1
|
Cui Z, Ayva CE, Liew YJ, Guo Z, Mutschler R, Dreier B, Fiorito MM, Walden P, Howard CB, Ely F, Plückthun A, Pretorius C, Ungerer JPJ, Buckle AM, Alexandrov K. mRNA Display Pipeline for Protein Biosensor Construction. ACS Sens 2024; 9:2846-2857. [PMID: 38807313 PMCID: PMC11218749 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c02471] [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] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Despite the significant potential of protein biosensors, their construction remains a trial-and-error process. The most obvious approach for addressing this is to utilize modular biosensor architectures where specificity-conferring modalities can be readily generated to recognize new targets. Toward this goal, we established a workflow that uses mRNA display-based selection of hyper-stable monobody domains for the target of choice or ribosome display to select equally stable DARPins. These binders were integrated into a two-component allosteric biosensor architecture based on a calmodulin-reporter chimera. This workflow was tested by developing biosensors for liver toxicity markers such as cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase, mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase 1. We demonstrate that our pipeline consistently produced >103 unique binders for each target within a week. Our analysis revealed that the affinity of the binders for their targets was not a direct predictor of the binder's performance in a biosensor context. The interactions between the binding domains and the reporter module affect the biosensor activity and the dynamic range. We conclude that following binding domain selection, the multiplexed biosensor assembly and prototyping appear to be the most promising approach for identifying biosensors with the desired properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenling Cui
- ARC
Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
- Centre
for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland
University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
- School
of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland
University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Cagla Ergun Ayva
- Centre
for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland
University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
- School
of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland
University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Yi Jin Liew
- CSIRO
Health & Biosecurity, Westmead, New South Wales 2145,Australia
| | - Zhong Guo
- ARC
Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
- Centre
for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland
University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
- School
of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland
University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Roxane Mutschler
- Centre
for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland
University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
- School
of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland
University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Birgit Dreier
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Maria M Fiorito
- Centre
for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland
University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
- School
of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland
University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Patricia Walden
- Centre
for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland
University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
- School
of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland
University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Christopher B Howard
- Australian
Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | | | - Andreas Plückthun
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Carel Pretorius
- Department
of Chemical Pathology, Pathology Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia
- Faculty
of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The
University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jacobus PJ Ungerer
- Department
of Chemical Pathology, Pathology Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia
- Faculty
of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The
University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | | | - Kirill Alexandrov
- ARC
Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
- Centre
for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland
University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
- School
of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland
University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhu N, Smallwood PM, Rattner A, Chang TH, Williams J, Wang Y, Nathans J. Utility of protein-protein binding surfaces composed of anti-parallel alpha-helices and beta-sheets selected by phage display. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107283. [PMID: 38608728 PMCID: PMC11107207 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107283] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past 3 decades, a diverse collection of small protein domains have been used as scaffolds to generate general purpose protein-binding reagents using a variety of protein display and enrichment technologies. To expand the repertoire of scaffolds and protein surfaces that might serve this purpose, we have explored the utility of (i) a pair of anti-parallel alpha-helices in a small highly disulfide-bonded 4-helix bundle, the CC4 domain from reversion-inducing Cysteine-rich Protein with Kazal Motifs and (ii) a concave beta-sheet surface and two adjacent loops in the human FN3 domain, the scaffold for the widely used monobody platform. Using M13 phage display and next generation sequencing, we observe that, in both systems, libraries of ∼30 million variants contain binding proteins with affinities in the low μM range for baits corresponding to the extracellular domains of multiple mammalian proteins. CC4- and FN3-based binding proteins were fused to the N- and/or C-termini of Fc domains and used for immunostaining of transfected cells. Additionally, FN3-based binding proteins were inserted into VP1 of AAV to direct AAV infection to cells expressing a defined surface receptor. Finally, FN3-based binding proteins were inserted into the Pvc13 tail fiber protein of an extracellular contractile injection system particle to direct protein cargo delivery to cells expressing a defined surface receptor. These experiments support the utility of CC4 helices B and C and of FN3 beta-strands C, D, and F together with adjacent loops CD and FG as surfaces for engineering general purpose protein-binding reagents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ningyu Zhu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Philip M Smallwood
