Scalable, Robust and Highly Productive Novel Convecdiff Membrane Platform for mAb Capture

The recombinant monoclonal antibody capture step represents the current bottleneck in downstream processing. Protein A resins are diffusion-limited chromatography materials which require low flow rates to achieve a binding capacity above 30 g L⁻¹ with the result of low productivity. Here, we present a novel chromatography membrane combining superior binding capacities with high flow rates for high productivity while achieving comparable product quality as state-of-the-art protein A resins. Further, we demonstrate full scalability of this convecdiff technology with experimental data demonstrating suitability for bioprocessing at different scales. This technology results in more than 10-fold higher productivity compared to Protein A resins, which is maintained during scale up. We demonstrate the influence of residence times, feed titers and the cleaning regime on productivity and indicate optimal utilization of the convecdiff membrane based on feed titer availability. The underlying high productivity and short cycle times of this material enable the purification of monoclonal antibodies with 10-times less chromatography material used per batch and utilization of the membrane within one batch. Provided in disposable consumables, this novel technology will remove column handling in bioprocesses and resin re-use over multiple batches.

Development of a Single-Step Antibody-Drug Conjugate Purification Process with Membrane Chromatography

Membrane chromatography is routinely used to remove host cell proteins, viral particles, and aggregates during antibody downstream processing. The application of membrane chromatography to the field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) has been applied in a limited capacity and in only specialized scenarios. Here, we utilized the characteristics of the membrane adsorbers, Sartobind^® S and Phenyl, for aggregate and payload clearance while polishing the ADC in a single chromatographic run. The Sartobind^® S membrane was used in the removal of excess payload, while the Sartobind^® Phenyl was used to polish the ADC by clearance of unwanted drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) species and aggregates. The Sartobind^® S membrane reproducibly achieved log-fold clearance of free payload with a 10 membrane-volume wash. Application of the Sartobind^® Phenyl decreased aggregates and higher DAR species while increasing DAR homogeneity. The Sartobind^® S and Phenyl membranes were placed in tandem to simplify the process in a single chromatographic run. With the optimized binding, washing, and elution conditions, the tandem membrane approach was performed in a shorter timescale with minimum solvent consumption and high yield. The application of the tandem membrane chromatography system presents a novel and efficient purification scheme that can be realized during ADC manufacturing.

Characterization of PROPPIN-Phosphoinositide Binding and Role of Loop 6CD in PROPPIN-Membrane Binding

PROPPINs (β-propellers that bind polyphosphoinositides) are a family of PtdIns3P- and PtdIns(3,5)P2-binding proteins that play an important role in autophagy. We analyzed PROPPIN-membrane binding through isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), stopped-flow measurements, mutagenesis studies, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. ITC measurements showed that the yeast PROPPIN family members Atg18, Atg21, and Hsv2 bind PtdIns3P and PtdIns(3,5)P2 with high affinities in the nanomolar to low-micromolar range and have two phosphoinositide (PIP)-binding sites. Single PIP-binding site mutants have a 15- to 30-fold reduced affinity, which explains the requirement of two PIP-binding sites in PROPPINs. Hsv2 bound small unilamellar vesicles with a higher affinity than it bound large unilamellar vesicles in stopped-flow measurements. Thus, we conclude that PROPPIN membrane binding is curvature dependent. MD simulations revealed that loop 6CD is an anchor for membrane binding, as it is the region of the protein that inserts most deeply into the lipid bilayer. Mutagenesis studies showed that both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions are required for membrane insertion of loop 6CD. We propose a model for PROPPIN-membrane binding in which PROPPINs are initially targeted to membranes through nonspecific electrostatic interactions and are then retained at the membrane through PIP binding.

Qualitative and quantitative characterization of protein-phosphoinositide interactions with liposome-based methods

We characterized phosphoinositide binding of the S. cerevisiae PROPPIN Hsv2 qualitatively with density flotation assays and quantitatively through isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) measurements using liposomes. We discuss the design of these experiments and show with liposome flotation assays that Hsv2 binds with high specificity to both PtdIns3P and PtdIns(3,5)P 2. We propose liposome flotation assays as a more accurate alternative to the commonly used PIP strips for the characterization of phosphoinositide-binding specificities of proteins. We further quantitatively characterized PtdIns3P binding of Hsv2 with ITC measurements and determined a dissociation constant of 0.67 µM and a stoichiometry of 2:1 for PtdIns3P binding to Hsv2. PtdIns3P is crucial for the biogenesis of autophagosomes and their precursors. Besides the PROPPINs there are other PtdIns3P binding proteins with a link to autophagy, which includes the FYVE-domain containing proteins ZFYVE1/DFCP1 and WDFY3/ALFY and the PX-domain containing proteins Atg20 and Snx4/Atg24. The methods described could be useful tools for the characterization of these and other phosphoinositide-binding proteins.

It takes two to tango: PROPPINs use two phosphoinositide-binding sites

PROPPINs are a family of PtdIns3P and PtdIns(3,5)P 2-binding proteins. The crystal structure now unravels the presence of two distinct phosphoinositide-binding sites at the circumference of the seven bladed β-propeller. Mutagenesis analysis of the binding sites shows that both are required for normal membrane association and autophagic activities. We identified a set of evolutionarily conserved basic and polar residues within both binding pockets, which are crucial for phosphoinositide binding. We expect that membrane association of PROPPINs is further stabilized by membrane insertions and interactions with other proteins.

Crh, the paralogue of the phosphocarrier protein HPr, controls the methylglyoxal bypass of glycolysis in Bacillus subtilis

The histidine protein HPr has a key role in regulation of carbohydrate utilization in low-GC Gram-positive bacteria. Bacilli possess the paralogue Crh. Like HPr, Crh becomes phosphorylated by kinase HPrK/P in response to high fructose-1,6-bisphosphate concentrations. However, Crh can only partially substitute for the regulatory functions of HPr leaving its role mysterious. Using protein co-purification, we identified enzyme methylglyoxal synthase MgsA as interaction partner of Crh in Bacillus subtilis. MgsA converts dihydroxyacetone-phosphate to methylglyoxal and thereby initiates a glycolytic bypass that prevents the deleterious accumulation of phospho-sugars under carbon overflow conditions. However, methylgyloxal is toxic and its production requires control. We show here that exclusively the non-phosphorylated form of Crh interacts with MgsA in vivo and inhibits MgsA activity in vitro. Accordingly, Crh inhibits methylglyoxal formation in vivo under nutritional famine conditions that favour a low HPr kinase activity. Thus, Crh senses the metabolic state of the cell, as reflected by its phosphorylation state, and accordingly controls flux through the harmful methylglyoxal pathway. Interestingly, HPr is unable to bind and regulate MgsA, making this a bona fide function of Crh. Four residues that differ in the interaction surfaces of HPr and Crh may account for this difference.