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Wolkersdorfer AM, Endo Y, Kehrein J, Kappus M, Hattori S, Gutmann M, Rudel T, Caliskan N, Lühmann T, Kato Y, Meinel L. Designing the Aplysia punctata Arginine-Depleting Enzyme for Tumor Targeting. Mol Pharm 2025; 22:1253-1261. [PMID: 39950605 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.4c00964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2025]
Abstract
l-Amino acid oxidases (LAAO) deaminate amino acids to α-keto acids and generate hydrogen peroxide, a reactive oxygen species (ROS) with potential value for cancer therapy. We recombinantly expressed the LAAO from Aplysia punctata, called APIT (Cuvier 1803). The resulting wild-type APIT (APITwt) was conjugated to polyethylene glycol (APIT-PEG). Furthermore, an APIT mutant with an affibody targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2; zHER2-APIT) was genetically engineered resulting in a binding affinity KD of ∼ 2.2 nM to the HER2 receptor ectodomain. Further, we evaluated if the APIT and tumor-targeted APIT can be used as an APIT-drug conjugate by covalently amidating the lysine residues on the protein surface. However, for the HER2-targeted APIT, the affibody contains lysines as well, and amidation of these lysines could have impaired the affibody's affinity to the HER2 receptor. Therefore, we designed a lysine-free variant of the tumor-targeting part of zHER2-APIT using an in silico mutation analysis, suggesting the replacement of the lysines of the affibody by arginine or alanine. This new variant is referred to as zHER2(K-del)-APIT. To simulate a covalent drug loading to APIT and the targeting constructs, we attached biotin by amidation. Biotin-zHER2(K-del)-APIT successfully allowed binding to HER2-positive but not HER2-negative cells in vitro. The biodistribution of these novel constructs was tested in xenografted mice with a HER2-positive and negative tumor in each animal. The zHER2(K-del)-APIT lost its ability to target HER2-positive tumors despite the in vitro data suggesting otherwise. The zHER2-APIT accumulated within the HER2-positive tumors but not in the negative tumors. APIT-PEG had increased uptake in HER2-positive and negative tumors compared to APITwt, which can be attributed to a prolonged serum half-life achieved by PEGylation, due to the absence of any tumor-targeting effect. These biodistribution studies point to HER2-targeting LAAOs for cancer therapy and PEGylation increasing tumor accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Maria Wolkersdorfer
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Yuri Endo
- Laboratory for Bioanalysis and Onco-Pharmaceutics, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan
| | - Josef Kehrein
- Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki, A. I. Virtasen aukio 1, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Maximilian Kappus
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Sumitto Hattori
- Laboratory for Bioanalysis and Onco-Pharmaceutics, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan
| | - Marcus Gutmann
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Thomas Rudel
- Chair of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg 97074, Germany
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Helmholtz-Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Josef-Schneider-Str.2/D15, Würzburg 97080, Germany
| | - Neva Caliskan
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Helmholtz-Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Josef-Schneider-Str.2/D15, Würzburg 97080, Germany
| | - Tessa Lühmann
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Yoshinori Kato
- Laboratory for Bioanalysis and Onco-Pharmaceutics, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan
| | - Lorenz Meinel
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Helmholtz-Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Josef-Schneider-Str.2/D15, Würzburg 97080, Germany
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Gao W, Yang X, Li Q, Liu Y, Huang W, Xia X, Yan D. Covalent Affibody-Molecular Glue Drug Conjugate Nanoagent for Proximity-Enabled Reactive Therapeutics. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2025; 12:e2412273. [PMID: 39821590 PMCID: PMC11905048 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202412273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2024] [Revised: 11/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2025]
Abstract
Sulfur-fluoride exchange (SuFEx) reaction is an emerging class of click chemistry reaction. Owing to its efficient reactivity under physiological conditions, SuFEx reaction is used to construct covalent protein drugs. Herein, a covalent affibody-molecular glue drug conjugate nanoagent is reported, which can irreversibly bind with its target protein through proximity-enabled SuFEx reaction. As a proof of concept, a latent bioreactive unnatural amino acid fluorosulfate-L-tyrosine (FSY) is first introduced at site 36 of the affibody with cysteine mutation (ZHER2:342-Cys) to produce ZHER2:342-36FSY-Cys. Subsequently, ZHER2:342-36FSY-Cys is coupled with a molecular glue drug (CR8) to yield an amphiphilic conjugate of ZHER2:342-36FSY-CR8, which can self-assemble into affibody-drug conjugate nanoagent (ZHER2:342-36FSY-CR8 ADCN) in PBS. When ZHER2:342-36FSY-CR8 ADCN specific binds to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) on cancer cells, the FSY36 of ZHER2:342 approaches to the His490 of HER2 and ultimately reacts with each other to form a covalent bond via SuFEx reaction. Such a covalent binding mode endows ZHER2:342-36FSY-CR8 ADCN with permanent binding ability to effectively increase the concentration of drugs in tumor. Eventually, the covalent ZHER2:342-36FSY-CR8 ADCN exhibits an outstanding tumor inhibition ratio of 90.03 ± 4.29% in HER2-positive ovary tumor models, strikingly higher than that of the noncovalent one (64.25 ± 7.71%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Gao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringFrontiers Science Center for Transformative MoleculesShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai200240China
| | - Xiaoyuan Yang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringFrontiers Science Center for Transformative MoleculesShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai200240China
| | - Qingrong Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringFrontiers Science Center for Transformative MoleculesShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai200240China
| | - Yingchun Liu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringFrontiers Science Center for Transformative MoleculesShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai200240China
| | - Wei Huang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringFrontiers Science Center for Transformative MoleculesShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai200240China
- XIANGFU Laboratory, JiaxingZhejiang314102China
| | - Xuelin Xia
- School of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringFrontiers Science Center for Transformative MoleculesShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai200240China
| | - Deyue Yan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringFrontiers Science Center for Transformative MoleculesShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai200240China
- XIANGFU Laboratory, JiaxingZhejiang314102China
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3
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Brennecke B, Civili B, Sabale PM, Barluenga S, Meyer B, Winssinger N. Self-assembled proteomimetic (SAP) with antibody-like binding from short PNA-peptide conjugates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2025; 122:e2412850122. [PMID: 39951509 PMCID: PMC11848287 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2412850122] [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: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2025] [Indexed: 02/16/2025] Open
Abstract
Affinity proteins based on a three-helix bundle (affibodies, alphabodies, and computationally de novo designed ones) have been shown to be a general platform to discover binders with properties reminiscent of antibodies, combining high target specificity with affinities reaching well below the nanomolar. Herein, we report a strategy, coined self-assembled proteomimetic (SAP), to mimic such three-helix bundle architecture with a hybridization-enforced two-helix coiled coil that is obtained by templated native chemical ligation (T-NCL) of PNA-peptide conjugates. This SAP strategy stands out by its synthetic accessibility, reducing the length on the longest synthetic peptide to less than 30 amino acids which is readily attainable by standard SPPS methodologies. We show that the T-NCL dramatically accelerates the ligation, enabling this chemistry to proceed in a combinatorial fashion at low micromolar concentrations. We demonstrate that small combinatorial libraries of SAPs can be prepared in one operation and used directly in affinity selections against a target of interest with an LC-MS analysis of the fittest binders. Moreover, we show that the underlying design paradigm is functional for SAPs based on structurally distinct three-helix peptides aimed at different therapeutic targets, namely HER2 and spike's RBD, reaching picomolar affinities. We further illustrate that the affinity of the SAP can be allosterically regulated using a toehold displacement of the hybridizing PNAs to disrupt the coiled coil stabilization. Finally, we show that an RBD-targeting SAP effectively inhibits viral entry of SARS-CoV-2 with an IC50 of 2.8 nM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Brennecke
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Geneva1211, Switzerland
| | - Beatrice Civili
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Geneva1211, Switzerland
| | - Pramod M. Sabale
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Geneva1211, Switzerland
| | - Sofia Barluenga
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Geneva1211, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Meyer
- Center of Vaccinology, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva1211, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Winssinger
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Geneva1211, Switzerland
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4
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Gui X, Liang X, Guo X, Yang Z, Song G. Impact of HER2-targeted PET/CT imaging in patients with breast cancer and therapeutic response monitoring. Oncologist 2025; 30:oyae188. [PMID: 39083323 PMCID: PMC11783325 DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyae188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with breast cancer exhibit heterogeneity in the expression of the human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Clinically, re-biopsying recurrent or metastatic lesions presents substantial challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of HER2-targeted PET/CT imaging in identifying HER2 expression in breast cancer lesions and monitoring therapeutic responses. PATIENTS AND METHODS This exploratory analysis used data from a prospective study that included adult patients with breast cancer who underwent both Al18F-NOTA-HER2-BCH and 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging at Beijing Cancer Hospital between June 2020 and July 2023 (NCT04547309). RESULTS Fifty-nine participants, with a median age of 55 years, were analyzed. Lesions imaged with HER2-targeted PET/CT before anti-HER2 therapy exhibited higher SUVmax values than after therapy in HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) 3 + lesions (19.9, 95% CI: 15.7-25.3 vs 9.8, 95% CI: 5.6-14.7; P = .006). A significant positive correlation was observed between SUVmax on HER2-targeted PET/CT and IHC before therapy (P = .034), with higher SUVmax values noted in lesions with positive HER2 pathology compared to those with negative HER2 status (17.9 ± 13.2 vs 1.1 ± 0.3; P = .007). HER2 expression heterogeneity was confirmed both between primary and metastatic lesions (22.9%) and among different metastatic sites (26.7%) as assessed by HER2-targeted PET/CT. A superior therapeutic response correlated with higher pretreatment SUVmax values. The HER2-targeted PET/CT procedure was well-tolerated by all patients. CONCLUSION HER2-targeted PET/CT imaging offers a practical, non-invasive, and quantitative approach for assessing HER2 status in breast cancer patients, facilitating the optimization and personalization of therapeutic strategies by oncologists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Gui
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Breast Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xu Liang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Breast Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyi Guo
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guohong Song
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Breast Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, People’s Republic of China
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5
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Varanko AK, Deshpande S, Li X, Chilkoti A. Binding Strength, Not Valency, Dictates Accumulation and Penetration of Affinity Targeted Macromolecules into Solid Tumors. Biomacromolecules 2025; 26:503-513. [PMID: 39729341 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2024]
Abstract
The efficacy of tumor-targeted therapeutics, engineered to engage specific cellular receptors to promote accumulation and penetration, is strongly influenced by the carrier's affinity for its target and the valency of binding molecules incorporated into the carrier. Previous research has primarily focused on improving targeting by augmenting the number of binding proteins on the carrier, inadvertently raising avidity without isolating the individual effects of binding strength and valency. Herein, we precisely evaluate the impact of multivalency on tumor targeting with a recombinant approach to independently control valency, avidity, and size. Our findings reveal that constructs with equivalent binding strength exhibit comparable receptor engagement and tumor extravasation, regardless of valency. Moreover, excessive avidity adversely affected tumor accumulation and penetration, with the highest-avidity construct showing diminished exposure. These results indicate that overall binding strength, not valency, is the primary determinant of tumor targeting, providing valuable insights for designing effective macromolecular drug carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia K Varanko
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Sonal Deshpande
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Xinghai Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Ashutosh Chilkoti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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6
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Ranaudo A, Cosentino U, Greco C, Moro G, Maiocchi A, Moroni E. Guiding Competitive Binding Assays Using Protein-Protein Interaction Prediction: The HER2-Affitin Use Case. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:49522-49529. [PMID: 39713642 PMCID: PMC11656212 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c07317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2024] [Revised: 11/19/2024] [Accepted: 11/22/2024] [Indexed: 12/24/2024]
Abstract