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Amir Rattner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Tao-Hsin Chang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - John Williams
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Yanshu Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Jeremy Nathans
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
David TI, Pestov NB, Korneenko TV, Barlev NA. Non-Immunoglobulin Synthetic Binding Proteins for Oncology. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2023; 88:1232-1247. [PMID: 37770391 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923090043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Extensive application of technologies like phage display in screening peptide and protein combinatorial libraries has not only facilitated creation of new recombinant antibodies but has also significantly enriched repertoire of the protein binders that have polypeptide scaffolds without homology to immunoglobulins. These innovative synthetic binding protein (SBP) platforms have grown in number and now encompass monobodies/adnectins, DARPins, lipocalins/anticalins, and a variety of miniproteins such as affibodies and knottins, among others. They serve as versatile modules for developing complex affinity tools that hold promise in both diagnostic and therapeutic settings. An optimal scaffold typically has low molecular weight, minimal immunogenicity, and demonstrates resistance against various challenging conditions, including proteolysis - making it potentially suitable for peroral administration. Retaining functionality under reducing intracellular milieu is also advantageous. However, paramount to its functionality is the scaffold's ability to tolerate mutations across numerous positions, allowing for the formation of a sufficiently large target binding region. This is achieved through the library construction, screening, and subsequent expression in an appropriate system. Scaffolds that exhibit high thermodynamic stability are especially coveted by the developers of new SBPs. These are steadily making their way into clinical settings, notably as antagonists of oncoproteins in signaling pathways. This review surveys the diverse landscape of SBPs, placing particular emphasis on the inhibitors targeting the oncoprotein KRAS, and highlights groundbreaking opportunities for SBPs in oncology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Temitope I David
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, 119121, Russia
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Phystech School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Nikolay B Pestov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, 119121, Russia.
- Laboratory of Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Other Viral Encephalitides, Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 108819, Russia
- Group of Cross-Linking Enzymes, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Tatyana V Korneenko
- Group of Cross-Linking Enzymes, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Nikolai A Barlev
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, 119121, Russia
- Laboratory of Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Other Viral Encephalitides, Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 108819, Russia
- Institute of Cytology Russian Academy of Sciences, St.-Petersburg, 194064, Russia
- School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Teufl M, Zajc CU, Traxlmayr MW. Engineering Strategies to Overcome the Stability-Function Trade-Off in Proteins. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:1030-1039. [PMID: 35258287 PMCID: PMC8938945 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
![]()
In addition to its
biological function, the stability of a protein
is a major determinant for its applicability. Unfortunately, engineering
proteins for improved functionality usually results in destabilization
of the protein. This so-called stability–function trade-off
can be explained by the simple fact that the generation of a novel
protein function—or the improvement of an existing one—necessitates
the insertion of mutations, i.e., deviations from
the evolutionarily optimized wild-type sequence. In fact, it was demonstrated
that gain-of-function mutations are not more destabilizing than other
random mutations. The stability–function trade-off is a universal
phenomenon during protein evolution that has been observed with completely
different types of proteins, including enzymes, antibodies, and engineered
binding scaffolds. In this review, we discuss three types of strategies
that have been successfully deployed to overcome this omnipresent
obstacle in protein engineering approaches: (i) using highly stable
parental proteins, (ii) minimizing the extent of destabilization during
functional engineering (by library optimization and/or coselection
for stability and function), and (iii) repairing damaged mutants through
stability engineering. The implementation of these strategies in protein
engineering campaigns will facilitate the efficient generation of
protein variants that are not only functional but also stable and
therefore better-suited for subsequent applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Teufl
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria
- CD Laboratory for Next Generation CAR T Cells, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Charlotte U. Zajc
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria
- CD Laboratory for Next Generation CAR T Cells, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael W. Traxlmayr
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria
