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Chandler PG, Buckle AM. Development and Differentiation in Monobodies Based on the Fibronectin Type 3 Domain. Cells 2020; 9:E610. [PMID: 32143310 PMCID: PMC7140400 DOI: 10.3390/cells9030610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As a non-antibody scaffold, monobodies based on the fibronectin type III (FN3) domain overcome antibody size and complexity while maintaining analogous binding loops. However, antibodies and their derivatives remain the gold standard for the design of new therapeutics. In response, clinical-stage therapeutic proteins based on the FN3 domain are beginning to use native fibronectin function as a point of differentiation. The small and simple structure of monomeric monobodies confers increased tissue distribution and reduced half-life, whilst the absence of disulphide bonds improves stability in cytosolic environments. Where multi-specificity is challenging with an antibody format that is prone to mis-pairing between chains, multiple FN3 domains in the fibronectin assembly already interact with a large number of molecules. As such, multiple monobodies engineered for interaction with therapeutic targets are being combined in a similar beads-on-a-string assembly which improves both efficacy and pharmacokinetics. Furthermore, full length fibronectin is able to fold into multiple conformations as part of its natural function and a greater understanding of how mechanical forces allow for the transition between states will lead to advanced applications that truly differentiate the FN3 domain as a therapeutic scaffold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter G. Chandler
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Australia;
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Heinzelman P, Low A, Simeon R, Wright GA, Chen Z. De Novo Isolation & Affinity Maturation of yeast-displayed Virion-binding human fibronectin domains by flow cytometric screening against Virions. J Biol Eng 2019; 13:76. [PMID: 31636701 PMCID: PMC6796422 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-019-0203-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The promise of biopharmaceuticals comprising one or more binding domains motivates the development of novel methods for de novo isolation and affinity maturation of virion-binding domains. Identifying avenues for overcoming the challenges associated with using virions as screening reagents is paramount given the difficulties associated with obtaining high-purity virus-associated proteins that retain the conformation exhibited on the virion surface. RESULTS Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) of 1.5 × 107 clones taken from a naïve yeast surface-displayed human fibronectin domain (Fn3) against whole virions yielded two unique binders to Zika virions. Construction and FACS of site-directed binding loop mutant libraries based on one of these binders yielded multiple progeny clones with enhanced Zika-binding affinities. These affinity-matured clones bound Zika virions with low double- or single-digit nanomolar affinity in ELISA assays, and expressed well as soluble proteins in E. coli shake flask culture, with post-purification yields exceeding 10 mg/L. CONCLUSIONS FACS of a yeast-displayed binding domain library is an efficient method for de novo isolation of virion-binding domains. Affinities of isolated virion-binding clones are readily enhanced via FACS screening of mutant progeny libraries. Given that most binding domains are compatible with yeast display, the approach taken in this work may be broadly utilized for generating virion-binding domains against many different viruses for use in passive immunotherapy and the prevention of viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pete Heinzelman
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 USA
| | - Alyssa Low
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 USA
| | - Rudo Simeon
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 USA
| | - Gus A. Wright
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 USA
| | - Zhilei Chen
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 USA
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Huang Y, Gao M, Su Z. Exploring the Roles of Proline in Three-Dimensional Domain Swapping from Structure Analysis and Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Protein J 2018; 37:13-20. [PMID: 29119487 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-017-9747-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) domain swapping is a mechanism to form protein oligomers. It has been proposed that several factors, including proline residues in the hinge region, may affect the occurrence of 3D domain swapping. Although introducing prolines into the hinge region has been found to promote domain swapping for some proteins, the opposite effect has also been observed in several studies. So far, how proline affects 3D domain swapping remains elusive. In this work, based on a large set of 3D domain-swapped structures, we performed a systematic analysis to explore the correlation between the presence of proline in the hinge region and the occurrence of 3D domain swapping. We further analyzed the conformations of proline and pre-proline residues to investigate the roles of proline in 3D domain swapping. We found that more than 40% of the domain-swapped structures contained proline residues in the hinge region. Unexpectedly, conformational transitions of proline residues were rarely observed upon domain swapping. Our analyses showed that hinge regions containing proline residues preferred more extended conformations, which may be beneficial for the occurrence of domain swapping by facilitating opening of the exchanged segments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqi Huang
- Institute of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.
- Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Industrial Fermentation, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Meng Gao
- Institute of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China
- Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Industrial Fermentation, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhengding Su
- Institute of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.
- Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Industrial Fermentation, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
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Stine JM, Ahl GJH, Schlenker C, Rusnac DV, Briknarová K. The Interaction between the Third Type III Domain from Fibronectin and Anastellin Involves β-Strand Exchange. Biochemistry 2017; 56:4667-4675. [PMID: 28820240 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Anastellin is a small recombinant fragment derived from the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin; it comprises the first type III (FN3) domain without the two N-terminal β-strands. It inhibits angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis in mouse models and requires endogenous fibronectin for its in vivo anti-angiogenic activity. It binds to fibronectin in vitro and converts the soluble protein to insoluble fibrils that structurally and functionally resemble fibronectin fibrils deposited in the extracellular matrix by cells. Anastellin binds to several FN3 domains in fibronectin, but how it interacts with these domains and why the interactions lead to aggregation of fibronectin are not well understood. In this work, we investigated the interaction between anastellin and the third FN3 domain (3FN3) from fibronectin. We show that anastellin binds with high affinity to a peptide comprising the two N-terminal β-strands from 3FN3, and we present here the structure of the resulting complex. The peptide and anastellin form a composite FN3 domain, with the two N-terminal β-strands from 3FN3 bound in place of the two β-strands that are missing in anastellin. We also demonstrate using disulfide cross-linking that a similar interaction involving the two N-terminal β-strands of 3FN3 occurs when intact 3FN3 binds to anastellin. 3FN3 adopts a compact globular fold in solution, and to interact with anastellin in a manner consistent with our data, it has to open up and expose a β-strand edge that is not accessible in the context of the folded domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Stine
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Montana , Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
| | - Gabriel J H Ahl
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Montana , Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
| | - Casey Schlenker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Montana , Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
| | - Domnita-Valeria Rusnac
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Montana , Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
| | - Klára Briknarová
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Montana , Missoula, Montana 59812, United States.,Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, University of Montana , Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
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Goldberg SD, Cardoso RMF, Lin T, Spinka-Doms T, Klein D, Jacobs SA, Dudkin V, Gilliland G, O'Neil KT. Engineering a targeted delivery platform using Centyrins. Protein Eng Des Sel 2016; 29:563-572. [PMID: 27737926 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzw054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted delivery of therapeutic payloads to specific tissues and cell types is an important component of modern pharmaceutical development. Antibodies or other scaffold proteins can provide the cellular address for delivering a covalently linked therapeutic via specific binding to cell-surface receptors. Optimization of the conjugation site on the targeting protein, linker chemistry and intracellular trafficking pathways can all influence the efficiency of delivery and potency of the drug candidate. In this study, we describe a comprehensive engineering experiment for an EGFR binding Centyrin, a highly stable fibronectin type III (FN3) domain, wherein all possible single-cysteine replacements were evaluated for expression, purification, conjugation efficiency, retention of target binding, biophysical properties and delivery of a cytotoxic small molecule payload. Overall, 26 of the 94 positions were identified as ideal for cysteine modification, conjugation and drug delivery. Conjugation-tolerant positions were mapped onto a crystal structure of the Centyrin, providing a structural context for interpretation of the mutagenesis experiment and providing a foundation for a Centyrin-targeted delivery platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalom D Goldberg
- Janssen Research and Development, L.L.C., 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
| | - Rosa M F Cardoso
- Janssen Research and Development, L.L.C., 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
| | - Tricia Lin
- Janssen Research and Development, L.L.C., 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
| | - Tracy Spinka-Doms
- Janssen Research and Development, L.L.C., 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
| | - Donna Klein
- Janssen Research and Development, L.L.C., 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
| | - Steven A Jacobs
- Janssen Research and Development, L.L.C., 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
| | - Vadim Dudkin
- Janssen Research and Development, L.L.C., 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
| | - Gary Gilliland
- Janssen Research and Development, L.L.C., 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
| | - Karyn T O'Neil
- Janssen Research and Development, L.L.C., 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
