Patent Application
20250145729
Various techniques have been developed that engineer a protein to bind to a target that it does not normally bind. For example, libraries can be generated to screen for engineered proteins with desired binding or enzymatic activity.
We have developed several approaches for discovery of polypeptides with novel binding sites, particularly those that include a beta-sheet part of the binding site. These approaches include the development of beta-sheet libraries, and libraries that employ a “limited liability” approach to reduce the frequency of amino acids that can produce proteins with undesirable characteristics. We have used these types of libraries to discover polypeptides that bind to targets such as the CD98 heavy chain (CD98hc) and the transferrin receptor (TfR), as described in detail below. We have also developed methods of delivery (e.g., across the blood-brain barrier) using CD98hc polypeptides, particularly to extracellular targets in the brain.
In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method of engineering a non-native binding site into a polypeptide, the method comprising:
In some embodiments, the method comprises repeating steps (b)-(d) using the library members isolated from first step (d). In some embodiments, the library includes at least 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or more randomized positions. In some embodiments, the primary amino acid sequence of each polypeptide comprises positions with limited diversity that are separated by positions without limited diversity.
In some embodiments, each polypeptide includes a beta-sheet and at least three of the randomized positions are present within a single beta-sheet. In certain embodiments, at least three of the randomized positions are present within at least two beta-strands that form the beta-sheet. In certain embodiments, at least three of the randomized positions are present within at least one beta-strand that forms the beta-sheet. In some embodiments, at least three of the randomized positions form a surface on one side of the beta-sheet. In particular embodiments, at least three of the randomized positions are surface exposed. In some embodiments, the beta-sheet includes at least one position with limited diversity. In certain embodiments, the beta-sheet includes at least two positions with limited diversity. In certain embodiments, the at least two positions with limited diversity are separated by a position without limited diversity. In some embodiments, the beta-sheet includes at least two positions without limited diversity. In certain embodiments, the at least two positions without limited diversity are separated by a position with limited diversity. In particular embodiments, the separation is relative to the primary amino acid sequence of the polypeptide or is relative to the spatial three-dimensional positioning of the amino acid in the protein structure.
In some embodiments, the positions with limited diversity are coded for by degenerate codons. In certain embodiments, at least one of the degenerate codons is NHK. In some embodiments, the positions without limited diversity are coded for by the degenerate codon NNK.
In some embodiments, the polypeptide contains an immunoglobulin-like fold. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide includes an immunoglobulin (IgG) domain. In certain embodiments, the IgG domain is from an IgG, IgA, IgE, IgM, or IgD family. In certain embodiments, the IgG domain is selected is from an IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, or IgG4 molecule. In particular embodiments, the IgG domain includes a VH, CH1, CH2, CH3, VL or CL domain. In some embodiments, the randomized positions are surface accessible. In particular embodiments, the randomized positions are selected from any of those listed in Table 1B. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide includes a fibronectin or any other protein scaffold described herein.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a library of polypeptides, wherein at least a portion of the polypeptides includes at least seven randomized positions, wherein 10−60% of the randomized positions have diversity limited to exclude one or more of the following amino acids: Cys, Trp, Met, Arg, or Gly, but include at least eight amino acids at each position.
In some embodiments, the library includes at least 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or more randomized positions. In some embodiments, the primary amino acid sequence of each polypeptide comprises positions with limited diversity separated by positions without limited diversity.
In some embodiments, each polypeptide includes a beta-sheet and at least three of the randomized positions are present within a single beta-sheet. In certain embodiments, at least three of the randomized positions are present within at least two beta-strands that form the beta-sheet. In certain embodiments, at least three of the randomized positions are present within at least one beta-strand that forms the beta-sheet. In some embodiments, at least three of the randomized positions form a surface on one side of the beta-sheet. In particular embodiments, at least three of the randomized positions are surface exposed. In some embodiments, the beta-sheet includes at least one position with limited diversity. In certain embodiments, the beta-sheet includes at least two positions with limited diversity. In certain embodiments, the at least two positions with limited diversity are separated by a position without limited diversity. In particular embodiments, the separation is relative to the primary sequence of the polypeptide or is relative to the spatial three-dimensional positioning of the amino acids in the protein structure. In some embodiments, the beta-sheet includes at least two positions without limited diversity. In certain embodiments, the at least two positions without limited diversity are separated by a position with limited diversity. In particular embodiments, the separation is relative to the primary sequence of the polypeptide or is relative to the spatial three-dimensional positioning of the amino acid in the protein structure.
In some embodiments, the polypeptide contains an immunoglobulin-like fold. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide includes an immunoglobulin (IgG) domain. In certain embodiments, the IgG domain is from an IgG, IgA, IgE, IgM, or IgD family. In certain embodiments, the IgG domain is selected is from an IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, or IgG4 molecule. In particular embodiments, the IgG domain includes a VH, CH1, CH2, CH3, VL or CL domain. In some embodiments, the randomized positions are surface accessible. In particular embodiments, the randomized positions are selected from any of those listed in Table 1B. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide includes a fibronectin or any other protein scaffold described herein.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a polypeptide comprising a constant domain or non-CDR portion of a variable domain of an immunoglobulin having at least three modified positions in a beta-sheet, wherein:
In some embodiments, the constant domain comprises an Fc polypeptide. In some embodiments, the at least two beta-strands are selected from the group consisting of: amino acid positions 124-128, 139-147, 155-157, 179-178, 199-203, 208-214, 239-243, 258-265, 274-278, 301-307, 319-324, 332-336, 347-351, 363-372, 378-383, 391-393, 406-412, 423-428, and 437-441, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In certain embodiments, the positions are surface accessible. In particular embodiments, the positions are selected from those listed in Table 1B.
In some embodiments, the modified positions form a contiguous surface on the beta-sheet. In some embodiments, the modified positions are surface accessible residues. In certain embodiments, the surface accessible residues are selected from the group consisting of: amino acid positions 347, 349, 351, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, 378, 380, 382, 405, 407, 409, 411, 424, 426, 428, 436, 438, and 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In certain embodiments, the surface accessible residues are selected from the group consisting of: amino acid positions 347, 362, 378, 380, 382, 411, 424, 426, 428, 436, 438, and 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, the modified positions comprise three, four, five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380, 382, 383, 424, 426, 438, and 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In some embodiments, the modified positions comprise three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or eleven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 378, 380, 382, 383, 422, 424, 426, 428, 438, 440, and 442, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, the binding site includes one or more modified positions in at least one loop region. In certain embodiments, the one or more modified positions in at least one loop region are selected from the group consisting of: amino acid positions 387 and 422, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In particular embodiments, the loop region connects the two beta-strands.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of introducing a non-native binding site into a constant domain or non-CDR region of a variable domain of an immunoglobulin, the method comprising:
In some embodiments, the immunoglobulin sequence comprises an Fc polypeptide. In some embodiments, the at least two beta-strands are selected from the group consisting of: amino acid positions 239-243, 258-265, 274-278, 301-307, 319-324, 332-336, 347-351, 363-372, 378-383, 391-393, 406-412, 423-428, and 437-441, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, the modified positions form a contiguous surface on the beta-sheet. In some embodiments, the modified positions are surface accessible residues. In certain embodiments, the surface accessible residues are selected from the group consisting of: amino acid positions 347, 349, 351, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, 378, 380, 382, 405, 407, 409, 411, 424, 426, 428, 436, 438, and 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In certain embodiments, the surface accessible residues are selected from the group consisting of: amino acid positions 347, 362, 378, 380, 382, 411, 424, 426, 428, 436, 438, and 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, the modified positions comprise three, four, five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380, 382, 383, 424, 426, 438, and 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In some embodiments, the modified positions comprise three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or eleven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 378, 380, 382, 383, 422, 424, 426, 428, 438, 440, and 442, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, the binding site includes one or more modified positions in at least one loop region. In certain embodiments, the one or more modified positions in at least one loop region are selected from the group consisting of: amino acid positions 387 and 422, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In particular embodiments, the loop region connects the two beta-strands.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a library of immunoglobulin variants comprising at least ten members, wherein the variants each comprise at least three modified positions in a beta-sheet that forms part of a constant or non-CDR variable domain of the immunoglobulin, wherein the modified positions are in at least two-beta strands that form the beta-sheet.
In some embodiments, the library of immunoglobulin variants comprises at least 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 1010, 1011, 1012, or more members. In some embodiments, the library is generated from a collection of coding polynucleotides that code for at least seven randomized amino acid positions, wherein 10−60% of the randomized positions have diversity limited to exclude one or more of the following amino acids: Cys, Trp, Met, Arg, or Gly, but include at least eight amino acids at each position. In certain embodiments, at least one of diversity-limited positions does not code for tryptophan or cysteine. In certain embodiments, at least two diversity-limited positions do not code for tryptophan or cysteine. In particular embodiments, the at least two diversity-limited positions do not code for tryptophan, cysteine, or arginine.
In some embodiments, the diversity-limited positions are coded for by degenerate codons. In certain embodiments, at least one diversity-limited position is coded for by an NHK codon. In particular embodiments, the NHK codons are not adjacent to each other in the primary amino acid sequence or are not adjacent to each other in the three-dimensional protein structure. In certain embodiments, the NHK codons are present in an alternating pattern with one or more NNK codons.
In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a library of polynucleotides encoding the immunoglobulin variants from the library described herein.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of engineering a non-native binding site to a transferrin receptor (TfR) or to a CD98hc protein into a polypeptide, the method comprising:
In some embodiments of this aspect, the method comprises repeating steps (b)-(d) using the library members isolated from first step (d).
In some embodiments, the library includes at least 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or more randomized positions.
In some embodiments, the primary amino acid sequence of each polypeptide comprises positions with limited diversity that are separated by positions without limited diversity. In particular embodiments, each polypeptide includes a beta-sheet and at least three of the randomized positions are present within a single beta-sheet. In certain embodiments, at least three of the randomized positions are present within at least two beta-strands that form the beta-sheet. In particular embodiments, at least three of the randomized positions are present within at least one beta-strand that forms the beta-sheet. In particular embodiments, at least three of the randomized positions form a surface on one side of the beta-sheet. In particular embodiments, at least three of the randomized positions are surface exposed.
In some embodiments of this aspect, the beta-sheet includes at least one position with limited diversity. In some embodiments, the beta-sheet includes at least two positions with limited diversity. In some embodiments, the at least two positions with limited diversity are separated by a position without limited diversity.
In some embodiments, the beta-sheet includes at least two positions without limited diversity. In particular embodiments, the at least two positions without limited diversity are separated by a position with limited diversity.
In some embodiments, the separation is relative to the primary amino acid sequence of the polypeptide or is relative to the spatial three-dimensional positioning of the amino acid in the protein structure.
In some embodiments, the positions with limited diversity are coded for by degenerate codons. In certain embodiments, at least one of the degenerate codons is NHK. In certain embodiments, the positions without limited diversity are coded for by the degenerate codon NNK.
In some embodiments of this aspect, the polypeptide contains an immunoglobulin-like fold. In some embodiments, the polypeptide includes an immunoglobulin (IgG) domain. In certain embodiments, the IgG domain is from an IgG, IgA, IgE, IgM, or IgD family. In certain embodiments, the IgG domain is selected is from an IgG1, and IgG2, and IgG3, or IgG4 molecule. In certain embodiments, the IgG domain includes a VH, CH1, CH2, CH3, VL or CL domain.
In some embodiments, the randomized positions are surface accessible. In certain embodiments, the randomized positions are selected from any of those listed in Table 1B. In particular embodiments, the polypeptide includes a fibronectin or any other protein scaffold described herein.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a polypeptide having at least three modified positions in a beta-sheet portion, wherein:
In some embodiments of this aspect, the polypeptide comprises at least 4 or 5 modified positions in the beta-sheet. In some embodiments, the polypeptide comprises at least seven modified positions that form at least part of a binding site capable of binding CD98hc. In some embodiments, the polypeptide contains an immunoglobulin-like fold. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide includes an immunoglobulin (IgG) domain. In certain embodiments, the IgG domain is from an IgG, IgA, IgE, IgM, or IgD family. In particular embodiments, the IgG domain is selected is from an IgG1, and IgG2, and IgG3, or IgG4 molecule. In certain embodiments, the IgG domain includes a VH, CH1, CH2, CH3, VL or CL domain.
