Coiled coil peptides as universal linkers for the attachment of recombinant proteins to polymer therapeutics

Biomacromolecules. 2011 Oct 10;12(10):3645-55. doi: 10.1021/bm200897b. Epub 2011 Aug 31.

Abstract

We have designed, synthesized, and characterized peptides containing four repeats of the sequences VAALEKE (peptide E) or VAALKEK (peptide K). While the peptides alone adopt in aqueous solutions a random coil conformation, their equimolar mixture forms heterodimeric coiled coils as confirmed by CD spectroscopy. 5-Azidopentanoic acid was connected to the N-terminus of peptide E via a short poly(ethylene glycol) spacer. The terminal azide group enabled conjugation of the peptide with a synthetic drug carrier based on the N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymer containing propargyl groups using "click" chemistry. When incorporated into the polymer drug carrier, peptide E formed a stable noncovalent complex with peptide K belonging to a recombinant single-chain fragment (scFv) of the M75 antibody. The complex thereby mediates a noncovalent linkage between the polymer drug carrier and the protein. The recombinant scFv antibody fragment was selected as a targeting ligand against carbonic anhydrase IX-a marker overexpressed by tumor cells of various human carcinomas. The antigen binding affinity of the polymer-scFv complex was confirmed by ELISA. This approach offers a well-defined, specific, and nondestructive universal method for the preparation of protein (antibody)-targeted polymer drug and gene carriers designed for cell-specific delivery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acrylamides / chemistry*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / genetics
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / immunology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Carbonic Anhydrase IX
  • Carbonic Anhydrases / immunology
  • Carbonic Anhydrases / metabolism
  • Carcinoma / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma / enzymology
  • Carcinoma / immunology
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Click Chemistry / methods*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Dimerization
  • Drug Carriers / chemical synthesis*
  • Drug Carriers / pharmacology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Escherichia coli
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates / chemistry*
  • Immunoconjugates / immunology
  • Immunoconjugates / pharmacology
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Oligopeptides / chemical synthesis*
  • Oligopeptides / immunology
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology
  • Plasmids
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry*
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Transformation, Bacterial

Substances

  • Acrylamides
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Drug Carriers
  • Immunoconjugates
  • M75 monoclonal antibody
  • Oligopeptides
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • CA9 protein, human
  • Carbonic Anhydrase IX
  • Carbonic Anhydrases
  • N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide