γD crystallin is a natively monomeric eye-lens protein that is associated with hereditary juvenile cataract formation. It is an attractive model system as a multidomain Greek-key protein that aggregates through partially folded intermediates. Point mutations M69Q and S130P were used to test (1) whether the protein-design algorithm RosettaDesign would successfully predict mutants that are resistant to aggregation when combined with informatic sequence-based predictors of peptide aggregation propensity and (2) how the mutations affected relative unfolding free energies (ΔΔG(un)) and intrinsic aggregation propensity (IAP). M69Q was predicted to have ΔΔG(un) ≫ 0, without significantly affecting IAP. S130P was predicted to have ΔΔG(un) ∼ 0 but with reduced IAP. The stability, conformation, and aggregation kinetics in acidic solution were experimentally characterized and compared for the variants and wild-type (WT) protein using circular dichroism and intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy, calorimetric and chemical unfolding, thioflavin-T binding, chromatography, static laser light scattering, and kinetic modeling. Monomer secondary and tertiary structures of both variants were indistinguishable from WT, while ΔΔG(un) > 0 for M69Q and ΔΔG(un) < 0 for S130P. Surprisingly, despite being the least conformationally stable, S130P was the most resistant to aggregation, indicating a significant decrease of its IAP compared to WT and M69Q.
Non-native protein aggregation is a ubiquitous challenge in the production, storage and administration of protein-based biotherapeutics. This study focuses on altering electrostatic protein-protein interactions as a strategy to modulate aggregation propensity in terms of temperature-dependent aggregation rates, using single-charge variants of human γ-D crystallin. Molecular models were combined to predict amino acid substitutions that would modulate protein-protein interactions with minimal effects on conformational stability. Experimental protein-protein interactions were quantified by the Kirkwood-Buff integrals (G22) from laser scattering, and G22 showed semi-quantitative agreement with model predictions. Experimental initial-rates for aggregation showed that increased (decreased) repulsive interactions led to significantly increased (decreased) aggregation resistance, even based solely on single-point mutations. However, in the case of a particular amino acid (E17), the aggregation mechanism was altered by substitution with R or K, and this greatly mitigated improvements in aggregation resistance. The results illustrate that predictions based on native protein-protein interactions can provide a useful design target for engineering aggregation resistance; however, this approach needs to be balanced with consideration of how mutations can impact aggregation mechanisms.
Protein misfolding and aggregation are implicated in numerous human diseases and significantly lower production yield of proteins expressed in mammalian cells. Despite the importance of understanding and suppressing protein aggregation in mammalian cells, a protein design and selection strategy to modulate protein misfolding/aggregation in mammalian cells has not yet been reported. In this work, we address the particular challenge presented by mutation-induced protein aggregation in mammalian cells. We hypothesize that an additional mutation(s) can be introduced in an aggregation-prone protein variant, spatially near the original mutation, to suppress misfolding and aggregation (cis-suppression). As a model protein, we chose human copper, zinc superoxide dismutase mutant (SOD1A4V) containing an alanine to valine mutation at residue 4, associated with the familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We used the program RosettaDesign to identify Phe20 in SOD1A4V as a key residue responsible for SOD1A4V conformational destabilization. This information was used to rationally develop a pool of candidate mutations at the Phe20 site. After two rounds of mammalian-cell based screening of the variants, three novel SOD1A4V variants with a significantly reduced aggregation propensity inside cells were selected. The enhanced stability and reduced aggregation propensity of the three novel SOD1A4V variants were verified using cell fractionation and in vitro stability assays.
Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of poly(ethylene glycol) 200 diacrylate and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A were formed over a range of compositions and with different reaction sequences. We controlled the reaction sequence by thermally initiating the cationic epoxy polymerization, photoinitiating the free-radical acrylate polymerization, and changing the processing order. The reaction was monitored by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, photo differential scanning calorimetry. and modulated differential scanning calorimetry (mDSC). The glass-transition temperature was estimated from mDSC. Mechanical and rheological tests provided the strength and hardness of the materials. Morphology and phase separation were explored with optical and scanning electron microscopy. All of the physical properties were dependent on IPN composition. Some properties and the morphology were dependent on the reaction sequence. Significant differences in glass-transition temperature were observed at the same composition but with different reaction sequences. Even with minimal structure, correlations existed between the morphology and material properties with partially phase-separated samples exhibiting maximum damping. The rapid reaction allowed minimal phase separation, yet different reaction sequences resulted in significantly different properties. This systematic study indicated that the relationships between phase morphology, processing, and the physical properties of IPNs are complex and not predictable a priori.
Biologic manufacturing processes typically employ clarification technologies like depth filtration to remove insoluble and soluble impurities. Conventional depth filtration media used in these processes contain naturally-derived components like diatomaceous earth and cellulose. These components may introduce performance variability and contribute extractable/leachable components like beta-glucans that could interfere with limulus amebocyte lysate endotoxin assays. Recently a novel, all-synthetic depth filtration media is developed (Millistak+ HC Pro X0SP) that may improve process consistency, efficiency, and drug substance product quality by reducing soluble process impurities. This new media is evaluated against commercially available benchmark filters containing naturally-derived components (Millistak+ HC X0HC and B1HC). Using model proteins, the synthetic media demonstrates increased binding capacity of positively charged proteins (72-126 mg g media) compared to conventional media (0.3-8.6 mg g media); and similar values for negatively charged species (1.3-5.6 mg g media). Several CHO-derived monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) or mAb-like molecules are also evaluated. The X0SP filtration performance behaves similarly to benchmarks, and exhibits improved HCP reduction (at least 50% in 55% of cases tested). X0SP filtrates contained increased silicon extractables relative to benchmarks, but these were readily removed downstream. Finally, the X0SP devices demonstrates suitable lot-to-lot robustness when specific media components are altered intentionally to manufacturing specification limits.
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