In some embodiments, the modified positions are surface accessible. In some embodiments, the modified positions are selected from any of those listed in Table 1B. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide includes a fibronectin or any other protein scaffold described herein.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a polypeptide comprising a constant domain or non-CDR portion of a variable domain of an immunoglobulin having at least three modified positions in a beta-sheet, wherein:
In some embodiments of this aspect, the constant domain comprises an Fc polypeptide.
In some embodiments, the at least two beta-strands are selected from the group consisting of: amino acid positions 124-128, 139-147, 155-157, 179-178, 199-203, 208-214, 239-243, 258-265, 274-278, 301-307, 319-324, 332-336, 347-351, 363-372, 378-383, 391-393, 406-412, 423-428, and 437-441, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In some embodiments, the positions are surface accessible. In certain embodiments, the positions are selected from those listed in Table 1B.
In some embodiments, the modified positions form a contiguous surface on the beta-sheet.
In some embodiments, the modified positions are surface accessible residues. In certain embodiments, the surface accessible residues are selected from the group consisting of: amino acid positions 347, 349, 351, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, 378, 380, 382, 405, 407, 409, 411, 424, 426, 428, 436, 438, and 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In certain embodiments, the surface accessible residues are selected from the group consisting of: amino acid positions 347, 362, 378, 380, 382, 411, 424, 426, 428, 436, 438, and 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, the modified positions comprise three, four, five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380, 382, 383, 424, 426, 438, and 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In some embodiments, the modified positions comprise three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or eleven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 378, 380, 382, 383, 422, 424, 426, 428, 438, 440, and 442, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In particular embodiments, the binding site includes one or more modified positions in at least one loop region. In certain embodiments, the one or more modified positions in at least one loop region are selected from the group consisting of: amino acid positions 387 and 422, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In certain embodiments, the loop region connects the two beta-strands.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of introducing a non-native binding site to a TfR or to a CD98hc protein into a constant domain or non-CDR region of a variable domain of an immunoglobulin, the method comprising:
In some embodiments of this aspect, the immunoglobulin sequence comprises an Fc polypeptide.
In some embodiments, the at least two beta-strands are selected from the group consisting of: amino acid positions 239-243, 258-265, 274-278, 301-307, 319-324, 332-336, 347-351, 363-372, 378-383, 391-393, 406-412, 423-428, and 437-441, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, the modified positions form a contiguous surface on the beta-sheet.
In some embodiments, the modified positions are surface accessible residues. In certain embodiments, the surface accessible residues are selected from the group consisting of: amino acid positions 347, 349, 351, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, 378, 380, 382, 405, 407, 409, 411, 424, 426, 428, 436, 438, and 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In certain embodiments, the surface accessible residues are selected from the group consisting of: amino acid positions 347, 362, 378, 380, 382, 411, 424, 426, 428, 436, 438, and 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, the modified positions comprise three, four, five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380, 382, 383, 424, 426, 438, and 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In some embodiments, the modified positions comprise three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or eleven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 378, 380, 382, 383, 422, 424, 426, 428, 438, 440, and 442, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, the binding site includes one or more modified positions in at least one loop region. In some embodiments, the one or more modified positions in at least one loop region are selected from the group consisting of: amino acid positions 387 and 422, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of introducing a CD98hc binding site into a polypeptide containing a beta-sheet, the method comprising:
In some embodiments, the polypeptide has at least 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 modified positions in the beta-sheet. In some embodiments, the polypeptide has at least 7 modified positions in the beta-sheet. In some embodiments, the polypeptide has at least 10 modified positions in the beta-sheet.
In particular embodiments, the binding site includes one or more modified positions in at least one loop region.
In some embodiments, the binding site includes one or more beta-sheets and one or more loop regions, and at least 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 modified positions in the beta-sheet(s) and loop region(s).
In some embodiments, the polypeptide contains an immunoglobulin-like fold. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide includes an immunoglobulin (IgG) domain. In certain embodiments, the IgG domain is from an IgG, IgA, IgE, IgM, or IgD family. In certain embodiments, the IgG domain is selected is from an IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, or IgG4 molecule. In particular embodiments, the IgG domain includes a VH, CH1, CH2, CH3, VL or CL domain. In some embodiments, the randomized positions are surface accessible. In particular embodiments, the randomized positions are selected from any of those listed in Table 1B. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide includes a fibronectin or any other protein scaffold described herein.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a polypeptide comprising a modified constant domain that specifically binds to a CD98hc protein. In some embodiments, the modified constant domain comprises a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to the CD98hc protein. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain is a part of an Fc polypeptide. In particular embodiments, the CD98hc protein is a human CD98hc protein. In particular embodiments, the CD98hc protein forms a complex with LAT1 (SLC7A5), LAT2 (SLC7A8), y+LAT1 (SLC7A7), y+LAT2 (SLC7A6), Asc-1 (SLC7A10), or xCT (SLC7A11). In certain embodiments, the CD98hc protein forms a complex with LAT1 (SLC7A5).
In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., a modified CH3 domain) comprises a sequence having at least 85%, 90%, or 95% sequence identity to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:28-45.
In another aspect, the disclosure features a polypeptide comprising a modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) that specifically binds to a CD98hc protein, wherein the modified constant domain comprises at least five, six, seven, eight, or nine substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 382, 384, 385, 387, 422, 424, 426, 438, 440; and wherein the positions are determined with reference to EU numbering. In another aspect, the substitutions are determined with reference to SEQ ID NO:1.
In another aspect, the disclosure features a polypeptide comprising a modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) that specifically binds to a CD98hc protein, wherein the modified constant domain comprises at least eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 380, 382, 384, 385, 386, 387, 421, 422, 424, 426, 428, 436, 438, 440 and 442; and wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In another aspect, the substitutions are determined with reference to SEQ ID NO:1.
In some embodiments of this aspect, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a sequence having at least 85%, 90%, or 95% sequence identity to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:28-43, wherein the modified constant domain comprises at least eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R, H, or Q at position 384, a F or Y at position 385, a V, L, I, F, Y, or E at position 386, a L at position 387, a E, Q, or A at position 421, a I, T, or P at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y or W at position 428, a R or W at position 436, a F or W at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A, Q, K, R, H, or M at position 442. In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:28.
In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an E at position 421, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:29.
In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a Q at position 384, a Y at position 385, a E at position 386, a L at position 387, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:30.
In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a H at position 384, a Y at position 385, a E at position 386, a L at position 387, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:31.
In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:32.
In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an E at position 421, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:33.
In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an E at position 421, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, and a N at position 440. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:34.
In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and a R at position 442. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:35.
In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and a H at position 442. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:36.
In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a R at position 436, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and a R at position 442. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:37.
In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a H at position 384, a Y at position 385, a E at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:38.
In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a Q at position 384, a F at position 385, a H at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and a L at position 442. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:39.
In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an T at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:40.
In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and a K at position 442. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:41.
In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a W at position 436, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and a R at position 442. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:42.
In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a Q at position 384, a Y at position 385, a L at position 386, a L at position 387, an E at position 421, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:43.
In another aspect, the disclosure features a polypeptide comprising a modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) that specifically binds to a CD98hc protein, wherein the modified constant domain comprises:
In some embodiments, the polypeptide binds human CD98hc with an affinity of 15 nM to 5 μM (e.g., 15 nM, 50 nM, 100 nM, 200 nM, 300 nM, 400 nM, 500 nM, 600 nM, 700 nM, 800 nM, 900 nM, 1 μM, 1.5 μM, 2 μM, 2.5 μM, 3 μM, 3.5 μM, 4 μM, 4.5 μM, or 5 μM).
In some embodiments, the polypeptide has cynomolgus monkey (cyno) cross-reactivity. In particular embodiments, the polypeptide binds to cyno CD98hc with an affinity of 80 nM to 5 μM (e.g., 80 nM, 100 nM, 200 nM, 300 nM, 400 nM, 500 nM, 600 nM, 700 nM, 800 nM, 900 nM, 1 μM, 1.5 μM, 2 μM, 2.5 μM, 3 μM, 3.5 μM, 4 μM, 4.5 μM, or 5 μM).
In another aspect, the disclosure features a polypeptide comprising a modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) that specifically binds to a CD98hc protein wherein the modified constant domain comprises at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, or thirteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 380, 382, 384, 385, 386, 387, 422, 424, 426, 428, 434, 438, and 440; and wherein the substitutions are determined with reference to SEQ ID NO:1 and the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a D, M, N, P, F, or H at position 380, a R, Y, F, S, W, Y, K, or N at position 382, a L, Y, A, S, or F at position 384, a F, K, D, M, I, N, Y, L, or H at position 385, a T, P, E, K, A, V, D, T, or F at position 386, a N, L, Y, R, G, S, D, or T at position 387, a I, K, R, T, F, or H at position 422, a V, W, G, L, I, P, or Y at position 424, a D, A, Q, W, L, or P at position 426, a L at position 428, a S at position 434, a I, F, N, P, or S at position 438, and a K, T, I, or F at position 440.
In another aspect, the disclosure features a polypeptide comprising a modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) that specifically binds to a CD98hc protein wherein the modified constant domain comprises at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 378, 380, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 389, 421, 422, 424, 426, 428, 434, 436, 438, 440, and 442; and wherein the substitutions are determined with reference to SEQ ID NO:1 and the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a S or V at position 378, a D at position 380, a R at position 382, a T at position 383, a Y at position 384, a K at position 385, a P at position 386, a Y at position 387, a T, Y, or F at position 389, a D, E, or Q at position 421, an I at position 422, a V at position 424, a D at position 426, a L or Y at position 428, a S at position 434, a F at position 436, an I or V at position 438, a K at position 440, and a Q or M at position 442.
In another aspect, the disclosure features a polypeptide comprising a modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) that specifically binds to a CD98hc protein wherein the modified constant domain comprises at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 389, 421, 422, 424, 426, 428, 436, 438, and 440; and wherein the substitutions are determined with reference to SEQ ID NO:1 and the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In some embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a sequence having at least 85%, 90%, or 95% sequence identity to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:44-45, wherein the modified constant domain comprises at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a R at position 382, a T at position 383, a Y at position 384, a K at position 385, a P at position 386, a Y at position 387, a T at position 389, a D at position 421, an I at position 422, a V at position 424, a D at position 426, a L at position 428, a F at position 436, a I at position 438, and a K at position 440.
In some embodiments of this aspect, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a R at position 382, a T at position 383, a Y at position 384, a K at position 385, a P at position 386, a Y at position 387, a T at position 389, a D at position 421, an I at position 422, a V at position 424, a D at position 426, a F at position 436, a I at position 438, and a K at position 440. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:44.
In some embodiments of this aspect, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises a R at position 382, a T at position 383, a Y at position 384, a K at position 385, a P at position 386, a Y at position 387, a T at position 389, a D at position 421, an I at position 422, a V at position 424, a D at position 426, a L at position 428, a F at position 436, a I at position 438, and a K at position 440. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) comprises SEQ ID NO:45.
