Crystal structures of an enantioselective fab-fragment in free and complex forms

Enantioselective antibodies can separate the enantiomers of a chiral compound in a highly specific manner. We have recently reported the cloning and applications of a recombinant Fab-fragment, ENA11His, in the enantioseparation of a drug candidate, finrozole, which contains two chiral centers. Here, the crystal structures of this enantioselective antibody Fab-fragment are determined in the absence of the hapten at a resolution of 2.75 A, and in the presence of the hapten at 2.05 A resolution. The conformation of the protein was found to be similar in both free and complex forms. The hapten molecule was tightly bound in a deep cleft between the light and heavy chains of the Fab-fragment. The complex structure also allowed us to describe the molecular basis for enantioselectivity and to deduce the absolute configurations of all the four different stereoisomers (a-d) of finrozole. The ENA11His antibody fragment selectively binds the SR (a) enantiomer from the racemic mixture of a and d-enantiomers, thus allowing separation from the pharmacologically most active RS enantiomer (d). In particular, Asp95 and Asn35 of the H-chain in the ENA11 His antibody seem to provide this specificity through hydrogen bonding.     

Specific interchain cross-linking of antibodies using bismaleimides. Repression of ligand leakage in immunoaffinity chromatography.

The extensive use of antibody-containing affinity columns in the purification of biologically active compounds (e.g., genetically engineered proteins) is severely hampered by the leaching of antibody (or portions thereof) from the immunoaffinity resin during elution of the target antigen. One of the major problems in this context is the combined use of reducing (i.e., thiols) and chaotropic (e.g., detergents and denaturants) agents in the elution step, which causes the disassociation of heavy and/or light chains from the immobilized antibody, thereby contaminating the resultant product. In order to overcome this problem, we have cross-linked the four antibody chains at their sites of disulfide interlinkage, thus producing a single antibody chain. To accomplish this, interchain disulfide bonds were reduced, and the resultant thiol groups were cross-linked by using bifunctional SH-specific reagents (particularly bismaleimides). Cross-linking of up to 95% of the available SH groups produced was achieved with concomitant retention of antigen-binding activity. The cross-linked antibody was immobilized onto CNBr-activated Sepharose, and the resultant column was found to be substantially more stable to harsh elution conditions than similar columns which contain the un-cross-linked antibody.     

Growth hormone promoted tyrosyl phosphorylation of growth hormone receptors in murine 3T3-F442A fibroblasts and adipocytes

Because many growth factor receptors are ligand-activated tyrosine protein kinases, the possibility that growth hormone (GH), a hormone implicated in human growth, promotes tyrosyl phosphorylation of its receptor was investigated. 125I-Labeled human GH was covalently cross-linked to receptors in intact 3T3-F442A fibroblasts, a cell line which differentiates into adipocytes in response to GH. The cross-linked cells were solubilized and passed over a column of phosphotyrosyl binding antibody immobilized on protein A-Sepharose. Immunoadsorbed proteins were eluted with a hapten (p-nitrophenyl phosphate) and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. The eluate from the antibody column contained an Mr 134,000 125I-GH-receptor complex. A similar result was obtained when the adipocyte form of 3T3-F442A cells was used in place of the fibroblast form. O-Phosphotyrosine prevented 125I-GH-receptor complexes from binding to the antibody column, whereas O-phosphoserine and O-phosphothreonine did not. In studies of GH-promoted phosphorylation in 3T3-F442A fibroblasts labeled metabolically with [32P]Pi, GH was shown to stimulate formation of a 32P-labeled protein which bound to immobilized phosphotyrosyl binding antibodies. The molecular weight of 114,000 obtained for this protein is similar to that expected for non-cross-linked GH receptor. The Mr 114,000 phosphorylated protein could be immunoprecipitated with anti-GH antibody, indicating that GH remained noncovalently bound to this protein during absorption to and elution from the immobilized phosphotyrosyl binding antibody. Phosphoamino acid analysis after both limited acid hydrolysis and extensive base hydrolysis of the Mr 114,000 phosphoprotein confirmed the presence of phosphotyrosyl residues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Purification of histidine-tagged nucleocapsid protein of Nipah virus using immobilized metal affinity chromatography

Nucleocapsid (N) protein of Nipah virus (NiV) is a potential serological marker used in the diagnosis of NiV infections. In this study, a rapid and efficient purification system, HisTrap? 6 Fast Flow packed bed column was applied to purify recombinant histidine-tagged N protein of NiV from clarified feedstock. The optimizations of binding and elution conditions of N protein of NiV onto and from Nickel Sepharose? 6 Fast Flow were investigated. The optimal binding was achieved at pH 7.5, superficial velocity of 1.25 cm/min. The bound N protein was successfully recovered by a stepwise elution with different concentration of imidazole (50, 150, 300 and 500 mM). The N protein of NiV was captured and eluted from an inlet N protein concentration of 0.4 mg/ml in a scale-up immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) packed bed column of Nickel Sepharose? 6 Fast Flow with the optimized condition obtained from the method scouting. The purification of histidine-tagged N protein using IMAC packed bed column has resulted a 68.3% yield and a purification factor of 7.94.     