Affitins are a class of small artificial proteins, designed as alternatives to antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic, and biotechnological applications. Recent patents by Bracco Imaging S.p.A have demonstrated the potential of two engineered affitins for designing imaging probes to detect and monitor human epidermal growth-factor receptor 2 (HER2) levels in vivo. Targeting HER2 is critical, as its overexpression is linked to poor prognosis of several cancer diseases, making it a key marker for treatment strategies and diagnostic tools. Interestingly, these affitins do not compete with the commonly used monoclonal antibodies trastuzumab and pertuzumab for HER2 binding sites, allowing their concurrent use in vivo and making them suitable for imaging or diagnostic purposes. Since these two affitins compete for the same yet unidentified binding site on HER2, structural insights into these interactions are essential for facilitating the design and development of more effective diagnostic tools and treatments. In this study, we used protein-protein docking and molecular dynamics simulations to model the binding of these affitins to HER2. The stability of the predicted complexes was quantified by using the DockQ parameter, a widely used metric for evaluating protein-protein docking predictions. The docking poses were then compared with HER2 sites likely to interact with a protein partner, as predicted by the matrix of local coupling energies method. The combination of these two computational methods allowed for the identification of the most likely docking poses. Comparative analysis with HER2-protein complexes from the Protein Data Bank suggests that both affitins may bind HER2 at the same epitopes as an antibody fragment and an affibody. These findings indicate that targeted competitive binding assays could efficiently reduce the experimental efforts to map the HER2-affitin interactions. The computational approach proposed in this study not only provides insights into this specific case but also establishes a robust framework applicable for facilitating the structural modeling and interaction prediction of other affitin-protein systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Ranaudo
- Department
of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University
of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Ugo Cosentino
- Department
of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University
of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Greco
- Department
of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University
of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Moro
- Department
of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University
of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza
della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Elisabetta Moroni
- Institute
of Chemical Sciences and Technologies “G. Natta”, National
Research Council of Italy, Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131 Milan, Italy
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7
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Liu Y, Oroujeni M, Liao Y, Vorobyeva A, Bodenko V, Orlova A, Konijnenberg M, Carlqvist M, Wahlberg E, Loftenius A, Frejd FY, Tolmachev V. Evaluation of a novel 177Lu-labelled therapeutic Affibody molecule with a deimmunized ABD domain and improved biodistribution profile. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2024; 51:4038-4048. [PMID: 39008065 PMCID: PMC11527907 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-024-06840-5] [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: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Fusion of Affibody molecules with an albumin-binding domain (ABD) provides targeting agents, which are suitable for radionuclide therapy. To facilitate clinical translation, the low immunogenic potential of such constructs with targeting properties conserved is required. METHODS The HER2-targeting Affibody molecule ZHER2:2891 was fused with a deimmunized ABD variant and DOTA was conjugated to a unique C-terminal cysteine. The novel construct, PEP49989, was labelled with 177Lu. Affinity, specificity, and in vivo targeting properties of [177Lu]Lu-PEP49989 were characterised. Experimental therapy in mice with human HER2-expressing xenografts was evaluated. RESULTS The maximum molar activity of 52 GBq/µmol [177Lu]Lu-PEP49989 was obtained. [177Lu]Lu-PEP49989 bound specifically to HER2-expressing cells in vitro and in vivo. The HER2 binding affinity of [177Lu]Lu-PEP49989 was similar to the affinity of [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 containing the parental ABD035 variant. The renal uptake of [177Lu]Lu-PEP49989 was 1.4-fold higher, but hepatic and splenic uptake was 1.7-2-fold lower than the uptake of [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027. The median survival of xenograft-bearing mice treated with 21 MBq [177Lu]Lu-PEP49989 (> 90 days) was significantly longer than the survival of mice treated with vehicle (38 days) or trastuzumab (45 days). Treatment using a combination of [177Lu]Lu-PEP49989 and trastuzumab increased the number of complete tumour remissions. The renal and hepatic toxicity was minimal to mild. CONCLUSION In preclinical studies, [177Lu]Lu-PEP49989 demonstrated favourable biodistribution and a strong antitumour effect, which was further enhanced by co-treatment with trastuzumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongsheng Liu
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 751 85, Sweden
| | - Maryam Oroujeni
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 751 85, Sweden
- Affibody AB, Solna, 171 65, Sweden
| | - Yunqi Liao
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 751 85, Sweden
| | - Anzhelika Vorobyeva
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 751 85, Sweden
| | - Vitalina Bodenko
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 751 85, Sweden
| | - Anna Orlova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 751 23, Sweden
| | - Mark Konijnenberg
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Fredrik Y Frejd
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 751 85, Sweden
- Affibody AB, Solna, 171 65, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 751 85, Sweden.
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Delaveris CS, Kong S, Glasgow J, Loudermilk RP, Kirkemo LL, Zhao F, Salangsang F, Phojanakong P, Camara Serrano JA, Steri V, Wells JA. Chemoproteomics reveals immunogenic and tumor-associated cell surface substrates of ectokinase CK2α. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:1729-1739.e9. [PMID: 39178841 PMCID: PMC11482644 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Foreign epitopes for immune recognition provide the basis of anticancer immunity. Due to the high concentration of extracellular adenosine triphosphate in the tumor microenvironment, we hypothesized that extracellular kinases (ectokinases) could have dysregulated activity and introduce aberrant phosphorylation sites on cell surface proteins. We engineered a cell-tethered version of the extracellular kinase CK2α, demonstrated it was active on cells under tumor-relevant conditions, and profiled its substrate scope using a chemoproteomic workflow. We then demonstrated that mice developed polyreactive antisera in response to syngeneic tumor cells that had been subjected to surface hyperphosphorylation with CK2α. Interestingly, these mice developed B cell and CD4+ T cell responses in response to these antigens but failed to develop a CD8+ T cell response. This work provides a workflow for probing the extracellular phosphoproteome and demonstrates that extracellular phosphoproteins are immunogenic even in a syngeneic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corleone S Delaveris
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Sophie Kong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jeff Glasgow
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Rita P Loudermilk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Lisa L Kirkemo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Fangzhu Zhao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Fernando Salangsang
- Preclinical Therapeutics Core, Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Paul Phojanakong
- Preclinical Therapeutics Core, Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Juan Antonio Camara Serrano
- Preclinical Therapeutics Core, Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Veronica Steri
- Preclinical Therapeutics Core, Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - James A Wells
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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9
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Xia X, Yang X, Gao W, Huang W, Xia X, Yan D. A novel HER2 targeting nanoagent self-assembled from affibody-epothilone B conjugate for cancer therapy. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:502. [PMID: 39169343 PMCID: PMC11337599 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02754-4] [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: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Epothilone B (Epo B), a promising antitumor compound effective against various types of cancer cells in vitro. However, its poor selectivity for tumor cells and inadequate therapeutic windows significantly limit its potential clinical application. Affibody is a class of non-immunoglobulin affinity proteins with precise targeting capability to overexpressed molecular receptors on cancer cells, has been intensively investigated due to its exceptional affinity properties. In this study, we present a targeted nanoagent self-assembled from the precursor of an affibody conjugated with Epo B via a linker containing the thioketal (tk) group that is sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS). The core-shell structure of the ZHER2:342-Epo B Affibody-Drug Conjugate Nanoagent (Z-E ADCN), with the cytotoxin Epo B encapsulated within the ZHER2:342 affibody corona, leads to significantly reduced side effects on normal organs. Moreover, the abundant presence of ZHER2:342 on the surface effectively enhances the targeting capacity and tumor accumulation of the drug. Z-E ADCN can be internalized by cancer cells via HER2 receptor-mediated endocytosis followed by Epo B release in response to high levels of ROS, resulting in excellent anticancer efficacy in HER2-positive tumor models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelin Xia
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyuan Yang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenhui Gao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Huang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxia Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China.
| | - Deyue Yan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China.
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10
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Roberts SE, Martin HL, Al-Qallaf D, Tang AA, Tiede C, Gaule TG, Dobon-Alonso A, Overman R, Shah S, Peyret H, Saunders K, Bon R, Manfield IW, Bell SM, Lomonossoff GP, Speirs V, Tomlinson DC. Affimer reagents enable targeted delivery of therapeutic agents and RNA via virus-like particles. iScience 2024; 27:110461. [PMID: 39104409 PMCID: PMC11298639 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies have revolutionized therapies, but non-immunoglobulin scaffolds are becoming compelling alternatives owing to their adaptability. Their ability to be labeled with imaging or cytotoxic compounds and to create multimeric proteins is an attractive strategy for therapeutics. Focusing on HER2, a frequently overexpressed receptor in breast cancer, this study addresses some limitations of conventional targeting moieties by harnessing the potential of these scaffolds. HER2-binding Affimers were isolated and characterized, demonstrating potency as binding reagents and efficient internalization by HER2-overexpressing cells. Affimers conjugated with cytotoxic agent achieved dose-dependent reductions in cell viability within HER2-overexpressing cell lines. Bispecific Affimers, targeting HER2 and virus-like particles, facilitated efficient internalization of virus-like particles carrying enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)-encoding RNA, leading to protein expression. Anti-HER2 affibody or designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) fusion constructs with the anti-VLP Affimer further underscore the adaptability of this approach. This study demonstrates the versatility of scaffolds for precise delivery of cargos into cells, advancing biotechnology and therapeutic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie E. Roberts
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Heather L. Martin
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Danah Al-Qallaf
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Anna A. Tang
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Christian Tiede
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Thembaninkosi G. Gaule
- Astbury Centre for Structural and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Institutue of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Ross Overman
- Leaf Expression Systems, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Sachin Shah
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Hadrien Peyret
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Keith Saunders
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Robin Bon
- Astbury Centre for Structural and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Iain W. Manfield
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Sandra M. Bell
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’s, St James’s University Hospital, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - George P. Lomonossoff
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Valerie Speirs
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Darren C. Tomlinson
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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11
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Vasco A, Taylor RJ, Méndez Y, Bernardes GJL. On-Demand Thio-Succinimide Hydrolysis for the Assembly of Stable Protein-Protein Conjugates. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:20709-20719. [PMID: 39012647 PMCID: PMC11295205 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c03721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Chemical post-translational protein-protein conjugation is an important technique with growing applications in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research. Maleimides represent one of the most widely employed bioconjugation reagents. However, challenges associated with the instability of first- and second-generation maleimide technologies are yet to be fully addressed. We report the development of a novel class of maleimide reagents that can undergo on-demand ring-opening hydrolysis of the resulting thio-succinimide. This strategy enables rapid post-translational assembly of protein-protein conjugates. Thio-succinimide hydrolysis, triggered upon application of chemical, photochemical, or enzymatic stimuli, allowed homobifunctional bis-maleimide reagents to be applied in the production of stable protein-protein conjugates, with complete temporal control. Bivalent and bispecific protein-protein dimers constructed from small binders targeting antigens of oncological importance, PD-L1 and HER2, were generated with high purity, stability, and improved functionality compared to monomeric building blocks. The modularity of the approach was demonstrated through elaboration of the linker moiety through a bioorthogonal propargyl handle to produce protein-protein-fluorophore conjugates. Furthermore, extending the functionality of the homobifunctional reagents by temporarily masking reactive thiols included in the linker allowed the assembly of higher order trimeric and tetrameric single-domain antibody conjugates. The potential for the approach to be extended to proteins of greater biochemical complexity was demonstrated in the production of immunoglobulin single-domain antibody conjugates. On-demand control of thio-succinimide hydrolysis combined with the facile assembly of chemically defined homo- and heterodimers constitutes an important expansion of the chemical methods available for generating stable protein-protein conjugates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yanira Méndez
- Yusuf Hamied Department of
Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, U.K.
