1
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VanDyke D, Xu L, Sargunas PR, Gilbreth RN, Baca M, Gao C, Hunt J, Spangler JB. Redirecting the specificity of tripartite motif containing-21 scaffolds using a novel discovery and design approach. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105381. [PMID: 37866632 PMCID: PMC10694607 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105381] [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: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Hijacking the ubiquitin proteasome system to elicit targeted protein degradation (TPD) has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to target and destroy intracellular proteins at the post-translational level. Small molecule-based TPD approaches, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and molecular glues, have shown potential, with several agents currently in clinical trials. Biological PROTACs (bioPROTACs), which are engineered fusion proteins comprised of a target-binding domain and an E3 ubiquitin ligase, have emerged as a complementary approach for TPD. Here, we describe a new method for the evolution and design of bioPROTACs. Specifically, engineered binding scaffolds based on the third fibronectin type III domain of human tenascin-C (Tn3) were installed into the E3 ligase tripartite motif containing-21 (TRIM21) to redirect its degradation specificity. This was achieved via selection of naïve yeast-displayed Tn3 libraries against two different oncogenic proteins associated with B-cell lymphomas, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein 1 (MALT1) and embryonic ectoderm development protein (EED), and replacing the native substrate-binding domain of TRIM21 with our evolved Tn3 domains. The resulting TRIM21-Tn3 fusion proteins retained the binding properties of the Tn3 as well as the E3 ligase activity of TRIM21. Moreover, we demonstrated that TRIM21-Tn3 fusion proteins efficiently degraded their respective target proteins through the ubiquitin proteasome system in cellular models. We explored the effects of binding domain avidity and E3 ligase utilization to gain insight into the requirements for effective bioPROTAC design. Overall, this study presents a versatile engineering approach that could be used to design and engineer TRIM21-based bioPROTACs against therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek VanDyke
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Biologics Engineering, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Linda Xu
- Biologics Engineering, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Paul R Sargunas
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ryan N Gilbreth
- Biologics Engineering, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Manuel Baca
- Biologics Engineering, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Changshou Gao
- Biologics Engineering, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - James Hunt
- Biologics Engineering, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jamie B Spangler
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Bloomberg∼Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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2
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Chin SE, Schindler C, Vinall L, Dodd RB, Bamber L, Legg S, Sigurdardottir A, Rees DG, Malcolm TIM, Spratley SJ, Granéli C, Sumner J, Tigue NJ. A simeprevir-inducible molecular switch for the control of cell and gene therapies. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7753. [PMID: 38012128 PMCID: PMC10682029 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43484-9] [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: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemical inducer of dimerization (CID) modules can be used effectively as molecular switches to control biological processes, and thus there is significant interest within the synthetic biology community in identifying novel CID systems. To date, CID modules have been used primarily in engineering cells for in vitro applications. To broaden their utility to the clinical setting, including the potential to control cell and gene therapies, the identification of novel CID modules should consider factors such as the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of the small molecule inducer, and the orthogonality and immunogenicity of the protein components. Here we describe a CID module based on the orally available, approved, small molecule simeprevir and its target, the NS3/4A protease from hepatitis C virus. We demonstrate the utility of this CID module as a molecular switch to control biological processes such as gene expression and apoptosis in vitro, and show that the CID system can be used to rapidly induce apoptosis in tumor cells in a xenograft mouse model, leading to complete tumor regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey E Chin
- Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Lisa Vinall
- Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Roger B Dodd
- Biologics Engineering, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lisa Bamber
- Biologics Engineering, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sandrine Legg
- Biologics Engineering, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - D Gareth Rees
- Biologics Engineering, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tim I M Malcolm
- Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Cecilia Granéli
- BioPharmaceuticals R&D Cell Therapy Department, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal, and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jonathan Sumner
- Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Natalie J Tigue
- Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK.
