1
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Dinh-Fricke AV, Hantschel O. Improving the pharmacokinetics, biodistribution and plasma stability of monobodies. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:fphar.2024.1393112. [PMID: 38617793 PMCID: PMC7615827 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1393112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Several targeted anticancer drugs entered clinical practice and improved survival of cancer patients with selected tumor types, but therapy resistance and metastatic disease remains a challenge. A major class of targeted anticancer drugs are therapeutic antibodies, but their use is limited to extracellular targets. Hence, alternative binding scaffolds have been investigated for intracellular use and better tumor tissue penetration. Among those, monobodies are small synthetic protein binders that were engineered to bind with high affinity and selectivity to central intracellular oncoproteins and inhibit their signaling. Despite their use as basic research tools, the potential of monobodies as protein therapeutics remains to be explored. In particular, the pharmacological properties of monobodies, including plasma stability, toxicity and pharmacokinetics have not been investigated. Here, we show that monobodies have high plasma stability, are well-tolerated in mice, but have a short half-life in vivo due to rapid renal clearance. Therefore, we engineered monobody fusions with an albumin-binding domain (ABD), which showed enhanced pharmacological properties without affecting their target binding: We found that ABD-monobody fusions display increased stability in mouse plasma. Most importantly, ABD-monobodies have a dramatically prolonged in vivo half-life and are not rapidly excreted by renal clearance, remaining in the blood significantly longer, while not accumulating in specific internal organs. Our results demonstrate the promise and versatility of monobodies to be developed into future therapeutics for cancer treatment. We anticipate that monobodies may be able to extend the spectrum of intracellular targets, resulting in a significant benefit to patient outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Oliver Hantschel
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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2
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Sekhon H, Ha JH, Presti MF, Procopio SB, Jarvis AR, Mirsky PO, John AM, Loh SN. Adaptable, turn-on maturation (ATOM) fluorescent biosensors for multiplexed detection in cells. Nat Methods 2023; 20:1920-1929. [PMID: 37945909 PMCID: PMC11080272 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-02065-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
A grand challenge in biosensor design is to develop a single-molecule, fluorescent protein-based platform that can be easily adapted to recognize targets of choice. Here, we created a family of adaptable, turn-on maturation (ATOM) biosensors consisting of a monobody (circularly permuted at one of two positions) or a nanobody (circularly permuted at one of three positions) inserted into a fluorescent protein at one of three surface loops. Multiplexed imaging of live human cells coexpressing cyan, yellow and red ATOM sensors detected biosensor targets that were specifically localized to various subcellular compartments. Fluorescence activation involved ligand-dependent chromophore maturation with turn-on ratios of up to 62-fold in cells and 100-fold in vitro. Endoplasmic reticulum- and mitochondria-localized ATOM sensors detected ligands that were targeted to those organelles. The ATOM design was validated with three monobodies and one nanobody inserted into distinct fluorescent proteins, suggesting that customized ATOM sensors can be generated quickly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsimranjit Sekhon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Jeung-Hoi Ha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Maria F Presti
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Spencer B Procopio
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Ava R Jarvis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Paige O Mirsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Anna M John
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Stewart N Loh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
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3
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Fujita J, Amesaka H, Yoshizawa T, Hibino K, Kamimura N, Kuroda N, Konishi T, Kato Y, Hara M, Inoue T, Namba K, Tanaka SI, Matsumura H. Structures of a FtsZ single protofilament and a double-helical tube in complex with a monobody. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4073. [PMID: 37429870 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39807-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
FtsZ polymerizes into protofilaments to form the Z-ring that acts as a scaffold for accessory proteins during cell division. Structures of FtsZ have been previously solved, but detailed mechanistic insights are lacking. Here, we determine the cryoEM structure of a single protofilament of FtsZ from Klebsiella pneumoniae (KpFtsZ) in a polymerization-preferred conformation. We also develop a monobody (Mb) that binds to KpFtsZ and FtsZ from Escherichia coli without affecting their GTPase activity. Crystal structures of the FtsZ-Mb complexes reveal the Mb binding mode, while addition of Mb in vivo inhibits cell division. A cryoEM structure of a double-helical tube of KpFtsZ-Mb at 2.7 Å resolution shows two parallel protofilaments. Our present study highlights the physiological roles of the conformational changes of FtsZ in treadmilling that regulate cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junso Fujita
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- JEOL YOKOGUSHI Research Alliance Laboratories, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Amesaka
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science, Kyoto Prefectural University, 1-5 Hangi-cho, Shimogamo, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8522, Japan
| | - Takuya Yoshizawa
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Kota Hibino
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Natsuki Kamimura
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Natsuko Kuroda
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Takamoto Konishi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Yuki Kato
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Mizuho Hara
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science, Kyoto Prefectural University, 1-5 Hangi-cho, Shimogamo, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8522, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Inoue
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, 2-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- dotAqua Inc., 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keiichi Namba
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- JEOL YOKOGUSHI Research Alliance Laboratories, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research and SPring-8 Center, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shun-Ichi Tanaka
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science, Kyoto Prefectural University, 1-5 Hangi-cho, Shimogamo, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8522, Japan.
| | - Hiroyoshi Matsumura
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan.
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4
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Sekhon H, Ha JH, Presti MF, Procopio SB, Mirsky PO, John AM, Loh SN. Adaptable, Turn-On Monobody (ATOM) Fluorescent Biosensors for Multiplexed Detection in Cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.28.534597. [PMID: 37034669 PMCID: PMC10081266 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.28.534597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
A grand challenge in biosensor design is to develop a single molecule, fluorescent protein-based platform that can be easily adapted to recognize targets of choice. Conceptually, this can be achieved by fusing a small, antibody-like binding domain to a fluorescent protein in such a way that target binding activates fluorescence. Although this design is simple to envision, its execution is not obvious. Here, we created a family of adaptable, turn-on monobody (ATOM) biosensors consisting of a monobody, circularly permuted at one of two positions, inserted into a fluorescent protein at one of three surface loops. Multiplexed imaging of live human cells co-expressing cyan, yellow, and red ATOM sensors detected the biosensor targets (WDR5, SH2, and hRAS proteins) that were localized to the nucleus, cytoplasm, and plasma membrane, respectively, with high specificity. ER- and mitochondria-localized ATOM sensors also detected ligands that were targeted to those organelles. Fluorescence activation involved ligand-dependent chromophore maturation with fluorescence turn-on ratios of >20-fold in cells and up to 100-fold in vitro . The sensing mechanism was validated with three arbitrarily chosen monobodies inserted into jellyfish as well as anemone lineages of fluorescent proteins, suggesting that ATOM sensors with different binding specificities and additional colors can be generated relatively quickly.
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5
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Sha F, Kurosawa K, Glasser E, Ketavarapu G, Albazzaz S, Koide A, Koide S. Monobody Inhibitor Selective to the Phosphatase Domain of SHP2 and its Use as a Probe for Quantifying SHP2 Allosteric Regulation. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168010. [PMID: 36806475 PMCID: PMC10079645 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168010] [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: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
SHP2 is a phosphatase/adaptor protein that plays an important role in various signaling pathways. Its mutations are associated with cancers and developmental diseases. SHP2 contains a protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) and two SH2 domains. Selective inhibition of these domains has been challenging due to the multitude of homologous proteins in the proteome. Here, we developed a monobody, synthetic binding protein, that bound to and inhibited the SHP2 PTP domain. It was selective to SHP2 PTP over close homologs. A crystal structure of the monobody-PTP complex revealed that the monobody bound both highly conserved residues in the active site and less conserved residues in the periphery, rationalizing its high selectivity. Its epitope overlapped with the interface between the PTP and N-terminal SH2 domains that is formed in auto-inhibited SHP2. By using the monobody as a probe for the accessibility of the PTP active site, we developed a simple, nonenzymatic assay for the allosteric regulation of SHP2. The assay showed that, in the absence of an activating phospho-Tyr ligand, wild-type SHP2 and the "PTP-dead" C459E mutant were predominantly in the closed state in which the PTP active site is inaccessible, whereas the E76K and C459S mutants were in the open, active state. It also revealed that previously developed monobodies to the SH2 domains, ligands lacking a phospho-Tyr, weakly favored the open state. These results provide corroboration for a conformational equilibrium underlying allosteric regulation of SHP2, provide powerful tools for characterizing and controlling SHP2 functions, and inform drug discovery against SHP2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fern Sha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
| | - Kohei Kurosawa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States; Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, United States
| | - Eliezra Glasser
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, United States
| | - Gayatri Ketavarapu
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, United States
| | - Samara Albazzaz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
| | - Akiko Koide
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States; Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, United States; Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States
| | - Shohei Koide
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States; Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, United States; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, United States.
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6
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Schmitt DL, Mehta S, Zhang J. Study of spatiotemporal regulation of kinase signaling using genetically encodable molecular tools. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2022; 71:102224. [PMID: 36347198 PMCID: PMC10031819 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.102224] [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: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Precise spatiotemporal organization and regulation of signal transduction networks are essential for cellular response to internal and external cues. To understand how this biochemical activity architecture impacts cellular function, many genetically encodable tools which regulate kinase activity at a subcellular level have been developed. In this review, we highlight various types of genetically encodable molecular tools, including tools to regulate endogenous kinase activity and biorthogonal techniques to perturb kinase activity. Finally, we emphasize the use of these tools alongside biosensors for kinase activity to measure and perturb kinase activity in real time for a better understanding of the cellular biochemical activity architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle L Schmitt
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles, USA
| | - Sohum Mehta
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, USA
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, USA.