Construction of affinity changeable antibody in response to Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>

Immunoaffinity chromatography is a powerful method for purification of proteins because of the high selectivity and avidity of antibodies. Due to the strength of antigen–antibody binding, however, elution of proteins bound to antibodies that are covalently immobilized on the column is performed by temporary denaturation of the antibody. Therefore, the development of milder elution conditions could improve the recovery of the antibodies and prolong the life of the immunoaffinity column. We describe the design and construction of an antibody that changes its affinity in response to external stimuli. The heavy chain and light chain of a single chain Fv of the D1.3 antibody against hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL) were fused at the N- and C-termini, respectively, of the calmodulin-M13 fusion protein. The affinity of this fusion protein for HEL could be modulated by changing the Ca²⁺ concentration.     

Chromatography of human prothrombin from Nitschmann fraction III on Q Sepharose Fast Flow using axial and radial flow column

An axial column (Hitrap Q 5 ml, 2.5 2 1.6 cm) and a radial flow column (3.5 2 5 cm) packed with Q Sepharose Fast Flow media had been evaluated for the separation of human prothrombin. Nitschmann fraction III dissolved in buffered saline (0.10 M sodium chloride buffered with 0.06 M Tris/HCl to pH 7.5) was the starting material. Effects of sample flow rate of the two columns were screened. Under radial flow conditions using the radial column, sample flow rate up to 15 ml/min (i.e. 18 bed volumes/h) was achieved and the operating pressure was below 0.2 MPa eventhough the elution velocity was 30 ml/min. Breakthrough capacity was determined by analyzing the total protein and prothrombin activity of the target protein-containing fraction under subsaturating conditions and both columns had almost the same breakthrough capacity per ml media, indicating that the sample loading was independent of radial column geometry. It was concluded that the radial column is an attractive alternate to traditional axial packed bed column, exhibiting very good potential for use in the separation of human prothrombin.     

Immobilized Triton X-100-assisted refolding of Green Fluorescent Protein-Tobacco Etch Virus protease fusion protein using β-cyclodextrin as the eluent

A new protein refolding technique based on the use of the non-charged detergent Triton X-100 immobilized to the cross-linked agarose gel Sepharose High Performance has been developed. The new solid phase was used in combination with soluble β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to refold recombinant Green Fluorescent Protein fused to Tobacco Etch Virus protease (GFPTEVP) expressed as inclusion bodies in E. coli. Previous attempts to refold recombinant GFPTEVP by dilution had failed. In the new procedure a column packed with Triton X-100-coupled Sepharose High Performance was used to capture unfolded GFPTEVP followed by elution using an increasing β-CD concentration gradient. The yield of properly refolded GFPTEVP was 46% at a protein concentration of 380 μg/ml. In contrast, dilution refolding of GFPTEVP at 200 μg/ml refolding buffer resulted in only 4.7% of native protein.     

硫氧还蛋白抗体柱的制备

目的:探索硫氧还蛋白(Trx)抗体柱对Trx融合蛋白纯化的可行性。方法与结果:对含有Trx基因的质粒表达载体pTrxFus进行改造,在Trx读框之后加入6×His序列,并在大肠杆菌中表达C端带有6×His标签的Trx,经Ni2+柱亲和纯化后制备多克隆抗体;把经蛋白A纯化后的抗体偶联在溴化氰活化的琼脂糖凝胶上,制成Trx抗体柱;用此抗体柱纯化与Trx融合表达的豇豆胰蛋白酶抑制剂(CpTI),SDS-PAGE结果显示获得了纯度较高的Trx-CpTI。结论:用Trx抗体制成的免疫亲和层析柱可以有效纯化Trx融合蛋白。     

Avoidance of strongly chaotropic eluents for immunoaffinity chromatography by chemical modification of immobilized ligand.