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12
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Kolesnikova OA, Komedchikova EN, Zvereva SD, Obozina AS, Dorozh OV, Afanasev I, Nikitin PI, Mochalova EN, Nikitin MP, Shipunova VO. Albumin incorporation into recognising layer of HER2-specific magnetic nanoparticles as a tool for optimal targeting of the acidic tumor microenvironment. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34211. [PMID: 39100472 PMCID: PMC11296017 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is unquestionably a global healthcare challenge, spurring the exporation of novel treatment approaches. In recent years, nanomaterials have garnered significant interest with the greatest hopes for targeted nanoformulations due to their cell-specific delivery, improved therapeutic efficacy, and reduced systemic toxicity for the organism. The problem of successful clinical translation of nanoparticles may be related to the fact that most in vitro tests are performed at pH values of normal cells and tissues, ranging from 7.2 to 7.4. The extracellular pH values of tumors are characterized by a shift to a more acidic region in the range of 5.6-7.0 and represent a crucial target for enhancing nanoparticle delivery to cancer cells. Here we show the method of non-active protein incorporation into the surface of HER2-targeted nanoparticles to achieve optimal cellular uptake within the pH range of the tumor microenvironment. The method efficacy was confirmed in vitro and in vivo showing the maximum binding of nanoparticles to cells at a pH value 6.4. Namely, fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles, modified with HER2-recognising affibody ZHER2:342, with proven specificity in terms of HER2 recognition (with 62-fold higher cellular uptake compared to control nanoparticles) were designed for targeting cancer cells at slightly acidic pH values. The stabilizing protein, namely, bovine serum albumin, one of the major blood components with widespread availability and biocompatibility, was used for the decoration of the nanoparticle surface to alter the pH response of the targeting magnetic conjugates. The optimally designed nanoparticles showed a bell-shaped dependency of interaction with cancer cells in the pH range of 5.6-8.0 with maximum cellular uptake at pH value 6.4 close to that of the tumor microenvironment. In vivo experiments revealed that after i.v. administration, BSA-decorated nanoparticles exhibited 2 times higher accumulation in tumors compared to magnetic nanoparticles modified with affibody only. Thus, we demonstrated a valid method for enhancing the specificity of targeted nanoparticle delivery to cancer cells without changing the functional components of nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga A. Kolesnikova
- Moscow Center for Advanced Studies, Kulakova str. 20, 123592, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena N. Komedchikova
- Moscow Center for Advanced Studies, Kulakova str. 20, 123592, Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 9 Institutskiy Per., 141701, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Svetlana D. Zvereva
- Moscow Center for Advanced Studies, Kulakova str. 20, 123592, Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 9 Institutskiy Per., 141701, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | | | - Olha V. Dorozh
- Moscow Center for Advanced Studies, Kulakova str. 20, 123592, Moscow, Russia
| | - Iurii Afanasev
- Moscow Center for Advanced Studies, Kulakova str. 20, 123592, Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 9 Institutskiy Per., 141701, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Petr I. Nikitin
- Prokhorov General Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 38 Vavilov Street, 119991, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elizaveta N. Mochalova
- Moscow Center for Advanced Studies, Kulakova str. 20, 123592, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Nanobiomedicine, Sirius University of Science and Technology, 1 Olympic Ave., 354340, Sochi, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 9 Institutskiy Per., 141701, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Maxim P. Nikitin
- Moscow Center for Advanced Studies, Kulakova str. 20, 123592, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Nanobiomedicine, Sirius University of Science and Technology, 1 Olympic Ave., 354340, Sochi, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya St., 117997, Moscow, Russia
| | - Victoria O. Shipunova
- Moscow Center for Advanced Studies, Kulakova str. 20, 123592, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Nanobiomedicine, Sirius University of Science and Technology, 1 Olympic Ave., 354340, Sochi, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya St., 117997, Moscow, Russia
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13
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Badenhorst M, Windhorst AD, Beaino W. Navigating the landscape of PD-1/PD-L1 imaging tracers: from challenges to opportunities. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1401515. [PMID: 38915766 PMCID: PMC11195831 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1401515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy targeted to immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as the program cell death receptor (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1), has revolutionized cancer treatment. However, it is now well-known that PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy response is inconsistent among patients. The current challenge is to customize treatment regimens per patient, which could be possible if the PD-1/PD-L1 expression and dynamic landscape are known. With positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, it is possible to image these immune targets non-invasively and system-wide during therapy. A successful PET imaging tracer should meet specific criteria concerning target affinity, specificity, clearance rate and target-specific uptake, to name a few. The structural profile of such a tracer will define its properties and can be used to optimize tracers in development and design new ones. Currently, a range of PD-1/PD-L1-targeting PET tracers are available from different molecular categories that have shown impressive preclinical and clinical results, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. This review will provide an overview of current PET tracers targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. Antibody, peptide, and antibody fragment tracers will be discussed with respect to their molecular characteristics and binding properties and ways to optimize them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda Badenhorst
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, De Boelelaan, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Imaging and Biomarkers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Albert D. Windhorst
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, De Boelelaan, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Imaging and Biomarkers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Wissam Beaino
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, De Boelelaan, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Imaging and Biomarkers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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14
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Eissler N, Altena R, Alhuseinalkhudhur A, Bragina O, Feldwisch J, Wuerth G, Loftenius A, Brun N, Axelsson R, Tolmachev V, Sörensen J, Frejd FY. Affibody PET Imaging of HER2-Expressing Cancers as a Key to Guide HER2-Targeted Therapy. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1088. [PMID: 38791050 PMCID: PMC11118066 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12051088] [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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a major prognostic and predictive marker overexpressed in 15-20% of breast cancers. The diagnostic reference standard for selecting patients for HER2-targeted therapy is based on the analysis of tumor biopsies. Previously patients were defined as HER2-positive or -negative; however, with the approval of novel treatment options, specifically the antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan, many breast cancer patients with tumors expressing low levels of HER2 have become eligible for HER2-targeted therapy. Such patients will need to be reliably identified by suitable diagnostic methods. Biopsy-based diagnostics are invasive, and repeat biopsies are not always feasible. They cannot visualize the heterogeneity of HER2 expression, leading to a substantial number of misdiagnosed patients. An alternative and highly accurate diagnostic method is molecular imaging with radiotracers. In the case of HER2, various studies demonstrate the clinical utility and feasibility of such approaches. Radiotracers based on Affibody® molecules, small, engineered affinity proteins with a size of ~6.5 kDa, are clinically validated molecules with favorable characteristics for imaging. In this article, we summarize the HER2-targeted therapeutic landscape, describe our experience with imaging diagnostics for HER2, and review the currently available clinical data on HER2-Affibody-based molecular imaging as a novel diagnostic tool in breast cancer and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Renske Altena
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, 17164 Solna, Sweden
- Medical Unit Breast, Endocrine Tumors and Sarcoma, Theme Cancer, Karolinska Comprehensive Cancer Center, Karolinska University Hospital, 17164 Solna, Sweden
- Medical Radiation Physics and Nuclear Medicine, Functional Unit of Nuclear Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, 14157 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Ali Alhuseinalkhudhur
- Nuclear Medicine and PET, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75310 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 75310 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Olga Bragina
- Department of Nuclear Therapy and Diagnostic, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, 634055 Tomsk, Russia
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| | | | | | | | | | - Rimma Axelsson
- Medical Radiation Physics and Nuclear Medicine, Functional Unit of Nuclear Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, 14157 Huddinge, Sweden
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, 14152 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 75310 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jens Sörensen
- Nuclear Medicine and PET, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75310 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Y. Frejd
- Affibody AB, 17165 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 75310 Uppsala, Sweden
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15
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Deyev SM, Oroujeni M, Garousi J, Gräslund T, Li R, Rosly AHB, Orlova A, Konovalova E, Schulga A, Vorobyeva A, Tolmachev V. Preclinical Evaluation of HER2-Targeting DARPin G3: Impact of Albumin-Binding Domain (ABD) Fusion. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4246. [PMID: 38673831 PMCID: PMC11050402 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084246] [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: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) G3 is an engineered scaffold protein. This small (14.5 kDa) targeting protein binds with high affinity to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). HER2 is overexpressed in several cancers. The use of the DARPin G3 for radionuclide therapy is complicated by its high renal reabsorption after clearance via the glomeruli. We tested the hypothesis that a fusion of the DARPin G3 with an albumin-binding domain (ABD) would prevent rapid renal excretion and high renal reabsorption resulting in better tumour targeting. Two fusion proteins were produced, one with the ABD at the C-terminus (G3-ABD) and another at the N-terminus (ABD-G3). Both variants were labelled with 177Lu. The binding properties of the novel constructs were evaluated in vitro and their biodistribution was compared in mice with implanted human HER2-expressing tumours. Fusion with the ABD increased the retention time of both constructs in blood compared with the non-ABD-fused control. The effect of fusion with the ABD depended strongly on the order of the domains in the constructs, resulting in appreciably better targeting properties of [177Lu]Lu-G3-ABD. Our data suggest that the order of domains is critical for the design of targeting constructs based on scaffold proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey M. Deyev
- Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (S.M.D.); (E.K.); (A.S.)
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| | - Maryam Oroujeni
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (M.O.); (J.G.); (A.H.B.R.); (A.V.)
- Affibody AB, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Javad Garousi
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (M.O.); (J.G.); (A.H.B.R.); (A.V.)
- Department of Protein Science, KTH—Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.G.); (R.L.)
| | - Torbjörn Gräslund
- Department of Protein Science, KTH—Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.G.); (R.L.)
| | - Ruonan Li
- Department of Protein Science, KTH—Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.G.); (R.L.)
| | - Alia Hani Binti Rosly
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (M.O.); (J.G.); (A.H.B.R.); (A.V.)
| | - Anna Orlova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 751 83 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Elena Konovalova
- Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (S.M.D.); (E.K.); (A.S.)
| | - Alexey Schulga
- Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (S.M.D.); (E.K.); (A.S.)
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| | - Anzhelika Vorobyeva
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (M.O.); (J.G.); (A.H.B.R.); (A.V.)
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; (M.O.); (J.G.); (A.H.B.R.); (A.V.)
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16
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Driscoll CL, Keeble AH, Howarth MR. SpyMask enables combinatorial assembly of bispecific binders. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2403. [PMID: 38493197 PMCID: PMC10944524 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46599-9] [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: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Bispecific antibodies are a successful and expanding therapeutic class. Standard approaches to generate bispecifics are complicated by the need for disulfide reduction/oxidation or specialized formats. Here we present SpyMask, a modular approach to bispecifics using SpyTag/SpyCatcher spontaneous amidation. Two SpyTag-fused antigen-binding modules can be precisely conjugated onto DoubleCatcher, a tandem SpyCatcher where the second SpyCatcher is protease-activatable. We engineer a panel of structurally-distinct DoubleCatchers, from which binders project in different directions. We establish a generalized methodology for one-pot assembly and purification of bispecifics in 96-well plates. A panel of binders recognizing different HER2 epitopes were coupled to DoubleCatcher, revealing unexpected combinations with anti-proliferative or pro-proliferative activity on HER2-addicted cancer cells. Bispecific activity depended sensitively on both binder orientation and DoubleCatcher scaffold geometry. These findings support the need for straightforward assembly in different formats. SpyMask provides a scalable tool to discover synergy in bispecific activity, through modulating receptor organization and geometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia L Driscoll
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK
| | - Anthony H Keeble
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK
| | - Mark R Howarth
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK.
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK.
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17
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Yu L, Xu Y, Al-Amin M, Jiang S, Sample M, Prasad A, Stephanopoulos N, Šulc P, Yan H. CytoDirect: A Nucleic Acid Nanodevice for Specific and Efficient Delivery of Functional Payloads to the Cytoplasm. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:27336-27347. [PMID: 38055928 PMCID: PMC10789493 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c07491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Direct and efficient delivery of functional payloads such as chemotherapy drugs, siRNA, or small-molecule inhibitors into the cytoplasm, bypassing the endo/lysosomal trapping, is a challenging task for intracellular medicine. Here, we take advantage of the programmability of DNA nanotechnology to develop a DNA nanodevice called CytoDirect, which incorporates disulfide units and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) affibodies into a DNA origami nanostructure, enabling rapid cytosolic uptake into targeted cancer cells and deep tissue penetration. We further demonstrated that therapeutic oligonucleotides and small-molecule chemotherapy drugs can be easily delivered by CytoDirect and showed notable effects on gene knockdown and cell apoptosis, respectively. This study demonstrates the synergistic effect of disulfide and HER2 affibody modifications on the rapid cytosolic delivery of DNA origami and its payloads to targeted cells and deep tissues, thereby expanding the delivery capabilities of DNA nanostructures in a new direction for disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Yu
- School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Yang Xu
- School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Md Al-Amin
- School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Shuoxing Jiang
- School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Matthew Sample
- School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Abhay Prasad
- School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Nicholas Stephanopoulos
- School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Petr Šulc
- School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Hao Yan
- School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
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18
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Novak A, Kersaudy F, Berger S, Morisset-Lopez S, Lefoulon F, Pifferi C, Aucagne V. An efficient site-selective, dual bioconjugation approach exploiting N-terminal cysteines as minimalistic handles to engineer tailored anti-HER2 affibody conjugates. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 260:115747. [PMID: 37657270 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Site-selective, dual-conjugation approaches for the incorporation of distinct payloads are key for the development of molecularly targeted biomolecules, such as antibody conjugates, endowed with better properties. Combinations of cytotoxic drugs, imaging probes, or pharmacokinetics modulators enabled for improved outcomes in both molecular imaging, and therapeutic settings. We have developed an efficacious dual-bioconjugation strategy to target the N-terminal cysteine of a chemically-synthesized, third-generation anti-HER2 affibody. Such two-step, one-purification approach can be carried out under mild conditions (without chaotropic agents, neutral pH) by means of a slight excess of commercially available N-hydroxysuccinimidyl esters and maleimido-functionalized payloads, to generate dual conjugates displaying drugs (DM1/MMAE) or probes (sulfo-Cy5/biotin) in high yields and purity. Remarkably, the double drug conjugate exhibited an exacerbated cytoxicity against HER2-expressing cell lines as compared to a combination of two monoconjugates, demonstrating a potent synergistic effect. Consistently, affibody-drug conjugates did not decrease the viability of HER2-negative cells, confirming their specificity for the target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Novak
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, Rue Charles Sadron, 45071, Orléans, France
| | - Florian Kersaudy
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, Rue Charles Sadron, 45071, Orléans, France
| | - Sylvie Berger
- Institut de Recherche Servier, 78290, Croissy sur Seine, France
| | - Séverine Morisset-Lopez
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, Rue Charles Sadron, 45071, Orléans, France.
| | | | - Carlo Pifferi
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, Rue Charles Sadron, 45071, Orléans, France.
| | - Vincent Aucagne
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, Rue Charles Sadron, 45071, Orléans, France.
