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Schröter C, Beck J, Krah S, Zielonka S, Doerner A, Rhiel L, Günther R, Toleikis L, Kolmar H, Hock B, Becker S. Selection of Antibodies with Tailored Properties by Application of High-Throughput Multiparameter Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting of Yeast-Displayed Immune Libraries. Mol Biotechnol 2018; 60:727-735. [PMID: 30076531 PMCID: PMC6132741 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-018-0109-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we present a multiparameter screening procedure for the identification of target-specific antibodies with prescribed properties. Based on B cell receptor gene repertoires from transgenic rats, yeast surface display libraries were generated, and high-affinity human antibodies were readily isolated. We demonstrate that specific desirable features, i.e., species' cross-reactivity and a broad epitope coverage can be integrated into the screening procedure using high-throughput fluorescence-activated cell sorting. We show that the applied screening stringencies translate directly into binding properties of isolated human antibody variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Schröter
- Antibody Drug Conjugates and Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Jan Beck
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany.,Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Simon Krah
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Zielonka
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Achim Doerner
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Laura Rhiel
- Antibody Drug Conjugates and Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Ralf Günther
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Lars Toleikis
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Björn Hock
- Antibody Drug Conjugates and Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Becker
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany.
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Krah S, Schröter C, Eller C, Rhiel L, Rasche N, Beck J, Sellmann C, Günther R, Toleikis L, Hock B, Kolmar H, Becker S. Generation of human bispecific common light chain antibodies by combining animal immunization and yeast display. Protein Eng Des Sel 2017; 30:291-301. [PMID: 28062646 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzw077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) pave the way for novel therapeutic modes of action along with potential benefits in several clinical applications. However, their generation remains challenging due to the necessity of correct pairings of two different heavy and light chains and related manufacturability issues. We describe a generic approach for the generation of fully human IgG-like bsAbs. For this, heavy chain repertoires from immunized transgenic rats were combined with either a randomly chosen common light chain or a light chain of an existing therapeutic antibody and screened for binders against tumor-related targets CEACAM5 and CEACAM6 by yeast surface display. bsAbs with subnanomolar affinities were identified, wherein each separate binding arm mediated specific binding to the respective antigen. Altogether, the described strategy represents a combination of in vivo immunization with an in vitro selection method, which allows for the integration of existing therapeutic antibodies into a bispecific format.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Krah
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany.,Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Christian Schröter
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany.,Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Carla Eller
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Laura Rhiel
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Nicolas Rasche
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Jan Beck
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Carolin Sellmann
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany.,Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Ralf Günther
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Lars Toleikis
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Björn Hock
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Becker
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
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Krah S, Sellmann C, Rhiel L, Schröter C, Dickgiesser S, Beck J, Zielonka S, Toleikis L, Hock B, Kolmar H, Becker S. Engineering bispecific antibodies with defined chain pairing. N Biotechnol 2017; 39:167-173. [PMID: 28137467 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2016.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Bispecific IgG-like antibodies can simultaneously interact with two epitopes on the same or on different antigens. Therefore, these molecules facilitate novel modes of action, which cannot be addressed by conventional monospecific IgGs. However, the generation of such antibodies still appears to be demanding due to their specific architecture comprising four different polypeptide chains that need to assemble correctly. This review focusses on different strategies to circumvent this issue or to enforce a correct chain association with a focus on common-chain bispecific antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Krah
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany; Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Carolin Sellmann
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany; Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Laura Rhiel
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Christian Schröter
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany; Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stephan Dickgiesser
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany; Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Jan Beck
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany; Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Zielonka
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Lars Toleikis
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Björn Hock
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Stefan Becker
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany.
