromatography and independent mass spectrometric variant site mapping after proteolytic digestion. Here, we describe charge variant native mass spectrometry (CVMS), an integrated native ion exchange mass spectrometry-based charge variant analytical approach that delivers detailed molecular information in a single, semi-automated analysis. We utilized pure volatile salt mobile phases over a pH gradient that effectively separated variants based on minimal differences in isoelectric point. Characterization of variants such as deamidation, which are traditionally unattainable by intact mass due to their minimal molecular weight differences, were measured unambiguously by mass and retention time to allow confident MS1 identification. We demonstrate that efficient chromatographic separation allows introduction of the purified forms of the charge variant isoforms into the Orbitrap mass spectrometer. Our CVMS method allows confident assignment of intact monoclonal antibody isoforms of similar mass and relative abundance measurements across three orders of magnitude dynamic range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron O Bailey
- a Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry Division , Thermo Fisher Scientific , San Jose , CA , USA
| | - Guanghui Han
- b Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics and Lipidomics , Genentech, Inc , South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Wilson Phung
- b Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics and Lipidomics , Genentech, Inc , South San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Paul Gazis
- a Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry Division , Thermo Fisher Scientific , San Jose , CA , USA
| | - Jennifer Sutton
- a Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry Division , Thermo Fisher Scientific , San Jose , CA , USA
| | - Jonathan L Josephs
- a Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry Division , Thermo Fisher Scientific , San Jose , CA , USA
| | - Wendy Sandoval
- b Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics and Lipidomics , Genentech, Inc , South San Francisco , CA , USA
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28
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Kaltashov IA, Pawlowski JW, Yang W, Muneeruddin K, Yao H, Bobst CE, Lipatnikov AN. LC/MS at the whole protein level: Studies of biomolecular structure and interactions using native LC/MS and cross-path reactive chromatography (XP-RC) MS. Methods 2018; 144:14-26. [PMID: 29702225 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2018.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Interfacing liquid chromatography (LC) with electrospray ionization (ESI) to enable on-line MS detection had been initially implemented using reversed phase LC, which in the past three decades remained the default type of chromatography used for LC/MS and LC/MS/MS studies of protein structure. In contrast, the advantages of other types of LC as front-ends for ESI MS, particularly those that allow biopolymer higher order structure to be preserved throughout the separation process, enjoyed relatively little appreciation until recently. However, the past few years witnessed a dramatic surge of interest in the so-called "native" (with "non-denaturing" being perhaps a more appropriate adjective) LC/MS and LC/MS/MS analyses within the bioanalytical and biophysical communities. This review focuses on recent advances in this field, with an emphasis on size exclusion and ion exchange chromatography as front-end platforms for protein characterization by LC/MS. Also discussed are the benefits provided by the integration of chemical reactions in the native LC/MS analyses, including both ion chemistry in the gas phase (e.g., limited charge reduction for characterization of highly heterogeneous biopolymers) and solution-phase reactions (using the recently introduced technique cross-path reactive chromatography).
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor A Kaltashov
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States.
| | - Jake W Pawlowski
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Wenhua Yang
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Khaja Muneeruddin
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Honglin Yao
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Cedric E Bobst
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Andrei N Lipatnikov
- Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden
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29
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Füssl F, Cook K, Scheffler K, Farrell A, Mittermayr S, Bones J. Charge Variant Analysis of Monoclonal Antibodies Using Direct Coupled pH Gradient Cation Exchange Chromatography to High-Resolution Native Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2018; 90:4669-4676. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b05241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Füssl
- NIBRT−The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Foster Avenue,
Mount Merrion, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, A94 X099, Ireland
| | - Ken Cook
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Stafford House, 1 Boundary Park, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7GE, United Kingdom
| | - Kai Scheffler
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Dornierstrasse 4, 82110 Germering, Germany
| | - Amy Farrell
- NIBRT−The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Foster Avenue,
Mount Merrion, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, A94 X099, Ireland
| | - Stefan Mittermayr
- NIBRT−The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Foster Avenue,
Mount Merrion, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, A94 X099, Ireland
| | - Jonathan Bones
- NIBRT−The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Foster Avenue,
Mount Merrion, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, A94 X099, Ireland
- School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland
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Affiliation(s)
- Bifan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Kyle A. Brown
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Ziqing Lin
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
- Human Proteomics Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Ying Ge
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
- Human Proteomics Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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Xu S, Kaltashov IA. Overcoming the Hydrolytic Lability of a Reaction Intermediate in Production of Protein/Drug Conjugates: Conjugation of an Acyclic Nucleoside Phosphonate to a Model Carrier Protein. Mol Pharm 2017; 14:2843-2851. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.7b00410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shengsheng Xu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts−Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Igor A. Kaltashov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts−Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
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