The need for chaotropic eluents in immunoaffinity chromatography is a consequence of the high affinities of antibodies towards their antigens. This affinity is decreased and elution of antiglucagon antibodies from a column of immobilized glucagon can be achieved under mild conditions when the steric complementarity to the antibody binding site is perturbed by selective chemical modification of the hormone. The effects of reaction with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide, tetranitromethane and hydrogen peroxide have been studied. Conversely, treatment of immobilized antibodies with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide facilitates the elution of glucagon during immunoaffinity chromatography. The general implications of these results are discussed.     

Predicting the elution behavior of proteins in affinity chromatography on non-porous particles.

Affinity chromatography on non-porous particles of microsize is particularly useful for the rapid analysis and micropreparative separation of proteins. The elution behavior of proteins in an affinity column packed with non-porous copolymerized particles of styrene, methyl methacrylate and glycidyl methacrylate was investigated both theoretically and experimentally, using the lysozyme-Cibacron Blue 3G-A affinity system. Equations used to predict the elution profiles, resulting from the elution by increasing the ionic strength (NaCl concentration) in the mobile phase, were obtained. The maximum adsorbate concentration, desorption rate constant and equilibrium constant under elution conditions were determined by matching experimental data with predicted elution profiles. Based on the parameters determined at a flow-rate of 0.5 ml/min and with 1 M NaCl in the elution buffer, the model equations could predict the elution profiles for other experimental runs, where different flow-rates and sodium chloride concentrations were used. Both the experimental and predicted results revealed that the affinity interaction kinetics are not significantly influenced by the flow-rate and, hence, the film mass transfer. To elute bound lysozyme from immobilized dye ligand, a higher value of the ionic strength leads to a faster elution and a sharper elution peak. The influence of elution conditions on the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters and, consequently, on the elution peak profiles was evaluated. The model equations can also predict the behavior of protein elution from an affinity column by changing the pH of the mobile phase, according to a previous study.     

High-performance analytical applications of immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography

The separation of three sets of standard protein mixtures on a high-performance immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (HP-IMAC) column by elution with linear gradients of imidazole is described. The affinity of the test proteins for the immobilized metal ions follows the order Cu2+ greater than Ni2+ greater than Zn2+. The iminodiacetic acid-Cu2+ column gives the best resolution of all three protein mixtures and is the only immobilized metal ion column that can be used for elution of absorbed proteins with a decreasing pH gradient. An application of HP-IMAC for the separation of monoclonal IgG from mouse ascites fluid is also outlined. This versatile separation method is thus suitable for both analytical and preparative separations of proteins and peptides resulting in high recoveries and good reproducibility. The leakage of immobilized metal ions from the TSK gel chelate-5PW is apparent if the column is eluted by buffers containing low concentrations of (i) glycine or (ii) primary amines at round neutral pH. Considerable amounts of immobilized Zn2+ and Ni2+ ions also leak from the column by washing with buffers of pH 4.5 or lower. However, all three immobilized metal ions are stable toward exposure to low concentrations of imidazole (up to 50 mM) in phosphate buffers between pH 6.5 and 8.0. Adsorbed proteins could thus be eluted conveniently by using linear gradients of imidazole to give reproducible results. Moreover, this elution procedure made it possible to use the IMAC columns for repeated runs without the need for regeneration and recharging of the columns with fresh metal ions after each use.     

Expression of multivalency in the affinity chromatography of antibodies. Appendix: Derivation and evaluation of equations for independent bivalent interacting systems in quantitative affinity chromatography.

The expression of multivalency in the interaction of antibody with immobilized antigen was evaluated by quantitative affinity chromatography. Zones of radioisotopically labeled bivalent immunoglobulin A monomer derived from the myeloma protein TEPC 15 were eluted from columns of phosphorylcholine-Sepharose both in the absence and presence of competing soluble phosphorylcholine. At sufficient immobilized phosphorylcholine concentration, the variation of elution volume of bivalent monomer with soluble ligand was found to deviate from that observed for the univalent binding of the corresponding Fab fragment. In addition, the apparent binding affinity of the bivalent monomer increased with immobilized antigen density. Use of equations relating the variation of elution volume with free ligand concentration for a bivalent binding protein allowed calculation of microscopic single-site binding parameters for the bivalent monomeric antibody to both immobilized and soluble phosphorylcholine. The chromatographic data not only demonstrate the effect of multivalency on apparent binding affinity but also offer a relatively simple means to measure microscopic dissociation constants for proteins participating in bivalent interactions with their ligands.     