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19
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Richter D, Lakis E, Piel J. Site-specific bioorthogonal protein labelling by tetrazine ligation using endogenous β-amino acid dienophiles. Nat Chem 2023; 15:1422-1430. [PMID: 37400596 PMCID: PMC10533398 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01252-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
The tetrazine ligation is an inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction widely used for bioorthogonal modifications due to its versatility, site specificity and fast reaction kinetics. A major limitation has been the incorporation of dienophiles in biomolecules and organisms, which relies on externally added reagents. Available methods require the incorporation of tetrazine-reactive groups by enzyme-mediated ligations or unnatural amino acid incorporation. Here we report a tetrazine ligation strategy, termed TyrEx (tyramine excision) cycloaddition, permitting autonomous dienophile generation in bacteria. It utilizes a unique aminopyruvate unit introduced by post-translational protein splicing at a short tag. Tetrazine conjugation occurs rapidly with a rate constant of 0.625 (15) M-1 s-1 and was applied to produce a radiolabel chelator-modified Her2-binding Affibody and intracellular, fluorescently labelled cell division protein FtsZ. We anticipate the labelling strategy to be useful for intracellular studies of proteins, as a stable conjugation method for protein therapeutics, as well as other applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Richter
- Institute of Microbiology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Edgars Lakis
- Institute of Microbiology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jörn Piel
- Institute of Microbiology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
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20
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Bragina O, Chernov V, Larkina M, Rybina A, Zelchan R, Garbukov E, Oroujeni M, Loftenius A, Orlova A, Sörensen J, Frejd FY, Tolmachev V. Phase I clinical evaluation of 99mTc-labeled Affibody molecule for imaging HER2 expression in breast cancer. Theranostics 2023; 13:4858-4871. [PMID: 37771776 PMCID: PMC10526658 DOI: 10.7150/thno.86770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The determination of tumor human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) status is of increasing importance with the recent approval of more efficacious HER2-targeted treatments. There is a lack of suitable methods for clinical in vivo HER2 expression assessment. Affibody molecules are small affinity proteins ideal for imaging detection of receptors, which are engineered using a small (molecular weight 6.5 kDa) nonimmunoglobulin scaffold. Labeling of Affibody molecules with positron emitters enabled the development of sensitive and specific agents for molecular imaging. The development of probes for SPECT would permit the use of Affibody-based imaging in regions where PET is not available. In this first-in-human study, we evaluated the safety, biodistribution, and dosimetry of the 99mTc-ZHER2:41071 Affibody molecule developed for SPECT/CT imaging of HER2 expression. Methods: Thirty-one patients with primary breast cancer were enrolled and divided into three cohorts (injected with 500, 1000, or 1500 µg ZHER2:41071) comprising at least five patients with high (positive) HER2 tumor expression (IHC score 3+ or 2+ and ISH positive) and five patients with low (IHC score 2+ or 1+ and ISH negative) or absent HER2 tumor expression. Patients were injected with 451 ± 71 MBq 99mTc-ZHER2:4107. Planar scintigraphy was performed after 2, 4, 6 and 24 h, and SPECT/CT imaging followed planar imaging 2, 4 and 6 h after injection. Results: Injections of 99mTc-ZHER2:41071 were well tolerated and not associated with adverse events. Normal organs with the highest accumulation were the kidney and liver. The effective dose was 0.019 ± 0.004 mSv/MBq. Injection of 1000 µg provided the best standard discrimination between HER2-positive and HER2-low or HER2-negative tumors 2 h after injection (SUVmax 16.9 ± 7.6 vs. 3.6 ± 1.4, p < 0.005). The 99mTc-ZHER2:41071 uptake in HER2-positive lymph node metastases (SUVmax 6.9 ± 2.4, n = 5) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that in HER2-low/negative lymph nodes (SUVmax 3.5 ± 1.2, n = 4). 99mTc-ZHER2:41071 visualized hepatic metastases in a patient with liver involvement. Conclusions: Injections of 99mTc-ZHER2:41071 appear safe and exhibit favorable dosimetry. The protein dose of 1000 µg provides the best discrimination between HER2-positive and HER2-low/negative expression of HER2 according to the definition used for current HER2-targeting drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Bragina
- Department of Nuclear Therapy and Diagnostic, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Vladimir Chernov
- Department of Nuclear Therapy and Diagnostic, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Mariia Larkina
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Siberian State Medical University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| | - Anstasiya Rybina
- Department of Nuclear Therapy and Diagnostic, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Roman Zelchan
- Department of Nuclear Therapy and Diagnostic, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Eugeniy Garbukov
- Department of Nuclear Therapy and Diagnostic, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Maryam Oroujeni
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
- Affibody AB, Solna, Sweden
| | | | - Anna Orlova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jens Sörensen
- Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Y. Frejd
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
- Affibody AB, Solna, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
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21
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Cavallaro PA, De Santo M, Belsito EL, Longobucco C, Curcio M, Morelli C, Pasqua L, Leggio A. Peptides Targeting HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Cells and Applications in Tumor Imaging and Delivery of Chemotherapeutics. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:2476. [PMID: 37686984 PMCID: PMC10490457 DOI: 10.3390/nano13172476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer represents the most common cancer type and one of the major leading causes of death in the female worldwide population. Overexpression of HER2, a transmembrane glycoprotein related to the epidermal growth factor receptor, results in a biologically and clinically aggressive breast cancer subtype. It is also the primary driver for tumor detection and progression and, in addition to being an important prognostic factor in women diagnosed with breast cancer, HER2 is a widely known therapeutic target for drug development. The aim of this review is to provide an updated overview of the main approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer proposed in the literature over the past decade. We focused on the different targeting strategies involving antibodies and peptides that have been explored with their relative outcomes and current limitations that need to be improved. The review also encompasses a discussion on targeted peptides acting as probes for molecular imaging. By using different types of HER2-targeting strategies, nanotechnology promises to overcome some of the current clinical challenges by developing novel HER2-guided nanosystems suitable as powerful tools in breast cancer imaging, targeting, and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Palmira Alessia Cavallaro
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy; (P.A.C.); (M.D.S.); (E.L.B.); (C.L.); (M.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Marzia De Santo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy; (P.A.C.); (M.D.S.); (E.L.B.); (C.L.); (M.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Emilia Lucia Belsito
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy; (P.A.C.); (M.D.S.); (E.L.B.); (C.L.); (M.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Camilla Longobucco
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy; (P.A.C.); (M.D.S.); (E.L.B.); (C.L.); (M.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Manuela Curcio
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy; (P.A.C.); (M.D.S.); (E.L.B.); (C.L.); (M.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Catia Morelli
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy; (P.A.C.); (M.D.S.); (E.L.B.); (C.L.); (M.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Luigi Pasqua
- Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Antonella Leggio
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy; (P.A.C.); (M.D.S.); (E.L.B.); (C.L.); (M.C.); (C.M.)
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22
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Xu K, Han J, Yang L, Cao L, Li S, Hong Z. Tumor Site-Specific Cleavage Improves the Antitumor Efficacy of Antibody-Drug Conjugates. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11011. [PMID: 37446189 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311011] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) play important roles in tumor therapy. However, traditional ADCs are limited by the extremely large molecular weight of the antibody molecules, which results in low permeability into solid tumors. The use of small ADCs may be expected to alleviate this problem, but this switch brings the new limitation of a greatly shortened blood circulation half-life. Here, we propose a new cleavable ADC design with excellent tumor tissue permeability and a long circulation half-life by fusing the small ADC ZHER2-MMAE with the Fc domain of the antibody for circulation half-life extension, and inserting a digestion sequence between them to release the small ADC inside tumors for better tumor penetration. The experimental results showed that the designed molecule Fc-U-ZHER2-MMAE has a significantly increased blood circulation half-life (7.1 h, 59-fold longer) compared to the small ADC ZHER2-MMAE, and significantly improved drug accumulation ability at tumor sites compared to the conventional full-length antibody-coupled ADC Herceptin-MMAE. These combined effects led to Fc-U-ZHER2-MMAE having significantly enhanced tumor treatment ability, as shown in mouse models of NCI-N87 gastric cancer and SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer, where Fc-U-ZHER2-MMAE treatment achieved complete regression of tumors in all or a portion of animals with no obvious side effects and an MTD exceeding 90 mg/kg. These data demonstrate the therapeutic advantages of this cleavable ADC strategy, which could provide a new approach for ADC design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyuan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jiani Han
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Liu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Li Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Shuang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Zhangyong Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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23
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Liu J, Guo X, Wen L, Wang L, Liu F, Song G, Zhu H, Zhou N, Yang Z. Comparison of renal clearance of [ 18F]AlF-RESCA-HER2-BCH and [ 18F]AlF-NOTA-HER2-BCH in mice and breast cancer patients. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2023; 50:2775-2786. [PMID: 37093312 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-023-06232-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE A novel HER2 affibody-based molecular probe, [18F]AlF-RESCA-HER2-BCH, was developed for reducing renal uptake, evaluated, and compared with [18F]AlF-NOTA-HER2-BCH. METHODS In preclinical studies, micro-PET/CT was performed using HER2-positive gastric cancer patient-derived xenografts (PDX) model at 0.5-1 (dynamic), 2, 4, and 6 h post-injection. For blocking experiment, 0.5 mg cold affibody was co-injected with probes. Biodistribution were performed on HER2-positive PDX models at 2 h post-injection. For clinical study, PET/CT images were acquired at 2 h and 4 h after injection of 231.29 ± 17.77 MBq [18F]AlF-NOTA-HER2-BCH or [18F]AlF-RESCA-HER2-BCH in five breast cancer patients (4 HER2-positive and 1 HER2-low). Standardized uptake values (SUVs) were measured in tumors and source-organs for semi-quantitative analysis. The OLINDA/EXM software (version 1.2) was used to calculate the radiation doses. RESULTS [18F]AlF-NOTA-HER2-BCH and [18F]AlF-RESCA-HER2-BCH were stably labeled with [18F]F, with high binding specificity and affinity to HER2. Micro-PET/CT of both tracers could clearly visualize HER2-positive PDX tumors with high uptake of 16.24 ± 1.74% ID/g and 14.39 ± 2.45% ID/g at 2 h post-injection. The renal accumulation of [18F]AlF-RESCA-HER2-BCH was significantly lower than that of [18F]AlF-NOTA-HER2-BCH (5.16 ± 0.22% ID/g vs. 158.73 ± 5.44% ID/g at 2 h, p < 0.0001). In the clinical study, both [18F]AlF-NOTA-HER2-BCH and [18F]AlF-RESCA-HER2-BCH demonstrated favorable tumor targeting and image contrast. [18F]AlF-RESCA-HER2-BCH showed a higher SUVmax in both primary tumor and metastases, and a significantly higher target-to-nontarget ratio in metastases than [18F]AlF-NOTA-HER2-BCH. Moreover, [18F]AlF-RESCA-HER2-BCH had lower renal accumulation (43.56 ± 7.88 vs. 79.81 ± 3.81 at 2 h, p < 0.0001; 33.23 ± 6.89 vs. 78.63 ± 4.00 at 4 h, p < 0.0001) as well as a significantly lower renal absorbed dose than [18F]AlF-NOTA-HER2-BCH (0.4450 ± 0.1117 mGy/MBq vs. 0.8030 ± 0.1604 mGy/MBq, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS [18F]AlF-RESCA-HER2-BCH tended to provide better image contrast than [18F]AlF-NOTA-HER2-BCH with a higher target-to-nontarget ratio in detection of metastases. Notably, [18F]AlF-RESCA-HER2-BCH had lower renal accumulation than [18F]AlF-NOTA-HER2-BCH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayue Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyi Guo
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Li Wen
- Guizhou University School of Medicine, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Lixin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Futao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Guohong Song
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Breast Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China.
| | - Nina Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China.