In another aspect, the disclosure features a polypeptide comprising a modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) that specifically binds to a CD98hc protein, wherein the modified constant domain comprises:
In another aspect, the disclosure features a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising positions 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440 of an Fc polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1), wherein the modified CH3 domain does not have the combination of G at position 437, F at position 438, and D at position 440, and wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises three, four, five, six, seven, or eight amino acid substitutions and/or one or two amino acid deletions in a set of amino acid positions comprising positions 380 and 382-389 of an Fc polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1); and five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising positions 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440 of an Fc polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1), wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises a sequence comprising at least one (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven) amino acid substitution in the sequence of VFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKS (SEQ ID NO:57), wherein the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57 is from position 422 to position 440 of an Fc polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1), the sequence does not have the combination of G at position 437, F at position 438, and D at position 440, and the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In some embodiments of this aspect, the sequence comprises five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises a first sequence comprising at least one amino acid substitution (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, seve, or eight amino acid substitutions) and/or deletion in the sequence of AVEWESNGQPENN (SEQ ID NO:56), and a second sequence comprising at least one (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven) amino acid substitution in the sequence of VFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKS (SEQ ID NO:57), wherein the sequence of SEQ ID NO:56 is from position 378 to position 390 of an Fc polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1), the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57 is from position 422 to position 440 of an Fc polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1), and the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In some embodiments of this aspect, the modified CH3 domain comprises three, four, five, six, seven, or eight amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380 and 382-389. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises one or two amino acid deletions in the sequence of SEQ ID NO:56.
In some embodiments of the above four aspects, the modified CH3 domain is part of an Fc polypeptide.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises F at position 382.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises A or a polar amino acid (e.g., Y or S) at position 383.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises G, N, or an acidic amino acid (e.g., D or E) at position 384.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises N, R, or a polar amino acid (e.g., S or T) at position 389.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises at least one amino acid substitution at a beta-sheet position relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:56.
In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises one, two, or three amino acid substitutions at beta-sheet positions relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:56. In some embodiments, the beta-sheet position(s) are selected from the group consisting of: positions 380, 382, and 383, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises an amino acid substitution at beta-sheet position 380 relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:56. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises E, N, F, or Y (e.g., E) at position 380.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises an amino acid substitution at beta-sheet position 382 relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:56. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises F at position 382.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises an amino acid substitution or an amino acid deletion at beta-sheet position 383 relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:56. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises Y or A (e.g., Y) at position 383.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises at least one amino acid substitution at a beta-sheet position relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises at one, two, three, or four amino acid substitutions at beta-sheet positions relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57. In particular embodiments, the beta-sheet position(s) are selected from the group consisting of: positions 424, 426, 438, and 440, according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises an amino acid substitution at beta-sheet position 424 relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises A at position 424.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises an amino acid substitution at beta-sheet position 426 relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises E at position 426.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises an amino acid substitution at beta-sheet position 438 relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises Y at position 438.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises an amino acid substitution at beta-sheet position 440 relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises L at position 440.
In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises H or E (e.g., H) at position 433.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises N or G (e.g., N) at position 434.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises at least one position selected from the following: E, N, F, or Y at position 380, F at position 382, Y, S, A, or an amino acid deletion at position 383, G, D, E, or N at position 384, D, G, N, or A at position 385, Q, S, G, A, or N at position 386, K, I, R, or G at position 387, E, L, D, or Q at position 388, and N, T, S, or R at position 389. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises five, six, seven, or eight positions selected from the following: F at position 382, Y or S at position 383, G, D, or E at position 384, D, G, N, or A at position 385, Q, S, or A at position 386, K at position 387, E or L at position 388, N, T, or S at position 389.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises at least one position selected from the following: L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, H or E at position 433, N or G at position 434, Y at position 438, and L at position 440. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises five positions selected from the following: L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, and L at position 440.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises: (i) a sequence of AVX1WFX2X3X4X5X6X7X8N (SEQ ID NO:65), wherein X1 is E, N, F, or Y; X2 is Y, S, A, or absent; X3 is G, D, E, or N; X4 is D, G, N, or A; X5 is Q, S, G, A, or N; X6 is K, I, R, or G; X7 is E, L, D, or Q; and X8 is N, T, S, or R; and (ii) a sequence of LFACEVMHEALX1X2HYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:67), wherein X1 is H or E; and X2 is N or G.
In some embodiments of the above five aspects, the modified CH3 domain comprises a sequence of AVEWFYDDSKLTN (SEQ ID NO:58), AVEWFYGNAKETN (SEQ ID NO:59), AVEWFYEAQKLNN (SEQ ID NO:60), AVEWFSEGSKETN (SEQ ID NO:61), AVEWFSGAQKESN (SEQ ID NO:62), or AVEWFSGAQKLTN (SEQ ID NO:63). In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises the sequence of LFACEVMHEALHNHYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:64).
In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises the sequence of AVEWFYDDSKLTN (SEQ ID NO:58) and the sequence of LFACEVMHEALHNHYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:64). In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises the sequence of AVEWFYGNAKETN (SEQ ID NO:59) and the sequence of LFACEVMHEALHNHYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:64). In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises the sequence of AVEWFYEAQKLNN (SEQ ID NO:60) and the sequence of LFACEVMHEALHNHYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:64). In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises the sequence of AVEWFSEGSKETN (SEQ ID NO:61) and the sequence of LFACEVMHEALHNHYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:64). In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises the sequence of AVEWFSGAQKESN (SEQ ID NO:62) and the sequence of LFACEVMHIIEALHNHYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:64). In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises the sequence of AVEWFSGAQKLTN (SEQ ID NO:63) and the sequence of LFACEVMHEALHNHYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:64).
In further embodiments of the above five aspects, the modified CH3 domain further comprises one, two, three, four, or five amino acid substitutions at positions comprising 419-421, 442, and 443, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises Q or P at position 419, G or R at position 420, N or G at position 421, S or G at position 442, and/or L or E at position 443.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises a sequence having at least 85% identity, at least 90% identity, or at least 95% identity to amino acids 111-217 of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises amino acids 111-217 of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77.
In some embodiments, the polypeptide comprises a sequence having at least 85% identity, at least 90% identity, or at least 95% identity to a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77. In some embodiments, the polypeptide comprises a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises: F at position 382, Y at position 383, D at position 384, D at position 385, S at position 386, K at position 387, L at position 388, T at position 389, P at position 419, R at position 420, G at position 421, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, G at position 442, and E at position 443, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises: F at position 382, Y at position 383, G at position 384, N at position 385, A at position 386, K at position 387, T at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises: F at position 382, Y at position 383, E at position 384, A at position 385, K at position 387, L at position 388, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises: F at position 382, E at position 384, S at position 386, K at position 387, T at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises: F at position 382, G at position 384, A at position 385, K at position 387, S at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises: F at position 382, G at position 384, A at position 385, K at position 387, L at position 388, T at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In another aspect, the disclosure a polypeptide comprising a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72, 78, 84, 90, 96, 102, 108, 114, and 120.
In another aspect, the disclosure a polypeptide comprising a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:73, 79, 85, 91, 97, 103, 109, 115, and 121.
In another aspect, the disclosure a polypeptide comprising a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:74, 80, 86, 92, 98, 104, 110, 116, and 122.
In another aspect, the disclosure a polypeptide comprising a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:75, 81, 87, 93, 99, 105, 111, 117, and 123.
In another aspect, the disclosure a polypeptide comprising a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:76, 82, 88, 94, 100, 106, 112, 118, and 124.
In another aspect, the disclosure a polypeptide comprising a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:77, 83, 89, 95, 101, 107, 113, 119, and 125.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides an Fc polypeptide that specifically binds to TfR, comprising a modified CH3 domain, wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises a sequence at least 85% (e.g., at least 90%, 91%, 93%, 95%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) identical to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:137, wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises Ala, Asp, His, Tyr, or Phe at position 378; Ala, Asp, Phe, Leu, Gln, Glu, or Lys at position 380; Gly at position 382; Leu, Ala, or Glu at position 384; Val at position 385; Gln or Ala at position 386; Val, Ile, Phe, or Leu at position 422; Ser, Ala, or Pro at position 424; Thr or Ile at position 426; Ile or Tyr at position 438; and Gly, Ser, Thr, or Val at position 440. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain has Met or Leu at position 428.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides an Fc polypeptide that specifically binds to TfR, comprising a modified CH3 domain, wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises a sequence at least 85% (e.g., at least 90%, 91%, 93%, 95%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) identical to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:137, wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises any set of substitutions provided for any of the clones in Tables 32B-1, 32C, 32D, 32E, 32F, 323G, 32H, 32H-1, 32J, and 32K, or comprises the possible amino acids set forth in Table 32I.
In some embodiments of the above two aspects, the modified CH3 domain comprises Ala or His at position 378; Asp or Glu at position 380; Gly at position 382; Leu at position 384; Val at position 385; Gln or Ala at position 386; Ile or Val at position 422; Ala or Pro at position 424; Thr or Ile at position 426; Ile at position 438; and Gly or Thr at position 440, according to EU numbering. The modified CH3 domain may also include Met or Leu at position 428.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises His at position 378; Glu at position 380; Gly at position 382; Leu at position 384; Val at position 385; Gln at position 386; Ile at position 422; Pro at position 424; Ile at position 426; Ile at position 438; and Thr at position 440, according to EU numbering. The modified CH3 domain may also include Met or Leu at position 428.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises His at position 378; Glu at position 380; Gly at position 382; Leu at position 384; Val at position 385; Gln at position 386; Ile at position 422; Pro at position 424; Ile at position 426; Leu at position 428; Ile at position 438; and Thr at position 440, according to EU numbering.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides an Fc polypeptide that specifically binds to TfR, comprising a modified CH3 domain, wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises a sequence at least 85% (e.g., at least 90%, 91%, 93%, 95%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) identical to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:137, wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises His at position 378; Glu at position 380; Gly at position 382; Leu at position 384; Val at position 385; Gln at position 386; Ile at position 422; Pro at position 424; Ile at position 426; Ile at position 438; and Thr at position 440, according to EU numbering. The modified CH3 domain may also include Met or Leu at position 428.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides an Fc polypeptide that specifically binds to TfR, comprising a modified CH3 domain, wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises a sequence at least 85% (e.g., at least 90%, 91%, 93%, 95%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) identical to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:138, wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises His at position 378; Glu at position 380; Gly at position 382; Leu at position 384; Val at position 385; Gln at position 386; Ile at position 422; Pro at position 424; Ile at position 426; Leu at position 428; Ile at position 438; and Thr at position 440, according to EU numbering. In some embodiments of the disclosure provided herein, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) further comprises at least one modification that promotes heterodimerization. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) further comprises a T366W substitution, according to EU numbering. In particular embodiments, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) further comprises T366S, L368A, and Y407V substitutions, according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments of the disclosure provided herein, the modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain) further comprises a CH2 domain (e.g., a modified CH2 domain). In some embodiments, the modified CH2 and CH3 domains form an Fc polypeptide. In particular embodiments, the modified CH2 domain comprises modifications that reduce effector function. In particular embodiments, the CH2 domain comprises Ala at position 234 and Ala at position 235, according to EU numbering. In particular embodiments, the CH2 domain comprises Ala at position 234, Ala at position 235, and Gly at position 329, according to EU numbering. In particular embodiments, the CH2 domain comprises Ala at position 234, Ala at position 235, and Ser at position 329, according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, the CH2 domain is a human IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, or IgG4 CH2 domain.
In some embodiments of any aspects described herein, the polypeptide is part of a dimer. In some embodiments, the dimer is an Fc dimer. In some embodiments, the polypeptide is further joined to a Fab.
In some embodiments of any aspects described herein, the polypeptide is a first polypeptide of a dimer such that the dimer is monovalent for CD98hc binding. In other embodiments, the polypeptide is a first polypeptide of a dimer such that the dimer is bivalent for CD98hc binding.
In some embodiments of any aspects described herein, the polypeptide is a first polypeptide of a dimer such that the dimer is monovalent for TfR binding. In other embodiments, the polypeptide is a first polypeptide of a dimer such that the dimer is bivalent for TfR binding.
