1
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Bernardim B, Conde J, Hakala T, Becher JB, Canzano M, Vasco AV, Knowles TPJ, Cameron J, Bernardes GJL. Cathepsin B Processing Is Required for the In Vivo Efficacy of Albumin-Drug Conjugates. Bioconjug Chem 2024; 35:132-139. [PMID: 38345213 PMCID: PMC10885003 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Targeted drug delivery approaches that selectively and preferentially deliver therapeutic agents to specific tissues are of great interest for safer and more effective pharmaceutical treatments. We investigated whether cathepsin B cleavage of a valine-citrulline [VC(S)]-containing linker is required for the release of monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) from albumin-drug conjugates. In this study, we used an engineered version of human serum albumin, Veltis High Binder II (HBII), which has enhanced binding to the neonatal Fc (fragment crystallizable) receptor (FcRn) to improve drug release upon binding and FcRn-mediated recycling. The linker-payload was conjugated to cysteine 34 of albumin using a carbonylacrylic (caa) reagent which produced homogeneous and plasma stable conjugates that retained FcRn binding. Two caa-linker-MMAE reagents were synthesized─one with a cleavable [VC(S)] linker and one with a noncleavable [VC(R)] linker─to question whether protease-mediated cleavage is needed for MMAE release. Our findings demonstrate that cathepsin B is required to achieve efficient and selective antitumor activity. The conjugates equipped with the cleavable [VC(S)] linker had potent antitumor activity in vivo facilitated by the release of free MMAE upon FcRn binding and internalization. In addition to the pronounced antitumor activity of the albumin conjugates in vivo, we also demonstrated their preferable tumor biodistribution and biocompatibility with no associated toxicity or side effects. These results suggest that the use of engineered albumins with high FcRn binding combined with protease cleavable linkers is an efficient strategy to target delivery of drugs to solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Bernardim
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - João Conde
- Instituto
de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tuuli Hakala
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Julie B. Becher
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mary Canzano
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Aldrin V. Vasco
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jason Cameron
- Albumedix
Ltd, Mabel Street, Nottingham NG2 3ED, United Kingdom
| | - Gonçalo J. L. Bernardes
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Instituto
de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
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2
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Carneiro A, Santana L, Matos MJ. Oxidation-labile linkers for controlled drug delivery. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2023; 87:129264. [PMID: 37004925 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2023.129264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
The continuous symbiosis throughout chemical biology and drug discovery has led to the design of innovative bifunctional molecules for targeted and controlled drug delivery. Among the different tools, protein-drug and peptide-drug conjugates are trend approaches to achieve targeted delivery, selectivity and efficacy. To meet the main goals of these bioconjugates, the selection of the appropriate payloads and linkers is crucial, as they must provide in vivo stability, while they may also help to achieve the therapeutic target and action. In neurodegenerative diseases or some cancer types, where oxidative stress plays an important role, linkers sensitive to oxidative conditions may be able to release the drug once the conjugate achieves the target. Considering specially this specific application, this mini-review covers the most relevant publications on oxidation-labile linkers.
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3
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Fujiki K, Tanaka K. Biomolecular labeling based on lysine-clickable 6π-azaelectrocyclization toward innovative cancer theranostics. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 42:116238. [PMID: 34082394 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
An amino group at side chain of lysine residue can be targeted for protein modification because of the convenience for covalent bond formation. We have achieved an efficient protein modification by utilizing amine-clickable 6π-azaelectrocyclization, termed RIKEN click reaction recently, which enabled direct click labeling of protein without any introduction of specific functional groups such as alkynes and azides. On the basis of the RIKEN click reaction, we established the double click labeling method. The double click methods composed of copper-free strain-promoted [3 + 2] cyclization or tetrazine ligation and RIKEN click reaction were developed. The double click method realized highly effective proteins including radiolabeling of bioactive peptides and anti-tumor antibodies. In this personal review, the development of double click probes, practical radiolabeling of biological active molecules such as cyclic RGDyK peptides, proteins, and antibodies with α-emission or β-emission radionuclides, and their applications for PET imaging and α-emission cancer treatment are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsumasa Fujiki
- Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.