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24
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Keeble AH, Wood DP, Howarth M. Design and Evolution of Enhanced Peptide-Peptide Ligation for Modular Transglutaminase Assembly. Bioconjug Chem 2023. [PMID: 37289810 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Robust and precise tools are needed to enhance the functionality and resilience of synthetic nanoarchitectures. Here, we have employed directed evolution and rational design to build a fast-acting molecular superglue from a bacterial adhesion protein. We have generated the SnoopLigase2 coupling system, a genetically encoded route for efficient transamidation between SnoopTag2 and DogTag2 peptides. Each peptide was selected for rapid reaction by phage display screening. The optimized set allows more than 99% completion and is compatible with diverse buffers, pH values, and temperatures, accelerating the reaction over 1000-fold. SnoopLigase2 directs a specific reaction in the mammalian secretory pathway, allowing covalent display on the plasma membrane. Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) has a network of interactions and substrates amidst the mammalian cell surface and extracellular matrix. We expressed a modified TG2 with resistance to oxidative inactivation and minimal self-reactivity. SnoopLigase2 enables TG2 functionalization with transforming growth factor alpha (TGFα) in routes that would be impossible through genetic fusion. The TG2:TGFα conjugate retained transamidase activity, stably anchored TGFα for signal activation in the extracellular environment, and reprogrammed cell behavior. This modular toolbox should create new opportunities for molecular assembly, both for novel biomaterials and complex cellular environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony H Keeble
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD, U.K
| | - Dominic P Wood
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K
| | - Mark Howarth
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD, U.K
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25
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Gabriele F, Palerma M, Ippoliti R, Angelucci F, Pitari G, Ardini M. Recent Advances on Affibody- and DARPin-Conjugated Nanomaterials in Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108680. [PMID: 37240041 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Affibodies and designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) are synthetic proteins originally derived from the Staphylococcus aureus virulence factor protein A and the human ankyrin repeat proteins, respectively. The use of these molecules in healthcare has been recently proposed as they are endowed with biochemical and biophysical features heavily demanded to target and fight diseases, as they have a strong binding affinity, solubility, small size, multiple functionalization sites, biocompatibility, and are easy to produce; furthermore, impressive chemical and thermal stability can be achieved. especially when using affibodies. In this sense, several examples reporting on affibodies and DARPins conjugated to nanomaterials have been published, demonstrating their suitability and feasibility in nanomedicine for cancer therapy. This minireview provides a survey of the most recent studies describing affibody- and DARPin-conjugated zero-dimensional nanomaterials, including inorganic, organic, and biological nanoparticles, nanorods, quantum dots, liposomes, and protein- and DNA-based assemblies for targeted cancer therapy in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Gabriele
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Marta Palerma
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Ippoliti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Francesco Angelucci
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Pitari
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Matteo Ardini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
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26
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Liu Y, Xu T, Vorobyeva A, Loftenius A, Bodenko V, Orlova A, Frejd FY, Tolmachev V. Radionuclide Therapy of HER2-Expressing Xenografts Using [ 177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 Affibody Molecule Alone and in Combination with Trastuzumab. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092409. [PMID: 37173878 PMCID: PMC10177614 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
ABY-027 is a scaffold-protein-based cancer-targeting agent. ABY-027 includes the second-generation Affibody molecule ZHER2:2891, which binds to human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2). An engineered albumin-binding domain is fused to ZHER2:2891 to reduce renal uptake and increase bioavailability. The agent can be site-specifically labeled with a beta-emitting radionuclide 177Lu using a DOTA chelator. The goals of this study were to test the hypotheses that a targeted radionuclide therapy using [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 could extend the survival of mice with HER2-expressing human xenografts and that co-treatment with [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 and the HER2-targeting antibody trastuzumab could enhance this effect. Balb/C nu/nu mice bearing HER2-expressing SKOV-3 xenografts were used as in vivo models. A pre-injection of trastuzumab did not reduce the uptake of [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 in tumors. Mice were treated with [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 or trastuzumab as monotherapies and a combination of these therapies. Mice treated with vehicle or unlabeled ABY-027 were used as controls. Targeted monotherapy using [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 improved the survival of mice and was more efficient than trastuzumab monotherapy. A combination of therapies utilizing [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 and trastuzumab improved the treatment outcome in comparison with monotherapies using these agents. In conclusion, [177Lu]Lu-ABY-027 alone or in combination with trastuzumab could be a new potential agent for the treatment of HER2-expressing tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongsheng Liu
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tianqi Xu
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anzhelika Vorobyeva
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Vitalina Bodenko
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| | - Anna Orlova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Y Frejd
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
- Affibody AB, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
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27
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Direct In Vivo Comparison of 99mTc-Labeled Scaffold Proteins, DARPin G3 and ADAPT6, for Visualization of HER2 Expression and Monitoring of Early Response for Trastuzumab Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315181. [PMID: 36499504 PMCID: PMC9740058 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive radionuclide molecular visualization of human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) can provide stratification of patients for HER2-targeting therapy. This method can also enable monitoring of the response to such therapies, thereby making treatment personalized and more efficient. Clinical evaluation in a phase I study demonstrated that injections of two scaffold protein-based imaging probes, [99mTc]Tc-(HE)3-G3 and [99mTc]Tc-ADAPT6, are safe, well-tolerated and cause a low level of radioactivity in healthy tissue. The goal of this preclinical study was to select the best probe for stratification of patients and response monitoring. Biodistribution of both tracers was compared in mice bearing SKOV-3 xenografts with high HER2 expression or MDA-MB-468 xenografts with very low expression. Changes in accumulation of the probes in SKOV-3 tumors 24 h after injection of trastuzumab were evaluated. Both [99mTc]Tc-ADAPT6 and [99mTc]Tc-(HE)3-G3 permitted high contrast imaging of HER2-expressing tumors and a clear discrimination between tumors with high and low HER2 expression. However, [99mTc]Tc-ADAPT6 has better preconditions for higher sensitivity and specificity of stratification. On the other hand, [99mTc]Tc-(HE)3-G3 is capable of detecting the decrease of HER2 expression on response to trastuzumab therapy only 24 h after injection of the loading dose. This indicates that the [99mTc]Tc-(HE)3-G3 tracer would be better for monitoring early response to such treatment. The results of this study should be considered in planning of further clinical development of HER2 imaging probes.
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Levasseur MD, Hofmann R, Edwardson TGW, Hehn S, Thanaburakorn M, Bode JW, Hilvert D. Post-Assembly Modification of Protein Cages by Ubc9-Mediated Lysine Acylation. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200332. [PMID: 35951442 PMCID: PMC9826087 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Although viruses have been successfully repurposed as vaccines, antibiotics, and anticancer therapeutics, they also raise concerns regarding genome integration and immunogenicity. Virus-like particles and non-viral protein cages represent a potentially safer alternative but often lack desired functionality. Here, we investigated the utility of a new enzymatic bioconjugation method, called lysine acylation using conjugating enzymes (LACE), to chemoenzymatically modify protein cages. We equipped two structurally distinct protein capsules with a LACE-reactive peptide tag and demonstrated their modification with diverse ligands. This modular approach combines the advantages of chemical conjugation and genetic fusion and allows for site-specific modification with recombinant proteins as well as synthetic peptides with facile control of the extent of labeling. This strategy has the potential to fine-tune protein containers of different shape and size by providing them with new properties that go beyond their biologically native functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikail D. Levasseur
- Laboratory of Organic ChemistryETH ZürichVladimir-Prelog-Weg 1–5/108093ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Raphael Hofmann
- Laboratory of Organic ChemistryETH ZürichVladimir-Prelog-Weg 1–5/108093ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Thomas G. W. Edwardson
- Laboratory of Organic ChemistryETH ZürichVladimir-Prelog-Weg 1–5/108093ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Svenja Hehn
- Laboratory of Organic ChemistryETH ZürichVladimir-Prelog-Weg 1–5/108093ZurichSwitzerland
| | | | - Jeffrey W. Bode
- Laboratory of Organic ChemistryETH ZürichVladimir-Prelog-Weg 1–5/108093ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Donald Hilvert
- Laboratory of Organic ChemistryETH ZürichVladimir-Prelog-Weg 1–5/108093ZurichSwitzerland
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29
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Nazari M, Emamzadeh R, Jahanpanah M, Yazdani E, Radmanesh R. A recombinant affitoxin derived from a HER3 affibody and diphteria-toxin has potent and selective antitumor activity. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 219:1122-1134. [PMID: 36041577 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.08.150] [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: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
High expression of receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-3 (HER3) has been found in several malignancies such as breast cancer. In this study, we designed, produced and evaluated a new affitoxin consisting of a truncated form of diphtheria toxin and a HER3-binding affibody domains. The new affitoxin was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography. We evaluated the suitability of affitoxin to kill HER3 positive breast cancer cells with MTT and apoptosis assays. The protein synthesis inhibition was also evaluated. The IC50 value in HER3 negative cells is about 10 times more than HER3 positive cells in new design of affitoxin. The specificity of affitoxin for binding to HER3 positive cells was also investigated with binding assay with flow cytometry. The results show that, the new affitoxin is an anti-cancer molecule with specific binding to HER3 positive cells and may open a new window for the treatment of HER3-positive cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahboobeh Nazari
- Nanobiotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Rahman Emamzadeh
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Maryam Jahanpanah
- Nanobiotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elnaz Yazdani
- Nanobiotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ramin Radmanesh
- Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmaceutical Management, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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30
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Abstract
The potential of miniproteins in the biological and chemical sciences is constantly increasing. Significant progress in the design methodologies has been achieved over the last 30 years. Early approaches based on propensities of individual amino acid residues to form individual secondary structures were subsequently improved by structural analyses using NMR spectroscopy and crystallography. Consequently, computational algorithms were developed, which are now highly successful in designing structures with accuracy often close to atomic range. Further perspectives include construction of miniproteins incorporating non-native secondary structures derived from sequences with units other than α-amino acids. Noteworthy, miniproteins with extended structures, which are now feasibly accessible, are excellent scaffolds for construction of functional molecules.