In some embodiments of any aspects described herein, the C-terminal lysine of polypeptide is removed.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide described herein.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a vector comprising the polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide described herein.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a host cell comprising the polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide described herein.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for producing a polypeptide comprising a modified constant domain (e.g., modified CH3 domain), comprising culturing a host cell under conditions in which the polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide described herein is expressed.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a polypeptide described herein and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of transcytosis of a therapeutic agent across an endothelium. In some embodiments, the method comprises contacting the endothelium with a composition comprising a polypeptide dimer capable of binding CD98hc (e.g., a polypeptide dimer described herein) fused to a therapeutic agent. In some embodiments, the method comprises contacting the endothelium with a composition comprising a polypeptide dimer capable of binding TfR (e.g., a polypeptide dimer described herein) fused to a therapeutic agent. In some embodiments, the endothelium is the BBB.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for engineering a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain to specifically bind to a CD98hc protein, the method comprising:
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for engineering a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain to specifically bind to a TfR protein, the method comprising:
In some embodiments of this aspect, the steps of expressing the polypeptide comprising the modified CH3 domain and determining whether the modified CH3 domain binds to CD98hc or TfR are performed using a display system. In particular embodiments, the display system is a cell surface display system, a viral display system, an mRNA display system, a polysomal display system, or a ribosomal display system.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of delivering a therapeutic agent across the BBB into the brain parenchyma, the method comprising contacting the BBB with a composition comprising a polypeptide dimer described herein fused to a therapeutic agent.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of delivering a therapeutic agent across the BBB to target an extracellular target, the method comprising contacting the BBB with a composition comprising a polypeptide dimer described herein fused to a therapeutic agent.
In some embodiments of the above two aspects, one polypeptide in the polypeptide dimer comprises at least eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 378, 380, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 389, 391, 421, 422, 424, 426, 428, 434, 436, 438, 440, 441, and 442, according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments of the above two aspects, one polypeptide in the polypeptide dimer comprises at least eight, nine, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 378, 380, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 389, 421, 422, 424, 426, 428, 434, 436, 438, 440, and 442, according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, both polypeptides in the polypeptide dimer do not have the substitutions L234A, L235A, and P329G.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of delivery across the BBB to a biological target in the brain, the method comprising: (a) a CD98hc-binding polypeptide described herein, and (b) a means for binding the biological target in the brain.
In some embodiments, the biological target is a cell surface target in the brain, such as on a microglial cell, an astrocyte, an oligodendrocyte, a neuron, and a cancer cell. In some embodiments, the cell surface target is selected from the group consisting of TREM2, PILRA, CD33, CR1, ABCA1, ABCA7, MS4A4A, MS4A6A, MS4A4E, HLA-DR5, HLA-DR1, IL1RAP, TREML2, IL-34, SORL1, ADAM17, and Siglec11.
In some embodiments, the biological target is a cell surface target on a hematological cancer cell. In certain embodiments, the cell surface target is selected from the group consisting of B7H3, BCMA, CD125, CD166, CD19, CD20, CD205, CD22, CD25, CD30, CD37, CD39, CD73, and CD79b.
In some embodiments, the target is on a tumor cell. In certain embodiments, the target is selected from the group consisting of ALK, AXL, CD25, CD44v6, CD46, CD56 (NCAM), CDH6 (cadherin 6), CEACAM 5 (CD66E), EGFR, EGFR viii, ETBR, FGFR (1-4), Folate Receptor alpha, GAL-3BP (galectin binding protein), GD2, GD3, GloboH (globohexasylceramide), gp100, gpNMB, HER2, HER3, HER4, IGFR1, KIT, LIV1A, LRRC15 (leucine rich repeat containing 15), MET, NaPi2B, PDL1, PMEL17, PRAME, PSMA, PTK7 (CCK4; colon carcinoma kinase), RON, ROR1, TF (tissue factor), and TROP2.
In some embodiments, the target may include alpha-synuclein or derivatives or fragments thereof, amyloid-beta peptide or derivatives of fragments thereof, Tau or derivatives or fragments thereof, pTau, huntingtin, transthyretin, or TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) or derivatives or fragments thereof.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of targeting an extracellular target in the brain with a CD98hc-binding polypeptide, the method comprising administering the CD98hc-binding polypeptide to a patient, wherein the polypeptide is transported across the BBB and into the parenchyma without being transcytosed into a cell within the brain. In some embodiments, the extracellular target is on or near an astrocyte, microglia, oligodendrocyte, or a cancer cell. In certain embodiments, the extracellular target is an antigen in the brain. In certain embodiments, the antigen is a plaque, tangle, or other non-cellular target. In some embodiments, the extracellular target is a non-neuronal target. In certain embodiments, the method comprises delivering a therapeutic agent to the extracellular target.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of delivering a therapeutic agent across the BBB to astrocyte cells, the method comprising contacting the BBB with a composition comprising a polypeptide dimer described herein fused to a therapeutic agent. In some embodiments, both polypeptides in the polypeptide dimer comprises at least eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 378, 380, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 389, 391, 421, 422, 424, 426, 428, 434, 436, 438, 440, 441, and 442, according to EU numbering.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a peripheral CD98hc expressing organ comprising administering to a subject a composition comprising a polypeptide dimer described herein fused to a therapeutic agent. In certain embodiments, the peripheral CD98hc expressing organ is kidney, testes, bone marrow, spleen, or pancreas.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a CD98hc binding polypeptide, wherein, when bound to human CD98hc, the polypeptide binds to at least 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 of the residues selected from positions of the group consisting of: 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483, 486, 499, 497, 498, 500, 501, and 502 of SEQ ID NO: 134. In certain embodiments, when bound to human CD98hc, the polypeptide binds to positions 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483, 486, 499, 497, 498, 500, 501, and 502 of SEQ ID NO: 134. In certain embodiments, when bound to human CD98hc, the polypeptide binds additionally to at least 1 additional residue selected from positions of the group consisting of: 229, 231, 232, 236, 235, 488, 495, and 496 of SEQ ID NO: 134. In certain embodiments, when bound to human CD98hc, the polypeptide binds additionally to at least 1 additional residue selected from positions of the group consisting of: 312, 315, 348, 381, 439, 444, 443, 485, 484, 476, 475, and 442 of SEQ ID NO: 134.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a CD98hc binding polypeptide, wherein, when bound to human CD98hc, the polypeptide binds to at least 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22 of the residues selected from positions of the group consisting of: 229, 231, 232, 236, 235, 486, 488, 495, 496, 498, 500, 499, 497, 482, 481, 483, 477, 480, 501, 502, 478, and 479 of SEQ ID NO:134.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a CD98hc binding polypeptide, wherein, when bound to human CD98hc, the polypeptide binds to at least 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or 26 of the residues selected from positions of the group consisting of: 312, 315, 348, 381, 439, 444, 443, 485, 484, 477, 483, 481, 480, 478, 476, 502, 499, 501, 500, 498, 497, 486, 479, 482, 475, and 442 of SEQ ID NO: 134. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide is an antibody or fragment thereof, a VHH domain, or a polypeptide comprising a modified constant domain that specifically binds to a CD98hc protein.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of increasing brain exposure to a therapeutic agent in a subject relative to a reference molecule, the method comprising administering to the subject a monovalent molecule that binds to CD98hc with a binding affinity from about 20 nM to about 550 nM, wherein the molecule is linked to the therapeutic agent, and wherein the reference molecule comprises the therapeutic agent but not a CD98hc binding moiety.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of increasing brain exposure to a therapeutic agent in a subject relative to reference molecule, the method comprising administering to the subject a bivalent molecule that binds to CD98hc with a binding affinity from about 275 nM to about 2100 nM, wherein the molecule is linked to the therapeutic agent, and wherein the reference molecule comprises the therapeutic agent but not a CD98hc binding moiety.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a composition for delivery across the BBB to a biological target in the brain, the composition comprising: (a) a CD98hc-binding polypeptide described herein, and (b) a means for binding the biological target in the brain.
In some embodiments, the biological target is a cell surface target in the brain, such as on a microglial cell, an astrocyte, an oligodendrocyte, a neuron, and a cancer cell. In some embodiments, the cell surface target is selected from the group consisting of TREM2, PILRA, CD33, CR1, ABCA1, ABCA7, MS4A4A, MS4A6A, MS4A4E, HLA-DR5, HLA-DR1, IL1RAP, TREML2, IL-34, SORL1, ADAM17, and Siglec11.
In some embodiments, the biological target is a cell surface target on a hematological cancer cell. In certain embodiments, the cell surface target is selected from the group consisting of B7H3, BCMA, CD125, CD166, CD19, CD20, CD205, CD22, CD25, CD30, CD37, CD39, CD73, and CD79b.
In some embodiments, the target is on a tumor cell. In certain embodiments, the target is selected from the group consisting of ALK, AXL, CD25, CD44v6, CD46, CD56 (NCAM), CDH6 (cadherin 6), CEACAM 5 (CD66E), EGFR, EGFR viii, ETBR, FGFR (1-4), Folate Receptor alpha, GAL-3BP (galectin binding protein), GD2, GD3, GloboH (globohexasylceramide), gp100, gpNMB, HER2, HER3, HER4, IGFR1, KIT, LIV1A, LRRC15 (leucine rich repeat containing 15), MET, NaPi2B, PDL1, PMEL17, PRAME, PSMA, PTK7 (CCK4; colon carcinoma kinase), RON, ROR1, TF (tissue factor), and TROP2.
In some embodiments, the target may include alpha-synuclein or derivatives or fragments thereof, amyloid-beta peptide or derivatives of fragments thereof, Tau or derivatives or fragments thereof, pTau, huntingtin, transthyretin, or TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) or derivatives or fragments thereof.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for delivery across the BBB to a biological target in the brain of a subject, the method comprising:
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for binding a biological target in the brain of a subject, the method comprising:
Unless otherwise indicated or apparent from the context, all numbering for positions throughout this document in an Fc, CH2, or CH3 polypeptide (e.g., “position x”) is based on the EU numbering system.
We have developed a number of approaches for generating non-native binding sites in polypetides by screening polypeptide libraries for novel binders. One challenge in introducing non-native binding sites is that such libraries often contain a large number of sequences that have undesired properties (e.g., non-specific binding or lack of developability). As described below, the “limited liability” approach can reduce the frequency of amino acids that are associated with these undesired properties, thus resulting in libraries that produce a greater number of useful sequences. This limited liability approach can be used in a variety of protein scaffolds, including the immunoglobulins (i.e., in both the CDR and non-CDR portions) and other scaffolds such as fibronectin or any other protein scaffold described herein, to enhance and accelerate the discovery of novel polypeptide binders. In certain instances, it can be used in libraries where the engineered portion of the polypeptide includes an exposed side of a beta-sheet within the polypeptide, as described below.
We have also developed immunoglobulin libraries that have been engineered with modifications in a beta-sheet surface. These libraries have been used to generate novel binding sites in the non-CDR portion of the immunoglobulin, and specifically have been used to generate novel molecules that bind to the CD98 heavy chain (CD98hc) and the transferrin receptor (TfR). The disclosure is based, in part, on the discovery that certain amino acids, particularly those at beta-sheet positions in the CH3 domain of an Fc polypeptide, can be substituted to generate a modified CH3 domain containing a novel binding site specific for CD98hc (e.g., a CD98hc-binding site). Beta-sheet positions in the CH3 domain include positions 347-351, 363-372, 378-383, 391-393, 406-412, 422-428, and 437-441, according to EU numbering and other beta-sheet residues in constant domains that are described herein, e.g., in Table 1B. Substituting amino acids at beta-sheet positions can offer several advantages in generating an immunoglobulin domain containing a non-native binding site. First, the beta-sheet surface in the domain is stable and allows for diversity in the amino acid substitutions at the surface without disrupting the domain structure fold. In some embodiments, the amino acid substitutions are located on the solvent-exposed side of the domain beta-sheet surface. Second, making amino acid substitutions at beta-sheet positions avoids changing the flexible loop regions in the domain, which, in some cases, can introduce undesired conformational flexibility. Moreover, the concave surface of the beta-sheet structure in the domain is ideal for forming protein-protein interactions, the beta-sheet structure is also distinct from the FcRn and FcγR binding site in the CH3 domain.