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3
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Iwamoto N, Sato Y, Manabe A, Inuki S, Ohno H, Nonaka M, Oishi S. Design and Synthesis of Monobody Variants with Low Immunogenicity. ACS Med Chem Lett 2023; 14:1596-1601. [PMID: 37974939 PMCID: PMC10641909 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Mirror-image proteins (d-proteins) are promising scaffolds for drug discovery because of their high proteolytic stability and low immunogenic properties. Facile and reproducible processes for the preparation of functional d-proteins are required for their application in therapeutic biologics. In this study, we designed and synthesized a novel monobody variant with two cysteine substitutions that facilitate the synthetic process via sequential native chemical ligations and improve protein stability by disulfide bond formation. The synthetic anti-GFP monobody in this model study exhibited good binding affinity to the target enhanced green fluorescent protein. In vivo administration of the synthetic anti-GFP monobody (l-monobody) to mice induced antidrug antibody (ADA) production, whereas no ADA production was observed following immunization with the mirror-image anti-GFP monobody (d-monobody). These results suggest that the synthetic d-monobody is a non-antibody protein scaffold with low immunogenic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Iwamoto
- Graduate
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto
University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yukino Sato
- Laboratory
of Medicinal Chemistry, Kyoto Pharmaceutical
University, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan
| | - Asako Manabe
- Graduate
School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Inuki
- Graduate
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto
University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Ohno
- Graduate
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto
University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Motohiro Nonaka
- Graduate
School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Shinya Oishi
- Graduate
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto
University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
- Laboratory
of Medicinal Chemistry, Kyoto Pharmaceutical
University, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan
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4
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Chandler PG, Buckle AM. Development and Differentiation in Monobodies Based on the Fibronectin Type 3 Domain. Cells 2020; 9:E610. [PMID: 32143310 PMCID: PMC7140400 DOI: 10.3390/cells9030610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [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: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As a non-antibody scaffold, monobodies based on the fibronectin type III (FN3) domain overcome antibody size and complexity while maintaining analogous binding loops. However, antibodies and their derivatives remain the gold standard for the design of new therapeutics. In response, clinical-stage therapeutic proteins based on the FN3 domain are beginning to use native fibronectin function as a point of differentiation. The small and simple structure of monomeric monobodies confers increased tissue distribution and reduced half-life, whilst the absence of disulphide bonds improves stability in cytosolic environments. Where multi-specificity is challenging with an antibody format that is prone to mis-pairing between chains, multiple FN3 domains in the fibronectin assembly already interact with a large number of molecules. As such, multiple monobodies engineered for interaction with therapeutic targets are being combined in a similar beads-on-a-string assembly which improves both efficacy and pharmacokinetics. Furthermore, full length fibronectin is able to fold into multiple conformations as part of its natural function and a greater understanding of how mechanical forces allow for the transition between states will lead to advanced applications that truly differentiate the FN3 domain as a therapeutic scaffold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter G. Chandler
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Australia;
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5
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Heinzelman P, Low A, Simeon R, Wright GA, Chen Z. De Novo Isolation & Affinity Maturation of yeast-displayed Virion-binding human fibronectin domains by flow cytometric screening against Virions. J Biol Eng 2019; 13:76. [PMID: 31636701 PMCID: PMC6796422 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-019-0203-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The promise of biopharmaceuticals comprising one or more binding domains motivates the development of novel methods for de novo isolation and affinity maturation of virion-binding domains. Identifying avenues for overcoming the challenges associated with using virions as screening reagents is paramount given the difficulties associated with obtaining high-purity virus-associated proteins that retain the conformation exhibited on the virion surface. RESULTS Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) of 1.5 × 107 clones taken from a naïve yeast surface-displayed human fibronectin domain (Fn3) against whole virions yielded two unique binders to Zika virions. Construction and FACS of site-directed binding loop mutant libraries based on one of these binders yielded multiple progeny clones with enhanced Zika-binding affinities. These affinity-matured clones bound Zika virions with low double- or single-digit nanomolar affinity in ELISA assays, and expressed well as soluble proteins in E. coli shake flask culture, with post-purification yields exceeding 10 mg/L. CONCLUSIONS FACS of a yeast-displayed binding domain library is an efficient method for de novo isolation of virion-binding domains. Affinities of isolated virion-binding clones are readily enhanced via FACS screening of mutant progeny libraries. Given that most binding domains are compatible with yeast display, the approach taken in this work may be broadly utilized for generating virion-binding domains against many different viruses for use in passive immunotherapy and the prevention of viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pete Heinzelman
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 USA
| | - Alyssa Low
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 USA
| | - Rudo Simeon
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 USA
| | - Gus A. Wright
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 USA
| | - Zhilei Chen
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 USA
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6
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Hober S, Lindbo S, Nilvebrant J. Bispecific applications of non-immunoglobulin scaffold binders. Methods 2019; 154:143-152. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2018.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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7