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31
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Oroujeni M, Tano H, Vorobyeva A, Liu Y, Vorontsova O, Xu T, Westerlund K, Orlova A, Tolmachev V, Karlström AE. Affibody-Mediated PNA-Based Pretargeted Cotreatment Improves Survival of Trastuzumab-Treated Mice Bearing HER2-Expressing Xenografts. J Nucl Med 2022; 63:1046-1051. [PMID: 34711617 PMCID: PMC9258572 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.121.262123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-expressing tumors using the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab increases survival. The Affibody-based peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-mediated pretargeted radionuclide therapy has demonstrated efficacy against HER2-expressing xenografts in mice. Structural studies suggest that Affibody molecules and trastuzumab bind to different epitopes on HER2. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a combination of PNA-mediated pretargeted radionuclide therapy and trastuzumab treatment of HER2-expressing xenografts can extend survival compared with monotherapies. Methods: Mutual interference of the primary pretargeting probe ZHER2:342-SR-HP1 and trastuzumab in binding to HER2-expressing cell lines was investigated in vitro. Experimental therapy evaluated the survival of mice bearing HER2-expressing SKOV-3 xenografts after treatment with vehicle, trastuzumab only, pretargeting using Affibody-PNA chimera ZHER2:342-SR-HP1 and complementary probe 177Lu-HP2, and combination of trastuzumab and pretargeting. The ethical permit limited the study to 90 d. The animals' weights were monitored during the study. After study termination, samples of liver and kidneys were evaluated by a veterinary pathologist for toxicity signs. Results: The presence of a large molar excess of trastuzumab had no influence on the affinity of ZHER2:342-SR-HP1 binding to HER2-expressing cells in vitro. The affinity of trastuzumab was not affected by a large excess of ZHER2:342-SR-HP1 The median survival of mice treated with trastuzumab (75.5 d) was significantly longer than the survival of mice treated with a vehicle (59.5 d). Median survival of mice treated with pretargeting was not reached by day 90. Six mice of 10 in this group survived, and 2 had complete remission. All mice in the combination treatment group survived, and tumors in 7 mice had disappeared at study termination. There was no significant difference between animal weights in the different treatment groups. No significant pathologic alterations were detected in livers and kidneys of treated animals. Conclusion: Treatment of mice bearing HER2-expressing xenografts with the combination of trastuzumab and Affibody-mediated PNA-based radionuclide pretargeting significantly increased survival compared with monotherapies. Cotreatment was not toxic for normal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Oroujeni
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hanna Tano
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology, and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anzhelika Vorobyeva
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden;,Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia; and
| | - Yongsheng Liu
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Olga Vorontsova
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tianqi Xu
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kristina Westerlund
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology, and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Orlova
- Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia; and,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Tolmachev
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden;,Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia; and
| | - Amelie Eriksson Karlström
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology, and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm, Sweden
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32
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Klauser PC, Berdan VY, Cao L, Wang L. Encoding latent SuFEx reactive meta-fluorosulfate tyrosine to expand covalent bonding of proteins. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:6861-6864. [PMID: 35621237 PMCID: PMC9816398 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc01902g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The introduction of new covalent bonds into proteins is affording novel avenues for protein research and applications, yet it remains difficult to generate covalent linkages at all possible sites and across diverse protein classes. Herein, we genetically encoded meta-fluorosulfate-L-tyrosine (mFSY) to selectively react with lysine, tyrosine, and histidine via proximity-enabled SuFEx reaction. mFSY was able to target residues that were elusive for previous unnatural amino acids, and permitted engineering of various proteins including affibody, nanobody, and Fab into covalent binders that irreversibly cross-linked EGFR and HER2. mFSY is thus valuable for developing covalent proteins for biological research, synthetic biology, and biotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul C. Klauser
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, 555 Mission Bay Boulevard South, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Viktoriya Y. Berdan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, 555 Mission Bay Boulevard South, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Li Cao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, 555 Mission Bay Boulevard South, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, 555 Mission Bay Boulevard South, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
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33
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Crook ZR, Girard EJ, Sevilla GP, Brusniak MY, Rupert PB, Friend DJ, Gewe MM, Clarke M, Lin I, Ruff R, Pakiam F, Phi TD, Bandaranayake A, Correnti CE, Mhyre AJ, Nairn NW, Strong RK, Olson JM. Ex silico engineering of cystine-dense peptides yielding a potent bispecific T cell engager. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabn0402. [PMID: 35584229 PMCID: PMC10118748 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abn0402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Cystine-dense peptides (CDPs) are a miniprotein class that can drug difficult targets with high affinity and low immunogenicity. Tools for their design, however, are not as developed as those for small-molecule and antibody drugs. CDPs have diverse taxonomic origins, but structural characterization is lacking. Here, we adapted Iterative Threading ASSEmbly Refinement (I-TASSER) and Rosetta protein modeling software for structural prediction of 4298 CDP scaffolds and performed in silico prescreening for CDP binders to targets of interest. Mammalian display screening of a library of docking-enriched, methionine and tyrosine scanned (DEMYS) CDPs against PD-L1 yielded binders from four distinct CDP scaffolds. One was affinity-matured, and cocrystallography yielded a high-affinity (KD = 202 pM) PD-L1-binding CDP that competes with PD-1 for PD-L1 binding. Its subsequent incorporation into a CD3-binding bispecific T cell engager produced a molecule with pM-range in vitro T cell killing potency and which substantially extends survival in two different xenograft tumor-bearing mouse models. Both in vitro and in vivo, the CDP-incorporating bispecific molecule outperformed a comparator antibody-based molecule. This CDP modeling and DEMYS technique can accelerate CDP therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary R Crook
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.,Blaze Bioscience Inc., Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Emily J Girard
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Gregory P Sevilla
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.,Blaze Bioscience Inc., Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Mi-Youn Brusniak
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Peter B Rupert
- Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Della J Friend
- Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Mesfin M Gewe
- Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Midori Clarke
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Ida Lin
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Raymond Ruff
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Fiona Pakiam
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | - Ashok Bandaranayake
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Colin E Correnti
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Andrew J Mhyre
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | - Roland K Strong
- Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - James M Olson
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
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34
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Gazvoda M, Dhanjee HH, Rodriguez J, Brown JS, Farquhar CE, Truex NL, Loas A, Buchwald SL, Pentelute BL. Palladium-Mediated Incorporation of Carboranes into Small Molecules, Peptides, and Proteins. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:7852-7860. [PMID: 35438502 PMCID: PMC9881053 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c01932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Carboranes represent a class of compounds with increasing therapeutic potential. However, few general approaches to readily embed carboranes into small molecules, peptides, and proteins are available. We report a strategy based on palladium-mediated C-X (X = C, S, and N) bond formation for the installation of carborane-containing moieties onto small molecules and peptides. We demonstrate the ability of Pd-based reagents with appropriate ligands to overcome the high hydrophobicity of the carborane group and enable chemoselective conjugation of cysteine residues at room temperature in aqueous buffer. Accordingly, carboranes can be efficiently installed on proteins by employing a combination of a bis-sulfonated biarylphosphine-ligated Pd reagent in an aqueous histidine buffer. This method is successfully employed on nanobodies, a fully synthetic affibody, and the antibody therapeutics trastuzumab and cetuximab. The conjugates of the affibody ZHER2 and the trastuzumab antibody retained binding to their target antigens. Conjugated proteins maintain their activity in cell-based functional assays in HER2-positive BT-474 cell lines. This approach enables the rapid incorporation of carborane moieties into small molecules, peptides, and proteins for further exploration in boron neutron capture therapy, which requires the targeted delivery of boron-dense groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jacob Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts, Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Joseph S. Brown
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts, Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Charlotte E. Farquhar
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Nicholas L. Truex
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts, Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Andrei Loas
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts, Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Stephen L. Buchwald
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Bradley L. Pentelute
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States,The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States,Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Massachusetts, Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
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35
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Guzman KM, Khosla C. Fragment antigen binding domains (F abs) as tools to study assembly-line polyketide synthases. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2022; 7:506-512. [PMID: 34977395 PMCID: PMC8683866 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2021.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The crystallization of proteins remains a bottleneck in our fundamental understanding of their functions. Therefore, discovering tools that aid crystallization is crucial. In this review, the versatility of fragment-antigen binding domains (Fabs) as protein crystallization chaperones is discussed. Fabs have aided the crystallization of membrane-bound and soluble proteins as well as RNA. The ability to bind three Fabs onto a single protein target has demonstrated their potential for crystallization of challenging proteins. We describe a high-throughput workflow for identifying Fabs to aid the crystallization of a protein of interest (POI) by leveraging phage display technologies and differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF). This workflow has proven to be especially effective in our structural studies of assembly-line polyketide synthases (PKSs), which harbor flexible domains and assume transient conformations. PKSs are of interest to us due to their ability to synthesize an unusually broad range of medicinally relevant compounds. Despite years of research studying these megasynthases, their overall topology has remained elusive. One Fab in particular, 1B2, has successfully enabled X-ray crystallographic and single particle cryo-electron microscopic (cryoEM) analyses of multiple modules from distinct assembly-line PKSs. Its use has not only facilitated multidomain protein crystallization but has also enhanced particle quality via cryoEM, thereby enabling the visualization of intact PKS modules at near-atomic (3-5 Å) resolution. The identification of PKS-binding Fabs can be expected to continue playing a key role in furthering our knowledge of polyketide biosynthesis on assembly-line PKSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina M. Guzman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Chaitan Khosla
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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36
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Liu H, Jia D, Yuan F, Wang F, Wei D, Tang X, Tian B, Zheng S, Sun R, Shi J, Fan Q. Her3-specific affibody mediated tumor targeting delivery of ICG enhanced the photothermal therapy against Her3-positive tumors. Int J Pharm 2022; 617:121609. [PMID: 35217073 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Photothermal therapy (PTT), mediated by tumor-targeted drug delivery of indocyanine green (ICG), is a promising strategy for cancer therapy. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (Her3) is highly expressed in several solid tumors and is an ideal target for tumor diagnosis and therapy. This study prepared a Her3-specific dimeric affibody (ZHer3) using an Escherichia coli expression system. The affibody could bind explicitly to Her3-positive MCF7 and LS174T cells, rather than to Her3-negative SKOV-3 cells in vitro. ICG was coupled with the ZHer3 affibody (ICG-ZHer3) through an N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester reactive group for tumor-targeted delivery. As expected, Her3-positive cells were selectively and efficiently killed by ICG-ZHer3-mediated PTT in vitro. In vivo, ICG-ZHer3 preferentially accumulated in Her3-positive LS174T tumor grafts because of the tumor-targeting ability of the ZHer3 affibody. As a result of the local generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species and hyperthermia, the growth rates of LS174T tumor grafts were significantly inhibited by ICG-ZHer3-mediated PTT, and ICG-ZHer3 showed good safety performance during short-term treatment. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that ICG-ZHer3 is a promising photosensitizer for PTT against Her3-positive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, PR China
| | - Dianlong Jia
- Laboratory of Drug Discovery and Design, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, PR China
| | - Fengjiao Yuan
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Medicine Research, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng 252000, PR China
| | - Feifei Wang
- Laboratory of Drug Discovery and Design, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, PR China
| | - Danfeng Wei
- Department of Dermatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Xiaohui Tang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, PR China
| | - Baoqing Tian
- Department of Pharmacy, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, PR China
| | - Shuhui Zheng
- Laboratory of Drug Discovery and Design, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, PR China
| | - Ruohan Sun
- Laboratory of Drug Discovery and Design, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, PR China
| | - Jing Shi
- Department of Pharmacy, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, PR China.
| | - Qing Fan
- Department of Pharmacy, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, PR China.
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Yamatsugu K, Katoh H, Yamashita T, Takahashi K, Aki S, Tatsumi T, Kaneko Y, Kawamura T, Miura M, Ishii M, Ohkubo K, Osawa T, Kodama T, Ishikawa S, Kanai M, Sugiyama A. Antibody mimetic drug conjugate manufactured by high-yield Escherichia coli expression and non-covalent binding system. Protein Expr Purif 2022; 192:106043. [PMID: 34973460 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2021.106043] [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: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a major therapeutic tool for the treatment of advanced cancer. Malignant cells in advanced cancer often display multiple genetic mutations and become resistant to monotherapy. Therefore, a therapeutic regimen that simultaneously targets multiple molecules with multiple payloads is desirable. However, the development of ADCs is hampered by issues in biopharmaceutical manufacturing and the complexity of the conjugation process of low-molecular-weight payloads to biologicals. Here, we report antibody mimetic-drug conjugates (AMDCs) developed by exploiting the non-covalent binding property of payloads based on high-affinity binding of mutated streptavidin and modified iminobiotin. Miniprotein antibodies were fused to a low immunogenic streptavidin variant, which was then expressed in Escherichia coli inclusion bodies, solubilized, and refolded into functional tetramers. The AMDC developed against human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) effectively killed cultured cancer cells using bis-iminobiotin conjugated to photo-activating silicon phthalocyanine. The HER2-targeting AMDC was also effective in vivo against a mouse KPL-4 xenograft model. This AMDC platform provides rapid, stable, and high-yield therapeutics against multiple targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenzo Yamatsugu
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hiroto Katoh
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Takefumi Yamashita
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8904, Japan
| | - Kazuki Takahashi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Sho Aki
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8904, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Tatsumi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yudai Kaneko
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8904, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kawamura
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8904, Japan; Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
| | - Mai Miura
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8904, Japan
| | - Masazumi Ishii
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8904, Japan
| | - Kei Ohkubo
- Institute for Advanced Co-Creation Studies, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan; Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Osawa
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8904, Japan
| | - Tatsuhiko Kodama
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8904, Japan
| | - Shumpei Ishikawa
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Motomu Kanai
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Akira Sugiyama
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8904, Japan; Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan.