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7
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Wallon L, Khan I, Teng KW, Koide A, Zuberi M, Li J, Ketavarapu G, Traaseth NJ, O’Bryan JP, Koide S. Inhibition of RAS-driven signaling and tumorigenesis with a pan-RAS monobody targeting the Switch I/II pocket. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2204481119. [PMID: 36252024 PMCID: PMC9618066 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2204481119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
RAS mutants are major therapeutic targets in oncology with few efficacious direct inhibitors available. The identification of a shallow pocket near the Switch II region on RAS has led to the development of small-molecule drugs that target this site and inhibit KRAS(G12C) and KRAS(G12D). To discover other regions on RAS that may be targeted for inhibition, we have employed small synthetic binding proteins termed monobodies that have a strong propensity to bind to functional sites on a target protein. Here, we report a pan-RAS monobody, termed JAM20, that bound to all RAS isoforms with nanomolar affinity and demonstrated limited nucleotide-state specificity. Upon intracellular expression, JAM20 potently inhibited signaling mediated by all RAS isoforms and reduced oncogenic RAS-mediated tumorigenesis in vivo. NMR and mutation analysis determined that JAM20 bound to a pocket between Switch I and II, which is similarly targeted by low-affinity, small-molecule inhibitors, such as BI-2852, whose in vivo efficacy has not been demonstrated. Furthermore, JAM20 directly competed with both the RAF(RBD) and BI-2852. These results provide direct validation of targeting the Switch I/II pocket for inhibiting RAS-driven tumorigenesis. More generally, these results demonstrate the utility of tool biologics as probes for discovering and validating druggable sites on challenging targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Wallon
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016
| | - Imran Khan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC 29401
| | - Kai Wen Teng
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016
| | - Akiko Koide
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016
- Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016
| | - Mariyam Zuberi
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC 29401
| | - Jianping Li
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY 10003
| | - Gayatri Ketavarapu
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016
| | | | - John P. O’Bryan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC 29401
| | - Shohei Koide
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016
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8
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Albert C, Bracaglia L, Koide A, DiRito J, Lysyy T, Harkins L, Edwards C, Richfield O, Grundler J, Zhou K, Denbaum E, Ketavarapu G, Hattori T, Perincheri S, Langford J, Feizi A, Haakinson D, Hosgood SA, Nicholson ML, Pober JS, Saltzman WM, Koide S, Tietjen GT. Monobody adapter for functional antibody display on nanoparticles for adaptable targeted delivery applications. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5998. [PMID: 36220817 PMCID: PMC9553936 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33490-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) play a central role in the pathophysiology of many diseases. The use of targeted nanoparticles (NPs) to deliver therapeutics to ECs could dramatically improve efficacy by providing elevated and sustained intracellular drug levels. However, achieving sufficient levels of NP targeting in human settings remains elusive. Here, we overcome this barrier by engineering a monobody adapter that presents antibodies on the NP surface in a manner that fully preserves their antigen-binding function. This system improves targeting efficacy in cultured ECs under flow by >1000-fold over conventional antibody immobilization using amine coupling and enables robust delivery of NPs to the ECs of human kidneys undergoing ex vivo perfusion, a clinical setting used for organ transplant. Our monobody adapter also enables a simple plug-and-play capacity that facilitates the evaluation of a diverse array of targeted NPs. This technology has the potential to simplify and possibly accelerate both the development and clinical translation of EC-targeted nanomedicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Albert
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - L Bracaglia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - A Koide
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - J DiRito
- Department of Surgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - T Lysyy
- Department of Surgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - L Harkins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - C Edwards
- Department of Surgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - O Richfield
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Surgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - J Grundler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - K Zhou
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - E Denbaum
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - G Ketavarapu
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - T Hattori
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - S Perincheri
- Department of Pathology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - J Langford
- Department of Surgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - A Feizi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - D Haakinson
- Department of Surgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - S A Hosgood
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - M L Nicholson
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - J S Pober
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - W M Saltzman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - S Koide
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - G T Tietjen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Surgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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9
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Teng M, Luskin MR, Cowan-Jacob SW, Ding Q, Fabbro D, Gray NS. The Dawn of Allosteric BCR-ABL1 Drugs: From a Phenotypic Screening Hit to an Approved Drug. J Med Chem 2022; 65:7581-7594. [PMID: 35609336 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is driven by the constitutive activity of the BCR-ABL1 fusion oncoprotein. Despite the great success of drugs that target the BCR-ABL1 ATP-binding site in transforming CML into a manageable disease, emerging resistance point mutations impair inhibitor binding, thereby limiting the effectiveness of these drugs. Recently, allosteric inhibitors that interact with the ABL1 myristate-binding site have been shown to awaken an endogenous regulatory mechanism and reset full-length BCR-ABL1 into an inactive assembled state. The discovery and development of these allosteric inhibitors demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the fundamental regulatory mechanisms of kinases. In this review, we illustrate the structural basis of c-ABL1's dynamic regulation of autoinhibition and activation, discuss the discovery of allosteric inhibitors and the characterization of their mechanism of action, present the therapeutic potential of dual binding to delay the development of mutation-driven acquired resistance, and suggest key lessons learned from this program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Teng
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Marlise R Luskin
- Division of Hematologic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Sandra W Cowan-Jacob
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, Basel CH-4056, Switzerland
| | - Qiang Ding
- Allorion Therapeutics, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511300, China
| | | | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, ChEM-H, Stanford Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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10
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Xu W, Cong Z, Duan Q, Wang Q, Su S, Wang R, Lu L, Xue J, Jiang S. A Protein-Based, Long-Acting HIV-1 Fusion Inhibitor with an Improved Pharmacokinetic Profile. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15040424. [PMID: 35455421 PMCID: PMC9025429 DOI: 10.3390/ph15040424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, a series of highly effective peptide- or protein-based HIV fusion inhibitors have been identified. However, due to their short half-life, their clinical application is limited. Therefore, the development of long-acting HIV fusion inhibitors is urgently needed. Here, we designed and constructed a protein-based, long-acting HIV fusion inhibitor, termed FLT (FN3-L35-T1144), consisting of a monobody, FN3, which contains an albumin-binding domain (ABD), a 35-mer linker (L35), and a peptide-based HIV fusion inhibitor, T1144. We found that FLT bound, via its FN3 component, with human serum albumin (HSA) in a reversible manner, thus maintaining the high efficiency of T1144 against infection by both HIV-1 IIIB (X4) and Bal (R5) strains with IC50 of 11.6 nM and 15.3 nM, respectively, and remarkably prolonging the half-life of T1144 (~27 h in SD rats). This approach affords protein-based HIV fusion inhibitors with much longer half-life compared to enfuvirtide, a peptide-based HIV fusion inhibitor approved for use in clinics. Therefore, FLT is a promising candidate as a new protein-based anti-HIV drug with an improved pharmacokinetic profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Xu
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (W.X.); (Q.D.); (Q.W.); (S.S.)
| | - Zhe Cong
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China;
| | - Qianyu Duan
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (W.X.); (Q.D.); (Q.W.); (S.S.)
| | - Qian Wang
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (W.X.); (Q.D.); (Q.W.); (S.S.)
| | - Shan Su
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (W.X.); (Q.D.); (Q.W.); (S.S.)
| | - Rui Wang
- Beijing Prosperous Biopharm Company, Beijing 100021, China;
| | - Lu Lu
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (W.X.); (Q.D.); (Q.W.); (S.S.)
- Correspondence: (L.L.); (J.X.); (S.J.)
| | - Jing Xue
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China;
- Correspondence: (L.L.); (J.X.); (S.J.)
| | - Shibo Jiang
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (W.X.); (Q.D.); (Q.W.); (S.S.)
- Correspondence: (L.L.); (J.X.); (S.J.)