The engineered approaches described herein have been used to discover particular polypeptides that bind to CD98hc or TfR. These polypeptides are transcytosed across the blood-brain barrier in mammals, as described herein. CD98 is highly expressed on brain endothelial cells and therefore a promising target for receptor mediated transcytosis (RMT). CD98 is a heterodimer formed between CD98hc (4F2 heavy chain) and a CD98 light chain. To date six CD98 light chains have been identified, i.e., LAT1 (SLC7A5, 4F2 light chain), LAT2 (SLC7A8), y+LAT1 (SLC7A7), y+LAT2 (SLC7A6), Asc-1 (SLC7A10), or xCT (SLC7A11). In complex, CD98 heavy chain transports the light chain to the cell surface where it functions as a large neutral amino acid transporter which preferentially transports branched-chain (valine, leucine, isoleucine) and aromatic (tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine) amino acids. Leveraging the CD98 receptor-mediated transcytosis pathway, the polypeptides containing a CD98hc-binding site described herein can be used to transport therapeutic agents across the BBB. This approach can substantially improve brain uptake of the therapeutic agents and is therefore highly useful for treating disorders and diseases where brain delivery is advantageous. In addition, this approach can be used to provide brain uptake and delivery to specific extracellular or neuro-oncology targets in the brain. For example, CD98hc-binding polypeptides provided herein may be used to target such extracellular targets or neuro-oncology targets while retaining wild-type effector function, if so desired. In addition, such CD98hc-binding polypeptides provided herein may be used to target such extracellular targets in cases where neuronal uptake is undesireable (e.g., the target is an antigen or plaque such as Abeta, Tau or alpha-synuclein). The CD98hc-binding polypeptides provided herein have distinct kinetic, biodistribution, and safety properties that may provide optimized and fit-for-purpose BBB transport platforms for protein-based therapeutics.
Also described herein are polypeptides that bind a transferrin receptor (TfR). TfR is highly-expressed on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and naturally moves transferrin from the blood into the brain. Taking these advantages already offered by TfR, the polypeptides containing a TfR-binding site described herein can be used to transport therapeutic agents across the BBB. This approach can substantially improve brain uptake of the therapeutic agents and is therefore highly useful for treating disorders and diseases where brain delivery is advantageous.
Also provided herein are methods of generating polypeptides comprising modified CH3 domains that bind to CD98hc or TfR. A polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain described herein can be analyzed for CD98hc binding or TfR binding and further mutated to enhance binding as described herein.
In a further aspect, also provided herein are treatment methods and methods of using a CD98hc-binding or TfR-binding polypeptide to target a composition to CD98hc-expressing or TfR-expressing cells, e.g., to deliver the composition to that cell, or to deliver a composition across an endothelium such as the BBB.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “an antibody” optionally includes a combination of two or more such molecules, and the like.
As used herein, the terms “about” and “approximately,” when used to modify an amount specified in a numeric value or range indicate that the numeric value as well as reasonable deviations from the value known to the skilled person in the art, for example ±20%, ±10%, or ±5%, are within the intended meaning of the recited value.
As used herein, the term “CD98hc” or “CD98 heavy chain” refers to 4F2 cell-surface antigen heavy chain and is encoded by the SLC3A2 gene. CD98hc is also known as 4F2 heavy chain. The human CD98hc sequence is set forth in SEQ ID NO:55 and UNIPROT Accession No. P08195. CD98hc sequences from other species are also known (e.g., mouse, UNIPROT Accession No. P10852 and cynomolgus monkey, UNIPROT Accession No. G8F3Z0).
As used herein, the term “transferrin receptor” or “TfR” refers to transferrin receptor protein 1. The human transferrin receptor 1 polypeptide sequence is set forth in SEQ ID NO:127. Transferrin receptor protein 1 sequences from other species are also known (e.g., chimpanzee, accession number XP_003310238.1; rhesus monkey, NP_001244232.1; dog, NP_001003111.1; cattle, NP_001193506.1; mouse, NP_035768.1; rat, NP_073203.1; and chicken, NP_990587.1). The term “transferrin receptor” also encompasses allelic variants of exemplary reference sequences, e.g., human sequences, that are encoded by a gene at a transferrin receptor protein 1 chromosomal locus. Full-length transferrin receptor protein includes a short N-terminal intracellular region, a transmembrane region, and a large extracellular domain. The extracellular domain is characterized by three domains: a protease-like domain, a helical domain, and an apical domain.
As used herein, the terms “CH3 domain” and “CH2 domain” refer to immunoglobulin constant region domain polypeptides. For purposes of this application, a CH3 domain polypeptide refers to the segment of amino acids from about position 341 to about position 447 as numbered according to the EU numbering scheme, and a CH2 domain polypeptide refers to the segment of amino acids from about position 231 to about position 340 as numbered according to the EU numbering scheme and does not include hinge region sequences. CH2 and CH3 domain polypeptides may also be numbered by the IMGT (ImMunoGeneTics) numbering scheme in which the CH2 domain numbering is 1-110 and the CH3 domain numbering is 1-107, according to the IMGT Scientific chart numbering (IMGT website). CH2 and CH3 domains are part of the Fc region of an immunoglobulin. An Fc region refers to the segment of amino acids from about position 231 to about position 447 as numbered according to the EU numbering scheme, but as used herein, can include at least a part of a hinge region of an antibody. An illustrative hinge region sequence is the human IgG1 hinge sequence EPKSCDKTHTCPPCP (SEQ ID NO:4).
As used herein, the terms “wild-type,” “native,” and “naturally occurring” as used with reference to a CH3 or CH2 domain, refer to a domain that has a sequence that occurs in nature.
As used herein, the term “mutant,” as used with reference to a mutant polypeptide or mutant polynucleotide, is used interchangeably with “variant.” A variant with respect to a given wild-type CH3 or CH2 domain reference sequence can include naturally occurring allelic variants. A “non-naturally” occurring CH3 or CH2 domain refers to a variant or mutant domain that is not present in a cell in nature and that is produced by genetic modification, e.g., using genetic engineering technology or mutagenesis techniques, of a native CH3 domain or CH2 domain polynucleotide or polypeptide. A “variant” includes any domain comprising at least one amino acid mutation with respect to wild-type. Mutations may include substitutions, insertions, and deletions.
As used herein, the term “amino acid” refers to naturally occurring and synthetic amino acids, as well as amino acid analogs and amino acid mimetics that function in a manner similar to the naturally occurring amino acids. Naturally occurring are those encoded by the genetic code, as well as those amino acids that are later modified, e.g., hydroxyproline, γ-carboxyglutamate and O-phosphoserine. Naturally occurring α-amino acids include, without limitation, alanine (Ala), cysteine (Cys), aspartic acid (Asp), glutamic acid (Glu), phenylalanine (Phe), glycine (Gly), histidine (His), isoleucine (Ile), arginine (Arg), lysine (Lys), leucine (Leu), methionine (Met), asparagine (Asn), proline (Pro), glutamine (Gln), serine (Ser), threonine (Thr), valine (Val), tryptophan (Trp), tyrosine (Tyr), and combinations thereof. Stereoisomers of a naturally occurring α-amino acids include, without limitation, D-alanine (D-Ala), D-cysteine (D-Cys), D-aspartic acid (D-Asp), D-glutamic acid (D-Glu), D-phenylalanine (D-Phe), D-histidine (D-His), D-isoleucine (D-Ile), D-arginine (D-Arg), D-lysine (D-Lys), D-leucine (D-Leu), D-methionine (D-Met), D-asparagine (D-Asn), D-proline (D-Pro), D-glutamine (D-Gln), D-serine (D-Ser), D-threonine (D-Thr), D-valine (D-Val), D-tryptophan (D-Trp), D-tyrosine (D-Tyr), and combinations thereof. “Amino acid analogs” refers to compounds that have the same basic chemical structure as a naturally occurring amino acid, i.e., an a carbon that is bound to a hydrogen, a carboxyl group, an amino group, and an R group, e.g., homoserine, norleucine, methionine sulfoxide, methionine methyl sulfonium. Such analogs have modified R groups (e.g., norleucine) or modified peptide backbones, but retain the same basic chemical structure as a naturally occurring amino acid. “Amino acid mimetics” refers to chemical compounds that have a structure that is different from the general chemical structure of an amino acid, but that functions in a manner similar to a naturally occurring amino acid. Amino acids may be referred to herein by either their commonly known three letter symbols or by the one-letter symbols recommended by the IUPAC-IUB Biochemical Nomenclature Commission.
As used herein, “limited diversity,” in the context of a randomized codon within a polynucleotide library or any amino acid position within a polypeptide library described herein, refers to a codon or position that is restricted to allow fewer than all 20 naturally occurring amino acids.
As used herein, “beta-sheet position” in the context of a polypeptide is meant an amino acid that falls within a portion of the polypeptide whose structure is predominantly beta-sheet.
As used herein, the term “immunoglobulin-like fold” refers to a protein domain of between about 80-150 amino acid residues that includes two layers of antiparallel beta-sheets, and in which the flat, hydrophobic faces of the two beta-sheets are packed against each other.
As used herein, the terms “polypeptide” and “peptide” are used interchangeably to refer to a polymer of amino acid residues in a single chain. The terms apply to amino acid polymers in which one or more amino acid residue is an artificial chemical mimetic of a corresponding naturally occurring amino acid, as well as to naturally occurring amino acid polymers and non-naturally occurring amino acid polymers. Amino acid polymers may comprise entirely L-amino acids, entirely D-amino acids, or a mixture of L and D amino acids.
As used herein, the term “constant domain” refers to a domain in the constant region of an immunoglobulin molecule (e.g., CH1, CH2, CH3, CH4, Ckappa, Clambda).
As used herein, the term “modified constant domain” refers to a constant domain that has at least one mutation, e.g., a substitution, deletion or insertion, as compared to a wild-type immunoglobulin constant domain sequence, but retains the overall Ig fold or structure of the native constant domain.
As used herein, the term “Fc polypeptide” refers to the C-terminal region of a naturally occurring immunoglobulin heavy chain polypeptide that is characterized by an Ig fold as a structural domain. An Fc polypeptide contains constant region sequences including at least the CH2 domain and/or the CH3 domain and may contain at least part of the hinge region, but does not contain a variable region.
As used herein, the term “protein” refers to either a polypeptide or a dimer (i.e, two) or multimer (i.e., three or more) of single chain polypeptides. The single chain polypeptides of a protein may be joined by a covalent bond, e.g., a disulfide bond, or non-covalent interactions.
As used herein, the terms “identical” or percent “identity,” in the context of two or more polypeptide sequences, refer to two or more sequences or subsequences that are the same or have a specified percentage of amino acid residues, e.g., at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% or greater, that are identical over a specified region when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence over a comparison window or designated region as measured using a sequence comparison algorithm or by manual alignment and visual inspection.
For sequence comparison of polypeptides, typically one amino acid sequence acts as a reference sequence, to which a candidate sequence is compared. Alignment can be performed using various methods available to one of skill in the art, e.g., visual alignment or using publicly available software using known algorithms to achieve maximal alignment. Such programs include the BLAST programs, ALIGN, ALIGN-2 (Genentech, South San Francisco, Calif.) or Megalign (DNASTAR). The parameters employed for an alignment to achieve maximal alignment can be determined by one of skill in the art. For sequence comparison of polypeptide sequences for purposes of this application, the BLASTP algorithm standard protein BLAST for aligning two proteins sequence with the default parameters is used.