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Hu T, Sprague ER, Fodor M, Stams T, Clark KL, Cowan-Jacob SW. The impact of structural biology in medicine illustrated with four case studies. J Mol Med (Berl) 2017; 96:9-19. [PMID: 28669027 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-017-1565-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The contributions of structural biology to drug discovery have expanded over the last 20 years from structure-based ligand optimization to a broad range of clinically relevant topics including the understanding of disease, target discovery, screening for new types of ligands, discovery of new modes of action, addressing clinical challenges such as side effects or resistance, and providing data to support drug registration. This expansion of scope is due to breakthroughs in the technology, which allow structural information to be obtained rapidly and for more complex molecular systems, but also due to the combination of different technologies such as X-ray, NMR, and other biophysical methods, which allows one to get a more complete molecular understanding of disease and ways to treat it. In this review, we provide examples of the types of impact molecular structure information can have in the clinic for both low molecular weight and biologic drug discovery and describe several case studies from our own work to illustrate some of these contributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiancen Hu
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | | | - Michelle Fodor
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Travis Stams
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Kirk L Clark
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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8
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Minde D, Dunker AK, Lilley KS. Time, space, and disorder in the expanding proteome universe. Proteomics 2017; 17:1600399. [PMID: 28145059 PMCID: PMC5573936 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201600399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Proteins are highly dynamic entities. Their myriad functions require specific structures, but proteins' dynamic nature ranges all the way from the local mobility of their amino acid constituents to mobility within and well beyond single cells. A truly comprehensive view of the dynamic structural proteome includes: (i) alternative sequences, (ii) alternative conformations, (iii) alternative interactions with a range of biomolecules, (iv) cellular localizations, (v) alternative behaviors in different cell types. While these aspects have traditionally been explored one protein at a time, we highlight recently emerging global approaches that accelerate comprehensive insights into these facets of the dynamic nature of protein structure. Computational tools that integrate and expand on multiple orthogonal data types promise to enable the transition from a disjointed list of static snapshots to a structurally explicit understanding of the dynamics of cellular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- David‐Paul Minde
- Cambridge Systems Biology CentreUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Cambridge Centre for ProteomicsDepartment of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - A. Keith Dunker
- Center for Computational Biology and BioinformaticsIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisINUSA
| | - Kathryn S. Lilley
- Cambridge Systems Biology CentreUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Cambridge Centre for ProteomicsDepartment of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
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9
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Sha F, Salzman G, Gupta A, Koide S. Monobodies and other synthetic binding proteins for expanding protein science. Protein Sci 2017; 26:910-924. [PMID: 28249355 PMCID: PMC5405424 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic binding proteins are constructed using nonantibody molecular scaffolds. Over the last two decades, in‐depth structural and functional analyses of synthetic binding proteins have improved combinatorial library designs and selection strategies, which have resulted in potent platforms that consistently generate binding proteins to diverse targets with affinity and specificity that rival those of antibodies. Favorable attributes of synthetic binding proteins, such as small size, freedom from disulfide bond formation and ease of making fusion proteins, have enabled their unique applications in protein science, cell biology and beyond. Here, we review recent studies that illustrate how synthetic binding proteins are powerful probes that can directly link structure and function, often leading to new mechanistic insights. We propose that synthetic proteins will become powerful standard tools in diverse areas of protein science, biotechnology and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fern Sha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637
| | - Gabriel Salzman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637
| | - Ankit Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637.,Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, 10016
| | - Shohei Koide
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637.,Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, 10016.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016
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10
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Increased glycosylation efficiency of recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli by auto-induction. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 485:138-143. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.02.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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11
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Gubeli RJ, Sonzini S, Podmore A, Ravn P, Scherman OA, van der Walle CF. Selective, non-covalent conjugation of synthetic peptides with recombinant proteins mediated by host-guest chemistry. Chem Commun (Camb) 2016; 52:4235-8. [PMID: 26911663 DOI: 10.1039/c6cc00405a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The combination of potent chemical moieties with biologically active proteins is key to some of today's most innovative therapeutic drugs. In order to obviate any chemical modification of the proteins, we present a novel and powerful strategy for the selective conjugation of recombinant protein domains with synthetically derived peptides via a cucurbit[8]uril host-guest chemistry approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J Gubeli
- Formulation Sciences, MedImmune Ltd, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GH, UK.
| | - S Sonzini
- Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - A Podmore
- Formulation Sciences, MedImmune Ltd, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GH, UK.
| | - P Ravn
- Department of Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering, MedImmune Ltd, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GH, UK
| | - O A Scherman
- Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - C F van der Walle
- Formulation Sciences, MedImmune Ltd, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GH, UK.