- CD Laboratory for Next Generation CAR T Cells, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ayurini M, Chandler PG, O’Leary PD, Wang R, Rudd D, Milewska KD, Malins LR, Buckle AM, Hooper JF. Polymer End Group Control through a Decarboxylative Cobalt-Mediated Radical Polymerization: New Avenues for Synthesizing Peptide, Protein, and Nanomaterial Conjugates. JACS AU 2022; 2:169-177. [PMID: 35098233 PMCID: PMC8790747 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cobalt-mediated radical polymerizations (CMRPs) have been initiated by the radical decarboxylation of tetrachlorophthalimide activated esters. This allows for the controlled radical polymerization of activated monomers across a broad temperature range with a single cobalt species, with the incorporation of polymer end groups derived from simple carboxylic acid derivatives and termination with an organozinc reagent. This method has been applied to the synthesis of a polymer/graphene conjugate and a water-soluble protein/polymer conjugate, demonstrating the first examples of CMRP in graphene and protein conjugation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meri Ayurini
- Department
of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, 3800 Victoria, Australia
- Chemistry
Department, Universitas Pertamina, South Jakarta 12220, Indonesia
| | - Peter G. Chandler
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, 3800 Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul D. O’Leary
- Department
of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, 3800 Victoria, Australia
| | - Ruoxin Wang
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, 3800 Victoria, Australia
| | - David Rudd
- Monash
Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Parkville, 3052 Victoria, Australia
| | - Karen D. Milewska
- Research
School of Chemistry, Australian National
University, Acton, 2601 Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Lara R. Malins
- Research
School of Chemistry, Australian National
University, Acton, 2601 Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Ashley M. Buckle
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, 3800 Victoria, Australia
| | - Joel F. Hooper
- Department
of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, 3800 Victoria, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chee SMQ, Wongsantichon J, Yi LS, Sana B, Frosi Y, Robinson RC, Ghadessy FJ. Functional display of bioactive peptides on the vGFP scaffold. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10127. [PMID: 33980885 PMCID: PMC8115314 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89421-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Grafting bioactive peptides into recipient protein scaffolds can often increase their activities by conferring enhanced stability and cellular longevity. Here, we describe use of vGFP as a novel scaffold to display peptides. vGFP comprises GFP fused to a bound high affinity Enhancer nanobody that potentiates its fluorescence. We show that peptides inserted into the linker region between GFP and the Enhancer are correctly displayed for on-target interaction, both in vitro and in live cells by pull-down, measurement of target inhibition and imaging analyses. This is further confirmed by structural studies highlighting the optimal display of a vGFP-displayed peptide bound to Mdm2, the key negative regulator of p53 that is often overexpressed in cancer. We also demonstrate a potential biosensing application of the vGFP scaffold by showing target-dependent modulation of intrinsic fluorescence. vGFP is relatively thermostable, well-expressed and inherently fluorescent. These properties make it a useful scaffold to add to the existing tool box for displaying peptides that can disrupt clinically relevant protein–protein interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Min Qi Chee
- p53 Laboratory, A*STAR, 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Jantana Wongsantichon
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Lau Sze Yi
- p53 Laboratory, A*STAR, 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Barindra Sana
- p53 Laboratory, A*STAR, 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Yuri Frosi
- p53 Laboratory, A*STAR, 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Robert C Robinson
- School of Biomolecular Science and Engineering (BSE), Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC), Rayong, 21210, Thailand.,Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan
| | - Farid J Ghadessy
- p53 Laboratory, A*STAR, 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore, 138648, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mutational and biophysical robustness in a prestabilized monobody. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100447. [PMID: 33617878 PMCID: PMC8010708 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The fibronectin type III (FN3) monobody domain is a promising non-antibody scaffold, which features a less complex architecture than an antibody while maintaining analogous binding loops. We previously developed FN3Con, a hyperstable monobody derivative with diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Prestabilization of the scaffold mitigates the stability–function trade-off commonly associated with evolving a protein domain toward biological activity. Here, we aimed to examine if the FN3Con monobody could take on antibody-like binding to therapeutic targets, while retaining its extreme stability. We targeted the first of the Adnectin derivative of monobodies to reach clinical trials, which was engineered by directed evolution for binding to the therapeutic target VEGFR2; however, this function was gained at the expense of large losses in thermostability and increased oligomerization. In order to mitigate these losses, we grafted the binding loops from Adnectin-anti-VEGFR2 (CT-322) onto the prestabilized FN3Con scaffold to produce a domain that successfully bound with high affinity to the therapeutic target VEGFR2. This FN3Con-anti-VEGFR2 construct also maintains high thermostability, including remarkable long-term stability, retaining binding activity after 2 years of storage at 36 °C. Further investigations into buffer excipients doubled the presence of monomeric monobody in accelerated stability trials. These data suggest that loop grafting onto a prestabilized scaffold is a viable strategy for the development of monobody domains with desirable biophysical characteristics and that FN3Con is therefore well-suited to applications such as the evolution of multiple paratopes or shelf-stable diagnostics and therapeutics.
