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Venu A, Zhang Y, Seong J, Hong Y, Lee WS, Min JJ. Engineering of an EPHA2-Targeted Monobody for the Detection of Colorectal Cancer. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2024; 21:285-294. [PMID: 38670584 PMCID: PMC11059598 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20447] [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: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, and is second only to lung cancer with respect to cancer-related deaths. Noninvasive molecular imaging using established markers is a new emerging method to diagnose CRC. The human ephrin receptor family type-A 2 (hEPHA2) oncoprotein is overexpressed at the early, but not late, stages of CRC. Previously, we reported development of an E1 monobody that is specific for hEPHA2-expressing cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Herein, we investigated the ability of the E1 monobody to detect hEPHA2 expressing colorectal tumors in a mouse model, as well as in CRC tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS The expression of hEPHA2 on the surface of CRC cells was analyzed by western blotting and flow cytometry. The targeting efficacy of the E1 monobody for CRC cells was examined by flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence staining. E1 conjugated to the Renilla luciferase variant 8 (Rluc8) reporter protein was used for in vivo imaging in mice. Additionally, an enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) conjugated E1 monobody was used to check the ability of the E1 monobody to target CRC tissue. RESULTS The E1 monobody bound efficiently to hEPHA2-expressing CRC cell lines, and E1 conjugated to the Rluc8 reporter protein targeted tumor tissues in mice transplanted with HCT116 CRC tumor cells. Finally, E1-EGFP stained tumor tissues from human CRC patients, showing a pattern similar to that of an anti-hEPHA2 antibody. CONCLUSION The E1 monobody has utility as an EPHA2 targeting agent for the detection of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhil Venu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihyoun Seong
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hospital, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeongjin Hong
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Wan-Sik Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hospital, Gwangju, Republic of Korea;
| | - Jung-Joon Min
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Republic of Korea;
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Zhang Y, Sultonova RD, You SH, Choi Y, Kim SY, Lee WS, Seong J, Min JJ, Hong Y. The anticancer effect of PASylated calreticulin-targeting L-ASNase in solid tumor bearing mice with immunogenic cell death-inducing chemotherapy. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 210:115473. [PMID: 36863616 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
L-Asparaginase (L-ASNase), a bacterial enzyme that degrades asparagine, has been commonly used in combination with several chemical drugs to treat malignant hematopoietic cancers such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In contrast, the enzyme was known to inhibit the growth of solid tumor cells in vitro, but not to be effective in vivo. We previously reported that two novel monobodies (CRT3 and CRT4) bound specifically with calreticulin (CRT) exposed on tumor cells and tissues during immunogenic cell death (ICD). Here, we engineered L-ASNases conjugated with monobodies at the N-termini and PAS200 tags at the C-termini (CRT3LP and CRT4LP). These proteins were expected to possess four monobody and PAS200 tag moieties, which did not disrupt the L-ASNase conformation. These proteins were expressed 3.8-fold more highly in E. coli than those without PASylation. The purified proteins were highly soluble, with much greater apparent molecular weights than expected ones. Their affinity (Kd) against CRT was about 2 nM, 4-fold higher than that of monobodies. Their enzyme activity (∼6.5 IU/nmol) was similar to that of L-ASNase (∼7.2 IU/nmol), and their thermal stability was significantly increased at 55 °C. Their half-life times were > 9 h in mouse sera, about 5-fold longer than that of L-ASNase (∼1.8 h). Moreover, CRT3LP and CRT4LP bound specifically with CRT exposed on tumor cells in vitro, and additively suppressed the tumor growth in CT-26 and MC-38 tumor-bearing mice treated with ICD-inducing drugs (doxorubicin and mitoxantrone) but not with a non-ICD-inducing drug (gemcitabine). All data indicated that PASylated CRT-targeted L-ASNases enhanced the anticancer efficacy of ICD-inducing chemotherapy. Taken together, L-ASNase would be a potential anticancer drug for treating solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Rukhsora D Sultonova
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hwan You
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoonjoo Choi
- Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy MRC, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - So-Young Kim
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Wan-Sik Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihyoun Seong
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea; Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Joon Min
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yeongjin Hong
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea; Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Republic of Korea.