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11
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Kondo T, Matsuoka K, Umemoto S, Fujino T, Hayashi G, Iwatani Y, Murakami H. Monobodies with potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 Delta and other variants of concern. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 5:5/6/e202101322. [PMID: 35256514 PMCID: PMC8906176 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutralizing antibodies against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are useful for patients' treatment of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We report here affinity maturation of monobodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and their neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1 (Pango v.3.1.14) as well as four variants of concern. We selected matured monobodies from libraries with multi-site saturation mutagenesis on the recognition loops through in vitro selection. One clone, the C4-AM2 monobody, showed extremely high affinity (K D < 0.01 nM) against the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1, even in monomer form. Furthermore, the C4-AM2 monobody efficiently neutralized the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1 (IC 50 = 46 pM, 0.62 ng/ml), and the Alpha (IC 50 = 77 pM, 1.0 ng/ml), Beta (IC 50 = 0.54 nM, 7.2 ng/ml), Gamma (IC 50 = 0.55 nM, 7.4 ng/ml), and Delta (IC 50 = 0.59 nM, 8.0 ng/ml) variants. The obtained monobodies would be useful as neutralizing proteins against current and potentially hazardous future SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taishi Kondo
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Matsuoka
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shun Umemoto
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tomoshige Fujino
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Gosuke Hayashi
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.,Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), PRESTO, Kawaguchi, Japan
| | - Yasumasa Iwatani
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan .,Division of Basic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Murakami
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.,Institute of Nano-Life-Systems, Institutes of Innovation for Future Society, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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12
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Schmidt N, Abendroth F, Vázquez O, Hantschel O. Synthesis of the l- and d-SH2 domain of the leukaemia oncogene Bcr-Abl. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:1008-1012. [PMID: 35975004 PMCID: PMC9347351 DOI: 10.1039/d2cb00108j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The d- and l-versions of the Bcr-Abl SH2 domain (12.7 kDa) were synthesized. Key optimizations included pseudoproline incorporation, N-terminal hydrophilic tail addition and mild N-acetoxy succinimide acetylation. Their folding and activity are as for the recombinant protein. Our results will enable engineering of mirror-image monobody antagonists of the central oncoprotein Bcr-Abl. The d- and l-versions of the Bcr-Abl SH2 domain (12.7 kDa) were synthesized successfully and show similar folding as compared to a recombinantly expressed version.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Schmidt
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University of Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Frank Abendroth
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Olalla Vázquez
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), University of Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Oliver Hantschel
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University of Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
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13
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Akkapeddi P, Teng KW, Koide S. Monobodies as tool biologics for accelerating target validation and druggable site discovery. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:1839-1853. [PMID: 34820623 PMCID: PMC8597423 DOI: 10.1039/d1md00188d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite increased investment and technological advancement, new drug approvals have not proportionally increased. Low drug approval rates, particularly for new targets, are linked to insufficient target validation at early stages. Thus, there remains a strong need for effective target validation techniques. Here, we review the use of synthetic binding proteins as tools for drug target validation, with focus on the monobody platform among several advanced synthetic binding protein platforms. Monobodies with high affinity and high selectivity can be rapidly developed against challenging targets, such as KRAS mutants, using protein engineering technologies. They have strong tendency to bind to functional sites and thus serve as drug-like molecules, and they can serve as targeting ligands for constructing bio-PROTACs. Genetically encoded monobodies are effective "tool biologics" for validating intracellular targets. They promote crystallization and help reveal the atomic structures of the monobody-target interface, which can inform drug design. Using case studies, we illustrate the potential of the monobody technology in accelerating target validation and small-molecule drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Padma Akkapeddi
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center New York NY USA
| | - Kai Wen Teng
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center New York NY USA
| | - Shohei Koide
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center New York NY USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine New York NY USA
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14
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Morrison MS, Wang T, Raguram A, Hemez C, Liu DR. Disulfide-compatible phage-assisted continuous evolution in the periplasmic space. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5959. [PMID: 34645844 PMCID: PMC8514426 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26279-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The directed evolution of antibodies has yielded important research tools and human therapeutics. The dependence of many antibodies on disulfide bonds for stability has limited the application of continuous evolution technologies to antibodies and other disulfide-containing proteins. Here we describe periplasmic phage-assisted continuous evolution (pPACE), a system for continuous evolution of protein-protein interactions in the disulfide-compatible environment of the E. coli periplasm. We first apply pPACE to rapidly evolve novel noncovalent and covalent interactions between subunits of homodimeric YibK protein and to correct a binding-defective mutant of the anti-GCN4 Ω-graft antibody. We develop an intein-mediated system to select for soluble periplasmic expression in pPACE, leading to an eight-fold increase in soluble expression of the Ω-graft antibody. Finally, we evolve disulfide-containing trastuzumab antibody variants with improved binding to a Her2-like peptide and improved soluble expression. Together, these results demonstrate that pPACE can rapidly optimize proteins containing disulfide bonds, broadening the applicability of continuous evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary S Morrison
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Health Care, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Tina Wang
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Health Care, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Aditya Raguram
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Health Care, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Colin Hemez
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Health Care, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Health Care, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
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15
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Kondo T, Eguchi M, Tsuzuki N, Murata N, Fujino T, Hayashi G, Murakami H. Construction of a Highly Diverse mRNA Library for in vitro Selection of Monobodies. Bio Protoc 2021; 11:e4125. [PMID: 34541043 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4125] [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: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, we developed transcription/translation coupled with the association of puromycin linker (TRAP) display as a quick in vitro selection method to obtain antibody-like proteins. For the in vitro selection, it is important to prepare mRNA libraries among which the diversity is high. Here, we describe a method for the preparation of monobody mRNA libraries with greater than 1013 theoretical diversity. First, we synthesized two long single-stranded DNAs that corresponded to fragments of monobody DNA, with random codons in the BC and FG loops. These oligonucleotides were ligated by T4 DNA ligase with the support of guide oligonucleotides containing 3' ends that were protected by a modification. After amplifying the product DNAs by PCR, one end of each DNA fragment was digested with the type II restriction enzyme BsaI, and the resulting DNA fragments were ligated using T4 DNA ligase. After amplification of the DNA product, mRNAs were synthesized by T7 RNA polymerase. This method is simple and could be used for the preparation of mRNA libraries for various antibody-like proteins. Graphic abstract: Construction of a highly diverse mRNA library.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taishi Kondo
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Minori Eguchi
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Nariaki Tsuzuki
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Naoya Murata
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tomoshige Fujino
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Gosuke Hayashi
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.,Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), PRESTO, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Murakami
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.,Institute of Nano-Life-Systems, Institutes of Innovation for Future Society, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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16
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Yasui N, Nakamura K, Yamashita A. A sweet protein monellin as a non-antibody scaffold for synthetic binding proteins. J Biochem 2021; 169:585-599. [PMID: 33386843 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvaa147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic binding proteins that have the ability to bind with molecules can be generated using various protein domains as non-antibody scaffolds. These designer proteins have been used widely in research studies, as their properties overcome the disadvantages of using antibodies. Here, we describe the first application of a phage display to generate synthetic binding proteins using a sweet protein, monellin, as a non-antibody scaffold. Single-chain monellin (scMonellin), in which two polypeptide chains of natural monellin are connected by a short linker, has two loops on one side of the molecule. We constructed phage display libraries of scMonellin, in which the amino acid sequence of the two loops is diversified. To validate the performance of these libraries, we sorted them against the folding mutant of the green fluorescent protein variant (GFPuv) and yeast small ubiquitin-related modifier. We successfully obtained scMonellin variants exhibiting moderate but significant affinities for these target proteins. Crystal structures of one of the GFPuv-binding variants in complex with GFPuv revealed that the two diversified loops were involved in target recognition. scMonellin, therefore, represents a promising non-antibody scaffold in the design and generation of synthetic binding proteins. We termed the scMonellin-derived synthetic binding proteins 'SWEEPins'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norihisa Yasui
- Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1, Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Nakamura
- Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1, Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Atsuko Yamashita
- Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1, Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
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17
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Tuning SAS-6 architecture with monobodies impairs distinct steps of centriole assembly. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3805. [PMID: 34155202 PMCID: PMC8217511 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23897-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Centrioles are evolutionarily conserved multi-protein organelles essential for forming cilia and centrosomes. Centriole biogenesis begins with self-assembly of SAS-6 proteins into 9-fold symmetrical ring polymers, which then stack into a cartwheel that scaffolds organelle formation. The importance of this architecture has been difficult to decipher notably because of the lack of precise tools to modulate the underlying assembly reaction. Here, we developed monobodies against Chlamydomonas reinhardtii SAS-6, characterizing three in detail with X-ray crystallography, atomic force microscopy and cryo-electron microscopy. This revealed distinct monobody-target interaction modes, as well as specific consequences on ring assembly and stacking. Of particular interest, monobody MBCRS6-15 induces a conformational change in CrSAS-6, resulting in the formation of a helix instead of a ring. Furthermore, we show that this alteration impairs centriole biogenesis in human cells. Overall, our findings identify monobodies as powerful molecular levers to alter the architecture of multi-protein complexes and tune centriole assembly.
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18
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Mahboobnia K, Pirro M, Marini E, Grignani F, Bezsonov EE, Jamialahmadi T, Sahebkar A. PCSK9 and cancer: Rethinking the link. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 140:111758. [PMID: 34058443 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer is emerging as a major problem globally, as it accounts for the second cause of death despite medical advances. According to epidemiological and basic studies, cholesterol is involved in cancer progression and there are abnormalities in cholesterol metabolism of cancer cells including prostate, breast, and colorectal carcinomas. However, the importance of cholesterol in carcinogenesis and thereby the role of cholesterol homeostasis as a therapeutic target is still a debated area in cancer therapy. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type-9 (PCSK9), a serine protease, modulates cholesterol metabolism by attachment to the LDL receptor (LDLR) and reducing its recycling by targeting the receptor for lysosomal destruction. Published research has shown that PCSK9 is also involved in degradation of other LDLR family members namely very-low-density-lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR), lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP-1), and apolipoprotein E receptor 2 (ApoER2). As a result, this protein represents an interesting therapeutic target for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Interestingly, clinical trials on PCSK9-specific monoclonal antibodies have reported promising results with high efficacy in lowering LDL-C and in turn reducing cardiovascular complications. It is important to note that PCSK9 mediates several other pathways apart from its role in lipid homeostasis, including antiviral activity, hepatic regeneration, neuronal apoptosis, and modulation of various signaling pathways. Furthermore, recent literature has illustrated that PCSK9 is closely associated with incidence and progression of several cancers. In a number of studies, PCSK9 siRNA was shown to effectively suppress the proliferation and invasion of the several studied tumor cells. Hence, a novel application of PCSK9 inhibitors/silencers in cancer/metastasis could be considered. However, due to poor data on effectiveness and safety of PCSK9 inhibitors in cancer, the impact of PCSK9 inhibition in these pathological conditions is still unknown. SEARCH METHODS A vast literature search was conducted to find intended studies from 1956 up to 2020, and inclusion criteria were original peer-reviewed publications. PURPOSE OF REVIEW To date, PCSK9 has been scantly investigated in cancer. The question that needs to be discussed is "How does PCSK9 act in cancer pathophysiology and what are the risks or benefits associated to its inhibition?". We reviewed the available publications highlighting the contribution of this proprotein convertase in pathways related to cancer, with focus on the potential implications of its long-term pharmacological inhibition in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadijeh Mahboobnia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Matteo Pirro
- Unit of Internal Medicine, Angiology and Arteriosclerosis Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Ettore Marini
- Unit of Internal Medicine, Angiology and Arteriosclerosis Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesco Grignani
- Unit of Internal Medicine, Angiology and Arteriosclerosis Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Evgeny E Bezsonov
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pathology of Cardiovascular System, Institute of Human Morphology, 3 Tsyurupa Street, Moscow 117418, Russia; Laboratory of Angiopathology, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, 8 Baltiiskaya Street, Moscow 125315, Russia
