Discovery of ABBV-154, an anti-TNF Glucocorticoid Receptor Modulator Immunology Antibody-Drug Conjugate (iADC).

Stable attachment of drug-linkers to the antibody is a critical requirement, and for maleimide conjugation to cysteine, it is achieved by ring hydrolysis of the succinimide ring. During ADC profiling in our in-house property screening funnel, we discovered that the succinimide ring open form is in equilibrium with the ring closed succinimide. Bromoacetamide (BrAc) was identified as the optimal replacement, as it affords stable attachment of the drug-linker to the antibody while completely removing the undesired ring open-closed equilibrium. Additionally, BrAc also offers multiple benefits over maleimide, especially with respect to homogeneity of the ADC structure. In combination with a short, hydrophilic linker and phosphate prodrug on the payload, this afforded a stable ADC (ABBV-154) with the desired properties to enable long-term stability to facilitate subcutaneous self-administration.

Optimization of Drug-Linker to Enable Long-term Storage of Antibody-Drug Conjugate for Subcutaneous Dosing.

To facilitate subcutaneous dosing, biotherapeutics need to exhibit properties that enable high-concentration formulation and long-term stability in the formulation buffer. For antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), the introduction of drug-linkers can lead to increased hydrophobicity and higher levels of aggregation, which are both detrimental to the properties required for subcutaneous dosing. Herein we show how the physicochemical properties of ADCs could be controlled through the drug-linker chemistry in combination with prodrug chemistry of the payload, and how optimization of these combinations could afford ADCs with significantly improved solution stability. Key to achieving this optimization is the use of an accelerated stress test performed in a minimal formulation buffer.

Genetically designed biomolecular capping system for mesoporous silica nanoparticles enables receptor-mediated cell uptake and controlled drug release.

Effective and controlled drug delivery systems with on-demand release and targeting abilities have received enormous attention for biomedical applications. Here, we describe a novel enzyme-based cap system for mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) that is directly combined with a targeting ligand via bio-orthogonal click chemistry. The capping system is based on the pH-responsive binding of an aryl-sulfonamide-functionalized MSN and the enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA). An unnatural amino acid (UAA) containing a norbornene moiety was genetically incorporated into CA. This UAA allowed for the site-specific bio-orthogonal attachment of even very sensitive targeting ligands such as folic acid and anandamide. This leads to specific receptor-mediated cell and stem cell uptake. We demonstrate the successful delivery and release of the chemotherapeutic agent Actinomycin D to KB cells. This novel nanocarrier concept provides a promising platform for the development of precisely controllable and highly modular theranostic systems.

Orchestrating the biosynthesis of an unnatural pyrrolysine amino Acid for its direct incorporation into proteins inside living cells.

We here report the construction of an E. coli expression system able to manufacture an unnatural amino acid by artificial biosynthesis. This can be orchestrated with incorporation into protein by amber stop codon suppression inside a living cell. In our case an alkyne-bearing pyrrolysine amino acid was biosynthesized and incorporated site-specifically allowing orthogonal double protein labeling.

Sulfonyl azide-mediated norbornene aziridination for orthogonal peptide and protein labeling.

We describe a new bioconjugation reaction based on the aziridination of norbornenes using electron-deficient sulfonyl azides. The reaction enables to attach various useful tags to peptides and proteins under mild conditions.

Norbornenes in inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder reactions.

Significant differences in the reactivity of norbornene derivatives in the inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction with tetrazines were revealed by kinetic studies. Substantial rate enhancement for the exo norbornene isomers was observed. Quantum-chemical calculations were used to rationalize and support the observed experimental data.

Structural insights into incorporation of norbornene amino acids for click modification of proteins.

Three for two: by using a Methanosarcina mazei PylRS triple mutant (Y306G, Y384F, I405R) the incorporation of two new exo-norbornene-containing pyrrolysine analogues was achieved. X-ray crystallographic analysis led to the identification of the crucial structural elements involved in substrate recognition by the evolved synthetase.

Synthesis of ε-N-propionyl-, ε-N-butyryl-, and ε-N-crotonyl-lysine containing histone H3 using the pyrrolysine system.

Recently new lysine modifications were detected in histones and other proteins. Using the pyrrolysine amber suppression system we genetically inserted three of the new amino acids ε-N-propionyl-, ε-N-butyryl-, and ε-N-crotonyl-lysine site specifically into histone H3. The lysine at position 9 (H3 K9), which is known to be highly modified in chromatin, was replaced by these unnatural amino acids.

The radical SAM enzyme AlbA catalyzes thioether bond formation in subtilosin A.

Subtilosin A is a 35-residue, ribosomally synthesized bacteriocin encoded by the sbo-alb operon of Bacillus subtilis. It is composed of a head-to-tail circular peptide backbone that is additionally restrained by three unusual thioether bonds between three cysteines and the α-carbon of one threonine and two phenylalanines, respectively. In this study, we demonstrate that these bonds are synthesized by the radical S-adenosylmethionine enzyme AlbA, which is encoded by the sbo-alb operon and comprises two [4Fe-4S] clusters. One [4Fe-4S] cluster is coordinated by the prototypical CXXXCXXC motif and is responsible for the observed S-adenosylmethionine cleavage reaction, whereas the second [4Fe-4S] cluster is required for the generation of all three thioether linkages. On the basis of the obtained results, we propose a new radical mechanism for thioether bond formation. In addition, we show that AlbA-directed substrate transformation is leader-peptide dependent, suggesting that thioether bond formation is the first step during subtilosin A maturation.