Engineering and physicochemical characterization of a novel, stable, symmetric bispecific antibody with dual target-binding using a common light chain.

Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) have emerged as a major class of antibody therapeutics owing to their substantial potential in disease treatment. While several BsAbs have been successfully approved in recent years, ongoing development efforts continue to focus on optimizing various BsAbs tailored to particular antigens and action mechanisms, aiming to achieve favorable physicochemical properties. BsAbs generally encounter challenges due to their unfavorable physicochemical characteristics and poor manufacturing efficiencies, highlighting the need for optimization to achieve reliable productivity and developability. Herein, we describe the development of a novel symmetric BsAb, REGULGENT™ (N-term/C-term), comprising two Fab domains, using a common light chain. The heavy chain fragment encoded two antigen-binding determinants in one chain. The design and production of REGULGENT™ (N-term/C-term) are simple owing to the use of the same light chain, which does not induce heavy and light chain mispairing, frequently observed with the asymmetric BsAb format. REGULGENT™ (N-term/C-term) exhibited high expression and low aggregation characteristics during cell culture and stress treatment under low pH conditions. Differential scanning calorimetric data indicated that REGULGENT™ molecules had high conformational stability, similar to that of stabilized monoclonal antibodies. Surface plasmon resonance data showed that REGULGENT™ (N-term/C-term) could bind to two antigens simultaneously and exhibited a high affinity for two antigens. In summary, the symmetric BsAb format of REGULGENT™ confers its desirable IgG-like physicochemical properties, thus making it an excellent candidate for commercial development. The findings demonstrate a novel BsAb with substantial development potential for clinical applications.

Dynamic remodeling of TRPC5 channel-caveolin-1-eNOS protein assembly potentiates the positive feedback interaction between Ca2+ and NO signals.

The cell signaling molecules nitric oxide (NO) and Ca2+ regulate diverse biological processes through their closely coordinated activities directed by signaling protein complexes. However, it remains unclear how dynamically the multicomponent protein assemblies behave within the signaling complexes upon the interplay between NO and Ca2+ signals. Here we demonstrate that TRPC5 channels activated by the stimulation of G-protein-coupled ATP receptors mediate Ca2+ influx, that triggers NO production from endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), inducing secondary activation of TRPC5 via cysteine S-nitrosylation and eNOS in vascular endothelial cells. Mutations in the caveolin-1-binding domains of TRPC5 disrupt its association with caveolin-1 and impair Ca2+ influx and NO production, suggesting that caveolin-1 serves primarily as the scaffold for TRPC5 and eNOS to assemble into the signal complex. Interestingly, during ATP receptor activation, eNOS is dissociated from caveolin-1 and in turn directly associates with TRPC5, which accumulates at the plasma membrane dependently on Ca2+ influx and calmodulin. This protein reassembly likely results in a relief of eNOS from the inhibitory action of caveolin-1 and an enhanced TRPC5 S-nitrosylation by eNOS localized in the proximity, thereby facilitating the secondary activation of Ca2+ influx and NO production. In isolated rat aorta, vasodilation induced by acetylcholine was significantly suppressed by the TRPC5 inhibitor AC1903. Thus, our study provides evidence that dynamic remodeling of the protein assemblies among TRPC5, eNOS, caveolin-1, and calmodulin determines the ensemble of Ca2+ mobilization and NO production in vascular endothelial cells.

[Universal roles of the TRPA1 channel in oxygen-sensing].

Molecular oxygen suffices the ATP production required for the survival of us aerobic organisms. But it is also true that oxygen acts as a source of reactive oxygen species that elicit a spectrum of damages in living organisms. To cope with such intrinsic ambiguity of biological activity oxygen exerts, aerobic mechanisms are equipped with an exquisite adaptive system, which sensitively detects partial pressure of oxygen within the body and controls appropriate oxygen supply to the tissues. Physiological responses to hypoxia are comprised of the acute and chronic phases, in the former of which the oxygen-sensing remains controversial particularly from mechanistic points of view. Recently, we have revealed that the prominently redox-sensitive cation channel TRPA1 plays key roles in oxygen-sensing mechanisms identified in the peripheral tissues and the central nervous system. In this review, we summarize recent development of researches on oxygen-sensing mechanisms including that in the carotid body, which has been recognized as the oxygen receptor organ central to acute oxygen-sensing. We also discuss how ubiquitously the TRPA1 contributes to the mechanisms underlying the acute phase of adaptation to hypoxia.

