炭疽受体CMG2-Fc 融合蛋白在CHO 细胞中的表达、纯化与鉴定

目的:构建炭疽受体CMG2和人IgG1 Fc片段融合基因载体,转染CHO细胞并通过毒素中和试验检测CMG2-Fc拮抗炭疽毒素(PA+LF)的能力。方法:将含有CMG2胞外区1-217AA片度基因和人IgG1的Fc片段基因共同连接入pcDNA3.1载体转染CHO细胞并筛选高表达CMG2-Fc的CHO细胞系,通过小鼠RAW264.7巨噬细胞保护试验检测CMG2-Fc拮抗炭疽毒素的能力。结果:获得了表达CMG2-Fc的细胞株,毒素中和实验显示该蛋白可以有效抑制炭疽毒素引起的细胞损伤。结论:CMG2-Fc能够保护小鼠巨噬细胞免受炭疽毒素攻击,提示其可以作为抗毒素治疗炭疽感染。     

炭疽受体CMG2-Fc融合蛋白在CHO细胞中的表达、纯化与鉴定

目的：构建炭疽受体CMG2和人IgGl Fc片段融合基因载体,转染CHO细胞并通过毒素中和试验检测CMG2-Fc拮抗炭疽毒素（PA＋LF）的能力。方法-将含有CMG2胞外区1-217AA片度基因和人IgGl的Fc片段基因共同连接入pcDNA3．1载体转染CHO细胞并筛选高表达CMG2-Fc的CHO细胞系,通过小鼠RAW264．7巨噬细胞保护试验检测CMG2-Fc拮抗炭疽毒素的能力。结果：获得了表达CMG2-Fc的细胞株,毒素中和实验显示该蛋白可以有效抑制炭疽毒素引起的细胞损伤。结论：CMG2-Fc能够保护小鼠巨噬细胞免受炭疽毒素攻击,提示其可以作为抗毒素治疗炭疽感染。     

PA domain4-Fc融合蛋白抗血清可以保护小鼠巨噬细胞免受炭疽毒素损害

目的:探讨炭疽杆菌保护性抗原PA(protective antigen)domain4能否作为炭疽疫苗和炭疽感染时紧急预防用药.方法:构建含有PA domain4和人IgG Fc片段的表达载体,通过免疫大耳白兔获得针对该融合蛋白的免疫血清,通过小鼠巨噬细胞保护试验验证PA domain4-Fc是否具有疫苗和紧急预防用功能.结果:获得了表达PA domain4-Fc融合蛋白的CHO细胞株和针对PA domain4-Fc的兔抗血清,细胞保护试验证实PA domain4-Fc抗血清能够保护小鼠巨噬细胞免受炭疽毒素的攻击,但PA domain4-Fc蛋白本身并不能直接拮抗炭疽毒素对细胞的损害.结论:PA domain4-Fc抗血清可以保护小鼠巨噬细胞免受炭疽毒素损害,表明PA domain4-Fe具有作为炭疽疫苗的可能,但PA domain4-Fc蛋白不能直接竞争性拮抗炭疽毒素损害细胞.     

炭疽毒素受体胞外区在毕赤酵母中分泌表达、纯化与活性鉴定

使用分泌型表达载体,实现了重组炭疽毒素受体胞外区 (rATR(CMG2)-EXCELL) 在毕赤酵母 KM71H 培养物上清中的分泌表达 . 表达量约占培养物上清总蛋白质的 20%. 经过螯合柱初步纯化,每升诱导培养物可获得约 1 mg 电泳纯的 rATR(CMG2)-EXCELL. 体外与配基 PA 结合试验和细胞保护试验显示, rATR(CMG2)-EXCELL 具有很好的生物活性 . rATR(CMG2)-EXCELL 的成功表达为今后研究炭疽毒素受体的作用机理、发展新型炭疽治疗药物打下基础 .     