| | - Tannaz Jamialahmadi
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Quchan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Quchan, Iran; Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Sahebkar
- Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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19
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Teng KW, Tsai ST, Hattori T, Fedele C, Koide A, Yang C, Hou X, Zhang Y, Neel BG, O'Bryan JP, Koide S. Selective and noncovalent targeting of RAS mutants for inhibition and degradation. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2656. [PMID: 33976200 PMCID: PMC8113534 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22969-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Activating mutants of RAS are commonly found in human cancers, but to date selective targeting of RAS in the clinic has been limited to KRAS(G12C) through covalent inhibitors. Here, we report a monobody, termed 12VC1, that recognizes the active state of both KRAS(G12V) and KRAS(G12C) up to 400-times more tightly than wild-type KRAS. The crystal structures reveal that 12VC1 recognizes the mutations through a shallow pocket, and 12VC1 competes against RAS-effector interaction. When expressed intracellularly, 12VC1 potently inhibits ERK activation and the proliferation of RAS-driven cancer cell lines in vitro and in mouse xenograft models. 12VC1 fused to VHL selectively degrades the KRAS mutants and provides more extended suppression of mutant RAS activity than inhibition by 12VC1 alone. These results demonstrate the feasibility of selective targeting and degradation of KRAS mutants in the active state with noncovalent reagents and provide a starting point for designing noncovalent therapeutics against oncogenic RAS mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wen Teng
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Steven T Tsai
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Takamitsu Hattori
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carmine Fedele
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Akiko Koide
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chao Yang
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xuben Hou
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yingkai Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin G Neel
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - John P O'Bryan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Shohei Koide
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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20
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Zhong X, D’Antona AM. Recent Advances in the Molecular Design and Applications of Multispecific Biotherapeutics. Antibodies (Basel) 2021; 10:13. [PMID: 33808165 PMCID: PMC8103270 DOI: 10.3390/antib10020013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombinant protein-based biotherapeutics drugs have transformed clinical pipelines of the biopharmaceutical industry since the launch of recombinant insulin nearly four decades ago. These biologic drugs are structurally more complex than small molecules, and yet share a similar principle for rational drug discovery and development: That is to start with a pre-defined target and follow with the functional modulation with a therapeutic agent. Despite these tremendous successes, this "one target one drug" paradigm has been challenged by complex disease mechanisms that involve multiple pathways and demand new therapeutic routes. A rapidly evolving wave of multispecific biotherapeutics is coming into focus. These new therapeutic drugs are able to engage two or more protein targets via distinct binding interfaces with or without the chemical conjugation to large or small molecules. They possess the potential to not only address disease intricacy but also exploit new therapeutic mechanisms and assess undruggable targets for conventional monospecific biologics. This review focuses on the recent advances in molecular design and applications of major classes of multispecific biotherapeutics drugs, which include immune cells engagers, antibody-drug conjugates, multispecific tetherbodies, biologic matchmakers, and small-scaffold multispecific modalities. Challenges posed by the multispecific biotherapeutics drugs and their future outlooks are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotian Zhong
- Department of BioMedicine Design, Medicinal Sciences, Pfizer Worldwide R&D, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;
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21
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He L, Tan P, Huang Y, Zhou Y. Design of Smart Antibody Mimetics with Photosensitive Switches. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2021; 5:e2000541. [PMID: 34028213 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202000541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
As two prominent examples of intracellular single-domain antibodies or antibody mimetics derived from synthetic protein scaffolds, monobodies and nanobodies are gaining wide applications in cell biology, structural biology, synthetic immunology, and theranostics. Herein, a generally applicable method to engineer light-controllable monobodies and nanobodies, designated as moonbody and sunbody, respectively, is introduced. These engineered antibody-like modular domains enable rapid and reversible antibody-antigen recognition by utilizing light. By the paralleled insertion of two light-oxygen-voltage domain 2 modules into a single sunbody and the use of bivalent sunbodies, the range of dynamic changes of photoswitchable sunbodies is substantially enhanced. Furthermore, the use of moonbodies or sunbodies to precisely control protein degradation, gene transcription, and base editing by harnessing the power of light is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lian He
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Peng Tan
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yun Huang
- Center for Epigenetics and Disease Prevention, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Translational Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yubin Zhou
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Translational Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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22
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Miller CJ, McGinnis JE, Martinez MJ, Wang G, Zhou J, Simmons E, Amet T, Abdeen SJ, Van Huysse JW, Bowsher RR, Kay BK. FN3-based monobodies selective for the receptor binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. N Biotechnol 2021; 62:79-85. [PMID: 33556628 PMCID: PMC7863792 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2021.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A phage library displaying 1010 variants of the fibronectin type III (FN3) domain was affinity selected with the biotinylated form of the receptor binding domain (RBD, residues 319-541) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein. Nine binding FN3 variants (i.e. monobodies) were recovered, representing four different primary structures. Soluble forms of the monobodies bound to several different preparations of the RBD and the S1 spike subunit, with affinities ranging from 3 to 14 nM as measured by bio-layer interferometry. Three of the four monobodies bound selectively to the RBD of SARS-CoV-2, with the fourth monobody showing slight cross-reactivity to the RBD of SARS-CoV-1 virus. Examination of binding to the spike fragments and its trimeric form revealed that the monobodies recognise at least three overlapping epitopes on the RBD of SARS-CoV-2. While pairwise tests failed to identify a monobody pair that could bind simultaneously to the RBD, one monobody could simultaneously bind to the RBD with the ectodomain of the cellular receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). All four monobodies successfully bound the RBD after overexpression in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells as fusions to the Fc domain of human IgG1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina J Miller
- Tango Biosciences, Inc., 2201 W. Campbell Park Drive, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | | | - Michael J Martinez
- Tango Biosciences, Inc., 2201 W. Campbell Park Drive, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Guangli Wang
- Euprotein Inc., 675 US Highway 1, Suite 129, North Brunswick, NJ 08902 USA
| | - Jian Zhou
- LifeTein LLC, 100 Randolph Road, Suite 2D, Somerset, NJ 08873 USA
| | - Erica Simmons
- B2S Life Sciences, 97 East Monroe Street, Franklin, IN 46131 USA
| | - Tohti Amet
- B2S Life Sciences, 97 East Monroe Street, Franklin, IN 46131 USA
| | - Sanofar J Abdeen
- B2S Life Sciences, 97 East Monroe Street, Franklin, IN 46131 USA
| | | | - Ronald R Bowsher
- B2S Life Sciences, 97 East Monroe Street, Franklin, IN 46131 USA
| | - Brian K Kay
- Tango Biosciences, Inc., 2201 W. Campbell Park Drive, Chicago, IL 60612 USA.
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23
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Li S, Zou Y, Zhao D, Yin Y, Song J, He N, Liu H, Qian D, Li L, Huang H. Revisiting the phosphotyrosine binding pocket of Fyn SH2 domain led to the identification of novel SH2 superbinders. Protein Sci 2020; 30:558-570. [PMID: 33314411 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Protein engineering through directed evolution is an effective way to obtain proteins with novel functions with the potential applications as tools for diagnosis or therapeutics. Many natural proteins have undergone directed evolution in vitro in the test tubes in the laboratories worldwide, resulting in the numerous protein variants with novel or enhanced functions. we constructed here an SH2 variant library by randomizing 8 variable residues in its phosphotyrosine (pTyr) binding pocket. Selection of this library by a pTyr peptide led to the identification of SH2 variants with enhanced affinities measured by EC50. Fluorescent polarization was then applied to quantify the binding affinities of the newly identified SH2 variants. As a result, three SH2 variants, named V3, V13 and V24, have comparable binding affinities with the previously identified SH2 triple-mutant superbinder. Biolayer Interferometry assay was employed to disclose the kinetics of the binding of these SH2 superbinders to the phosphotyrosine peptide. The results indicated that all the SH2 superbinders have two-orders increase of the dissociation rate when binding the pTyr peptide while there was no significant change in their associate rates. Intriguingly, though binding the pTyr peptide with comparable affinity with other SH2 superbinders, the V3 does not bind to the sTyr peptide. However, variant V13 and V24 have cross-reactivity with both pTyr and sTyr peptides. The newly identified superbinders could be utilized as tools for the identification of pTyr-containing proteins from tissues under different physiological or pathophysiological conditions and may have the potential in the therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhao Li
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.,School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.,Department of Antibody Engineering, Shanghai Asia United Antibody Medical Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Zou
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Dongping Zhao
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.,Department of Antibody Engineering, Shanghai Asia United Antibody Medical Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuqing Yin
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Shanghai Asia United Antibody Medical Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingyi Song
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ningning He
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Huadong Liu
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Dongmeng Qian
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.,School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lei Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.,The Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Haiming Huang
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Shanghai Asia United Antibody Medical Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
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24
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Kondo T, Iwatani Y, Matsuoka K, Fujino T, Umemoto S, Yokomaku Y, Ishizaki K, Kito S, Sezaki T, Hayashi G, Murakami H. Antibody-like proteins that capture and neutralize SARS-CoV-2. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:sciadv.abd3916. [PMID: 32948512 PMCID: PMC7556756 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd3916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
To combat severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and any unknown emerging pathogens in the future, the development of a rapid and effective method to generate high-affinity antibodies or antibody-like proteins is of critical importance. We here report high-speed in vitro selection of multiple high-affinity antibody-like proteins against various targets including the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The sequences of monobodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were successfully procured within only 4 days. Furthermore, the obtained monobody efficiently captured SARS-CoV-2 particles from the nasal swab samples of patients and exhibited a high neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection (half-maximal inhibitory concentration, 0.5 nanomolar). High-speed in vitro selection of antibody-like proteins is a promising method for rapid development of a detection method for, and of a neutralizing protein against, a virus responsible for an ongoing, and possibly a future, pandemic.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
- Antibodies, Immobilized/chemistry
- Antibodies, Immobilized/immunology
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/chemistry
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/metabolism
- Betacoronavirus/genetics
- Betacoronavirus/immunology
- Betacoronavirus/isolation & purification
- COVID-19
- Cell Surface Display Techniques/methods
- Coronavirus Infections/pathology
- Coronavirus Infections/virology
- Dimerization
- Humans
- Kinetics
- Pandemics
- Peptides/chemistry
- Peptides/immunology
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/chemistry
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/immunology
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/metabolism
- Pneumonia, Viral/pathology
- Pneumonia, Viral/virology
- Protein Domains/immunology
- Protein Subunits/chemistry
- Protein Subunits/immunology
- Protein Subunits/metabolism
- RNA, Viral/metabolism
- SARS-CoV-2
- Single-Domain Antibodies/chemistry
- Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology
- Single-Domain Antibodies/metabolism
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- T Kondo
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Y Iwatani
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan
- Division of Basic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - K Matsuoka
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan
| | - T Fujino
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - S Umemoto
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Y Yokomaku
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan
| | - K Ishizaki
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - S Kito
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - T Sezaki
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - G Hayashi
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), PRESTO, Saitama, Japan
| | - H Murakami
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
- Institute of Nano-Life-Systems, Institutes of Innovation for Future Society, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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25
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Carofiglio F, Trisciuzzi D, Gambacorta N, Leonetti F, Stefanachi A, Nicolotti O. Bcr-Abl Allosteric Inhibitors: Where We Are and Where We Are Going to. Molecules 2020; 25:E4210. [PMID: 32937901 PMCID: PMC7570842 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25184210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The fusion oncoprotein Bcr-Abl is an aberrant tyrosine kinase responsible for chronic myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The auto-inhibition regulatory module observed in the progenitor kinase c-Abl is lost in the aberrant Bcr-Abl, because of the lack of the N-myristoylated cap able to bind the myristoyl binding pocket also conserved in the Bcr-Abl kinase domain. A way to overcome the occurrence of resistance phenomena frequently observed for Bcr-Abl orthosteric drugs is the rational design of allosteric ligands approaching the so-called myristoyl binding pocket. The discovery of these allosteric inhibitors although very difficult and extremely challenging, represents a valuable option to minimize drug resistance, mostly due to the occurrence of mutations more frequently affecting orthosteric pockets, and to enhance target selectivity with lower off-target effects. In this perspective, we will elucidate at a molecular level the structural bases behind the Bcr-Abl allosteric control and will show how artificial intelligence can be effective to drive the automated de novo design towards off-patent regions of the chemical space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Carofiglio
- Dipartimento di Farmacia Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (F.C.); (D.T.); (N.G.); (F.L.)