Tumescenamide C, a cyclic lipodepsipeptide from Streptomyces sp. KUSC_F05, exerts antimicrobial activity against the scab-forming actinomycete Streptomyces scabiei.

The antimicrobial activity of tumescenamide C against the scab-forming S. scabiei NBRC13768 was confirmed with a potent IC50 value (1.5 µg/mL). Three tumescenamide C-resistant S. scabiei strains were generated to compare their gene variants. All three resistant strains contained nonsynonymous variants in genes related to cellobiose/cellotriose transport system components; cebF1, cebF2, and cebG2, which are responsible for the production of the phytotoxin thaxtomin A. Decrease in thaxtomin A production and the virulence of the three resistant strains were revealed by the LC/MS analysis and necrosis assay, respectively. Although the nonsynonymous variants were insufficient for identifying the molecular target of tumescenamide C, the cell wall component wall teichoic acid (WTA) was observed to bind significantly to tumescenamide C. Moreover, changes in the WTA contents were detected in the tumescenamide C-resistant strains. These results imply that tumescenamide C targets the cell wall system to exert antimicrobial effects on S. scabiei.

A Bispecific, Tetravalent Antibody Targeting Inflammatory and Pruritogenic Pathways in Atopic Dermatitis.

Inhibition of IL-4/IL-13 signaling has dramatically improved the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). However, in many patients, clinical responses are slow to develop and remain modest. Indeed, some symptoms of AD are dependent on IL-31, which is only partially reduced by IL-4/IL-13 inhibition. Thus, there is an unmet need for AD treatments that concomitantly block IL-4/IL-13 and IL-31 pathways. We engineered NM26-2198, a bispecific tetravalent antibody designed to accomplish this task. In reporter cell lines, NM26-2198 concomitantly inhibited IL-4/IL-13 and IL-31 signaling with a potency comparable with that of the combination of an anti-IL-4Rα antibody (dupilumab) and an anti-IL-31 antibody (BMS-981164). In human PBMCs, NM26-2198 inhibited IL-4-induced upregulation of CD23, demonstrating functional binding to FcγRII (CD32). NM26-2198 also inhibited the secretion of the AD biomarker thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) in blood samples from healthy human donors. In male cynomolgus monkeys, NM26-2198 exhibited favorable pharmacokinetics and significantly inhibited IL-31-induced scratching at a dose of 30 mg/kg. In a repeat-dose, good laboratory practice toxicology study in cynomolgus monkeys, no adverse effects of NM26-2198 were observed at a weekly dose of 125 mg/kg. Together, these results justify the clinical investigation of NM26-2198 as a treatment for moderate-to-severe AD.

A small molecule iCDM-34 identified by in silico screening suppresses HBV DNA through activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor.

IFN-alpha have been reported to suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV) cccDNA via APOBEC3 cytidine deaminase activity through interferon signaling. To develop a novel anti-HBV drug for a functional cure, we performed in silico screening of the binding compounds fitting the steric structure of the IFN-alpha-binding pocket in IFNAR2. We identified 37 compounds and named them in silico cccDNA modulator (iCDM)-1-37. We found that iCDM-34, a new small molecule with a pyrazole moiety, showed anti-HCV and anti-HBV activities. We measured the anti-HBV activity of iCDM-34 dependent on or independent of entecavir (ETV). iCDM-34 suppressed HBV DNA, pgRNA, HBsAg, and HBeAg, and also clearly exhibited additive inhibitory effects on the suppression of HBV DNA with ETV. We confirmed metabolic stability of iCDM-34 was stable in human liver microsomal fraction. Furthermore, anti-HBV activity in human hepatocyte-chimeric mice revealed that iCDM-34 was not effective as a single reagent, but when combined with ETV, it suppressed HBV DNA compared to ETV alone. Phosphoproteome and Western blotting analysis showed that iCDM-34 did not activate IFN-signaling. The transcriptome analysis of interferon-stimulated genes revealed no increase in expression, whereas downstream factors of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) showed increased levels of the expression. CDK1/2 and phospho-SAMHD1 levels decreased under iCDM-34 treatment. In addition, AhR knockdown inhibited anti-HCV activity of iCDM-34 in HCV replicon cells. These results suggest that iCDM-34 decreases the phosphorylation of SAMHD1 through CDK1/2, and suppresses HCV replicon RNA, HBV DNA, and pgRNA formation.