Collapse
|
8
|
Modi T, Campitelli P, Kazan IC, Ozkan SB. Protein folding stability and binding interactions through the lens of evolution: a dynamical perspective. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2020; 66:207-215. [PMID: 33388636 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2020.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
While the function of a protein depends heavily on its ability to fold into a correct 3D structure, billions of years of evolution have tailored proteins from highly stable objects to flexible molecules as they adapted to environmental changes. Nature maintains the fine balance of protein folding and stability while still evolving towards new function through generations of fine-tuning necessary interactions with other proteins and small molecules. Here we focus on recent computational and experimental studies that shed light onto how evolution molds protein folding and the functional landscape from a conformational dynamics' perspective. Particularly, we explore the importance of dynamic allostery throughout protein evolution and discuss how the protein anisotropic network can give rise to allosteric and epistatic interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tushar Modi
- Department of Physics and Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1504, USA
| | - Paul Campitelli
- Department of Physics and Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1504, USA
| | - Ismail Can Kazan
- Department of Physics and Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1504, USA
| | - Sefika Banu Ozkan
- Department of Physics and Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1504, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Chalopin Y. The physical origin of rate promoting vibrations in enzymes revealed by structural rigidity. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17465. [PMID: 33060716 PMCID: PMC7566648 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74439-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Enzymes are the most efficient catalysts known to date. However, decades of research have failed to fully explain the catalytic power of enzymes, and most of the current attempts to uncloak the details of atomic motions at active sites remain incomplete. Here, a straightforward manner for understanding the interplay between the complex or irregular enzyme topology and dynamical effects at catalytic sites is introduced, by revealing how fast localized vibrations form spontaneously in the stiffest parts of the scaffold. While shedding light on a physical mechanism that allowed the selection of the picosecond (ps) timescale to increase the catalytic proficiency, this approach exposes the functional importance of localized motions as a by-product of the stability-function tradeoff in enzyme evolution. From this framework of analysis—directly accessible from available diffraction data—experimental strategies for engineering the catalytic rate in enzymatic proteins are proposed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yann Chalopin
- Laboratoire EM2C, CNRS & CentraleSupelec, University of Paris-Saclay, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Chandler PG, Buckle AM. Development and Differentiation in Monobodies Based on the Fibronectin Type 3 Domain. Cells 2020; 9:E610. [PMID: 32143310 PMCID: PMC7140400 DOI: 10.3390/cells9030610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As a non-antibody scaffold, monobodies based on the fibronectin type III (FN3) domain overcome antibody size and complexity while maintaining analogous binding loops. However, antibodies and their derivatives remain the gold standard for the design of new therapeutics. In response, clinical-stage therapeutic proteins based on the FN3 domain are beginning to use native fibronectin function as a point of differentiation. The small and simple structure of monomeric monobodies confers increased tissue distribution and reduced half-life, whilst the absence of disulphide bonds improves stability in cytosolic environments. Where multi-specificity is challenging with an antibody format that is prone to mis-pairing between chains, multiple FN3 domains in the fibronectin assembly already interact with a large number of molecules. As such, multiple monobodies engineered for interaction with therapeutic targets are being combined in a similar beads-on-a-string assembly which improves both efficacy and pharmacokinetics. Furthermore, full length fibronectin is able to fold into multiple conformations as part of its natural function and a greater understanding of how mechanical forces allow for the transition between states will lead to advanced applications that truly differentiate the FN3 domain as a therapeutic scaffold.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter G. Chandler
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Australia;
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Bigman LS, Levy Y. Proteins: molecules defined by their trade-offs. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2020; 60:50-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2019.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
|
12
|