| | - Daniela Trisciuzzi
- Dipartimento di Farmacia Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (F.C.); (D.T.); (N.G.); (F.L.)
- Molecular Horizon srl, Via Montelino 32, 06084 Bettona, Italy
| | - Nicola Gambacorta
- Dipartimento di Farmacia Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (F.C.); (D.T.); (N.G.); (F.L.)
| | - Francesco Leonetti
- Dipartimento di Farmacia Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (F.C.); (D.T.); (N.G.); (F.L.)
| | - Angela Stefanachi
- Dipartimento di Farmacia Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (F.C.); (D.T.); (N.G.); (F.L.)
| | - Orazio Nicolotti
- Dipartimento di Farmacia Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy; (F.C.); (D.T.); (N.G.); (F.L.)
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26
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La Sala G, Michiels C, Kükenshöner T, Brandstoetter T, Maurer B, Koide A, Lau K, Pojer F, Koide S, Sexl V, Dumoutier L, Hantschel O. Selective inhibition of STAT3 signaling using monobodies targeting the coiled-coil and N-terminal domains. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4115. [PMID: 32807795 PMCID: PMC7431413 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17920-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor STAT3 is frequently activated in human solid and hematological malignancies and remains a challenging therapeutic target with no approved drugs to date. Here, we develop synthetic antibody mimetics, termed monobodies, to interfere with STAT3 signaling. These monobodies are highly selective for STAT3 and bind with nanomolar affinity to the N-terminal and coiled-coil domains. Interactome analysis detects no significant binding to other STATs or additional off-target proteins, confirming their exquisite specificity. Intracellular expression of monobodies fused to VHL, an E3 ubiquitin ligase substrate receptor, results in degradation of endogenous STAT3. The crystal structure of STAT3 in complex with monobody MS3-6 reveals bending of the coiled-coil domain, resulting in diminished DNA binding and nuclear translocation. MS3-6 expression strongly inhibits STAT3-dependent transcriptional activation and disrupts STAT3 interaction with the IL-22 receptor. Therefore, our study establishes innovative tools to interfere with STAT3 signaling by different molecular mechanisms. STAT3 is an attractive therapeutic target but its homology with other STAT proteins complicates the development of selective inhibitors. Here, the authors develop monobodies with high affinity and selectivity for STAT3 and show that they can interfere with cellular STAT3 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégory La Sala
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 19, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Camille Michiels
- Experimental Medicine Unit, De Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tim Kükenshöner
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 19, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tania Brandstoetter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Barbara Maurer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Akiko Koide
- Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 522 1st Avenue, New York, 10016, NY, USA.,Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, 522 1st Avenue, New York, 10016, NY, USA
| | - Kelvin Lau
- Protein Crystallography Core Facility, School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Station 19, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Florence Pojer
- Protein Crystallography Core Facility, School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Station 19, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Shohei Koide
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, 522 1st Avenue, New York, 10016, NY, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, 522 1st Avenue, New York, 10016, NY, USA
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Laure Dumoutier
- Experimental Medicine Unit, De Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Oliver Hantschel
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 19, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland. .,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Philipps-University of Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 1, 35032, Marburg, Germany.
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27
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Carrasco-López C, Zhao EM, Gil AA, Alam N, Toettcher JE, Avalos JL. Development of light-responsive protein binding in the monobody non-immunoglobulin scaffold. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4045. [PMID: 32792484 PMCID: PMC7427095 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17837-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Monobodies are synthetic non-immunoglobulin customizable protein binders invaluable to basic and applied research, and of considerable potential as future therapeutics and diagnostic tools. The ability to reversibly control their binding activity to their targets on demand would significantly expand their applications in biotechnology, medicine, and research. Here we present, as proof-of-principle, the development of a light-controlled monobody (OptoMB) that works in vitro and in cells and whose affinity for its SH2-domain target exhibits a 330-fold shift in binding affinity upon illumination. We demonstrate that our αSH2-OptoMB can be used to purify SH2-tagged proteins directly from crude E. coli extract, achieving 99.8% purity and over 40% yield in a single purification step. By virtue of their ability to be designed to bind any protein of interest, OptoMBs have the potential to find new powerful applications as light-switchable binders of untagged proteins with the temporal and spatial precision afforded by light.
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Affiliation(s)
- César Carrasco-López
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Evan M Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Agnieszka A Gil
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Nathan Alam
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Jared E Toettcher
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA.
| | - José L Avalos
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA.
- Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA.
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28
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Btk SH2-kinase interface is critical for allosteric kinase activation and its targeting inhibits B-cell neoplasms. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2319. [PMID: 32385234 PMCID: PMC7210950 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16128-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk) is critical for B-cell maturation and activation. Btk loss-of-function mutations cause human X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA). In contrast, Btk signaling sustains growth of several B-cell neoplasms which may be treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Here, we uncovered the structural mechanism by which certain XLA mutations in the SH2 domain strongly perturb Btk activation. Using a combination of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), we discovered an allosteric interface between the SH2 and kinase domain required for Btk activation and to which multiple XLA mutations map. As allosteric interactions provide unique targeting opportunities, we developed an engineered repebody protein binding to the SH2 domain and able to disrupt the SH2-kinase interaction. The repebody prevents activation of wild-type and TKI-resistant Btk, inhibiting Btk-dependent signaling and proliferation of malignant B-cells. Therefore, the SH2-kinase interface is critical for Btk activation and a targetable site for allosteric inhibition. Constitutive Btk signaling drives several B-cell cancers. Here the authors demonstrate key allosteric intramolecular interactions between the SH2 domain and the kinase domain of Btk, and propose an alternative approach for inhibition of both wild-type and tyrosine kinase inhibitor-resistant Btk.
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29
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Hantschel O, Biancalana M, Koide S. Monobodies as enabling tools for structural and mechanistic biology. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2020; 60:167-174. [PMID: 32145686 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2020.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Monobodies, built with the scaffold of the fibronectin type III domain, are among the most well-established synthetic binding proteins. They promote crystallization of challenging molecular systems. They have strong tendency to bind to functional sites and thus serve as drug-like molecules that perturb the biological functions of their targets. Monobodies lack disulfide bonds and thus they are particularly suited as genetically encoded reagents to be used intracellularly. This article reviews recent monobody-enabled studies that reveal new structures, molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic opportunities. A systematic analysis of the crystal structures of monobody-target complexes suggests important attributes that make monobodies effective crystallization chaperones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Hantschel
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Philipps-University of Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 1, 35032 Marburg, Germany; Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 19, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Matthew Biancalana
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, 522 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Shohei Koide
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, 522 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Medicine and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, 522 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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30
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Engineering selective competitors for the discrimination of highly conserved protein-protein interaction modules. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4521. [PMID: 31586061 PMCID: PMC6778148 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12528-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Designing highly specific modulators of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) is especially challenging in the context of multiple paralogs and conserved interaction surfaces. In this case, direct generation of selective and competitive inhibitors is hindered by high similarity within the evolutionary-related protein interfaces. We report here a strategy that uses a semi-rational approach to separate the modulator design into two functional parts. We first achieve specificity toward a region outside of the interface by using phage display selection coupled with molecular and cellular validation. Highly selective competition is then generated by appending the more degenerate interaction peptide to contact the target interface. We apply this approach to specifically bind a single PDZ domain within the postsynaptic protein PSD-95 over highly similar PDZ domains in PSD-93, SAP-97 and SAP-102. Our work provides a paralog-selective and domain specific inhibitor of PSD-95, and describes a method to efficiently target other conserved PPI modules. Developing inhibitors that target specific protein-protein interactions (PPIs) is challenging. Here, the authors show that target selectivity and PPI blocking can be achieved simultaneously with PPI inhibitors that contain two functional modules, and create a paralog-selective PSD-95 inhibitor as proof-of-concept.
