Target-mediated toxicity constitutes a major limitation for the development of therapeutic antibodies. To redirect the activity of antibodies recognizing widely distributed targets to the site of disease, we have applied a prodrug strategy to create an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-directed Probody therapeutic-an antibody that remains masked against antigen binding until activated locally by proteases commonly active in the tumor microenvironment. In vitro, the masked Probody showed diminished antigen binding and cell-based activities, but when activated by appropriate proteases, it regained full activity compared to the parental anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab. In vivo, the Probody was largely inert in the systemic circulation of mice, but was activated within tumor tissue and showed antitumor efficacy that was similar to that of cetuximab. The Probody demonstrated markedly improved safety and increased half-life in nonhuman primates, enabling it to be dosed safely at much higher levels than cetuximab. In addition, we found that both Probody-responsive xenograft tumors and primary tumor samples from patients were capable of activating the Probody ex vivo. Probodies may therefore improve the safety profile of therapeutic antibodies without compromising efficacy of the parental antibody and may enable the wider use of empowered antibody formats such as antibody-drug conjugates and bispecifics.

SUMMARY Copper plays a critical role in prion protein (PrP) physiology. Cu2+ binds with high affinity to the PrP N-terminal octarepeat domain (OR), and intracellular copper promotes PrP expression. The molecular details of copper coordination within the OR are now well characterized. Here we examine how Cu2+ influences the interaction between the PrP N-terminal domain and the C-terminal globular domain. Using NMR and copper-nitroxide double electron-electron resonance (DEER) EPR, with molecular dynamics refinement, we localize the position of Cu2+ in its high-affinity OR-bound state. Our results reveal an interdomain cis interaction that is stabilized by a conserved, negatively charged pocket of the globular domain. Interestingly, this interaction surface overlaps an epitope recognized by the POM1 antibody, the binding of which drives rapid cerebellar degeneration mediated by the PrP N-terminus. The resulting structure suggests that the globular domain regulates the N-terminal domain by binding the Cu2+-occupied OR within a complementary pocket.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the main cause of age-related dementia and currently affects approximately 5.7 million Americans. Major brain changes associated with AD pathology include accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) protein fragments and formation of extracellular amyloid plaques. Redox-active metals mediate oligomerization of Aβ, and the resultant metal-bound oligomers have been implicated in the putative formation of harmful, reactive species that could contribute to observed oxidative damage. In isolated plaque cores, Cu­(II) is bound to Aβ via histidine residues. Despite numerous structural studies of Cu­(II) binding to synthetic Aβ in vitro, there is still uncertainty surrounding Cu­(II) coordination in Aβ. In this study, we used X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and high energy resolution fluorescence detected (HERFD) XAS to investigate Cu­(II) coordination in Aβ(1–42) under various solution conditions. We found that the average coordination environment in Cu­(II)­Aβ(1–42) is sensitive to X-ray photoreduction, changes in buffer composition, peptide concentration, and solution pH. Fitting of the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) suggests Cu­(II) is bound in a mixture of coordination environments in monomeric Aβ(1–42) under all conditions studied. However, it was evident that on average only a single histidine residue coordinates Cu­(II) in monomeric Aβ(1–42) at pH 6.1, in addition to 3 other oxygen or nitrogen ligands. Cu­(II) coordination in Aβ(1–42) at pH 7.4 is similarly 4-coordinate with oxygen and nitrogen ligands, although an average of 2 histidine residues appear to coordinate at this pH. At pH 9.0, the average Cu­(II) coordination environment in Aβ(1–42) appears to be 5-coordinate with oxygen and nitrogen ligands, including two histidine residues.

Human lipoxygenases (LOXs) are a family of iron-containing enzymes which catalyze the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids to provide the corresponding bioactive hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) metabolites. These eicosanoid signaling molecules are involved in a number of physiologic responses such as platelet aggregation, inflammation, and cell proliferation. Our group has taken a particular interest in platelet-type 12-(S)-LOX (12-LOX) because of its demonstrated role in skin diseases, diabetes, platelet hemostasis, thrombosis, and cancer. Herein, we report the identification and medicinal chemistry optimization of a 4-((2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)amino)benzenesulfonamide-based scaffold. Top compounds, exemplified by 35 and 36, display nM potency against 12-LOX, excellent selectivity over related lipoxygenases and cyclooxygenases, and possess favorable ADME properties. In addition, both compounds inhibit PAR-4 induced aggregation and calcium mobilization in human platelets and reduce 12-HETE in β-cells.

The increased proteolytic activity of membrane-bound and secreted proteases on the surface of cancer cells and in the transformed stroma is a common characteristic of aggressive metastatic prostate cancer. We describe here the development of an active site-specific probe for detecting a secreted peritumoral protease expressed by cancer cells and the surrounding tumor microenvironment. Using a human fragment antigen binding phage display library, we identified a human antibody termed U33 that selectively inhibited the active form of the protease urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA, PLAU). In the full-length immunoglobulin form, U33 IgG labeled with near-infrared fluorophores or radionuclides allowed us to non-invasively detect active uPA in prostate cancer xenograft models using optical and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging modalities. U33 IgG labeled with 111In had a remarkable tumor uptake of 43.2% injected dose per gram (%ID/g) 72hr post tail vein injection of the radiolabeled probe in subcutaneous xenografts. Additionally, U33 was able to image active uPA in small soft-tissue and osseous metastatic lesions using a cardiac dissemination prostate cancer model that recapitulated metastatic human cancer. The favorable imaging properties were the direct result of U33 IgG internalization through an uPA receptor mediated mechanism where U33 mimicked the function of the endogenous inhibitor of uPA to gain entry into the cancer cell. Overall, our imaging probe targets a prostate cancer-associated protease, through a unique mechanism, allowing for the non-invasive preclinical imaging of prostate cancer lesions.