Klesmith JR, Wu L, Lobb RR, Rennert PD, Hackel BJ. Fine Epitope Mapping of the CD19 Extracellular Domain Promotes Design. Biochemistry 2019; 58:4869-4881. [PMID: 31702909 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The B-cell surface protein CD19 is present throughout the cell life cycle and is uniformly expressed in leukemias, making it a target for chimeric antigen receptor engineered immune cell therapy. Identifying the sequence dependence of the binding of CD19 to antibodies empowers fundamental study and more tailored development of CD19-targeted therapeutics. To identify the antibody-binding epitopes on CD19, we screened a comprehensive single-site saturation mutation library of the human CD19 extracellular domain to identify mutations detrimental to binding FMC63-the dominant CD19 antibody used in chimeric antigen receptor development-as well as 4G7-2E3 and 3B10, which have been used in various types of CD19 research and development. All three antibodies had partially overlapping, yet distinct, epitopes near the published epitope of antibody B43. The FMC63 conformational epitope spans spatially adjacent, but genetically distant, loops in exons 3 and 4. The 3B10 epitope is a linear peptide sequence that binds CD19 with 440 pM affinity. Along with their primary goal of epitope mapping, the mutational tolerance data also empowered additional CD19 variant design and analysis. A designed CD19 variant with all N-linked glycosylation sites removed successfully bound antibody in the yeast display context, which provides a lead for aglycosylated applications. Screening for thermally stable variants identified mutations to guide further CD19 stabilization for fusion protein applications and revealed evolutionary affinity-stability trade-offs. These fundamental insights into CD19 sequence-function relationships enhance our understanding of antibody-mediated CD19-targeted therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin R Klesmith
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science , University of Minnesota-Twin Cities , 421 Washington Avenue SE , Minneapolis , Minnesota 55455 , United States
| | - Lan Wu
- Aleta Biotherapeutics , 27 Strathmore Road , Natick , Massachusetts 01760 , United States
| | - Roy R Lobb
- Aleta Biotherapeutics , 27 Strathmore Road , Natick , Massachusetts 01760 , United States
| | - Paul D Rennert
- Aleta Biotherapeutics , 27 Strathmore Road , Natick , Massachusetts 01760 , United States
| | - Benjamin J Hackel
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science , University of Minnesota-Twin Cities , 421 Washington Avenue SE , Minneapolis , Minnesota 55455 , United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Consensus sequence design as a general strategy to create hyperstable, biologically active proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:11275-11284. [PMID: 31110018 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1816707116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Consensus sequence design offers a promising strategy for designing proteins of high stability while retaining biological activity since it draws upon an evolutionary history in which residues important for both stability and function are likely to be conserved. Although there have been several reports of successful consensus design of individual targets, it is unclear from these anecdotal studies how often this approach succeeds and how often it fails. Here, we attempt to assess generality by designing consensus sequences for a set of six protein families with a range of chain lengths, structures, and activities. We characterize the resulting consensus proteins for stability, structure, and biological activities in an unbiased way. We find that all six consensus proteins adopt cooperatively folded structures in solution. Strikingly, four of six of these consensus proteins show increased thermodynamic stability over naturally occurring homologs. Each consensus protein tested for function maintained at least partial biological activity. Although peptide binding affinity by a consensus-designed SH3 is rather low, K m values for consensus enzymes are similar to values from extant homologs. Although consensus enzymes are slower than extant homologs at low temperature, they are faster than some thermophilic enzymes at high temperature. An analysis of sequence properties shows consensus proteins to be enriched in charged residues, and rarified in uncharged polar residues. Sequence differences between consensus and extant homologs are predominantly located at weakly conserved surface residues, highlighting the importance of these residues in the success of the consensus strategy.
Collapse
|
14
|
Protein engineering: the potential of remote mutations. Biochem Soc Trans 2019; 47:701-711. [PMID: 30902926 DOI: 10.1042/bst20180614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Engineered proteins, especially enzymes, are now commonly used in many industries owing to their catalytic power, specific binding of ligands, and properties as materials and food additives. As the number of potential uses for engineered proteins has increased, the interest in engineering or designing proteins to have greater stability, activity and specificity has increased in turn. With any rational engineering or design pursuit, the success of these endeavours relies on our fundamental understanding of the systems themselves; in the case of proteins, their structure-dynamics-function relationships. Proteins are most commonly rationally engineered by targeting the residues that we understand to be functionally important, such as enzyme active sites or ligand-binding sites. This means that the majority of the protein, i.e. regions remote from the active- or ligand-binding site, is often ignored. However, there is a growing body of literature that reports on, and rationalises, the successful engineering of proteins at remote sites. This minireview will discuss the current state of the art in protein engineering, with a particular focus on engineering regions that are remote from active- or ligand-binding sites. As the use of protein technologies expands, exploiting the potential improvements made possible through modifying remote regions will become vital if we are to realise the full potential of protein engineering and design.