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31
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Röth S, Fulcher LJ, Sapkota GP. Advances in targeted degradation of endogenous proteins. Cell Mol Life Sci 2019; 76:2761-2777. [PMID: 31030225 PMCID: PMC6588652 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03112-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 03/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Protein silencing is often employed as a means to aid investigations in protein function and is increasingly desired as a therapeutic approach. Several types of protein silencing methodologies have been developed, including targeting the encoding genes, transcripts, the process of translation or the protein directly. Despite these advances, most silencing systems suffer from limitations. Silencing protein expression through genetic ablation, for example by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, is irreversible, time consuming and not always feasible. Similarly, RNA interference approaches warrant prolonged treatments, can lead to incomplete protein depletion and are often associated with off-target effects. Targeted proteolysis has the potential to overcome some of these limitations. The field of targeted proteolysis has witnessed the emergence of many methodologies aimed at targeting specific proteins for degradation in a spatio-temporal manner. In this review, we provide an appraisal of the different targeted proteolytic systems and discuss their applications in understanding protein function, as well as their potential in therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Röth
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Luke J Fulcher
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Gopal P Sapkota
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK.
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32
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Allosteric modulation of a human protein kinase with monobodies. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:13937-13942. [PMID: 31239342 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1906024116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite being the subject of intense effort and scrutiny, kinases have proven to be consistently challenging targets in inhibitor drug design. A key obstacle has been promiscuity and consequent adverse effects of drugs targeting the ATP binding site. Here we introduce an approach to controlling kinase activity by using monobodies that bind to the highly specific regulatory allosteric pocket of the oncoprotein Aurora A (AurA) kinase, thereby offering the potential for more specific kinase modulators. Strikingly, we identify a series of highly specific monobodies acting either as strong kinase inhibitors or activators via differential recognition of structural motifs in the allosteric pocket. X-ray crystal structures comparing AurA bound to activating vs inhibiting monobodies reveal the atomistic mechanism underlying allosteric modulation. The results reveal 3 major advantages of targeting allosteric vs orthosteric sites: extreme selectivity, ability to inhibit as well as activate, and avoidance of competing with ATP that is present at high concentrations in the cells. We envision that exploiting allosteric networks for inhibition or activation will provide a general, powerful pathway toward rational drug design.
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33
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Schmit NE, Neopane K, Hantschel O. Targeted Protein Degradation through Cytosolic Delivery of Monobody Binders Using Bacterial Toxins. ACS Chem Biol 2019; 14:916-924. [PMID: 31025848 PMCID: PMC7316569 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.9b00113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Monobodies
are small engineered binding proteins that, upon expression
in cells, can inhibit signaling of cytosolic oncoproteins with outstanding
selectivity. Efficacy may be further increased by inducing degradation
of monobody targets through fusion to the von Hippel–Lindau
(VHL) substrate receptor of the Cullin2-E3 ubiquitin ligase complex.
However, potential therapeutic use is currently limited, because of
the inability of monobody proteins to cross cellular membranes. Here,
we use a chimeric bacterial toxin, composed of the Shiga-like toxin
B (Stx2B) subunit and the translocation domain of Pseudomonas
aeruginosa exotoxin A (ETA-II) for delivery of VHL–monobody
protein fusions to target endogenous tyrosine kinases in cancer cells.
Depending on the expression of the Stx2B receptor Gb3 on the cell
surface, we show that monobodies are taken up by an endocytic route,
but are not degraded in lysosomes. Delivery of monobodies fused to
a nuclear localization signal resulted in accumulation in the nucleus,
thereby indirectly, but unequivocally, demonstrating cytosolic delivery.
Delivery of VHL fused to monobodies targeting the Lck tyrosine kinase
in T-cells resulted in reduced Lck protein levels, which was dependent
on the expression of Gb3. This led to the inhibition of proximal signaling
events downstream of the T-cell receptor complex. This work provides
a prime example of the delivery of a stoichiometric protein inhibitor
of an endogenous target protein to cells and inducing its degradation
without the need of genetic manipulation of target cells. It lays
the foundation for further in vivo exploitation of
this delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Eliane Schmit
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Katyayanee Neopane
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Hantschel
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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34
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Andreou A, Giastas P, Arnaouteli S, Tzanodaskalaki M, Tzartos SJ, Bethanis K, Bouriotis V, Eliopoulos EE. The putative polysaccharide deacetylase Ba0331: cloning, expression, crystallization and structure determination. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS 2019; 75:312-320. [PMID: 30950833 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x19001766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Ba0331 is a putative polysaccharide deacetylase from Bacillus anthracis, the etiological agent of the disease anthrax, that contributes to adaptation of the bacterium under extreme conditions and to maintenance of the cell shape. In the present study, the crystal structure of Ba0331 was determined at 2.6 Å resolution. The structure consists of two domains: a fibronectin type 3-like (Fn3-like) domain and a NodB catalytic domain. The latter is present in all carbohydrate esterase family 4 enzymes, while a comparative analysis of the Fn3-like domain revealed structural plasticity despite the retention of the conserved Fn3-like domain characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athena Andreou
- Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Petros Giastas
- Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Sofia Arnaouteli
- Department of Biology, Enzyme Biotechnology Group, University of Crete, Vasilika Vouton, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Mary Tzanodaskalaki
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Hellas N. Plastira 100, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Socrates J Tzartos
- Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Vasilissis Sofias 127, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Kostas Bethanis
- Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Vassilis Bouriotis
- Department of Biology, Enzyme Biotechnology Group, University of Crete, Vasilika Vouton, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Elias E Eliopoulos
- Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
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35
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Liu H, Huang H, Voss C, Kaneko T, Qin WT, Sidhu S, Li SSC. Surface Loops in a Single SH2 Domain Are Capable of Encoding the Spectrum of Specificity of the SH2 Family. Mol Cell Proteomics 2019; 18:372-382. [PMID: 30482845 PMCID: PMC6356082 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra118.001123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Src homology 2 (SH2) domains play an essential role in cellular signal transduction by binding to proteins phosphorylated on Tyr residue. Although Tyr phosphorylation (pY) is a prerequisite for binding for essentially all SH2 domains characterized to date, different SH2 domains prefer specific sequence motifs C-terminal to the pY residue. Because all SH2 domains adopt the same structural fold, it is not well understood how different SH2 domains have acquired the ability to recognize distinct sequence motifs. We have shown previously that the EF and BG loops that connect the secondary structure elements on an SH2 domain dictate its specificity. In this study, we investigated if these surface loops could be engineered to encode diverse specificities. By characterizing a group of SH2 variants selected by different pY peptides from phage-displayed libraries, we show that the EF and BG loops of the Fyn SH2 domain can encode a wide spectrum of specificities, including all three major specificity classes (p + 2, p + 3 and p + 4) of the SH2 domain family. Furthermore, we found that the specificity of a given variant correlates with the sequence feature of the bait peptide used for its isolation, suggesting that an SH2 domain may acquire specificity by co-evolving with its ligand. Intriguingly, we found that the SH2 variants can employ a variety of different mechanisms to confer the same specificity, suggesting the EF and BG loops are highly flexible and adaptable. Our work provides a plausible mechanism for the SH2 domain to acquire the wide spectrum of specificity observed in nature through loop variation with minimal disturbance to the SH2 fold. It is likely that similar mechanisms may have been employed by other modular interaction domains to generate diversity in specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huadong Liu
- Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China;; Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1
| | - Haiming Huang
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, 160 College St., Toronto ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Courtney Voss
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1
| | - Tomonori Kaneko
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1
| | - Wen Tao Qin
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1
| | - Sachdev Sidhu
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, 160 College St., Toronto ON M5S 3E1, Canada.
| | - Shawn S-C Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1;.
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36
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Wang Y, Liu ZP. PCSK9 Inhibitors: Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Lowering LDLCholesterol. Mini Rev Med Chem 2018; 19:165-176. [DOI: 10.2174/1389557518666180423111442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Statins are currently the major therapeutic strategies to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
(LDL-C) levels. However, a number of hypercholesterolemia patients still have a residual cardiovascular
disease (CVD) risk despite taking the maximum-tolerated dose of statins. Proprotein convertase
subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) binds to low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), inducing its
degradation in the lysosome and inhibiting LDLR recirculating to the cell membranes. The gain-offunction
mutations in PCSK9 elevate the LDL-C levels in plasma. Therefore, PCSK9 inhibitors become
novel therapeutic approaches in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Several PCSK9 inhibitors
have been under investigation, and much progress has been made in clinical trials, especially for
monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs). Two MoAbs, evolocumab and alirocumab, are now in clinical use. In
this review, we summarize the development of PCSK9 inhibitors, including antisense oligonucleotides
(ASOs), small interfering RNA (siRNA), small molecule inhibitor, MoAbs, mimetic peptides and
adnectins, and the related safety issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Zhao-Peng Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
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37
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Richards DA. Exploring alternative antibody scaffolds: Antibody fragments and antibody mimics for targeted drug delivery. DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY. TECHNOLOGIES 2018; 30:35-46. [PMID: 30553519 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The field of targeted therapeutics has benefitted immeasurably from the development of high-affinity antibodies. These important ligands have facilitated the development of effective therapies, particularly when conjugated to potent cytotoxic payloads i.e. in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The success of ADCs is evidenced by rapid adoption within the pharmaceuticals community; many major companies have dedicated ADC research programmes. However, despite the advantages, the field of ADCs has failed to live up to its full potential. Studies have emerged suggesting that traditional IgG scaffolds may not be the optimal format for targeted payload delivery. In response, the protein engineering community has begun to explore alternative high-binding protein scaffolds as antibody mimics. In this short review I will summarise the generation, modification, and application of emerging antibody fragments and synthetic antibody mimics, with a focus on their use as drug carriers. The review aims to highlight the advantages of antibody mimics, and how they could be employed to overcome the issues and limitations of traditional ADCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Richards
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.
