ABSTRACT
The kinetic investigation of hyaluronidases using physiologically relevant hyaluronic acid (HA or hyaluronan) substrate will provide useful and important clues to their catalytic behavior and function in vivo. We present here a simple and sensitive method for kinetic measurement of recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20) on HA substrates with sizes ranging from 90 to 752 kDa. The method is based on 2-aminobenzamide labeling of hydrolyzed HA products combined with separation by size exclusion-ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection. rHuPH20 was found to follow Michaelis-Menten kinetics during the initial reaction time. Optimal reaction rates were observed in the pH range of 4.5-5.5. The HA substrate size did not have significant effects on the initial rate of the reaction. By studying HA substrates of 215, 357, and 752 kDa, the kinetic parameters Km, Vmax, and kcat were determined to be 0.87-0.91 mg/ml, 1.66-1.74 NM s(-1), and 40.5-42.4 s(-1), respectively. This method allows for direct measurement of kinetics using physiologically relevant HA substrates and can be applied to other hyaluronidase kinetic measurements.
Subject(s)
Cell Adhesion Molecules/metabolism , Hyaluronic Acid/metabolism , Hyaluronoglucosaminidase/metabolism , Biocatalysis , Cell Adhesion Molecules/chemistry , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Fluorescence , Humans , Hyaluronic Acid/chemistry , Hyaluronoglucosaminidase/chemistry , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Kinetics , Particle Size , Recombinant Proteins/chemistry , Recombinant Proteins/metabolismABSTRACT
Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) mitigates many of the pathogenic features of type 2 diabetes, despite a short circulating half-life. PEGylation is a proven approach to prolonging the duration of action while enhancing biophysical solubility and stability. However, in the absence of a specific protein PEGylation site, chemical conjugation is inherently heterogeneous and commonly leads to dramatic loss in bioactivity. This work illustrates a novel means of specific PEGylation, producing FGF21 analogs with high specific activity and salutary biological activities. Using homology modeling and structure-based design, specific sites were chosen in human FGF21 for site-specific PEGylation to ensure that receptor binding regions were preserved. The in vitro activity of the PEGylated FGF21 ana-logs corresponded with the site of PEG placement within the binding model. Site-specific PEGylated analogs demonstrated dramatically increased circulating half-life and enhanced efficacy in db/db mice. Twice-weekly dosing of an optimal FGF21 analog reduced blood glucose, plasma lipids, liver triglycerides, and plasma glucagon and enhanced pancreatic insulin content, islet number, and glucose-dependent insulin secretion. Restoration of insulin sensitivity was demonstrated by the enhanced ability of insulin to induce Akt/protein kinase B phosphorylation in liver, muscle, and adipose tissues. PEGylation of human FGF21 at a specific and preferred site confers superior metabolic pharmacology.
Subject(s)
Fibroblast Growth Factors/pharmacology , Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology , Animals , Body Weight/drug effects , Delayed-Action Preparations , Energy Metabolism/drug effects , Fibroblast Growth Factors/biosynthesis , Fibroblast Growth Factors/chemistry , Fibroblast Growth Factors/pharmacokinetics , HEK293 Cells , Humans , Insulin Resistance , Male , Mice , Polyethylene Glycols/pharmacology , Rats , Rats, Sprague-DawleyABSTRACT
The ribosomal incorporation of nonnative amino acids into polypeptides in living cells provides the opportunity to endow therapeutic proteins with unique pharmacological properties. We report here the first clinical study of a biosynthetic protein produced using an expanded genetic code. Incorporation of p-acetylphenylalanine (pAcF) at distinct locations in human growth hormone (hGH) allowed site-specific conjugation with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to produce homogeneous hGH variants. A mono-PEGylated mutant hGH modified at residue 35 demonstrated favorable pharmacodynamic properties in GH-deficient rats. Clinical studies in GH-deficient adults demonstrated efficacy and safety comparable to native human growth hormone therapy but with increased potency and reduced injection frequency. This example illustrates the utility of nonnative amino acids to optimize protein therapeutics in an analogous fashion to the use of medicinal chemistry to optimize conventional natural products, low molecular weight drugs, and peptides.
Subject(s)
Human Growth Hormone/genetics , Human Growth Hormone/pharmacology , Animals , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Endocrinology/methods , Genetic Variation , Humans , Male , Mutation , Peptides/chemistry , Phenylalanine/analogs & derivatives , Phenylalanine/chemistry , Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry , Polymers/chemistry , Protein Engineering/methods , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Ribosomes/chemistryABSTRACT
A proposed electron transfer pathway in cytochrome c peroxidase was previously excised from the structure by design. The engineered channel mutant was shown to bind peptide surrogates without restoration of cyt c oxidation. Here, we report the 1.6 A crystal structure of (N-benzimidazole-propionic acid)-Gly-Ala-Ala bound within the engineered channel. The peptide retains many features of the native electron transfer pathway: placement of benzimidazole at the position of the Trp-191 radical, hydrogen bonding to Asp235, and positioning of the C-terminus near the point where wild type CcP makes closest contact to cyt c. The inability of this surrogate pathway to restore function supports proposals that electron transfer requires the Trp-191 radical.