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Luo R, Liu H, Cheng Z. Protein scaffolds: Antibody alternative for cancer diagnosis and therapy. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:830-847. [PMID: 35866165 PMCID: PMC9257619 DOI: 10.1039/d2cb00094f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Although antibodies are well developed and widely used in cancer therapy and diagnostic fields, some defects remain, such as poor tissue penetration, long in vivo metabolic retention, potential cytotoxicity, patent limitation, and high production cost. These issues have led scientists to explore and develop novel antibody alternatives. Protein scaffolds are small monomeric proteins with stable tertiary structures and mutable residues, which emerged in the 1990s. By combining robust gene engineering and phage display techniques, libraries with sufficient diversity could be established for target binding scaffold selection. Given the properties of small size, high affinity, and excellent specificity and stability, protein scaffolds have been applied in basic research, and preclinical and clinical fields over the past two decades. To date, more than 20 types of protein scaffolds have been developed, with the most frequently used being affibody, adnectin, ANTICALIN®, DARPins, and knottin. In this review, we focus on the protein scaffold applications in cancer therapy and diagnosis in the last 5 years, and discuss the pros and cons, and strategies of optimization and design. Although antibodies are well developed and widely used in cancer therapy and diagnostic fields, some defects remain, such as poor tissue penetration, long in vivo metabolic retention, potential cytotoxicity, patent limitation, and high production cost.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Renli Luo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University Shenyang China
| | - Hongguang Liu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University Shenyang China
| | - Zhen Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Molecular Imaging Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 201203 China
- Drug Discovery Shandong Laboratory, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery Yantai Shandong 264117 China
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Zhang Y, Thangam R, You SH, Sultonova RD, Venu A, Min JJ, Hong Y. Engineering Calreticulin-Targeting Monobodies to Detect Immunogenic Cell Death in Cancer Chemotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2801. [PMID: 34199835 PMCID: PMC8200062 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Surface-exposed calreticulin (ecto-CRT) plays a crucial role in the phagocytic removal of apoptotic cells during immunotherapy. Ecto-CRT is an immunogenic signal induced in response to treatment with chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin (DOX) and mitoxantrone (MTX), and two peptides (KLGFFKR (Integrin-α) and GQPMYGQPMY (CRT binding peptide 1, Hep-I)) are known to specifically bind CRT. To engineer CRT-specific monobodies as agents to detect immunogenic cell death (ICD), we fused these peptide sequences at the binding loops (BC and FG) of human fibronectin domain III (FN3). CRT-specific monobodies were purified from E. coli by affinity chromatography. Using these monobodies, ecto-CRT was evaluated in vitro, in cultured cancer cell lines (CT-26, MC-38, HeLa, and MDA-MB-231), or in mice after anticancer drug treatment. Monobodies with both peptide sequences (CRT3 and CRT4) showed higher binding to ecto-CRT than those with a single peptide sequence. The binding affinity of the Rluc8 fusion protein-engineered monobodies (CRT3-Rluc8 and CRT4-Rluc8) to CRT was about 8 nM, and the half-life in serum and tumor tissue was about 12 h. By flow cytometry and confocal immunofluorescence of cancer cell lines, and by in vivo optical bioluminescence imaging of tumor-bearing mice, CRT3-Rluc8 and CRT4-Rluc8 bound specifically to ecto-CRT and effectively detected pre-apoptotic cells after treatment with ICD-inducing agents (DOX and MTX) but not a non-ICD-inducing agent (gemcitabine). Using CRT-specific monobodies, it is possible to detect ecto-CRT induction in cancer cells in response to drug exposure. This technique may be used to predict the therapeutic efficiency of chemo- and immuno-therapeutics early during anticancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea; (Y.Z.); (R.T.); (S.-H.Y.); (R.D.S.); (A.V.)
| | - Ramar Thangam
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea; (Y.Z.); (R.T.); (S.-H.Y.); (R.D.S.); (A.V.)