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38
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A Two-Step Approach for the Design and Generation of Nanobodies. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19113444. [PMID: 30400198 PMCID: PMC6274671 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanobodies, the smallest possible antibody format, have become of considerable interest for biotechnological and immunotherapeutic applications. They show excellent robustness, are non-immunogenic in humans, and can easily be engineered and produced in prokaryotic hosts. Traditionally, nanobodies are selected from camelid immune libraries involving the maintenance and treatment of animals. Recent advances have involved the generation of nanobodies from naïve or synthetic libraries. However, such approaches demand large library sizes and sophisticated selection procedures. Here, we propose an alternative, two-step approach for the design and generation of nanobodies. In a first step, complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) are grafted from conventional antibody formats onto nanobody frameworks, generating weak antigen binders. In a second step, the weak binders serve as templates to design focused synthetic phage libraries for affinity maturation. We validated this approach by grafting toxin- and hapten-specific CDRs onto frameworks derived from variable domains of camelid heavy-chain-only antibodies (VHH). We then affinity matured the hapten binder via panning of a synthetic phage library. We suggest that this strategy can complement existing immune, naïve, and synthetic library based methods, requiring neither animal experiments, nor large libraries, nor sophisticated selection protocols.
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39
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Martin HL, Bedford R, Heseltine SJ, Tang AA, Haza KZ, Rao A, McPherson MJ, Tomlinson DC. Non-immunoglobulin scaffold proteins: Precision tools for studying protein-protein interactions in cancer. N Biotechnol 2018; 45:28-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2018.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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40
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Wang T, Badran AH, Huang TP, Liu DR. Continuous directed evolution of proteins with improved soluble expression. Nat Chem Biol 2018; 14:972-980. [PMID: 30127387 PMCID: PMC6143403 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-018-0121-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
We report the development of soluble expression phage-assisted continuous evolution (SE-PACE), a system for rapidly evolving proteins with increased soluble expression. Through use of a PACE-compatible AND gate that uses a split-intein pIII, SE-PACE enables two simultaneous positive selections to evolve proteins with improved expression while maintaining their desired activities. In as little as three days, SE-PACE evolved several antibody fragments with >5-fold improvement in expression yield while retaining binding activity. We also developed an activity-independent form of SE-PACE to correct folding-defective variants of maltose-binding protein (MBP) and to evolve variants of the eukaryotic cytidine deaminase APOBEC1 with improved expression properties. These evolved APOBEC1 variants were found to improve the expression and apparent activity of Cas9-derived base editors when used in place of the wild-type cytidine deaminase. Together, these results suggest that SE-PACE can be applied to a wide variety of proteins to rapidly improve their soluble expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Wang
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ahmed H Badran
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tony P Huang
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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41
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Tanaka SI, Takahashi T, Koide A, Iwamoto R, Koikeda S, Koide S. Monobody-Mediated Alteration of Lipase Substrate Specificity. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:1487-1492. [PMID: 29757606 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Controlling the catalytic properties of enzymes remain an important challenge in chemistry and biotechnology. We have recently established a strategy for altering enzyme specificity in which the addition of proxy monobodies, synthetic binding proteins, modulates the specificity of an otherwise unmodified enzyme. Here, in order to examine its broader applicability, we employed the strategy on Candida rugosa lipase 1 (CRL1), an enzyme with a tunnel-like substrate binding site. We successfully identified proxy monobodies that restricted the substrate specificity of CRL1 toward short-chain fatty acids. The successes with this enzyme system and a β-galactosidase used in the previous work suggest that our strategy can be applied to diverse enzymes with distinct architectures of substrate binding sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun-ichi Tanaka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Frontier Research Department, Gifu R&D Center, Amano Enzyme, Inc., Gifu 509-0109, Japan
- Ritsumeikan Global Innovation Research Organization, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Takahashi
- Frontier Research Department, Gifu R&D Center, Amano Enzyme, Inc., Gifu 509-0109, Japan
| | - Akiko Koide
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Riki Iwamoto
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Satoshi Koikeda
- Frontier Research Department, Gifu R&D Center, Amano Enzyme, Inc., Gifu 509-0109, Japan
| | - Shohei Koide
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
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42
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Pitsawong W, Buosi V, Otten R, Agafonov RV, Zorba A, Kern N, Kutter S, Kern G, Pádua RA, Meniche X, Kern D. Dynamics of human protein kinase Aurora A linked to drug selectivity. eLife 2018; 7:36656. [PMID: 29901437 PMCID: PMC6054532 DOI: 10.7554/elife.36656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein kinases are major drug targets, but the development of highly-selective inhibitors has been challenging due to the similarity of their active sites. The observation of distinct structural states of the fully-conserved Asp-Phe-Gly (DFG) loop has put the concept of conformational selection for the DFG-state at the center of kinase drug discovery. Recently, it was shown that Gleevec selectivity for the Tyr-kinase Abl was instead rooted in conformational changes after drug binding. Here, we investigate whether protein dynamics after binding is a more general paradigm for drug selectivity by characterizing the binding of several approved drugs to the Ser/Thr-kinase Aurora A. Using a combination of biophysical techniques, we propose a universal drug-binding mechanism, that rationalizes selectivity, affinity and long on-target residence time for kinase inhibitors. These new concepts, where protein dynamics in the drug-bound state plays the crucial role, can be applied to inhibitor design of targets outside the kinome. Protein kinases are a family of enzymes found in all living organisms. These enzymes help to control many biological processes, including cell division. When particular protein kinases do not work correctly, cells may start to divide uncontrollably, which can lead to cancer. One example is the kinase Aurora A, which is over-active in many common human cancers. As a result, researchers are currently trying to design drugs that reduce the activity of Aurora A in the hope that these could form new anticancer treatments. In general, drugs are designed to be as specific in their action as possible to reduce the risk of harmful side effects to the patient. Designing a drug that affects a single protein kinase, however, is difficult because there are hundreds of different kinases in the body, all with similar structures. Because drugs often work by binding to specific structural features, a drug that targets one protein kinase can often alter the activity of a large number of others too. Gleevec is a successful anti-leukemia drug that specifically works on one target kinase, producing minimal side effects. It was recently discovered that the drug works through a phenomenon called ‘induced fit’. This means that after the drug binds it causes a change in the enzyme’s overall shape that alters the activity of the enzyme. The shape change is complex, and so even small structural differences can change the effect of a particular drug. Do other drugs that target other protein kinases also produce induced fit effects? To find out, Pitsawong, Buosi, Otten, Agafonov et al. studied how three anti-cancer drugs interact with Aurora A: two drugs specifically designed to switch off Aurora A, and Gleevec (which does not target Aurora A). The two drugs that specifically target Aurora A were thought to work by targeting one structural feature of the enzyme. However, the biochemical and biophysical experiments performed by Pitsawong et al. revealed that these drugs instead work through an induced fit effect. By contrast, Gleevec did not trigger an induced fit on Aurora A and so bound less tightly to it. In light of these results, Pitsawong et al. suggest that future efforts to design drugs that target protein kinases should focus on exploiting the induced fit process. This will require more research into the structure of particular kinases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warintra Pitsawong
- Department of Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
| | - Vanessa Buosi
- Department of Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
| | - Renee Otten
- Department of Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
| | - Roman V Agafonov
- Department of Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
| | - Adelajda Zorba
- Department of Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
| | - Nadja Kern
- Department of Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
| | - Steffen Kutter
- Department of Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
| | - Gunther Kern
- Department of Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
| | - Ricardo Ap Pádua
- Department of Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
| | - Xavier Meniche
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Dorothee Kern
- Department of Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
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43
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Gorman K, McGinnis J, Kay B. Generating FN3-Based Affinity Reagents Through Phage Display. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 10:e39. [PMID: 29927113 DOI: 10.1002/cpch.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies are useful tools for detecting individual proteins in complex samples and for learning about their location, amount, binding partners, and function in cells. Unfortunately, generating antibodies is time consuming and laborious, and their affinity and/or specificity is often limited. This protocol offers a fast and inexpensive alternative to generate antibody surrogates through phage display of a library of fibronectin type III (FN3) monobody variants and affinity selection for binders. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Gorman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jennifer McGinnis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Brian Kay
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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44
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DeRosa JR, Moyer BS, Lumen E, Wolfe AJ, Sleeper MB, Bianchi AH, Crawford A, McGuigan C, Wortel D, Fisher C, Moody KJ, Blanden AR. RPtag as an Orally Bioavailable, Hyperstable Epitope Tag and Generalizable Protein Binding Scaffold. Biochemistry 2018; 57:3036-3049. [PMID: 29722979 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies are the most prolific biologics in research and clinical environments because of their ability to bind targets with high affinity and specificity. However, antibodies also carry liabilities. A significant portion of the life-science reproducibility crisis is driven by inconsistent performance of research-grade antibodies, and clinical antibodies are often unstable and require costly cold-chain management to reach their destinations in active form. In biotechnology, antibodies are also limited by difficulty integrating them in many recombinant systems due to their size and structural complexity. A switch to small, stable, sequence-verified binding scaffolds may overcome these barriers. Here we present such a scaffold, RPtag, based on a ribose-binding protein (RBP) from extremophile Caldanaerobacter subterraneus. RPtag binds an optimized peptide with pM affinity, is stable to extreme temperature, pH, and protease treatment, readily refolds after denaturation, is effective in common laboratory applications, was rationally engineered to bind bioactive PDGF-β, and was formulated as a gut-stable orally bioavailable preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R DeRosa
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Brandon S Moyer
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Ellie Lumen
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Aaron J Wolfe
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Meegan B Sleeper
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Anthony H Bianchi
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Ashleigh Crawford
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Connor McGuigan
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Danique Wortel
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Cheyanne Fisher
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Kelsey J Moody
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
| | - Adam R Blanden
- Ichor Therapeutics, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States.,RecombiPure, Inc. , 2521 US-11 , Lafayette , New York 13084 , United States
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45