炭疽芽孢杆菌致死因子突变株K518E和L519C的筛选及活性分析

为研究炭疽毒素致死因子( lethal factor,LF)致死机理,更有效地防治炭疽,对LF基因1 550～2 324 bp之间的片段进行了随机突变实验．通过细胞毒性实验筛选LF突变体库,结果获得5株活性降低突变体．进一步对单点突变体蛋白进行亲和纯化,首次得到了K518E、L519C两种突变蛋白,对其进行纯蛋白活性检测和竞争抑制实验,发现这两种突变蛋白活性显著降低,表明518位赖氨酸和519位亮氨酸对LF功能起着非常重要的作用．并且发现,K518E对野生型LF具有一定的抑制作用,对LF作用机理的研究有一定帮助．     

针对炭疽保护性抗原不同结构域的中和性单克隆抗体的筛选和鉴定

炭疽保护性抗原（PA）是炭疽毒素的重要组分,同时也是现有炭疽疫苗的主要有效成分,在炭疽杆菌的致病与免疫中发挥关键作用。以重组PA为免疫原,采用B淋巴细胞杂交瘤技术,结合炭疽毒素敏感细胞的毒性中和试验,大量筛选抗PA单克隆抗体,获得了9株炭疽毒素中和性单抗。进一步分析表明这些单抗以IgG1亚类为主,分别识别PA 3个结构域的4个不同中和表位区。针对结构域2的4株单抗识别同一表位区,其中3株单抗的中和活性强于抗PA多抗;针对结构域4的4株单抗识别两个不同表位区;另有1株单抗识别位于结构域3的表位。实验结果提示PA具有多个中和表位,分别位于其不同结构域,其中结构域2、4包含主要中和表位。实验中获得的针对不同表位的中和性单抗为深入研究PA的免疫保护机理提供了工具,也为研制针对炭疽毒素的被动免疫制剂和治疗药物打下基础。     

利用转基因小鼠筛选全人源炭疽致死因子中和抗体

炭疽是由炭疽芽孢杆菌引起的严重威胁人类健康的传染病。炭疽毒素包括3种蛋白质成分:保护性抗原(PA)、致死因子(LF)和水肿因子(EF)。PA与LF形成致死毒素(LT),与EF形成水肿毒素(ET)。由于致死毒素(LT)在感染者损伤及死亡中发挥主要作用,因此在炭疽感染晚期单纯使用抗生素治疗难以发挥疗效,治疗性中和抗体成为目前最有效的炭疽治疗药物。目前国外获得的炭疽毒素抗体多为炭疽PA抗体,美国FDA已批准瑞西巴库(人源PA单抗)用于吸入性炭疽的治疗。一旦炭疽芽孢杆菌被人为改构或PA中和表位发生突变,针对PA单一表位的抗体将可能失效,因此针对LF的抗体将成为炭疽治疗的有效补充。目前国外已有的LF抗体多为鼠源抗体和嵌合抗体,而全人源抗体可以避免鼠源抗体免疫原性高等缺点。本研究首先用LF抗原免疫人抗体转基因小鼠,利用流式细胞仪从小鼠脾淋巴细胞中分选抗原特异的记忆B细胞,通过单细胞PCR方法快速获得两株具有结合活性的抗LF单抗1D7和2B9。瞬时转染Expi 293F细胞制备抗体,通过毒素中和实验(TNA)发现1D7和2B9在细胞模型中均显示较好的中和活性,并且与PA单抗联合使用时,表现出较好的协同作用。总之,本文利用转基因小鼠、流式分选技术和单细胞PCR技术的优势,快速筛选到全人源LF抗体,为快速筛选全人源单克隆抗体开辟了新的思路与方法。     

炭疽毒素受体与人IgG1的Fc段融合蛋白ATR_Fc在CHO细胞中的表达

ATR_Fc是人炭疽毒素受体(ATR)的胞外区与人免疫球蛋白IgG1的铰链区、CH2区和CH3区组成的融合蛋白。表达该蛋白是为了获得结合PA的抗体样分子,通过阻断PA与细胞受体的结合,而阻止炭疽致死毒素和水肿因子进入细胞内,可作为预防和治疗炭疽感染的生物制品。将编码炭疽毒素受体N端1_227氨基酸的基因和编码Fc段的基因连接,插入到pcDNA3.1的HindⅢ和NotⅠ位点得到表达ATR_Fc融合蛋白的真核表达载体pcDNA3.1ATR_Fc,并用脂质体方法将该载体转染至CHO_K1细胞中,用G418筛选并获得ATR_Fc表达水平为10～15μg(106cells·d)的基因工程CHO细胞系ATR_Fc_1D5。采用蛋白A纯化重组蛋白,并用ELISA法鉴定ATR_Fc与PA的亲和性,表明ATR_Fc可与PA特异性结合。     