As used herein, the term “binding affinity” refers to the strength of a non-covalent interaction between two molecules, e.g., between a Fab or scFv and an antigen, or between a polypeptide described herein (or a target-binding portion thereof) and a target. Thus, for example, the term may refer to 1:1 interactions between a Fab or scFv and an antigen or between a polypeptide described herein (or a target-binding portion thereof) and a target, unless otherwise indicated or clear from context. Binding affinity may be quantified by measuring an equilibrium dissociation constant (KD), which refers to the dissociation rate constant (kd, time−1) divided by the association rate constant (ka, time−1 M−1). KD can be determined by measurement of the kinetics of complex formation and dissociation, e.g., using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) methods, e.g., a Biacore™ system; kinetic exclusion assays such as KinExA®; and BioLayer interferometry (e.g., using the FortéBio® Octet platform). As used herein, “binding affinity” includes not only formal binding affinities, such as those reflecting 1:1 interactions between a Fab or scFv and an antigen or between a polypeptide described herein (or a target-binding portion thereof) and a target, but also apparent affinities for which KD's are calculated that may reflect avid binding.
As used herein, the term “specifically binds” refers to a molecule (e.g., a Fab, an scFv, or a polypeptide described herein (or a target-binding portion thereof) that binds to an epitope or target with greater affinity, greater avidity, and/or greater duration to that epitope or target in a sample than it binds to another epitope or non-target compound (e.g., a structurally different antigen). In some embodiments, a Fab, scFv, or polypeptide described herein (or a target-binding portion thereof) that specifically binds to an epitope or target is a Fab, scFv, or polypeptide described herein (or a target-binding portion thereof) that binds to the epitope or target with at least 5-fold greater affinity than other epitopes or non-target compounds, e.g., at least 6-fold, 7-fold, 8-fold, 9-fold, 10-fold, 25-fold, 50-fold, 100-fold, 1000-fold, 10,000-fold, or greater affinity. The term “specific binding,” “specifically binds to,” or “is specific for” a particular epitope or target, as used herein, can be exhibited, for example, by a molecule having an equilibrium dissociation constant KD for the epitope or target to which it binds of, e.g., 10−4 M or smaller, e.g., 10−5 M, 10−6 M, 10−7 M, 10−8 M, 10−9 M, 10−10 M, 10−11 M, or 10−12 M. It will be recognized by one of skill that a Fab or scFv that specifically binds to a target from one species may also specifically bind to orthologs of that target.
As used herein, the terms “subject,” “individual,” and “patient” are used interchangeably to refer to a mammal, including but not limited to humans, non-human primates, rodents (e.g., rats, mice, and guinea pigs), and other mammalian species. In one embodiment, the patient is a human.
As used herein, the terms “treatment,” “treating,” and the like generally mean obtaining a desired pharmacologic and/or physiologic effect. “Treating” or “treatment” may refer to any indicia of success in the treatment or amelioration of a neurodegenerative disease (e.g., Alzheimer's disease or another neurodegenerative disease described herein), including any objective or subjective parameter such as abatement, remission, improvement in patient survival, increase in survival time or rate, diminishing of symptoms or making the disease more tolerable to the patient, slowing in the rate of degeneration or decline, or improving a patient's physical or mental well-being. The treatment or amelioration of symptoms can be based on objective or subjective parameters. The effect of treatment can be compared to an individual or pool of individuals not receiving the treatment, or to the same patient prior to treatment or at a different time during treatment.
As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable excipient” refers to a non-active pharmaceutical ingredient that is biologically or pharmacologically compatible for use in humans or animals, such as, but not limited to a buffer, carrier, or preservative.
As used herein, the term “therapeutic agent” refers to any molecule, drug, or agent that is used in the treatment and/or prevention of a disease. A therapeutic agent can be an organic small molecule or compound, a polypeptide, a protein, a nucleic acid, and/or a combination of any of the above. In some embodiments, a therapeutic agent can be a known molecule, drug, or agent. In some embodiments, the therapeutic agent is a polypeptide containing an antigen-binding domain, e.g., an antibody variable domain polypeptide having one or more complimentarity determining regions (CDRs), or an antigen-binding fragment thereof. In particular embodiments, a therapeutic agent can be a Fab (e.g., a Fab that binds to a target that is not a TfR or CD98hc). In some embodiments, depending on the disease to be treated, a therapeutic agent can bind to a target (e.g., a biological target, a therapeutic target, a target that is not a TfR or CD98hc) to treat and/or prevent the disease. Such targets may include cell surface targets in the brain, such as on a microglial cell, an astrocyte, an oligodendrocyte, a neuron, and a cancer cell. For example, such targets include TREM2, PILRA, CD33, CR1, ABCA1, ABCA7, MS4A4A, MS4A6A, MS4A4E, HLA-DR5, HLA-DR1, IL1RAP, TREML2, IL-34, SORL1, ADAM17, and Siglec11. In some embodiments, the target may include alpha-synuclein or derivatives or fragments thereof, amyloid-beta peptide or derivatives of fragments thereof, Tau or derivatives or fragments thereof, pTau, huntingtin, transthyretin, or TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) or derivatives or fragments thereof.
In some embodiments, the target is on a tumor cell and is selected from the group consisting of ALK, AXL, CD25, CD44v6, CD46, CD56 (NCAM), CDH6 (cadherin 6), CEACAM 5 (CD66E), EGFR, EGFR viii, ETBR, FGFR (1-4), Folate Receptor alpha, GAL-3BP (galectin binding protein), GD2, GD3, GloboH (globohexasylceramide), gp100, gpNMB, HER2, HER3, HER4, IGFR1, KIT, LIV1A, LRRC15 (leucine rich repeat containing 15), MET, NaPi2B, PDL1, PMEL17, PRAME, PSMA, PTK7 (CCK4; colon carcinoma kinase), RON, ROR1, TF (tissue factor), and TROP2. In some embodiments the cell is a hematological cancer cell and the cell surface receptor is selected from the group consisting of B7H3, BCMA, CD125, CD166, CD19, CD20, CD205, CD22, CD25, CD30, CD37, CD39, CD73, and CD79b. Known therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer include, for example, lorlatinib, crizotinib, cabozantinib, basiliximab, daclizumab, bivatuzumab, promiximab, lorvotuzumab, polatuzumab, tusamitamab, sunitinib, cetuximab, panitumumab, nimotuzumab, necitumumab, rindopepimut (CDX-110), amivantamab, pemigatinib, erdafitinib, STRO-002, bevacizumab, naxitamab, ipilimumab, tebentafusp, glembatumumab, margetuximab-cmkb, enhertu, trastuzumab, pertuzumab, patritumab, seribantumab, lumretuzumab, elgemtumab, U3-1402, AV-203, KTN3379, AVE1642, MK-0646, cixutumumab, ladiratuzumab, gemtuzumab, pembrolizumab, sacituzumab, samrotamab, amivantamab-vmjw, TEPMETKO, lifastuzumab, 177lutetium-PSMA-617, cofetuzumab, Zt/g4-MMAE, VLS-101, brexucabtagene, CS5001, tisotumab, sacituzumab, teclistamab, atezolizumab, avelumab, cosibelimab, durvalumab, belantamab, benralizumab, tafasitamab, loncastuximab, obinutuzumab, ofatumumab, rituximab, MEN1309/OBT076, inotuzumab, and brentuximab.
Additional known targets in the brain, as well as agents that bind such targets, are described in the following references which are hereby incorporated by reference herein: WO 2016/023019; WO 2017/062672; WO 2018/195506; WO 2019/118513; WO 2019/023292; WO 2019/079529; WO 2019/180224; US2019/0040130; US2019/0174730; WO 2020/069050; US2017/0137518; US2012/0258110; WO 2019/126472; U.S. Pat. No. 8,691,227; WO 2019/152715; US 2007/026425; WO 2019/028283; US2018/016066, U.S. Pat. No. 9,079,958; WO 2020/069050; WO 2022/258841; J Immunol 2000 165:1197-1209; Translational Neurodegeneration, 11, 18 (2022).
As used herein, a “therapeutic amount” or “therapeutically effective amount” of an agent is an amount of the agent (e.g., any of the proteins described herein) that treats a disease in a subject.
As used herein, term “administer” refers to a method of delivering agents, compounds, or compositions to the desired site of biological action. These methods include, but are not limited to, topical delivery, oral delivery, parenteral delivery, intravenous delivery, intradermal delivery, intramuscular delivery, intrathecal delivery, colonic delivery, rectal delivery, or intraperitoneal delivery. In one embodiment, a protein as described herein is administered intravenously.
We have developed a “limited liability” design approach for polypeptide libraries, as well as libraries in polypeptides, particularly immunoglobulin molecules, that include a substantial beta-sheet component. These are detailed in the sections below. Also described are engineering methods that can be used with these libraries and library design approach to generate polypeptides with non-native binding sites, including for example sites that bind to CD98hc or TfR.
Libraries with Limited Liability
We have observed that large (>9 positions) combinatorial libraries in polypeptides, when used to screen against potential targets, produce a significant number of polypeptides that bind non-specifically (e.g., through hydrophobic interactions) or have a liability that makes them difficult to work with (e.g., express poorly, overly hydrophobic, poor stability). To reduce but not eliminate the appearance of amino residues that are associated with these properties in our libraries, we have taken what we have termed a “limited liability” approach. This approach involves reducing the frequency at which certain amino acids (e.g., Cys, Trp, Met, Arg, and Gly) appear in the library, but not eliminating their presence altogether, while also maintaining variabilty at these limited positions, for example, allowing for at least 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, or 16 amino acids at these positions. Specifically, this involves reducing the appearance of at least one of these amino acids at 10−60% (e.g., 20-60%, 30%-60%, or 40-60%) of the randomized positions in the library, particularly where some, or even all, of the other randomized positions allow for all twenty naturally occuring amino acids. In particular cases, the positions with limited diversity alternate with positions that allow all twenty amino acids. This can avoid having too many amino acids that can contribute to undesired properties in close proximity. In some cases, the alternating is positioned relative to the primary sequence of the polypeptide. Where the structure of the protein is known (e.g., if the crystal structure has been solved), placement of the limited liability positions can be spaced out relative to the positions with greater or full diversity in three-dimensional space. As explained in the examples below, this approach has led to discovery of the specific CD98hc-binding polypeptides described herein.
Limited liability libraries can be generated using any known approach for peptide library development. The libraries described in the examples herein were generated from polynucleotide libraries encoding for the polypeptides of interest using degenerate codons, in particular using the NNK codon (which allows all 20 amino acids) interspersed with limited liability codons, such as NHK, which does not allow Arg, Cys, Trp, or Gly. The invention also contemplates using other codons that provide a limited liability advantage. Possible codons can be selected from any known that provide “limited liability,” such as those described in Mena et al., Protein Eng Des Sel 18:559-61, 2005, which are shown below. Table II in Mena et al. is shown as Table 1A below.
ACDEFGHIKLMNPQRSTVWXY
ADEFHIKLMNPQSTVXY
A
FILMSTV
FILM
F
HIKLMNQ
H
HIKLMNPQT
HNPT
N
T
T
ADEGHIKLMNPQRSTV
ADEFHIKLMNPQSTVXY
ADEGIKMNRSTV
S
T
S
LM
V
M
V
V
L
V
V
F
H
IKLMNQRS
H
IKLMNQ
IKMN
I
M
I
L
M
L
M
V
V
In addition to codon-based techniques or generating libraries based on degenerate codons, limited liability libraries can also be generated using trinucleotide mutagenesis technology. These approaches involve high throughput technologies whereby specific proportions of trinucleotide base pairs each encoding for a single amino acid can be added into the libraries to precisely control the ratio of amino acids at a given position. Technology using such approaches are commercially available from companies such as Sloning BioTechnology GmbH (Germany) and Azenta Life Sciences (Chelmsford, Mass.). These polynucleotide libraries can be expressed to generate polypeptide libraries useful for screening against targets, including TfR and CD98hc.
