1
|
Clarke JD, Douangamath A, Mikolajek H, Bonnet-Di Placido M, Ren J, Fry EE, Stuart DI, Hammond JA, Owens RJ. The impact of exchanging the light and heavy chains on the structures of bovine ultralong antibodies. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2024; 80:154-163. [PMID: 38958188 PMCID: PMC11229553 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x2400606x] [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: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The third complementary-determining regions of the heavy-chain (CDR3H) variable regions (VH) of some cattle antibodies are highly extended, consisting of 48 or more residues. These `ultralong' CDR3Hs form β-ribbon stalks that protrude from the surface of the antibody with a disulfide cross-linked knob region at their apex that dominates antigen interactions over the other CDR loops. The structure of the Fab fragment of a naturally paired bovine ultralong antibody (D08), identified by single B-cell sequencing, has been determined to 1.6 Å resolution. By swapping the D08 native light chain with that of an unrelated antigen-unknown ultralong antibody, it is shown that interactions between the CDR3s of the variable domains potentially affect the fine positioning of the ultralong CDR3H; however, comparison with other crystallographic structures shows that crystalline packing is also a major contributor. It is concluded that, on balance, the exact positioning of ultralong CDR3H loops is most likely to be due to the constraints of crystal packing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John D. Clarke
- The Division of Structural BiologyUniversity of OxfordRoosevelt DriveOxfordOX3 7BNUnited Kingdom
- Macromolecular CrystallographyDiamond Light SourceHarwell Science and Innovation CampusDidcotOX11 0DEUnited Kingdom
- ImmunogeneticsThe Pirbright InstituteAsh RoadPirbrightWokingGU24 0NFUnited Kingdom
| | - Alice Douangamath
- Macromolecular CrystallographyDiamond Light SourceHarwell Science and Innovation CampusDidcotOX11 0DEUnited Kingdom
| | - Halina Mikolajek
- Macromolecular CrystallographyDiamond Light SourceHarwell Science and Innovation CampusDidcotOX11 0DEUnited Kingdom
- CrystallographyThe Research Complex at HarwellHarwell Science and Innovation CampusDidcotOX11 0FAUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Jingshan Ren
- The Division of Structural BiologyUniversity of OxfordRoosevelt DriveOxfordOX3 7BNUnited Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth E. Fry
- The Division of Structural BiologyUniversity of OxfordRoosevelt DriveOxfordOX3 7BNUnited Kingdom
| | - Dave I. Stuart
- The Division of Structural BiologyUniversity of OxfordRoosevelt DriveOxfordOX3 7BNUnited Kingdom
- Macromolecular CrystallographyDiamond Light SourceHarwell Science and Innovation CampusDidcotOX11 0DEUnited Kingdom
| | - John A. Hammond
- ImmunogeneticsThe Pirbright InstituteAsh RoadPirbrightWokingGU24 0NFUnited Kingdom
| | - Raymond J. Owens
- The Division of Structural BiologyUniversity of OxfordRoosevelt DriveOxfordOX3 7BNUnited Kingdom
- Structural Biology, The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, DidcotOX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Trommer J, Lesniowski F, Buchner J, Svilenov HL. Specific features of a scaffolding antibody light chain. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4990. [PMID: 38607241 PMCID: PMC11010950 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4990] [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: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
The antigen-binding sites in conventional antibodies are formed by hypervariable complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) from both heavy chains (HCs) and light chains (LCs). A deviation from this paradigm is found in a subset of bovine antibodies that bind antigens via an ultra-long CDR. The HCs bearing ultra-long CDRs pair with a restricted set of highly conserved LCs that convey stability to the antibody. Despite the importance of these LCs, their specific features remained unknown. Here, we show that the conserved bovine LC found in antibodies with ultra-long CDRs exhibits a distinct combination of favorable physicochemical properties such as good secretion from mammalian cells, strong dimerization, high stability, and resistance to aggregation. These physicochemical traits of the LCs arise from a combination of the specific sequences in the germline CDRs and a lambda LC framework. In addition to understanding the molecular architecture of antibodies with ultra-long CDRs, our findings reveal fundamental insights into LC characteristics that can guide the design of antibodies with improved properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Trommer
- Center of Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA) and School of Natural Sciences, Department of BiosciencesTechnical University of MunichGarchingGermany
| | - Florian Lesniowski
- Center of Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA) and School of Natural Sciences, Department of BiosciencesTechnical University of MunichGarchingGermany
| | - Johannes Buchner
- Center of Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA) and School of Natural Sciences, Department of BiosciencesTechnical University of MunichGarchingGermany
| | - Hristo L. Svilenov
- Center of Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA) and School of Natural Sciences, Department of BiosciencesTechnical University of MunichGarchingGermany
- Present address:
Faculty of Pharmaceutical SciencesGhent UniversityOttergemsesteenweg 460Ghent9000Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kuravsky M, Gibbons GF, Joyce C, Scott-Tucker A, Macpherson A, Lawson ADG. Modular design of bi- and multi-specific knob domain fusions. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1384467. [PMID: 38605965 PMCID: PMC11008599 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1384467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The therapeutic potential of bispecific antibodies is becoming widely recognised, with over a hundred formats already described. For many applications, enhanced tissue penetration is sought, so bispecifics with low molecular weight may offer a route to enhanced potency. Here we report the design of bi- and tri-specific antibody-based constructs with molecular weights as low as 14.5 and 22 kDa respectively. Methods Autonomous bovine ultra-long CDR H3 (knob domain peptide) modules have been engineered with artificial coiled-coil stalks derived from Sin Nombre orthohantavirus nucleocapsid protein and human Beclin-1, and joined in series to produce bi- and tri-specific antibody-based constructs with exceptionally low molecular weights. Results Knob domain peptides with coiled-coil stalks retain high, independent antigen binding affinity, exhibit exceptional levels of thermal stability, and can be readily joined head-to-tail yielding the smallest described multi-specific antibody format. The resulting constructs are able to bind simultaneously to all their targets with no interference. Discussion Compared to existing bispecific formats, the reduced molecular weight of the knob domain fusions may enable enhanced tissue penetration and facilitate binding to cryptic epitopes that are inaccessible to conventional antibodies. Furthermore, they can be easily produced at high yield as recombinant products and are free from the heavy-light chain mispairing issue. Taken together, our approach offers an efficient route to modular construction of minimalistic bi- and multi-specifics, thereby further broadening the therapeutic scope for knob domain peptides.
