Molecular Insights into the Improved Bioactivity of Interferon Conjugates Attached to a Helical Polyglutamate.
Langmuir
; 39(18): 6539-6547, 2023 05 09.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37127842
ABSTRACT
Attaching polymers, especially polyethylene glycol (PEG), to protein drugs has emerged as a successful strategy to prolong circulation time in the bloodstream. The hypothesis is that the flexible chain wobbles on the protein's surface, thus resisting potential nonspecific adsorption. Such a theoretical framework may be challenged when a helical polyglutamate is used to conjugate with target proteins. In this study, we investigated the structure-activity relationships of polyglutamate-interferon conjugates P(EG3Glu)-IFN using molecular simulations. Our results show that the local crowding effect induced by oligoethylene glycols (i.e., EG3) is the primary driving force for helix formation in P(EG3Glu), and its helicity can be effectively increased by reducing the free volume of the two termini. Furthermore, it was found that the steric hindrance induced by IFN is not conductive to the helicity of P(EG3Glu) but contributes to its dominant orientation relative to interferon. The orientation of IFN relative to the helical P(EG3Glu) can help to protect the protein drug from neutralizing antibodies while maintaining its bioactivity. These findings suggest that the helical structure and its orientation are critical factors to consider when updating the theoretical framework for protein-polymer conjugates.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Ácido Poliglutâmico
/
Interferons
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article