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38
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Luo R, Liu H, Cheng Z. Protein scaffolds: Antibody alternative for cancer diagnosis and therapy. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:830-847. [PMID: 35866165 PMCID: PMC9257619 DOI: 10.1039/d2cb00094f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Although antibodies are well developed and widely used in cancer therapy and diagnostic fields, some defects remain, such as poor tissue penetration, long in vivo metabolic retention, potential cytotoxicity, patent limitation, and high production cost. These issues have led scientists to explore and develop novel antibody alternatives. Protein scaffolds are small monomeric proteins with stable tertiary structures and mutable residues, which emerged in the 1990s. By combining robust gene engineering and phage display techniques, libraries with sufficient diversity could be established for target binding scaffold selection. Given the properties of small size, high affinity, and excellent specificity and stability, protein scaffolds have been applied in basic research, and preclinical and clinical fields over the past two decades. To date, more than 20 types of protein scaffolds have been developed, with the most frequently used being affibody, adnectin, ANTICALIN®, DARPins, and knottin. In this review, we focus on the protein scaffold applications in cancer therapy and diagnosis in the last 5 years, and discuss the pros and cons, and strategies of optimization and design. Although antibodies are well developed and widely used in cancer therapy and diagnostic fields, some defects remain, such as poor tissue penetration, long in vivo metabolic retention, potential cytotoxicity, patent limitation, and high production cost.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Renli Luo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University Shenyang China
| | - Hongguang Liu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University Shenyang China
| | - Zhen Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Molecular Imaging Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 201203 China
- Drug Discovery Shandong Laboratory, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery Yantai Shandong 264117 China
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Xiao Q, Jones ZB, Hatfield SC, Ashton DS, Dalley NA, Dyer CD, Evangelista JL, Price JL. Structural guidelines for stabilization of α-helical coiled coils via PEG stapling. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:1096-1104. [PMID: 36128502 PMCID: PMC9428657 DOI: 10.1039/d1cb00237f] [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: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrocyclization or stapling is one of the most well-known and generally applicable strategies for enhancing peptide/protein conformational stability and target binding affinity. However, there are limited structure- or sequence-based guidelines for the incorporation of optimal interhelical staples within coiled coils: the location and length of an interhelical staple is either arbitrarily chosen or requires significant optimization. Here we explore the impact of interhelical PEG stapling on the conformational stability and proteolytic resistance of a model disulfide-bound heterodimeric coiled coil. We demonstrate that (1) interhelical PEG staples are more stabilizing when placed farther from an existing disulfide crosslink; (2) e/g′ staples are more stabilizing than f/b′ or b/c′ staples; (3) PEG staples between different positions have different optimal staple lengths; (4) PEG stapling tolerates variation in the structure of the PEG linker and in the mode of conjugation; and (5) the guidelines developed here enable the rational design of a stabilized PEG-stapled HER-2 affibody with enhanced conformational stability and proteolytic resistance. Here we identify key criteria for designing PEG-stapled coiled coils with increased conformational and proteolytic stability.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Xiao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA
| | - Zachary B. Jones
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA
| | - Samantha C. Hatfield
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA
| | - Dallin S. Ashton
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA
| | - Nicholas A. Dalley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA
| | - Cody D. Dyer
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA
| | - Judah L. Evangelista
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Joshua L. Price
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA
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Suffian IFBM, Al-Jamal KT. Bioengineering of virus-like particles as dynamic nanocarriers for in vivo delivery and targeting to solid tumours. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 180:114030. [PMID: 34736988 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are known as self-assembled, non-replicative and non-infectious protein particles, which imitate the formation and structure of original wild type viruses, however, lack the viral genome and/or their fragments. The capacity of VLPs to encompass small molecules like nucleic acids and others has made them as novel vessels of nanocarriers for drug delivery applications. In addition, VLPs surface have the capacity to achieve variation of the surface display via several modification strategies including genetic modification, chemical modification, and non-covalent modification. Among the VLPs nanocarriers, Hepatitis B virus core (HBc) particles have been the most encouraging candidate. HBc particles are hollow nanoparticles in the range of 30-34 nm in diameter and 7 nm thick envelopes, consisting of 180 or 240 copies of identical polypeptide monomer. They also employ a distinctive position among the VLPs carriers due to the high-level synthesis, which serves as a strong protective capsid shell and efficient self-assembly properties. This review highlights on the bioengineering of HBc particles as dynamic nanocarriers for in vivo delivery and specific targeting to solid tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izzat F B M Suffian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia (Kuantan Campus), Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.
| | - Khuloud T Al-Jamal
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK.
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Xia X, Yang X, Huang W, Xia X, Yan D. Self-Assembled Nanomicelles of Affibody-Drug Conjugate with Excellent Therapeutic Property to Cure Ovary and Breast Cancers. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2021; 14:33. [PMID: 34902075 PMCID: PMC8669081 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-021-00762-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Affibody molecules are small non-immunoglobulin affinity proteins, which can precisely target to some cancer cells with specific overexpressed molecular signatures. However, the relatively short in vivo half-life of them seriously limited their application in drug targeted delivery for cancer therapy. Here an amphiphilic affibody-drug conjugate is self-assembled into nanomicelles to prolong circulation time for targeted cancer therapy. As an example of the concept, the nanoagent was prepared through molecular self-assembly of the amphiphilic conjugate of ZHER2:342-Cys with auristatin E derivate, where the affibody used is capable of binding to the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Such a nanodrug not only increased the blood circulation time, but also enhanced the tumor targeting capacity (abundant affibody arms on the nanoagent surface) and the drug accumulation in tumor. As a result, this affibody-based nanoagent showed excellent antitumor activity in vivo to HER2-positive ovary and breast tumor models, which nearly eradicated both small solid tumors (about 100 mm3) and large established tumors (exceed 500 mm3). The relative tumor proliferation inhibition ratio reaches 99.8% for both models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelin Xia
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyuan Yang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Huang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxia Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China.
| | - Deyue Yan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China.
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Siavoshinia L, Kheirollah A, Zeinali M, Barzegari E, Jamalan M. Combinatorial in silico and in vivo evaluation of immune response elicitation by the affibody Z HER2. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 101:108368. [PMID: 34857479 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108368] [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: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Due to the high affinity for binding to target molecules and also other unique attributes, affibodies have a great potential to be used in immunotherapeutic and diagnostic approaches. However, the possibility of undesirable immune response is still a great concern. In the current study, we investigated the possible antigenicity, allergenicity and cytotoxicity of the HER2-targeting affibody ZHER2. The binding affinity of potential epitopes of the affibody to murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules was investigated by immunoinformatics tools and docking approaches. The possible interaction of ZHER2 with human leukocyte antigens HLA-DP, HLA-DM, HLA-DQ and HLA-DR was also studied by protein-protein docking. Additionally, the synthesized affibody gene was expressed and the protein was purified for boosted immunization of Balb/c mice. Induced secretion of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10, and total serum IgG were assessed in the immunized mice. Furthermore, MTT cell viability test was performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of ZHER2 in splenocytes of the treated mice. In silico analyses showed the possible induction of the immune response by ZHER2. While the affibody could elicit the secretion of cellular immune cytokines, it could not induce a significant humoral response in the treated mice and did not show any cytotoxic effects on the exposed splenocytes. These findings explain the practicability of ZHER2 for therapeutic and in vivo diagnostic usages, though its ubiquitous application may need more studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Siavoshinia
- Department of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Science, Medical School, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Alireza Kheirollah
- Department of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Science, Medical School, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Majid Zeinali
- Biotechnology Research Center, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI), Tehran, Iran
| | - Ebrahim Barzegari
- Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Mostafa Jamalan
- Department of Biochemistry, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran.
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Chong SE, Lee D, Oh JH, Kang S, Choi S, Nam SH, Yu J, Koo H, Lee Y. A dimeric α-helical cell penetrating peptide mounted with an HER2-selective affibody. Biomater Sci 2021; 9:7826-7831. [PMID: 34812802 DOI: 10.1039/d1bm00819f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We have developed a cell penetrating peptide (CPP) system with high selectivity and penetrability at nanomolar concentrations with a combination of an HER2-selective affibody, ZHER2:342 (ZHER2), and a dimeric α-helical leucine- and lysine-rich peptide, LK-2. ZHER2 and LK-2 are linearly fused together and expressed in a prokaryotic system to create the LK-2-ZHER2 protein, which can successfully distinguish and penetrate HER2-overexpressing cancer cells at nanomolar concentrations. LK-2-ZHER2 has the ability to intracellularly deliver doxorubicin as a conjugate form to enhance its anti-cancer effect on HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells with a great selectivity. The selective penetrability was confirmed in vitro, in 3D spheroids, and in in vivo models. LK-2-ZHER2 has the capability to overcome the weak points of current CPPs, such as poor penetrability at low concentrations and a lack of selectivity, by combining powerful CPP and affibody sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Eun Chong
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Donghyun Lee
- Department of Medical Life Sciences and Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jae Hoon Oh
- Department of Engineering, Kyoto University Katsura, Kyoto, 615-8530, Japan
| | - Sunyoung Kang
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sejong Choi
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - So Hee Nam
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jaehoon Yu
- Department of Chemistry & Education, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Heebeom Koo
- Department of Medical Life Sciences and Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yan Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
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Yamaguchi H, On J, Morita T, Suzuki T, Okada Y, Ono J, Evdokiou A. Combination of Near-Infrared Photoimmunotherapy Using Trastuzumab and Small Protein Mimetic for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212213. [PMID: 34830099 PMCID: PMC8618566 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a promising cancer therapy based on a monoclonal antibody conjugated to a photosensitizer (IR700Dye) that is activated by near-infrared light irradiation. We previously reported on the use of NIR-PIT with a small protein mimetic, the Affibody molecule (6–7 kDa), instead of a monoclonal antibody. In this study, we investigated a combination of NIR-PIT for HER2-positive breast cancer cells (SK-BR3, MDA-MB361, and JIMT1) with HER2 Affibody-IR700Dye conjugate and trastuzumab-IR700Dye conjugate. HER2 Affibody and trastuzumab target different epitopes of the HER2 protein and do not compete. In vitro, the combination of NIR-PIT using both HER2 Affibody-IR700Dye conjugate and trastuzumab-IR700Dye conjugate induced necrotic cell death of HER2-positive breast cancer cells without damage to HER2-negative breast cancer cells (MCF7). It was more efficient than NIR-PIT using either the HER2 Affibody-IR700Dye conjugate alone or the trastuzumab-IR700Dye conjugate alone. Additionally, this combination of NIR-PIT was significantly effective against HER2 low-expressing cancer cells, trastuzumab-resistant cells (JIMT1), and brain metastatic cells of breast cancer (MDA-MB361). Furthermore, in vivo imaging exhibited the strong fluorescence intensity of both HER2 Affibody-IR700Dye conjugates and trastuzumab-Alexa488 conjugates in HER2-positive tumor, indicating that both HER2 Affibody and trastuzumab specifically bind to HER2-positive tumors without competing with each other. In conclusion, the combination of NIR-PIT using both HER2 Affibody and trastuzumab expands the targeting scope of NIR-PIT for HER2-positive breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruka Yamaguchi
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, The Nippon Dental University, Niigata 951-8580, Japan; (H.Y.); (T.M.)
- Discipline of Surgery, Breast Cancer Research Unit, Basil Hetzel Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5011, Australia
| | - Jotaro On
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8122, Japan;
| | - Takao Morita
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, The Nippon Dental University, Niigata 951-8580, Japan; (H.Y.); (T.M.)
| | - Takamasa Suzuki
- Faculty of Engineering, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan;
| | - Yasuo Okada
- Department of Pathology, School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, The Nippon Dental University, Niigata 951-8580, Japan; (Y.O.); (J.O.)
| | - Junya Ono
- Department of Pathology, School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, The Nippon Dental University, Niigata 951-8580, Japan; (Y.O.); (J.O.)
| | - Andreas Evdokiou
- Discipline of Surgery, Breast Cancer Research Unit, Basil Hetzel Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5011, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-8-8222-7451
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Damiani I, Castiglioni S, Sochaj-Gregorczyk A, Bonacina F, Colombo I, Rusconi V, Otlewski J, Corsini A, Bellosta S. Purification and In Vitro Evaluation of an Anti-HER2 Affibody-Monomethyl Auristatin E Conjugate in HER2-Positive Cancer Cells. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10080758. [PMID: 34439990 PMCID: PMC8389717 DOI: 10.3390/biology10080758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) represent an innovative class of anticancer agents specifically aimed at targeting cancer cells, reducing damage to healthy tissues but showing some weaknesses. A promising approach for the development of high-affinity tumor targeting ADCs is the use of engineered protein drugs, such as affibody molecules. Our aim was to develop a more efficient purification method for the cytotoxic conjugate ZHER2:2891DCS-MMAE that targets human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer cells. The conjugate is based on ZHER2:2891 affibody and a drug conjugation sequence (DCS), which allowed for site-specific conjugation of the cytotoxic auristatin E molecule (MMAE) to the affibody. We tested the in vitro efficacy of ZHER2:2891DCS-MMAE on several parameters, such as cell viability, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Our results confirmed that the cytotoxic conjugate efficiently interacts with high affinity with HER2 positive cancer cells, allowing the selective and specific delivery of the cytotoxic payload. Abstract A promising approach for the development of high-affinity tumor targeting ADCs is the use of engineered protein drugs, such as affibody molecules, which represent a valuable alternative to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in cancer-targeted therapy. We developed a method for a more efficient purification of the ZHER2:2891DCS affibody conjugated with the cytotoxic antimitotic agent auristatin E (MMAE), and its efficacy was tested in vitro on cell viability, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. The effects of ZHER2:2891DCS-MMAE were compared with the clinically approved monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin®). To demonstrate that ZHER2:2891DCS-MMAE can selectively target HER2 overexpressing tumor cells, we used three different cell lines: the human adenocarcinoma cell lines SK-BR-3 and ZR-75-1, both overexpressing HER2, and the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. MTT assay showed that ZHER2:2891DCS-MMAE induces a significant time-dependent toxic effect in SK-BR-3 cells. A 30% reduction of cell viability was already found after 10 min exposure at a concentration of 7 nM (IC50 of 80.2 nM). On the contrary, MDA-MB-231 cells, which express basal levels of HER2, were not affected by the conjugate. The cytotoxic effect of the ZHER2:2891DCS-MMAE was confirmed by measuring apoptosis by flow cytometry. In SK-BR-3 cells, increasing concentrations of conjugated affibody induced cell death starting from 10 min of treatment, with the strongest effect observed after 48 h. Overall, these results demonstrate that the ADC, formed by the anti-HER2 affibody conjugated to monomethyl auristatin E, efficiently interacts with high affinity with HER2 positive cancer cells in vitro, allowing the selective and specific delivery of the cytotoxic payload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Damiani
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (I.D.); (S.C.); (F.B.); (I.C.); (V.R.); (A.C.)
| | - Silvia Castiglioni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (I.D.); (S.C.); (F.B.); (I.C.); (V.R.); (A.C.)
| | - Alicja Sochaj-Gregorczyk
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30387 Krakow, Poland;
| | - Fabrizia Bonacina
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (I.D.); (S.C.); (F.B.); (I.C.); (V.R.); (A.C.)
| | - Irma Colombo
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (I.D.); (S.C.); (F.B.); (I.C.); (V.R.); (A.C.)
| | - Valentina Rusconi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (I.D.); (S.C.); (F.B.); (I.C.); (V.R.); (A.C.)
| | - Jacek Otlewski
- Department of Protein Engineering, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, 50137 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Alberto Corsini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (I.D.); (S.C.); (F.B.); (I.C.); (V.R.); (A.C.)