Collapse
|
4
|
Altman PX, Parren M, Sang H, Ozorowski G, Lee WH, Smider VV, Wilson IA, Ward AB, Mwangi W, Burton DR, Sok D. HIV envelope trimers and gp120 as immunogens to induce broadly neutralizing antibodies in cows. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.20.585065. [PMID: 38585787 PMCID: PMC10996456 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.20.585065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The study of immunogens capable of eliciting broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) is crucial for the development of an HIV vaccine. To date, only cows, making use of their ultralong CDRH3 loops, have reliably elicited bnAbs following immunization with HIV Envelope trimers. Antibody responses to the CD4 binding site have been readily elicited by immunization of cows with a stabilized Env trimer of the BG505 strain and, with more difficulty, to the V2-apex region of Env with a cocktail of trimers. Here, we sought to determine whether the BG505 Env trimer could be engineered to generate new bnAb specificities in cows. Since the cow CD4 binding site bnAbs bind to monomeric BG505 gp120, we also sought to determine whether gp120 immunization alone might be sufficient to induce bnAbs. We found that engineering the CD4 binding site by mutation of a key binding residue of BG505 HIV Env resulted in a reduced bnAb response that took more immunizations to develop. Monoclonal antibodies isolated from one animal were directed to the V2-apex, suggesting a re-focusing of the bnAb response. Immunization with monomeric BG505 g120 generated no serum bnAb responses, indicating that the ultralong CDRH3 bnAbs are only elicited in the context of the trimer in the absence of many other less restrictive epitopes presented on monomeric gp120. The results support the notion of a hierarchy of epitopes on HIV Env and suggest that, even with the presence in the cow repertoire of ultralong CDRH3s, bnAb epitopes are relatively disfavored.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pilar X. Altman
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Mara Parren
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Huldah Sang
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medical, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA
| | - Gabriel Ozorowski
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Wen-Hsin Lee
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Vaughn V. Smider
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Applied Biomedical Science Institute, San Diego, CA, 92127, USA
| | - Ian A. Wilson
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Andrew B. Ward
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Waithaka Mwangi
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medical, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA
| | - Dennis R. Burton
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Devin Sok
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, New York, NY 10004, USA
- Lead contact
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Arras P, Zimmermann J, Lipinski B, Valldorf B, Evers A, Elter D, Krah S, Doerner A, Guarnera E, Siegmund V, Kolmar H, Pekar L, Zielonka S. Bovine ultralong CDR-H3 derived knob paratopes elicit potent TNF-α neutralization and enable the generation of novel adalimumab-based antibody architectures with augmented features. Biol Chem 2024; 0:hsz-2023-0370. [PMID: 38373142 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2023-0370] [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: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
In this work we have generated cattle-derived chimeric ultralong CDR-H3 antibodies targeting tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) via immunization and yeast surface display. We identified one particular ultralong CDR-H3 paratope that potently neutralized TNF-α. Interestingly, grafting of the knob architecture onto a peripheral loop of the CH3 domain of the Fc part of an IgG1 resulted in the generation of a TNF-α neutralizing Fc (Fcknob) that did not show any potency loss compared with the parental chimeric IgG format. Eventually, grafting this knob onto the CH3 region of adalimumab enabled the engineering of a novel TNF-α targeting antibody architecture displaying augmented TNF-α inhibition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Arras
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
- Biomolecular Immunotherapy, Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Peter-Grünberg-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
- Targeted mRNA Delivery, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Jasmin Zimmermann
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Britta Lipinski
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
- Biomolecular Immunotherapy, Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Peter-Grünberg-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Bernhard Valldorf
- Targeted mRNA Delivery, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Andreas Evers
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Desislava Elter
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Simon Krah
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Achim Doerner
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Enrico Guarnera
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Vanessa Siegmund
- Early Protein Supply & Characterization, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Applied Biochemistry, Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Peter-Grünberg-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Lukas Pekar
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Zielonka
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