| | - Katsunori Tanaka
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan; Biofunctional Synthetic Chemistry Laboratory, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; Biofunctional Chemistry Laboratory, A. Butlerov Institute of Chemistry, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya Street, Kazan 420008, Russia
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4
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Sadiki A, Vaidya SR, Abdollahi M, Bhardwaj G, Dolan ME, Turna H, Arora V, Sanjeev A, Robinson TD, Koid A, Amin A, Zhou ZS. Site-specific conjugation of native antibody. Antib Ther 2020; 3:271-284. [PMID: 33644685 PMCID: PMC7906296 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbaa027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, non-specific chemical conjugations, such as acylation of amines on lysine or alkylation of thiols on cysteines, are widely used; however, they have several shortcomings. First, the lack of site-specificity results in heterogeneous products and irreproducible processes. Second, potential modifications near the complementarity-determining region may reduce binding affinity and specificity. Conversely, site-specific methods produce well-defined and more homogenous antibody conjugates, ensuring developability and clinical applications. Moreover, several recent side-by-side comparisons of site-specific and stochastic methods have demonstrated that site-specific approaches are more likely to achieve their desired properties and functions, such as increased plasma stability, less variability in dose-dependent studies (particularly at low concentrations), enhanced binding efficiency, as well as increased tumor uptake. Herein, we review several standard and practical site-specific bioconjugation methods for native antibodies, i.e., those without recombinant engineering. First, chemo-enzymatic techniques, namely transglutaminase (TGase)-mediated transamidation of a conserved glutamine residue and glycan remodeling of a conserved asparagine N-glycan (GlyCLICK), both in the Fc region. Second, chemical approaches such as selective reduction of disulfides (ThioBridge) and N-terminal amine modifications. Furthermore, we list site-specific antibody–drug conjugates in clinical trials along with the future perspectives of these site-specific methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amissi Sadiki
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA.,Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA
| | - Shefali R Vaidya
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA.,Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA
| | - Mina Abdollahi
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA.,Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA
| | - Gunjan Bhardwaj
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA.,Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA
| | - Michael E Dolan
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA.,Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA.,Downstream Development, Biologics Process Development, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceuticals Company Limited), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Harpreet Turna
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA.,Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA
| | - Varnika Arora
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA.,Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA
| | - Athul Sanjeev
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA.,Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA
| | - Timothy D Robinson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA.,Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA
| | - Andrea Koid
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA.,Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA
| | - Aashka Amin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA.,Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA
| | - Zhaohui Sunny Zhou
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA.,Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5000, USA
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5
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Richardson MB, Gabriel KN, Garcia JA, Ashby SN, Dyer RP, Kim JK, Lau CJ, Hong J, Le Tourneau RJ, Sen S, Narel DL, Katz BB, Ziller JW, Majumdar S, Collins PG, Weiss GA. Pyrocinchonimides Conjugate to Amine Groups on Proteins via Imide Transfer. Bioconjug Chem 2020; 31:1449-1462. [PMID: 32302483 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Advances in bioconjugation, the ability to link biomolecules to each other, small molecules, surfaces, and more, can spur the development of advanced materials and therapeutics. We have discovered that pyrocinchonimide, the dimethylated analogue of maleimide, undergoes a surprising transformation with biomolecules. The reaction targets amines and involves an imide transfer, which has not been previously reported for bioconjugation purposes. Despite their similarity to maleimides, pyrocinchonimides do not react with free thiols. Though both lysine residues and the N-termini of proteins can receive the transferred imide, the reaction also exhibits a marked preference for certain amines that cannot solely be ascribed to solvent accessibility. This property is peculiar among amine-targeting reactions and can reduce combinatorial diversity when many available reactive amines are available, such as in the formation of antibody-drug conjugates. Unlike amides, the modification undergoes very slow reversion under high pH conditions. The reaction offers a thermodynamically controlled route to single or multiple modifications of proteins for a wide range of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark B Richardson
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Kristin N Gabriel
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Joseph A Garcia
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Shareen N Ashby
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Rebekah P Dyer
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Joshua K Kim
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Calvin J Lau
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - John Hong
- School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Ryan J Le Tourneau
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Sanjana Sen
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - David L Narel
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Benjamin B Katz
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Joseph W Ziller
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Sudipta Majumdar
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Philip G Collins
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Gregory A Weiss
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States.,Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
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