Structural basis for the inhibition of ßFXIIa by garadacimab.

ABSTRACT

Activated FXII (FXIIa) is the principal initiator of the plasma contact system and can activate both procoagulant and proinflammatory pathways. Its activity is important in the pathophysiology of hereditary angioedema (HAE). Here, we describe a high-resolution cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the beta-chain from FXIIa (ßFXIIa) complexed with the Fab fragment of garadacimab. Garadacimab binds to ßFXIIa through an unusually long CDR-H3 that inserts into the S1 pocket in a non-canonical way. This structural mechanism is likely the primary contributor to the inhibition of activated FXIIa proteolytic activity in HAE. Garadacimab Fab-ßFXIIa structure also reveals critical determinants of high-affinity binding of garadacimab to activated FXIIa. Structural analysis with other bona fide FXIIa inhibitors, such as benzamidine and C1-INH, reveals a surprisingly similar mechanism of ßFXIIa inhibition by garadacimab. In summary, the garadacimab Fab-ßFXIIa structure provides crucial insights into its mechanism of action and delineates primary and auxiliary paratopes/epitopes.