- Biomolecular Immunotherapy, Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Peter-Grünberg-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Altman PX, Ozorowski G, Stanfield RL, Haakenson J, Appel M, Parren M, Lee WH, Sang H, Woehl J, Saye-Francisco K, Joyce C, Song G, Porter K, Landais E, Andrabi R, Wilson IA, Ward AB, Mwangi W, Smider VV, Burton DR, Sok D. Immunization of cows with HIV envelope trimers generates broadly neutralizing antibodies to the V2-apex from the ultralong CDRH3 repertoire. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.13.580058. [PMID: 38405899 PMCID: PMC10888833 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.13.580058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The generation of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) to specific HIV epitopes of the HIV Envelope (Env) is one of the cornerstones of HIV vaccine research. The current animal models we use have been unable to reliable produce a broadly neutralizing antibody response, with the exception of cows. Cows have rapidly and reliably produced a CD4 binding site response by homologous prime and boosting with a native-like Env trimer. In small animal models other engineered immunogens previously have been able to focus antibody responses to the bnAb V2-apex region of Env. Here, we immunized two groups of cows (n=4) with two regiments of V2-apex focusing immunogens to investigate whether antibody responses could be directed to the V2-apex on Env. Group 1 were immunized with chimpanzee simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-Env trimer that shares its V2-apex with HIV, followed by immunization with C108, a V2-apex focusing immunogen, and finally boosted with a cross-clade native-like trimer cocktail. Group 2 were immunized with HIV C108 Env trimer followed by the same HIV trimer cocktail as Group 1. Longitudinal serum analysis showed that one cow in each group developed serum neutralizing antibody responses to the V2-apex. Eight and 11 bnAbs were isolated from Group 1 and Group 2 cows respectively. The best bnAbs had both medium breadth and potency. Potent and broad responses developed later than previous CD4bs cow bnAbs and required several different immunogens. All isolated bnAbs were derived from the ultralong CDRH3 repertoire. The finding that cow antibodies can target multiple broadly neutralizing epitopes on the HIV surface reveals important insight into the generation of immunogens and testing in the cow animal model. The exclusive isolation of ultralong CDRH3 bnAbs, despite only comprising a small percent of the cow repertoire, suggests these antibodies outcompete the long and short CDRH3 antibodies during the bnAb response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pilar X. Altman
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Gabriel Ozorowski
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Robyn L. Stanfield
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jeremy Haakenson
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Applied Biomedical Science Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Michael Appel
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mara Parren
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Wen-Hsin Lee
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Huldah Sang
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medical, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Jordan Woehl
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karen Saye-Francisco
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Collin Joyce
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ge Song
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Katelyn Porter
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Elise Landais
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, New York, NY, USA
| | - Raiees Andrabi
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ian A. Wilson
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Andrew B. Ward
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Waithaka Mwangi
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medical, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Vaughn V. Smider
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Applied Biomedical Science Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Dennis R. Burton
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Devin Sok
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, New York, NY, USA
- Lead contact
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
He X, Tan T, Yang S, Feng Y, Wen Q. Characterisation of an anticomplement polysaccharide BP-S1 from seeds of Brucea javanica. Nat Prod Res 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38189427 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2300399] [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: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Bioactivity-guided purification obtained polysaccharide BP-S1 from seeds of Brucea javanica. The results showed that BP-S1 was a homogenous polysaccharide with molecular weight of 45.7 kDa, mainly composed of arabinose and glucose in the ratio of 1.0:1.0 and the backbone of BP-S1 was deduced to be →3,4)-α-Glup-(1→ with branches of →2)-α-Arap-(1→and α-Arap-(1→, and the possible repetitive units were speculated according to result of methylation and 2D-NMR. Moreover, BP-S1 is a periodic rope-like structure. Functional analysis revealed that BP-S1 inhibited complement activation on the classic and alternative pathways with values of CH50 0.073 ± 0.012 mg/mL and AP50 0.097 ± 0.004 mg/mL, respectively. In mechanism study, using complement component depleted-sera methods indicated that BP-S1 selectively interacted with C3 and C4 components.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao He
- Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Ting Tan
- Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Shilin Yang
- Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug and Efficient Energy- Saving Pharmaceutical Equipment, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yulin Feng
- Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug and Efficient Energy- Saving Pharmaceutical Equipment, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Quan Wen
- Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug and Efficient Energy- Saving Pharmaceutical Equipment, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Yanakieva D, Vollmer L, Evers A, Siegmund V, Arras P, Pekar L, Doerner A, Valldorf B, Kolmar H, Zielonka S, Krah S. Cattle-derived knob paratopes grafted onto peripheral loops of the IgG1 Fc region enable the generation of a novel symmetric bispecific antibody format. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1238313. [PMID: 37942319 PMCID: PMC10628450 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1238313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In this work we present a novel symmetric bispecific antibody format based on engraftments of cattle-derived knob paratopes onto peripheral loops of the IgG1 Fc region. For this, knob architectures obtained from bovine ultralong CDR-H3 antibodies were inserted into the AB loop or EF loop of the CH3 domain, enabling the introduction of an artificial binding specificity into an IgG molecule. We demonstrate that inserted knob domains largely retain their binding affinities, resulting into bispecific antibody derivatives versatile for effector cell redirection. Essentially, generated bispecifics demonstrated adequate biophysical properties and were not compromised in their Fc mediated functionalities such as FcRn or FcγRIIIa binding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Desislava Yanakieva
- Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Lena Vollmer
- Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Andreas Evers
- Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Vanessa Siegmund
- Early Protein Supply and Characterization, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Paul Arras
- Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Lukas Pekar
- Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Achim Doerner
- Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | | | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Zielonka
- Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Simon Krah
- Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Huang R, Warner Jenkins G, Kim Y, Stanfield RL, Singh A, Martinez-Yamout M, Kroon GJ, Torres JL, Jackson AM, Kelley A, Shaabani N, Zeng B, Bacica M, Chen W, Warner C, Radoicic J, Joh J, Dinali Perera K, Sang H, Kim T, Yao J, Zhao F, Sok D, Burton DR, Allen J, Harriman W, Mwangi W, Chung D, Teijaro JR, Ward AB, Dyson HJ, Wright PE, Wilson IA, Chang KO, McGregor D, Smider VV. The smallest functional antibody fragment: Ultralong CDR H3 antibody knob regions potently neutralize SARS-CoV-2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2303455120. [PMID: 37722054 PMCID: PMC10523490 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2303455120] [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: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Cows produce antibodies with a disulfide-bonded antigen-binding domain embedded within ultralong heavy chain third complementarity determining regions. This "knob" domain is analogous to natural cysteine-rich peptides such as knottins in that it is small and stable but can accommodate diverse loops and disulfide bonding patterns. We immunized cattle with SARS-CoV-2 spike and found ultralong CDR H3 antibodies that could neutralize several viral variants at picomolar IC50 potencies in vitro and could protect from disease in vivo. The independent CDR H3 peptide knobs were expressed and maintained the properties of the parent antibodies. The knob interaction with SARS-CoV-2 spike was revealed by electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry and established ultralong CDR H3-derived knobs as the smallest known recombinant independent antigen-binding fragment. Unlike other vertebrate antibody fragments, these knobs are not reliant on the immunoglobulin domain and have potential as a new class of therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Huang
- Applied Biomedical Science Institute, San Diego, CA92127
| | | | - Yunjeong Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS66506
| | - Robyn L. Stanfield
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Amrinder Singh
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Maria Martinez-Yamout
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Gerard J. Kroon
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Jonathan L. Torres
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Abigail M. Jackson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Abigail Kelley
- Applied Biomedical Science Institute, San Diego, CA92127
| | - Namir Shaabani
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | | | | | - Wen Chen
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA92121
| | | | | | - Joongho Joh
- School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY40202
| | - Krishani Dinali Perera
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS66506
| | - Huldah Sang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS66506
| | - Tae Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS66506
| | - Jianxiu Yao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS66506
| | - Fangzhu Zhao
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Devin Sok
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Dennis R. Burton
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Jeff Allen
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA92121
| | | | - Waithaka Mwangi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS66506
| | - Donghoon Chung
- School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY40202
| | - John R. Teijaro
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Andrew B. Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - H. Jane Dyson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Peter E. Wright
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
- The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Ian A. Wilson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
- The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Kyeong-Ok Chang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS66506
| | | | - Vaughn V. Smider
- Applied Biomedical Science Institute, San Diego, CA92127
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Struijf EM, De la O Becerra KI, Ruyken M, de Haas CJC, van Oosterom F, Siere DY, van Keulen JE, Heesterbeek DAC, Dolk E, Heukers R, Bardoel BW, Gros P, Rooijakkers SHM. Inhibition of cleavage of human complement component C5 and the R885H C5 variant by two distinct high affinity anti-C5 nanobodies. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104956. [PMID: 37356719 PMCID: PMC10374974 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104956] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The human complement system plays a crucial role in immune defense. However, its erroneous activation contributes to many serious inflammatory diseases. Since most unwanted complement effector functions result from C5 cleavage into C5a and C5b, development of C5 inhibitors, such as clinically approved monoclonal antibody eculizumab, are of great interest. Here, we developed and characterized two anti-C5 nanobodies, UNbC5-1 and UNbC5-2. Using surface plasmon resonance, we determined a binding affinity of 119.9 pM for UNbC5-1 and 7.7 pM for UNbC5-2. Competition experiments determined that the two nanobodies recognize distinct epitopes on C5. Both nanobodies efficiently interfered with C5 cleavage in a human serum environment, as they prevented red blood cell lysis via membrane attack complexes (C5b-9) and the formation of chemoattractant C5a. The cryo-EM structure of UNbC5-1 and UNbC5-2 in complex with C5 (3.6 Å resolution) revealed that the binding interfaces of UNbC5-1 and UNbC5-2 overlap with known complement inhibitors eculizumab and RaCI3, respectively. UNbC5-1 binds to the MG7 domain of C5, facilitated by a hydrophobic core and polar interactions, and UNbC5-2 interacts with the C5d domain mostly by salt bridges and hydrogen bonds. Interestingly, UNbC5-1 potently binds and inhibits C5 R885H, a genetic variant of C5 that is not recognized by eculizumab. Altogether, we identified and characterized two different, high affinity nanobodies against human C5. Both nanobodies could serve as diagnostic and/or research tools to detect C5 or inhibit C5 cleavage. Furthermore, the residues targeted by UNbC5-1 hold important information for therapeutic inhibition of different polymorphic variants of C5.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva M Struijf
- Department Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Karla I De la O Becerra
- Structural Biochemistry Group, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maartje Ruyken
- Department Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Carla J C de Haas
- Department Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Fleur van Oosterom
- Department Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Danique Y Siere
- Department Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Joanne E van Keulen
- Department Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dani A C Heesterbeek
- Department Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Bart W Bardoel
- Department Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Piet Gros
- Structural Biochemistry Group, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Suzan H M Rooijakkers
- Department Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Adams R, Joyce C, Kuravskiy M, Harrison K, Ahdash Z, Balmforth M, Chia K, Marceddu C, Coates M, Snowden J, Goursaud E, Ménochet K, van den Elsen J, Payne RJ, Lawson ADG, Scott-Tucker A, Macpherson A. Serum albumin binding knob domains engineered within a V H framework III bispecific antibody format and as chimeric peptides. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1170357. [PMID: 37251411 PMCID: PMC10213618 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1170357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Serum albumin binding is an established mechanism to extend the serum half-life of antibody fragments and peptides. The cysteine rich knob domains, isolated from bovine antibody ultralong CDRH3, are the smallest single chain antibody fragments described to date and versatile tools for protein engineering. Methods Here, we used phage display of bovine immune material to derive knob domains against human and rodent serum albumins. These were used to engineer bispecific Fab fragments, by using the framework III loop as a site for knob domain insertion. Results By this route, neutralisation of the canonical antigen (TNFα) was retained but extended pharmacokinetics in-vivo were achieved through albumin binding. Structural characterisation revealed correct folding of the knob domain and identified broadly common but non-cross-reactive epitopes. Additionally, we show that these albumin binding knob domains can be chemically synthesised to achieve dual IL-17A neutralisation and albumin binding in a single chemical entity. Conclusions This study enables antibody and chemical engineering from bovine immune material, via an accessible discovery platform.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ralph Adams
- Early Solutions, UCB Biopharma UK, Slough, United Kingdom
| | - Callum Joyce
- Early Solutions, UCB Biopharma UK, Slough, United Kingdom
| | | | - Katriona Harrison
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Zainab Ahdash
- Early Solutions, UCB Biopharma UK, Slough, United Kingdom
| | | | - Kelda Chia
- Early Solutions, UCB Biopharma UK, Slough, United Kingdom
| | | | - Matthew Coates
- Early Solutions, UCB Biopharma UK, Slough, United Kingdom
| | - James Snowden
- Early Solutions, UCB Biopharma UK, Slough, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Richard J. Payne
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Passon M, De Smedt S, Svilenov HL. Principles of antibodies with ultralong complementarity-determining regions and picobodies. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 64:108120. [PMID: 36764335 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108120] [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: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
In contrast to other species, cattle possess exceptional antibodies with ultra-long complementarity-determining regions (ulCDRs) that can consist of 40-70 amino acids. The bovine ulCDR is folded into a stalk and a disulfide-rich knob domain. The binding to the antigen is via the 3-6 kDa knob. There exists an immense sequence and structural diversity in the knob that enables binding to different antigens. Here we summarize the current knowledge of the ulCDR structure and provide an overview of the approaches to discover ulCDRs against novel antigens. Furthermore, we outline protein engineering approaches inspired by the natural ulCDRs. Finally, we discuss the enormous potential of using isolated bovine knobs, also named picobodies, as the smallest antigen-binding domains derived from natural antibodies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Passon
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Stefaan De Smedt
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Hristo L Svilenov