High-performance liquid chromatography with concanavalin A immobilized by metal interactions on the stationary phase

Concanavalin A (Con A) was immobilized via metal interactions on macroporous, microparticulate silica support having covalently bound iminodiacetic acid functions (IDA-silica) chelated with Cu(II) at the surface. The amount of copper and of Con A in the column could readily be controlled by the conditions used for chelating the metal by IDA-silica and for immobilization of the lectin. The retention behavior of columns packed with the stationary phase did not change under a wide range of elution conditions, indicating no loss of immobilized lectin. However, the Con A proper could readily be removed from the column at pH 3.0 or together with Cu(II) by perfusion with EDTA at neutral pH. Columns containing Con A immobilized by this technique exhibited dual retention behavior for proteins, glycoproteins, and carbohydrates according to the pertinent glycan-lectin or protein-metal interactions. The glycoproteins, peroxidase and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, were retained by the Con A moiety and eluted with eluents containing competing sugars, whereas the proteins, beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-chymotrypsinogen A, and ribonuclease A and B were retained by the chelated copper and were eluted and separated with eluents containing sodium chloride or borate. Binding constants of glycosides on the immobilized Con A were evaluated chromatographically and found to be one-third to two-thirds those reported in the literature on the basis of experiments in free solution.     

Expanded bed protein A affinity chromatography of a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody: process development, operation, and comparison with a packed bed method.

We show that expanded bed protein A affinity chromatography using Streamline rProtein A media is an efficient method for purifying a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody from unclarified Chinese hamster ovary cell culture fluid and that it provides purification performance comparable to using a packed bed. We determined that the dynamic capacity of the expanded bed media is related to flow rate (measured in column volumes per hour) by a power function, which allows a high capacity at a low flow rate. At 250 cm h-1 with a 25 cm bed height (10 column volumes h-1), the dynamic capacity is 30 g l-1. The yield and purity (measured by the amount of host cell proteins, DNA, SDS-PAGE, and turbidity) of the antibody purified by expanded bed is comparable to the yield and purity obtained on a standard packed bed method using Prosep A media.     

Immobilization of glucoamylase on naphthyl cotton cloth

Summary Aspergillus niger glucoamylase was adsorbed to -naphthyl cotton cloth by hydrophobic interaction. The adsorbed enzyme was cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. The immobilized glucoamylase exhibited greater pH dependence though the optimal pH did not change. The immobilized glucoamylase in a packed bed column completely hydrolysed 5% soluble starch at a specific velocity of about 4. Used naphthyl cloth could be regenerated by heating in 2 N NaOH at 100°C for 1 hour.     

Affinity chromatography of DNA on nonporous copolymerized particles of styrene and glycidyl methacrylate with immobilized polynucleotide

Nonporous particles of microsize were prepared by the dispersion polymerization of styrene and glycidyl methacrylate and chemically modified to introduce amino groups on the surface by grafting with either hexamethylenediamine or N-methyl-1,3-propanediamine. Aminated particles were then coupled with phosphorylated single-stranded polynucleotides at the 5'-end through covalent linkages. The affinity columns packed with these prepared polynucleotide-immobilized particles effectively retained single-stranded DNA, which could base-pair with the immobilized sequence. Bound DNAs could be eluted to yield a sharp peak by using an aqueous solution of 0.4M NaOH. The nonspecific adsorption due to the electrostatic interaction between the polynucleotide and the residual amino groups on the particle surface via the amination with hexamethylenediamine was significant and could only be reduced by using a high salt (NaCl) concentration. A higher salt concentration in the elution solution could result in a portion of complementary polynucleotide eluted in the nonretained fraction. However, the nonspecific adsorption of polynucleotides was insignificant in the column packed with DNA-immobilized particles prepared via amination using N-methyl-1,3-propanediamine. The column was effective for microanalysis of sequence-specific DNA.     

Characterization of monoclonal antidigoxin antibodies immobilized to a solid support

A high-affinity monoclonal antidigoxin antibody, produced by somatic cell fusion, was amplified by the formation of ascites. Purification from ascites was accomplished by affinity chromatography by passing the ascites over a digitoxin-amine-agarose column. Affinity-purified antidigoxin antibody was coupled to a pellicular microbead at concentrations of 10, 25, 50, and 100 mg/g bead. The immobilized antibody was characterized for binding affinity, for specificity to other cardiac glycosides, and for binding capacity. There were no changes in the binding affinity observed for the immobilized antibody when compared to that of the antibody grown in culture media. Binding capacities for the immobilized antibody were decreased from calculated theoretical values. Saturating the microbead with increasing concentrations of antibody lowered the binding efficiency of the antibody from 32 to 22% of theoretical values. Attempts to improve the binding capacity by immobilizing antibodies to the microbead at the immunoglobulin carbohydrate by periodate oxidation were unsuccessful. These data demonstrate that antidrug antibodies immobilized on solid supports remain functional and may have the capability of removing drug from biological fluids passed over the support.     