炭疽毒素保护性抗原的不同结构域对其表达可溶性的影响

目的：对炭疽毒素保护性抗原（PA）的不同结构域进行了缺失突变,以期找到免疫原性降低而功能变化不大的PA蛋白突变体。方法：在对PA结构域的缺失突变体进行表达时,意外发现不同的突变体表达效果之间存在很大差异,遂用DNAStar软件对PA的4个结构域和突变体进行分析。结果：PA蛋白结构域2的表面特性与其他结构域存在很大差异。结论：推断这种表面特性影响了PA突变体的可溶性特征。     

炭疽毒素受体与人IgG1的Fc段融合蛋白ATR_Fc在CHO细胞中的表达

ATR-Fc是人炭疽毒素受体（ATR）的胞外区与人免疫球蛋白IgG1的铰链区、CH2区和CH3区组成的融合蛋白。表达该蛋白是为了获得结合PA的抗体样分子,通过阻断PA与细胞受体的结合,而阻止炭疽致死毒素和水肿因子进入细胞内,可作为预防和治疗炭疽感染的生物制品。将编码炭疽毒素受体N端1-227氨基酸的基因和编码Fc段的基因连接,插入到pcDNA3-1的HindⅢ和NotⅠ位点得到表达ATR-Fc融合蛋白的真核表达载体pcDNA31/ATR9Fc,并用脂质体方法将该载体转染至CHO-K1细胞中,用G418筛选并获得ATR-Fc表达水平为10～15μg/(106cells·d)的基因工程CHO细胞系ATR-Fc-1D5。采用蛋白A纯化重组蛋白,并用ELISA法鉴定ATR-Fc与PA的亲和性,表明ATR-Fc可与PA特异性结合。     

Improving the Anti-Toxin Abilities of the CMG2-Fc Fusion Protein with the Aid of Computational Design

CMG2-Fc is a fusion protein composed of the extracellular domain of capillary morphogenesis protein 2 (CMG2) and the Fc region of human immunoglobulin G; CMG2-Fc neutralizes anthrax toxin and offers protection against Bacillus anthracis challenge. To enhance the efficacy of CMG2-Fc against anthrax toxin, we attempted to engineer a CMG2-Fc with an improved affinity for PA. Using the automatic design algorithm FoldX and visual inspection, we devised two CMG2-Fc variants that introduce mutations in the CMG2 binding interface and improve the computationally assessed binding affinity for PA. An experimental affinity assay revealed that the two variants showed increased binding affinity, and in vitro and in vivo toxin neutralization testing indicated that one of these mutants (CMG2-Fc(E117Q)) has superior activity against anthrax toxin and was suitable for further development as a therapeutic agent for anthrax infections. This study shows that the computational design of the PA binding interface of CMG2 to obtain CMG2-Fc variants with improving anti-toxin abilities is viable. Our results demonstrate that computational design can be further applied to generate other CMG2-Fc mutants with greatly improved therapeutic efficacy.     

The inhibition of the interaction between the anthrax toxin and its cellular receptor by an anti-receptor monoclonal antibody

The high affinity binding of the anthrax protective antigen (PA) to one of its receptors, capillary morphogenesis protein 2 (CMG2), is essential for the intoxication process of anthrax toxin. To acquire novel research tools to study the PA-CMG2 interaction, we generated several anti-CMG2 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). We demonstrated that one of the MAbs, 4B5, could inhibit PA-CMG2 binding and could also protect the sensitive cells against an anthrax lethal toxin challenge. We identified the epitope recognized by 4B5 and confirmed that the key residues of the epitope were the residues ¹¹⁹YI-LK¹²⁵ of CMG2. Based on our results, we propose that 4B5 binds to the E122 pocket of CMG2 and interrupts the interaction between the pocket and the PA 2β3-2β4 loop. To our knowledge, this is the first report to illustrate that an anti-CMG2 antibody could inhibit the PA-CMG2 interaction and therefore interfere with the intoxication of anthrax toxin.     