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Ensemble Modeling and Intracellular Aggregation of an Engineered Immunoglobulin-Like Domain. J Mol Biol 2016; 428:1365-1374. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2016.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Revised: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Porebski BT, Nickson AA, Hoke DE, Hunter MR, Zhu L, McGowan S, Webb GI, Buckle AM. Structural and dynamic properties that govern the stability of an engineered fibronectin type III domain. Protein Eng Des Sel 2015; 28:67-78. [PMID: 25691761 PMCID: PMC4330816 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzv002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Consensus protein design is a rapid and reliable technique for the improvement of protein stability, which relies on the use of homologous protein sequences. To enhance the stability of a fibronectin type III (FN3) domain, consensus design was employed using an alignment of 2123 sequences. The resulting FN3 domain, FN3con, has unprecedented stability, with a melting temperature >100°C, a ΔGD−N of 15.5 kcal mol−1 and a greatly reduced unfolding rate compared with wild-type. To determine the underlying molecular basis for stability, an X-ray crystal structure of FN3con was determined to 2.0 Å and compared with other FN3 domains of varying stabilities. The structure of FN3con reveals significantly increased salt bridge interactions that are cooperatively networked, and a highly optimized hydrophobic core. Molecular dynamics simulations of FN3con and comparison structures show the cooperative power of electrostatic and hydrophobic networks in improving FN3con stability. Taken together, our data reveal that FN3con stability does not result from a single mechanism, but rather the combination of several features and the removal of non-conserved, unfavorable interactions. The large number of sequences employed in this study has most likely enhanced the robustness of the consensus design, which is now possible due to the increased sequence availability in the post-genomic era. These studies increase our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that govern stability and demonstrate the rising potential for enhancing stability via the consensus method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin T Porebski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Adrian A Nickson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - David E Hoke
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Morag R Hunter
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Liguang Zhu
- Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Sheena McGowan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Geoffrey I Webb
- Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Ashley M Buckle
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
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Heinzelman P, Krais J, Ruben E, Pantazes R. Engineering pH responsive fibronectin domains for biomedical applications. J Biol Eng 2015; 9:6. [PMID: 26106447 PMCID: PMC4477602 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-015-0004-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Engineered antibodies with pH responsive cell surface target antigen-binding affinities that decrease at the acidic pH (5.5-5.8) within the endosomes have been found to have reduced susceptibility to degradation within the lysosomes and increased serum half-life. Such pH responsive recombinant antibodies have been developed for the treatment of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Engineered tenth type III human fibronectin (Fn3) domains are emerging as a class of target antigen-binding biopharmaceuticals that could complement or be superior to recombinant antibodies in a number of biomedical contexts. As such, there is strong motivation for demonstrating the feasibility of engineering Fn3s with pH responsive antigen binding behavior that could lead to improved Fn3 pharmacokinetics. RESULTS A yeast surface-displayed Fn3 histidine (His) mutant library screening approach yielded epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-binding Fn3 domains with EGFR binding affinities that markedly decrease at endosomal pH; the first reported case of engineering Fn3s with pH responsive antigen binding. Yeast surface-displayed His mutant Fn3s, which contain either one or two His mutations, have equilibrium binding dissociation constants (KDs) that increase up to four-fold relative to wild type when pH is decreased from 7.4 to 5.5. Assays in which Fn3-displaying yeast were incubated with soluble EGFR after ligand-free incubation in respective neutral and acidic buffers showed that His mutant Fn3 pH responsiveness is due to reversible changes in Fn3 conformation and/or EGFR binding interface properties rather than irreversible unfolding. CONCLUSIONS We have established a generalizable method for efficiently constructing and screening Fn3 His mutant libraries that could enable both our laboratory and others to develop pH responsive Fn3s for use in a wide range of biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pete Heinzelman
- Department of Chemical, Biological & Materials Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Sarkeys Energy Center, 100 East Boyd Street, Room T-301, 73019 Norman, OK USA
| | - John Krais
- Department of Chemical, Biological & Materials Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Sarkeys Energy Center, 100 East Boyd Street, Room T-301, 73019 Norman, OK USA
| | - Eliza Ruben
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, 73019 Norman, OK USA
| | - Robert Pantazes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California-Santa Barbara, 93106 Santa Barbara, CA USA
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Luo J, Teplyakov A, Obmolova G, Malia TJ, Chan W, Jacobs SA, O'Neil KT, Gilliland GL. N-terminal β-strand swapping in a consensus-derived alternative scaffold driven by stabilizing hydrophobic interactions. Proteins 2014; 82:1527-33. [PMID: 24464739 DOI: 10.1002/prot.24517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Revised: 01/09/2014] [Accepted: 01/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The crystal structure of an N-terminal β-strand-swapped consensus-derived tenascin FN3 alternative scaffold has been determined. A comparison with the unswapped structure reveals that the side chain of residue F88 orients differently and packs more tightly with the hydrophobic core of the domain. Dimer formation also results in the burial of a hydrophobic patch on the surface of the domain. Thus, it appears that tighter packing of F88 in the hydrophobic core and burial of surface hydrophobicity provide the driving forces for the N-terminal β-strand swapping, leading to the formation of a stable compact dimer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinquan Luo
- Biotechnology Center of Excellence, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania, 19477
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