[TRPA1 channel mediates oxidative stress defense in cancer].

The unscheduled proliferation of cancer cells outside their natural niches subjects the cells to multiple insults, such as metabolic aberrations, detachment from the extracellular matrix (ECM), hypoxia, and immune cell attacks. Oxidative stress is a hallmark of cancer because these insults can all lead to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, it remained largely elusive how cancer cells are able to adapt to harsh oxidative environments. Here, we provide evidence that cancer cells co-opt the neuronal ROS-sensing channel TRPA1 to tolerate highly oxidative environments. While TRPA1 is usually expressed at sensory neurons, we found that the channel is also overexpressed in various types of human cancer. TRPA1 does not affect canonical ROS-neutralizing programs but senses ROS and upregulates Ca2＋-dependent anti-apoptotic programs that promotes oxidative-stress tolerance. These findings offer a significant advance in our understanding of adaptation mechanisms to oxidative stress, which represents a substantial hurdle that impedes tumor initiation and progression.

TRPA1 channel in the airway underlies protection against airborne threats by modulating respiration and behaviour.

Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), a member of the TRP superfamily of cation channels, is broadly expressed in sensory neural pathways, including the trigeminal neurons innervating the nasal cavity and vagal neurons innervating the trachea and the lung. TRPA1 acts as a detector of various irritant chemicals as well as hypoxia and hyperoxia. For the past 15 years, we have characterised its role in respiratory and behavioural modulation in vivo using Trpa1 knockout (KO) mice and wild-type (WT) littermates. Trpa1 KO mice failed to detect, wake up from sleeping, and escape from formalin vapour and a mild hypoxic (15% O2 ) environment. Respiratory augmentation induced by mild hypoxia was absent in either Trpa1 KO mice or WT mice treated with a TRPA1 antagonist. Irritant gas introduced into the nasal cavity inhibited respiratory responses in WT mice but not in the KO mice. The effect of TRPA1 on the olfactory system seemed minimal because olfactory bulbectomized WT mice reacted similarly to the intact mice. Immunohistological analyses using a cellar activation marker, the phosphorylated form of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, confirmed activation of trigeminal neurons in WT mice but not in Trpa1 KO mice in response to irritant chemicals and mild hypoxia. These data collectively show that TRPA1 is necessary for multiple chemical-induced protective responses in respiration and behaviour. We propose that TRPA1 channels in the airway may play a sentinel role for environmental threats and prevent incoming damage.

N-Methylamide-structured SB366791 derivatives with high TRPV1 antagonistic activity: toward PET radiotracers to visualize TRPV1.

Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1)-targeted compounds were synthesized by modifying the structure of SB366791, a pharmaceutically representative TRPV1 antagonist. To avoid amide-iminol tautomerization, structurally supported N-methylated amides (i.e., 3-alkoxy-substitued N-meythylamide derivatives of SB366791) were evaluated using a Ca2+ influx assay, in which cells expressed recombinant TRPV1 in the presence of 1.0 µM capsaicin. The antagonistic activities of N-(3-methoxyphenyl)-N-methyl-4-chlorocinnamamide (2) (RLC-TV1004) and N-{3-(3-fluoropropoxy)phenyl}-N-methyl-4-chlorocinnamamide (4) (RLC-TV1006) were found to be approximately three-fold higher (IC50: 1.3 µM and 1.1 µM, respectively) than that of SB366791 (IC50: 3.7 µM). These results will help reinvigorate the potential of SB366791 in medicinal chemistry applications. The 3-methoxy and 3-fluoroalkoxy substituents were used to obtain radioactive [11C]methoxy- or [18F]fluoroalkoxy-incorporated tracers for in vivo positron emission tomography (PET). Using the 11C- or 18F-labeled derivatives, explorative PET imaging trials were performed in rats.

Novel cancer-specific epidermal growth factor receptor antibody obtained from the serum of esophageal cancer patients with long-term survival.