Libraries that include randomzied amino acids within the beta-sheet secondary structure of a polypeptide are also described herein. In general, these libraries use an exposed portion of a beta-sheet, where the randomzied amino acids together form a surface that is capable of creating an antigen binding site. In addition to the beta-sheet surface, the antigen binding site can also include residues from adjacent areas on the polypeptide, e.g., in loop regions that connect the beta-strands or in other structural features of the protein that are proximate in three-dimensional space.
Use of beta-sheet regions has certain advantages, including those described herein, which include greater structural stability (as compared to loop regions or other less structured portions of the polypeptide) of the antigen binding site, and in certain contexts, the formation of distinct surface topologies (e.g., a flat, extended concave surface) well-suited for forming some protein-protein interactions.
Specific examples of beta-sheet libraries include those generated from beta-sheet portions of immunoglobulin proteins. In some examples, the beta-sheet libraries are generated in a constant domain of the immunoglobulin, for example in a CH1, CH2, CH3, CH4, or CL domain. Other examples include beta-sheet portions of the variable domains, which can include non-CDR portions of the variable region.
For constant domains of human IgG1 molecules, the positions shown in Table 1B are useful for generating beta-sheet libraries.
Based on these positions in the IgG1 heavy chain constant region, corresponding positions can be identified in different domains (e.g., the variable region and light chains), in different subtypes (e.g., IgG2, IgG3, IgG4), different species (e.g., mouse, rat, cynomolgous monkey), and other Ig types (e.g., IgA, IgM, IgE). As an example, alignment of the primary amino acid sequence from different domains to the corresponding domain in the IgG1 heavy chain constant region can be used to determine analogous positions useful for generating beta-sheet libraries in additional domains. Alternatively, structural alignment of a domain to one or more of the Ig domain structures in the IgG1 heavy chain constant region can be used to determine potential beta-sheet library positions in domains for which structural information exists or can be predicted. Whether an identified residue is surface exposed and amenable to inclusion in the library, or buried at a protein-protein interface (e.g. the CH3-CH3 interface, the VH-VL interface) can similarly be determined using structural information about the specific domain, which can be found in databases such as the Protein Data Bank (Berman et al., Nucleic Acids Res, 28: 235-242, 2000) or based on predictions such as the AlphaFold Protein Structure Database (Jumper et al., Nature, 596: 583-589, 2021).
The limited liability approach to library design and diversification and libraries comprising beta-sheet secondary structure described herein can be used to generate libraries on any appropriate polypeptide scaffold. These can encompass any polypeptide that has beta-sheet secondary structure, which includes the immunoglobulins, fibronectin type-III domains, anticalins, kunitz domains, nanofitins, centyrins, affimers, and lipocalins, as well as numerous other proteins that have this canonical beta-sheet structure.
As described below, we have used beta-sheet polypeptide libraries that may, in some cases, employ the limited library concept to discover polypeptides that have been engineered to bind target proteins, specifically CD98hc or TfR.
In general terms, the polypeptide libraries are expressed (e.g., on the cell surface) and interrogated for binding to the target protein. This can be done in any appropriate way, and various aspects of screening approaches are described in Kariolis et al., Sci Transl Med 12(545):eaay1359, 2020. In one approach, the polypeptide library is expressed as a surface display library (e.g., phage display or yeast display), and is incubated with the target protein, which can be can conjugated to magnetic bead (MACS) or fluorescently labeled to facilitate library selections using fluoresnce-activated cell sorting (FACS). Following incubation with the target antigen, binders are separated from non-binders, and this process is repeated to enrich the library for desired polypeptide clones that interact with the target antigen.
Following the identification of initial binders from the polypeptide libraries, improvements to various biochemical and biophysical properies can be further engineered. Some of these improvements can include, but are not limited to stronger, binding to the antigen, specificity (e.g., binding to cynomolgus and human forms of the antigen), or an increase in structural (e.g., thermal) stability. To achieve this, maturation libraries (e.g., as described herein) can be designed and screened to isolate variants with the desired improved properties. Approaches for designing these libraries can include: expanding the epitope by mutating amino acid positions in proximity to the original library positions, randomizing the sequence of initial binders using an approach biased towards keeping some part of the original sequence, or using error-prone PCR to randomly incorporate mutations across the domain to explore additional sequence space both within and proximal to the binding epitope. These libraries are then screened using the methods described above to isolate clones with a desired set of properties.
This section describes generation of polypeptides in accordance with the present disclosure that bind to a CD98hc protein (i.e., polypeptides having a CD98hc-binding site). These polypeptides are capable of being transported across the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
A polypeptide as provided herein can comprise a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a CD98hc protein. As described herein, when describing a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprising a modified CH3 domain comprising amino acids 111-217 of certain SEQ ID NO(S), or a modified CH3 domain comprising amino acid substitutions or deletions relative to amino acids 111-217 of certain SEQ ID NO(S), or a modified CH3 domain comprising a sequence having a percent identity to amino acids 111-217 of certain SEQ ID NO(S), such descriptions are directed to the sequence of the modified CH3 domain, and are not to be construed as limiting the polypeptide to contain amino acids 1-110 of the recited SEQ ID NO(S).
One of skill understands that the CH3 domains of other immunoglobulin isotypes, e.g., IgM, IgA, IgE, IgD, etc. may be similarly modified by identifying the amino acids in those domains that correspond to the amino acid substitutions at the positions described herein. Modifications may also be made to corresponding domains from immunoglobulins from other species, e.g., non-human primates, monkey, mouse, rat, or other non-human mammals.
In one embodiment, provided herein is a modified polypeptide comprising a modified constant domain (e.g., a modified CH3 domain) that specifically binds to a CD98hc protein wherein the modified constant domain comprises at least five, six, seven, eight, or nine substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 382, 384, 385, 387, 422, 424, 426, 438, 440; and wherein the substitutions are determined with reference to SEQ ID NO:1 and the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, polypeptides that bind to CD98hc are from the LLB2 family. In some embodiments, the polypeptides comprise at least eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 378, 380, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 389, 391, 421, 422, 424, 426, 428, 434, 436, 438, 440, 441, and 442. In some embodiments, the substitutions are selected from a S, V, D, E, or Y at position 378, a L, I, M, A, Q, V, or K at position 380, a N, S, L, M, P, Y, K, A, or T at position 382, a T, F, N, P, D, L, H, or Q at position 383, a K, R, H, I, L, F, Y, V, or Q at position 384, a F or Y at position 385, a V, L, A, I, F, Y, S, T, H, R, or E at position 386, a L or I at position 387, a D, Q, A, T, H, or V at position 389, a T, V, or A at position 391, a E, Q, or A at position 421, a L, M, I, T, or P at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a L, T, P, Y F, I, A, K, H, or W at position 428, a S at position 434, a L, V, H, F, P, R or W at position 436, a F or W at position 438, a L, P, E, N, V, A, I, or D at position 440, a P at position 441, and an A, V, M, Q, F, P, L, Y, K, R, H, or M at position 442.
In some embodiments, polypeptides that bind to CD98hc are from the LLB1 family. In some embodiments, the polypeptides comprise at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 378, 380, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 389, 421, 422, 424, 426, 428, 434, 436, 438, 440, and 442. In some embodiments, the substitutions are selected from a S or V at position 378, a D, M, N, P, F, or H at position 380, a R, Y, F, S, W, Y, K, or N at position 382, a T at position 383, a L, Y, A, S, or F at position 384, a F, K, D, M, I, N, Y, L, or H at position 385, a T, P, E, K, A, V, D, T, or F at position 386, a N, L, Y, R, F, G, S, D, or T at position 387, a T, Y, or F at position 389, a D, E, or Q at position 421, a I, K, L, R, T, F, or H at position 422, a V, W, G, L, I, P, or Y at position 424, a D, A, Q, W, L, or P at position 426, a L or Y at position 428, a S at position 434, a F at position, 436, a I, V, F, N, P, or S at position 438, and a K, T, P, I, or F at position 440, and a Q or M at position 442.
In one embodiment, a modified polypeptide comprising a modified constant domain (e.g., a modified CH3 domain) comprises a sequence having at least 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% sequence identity to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:28-45.
This section describes generation of polypeptides in accordance with the present disclosure that bind to a transferrin receptor (TfR) (i.e., polypeptides having a TfR-binding site). These polypeptides are capable of being transported across the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
A polypeptide as provided herein can comprise a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a TfR. As described herein, when describing a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprising a modified CH3 domain comprising amino acids 111-217 of certain SEQ ID NO(S), or a modified CH3 domain comprising amino acid substitutions and/or deletions relative to amino acids 111-217 of certain SEQ ID NO(S), or a modified CH3 domain comprising a sequence having a percent identity to amino acids 111-217 of certain SEQ ID NO(S), such descriptions are directed to the sequence of the CH3 domain, and are not to be construed as limiting the polypeptide to contain amino acids 1-113 of the recited SEQ ID NO(S).
One of skill understands that the CH3 domains of other immunoglobulin isotypes, e.g., IgM, IgA, IgE, IgD, etc. may be similarly modified by identifying the amino acids in those domains that correspond to the amino acid substitutions at the positions described herein. Modifications may also be made to corresponding domains from immunoglobulins from other species, e.g., non-human primates, monkey, mouse, rat, or other non-human mammals.
In one embodiment, provided herein is a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440. The modified CH3 domain may not have the combination of G at position 437, F at position 438, and D at position 440, and wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
Also provided herein is a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises three, four, five, six, seven, or eight amino acid substitutions and/or one or two amino acid deletions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380 and 382-389; and five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
Also provided herein is a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises a sequence comprising at least one amino acid substitution in the sequence of VFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKS (SEQ ID NO:57), wherein the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57 is from position 422 to position 440 of an Fc polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1), the sequence does not have the combination of G at position 437, F at position 438, and D at position 440, and the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises a sequence comprising five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440.
Also provided herein is a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises a first sequence comprising at least one amino acid substitution and/or deletion in the sequence of AVEWESNGQPENN (SEQ ID NO:56), and a second sequence comprising at least one amino acid substitution in the sequence of VFSCSVIHEALHNHYTQKS (SEQ ID NO:57), wherein the sequence of SEQ ID NO:56 is from position 378 to position 390 of an Fc polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1), the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57 is from position 422 to position 440 of an Fc polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1), and the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises three, four, five, six, seven, or eight amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380 and 382-389. In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440.
Provided herein are polypeptides that comprise a modified CH3 domain having at least one (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, or eight (e.g., three, four, five, six, seven, or eight)) amino acid substitution and/or at least one (e.g., one or two) amino acid deletion in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380 and 382-389, according to EU numbering. The modified CH3 domain can comprise a sequence comprising at least one (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, or eight (e.g., three, four, five, six, seven, or eight)) amino acid substitution and/or at least one (e.g., one or two) amino acid deletion in the sequence of AVEWESNGQPENN (SEQ ID NO:56), which is from position 378 to position 390 of an Fc polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1). In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain can comprise a sequence comprising at least one (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, or eight (e.g., three, four, five, six, seven, or eight)) amino acid substitution and/or at least one (e.g., one or two) amino acid deletion in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380 and 382-389 relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:56, in which the positions are numbered according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain in the polypeptide comprises F at position 382. In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises A or a polar amino acid at position 383. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises A at position 383. In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises a polar amino acid (e.g., Y, S, N, Q, T, H, K, D, E, or W (e.g., Y or S)) at position 383. In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises Y or S at position 383. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises G, N, or an acidic amino acid at position 384. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises G or N at position 384. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises an acidic amino acid (e.g., D or E) at position 384. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises N, R, or a polar amino acid at position 389. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises N or R at position 389. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises a polar amino acid (e.g., Y, S, N, Q, T, H, K, D, E, or W (e.g., S or T)) at position 389. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises S or T at position 389.
