Using bispecific antibodies in forced degradation studies to analyze the structure-function relationships of symmetrically and asymmetrically modified antibodies.

Forced degradation experiments of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) aid in the identification of critical quality attributes (CQAs) by studying the impact of post-translational modifications (PTMs), such as oxidation, deamidation, glycation, and isomerization, on biological functions. Structure-function characterization of mAbs can be used to identify the PTM CQAs and develop appropriate analytical and process controls. However, the interpretation of forced degradation results can be complicated because samples may contain mixtures of asymmetrically and symmetrically modified mAbs with one or two modified chains. We present a process to selectively create symmetrically and asymmetrically modified antibodies for structure-function characterization using the bispecific DuoBody® platform. Parental molecules mAb1 and mAb2 were first stressed with peracetic acid to induce methionine oxidation. Bispecific antibodies were then prepared from a mixture of oxidized or unoxidized parental mAbs by a controlled Fab-arm exchange process. This process was used to systematically prepare four bispecific mAb products: symmetrically unoxidized, symmetrically oxidized, and both combinations of asymmetrically oxidized bispecific mAbs. Results of this study demonstrated chain-independent, 1:2 stoichiometric binding of the mAb Fc region to both FcRn receptor and to Protein A. The approach was also applied to create asymmetrically deamidated mAbs at the asparagine 330 residue. Results of this study support the proposed 1:1 stoichiometric binding relationship between the FcγRIIIa receptor and the mAb Fc. This approach should be generally applicable to study the potential impact of any modification on biological function.

First principles design of a core bioenergetic transmembrane electron-transfer protein.

Here we describe the design, Escherichia coli expression and characterization of a simplified, adaptable and functionally transparent single chain 4-α-helix transmembrane protein frame that binds multiple heme and light activatable porphyrins. Such man-made cofactor-binding oxidoreductases, designed from first principles with minimal reference to natural protein sequences, are known as maquettes. This design is an adaptable frame aiming to uncover core engineering principles governing bioenergetic transmembrane electron-transfer function and recapitulate protein archetypes proposed to represent the origins of photosynthesis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Biodesign for Bioenergetics--the design and engineering of electronic transfer cofactors, proteins and protein networks, edited by Ronald L. Koder and J.L. Ross Anderson.

Design of amphiphilic oligopeptides as models for fine tuning peptide assembly with plasmid DNA.

We discuss the design of novel amphiphilic oligopeptides with hydrophobic and cationic amino acids to serve as models to understand peptide-DNA assembly. Biophysical and thermodynamic characterization of interaction of these amphiphilic peptides with plasmid DNA is presented. Peptides with at least +4 charges favor stable complex formation. Surface potential is dependent on the type of hydrophobic amino acid for a certain charge. Thermodynamically it is a spontaneous interaction between most of the peptides and plasmid DNA. Lys(7) and Tyr peptides with +4/+5 charges indicate cooperative binding with pDNA without saturation of interaction while Val(2)-Gly-Lys(4), Val-Gly-Lys(5), and Phe-Gly-Lys(5) lead to saturation of interaction indicating condensed pDNA within the range of N/Ps studied. We show that the biophysical properties of DNA-peptide complexes could be modulated by design and the peptides presented here could be used as building blocks for creating DNA-peptide complexes for various biomedical applications, mainly nucleic acid delivery.

Influence of N-terminal hydrophobicity of cationic peptides on thermodynamics of their interaction with plasmid DNA.

There is a need to understand the thermodynamics of interaction of cationic peptides with DNA to design better peptide based non-viral gene delivery vectors. The main aim of this study was to understand the influence of N-terminal hydrophobicity of cationic amphiphilic peptides on thermodynamics of interaction with plasmid DNA. The model peptides used were TATPTD and TATPTDs modified at the N-terminal with hydrophobic amino acids. The thermodynamic binding data from isothermal titration calorimetry were compared with ethidium bromide analysis and ultrafiltration to correlate the binding parameters with the structural features of the various peptides used. It was observed that peptides having a smaller hydrophobic domain at the N-terminal have good DNA condensing ability compared with the ones with a longer hydrophobic domain. Calorimetry of peptides that reached saturation binding indicated that enthalpy and entropy are favorable for the interaction. Moreover, the interaction of these peptides with DNA appears to be predominantly electrostatic.

The effect of the structure of small cationic peptides on the characteristics of peptide-DNA complexes.

A series of transcriptional activator (TAT)-protein transduction domains (PTDs) modified with hydrophobic amino acids were used as model cationic amphiphilic peptides to study the effect of hydrophobicity on interaction of such peptides with plasmid DNA. The peptide-DNA complexes were analyzed by dynamic light scattering and gel electrophoresis to determine their size and electrokinetic properties at various +/- charge ratios. Peptides in solution were found to have a tendency to aggregate and the hydrodynamic size of the aggregates depends on the structure of peptide. Peptides with smaller hydrophobic residues at the N-terminal formed smaller complexes with DNA compared to the ones with larger hydrophobic tails. DNA complexes having peptides with more than one hydrophobic moiety at the N-terminal had a tendency to aggregate. Among the peptides having single hydrophobic amino acid at the N-terminal, DNA complexes of Tyr-TAT and Phe-TAT were found to be stable in solution. The size of the hydrophobic domain and the type of hydrophobic amino acid at the N-terminal of cationic amphiphilic peptides play an important role not only in the complex formation but also in stabilizing the system. The studies presented here indicate that there is a potential for strategic development of these peptides into potential non-viral gene delivery vectors.