Although esophageal cancer has a poor prognosis after recurrence, some patients have shown long-term survival despite recurrence. We hypothesized that induction of either antitumor Abs or antitumor-specific CTLs could play a role in long-term survival (5 years or longer) in patients with recurrence and/or distant metastases. Therefore, we aimed to obtain Abs that specifically bind to cancer cells by using serum samples from patients with a good prognosis. A phage library was prepared using PBMC mRNA of the patients, and cell panning was carried out using an esophageal cancer cell line. Results showed the presence of an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) Ab, KT112, that specifically bound to the cancer cell line. Notably, KT112 bound to only EGFR-positive cancer cells but failed to bind to normal esophageal cells. Furthermore, KT112 was characterized by responses to EGFR expressed on cancer cells but not to the recombinant extracellular domain of EGFR. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that KT112 reacted with 17.4% of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue but not with any other cancer or normal tissue, suggesting that the Ab recognizes cancer-specific forms of EGFR and might have contributed to tumor suppression in patients with esophageal cancer. Furthermore, because of its high cancer specificity, KT112 could be a promising therapeutic option (e.g., in Ab-drug conjugates) for esophageal cancer.

Design, synthesis, and target identification of new hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) inhibitors containing 1-alkyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide moiety.

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a promising drug target for cancer chemotherapy. In our screening program aimed at identifying new HIF-1 inhibitors by using a hypoxia-responsive luciferase reporter gene assay, KUSC-5001 containing the 1-alkyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide moiety was found as a potential hit molecule. During an extensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) study, we developed a more effective HIF-1 inhibitor KUSC-5037 (IC50 = 1.2 µM). Under hypoxic conditions, KUSC-5037 suppressed the HIF-1α (a regulatory subunit of HIF-1) mRNA, causing decreases in the gene expression of HIF-1 target genes such as carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) genes. Furthermore, by applying our fluorescent and bifunctional probes, ATP5B, a catalytic ß subunit of mitochondrial FoF1-ATP synthase, was identified as a target protein of KUSC-5037. These results indicate that the derivatives of KUSC-5037 containing the 1-alkyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide moiety are promising lead molecules for the inhibition of HIF-1 signaling via FoF1-ATP synthase suppression.

Role of Oxidative Stress and Ca2+ Signaling in Psychiatric Disorders.

Psychiatric disorders are caused by complex and diverse factors, and numerous mechanisms have been proposed for the pathogenesis of these disorders. Accumulating evidence suggests that oxidative stress is one of the general factors involved in the pathogenesis/pathophysiology of major psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia. Indeed, some clinical trials have shown improvement of the symptoms of these disorders by antioxidant supplementation. However, the molecular basis for the relationship between oxidative stress and the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders remains largely unknown. In general, Ca2+ channels play central roles in neuronal functions, including neuronal excitability, neurotransmitter release, synaptic plasticity, and gene regulation, and genes that encode Ca2+ channels have been found to be associated with psychiatric disorders. Notably, a class of Ca2+-permeable transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels is activated by changes in cellular redox status, whereby these TRP channels can link oxidative stress to Ca2+ signals. Given the unique characteristic of redox-sensitive TRP channels, these channels could be a target for delineating the pathogenesis or pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. In this review, we summarize the outcomes of clinical trials for antioxidant treatment in patients with psychiatric disorders and the current insights into the physiological/pathological significance of redox-sensitive TRP channels in the light of neural functions, including behavioral phenotypes, and discuss the potential role of TRP channels in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. Investigation of redox-sensitive TRP channels may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.

Retro-aza-Michael reaction of an o-aminophenol adduct in protic solvents inspired by natural products.

α,ß-Unsaturated carbonyls are reactive group often found in bioactive small molecules. Their non-specific reaction with biomolecules can be the cause of the low efficacy and unexpected side-effects of the molecule. Accordingly, unprotected α,ß-unsaturated carbonyls are not often found in drugs. Here, we report that o-aminophenol is a new masking group of α,ß-unsaturated ketone, which is inspired by natural products saccharothriolides. o-Aminophenol adduct of α,ß-unsaturated ketone, but not those of α,ß-unsaturated amide or ester, undergoes a retro-Michael reaction to yield o-aminophenol and the Michael acceptor. This reaction was observed only in protic solvents, such as MeOH and aqueous MeOH. In contrast, o-anisidine was not eliminated from its Michael adduct. o-Aminophenol may be a promising masking tool of highly-reactive bioactive α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl compounds.

Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1 Mediates Hypoxic Responses in Mice.

Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is a non-selective cation channel that is broadly expressed in sensory pathways, such as the trigeminal and vagus nerves. It is capable of detecting various irritants in inspired gasses and is activated during hypoxia. In this study, the role of TRPA1 in hypoxia-induced behavioral, respiratory, and cardiovascular responses was examined through four lines of experiments using TRPA1 knockout (KO) mice and wild type (WT) littermates. First, KO mice showed significantly attenuated avoidance behavior in response to a low (15%) oxygen environment. Second, the wake-up response to a hypoxic ramp (from 21 to 10% O2 in 40 s) was measured using EEG electrodes. WT mice woke up within 30 s when oxygen was at 13-14%, but KO mice did not wake up until oxygen levels reached 10%. Histological analysis confirmed that mild (13% O2) hypoxia resulted in an attenuation of trigeminal neuronal activation in KO mice. Third, the ventilatory response to hypoxia was measured with whole body plethysmography. KO mice showed attenuated responses to mild hypoxia (15% O2) but not severe hypoxia (10% O2). Similar responses were observed in WT mice treated with the TRPA1 blocker, AP-18. These data clearly show that TRPA1 is necessary for multiple mild hypoxia (13-15% O2)-induced physiological responses. We propose that TRPA1 channels in the sensory pathways innervating the airway can detect hypoxic environments and prevent systemic and/or cellular hypoxia from occurring.

3D Culture Models with CRISPR Screens Reveal Hyperactive NRF2 as a Prerequisite for Spheroid Formation via Regulation of Proliferation and Ferroptosis.

Cancer-associated mutations that stabilize NRF2, an oxidant defense transcription factor, are predicted to promote tumor development. Here, utilizing 3D cancer spheroid models coupled with CRISPR-Cas9 screens, we investigate the molecular pathogenesis mediated by NRF2 hyperactivation. NRF2 hyperactivation was necessary for proliferation and survival in lung tumor spheroids. Antioxidant treatment rescued survival but not proliferation, suggesting the presence of distinct mechanisms. CRISPR screens revealed that spheroids are differentially dependent on the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) for proliferation and the lipid peroxidase GPX4 for protection from ferroptosis of inner, matrix-deprived cells. Ferroptosis inhibitors blocked death from NRF2 downregulation, demonstrating a critical role of NRF2 in protecting matrix-deprived cells from ferroptosis. Interestingly, proteomics analyses show global enrichment of selenoproteins, including GPX4, by NRF2 downregulation, and targeting NRF2 and GPX4 killed spheroids overall. These results illustrate the value of spheroid culture in revealing environmental or spatial differential dependencies on NRF2 and reveal exploitable vulnerabilities of NRF2-hyperactivated tumors.

O2-Dependent Protein Internalization Underlies Astrocytic Sensing of Acute Hypoxia by Restricting Multimodal TRPA1 Channel Responses.

Hypoxia sensors are essential for regulating local oxygen (O2) homeostasis within the body. This is especially pertinent within the CNS, which is particularly vulnerable to O2 deprivation due to high energetic demand. Here, we reveal hypoxia-monitoring function exerted by astrocytes through an O2-regulated protein trafficking mechanism within the CNS. Strikingly, cultured mouse astrocytes isolated from the parafacial respiratory group (pFRG) and retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) region are capable of rapidly responding to moderate hypoxia via the sensor cation channel transient receptor potential (TRP) A1 but, unlike multimodal sensory neurons, are inert to hyperoxia and other TRPA1 activators (carbon dioxide, electrophiles, and oxidants) in normoxia. Mechanistically, O2 suppresses TRPA1 channel activity by protein internalization via O2-dependent proline hydroxylation and subsequent ubiquitination by an E3 ubiquitin ligase, NEDD4-1 (neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally down-regulated protein 4). Hypoxia inhibits this process and instantly accumulates TRPA1 proteins at the plasma membrane, inducing TRPA1-mediated Ca2+ influx that triggers ATP release from pFRG/RTN astrocytes, potentiating respiratory center activity. Furthermore, astrocyte-specific Trpa1 disruption in a mouse brainstem-spinal cord preparation impedes the amplitude augmentation of the central autonomic respiratory output during hypoxia. Thus, reversible coupling of the TRPA1 channels with O2-dependent protein translocation allows astrocytes to act as acute hypoxia sensors in the medullary respiratory center.

R409K mutation prevents acid-induced aggregation of human IgG4.