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ruiz-Molina N, Parsons J, Decker EL, Reski R. Structural modelling of human complement FHR1 and two of its synthetic derivatives provides insight into their in-vivo functions. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:1473-1486. [PMID: 36851916 PMCID: PMC9957715 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Human complement is the first line of defence against invading pathogens and is involved in tissue homeostasis. Complement-targeted therapies to treat several diseases caused by a dysregulated complement are highly desirable. Despite huge efforts invested in their development, only very few are currently available, and a deeper understanding of the numerous interactions and complement regulation mechanisms is indispensable. Two important complement regulators are human Factor H (FH) and Factor H-related protein 1 (FHR1). MFHR1 and MFHR13, two promising therapeutic candidates based on these regulators, combine the dimerization and C5-regulatory domains of FHR1 with the central C3-regulatory and cell surface-recognition domains of FH. Here, we used AlphaFold2 to model the structure of these two synthetic regulators. Moreover, we used AlphaFold-Multimer (AFM) to study possible interactions of C3 fragments and membrane attack complex (MAC) components C5, C7 and C9 in complex with FHR1, MFHR1, MFHR13 as well as the best-known MAC regulators vitronectin (Vn), clusterin and CD59, whose experimental structures remain undetermined. AFM successfully predicted the binding interfaces of FHR1 and the synthetic regulators with C3 fragments and suggested binding to C3. The models revealed structural differences in binding to these ligands through different interfaces. Additionally, AFM predictions of Vn, clusterin or CD59 with C7 or C9 agreed with previously published experimental results. Because the role of FHR1 as MAC regulator has been controversial, we analysed possible interactions with C5, C7 and C9. AFM predicted interactions of FHR1 with proteins of the terminal complement complex (TCC) as indicated by experimental observations, and located the interfaces in FHR11-2 and FHR14-5. According to AFM prediction, FHR1 might partially block the C3b binding site in C5, inhibiting C5 activation, and block C5b-7 complex formation and C9 polymerization, with similar mechanisms of action as clusterin and vitronectin. Here, we generate hypotheses and give the basis for the design of rational approaches to understand the molecular mechanism of MAC inhibition, which will facilitate the development of further complement therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Ruiz-Molina
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Juliana Parsons
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eva L Decker
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Reski
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Stennett A, Friston K, Harris CL, Wollman AJM, Bronowska AK, Madden KS. The case for complement component 5 as a target in neurodegenerative disease. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:97-109. [PMID: 36786123 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2177532] [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: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Complement-based drug discovery is undergoing a renaissance, empowered by new advances in structural biology, complement biology and drug development. Certain components of the complement pathway, particularly C1q and C3, have been extensively studied in the context of neurodegenerative disease, and established as key therapeutic targets. C5 also has huge therapeutic potential in this arena, with its druggability clearly demonstrated by the success of C5-inhibitor eculizumab. AREAS COVERED We will discuss the evidence supporting C5 as a target in neurodegenerative disease, along with the current progress in developing different classes of C5 inhibitors and the gaps in knowledge that will help progress in the field. EXPERT OPINION Validation of C5 as a therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disease would represent a major step forward for complement therapeutics research and has the potential to furnish disease-modifying drugs for millions of patients suffering worldwide. Key hurdles that need to be overcome for this to be achieved are understanding how C5a and C5b should be targeted to bring therapeutic benefit and demonstrating the ability to target C5 without creating vulnerability to infection in patients. This requires greater biological elucidation of its precise role in disease pathogenesis, supported by better chemical/biological tools.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Stennett
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Kallie Friston
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Claire L Harris
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, NE2 4HH, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Adam J M Wollman
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, NE2 4HH, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Agnieszka K Bronowska
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Katrina S Madden
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK.,Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, NE2 4HH, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Joyce C, Speight L, Lawson ADG, Scott-Tucker A, Macpherson A. Phage Display of Bovine Ultralong CDRH3. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2681:83-97. [PMID: 37405644 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3279-6_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Phage display is an in vitro technique used in the discovery of monoclonal antibodies that has been used successfully in the discovery of both camelid VHH and shark variable new antigen receptor domains (VNAR). Bovines also contain a unique "ultralong CDRH3" with a conserved structural motif, comprising a knob domain and β-stalk. When removed from the antibody scaffold, either the entire ultralong CDRH3 or the knob domain alone, is typically capable of binding an antigen, to produce antibody fragments that are smaller than both VHH and VNAR. By extracting immune material from bovine animals and specifically amplifying knob domain DNA sequences by PCR, knob domain sequences can be cloned into a phagemid vector producing knob domain phage libraries. Target-specific knob domains can be enriched by panning the libraries against an antigen of interest. Phage display of knob domains exploits the link between phage genotype and phenotype and could prove to be a high throughput method to discover target-specific knob domains, helping to explore the pharmacological properties of this unique antibody fragment.