- IRCCS MultiMedica, Sesto San Giovanni, 20099 Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Bellosta
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (I.D.); (S.C.); (F.B.); (I.C.); (V.R.); (A.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0250318392
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Shipunova VO, Kolesnikova OA, Kotelnikova PA, Soloviev VD, Popov AA, Proshkina GM, Nikitin MP, Deyev SM. Comparative Evaluation of Engineered Polypeptide Scaffolds in HER2-Targeting Magnetic Nanocarrier Delivery. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:16000-16008. [PMID: 34179645 PMCID: PMC8223436 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c01811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Targeted drug delivery is one of the most intriguing and challenging issues in modern biomedicine. For active targeting, full-size IgG molecules (150 kDa) are usually used. Recent studies have revealed that small artificial polypeptide scaffolds such as DARPins (14 kDa) and affibodies (8 kDa) are much more promising tools for drug delivery due to their small size, artificial nature, low immunogenicity, and many other properties. However, there is no comparative information on the targeting abilities of scaffold polypeptides, which should be taken into account when developing drug delivery systems (DDSs). The present work is the first comprehensive study on the comparison of the effectiveness of different HER2-targeting proteins within the architecture of nanoparticles. Namely, we synthesized trimodal nanoparticles: magnetic, fluorescent, and directed toward HER2 oncomarker on cancer cells. The magnetic particles (MPs) were covalently modified with (i) full-size IgG, 150 kDa, (ii) DARPin_G3, 14 kDa, and (iii) affibody ZHER2:342, 8 kDa. We showed that the number of DARPin_G3 and affibody ZHER2:342 molecules conjugated to the nanoparticle surface are 10 and 40 times higher, respectively, than the corresponding value for trastuzumab. Using the methods of magnetic particle quantification (MPQ)-cytometry and confocal microscopy, we showed that all types of the obtained magnetic conjugates specifically labeled HER2-overexpressing cells. Namely, we demonstrated that particle binding to HER2-positive cells is 1113 ± 39 fg/cell for MP*trastuzumab, 1431 ± 186 fg/cell for MP*ZHER2:342, and 625±21 fg/cell for MP*DARPin_G3, which are 2.77, 2.75, and 2.30 times higher than the corresponding values for control HER2-negative cells. Thus, we showed that the smallest HER2-recognizing polypeptide affibody ZHER2:342 is more effective in terms of specificity and selectivity in nanoparticle-mediated cell labeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria O. Shipunova
- Shemyakin−Ovchinnikov
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian
Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117997, Russia
- Moscow
Institute of Physics and Technology, 9 Institutskiy per., Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
- MEPhI
(Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), Institute of Engineering Physics for Biomedicine (PhysBio), 31 Kashirskoe Shosse, Moscow 115409, Russia
- Sirius
University of Science and Technology, 1 Olympic Avenue, Sochi 354340, Russia
| | - Olga A. Kolesnikova
- Shemyakin−Ovchinnikov
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian
Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Polina A. Kotelnikova
- Shemyakin−Ovchinnikov
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian
Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Vladislav D. Soloviev
- Shemyakin−Ovchinnikov
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian
Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117997, Russia
- Sirius
University of Science and Technology, 1 Olympic Avenue, Sochi 354340, Russia
| | - Anton A. Popov
- MEPhI
(Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), Institute of Engineering Physics for Biomedicine (PhysBio), 31 Kashirskoe Shosse, Moscow 115409, Russia
| | - Galina M. Proshkina
- Shemyakin−Ovchinnikov
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian
Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Maxim P. Nikitin
- Shemyakin−Ovchinnikov
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian
Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117997, Russia
- Moscow
Institute of Physics and Technology, 9 Institutskiy per., Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
- Sirius
University of Science and Technology, 1 Olympic Avenue, Sochi 354340, Russia
| | - Sergey M. Deyev
- Shemyakin−Ovchinnikov
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian
Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, Moscow 117997, Russia
- MEPhI
(Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), Institute of Engineering Physics for Biomedicine (PhysBio), 31 Kashirskoe Shosse, Moscow 115409, Russia
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Stüber JC, Richter CP, Bellón JS, Schwill M, König I, Schuler B, Piehler J, Plückthun A. Apoptosis-inducing anti-HER2 agents operate through oligomerization-induced receptor immobilization. Commun Biol 2021; 4:762. [PMID: 34155320 PMCID: PMC8217238 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02253-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of the receptor tyrosine kinase HER2 plays a critical role in the development of various tumors. Biparatopic designed ankyrin repeat proteins (bipDARPins) potently induce apoptosis in HER2-addicted breast cancer cell lines. Here, we have investigated how the spatiotemporal receptor organization at the cell surface is modulated by these agents and is distinguished from other molecules, which do not elicit apoptosis. Binding of conventional antibodies is accompanied by moderate reduction of receptor mobility, in agreement with HER2 being dimerized by the bivalent IgG. In contrast, the most potent apoptosis-inducing bipDARPins lead to a dramatic arrest of HER2. Dual-color single-molecule tracking revealed that the HER2 "lockdown" by these bipDARPins is caused by the formation of HER2-DARPin oligomer chains, which are trapped in nanoscopic membrane domains. Our findings establish that efficient neutralization of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling can be achieved through intermolecular bipDARPin crosslinking alone, resulting in inactivated, locked-down bipDARPin-HER2 complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob C Stüber
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Christian P Richter
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Junel Sotolongo Bellón
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Martin Schwill
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Iwo König
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Roche Diagnostics Int. AG, Rotkreuz, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Schuler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jacob Piehler
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.
| | - Andreas Plückthun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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48
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Lee C, Kang S. Development of HER2-Targeting-Ligand-Modified Albumin Nanoparticles Based on the SpyTag/SpyCatcher System for Photothermal Therapy. Biomacromolecules 2021; 22:2649-2658. [PMID: 34060808 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c00336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The successful development of targeted nanoparticle (NP)-based therapeutics depends on the effective conjugation of targeting ligands to the NP. However, conventional methods based on chemical reactive groups such as N-hydroxysuccinimide, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide, and maleimide have several limitations, including low binding efficiency, complex reaction methods, long reaction times, and reduced activity of the targeting ligand. In this study, we developed a novel method for conjugating targeting ligands to albumin NPs using the recently developed bacterial superglue the SpyTag/SpyCatcher (ST/SC) ligation system. This method involves a rapid one-step conjugation process with almost 100% efficiency. Albumin NPs conjugated to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) affibody molecules using the ST/SC system showed strong binding to HER2-overexpressing cells. In addition, NPs encapsulated with indocyanine green accumulated in cells overexpressing HER2 and exhibited superior photothermal treatment effects. Thus, surface functionalization of NPs using the ST/SC reaction may be used to develop new nanosystems that exhibit improved therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changkyu Lee
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Engineering, Division of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Dongguk University, Gyeongju 38066, Korea
| | - Sebyung Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Korea
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49
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Westerlund K, Myrhammar A, Tano H, Gestin M, Karlström AE. Stability Enhancement of a Dimeric HER2-Specific Affibody Molecule through Sortase A-Catalyzed Head-to-Tail Cyclization. Molecules 2021; 26:2874. [PMID: 34066245 PMCID: PMC8150554 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26102874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural backbone-cyclized proteins have an increased thermostability and resistance towards proteases, characteristics that have sparked interest in head-to-tail cyclization as a method to stability-enhance proteins used in diagnostics and therapeutic applications, for example. In this proof-of principle study, we have produced and investigated a head-to-tail cyclized and HER2-specific ZHER2:342 Affibody dimer. The sortase A-mediated cyclization reaction is highly efficient (>95%) under optimized conditions, and renders a cyclic ZHER3:342-dimer with an apparent melting temperature, Tm, of 68 °C, which is 3 °C higher than that of its linear counterpart. Circular dichroism spectra of the linear and cyclic dimers looked very similar in the far-UV range, both before and after thermal unfolding to 90 °C, which suggests that cyclization does not negatively impact the helicity or folding of the cyclic protein. The cyclic dimer had an apparent sub-nanomolar affinity (Kd ~750 pM) to the HER2-receptor, which is a ~150-fold reduction in affinity relative to the linear dimer (Kd ~5 pM), but the anti-HER2 Affibody dimer remained a high-affinity binder even after cyclization. No apparent difference in proteolytic stability was detected in an endopeptidase degradation assay for the cyclic and linear dimers. In contrast, in an exopeptidase degradation assay, the linear dimer was shown to be completely degraded after 5 min, while the cyclic dimer showed no detectable degradation even after 60 min. We further demonstrate that a site-specifically DyLight 594-labeled cyclic dimer shows specific binding to HER2-overexpressing cells. Taken together, the results presented here demonstrate that head-to-tail cyclization can be an effective strategy to increase the stability of an Affibody dimer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Amelie Eriksson Karlström
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden; (K.W.); (A.M.); (H.T.); (M.G.)
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50
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Pinet L, Wang YH, Deville C, Lescop E, Guerlesquin F, Badache A, Bontems F, Morellet N, Durand D, Assrir N, van Heijenoort C. Structural and dynamic characterization of the C-terminal tail of ErbB2: Disordered but not random. Biophys J 2021; 120:1869-1882. [PMID: 33741354 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
ErbB2 (or HER2) is a receptor tyrosine kinase overexpressed in some breast cancers and associated with poor prognosis. Treatments targeting the receptor extracellular and kinase domains have greatly improved disease outcome in the last 20 years. In parallel, the structures of these domains have been described, enabling better mechanistic understanding of the receptor function and targeted inhibition. However, the ErbB2 disordered C-terminal cytoplasmic tail (CtErbB2) remains very poorly characterized in terms of structure, dynamics, and detailed functional mechanism. Yet, it is where signal transduction is triggered via phosphorylation of tyrosine residues and carried out via interaction with adaptor proteins. Here, we report the first description, to our knowledge, of the ErbB2 disordered tail at atomic resolution using NMR, complemented by small-angle x-ray scattering. We show that although no part of CtErbB2 has any fully populated secondary or tertiary structure, it contains several transient α-helices and numerous transient polyproline II helices, populated up to 20 and 40%, respectively, and low but significant compaction. The presence of some structural elements suggests, along the lines of the results obtained for EGFR (ErbB1), that they may have a functional role in ErbB2's autoregulation processes. In addition, the transient formation of polyproline II helices is compliant with previously suggested interactions with SH3 domains. All in all, our in-depth structural study opens perspectives in the mechanistic understanding of ErbB2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Pinet
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR2301, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France; Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ying-Hui Wang
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR2301, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France; SGS Taiwan LTD, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Célia Deville
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR2301, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France; IGBMC, University of Strasbourg, CNRS UMR, Illkirch, France
| | - Ewen Lescop
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR2301, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Françoise Guerlesquin
- LISM, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, CNRS and Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Ali Badache
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - François Bontems
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR2301, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France; Department of Virology, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3569, Paris, France
| | - Nelly Morellet
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR2301, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Dominique Durand
- I2BC, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR 9198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Nadine Assrir
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR2301, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Carine van Heijenoort
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR2301, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
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