Human immunoglobulin G isotype 4 (IgG4) antibodies are suitable for use in either the antagonist or agonist format because their low effector functions prevent target cytotoxicity or unwanted cytokine secretion. However, while manufacturing therapeutic antibodies, they are exposed to low pH during purification, and IgG4 is more susceptible to low-pH-induced aggregation than IgG1. Therefore, we investigated the underlying mechanisms of IgG4 aggregation at low pH and engineered an IgG4 with enhanced stability. By swapping the constant regions of IgG1 and IgG4, we determined that the constant heavy chain (CH3) domain is critical for aggregate formation, but a core-hinge-stabilizing S228P mutation in IgG4 is insufficient for preventing aggregation. To identify the aggregation-prone amino acid, we substituted the CH3 domain of IgG4 with that of IgG1, changing IgG4 Arg409 to a Lys, thereby preventing the aggregation of the IgG4 variant as effectively as in IgG1. A stabilizing effect was also recorded with other variable-region variants. Analysis of thermal stability using differential scanning calorimetry revealed that the R409K substitution increased the Tm value of CH3, suggesting that the R409K mutation contributed to the structural strengthening of the CH3-CH3 interaction. The R409K mutation did not influence the binding to antigens/human Fcγ receptors; whereas, the concurrent S228P and R409K mutations in IgG4 suppressed Fab-arm exchange drastically and as effectively as in IgG1, in both in vitro and in vivo in mice models. Our findings suggest that the IgG4 R409K variant represents a potential therapeutic IgG for use in low-effector-activity format that exhibits increased stability.

Robust induction of neural crest cells to derive peripheral sensory neurons from human induced pluripotent stem cells.

Because intractable itch reduces quality of life, understanding the fundamental mechanisms of itch is required to develop antipruritic treatments. Itch is mediated by peripheral sensory neurons, which originate from the neural crest (NC) during development. Itch-associated signaling molecules have been detected in genetically engineered animals and in cultures of peripheral neurons from dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Ethical difficulties collecting peripheral neurons from human DRG have limited analysis of itch in humans. This study describes a method of differentiating peripheral neurons from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) for physiological study of itch. This method resulted in the robust induction of p75 and HNK1 double-positive NC cells from hiPSCs. The expression of NC markers TFAP2A, SOX10 and SNAI1 increased during NC induction. The induction efficiency was nearly 90%, and human peripheral neurons expressing peripherin were efficiently differentiated from hiPSC-derived NC cells. Moreover, induced peripheral neurons expressed the sensory neuronal marker BRN3A and the itch-related receptors HRH1, MRGPRX1, IL31R and IL-4R. Calcium imaging analyses indicated that these peripheral neurons included sensory neurons responsive to itch-related stimuli such as histamine, BAM8-22, IL-31 and IL-4. These findings may enable detailed analyses of human DRG neurons and may result in new therapies for intractable itch.

Engineering a human IgG2 antibody stable at low pH.

IgG2 subclass antibodies have unique properties that include low effector function and a rigid hinge region. Although some IgG2 subclasses have been clinically tested and approved for therapeutic use, they have a higher propensity than IgG1 for aggregation, which can curtail or abolish their biological activity and enhance their immunogenicity. In this regard, acid-induced aggregation of monoclonal antibodies during purification and virus inactivation must be prevented. In the present study, we replaced the constant domain of IgG2 with that of IgG1, using anti-2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) IgG2 as a model antibody, and investigated whether that would confer greater stability. While the anti-DNP IgG2 antibody showed significant aggregation at low pH, this was reduced for the IgG2 antibody containing the IgG1 CH2 domain. Substituting three amino acids within the CH2 domain-namely, F300Y, V309L, and T339A (IgG2_YLA)-reduced aggregation at low pH and increased CH2 transition temperature, as determined by differential scanning calorimetric analysis. IgG2_YLA exhibited similar antigen-binding capacity to IgG2, low affinity for FcγRIIIa, and low binding ability to C1q. The same YLA substitution also reduced the aggregation of panitumumab, another IgG2 antibody, at low pH. Our engineered human IgG2 antibody showed reduced aggregation during bioprocessing and provides a basis for designing improved IgG2 antibodies for therapeutic applications.

Total Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Tumescenamide C and Its Derivatives.

Tumescenamide C (1) is an antimicrobial compound produced by Streptomyces sp. KUSC_F05 and consists of a cyclic depsipeptide core and a polyketide side chain with branched methyl groups. Here, we report the total synthesis of tumescenamide C and two derivatives, mainly using Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). In addition, a biological evaluation of these compounds revealed the critical partial structure in 1 for antimicrobial activity.