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Sung-Hwan You
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea; (Y.Z.); (R.T.); (S.-H.Y.); (R.D.S.); (A.V.)
| | - Rukhsora D. Sultonova
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea; (Y.Z.); (R.T.); (S.-H.Y.); (R.D.S.); (A.V.)
| | - Akhil Venu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea; (Y.Z.); (R.T.); (S.-H.Y.); (R.D.S.); (A.V.)
| | - Jung-Joon Min
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea; (Y.Z.); (R.T.); (S.-H.Y.); (R.D.S.); (A.V.)
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea
| | - Yeongjin Hong
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea; (Y.Z.); (R.T.); (S.-H.Y.); (R.D.S.); (A.V.)
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea
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Krasitskaya VV, Bashmakova EE, Frank LA. Coelenterazine-Dependent Luciferases as a Powerful Analytical Tool for Research and Biomedical Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7465. [PMID: 33050422 PMCID: PMC7590018 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
: The functioning of bioluminescent systems in most of the known marine organisms is based on the oxidation reaction of the same substrate-coelenterazine (CTZ), catalyzed by luciferase. Despite the diversity in structures and the functioning mechanisms, these enzymes can be united into a common group called CTZ-dependent luciferases. Among these, there are two sharply different types of the system organization-Ca2+-regulated photoproteins and luciferases themselves that function in accordance with the classical enzyme-substrate kinetics. Along with deep and comprehensive fundamental research on these systems, approaches and methods of their practical use as highly sensitive reporters in analytics have been developed. The research aiming at the creation of artificial luciferases and synthetic CTZ analogues with new unique properties has led to the development of new experimental analytical methods based on them. The commercial availability of many ready-to-use assay systems based on CTZ-dependent luciferases is also important when choosing them by first-time-users. The development of analytical methods based on these bioluminescent systems is currently booming. The bioluminescent systems under consideration were successfully applied in various biological research areas, which confirms them to be a powerful analytical tool. In this review, we consider the main directions, results, and achievements in research involving these luciferases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasilisa V. Krasitskaya
- Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS”, 660036 Krasnoyarsk, Russia; (V.V.K.); (E.E.B.)
| | - Eugenia E. Bashmakova
- Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS”, 660036 Krasnoyarsk, Russia; (V.V.K.); (E.E.B.)
| | - Ludmila A. Frank
- Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS”, 660036 Krasnoyarsk, Russia; (V.V.K.); (E.E.B.)
- School of Fundamental Biology and Biotechnology, Siberian Federal University, 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
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Pyo A, You SH, Sik Kim H, Young Kim J, Min JJ, Kim DY, Hong Y. Production of 64Cu-labeled monobody for imaging of human EphA2-expressing tumors. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2020; 30:127262. [PMID: 32527560 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
We previously reported on the monobody E1, which specifically targets the tumor marker hEphA2. In this study, we labeled NOTA-conjugated E1 with 64Cu (64Cu-NOTA-E1) and evaluated biologic characteristics. The uptake of 64Cu-NOTA-E1 in PC3 cells (a human prostate cancer cell line) with high expression of hEphA2 increased in a time-dependent manner. In PC3 xenograft mice, 64Cu-NOTA-E1 injected via the tail vein allowed visualization of tumors on positron emission tomography after 1 h and the highest uptake measured at 24 h post-injection. By contrast, the radioactivity of other tissues either did not increase or decreased over 24 h. This indicates that 64Cu-NOTA-E1 has high tumor uptake and retention, with rapid clearance, and low background values in other tissues. Therefore, 64Cu-NOTA-E1 should be suitable as a novel PET imaging agent for hEphA2-expressing tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayoung Pyo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hwan You
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeon Sik Kim
- Medical Photonics Research Center, Korea Photonics Technology Institute, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Young Kim
- Division of RI-Convergence Research, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Joon Min
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Yeon Kim
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yeongjin Hong
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Republic of Korea.
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