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Sellmann C, Doerner A, Knuehl C, Rasche N, Sood V, Krah S, Rhiel L, Messemer A, Wesolowski J, Schuette M, Becker S, Toleikis L, Kolmar H, Hock B. Balancing Selectivity and Efficacy of Bispecific Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) × c-MET Antibodies and Antibody-Drug Conjugates. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:25106-25119. [PMID: 27694443 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.753491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Revised: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have already demonstrated benefits for the treatment of cancer in several clinical studies, showing improved drug selectivity and efficacy. In particular, simultaneous targeting of prominent cancer antigens, such as EGF receptor (EGFR) and c-MET, by bsAbs has raised increasing interest for potentially circumventing receptor cross-talk and c-MET-mediated acquired resistance during anti-EGFR monotherapy. In this study, we combined the selectivity of EGFR × c-MET bsAbs with the potency of cytotoxic agents via bispecific antibody-toxin conjugation. Affinity-attenuated bispecific EGFR × c-MET antibody-drug conjugates demonstrated high in vitro selectivity toward tumor cells overexpressing both antigens and potent anti-tumor efficacy. Due to basal EGFR expression in the skin, ADCs targeting EGFR in general warrant early safety assessments. Reduction in EGFR affinity led to decreased toxicity in keratinocytes. Thus, the combination of bsAb affinity engineering with the concept of toxin conjugation may be a viable route to improve the safety profile of ADCs targeting ubiquitously expressed antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Sellmann
- From the Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany.,Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies and
| | | | - Christine Knuehl
- Merck Research and Development, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany, and
| | | | - Vanita Sood
- the EMD Serono Research and Development Institute, Billerica, Massachusetts 01821
| | - Simon Krah
- From the Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany.,Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies and
| | - Laura Rhiel
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies and
| | - Annika Messemer
- From the Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - John Wesolowski
- the EMD Serono Research and Development Institute, Billerica, Massachusetts 01821
| | | | | | | | - Harald Kolmar
- From the Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany,
| | - Bjoern Hock
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies and
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Schröter C, Günther R, Rhiel L, Becker S, Toleikis L, Doerner A, Becker J, Schönemann A, Nasu D, Neuteboom B, Kolmar H, Hock B. A generic approach to engineer antibody pH-switches using combinatorial histidine scanning libraries and yeast display. MAbs 2015; 7:138-51. [PMID: 25523975 PMCID: PMC4622719 DOI: 10.4161/19420862.2014.985993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing interest in the fast and robust engineering of protein pH-sensitivity that aims to reduce binding at acidic pH, compared to neutral pH. Here, we describe a novel strategy for the incorporation of pH-sensitive antigen binding functions into antibody variable domains using combinatorial histidine scanning libraries and yeast surface display. The strategy allows simultaneous screening for both, high affinity binding at pH 7.4 and pH-sensitivity, and excludes conventional negative selection steps. As proof of concept, we applied this strategy to incorporate pH-dependent antigen binding into the complementary-determining regions of adalimumab. After 3 consecutive rounds of separate heavy and light chain library screening, pH-sensitive variants could be isolated. Heavy and light chain mutations were combined, resulting in 3 full-length antibody variants that revealed sharp, reversible pH-dependent binding profiles. Dissociation rate constants at pH 6.0 increased 230- to 780-fold, while high affinity binding at pH 7.4 in the sub-nanomolar range was retained. Furthermore, binding to huFcRn and thermal stability were not affected by histidine substitutions. Overall, this study emphasizes a generalizable strategy for engineering pH-switch functions potentially applicable to a variety of antibodies and further proteins-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Schröter
- a Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry ; Technische Universität Darmstadt ; Darmstadt , Germany
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Rhiel L, Krah S, Günther R, Becker S, Kolmar H, Hock B. REAL-Select: full-length antibody display and library screening by surface capture on yeast cells. PLoS One 2014; 9:e114887. [PMID: 25501029 PMCID: PMC4264850 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe a novel approach named REAL-Select for the non-covalent display of IgG-molecules on the surface of yeast cells for the purpose of antibody engineering and selection. It relies on the capture of secreted native full-length antibodies on the cell surface via binding to an externally immobilized ZZ domain, which tightly binds antibody Fc. It is beneficial for high-throughput screening of yeast-displayed IgG-libraries during antibody discovery and development. In a model experiment, antibody-displaying yeast cells were isolated from a 1∶1,000,000 mixture with control cells confirming the maintenance of genotype-phenotype linkage. Antibodies with improved binding characteristics were obtained by affinity maturation using REAL-Select, demonstrating the ability of this system to display antibodies in their native form and to detect subtle changes in affinity by flow cytometry. The biotinylation of the cell surface followed by functionalization with a streptavidin-ZZ fusion protein is an approach that is independent of the genetic background of the antibody-producing host and therefore can be expected to be compatible with other eukaryotic expression hosts such as P. pastoris or mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rhiel
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck Serono, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Simon Krah
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Ralf Günther
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck Serono, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Becker
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck Serono, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
- * E-mail: (BH); (HK)
| | - Björn Hock
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck Serono, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
- * E-mail: (BH); (HK)
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Doerner A, Rhiel L, Zielonka S, Kolmar H. Therapeutic antibody engineering by high efficiency cell screening. FEBS Lett 2013; 588:278-87. [PMID: 24291259 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2013] [Revised: 11/17/2013] [Accepted: 11/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, several cell-based screening technologies for the isolation of antibodies with prescribed properties emerged. They rely on the multi-copy display of antibodies or antibody fragments on a cell surface in functional form followed by high through put screening and isolation of cell clones that carry an antibody variant with the desired affinity, specificity, and stability. Particularly yeast surface display in combination with high-throughput fluorescence-activated cell sorting has proven successful in the last fifteen years as a very powerful technology that has some advantages over classical generation of monoclonals using the hybridoma technology or bacteriophage-based antibody display and screening. Cell-based screening harbours the benefit of single-cell online and real-time analysis and characterisation of individual library candidates. Moreover, when using eukaryotic expression hosts, intrinsic quality control machineries for proper protein folding and stability exist that allow for co-selection of high-level expression and stability simultaneously to the binding functionality. Recently, promising technologies emerged that directly rely on antibody display on higher eukaryotic cell lines using lentiviral transfection or direct screening on B-cells. The combination of immunisation, B-cell screening and next generation sequencing may open new avenues for the isolation of therapeutic antibodies with prescribed physicochemical and functional characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achim Doerner
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck Serono, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Laura Rhiel
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck Serono, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Straße 250, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Zielonka
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
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