Checkpoint inhibition through small molecule-induced internalization of programmed death-ligand 1.

Programmed death-ligand 1 is a glycoprotein expressed on antigen presenting cells, hepatocytes, and tumors which upon interaction with programmed death-1, results in inhibition of antigen-specific T cell responses. Here, we report a mechanism of inhibiting programmed death-ligand 1 through small molecule-induced dimerization and internalization. This represents a mechanism of checkpoint inhibition, which differentiates from anti-programmed death-ligand 1 antibodies which function through molecular disruption of the programmed death 1 interaction. Testing of programmed death ligand 1 small molecule inhibition in a humanized mouse model of colorectal cancer results in a significant reduction in tumor size and promotes T cell proliferation. In addition, antigen-specific T and B cell responses from patients with chronic hepatitis B infection are significantly elevated upon programmed death ligand 1 small molecule inhibitor treatment. Taken together, these data identify a mechanism of small molecule-induced programmed death ligand 1 internalization with potential therapeutic implications in oncology and chronic viral infections.

A method for the identification of glycoproteins from human serum by a combination of lectin affinity chromatography along with anion exchange and Cu-IMAC selection of tryptic peptides.

This paper reports a method for identifying glycoproteins from human serum. Glycoproteins were selected with a concanavalin A (Con A) lectin column and then tryptically digested prior to sequential chromatographic selection of acidic and histidine containing peptides. Acidic peptides were selected with a strong anion exchange (SAX) column. Peptides captured by the SAX columns were then released and histidine-containing peptides in the mixture selected with a copper loaded immobilized metal affinity chromatography (Cu-IMAC) column. This serial chromatographic selection process reduced the complexity of proteolytic digests by more than an order of magnitude. Peptides selected by this serial process were then fractionated by reversed-phase chromatography (RPC) and identified by tandem mass spectrometry. The method was initially validated using human transferrin before application to human serum. The results show that all the peptides identified except one contained histidine and acidic amino acids.

Comparative glycoproteomics of N-linked complex-type glycoforms containing sialic acid in human serum.

This study describes a simple and efficient approach for comparative analysis of sialylated glycoforms of proteins containing differentially branched complex-type glycans. The analytical protocol is based on glycopeptide selection from tryptic digests with serial lectin affinity chromatography (SLAC), quantification with global internal standard technology, fractionation of deglycosylated peptides with reversed-phase chromatography, and peptide sequencing with tandem mass spectrometry. Fractionation of complex tri- and tetraantennary N-linked glycoforms from biantennary N-linked glycoforms bearing terminal sialic acid residues was achieved using a set of serial lectin columns with immobilized Sambucus nigra agglutinin and concanavalin A. These two fractions from the affinity selection were differentially labeled, mixed, and then deglycosylated with the enzyme PNGase F. The deglycosylated sample was further fractionated by reversed-phase chromatography and analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The SLAC strategy was applied to tryptic digests of human serum, and it was found that most sialylated glycopeptides identified carry more biantennary glycans than tri- and tetraantennary glycans, and the relative amount of biantennary glycan versus tri- and tetraantennary glycans was different at separate glycosylation sites within the same glycoprotein.

Use of multidimensional lectin affinity chromatography in differential glycoproteomics.

This paper reports studies comparing the relative degree of sialylation among human serum glycoproteins carrying complex biantennary N-linked, hybrid, and high-mannose oligosaccharides. Comparisons were made by coupling lectin affinity selection with stable isotope coding of peptides from tryptic digests of serum. After proteolysis, samples were split and differentially acetylated with stable isotope coding agents according to either origin or the separation method by which they would be fractionated. A lectin column prepared from Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) was used to select and compare the concentration of sialic acid containing glycopeptides. The relative standard deviation in quantification using this method was 4%. Using this method the concentration of sialic acid containing glycoproteins from a normal individual were compared to those in a pooled serum sample from a large number of normal individuals. It was found that sialylation varied less than 2-fold in all but four or five glycoproteins. Further studies were done on the degree of sialylation within glycoproteins. Samples labeled with the light isoform of the coding agent were applied to a set of serial lectin columns consisting of a concanavalin A (Con A) column coupled to an SNA column for selecting sialic acid appended to glycopeptides with complex biantennary N-linked, hybrid, and high-mannose glycans. In contrast, samples labeled with the heavy isoform of the coding agent were applied to a Con A lectin column alone to select glycopeptides containing complex biantennary N-linked, hybrid, and high-mannose glycans, without regard to sialylation. Glycopeptides thus selected were mixed, deglycosylated by PNGase F, and fractionated by reversed-phase chromatography (RPC). The RPC fractions were then analyzed by ESI-MS. The relative standard deviation of the method was 4%. All glycopeptides identified contained sialic acid except one. Peptides in which the relative abundance of isotopic isoforms was equal were considered to indicate that the protein parent was fully sialylated at that specific glycosylation site.