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12
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Gilbreth RN, Novarra S, Wetzel L, Florinas S, Cabral H, Kataoka K, Rios-Doria J, Christie RJ, Baca M. Lipid- and polyion complex-based micelles as agonist platforms for TNFR superfamily receptors. J Control Release 2016; 234:104-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.05.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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13
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Liu H, Lei QP, Washabaugh M. Characterization of IgG2 Disulfide Bonds with LC/MS/MS and Postcolumn Online Reduction. Anal Chem 2016; 88:5080-7. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b04368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hongji Liu
- Analytical Biotechnology, MedImmune, One Medimmune Way, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
| | - Qing Paula Lei
- Analytical Biotechnology, MedImmune, One Medimmune Way, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
| | - Michael Washabaugh
- Analytical Biotechnology, MedImmune, One Medimmune Way, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
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14
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Kim DN, Jacobs TM, Kuhlman B. Boosting protein stability with the computational design of β-sheet surfaces. Protein Sci 2016; 25:702-10. [PMID: 26701383 DOI: 10.1002/pro.2869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Revised: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
β-sheets often have one face packed against the core of the protein and the other facing solvent. Mutational studies have indicated that the solvent-facing residues can contribute significantly to protein stability, and that the preferred amino acid at each sequence position is dependent on the precise structure of the protein backbone and the identity of the neighboring amino acids. This suggests that the most advantageous methods for designing β-sheet surfaces will be approaches that take into account the multiple energetic factors at play including side chain rotamer preferences, van der Waals forces, electrostatics, and desolvation effects. Here, we show that the protein design software Rosetta, which models these energetic factors, can be used to dramatically increase protein stability by optimizing interactions on the surfaces of small β-sheet proteins. Two design variants of the β-sandwich protein from tenascin were made with 7 and 14 mutations respectively on its β-sheet surfaces. These changes raised the thermal midpoint for unfolding from 45°C to 64°C and 74°C. Additionally, we tested an empirical approach based on increasing the number of potential salt bridges on the surfaces of the β-sheets. This was not a robust strategy for increasing stability, as three of the four variants tested were unfolded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doo Nam Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Timothy M Jacobs
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Brian Kuhlman
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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15
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Porebski BT, Nickson AA, Hoke DE, Hunter MR, Zhu L, McGowan S, Webb GI, Buckle AM. Structural and dynamic properties that govern the stability of an engineered fibronectin type III domain. Protein Eng Des Sel 2015; 28:67-78. [PMID: 25691761 PMCID: PMC4330816 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzv002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Consensus protein design is a rapid and reliable technique for the improvement of protein stability, which relies on the use of homologous protein sequences. To enhance the stability of a fibronectin type III (FN3) domain, consensus design was employed using an alignment of 2123 sequences. The resulting FN3 domain, FN3con, has unprecedented stability, with a melting temperature >100°C, a ΔGD−N of 15.5 kcal mol−1 and a greatly reduced unfolding rate compared with wild-type. To determine the underlying molecular basis for stability, an X-ray crystal structure of FN3con was determined to 2.0 Å and compared with other FN3 domains of varying stabilities. The structure of FN3con reveals significantly increased salt bridge interactions that are cooperatively networked, and a highly optimized hydrophobic core. Molecular dynamics simulations of FN3con and comparison structures show the cooperative power of electrostatic and hydrophobic networks in improving FN3con stability. Taken together, our data reveal that FN3con stability does not result from a single mechanism, but rather the combination of several features and the removal of non-conserved, unfavorable interactions. The large number of sequences employed in this study has most likely enhanced the robustness of the consensus design, which is now possible due to the increased sequence availability in the post-genomic era. These studies increase our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that govern stability and demonstrate the rising potential for enhancing stability via the consensus method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin T Porebski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Adrian A Nickson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - David E Hoke
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Morag R Hunter
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Liguang Zhu
- Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Sheena McGowan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Geoffrey I Webb
- Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Ashley M Buckle
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
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16
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Vazquez-Lombardi R, Phan TG, Zimmermann C, Lowe D, Jermutus L, Christ D. Challenges and opportunities for non-antibody scaffold drugs. Drug Discov Today 2015; 20:1271-83. [PMID: 26360055 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2015.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Revised: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The first candidates from the promising class of small non-antibody protein scaffolds are now moving into clinical development and practice. Challenges remain, and scaffolds will need to be further tailored toward applications where they provide real advantages over established therapeutics to succeed in a rapidly evolving drug development landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Vazquez-Lombardi
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia; The University of New South Wales, Faculty of Medicine, St Vincent's Clinical School, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Tri Giang Phan
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia; The University of New South Wales, Faculty of Medicine, St Vincent's Clinical School, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Carsten Zimmermann
- University of San Diego, School of Business Administration, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
| | - David Lowe
- MedImmune Ltd., Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GH, UK
| | - Lutz Jermutus
- MedImmune Ltd., Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GH, UK; Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge, Trinity Lane CB2 1TJ, UK.
| | - Daniel Christ
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia; The University of New South Wales, Faculty of Medicine, St Vincent's Clinical School, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
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Engineering therapeutic proteins for cell entry: the natural approach. Trends Biotechnol 2015; 33:163-71. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2014.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2014] [Revised: 12/08/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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