Collapse
|
15
|
Lau SY, Siau JW, Sobota RM, Wang CI, Zhong P, Lane DP, Ghadessy FJ. Synthetic 10FN3-based mono- and bivalent inhibitors of MDM2/X function. Protein Eng Des Sel 2018; 31:301-312. [PMID: 30169723 PMCID: PMC6277172 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzy018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Engineered non-antibody scaffold proteins constitute a rapidly growing technology for diagnostics and modulation/perturbation of protein function. Here, we describe the rapid and systematic development of high-affinity 10FN3 domain inhibitors of the MDM2 and MDMX proteins. These are often overexpressed in cancer and represent attractive drug targets. Using facile in vitro expression and pull-down assay methodology, numerous design iterations addressing insertion site(s) and spacer length were screened for optimal presentation of an MDM2/X dual peptide inhibitor in the 10FN3 scaffold. Lead inhibitors demonstrated robust, on-target cellular inhibition of MDM2/X leading to activation of the p53 tumor suppressor. Significant improvement to target engagement was observed by increasing valency within a single 10FN3 domain, which has not been demonstrated previously. We further established stable reporter cell lines with tunable expression of EGFP-fused 10FN3 domain inhibitors, and showed their intracellular location to be contingent on target engagement. Importantly, competitive inhibition of MDM2/X by small molecules and cell-penetrating peptides led to a readily observable phenotype, indicating significant potential of the developed platform as a robust tool for cell-based drug screening.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S -Y Lau
- p53 Laboratory (p53Lab), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore, Singapore
| | - J W Siau
- p53 Laboratory (p53Lab), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore, Singapore
| | - R M Sobota
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Dr, Singapore, Singapore
- Institute of Medical Biology (IMB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore, Singapore
| | - C -I Wang
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore, Singapore
| | - P Zhong
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore, Singapore
| | - D P Lane
- p53 Laboratory (p53Lab), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore, Singapore
| | - F J Ghadessy
- p53 Laboratory (p53Lab), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Rabia LA, Desai AA, Jhajj HS, Tessier PM. Understanding and overcoming trade-offs between antibody affinity, specificity, stability and solubility. Biochem Eng J 2018; 137:365-374. [PMID: 30666176 DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The widespread use of monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic applications has led to intense interest in optimizing several of their natural properties (affinity, specificity, stability, solubility and effector functions) as well as introducing non-natural activities (bispecificity and cytotoxicity mediated by conjugated drugs). A common challenge during antibody optimization is that improvements in one property (e.g., affinity) can lead to deficits in other properties (e.g., stability). Here we review recent advances in understanding trade-offs between different antibody properties, including affinity, specificity, stability and solubility. We also review new approaches for co-optimizing multiple antibody properties and discuss how these methods can be used to rapidly and systematically generate antibodies for a wide range of applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lilia A Rabia
- Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Isermann Dept. of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180
| | - Alec A Desai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Harkamal S Jhajj
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Peter M Tessier
- Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Isermann Dept. of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Stern LA, Csizmar CM, Woldring DR, Wagner CR, Hackel BJ. Titratable Avidity Reduction Enhances Affinity Discrimination in Mammalian Cellular Selections of Yeast-Displayed Ligands. ACS COMBINATORIAL SCIENCE 2017; 19:315-323. [PMID: 28322543 DOI: 10.1021/acscombsci.6b00191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Yeast surface display selections against mammalian cell monolayers have proven effective in isolating proteins with novel binding activity. Recent advances in this technique allow for the recovery of clones with even micromolar binding affinities. However, no efficient method has been shown for affinity-based selection in this context. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of titratable avidity reduction using dithiothreitol to achieve this goal. A series of epidermal growth factor receptor binding fibronectin domains with a range of affinities are used to quantitatively identify the number of ligands per yeast cell that yield the strongest selectivity between strong, moderate, and weak affinities. Notably, reduction of ligand display to 3,000-6,000 ligands per yeast cell of a 2 nM binder yields 16-fold better selectivity than that to a 17 nM binder. These lessons are applied to affinity maturation of an EpCAM-binding fibronectin population, yielding an enriched pool of ligands with significantly stronger affinity than that of an analogous pool sorted by standard cellular selection methods. Collectively, this study offers a facile approach for affinity selection of yeast-displayed ligands against full-length cellular targets and demonstrates the effectiveness of this method by generating EpCAM-binding ligands that are promising for further applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence A. Stern
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and ‡Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota−Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Clifford M. Csizmar
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and ‡Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota−Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Daniel R. Woldring
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and ‡Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota−Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Carston R. Wagner
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and ‡Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota−Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Benjamin J. Hackel
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and ‡Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota−Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| |
Collapse
|