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Sirois AR, Deny DA, Baierl SR, George KS, Moore SJ. Fn3 proteins engineered to recognize tumor biomarker mesothelin internalize upon binding. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197029. [PMID: 29738555 PMCID: PMC5940182 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesothelin is a cell surface protein that is overexpressed in numerous cancers, including breast, ovarian, lung, liver, and pancreatic tumors. Aberrant expression of mesothelin has been shown to promote tumor progression and metastasis through interaction with established tumor biomarker CA125. Therefore, molecules that specifically bind to mesothelin have potential therapeutic and diagnostic applications. However, no mesothelin-targeting molecules are currently approved for routine clinical use. While antibodies that target mesothelin are in development, some clinical applications may require a targeting molecule with an alternative protein fold. For example, non-antibody proteins are more suitable for molecular imaging and may facilitate diverse chemical conjugation strategies to create drug delivery complexes. In this work, we engineered variants of the fibronectin type III domain (Fn3) non-antibody protein scaffold to bind to mesothelin with high affinity, using directed evolution and yeast surface display. Lead engineered Fn3 variants were solubly produced and purified from bacterial culture at high yield. Upon specific binding to mesothelin on human cancer cell lines, the engineered Fn3 proteins internalized and co-localized to early endosomes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of non-antibody proteins engineered to bind mesothelin. The results validate that non-antibody proteins can be engineered to bind to tumor biomarker mesothelin, and encourage the continued development of engineered variants for applications such as targeted diagnostics and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison R. Sirois
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Picker Engineering Program, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Daniela A. Deny
- Department of Biochemistry, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Samantha R. Baierl
- Picker Engineering Program, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Katia S. George
- Department of Biochemistry, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sarah J. Moore
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Picker Engineering Program, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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46
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Könning D, Kolmar H. Beyond antibody engineering: directed evolution of alternative binding scaffolds and enzymes using yeast surface display. Microb Cell Fact 2018; 17:32. [PMID: 29482656 PMCID: PMC6389260 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-018-0881-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Pioneered exactly 20 years ago, yeast surface display (YSD) continues to take a major role in protein engineering among the high-throughput display methodologies that have been developed to date. The classical yeast display technology relies on tethering an engineered protein to the cell wall by genetic fusion to one subunit of a dimeric yeast-mating agglutination receptor complex. This method enables an efficient genotype–phenotype linkage while exploiting the benefits of a eukaryotic expression machinery. Over the past two decades, a plethora of protein engineering efforts encompassing conventional antibody Fab and scFv fragments have been reported. In this review, we will focus on the versatility of YSD beyond conventional antibody engineering and, instead, place the focus on alternative scaffold proteins and enzymes which have successfully been tailored for purpose with regard to improving binding, activity or specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doreen Könning
- Antibody-Drug Conjugates and Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany.,Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany.
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Shave S, Mann S, Koszela J, Kerr A, Auer M. PuLSE: Quality control and quantification of peptide sequences explored by phage display libraries. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193332. [PMID: 29474422 PMCID: PMC5825087 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The design of highly diverse phage display libraries is based on assumption that DNA bases are incorporated at similar rates within the randomized sequence. As library complexity increases and expected copy numbers of unique sequences decrease, the exploration of library space becomes sparser and the presence of truly random sequences becomes critical. We present the program PuLSE (Phage Library Sequence Evaluation) as a tool for assessing randomness and therefore diversity of phage display libraries. PuLSE runs on a collection of sequence reads in the fastq file format and generates tables profiling the library in terms of unique DNA sequence counts and positions, translated peptide sequences, and normalized 'expected' occurrences from base to residue codon frequencies. The output allows at-a-glance quantitative quality control of a phage library in terms of sequence coverage both at the DNA base and translated protein residue level, which has been missing from toolsets and literature. The open source program PuLSE is available in two formats, a C++ source code package for compilation and integration into existing bioinformatics pipelines and precompiled binaries for ease of use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Shave
- School of Biological Sciences and Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, The King’s Buildings, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Mann
- School of Biological Sciences and Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, The King’s Buildings, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Koszela
- School of Biological Sciences and Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, The King’s Buildings, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Alastair Kerr
- School of Biological Sciences and Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, The King’s Buildings, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Manfred Auer
- School of Biological Sciences and Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, The King’s Buildings, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
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48
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Reckel S, Gehin C, Tardivon D, Georgeon S, Kükenshöner T, Löhr F, Koide A, Buchner L, Panjkovich A, Reynaud A, Pinho S, Gerig B, Svergun D, Pojer F, Güntert P, Dötsch V, Koide S, Gavin AC, Hantschel O. Structural and functional dissection of the DH and PH domains of oncogenic Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase. Nat Commun 2017; 8:2101. [PMID: 29235475 PMCID: PMC5727386 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02313-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The two isoforms of the Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase, p210 and p190, are associated with different leukemias and have a dramatically different signaling network, despite similar kinase activity. To provide a molecular rationale for these observations, we study the Dbl-homology (DH) and Pleckstrin-homology (PH) domains of Bcr-Abl p210, which constitute the only structural differences to p190. Here we report high-resolution structures of the DH and PH domains and characterize conformations of the DH-PH unit in solution. Our structural and functional analyses show no evidence that the DH domain acts as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, whereas the PH domain binds to various phosphatidylinositol-phosphates. PH-domain mutants alter subcellular localization and result in decreased interactions with p210-selective interaction partners. Hence, the PH domain, but not the DH domain, plays an important role in the formation of the differential p210 and p190 Bcr-Abl signaling networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Reckel
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Charlotte Gehin
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Delphine Tardivon
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sandrine Georgeon
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tim Kükenshöner
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Frank Löhr
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Akiko Koide
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Lena Buchner
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Alejandro Panjkovich
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Aline Reynaud
- Protein Crystallography Core Facility, School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sara Pinho
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Gerig
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dmitri Svergun
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Florence Pojer
- Protein Crystallography Core Facility, School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Peter Güntert
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
- Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, 192-0397, Japan
| | - Volker Dötsch
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Shohei Koide
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Anne-Claude Gavin
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oliver Hantschel
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Zhao J, Ren J, Wang N, Cheng Z, Yang R, Lin G, Guo Y, Cai D, Xie Y, Zhao X. Crystal structure of the second fibronectin type III (FN3) domain from human collagen α1 type XX. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2017; 73:695-700. [PMID: 29199991 PMCID: PMC5713675 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x1701648x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Collagen α1 type XX, which contains fibronectin type III (FN3) repeats involving six FN3 domains (referred to as the FN#1-FN#6 domains), is an unusual member of the fibril-associated collagens with interrupted triple helices (FACIT) subfamily of collagens. The results of standard protein BLAST suggest that the FN3 repeats might contribute to collagen α1 type XX acting as a cytokine receptor. To date, solution NMR structures of the FN#3, FN#4 and FN#6 domains have been determined. To obtain further structural evidence to understand the relationship between the structure and function of the FN3 repeats from collagen α1 type XX, the crystal structure of the FN#2 domain from human collagen α1 type XX (residues Pro386-Pro466; referred to as FN2-HCXX) was solved at 2.5 Å resolution. The crystal structure of FN2-HCXX shows an immunoglobulin-like fold containing a β-sandwich structure, which is formed by a three-stranded β-sheet (β1, β2 and β5) packed onto a four-stranded β-sheet (β3, β4, β6 and β7). Two consensus domains, tencon and fibcon, are structural analogues of FN2-HCXX. Fn8, an FN3 domain from human oncofoetal fibronectin, is the closest structural analogue of FN2-HCXX derived from a naturally occurring sequence. Based solely on the structural similarity of FN2-HCXX to other FN3 domains, the detailed functions of FN2-HCXX and the FN3 repeats in collagen α1 type XX cannot be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingfeng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 151 Malianwa North Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jixia Ren
- College of Life Science, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252059, People’s Republic of China
| | - Nan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 151 Malianwa North Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhong Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 151 Malianwa North Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, People’s Republic of China
| | - Runmei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 151 Malianwa North Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, People’s Republic of China
| | - Gen Lin
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 151 Malianwa North Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Guo
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 151 Malianwa North Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dayong Cai
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 151 Malianwa North Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yong Xie
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 151 Malianwa North Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaohong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 151 Malianwa North Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, People’s Republic of China
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50
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Abstract
Over the past two decades, hundreds of new somatic mutations have been identified in tumours, and a few dozen novel cancer therapeutics that selectively target these mutated oncoproteins have entered clinical practice. This development has resulted in clinical breakthroughs for a few tumour types, but more commonly patients' overall survival has not improved because of the development of drug resistance. Furthermore, only a very limited number of oncoproteins, largely protein kinases, are successfully targeted, whereas most non-kinase oncoproteins inside cancer cells remain untargeted. Engineered small protein inhibitors offer great promise in targeting a larger variety of oncoproteins with better efficacy and higher selectivity. In this article, I focus on a promising class of synthetic binding proteins, termed monobodies, that we have shown to inhibit previously untargetable protein-protein interactions in different oncoproteins. I will discuss the great promise alongside the technical challenges inherent in converting monobodies from potent pre-clinical target validation tools to next-generation protein-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Hantschel
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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