Collapse
|
16
|
Jenkins GW, Safonova Y, Smider VV. Germline-Encoded Positional Cysteine Polymorphisms Enhance Diversity in Antibody Ultralong CDR H3 Regions. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:2141-2148. [PMID: 36426974 PMCID: PMC9940733 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Ab "ultralong" third H chain complementarity-determining regions (CDR H3) appear unique to bovine Abs and may enable binding to difficult epitopes that shorter CDR H3 regions cannot easily access. Diversity is concentrated in the "knob" domain of the CDR H3, which is encoded by the DH gene segment and sits atop a β-ribbon "stalk" that protrudes far from the Ab surface. Knob region cysteine content is quite diverse in terms of total number of cysteines, sequence position, and disulfide bond pattern formation. We investigated the role of germline cysteines in production of a diverse CDR H3 structural repertoire. The relationship between DH polymorphisms and deletions relative to germline at the nucleotide level, as well as diversity in cysteine and disulfide bond content at the structural level, was ascertained. Structural diversity is formed through (1) DH polymorphisms with altered cysteine positions, (2) DH deletions, and (3) new cysteines that arise through somatic hypermutation that form new, unique disulfide bonds to alter the knob structure. Thus, a combination of mechanisms at both the germline and somatic immunogenetic levels results in diversity in knob region cysteine content, contributing to remarkable complexity in knob region disulfide patterns, loops, and Ag binding surface.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yana Safonova
- Computer Science and Engineering Department, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Department of Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; and
| | - Vaughn V Smider
- Applied Biomedical Science Institute, San Diego, CA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Burke MJ, Scott JNF, Minshull TC, Gao Z, Manfield I, Savic S, Stockley PG, Calabrese AN, Boyes J. A bovine antibody possessing an ultralong complementarity-determining region CDRH3 targets a highly conserved epitope in sarbecovirus spike proteins. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102624. [PMID: 36272646 PMCID: PMC9678781 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Broadly neutralizing antibodies have huge potential as novel antiviral therapeutics due to their ability to recognize highly conserved epitopes that are seldom mutated in viral variants. A subset of bovine antibodies possess an ultralong complementarity-determining region (CDR)H3 that is highly adept at recognizing such conserved epitopes, but their reactivity against Sarbecovirus Spike proteins has not been explored previously. Here, we use a SARS-naïve library to isolate a broadly reactive bovine CDRH3 that binds the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and all SARS-CoV-2 variants. We show further that it neutralizes viruses pseudo-typed with SARS-CoV Spike, but this is not by competition with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding. Instead, using differential hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that it recognizes the major site of vulnerability of Sarbecoviruses. This glycan-shielded cryptic epitope becomes available only transiently via interdomain movements of the Spike protein such that antibody binding triggers destruction of the prefusion complex. This proof of principle study demonstrates the power of in vitro expressed bovine antibodies with ultralong CDRH3s for the isolation of novel, broadly reactive tools to combat emerging pathogens and to identify key epitopes for vaccine development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Burke
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - James N F Scott
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas C Minshull
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom; Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Zeqian Gao
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Iain Manfield
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom; Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Sinisa Savic
- National Institute for Health Research, Leeds Biomedical Research Centre and Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Peter G Stockley
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom; Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Antonio N Calabrese
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom; Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Joan Boyes
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Hawkins A, Joyce C, Brady K, Hold A, Smith A, Knight M, Howard C, van den Elsen J, Lawson AD, Macpherson A. The proximity of the N- and C- termini of bovine knob domains enable engineering of target specificity into polypeptide chains. MAbs 2022; 14:2076295. [PMID: 35634719 PMCID: PMC9154775 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2022.2076295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cysteine-rich knob domains can be isolated from the ultralong heavy-chain complementarity-determining region (CDR) 3, which are unique to a subset of bovine antibodies, to create antibody fragments of ~4 kDa. Advantageously, the N- and C- termini of these small binding domains are in close proximity, and we propose that this may offer a practical route to engineer extrinsic binding specificity into proteins. To test this, we transplanted knob domains into various loops of rat serum albumin, targeting sites that were distal to the interface with the neonatal Fc receptor. Using knob domains raised against the clinically validated drug target complement component C5, we produced potent inhibitors, which exhibit an extended plasma half-life in vivo via attenuated renal clearance and neonatal Fc receptor-mediated avoidance of lysosomal catabolism. The same approach was also used to modify a Camelid VHH, targeting a framework loop situated at the opposing end of the domain to the CDRs, to produce a small, single-chain bispecific antibody and a dual inhibitor of Complement C3 and C5. This study presents new protein inhibitors of the complement cascade and demonstrates a broadly applicable method to engineer target specificity within polypeptide chains, using bovine knob domains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Callum Joyce
- Early Solutions UCB Biopharma UK, Slough, UK
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Kevin Brady
- Early Solutions UCB Biopharma UK, Slough, UK
| | - Adam Hold
- Early Solutions UCB Biopharma UK, Slough, UK
| | - Alan Smith
- Biotech Solutions, UCB Biopharma UK, Slough, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