Targeted Silencing of Anthrax Toxin Receptors Protects against Anthrax Toxins

Anthrax spores can be aerosolized and dispersed as a bioweapon. Current postexposure treatments are inadequate at later stages of infection, when high levels of anthrax toxins are present. Anthrax toxins enter cells via two identified anthrax toxin receptors: tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8) and capillary morphogenesis protein 2 (CMG2). We hypothesized that host cells would be protected from anthrax toxins if anthrax toxin receptor expression was effectively silenced using RNA interference (RNAi) technology. Thus, anthrax toxin receptors in mouse and human macrophages were silenced using targeted siRNAs or blocked with specific antibody prior to challenge with anthrax lethal toxin. Viability assays were used to assess protection in macrophages treated with specific siRNA or antibody as compared with untreated cells. Silencing CMG2 using targeted siRNAs provided almost complete protection against anthrax lethal toxin-induced cytotoxicity and death in murine and human macrophages. The same results were obtained by prebinding cells with specific antibody prior to treatment with anthrax lethal toxin. In addition, TEM8-targeted siRNAs also offered significant protection against lethal toxin in human macrophage-like cells. Furthermore, silencing CMG2, TEM8, or both receptors in combination was also protective against MEK2 cleavage by lethal toxin or adenylyl cyclase activity by edema toxin in human kidney cells. Thus, anthrax toxin receptor-targeted RNAi has the potential to be developed as a life-saving, postexposure therapy against anthrax.     

Tumor endothelium marker-8 based decoys exhibit superiority over capillary morphogenesis protein-2 based decoys as anthrax toxin inhibitors

Anthrax toxin is the major virulence factor produced by Bacillus anthracis. The toxin consists of three protein subunits: protective antigen (PA), lethal factor, and edema factor. Inhibition of PA binding to its receptors, tumor endothelium marker-8 (TEM8) and capillary morphogenesis protein-2 (CMG2) can effectively block anthrax intoxication, which is particularly valuable when the toxin has already been overproduced at the late stage of anthrax infection, thus rendering antibiotics ineffectual. Receptor-like agonists, such as the mammalian cell-expressed von Willebrand factor type A (vWA) domain of CMG2 (sCMG2), have demonstrated potency against the anthrax toxin. However, the soluble vWA domain of TEM8 (sTEM8) was ruled out as an anthrax toxin inhibitor candidate due to its inferior affinity to PA. In the present study, we report that L56A, a PA-binding-affinity-elevated mutant of sTEM8, could inhibit anthrax intoxication as effectively as sCMG2 in Fisher 344 rats. Additionally, pharmacokinetics showed that L56A and sTEM8 exhibit advantages over sCMG2 with better lung-targeting and longer plasma retention time, which may contribute to their enhanced protective ability in vivo. Our results suggest that receptor decoys based on TEM8 are promising anthrax toxin inhibitors and, together with the pharmacokinetic studies in this report, may contribute to the development of novel anthrax drugs.     

Characterization of the interaction between anthrax toxin and its cellular receptors

Mutations in capillary morphogenesis gene 2 (CMG2), one of the two closely related proteins that act as anthrax toxin receptors, cause two rare human autosomal recessive conditions, juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (JHF) and infantile systemic hyalinosis (ISH). Here we demonstrate that CMG2 proteins with certain JHF- and ISH-associated single amino acid substitutions in their von Willebrand factor A domain or transmembrane region do not function as anthrax toxin receptors. However, an ISH-associated CMG2 variant having a truncated cytosolic domain does still function as an anthrax receptor, and in fact makes cells hyper-sensitive to toxin, distinguishing the roles of CMG2 in physiology and anthrax pathology. Site-specific mutagenesis was used to characterize the role that domain 2 of the anthrax toxin protective antigen (PA) plays in interaction with CMG2, focusing on the interaction between the PA 2beta(3)-2beta(4) loop and a pocket (Glu-122 pocket) adjacent to the metal ion-dependent adhesion site in CMG2. Substitutions that disrupted the salt bridge between PA Arg-344 and CMG2 Glu-122 decreased the affinity of PA to CMG2 three- to fourfold. Furthermore, mutation of CMG2 Tyr-119 (within the Glu-122 pocket) to His lowered the pH threshold for PA prepore-to-pore conversion in the endocytic pathway.     

A FRET-based high throughput screening assay to identify inhibitors of anthrax protective antigen binding to capillary morphogenesis gene 2 protein