A generic strategy for subcloning antibody variable regions from the scFv phage display vector pCANTAB 5 E into pASK85 permits the economical production of F(ab) fragments and leads to improved recombinant immunoglobulin stability

Apart from the decisive sensitivity and specificity of immunosensors, the employed antibodies essentially contribute to additional key factors like fabrication costs for sensor chips and sensor stability. A production scheme for recombinant antibody fragments has been optimised with respect to these particular issues of biosensor development. The phagemid vector pCANTAB 5 E is widely used for the selection of antibody fragments from corresponding libraries. However, large-scale production of the selected single-chain F(v) (scFv) fragments is substantially restricted by the high cost for the inducer IPTG and the anti-E-tag antibody. The latter is needed in significant amounts for the purification of the recombinant protein. A generic strategy was established for subcloning scFv variable regions from pCANTAB 5 E into the plasmid pASK85 for the expression of F(ab) fragments. pASK85 bears coding sequences for murine constant domains including a His(6) tag at the carboxyl-terminal end of the constant heavy chain domain. The anti-s-triazine antibody K47H served as a model system in this study. Biosynthesis of the F(ab) fragment in a high cell density fermenter was induced by addition of anhydrotetracycline. The F(ab) fragment was subsequently purified from the periplasmic extract in a single step by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). A yield of 100 microg/lxOD(550) purified F(ab) fragment was obtained employing a standard fermentation scheme. The sensitivity and cross-reactivity of the F(ab) was comparable to the parent scFv when assayed by enzyme immunoassay. However, the F(ab) fragment exhibited significantly improved long-term stability.     

A study of the interactions between an IgG-binding domain based on the B domain of staphylococcal protein a and rabbit IgG

The nonantigenic interaction between a recombinant immunoglobulin G (IgG)-binding protein based on the B domain of Protein A fromStaphylococcus aureus (termed SpA¹) and the Fc fragment of rabbit IgG has been investigated. The contribution to binding of four putative hydrogen bond contacts between SpA¹ and IgG-Fc were examined by the individual substitution of the residues in SpA¹ involved in these interactions by others unable to form hydrogen bonds. It was found that the most important of the hydrogen bonds involved Tyr 18 which, when replaced by Phe, resulted in a twofold decrease in IgG-binding affinity. The residues of SpA¹ proposed to make close, mainly hydrophobic, contacts with Fc were replaced by residues with potential electrostatic charge to establish the importance of the hydrophobic interaction in the complex. The IgG-binding affinities of the mutant proteins were compared to the wild-type protein by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay. The replacement of individual hydrophobic residues by His generated a number of novel IgG-binding proteins with reduced binding affinity at pH 5.0 but which maintained strong binding affinities at pH 8.0. The elution profile of human IgG₁-Fc (Fc fragment of human IgG₁) from a column made from an immobilized two-domain mutant protein shows that the complex dissociates at a higher pH relative to that of the non-mutated protein thus offering favorable elution characteristics.     

Refolding strategies for ketosteroid isomerase following insoluble expression in Escherichia coli

Dilution and column-based protein refolding techniques are compared for refolding Delta 5-3-ketosteroid isomerase (KSI) with a C-terminus his6-tag. Column refolding was performed by removing the denaturant while the protein was adsorbed in an immobilized metal affinity chromatography column. Both dilution refolding and a single-step column-based refolding strategy were optimized to maximize the recovery of KSI enzyme activity, and achieved refolding yields of 87% and 70% respectively. It was found that the column-based refolding yield was reduced at higher adsorbed protein concentrations. An elution gradient with increasing imidazole concentration was used to selectively elute the biologically active KSI protein following column refolding, with high molecular weight KSI aggregates retained in the column. An iterative column-refolding process was then developed to denature and refold protein retained in the column, which significantly increased the refolding yield at high-adsorbed protein concentrations. Repetition of the column refolding operation increased the refolding yield from 50% to 75% for protein adsorbed at a concentration of 2.9 mg/mL of adsorbent. Although for the KSI protein column-based refolding did not improve the overall refolding yield compared to dilution refolding, it may still be advantageous due to the ease of integration with purification operations, increased control over the refolding conditions, and the ability to segregate refolded protein from inactive aggregates during elution.