De la O Becerra KI, Oosterheert W, van den Bos RM, Xenaki KT, Lorent JH, Ruyken M, Schouten A, Rooijakkers SHM, van Bergen En Henegouwen PMP, Gros P. Multifaceted Activities of Seven Nanobodies against Complement C4b. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 208:2207-2219. [PMID: 35428691 PMCID: PMC9047069 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cleavage of the mammalian plasma protein C4 into C4b initiates opsonization, lysis, and clearance of microbes and damaged host cells by the classical and lectin pathways of the complement system. Dysregulated activation of C4 and other initial components of the classical pathway may cause or aggravate pathologies, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Alzheimer disease, and schizophrenia. Modulating the activity of C4b by small-molecule or protein-based inhibitors may represent a promising therapeutic approach for preventing excessive inflammation and damage to host cells and tissue. Here, we present seven nanobodies, derived from llama (Lama glama) immunization, that bind to human C4b (Homo sapiens) with high affinities ranging from 3.2 nM to 14 pM. The activity of the nanobodies varies from no to complete inhibition of the classical pathway. The inhibiting nanobodies affect different steps in complement activation, in line with blocking sites for proconvertase formation, C3 substrate binding to the convertase, and regulator-mediated inactivation of C4b. For four nanobodies, we determined single-particle cryo-electron microscopy structures in complex with C4b at 3.4–4 Å resolution. The structures rationalize the observed functional effects of the nanobodies and define their mode of action during complement activation. Thus, we characterized seven anti-C4b nanobodies with diverse effects on the classical pathway of complement activation that may be explored for imaging, diagnostic, or therapeutic applications. Diverse binding properties are revealed for seven nanobodies against C4b. Cryo-electron microscopy structures of C4b–nanobody complexes indicate nanobodies’ modes of action. Nanobodies have therapeutic potential and are useful for labeling studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karla I De la O Becerra
- Structural Biochemistry, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Wout Oosterheert
- Structural Biochemistry, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ramon M van den Bos
- Structural Biochemistry, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Katerina T Xenaki
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Biophysics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Joseph H Lorent
- Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; and
| | - Maartje Ruyken
- Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Arie Schouten
- Structural Biochemistry, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Piet Gros
- Structural Biochemistry, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands;
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Graewert MA, Svergun DI. Advanced sample environments and sample requirements for biological SAXS. Methods Enzymol 2022; 677:1-39. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
|
21
|
Pekar L, Klewinghaus D, Arras P, Carrara SC, Harwardt J, Krah S, Yanakieva D, Toleikis L, Smider VV, Kolmar H, Zielonka S. Milking the Cow: Cattle-Derived Chimeric Ultralong CDR-H3 Antibodies and Their Engineered CDR-H3-Only Knobbody Counterparts Targeting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Elicit Potent NK Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity. Front Immunol 2021; 12:742418. [PMID: 34759924 PMCID: PMC8573386 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.742418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In this work, we have generated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-specific cattle-derived ultralong CDR-H3 antibodies by combining cattle immunization with yeast surface display. After immunization, ultralong CDR-H3 regions were specifically amplified and grafted onto an IGHV1-7 scaffold by homologous recombination to facilitate Fab display. Antigen-specific clones were readily obtained by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and reformatted as chimeric antibodies. Binning experiments revealed epitope targeting of domains I, II, and IV of EGFR with none of the generated binders competing with Cetuximab, Matuzumab, or EGF for binding to EGFR. Cattle-derived chimeric antibodies were potent in inducing antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) against EGFR-overexpressing tumor cells with potencies (EC50 killing) in the picomolar range. Moreover, most of the antibodies were able to significantly inhibit EGFR-mediated downstream signaling. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a minor fraction of CDR-H3 knobs derived from generated antibodies was capable of independently functioning as a paratope facilitating EGFR binding when grafted onto the Fc part of human IgG1. Besides slightly to moderately diminished capacities, these engineered Knobbodies largely retained main properties of their parental antibodies such as cellular binding and triggering of ADCC. Hence, Knobbodies might emerge as promising tools for biotechnological applications upon further optimization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Pekar
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Daniel Klewinghaus
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Paul Arras
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefania C. Carrara
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Julia Harwardt
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Simon Krah
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Desislava Yanakieva
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Lars Toleikis
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Vaughn V. Smider
- The Applied Biomedical Science Institute, San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Zielonka
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Macpherson A, Birtley JR, Broadbridge RJ, Brady K, Schulze MSED, Tang Y, Joyce C, Saunders K, Bogle G, Horton J, Kelm S, Taylor RD, Franklin RJ, Selby MD, Laabei M, Wonfor T, Hold A, Stanley P, Vadysirisack D, Shi J, van den Elsen J, Lawson ADG. The Chemical Synthesis of Knob Domain Antibody Fragments. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:1757-1769. [PMID: 34406751 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cysteine-rich knob domains found in the ultralong complementarity determining regions of a subset of bovine antibodies are capable of functioning autonomously as 3-6 kDa peptides. While they can be expressed recombinantly in cellular systems, in this paper we show that knob domains are also readily amenable to a chemical synthesis, with a co-crystal structure of a chemically synthesized knob domain in complex with an antigen showing structural equivalence to the biological product. For drug discovery, following the immunization of cattle, knob domain peptides can be synthesized directly from antibody sequence data, combining the power and diversity of the bovine immune repertoire with the ability to rapidly incorporate nonbiological modifications. We demonstrate that, through rational design with non-natural amino acids, a paratope diversity can be massively expanded, in this case improving the efficacy of an allosteric peptide. As a potential route to further improve stability, we also performed head-to-tail cyclizations, exploiting the proximity of the N and C termini to synthesize functional, fully cyclic antibody fragments. Lastly, we highlight the stability of knob domains in plasma and, through pharmacokinetic studies, use palmitoylation as a route to extend the plasma half-life of knob domains in vivo. This study presents an antibody-derived medicinal chemistry platform, with protocols for solid-phase synthesis of knob domains, together with the characterization of their molecular structures, in vitro pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Macpherson
- UCB Pharma, Slough SL1 3WE, U.K
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, U.K
| | | | | | | | | | - Yalan Tang
- UCB-Ra Pharma, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Callum Joyce
- UCB Pharma, Slough SL1 3WE, U.K
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, U.K
| | | | | | - John Horton
- Peptide Protein Research, Bishops Waltham SO32 1QD, U.K
| | | | | | | | | | - Maisem Laabei
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, U.K
| | - Toska Wonfor
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, U.K
| | | | | | | | | | - Jean van den Elsen
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, U.K
- Centre for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, U.K
| | | |
Collapse
|