Anti-angiogenic therapies are effective for the treatment of cancer, a variety of ocular diseases, and have potential benefits in cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and psoriasis. We have previously shown that anthrax protective antigen (PA), a non-pathogenic component of anthrax toxin, is an inhibitor of angiogenesis, apparently as a result of interaction with the cell surface receptors capillary morphogenesis gene 2 (CMG2) protein and tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8). Hence, molecules that bind the anthrax toxin receptors may be effective to slow or halt pathological vascular growth. Here we describe development and testing of an effective homogeneous steady-state fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) high throughput screening assay designed to identify molecules that inhibit binding of PA to CMG2. Molecules identified in the screen can serve as potential lead compounds for the development of anti-angiogenic and anti-anthrax therapies. The assay to screen for inhibitors of this protein-protein interaction is sensitive and robust, with observed Z' values as high as 0.92. Preliminary screens conducted with a library of known bioactive compounds identified tannic acid and cisplatin as inhibitors of the PA-CMG2 interaction. We have confirmed that tannic acid both binds CMG2 and has anti-endothelial properties. In contrast, cisplatin appears to inhibit PA-CMG2 interaction by binding both PA and CMG2, and observed cisplatin anti-angiogenic effects are not mediated by interaction with CMG2. This work represents the first reported high throughput screening assay targeting CMG2 to identify possible inhibitors of both angiogenesis and anthrax intoxication.     

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Complexes Between Wild-Type and Mutant Anthrax Protective Antigen Variants and a Model Anthrax Toxin Receptor

Abstract

Bacillus anthracis, a spore-forming infectious bacterium, produces a toxin consisting of three proteins: lethal factor (LF), edema factor (EF), and protective antigen (PA). LF and EF possess intracellular enzymatic functions, the net effect of which is to severely compromise host innate immunity. During an anthrax infection PA plays the critical role of facilitating entry of both EF and LF toxins into host cell cytoplasm. Crystal structures of all three of the anthrax toxins have been determined, as well as the crystal structure of the (human) von Willebrand factor A (integrin VWA/I domain)—an anthrax toxin receptor. A theoretical structure of the complex between VWA/I and PA has also been reported. Here we report on the results of 1,000 psec molecular dynamics (MD) simulations carried out on complexes between the Anthrax Protective Antigen Domain 4 (PA-D4) and the von Willebrand Factor A (VWA/I). MD simulations (using Insight II software) were carried out for complexes containing wildtype (WT) PA-D4, as well as for complexes containing three different mutants of PA-D4, one containing three substitutions in the PA-D4 “small loop” (residues 679–693) (D683A/L685E/Y688C), one containing a single substitution at a key site at the PA-D4—receptor interface (K679A) and another containing a deletion of eleven residues at the C-terminus of PA (A724–735). All three sets of PA mutations have been shown experimentally to result in serious deficiencies in PA function. Our MD results are consistent with these findings. Major disruptions in interactions were observed between the mutant PA-D4 domains and the anthrax receptor during the MD simulations. Many secondary structural features in PA-D4 are also severely compromised when VWA complexes with mutant variants of PA-D4 are subjected to MD simulations. These MD simulation results clearly indicate the importance of the mutated PA-D4 residues in both the “small loop” and at the carboxyl terminus in maintaining a PA conformation that is capable of effective interaction with the anthrax toxin receptor.     

Binding stoichiometry and kinetics of the interaction of a human anthrax toxin receptor, CMG2, with protective antigen

The protective antigen (PA) moiety of anthrax toxin binds to cellular receptors and mediates entry of the two enzymatic moieties of the toxin into the cytosol. Two PA receptors, anthrax toxin receptor (ATR)/tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8) and capillary morphogenesis protein 2 (CMG2), have been identified. We expressed and purified the von Willebrand A (VWA) domain of CMG2 and examined its interactions with monomeric and heptameric forms of PA. Monomeric PA bound a stoichiometric equivalent of CMG2, whereas the heptameric prepore form bound 7 eq. The Kd of the VWA domain-PA interaction is 170 pm when liganded by Mg2+, reflecting a 1000-fold tighter interaction than most VWA domains with their endogenous ligands. The dissociation rate constant is extremely slow, indicating a 30-h lifetime for the CMG2.PA monomer complex. CMG2 metal ion-dependent adhesion site (MIDAS) was studied kinetically and thermodynamically. The association rate constant (approximately 10(5) m(-1) s(-1)) is virtually identical in the presence or absence of Mg2+ or Ca2+ , but the dissociation rate of metal ion liganded complex is up to 4 orders of magnitude slower than metal ion free complex. Residual affinity (Kd approximately 960 nm) in the absence of divalent metal ions allowed the free energy for the contribution of the metal ion to be calculated as 5 kcal mol(-1), demonstrating that the metal ion-dependent adhesion site is directly coordinated by CMG2 and PA in the binding interface. The high affinity of the VWA domain for PA supports its potency in neutralizing anthrax toxin, demonstrating its potential utility as a novel therapeutic for anthrax.