In certain embodiments, at least one of the amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380 and 382-389 is at a beta-sheet position relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:56. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises one, two, or three amino acid substitutions at beta-sheet positions relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:56. In particular embodiments, the beta-sheet position(s) are selected from the group consisting of: positions 380, 382, and 383, according to EU numbering. In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises an amino acid substitution at position 380 relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:56, for example, E, N, F, or Y. In particular embodiments, the amino acid substitution at position 380 is E. In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises an amino acid substitution (e.g., F) at position 382 relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:56. In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises an amino acid substitution at position 383 relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:56, for example, Y or A. In particular embodiments, the amino acid substitution at position 383 is Y.
In some embodiments of the polypeptide described herein, the polypeptide can comprise a modified CH3 domain comprising at least one position selected from the following: E, N, F, or Y at position 380, F at position 382, Y, S, A, or an amino acid deletion at position 383, G, D, E, or N at position 384, D, G, N, or A at position 385, Q, S, G, A, or N at position 386, K, I, R, or G at position 387, E, L, D, or Q at position 388, N, T, S, or R at position 389, wherein the positions are numbered according to EU numbering. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain can comprise five, six, seven, or eight positions selected from the following: F at position 382, Y or S at position 383, G, D, or E at position 384, D, G, N, or A at position 385, Q, S, or A at position 386, K at position 387, E or L at position 388, N, T, or S at position 389. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain can comprise the following five positions: F at position 382, E at position 384, S at position 386, K at position 387, and T at position 389. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain can comprise the following five positions: F at position 382, G at position 384, A at position 385, K at position 387, and S at position 389. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain can comprise the following six positions: F at position 382, G at position 384, A at position 385, K at position 387, L at position 388, and T at position 389. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain can comprise the following six positions: F at position 382, Y at position 383, E at position 384, A at position 385, K at position 387, and L at position 388. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain can comprise the following seven positions: F at position 382, Y at position 383, G at position 384, N at position 385, A at position 386, K at position 387, and T at position 389. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain can comprise the following eight positions: F at position 382, Y at position 383, D at position 384, D at position 385, S at position 386, K at position 387, L at position 388, and T at position 389.
Modifications at Positions 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and/or 440
Provided herein are polypeptides that comprise a modified CH3 domain having at least one (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven (e.g., five, six, or seven)) amino acid substitution in a set of amino acid positions comprising 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440, according to EU numbering. The modified CH3 domain can comprise a sequence comprising at least one (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven (e.g., five, six, or seven)) amino acid substitution in the sequence of VFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKS (SEQ ID NO:57), which is from position 422 to position 440 of an Fc polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1). In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain can comprise a sequence comprising at least one (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven (e.g., five, six, or seven)) amino acid substitution in a set of amino acid positions comprising 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440 relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57, in which the positions are numbering according to EU numbering. The modified CH3 domain does not have the combination of G at position 437, F at position 438, and D at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments of the modified CH3 domain in the polypeptide, at least one of the amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440 is at a beta-sheet position relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises at one, two, three, or four amino acid substitutions at beta-sheet positions relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57. In particular embodiments, the beta-sheet position(s) are selected from the group consisting of: positions 424, 426, 438, and 440, according to EU numbering. In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises an amino acid substitution at beta-sheet position 424 relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57. The amino acid substitution at beta-sheet position 424 in the modified CH3 domain can be A. In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises an amino acid substitution at beta-sheet position 426 relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57. The amino acid substitution at beta-sheet position 426 can be E. In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises an amino acid substitution at beta-sheet position 438 relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57. The amino acid substitution at beta-sheet position 438 can be Y. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises an amino acid substitution at beta-sheet position 440 relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57. The amino acid substitution at beta-sheet position 440 can be L.
In some embodiments of the modified CH3 domain in the polypeptide, the modified CH3 domain comprises H or E (e.g., H) at position 433. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises N or G (e.g., N) at position 434.
In some embodiments of the polypeptide described herein, the polypeptide can comprise a modified CH3 domain comprising at least one position selected from the following: L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, H or E at position 433, N or G at position 434, Y at position 438, and L at position 440. In particular, the modified CH3 domain can comprise five positions selected from the following: L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, and L at position 440.
The disclosure provides polypeptides comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises: (i) a sequence of AVX1WFX2X3X4X5X6X7X8N (SEQ ID NO:65), wherein X1 is E, N, F, or Y; X2 is Y, S, A, or absent; X3 is G, D, E, or N; X4 is D, G, N, or A; X5 is Q, S, G, A, or N; X6 is K, I, R, or G; X7 is E, L, D, or Q; and X8 is N, T, S, or R; and (ii) a sequence of LFACEVMHEALX1X2HYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:67), wherein X1 is H or E; and X2 is N or G. The disclosure provides polypeptides comprising a modified CH3 domain that specifically binds to a transferrin receptor (TfR), wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises: (i) a sequence of AVEWFX1X2X3X4KX5X6N (SEQ ID NO:66), wherein X1 is Y or S; X2 is G, D, or E; X3 is D, G, N, or A; X4 is Q, S, or A; X5 is E or L; and X6 is N, T, or S; and (ii) a sequence of LFACEVMHEALHNHYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:64).
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises a sequence of AVEWFYDDSKLTN (SEQ ID NO:58), AVEWFYGNAKETN (SEQ ID NO:59), AVEWFYEAQKLNN (SEQ ID NO:60), AVEWFSEGSKETN (SEQ ID NO:61), AVEWFSGAQKESN (SEQ ID NO:62), or AVEWFSGAQKLTN (SEQ ID NO:63). In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises the sequence of LFACEVMHEALHNHYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:64).
A modified CH3 domain in the polypeotides described herein can comprise the sequence of AVEWFYDDSKLTN (SEQ ID NO:58) and the sequence of LFACEVMHEALHNHYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:64). A modified CH3 domain in the polypeotides described herein can comprise the sequence of AVEWFYGNAKETN (SEQ ID NO:59) and the sequence of LFACEVMHEALHNHYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:64). A modified CH3 domain in the polypeotides described herein can comprise the sequence of AVEWFYEAQKLNN (SEQ ID NO:60) and the sequence of LFACEVMHEALHNHYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:64). A modified CH3 domain in the polypeotides described herein can comprise the sequence of AVEWFSEGSKETN (SEQ ID NO:61) and the sequence of LFACEVMHEALHNHYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:64). A modified CH3 domain in the polypeotides described herein can comprise the sequence of AVEWFSGAQKESN (SEQ ID NO:62) and the sequence of LFACEVMHEALHNHYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:64). A modified CH3 domain in the polypeotides described herein can comprise the sequence of AVEWFSGAQKLTN (SEQ ID NO:63) and the sequence of LFACEVMHEALHNHYTYKL (SEQ ID NO:64).
In some embodiments of the polypeptide, the modified CH3 domain further comprises one, two, three, four, or five amino acid substitutions at positions comprising 419-421, 442, and 443, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In particular embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises Q or P at position 419, G or R at position 420, N or G at position 421, S or G at position 442, and/or L or E at position 443. In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises P at position 419, R at position 420, G at position 421, G at position 442, and E at position 443.
The disclosure provides polypeptides comprising a sequence of
In some embodiments, the disclosure provides polypeptides comprising a sequence of:
In some embodiments, the disclosure provides polypeptides comprising a sequence of:
In some embodiments, the disclosure provides polypeptides comprising a sequence of:
In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises a sequence having at least 85% identity, at least 90% identity, or at least 95% identity (e.g., 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% identity) to amino acids 111-217 of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises a sequence having at least 85% identity, at least 90% identity, or at least 95% identity (e.g., 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% identity) to amino acids 111-217 of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77, in which amino acids at positions 380, 382-389, 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and/or 440, according to EU numbering, in each of SEQ ID NOS:72-77 are not changed. In certain embodiments, the modified CH3 domain comprises amino acids 111-217 of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77.
In some embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprising a modified CH3 domain described herein comprises a sequence having at least 85% identity, at least 90% identity, or at least 95% identity (e.g., 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% identity) to a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77. In some embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprising a modified CH3 domain described herein comprises a sequence having at least 85% identity, at least 90% identity, or at least 95% identity (e.g., 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% identity) to a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77, in which amino acids at positions 380, 382-389, 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and/or 440, according to EU numbering, in each of SEQ ID NOS:72-77 are not changed. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprising a modified CH3 domain described herein comprises a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77.
A polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprising a modified CH3 domain described herein can comprise: F at position 382, Y at position 383, D at position 384, D at position 385, S at position 386, K at position 387, L at position 388, T at position 389, P at position 419, R at position 420, G at position 421, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, G at position 442, and E at position 443, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
A polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprising a modified CH3 domain described herein can comprise: F at position 382, Y at position 383, G at position 384, N at position 385, A at position 386, K at position 387, T at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
A polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprising a modified CH3 domain described herein can comprise: F at position 382, Y at position 383, E at position 384, A at position 385, K at position 387, L at position 388, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
A polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprising a modified CH3 domain described herein can comprise: F at position 382, E at position 384, S at position 386, K at position 387, T at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
A polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprising a modified CH3 domain described herein can comprise: F at position 382, G at position 384, A at position 385, K at position 387, S at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
A polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprising a modified CH3 domain described herein can comprise: F at position 382, G at position 384, A at position 385, K at position 387, L at position 388, T at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, the polypeptides described above can further comprise W at position 366. In some embodiments, the polypeptides described above can further comprise S at position 366, A at position 368, and V at position 407. In certain embodiments, the polypeptides described above can further comprise A at position 234 and A at positon 235. In certain embodiments, the polypeptides described above can further comprise Gly or Ser at position 329. In some embodiments, the polypeptides described above can further comprise L at position 428 and S at position 434. The positions are determined according to EU numbering.
A polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprising a modified CH3 domain as provided herein can also comprise additional mutations, e.g., to provide for knob and hole heterodimerization of the polypeptide, to modulate effector function, to extend serum half-life, to influence glyscosylation, and/or to reduce immunogenicity in humans.
In some embodiments, the polypeptides (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprising a modified CH3 domain described herein include mutations to promote heterodimer formation and hinder homodimer formation. These modifications are useful, for example, where it is desired to have only one of the polypeptide of a dimer have a CD98hc or TfR binding site (i.e., a monovalent CD98hc or TfR binder).
The knobs-into-holes approach generally involves introducing a protuberance (“knob”) at the interface of a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) and a corresponding cavity (“hole”) in the interface of a second polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide), such that the protuberance can be positioned in the cavity so as to promote heterodimer formation and thus hinder homodimer formation. Protuberances are constructed by replacing small amino acid side chains from the interface of the first polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) with larger side chains (e.g., Tyr or Trp). Compensatory cavities of identical or similar size to the protuberances are created in the interface of the second polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) by replacing large amino acid side chains with smaller ones (e.g., Ala or Thr). In some embodiments, such additional mutations are at a position in the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) that does not have a negative effect on binding of the polypeptide to CD98hc or TfR.
In one illustrative embodiment of a knob and hole approach for dimerization, position 366 of one of the polypeptides (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprises a Trp in place of a native Thr. The other polypeptide in the dimer has a Val at position 407 in place of the native Tyr. The other polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) may further comprise a substitution in which the native Thr at position 366 is substituted with a Ser and a native Leu at position 368 is substituted with an Ala. Thus, one of the polypeptides (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) has the T366W knob mutation and the other polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) has the Y407V hole mutation, which is typically accompanied by the T366S and L368A hole mutations. As indicated above, all positions are numbered per EU numbering.
In some embodiments, one or both polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) present in a polypeptide dimer (e.g., an Fc polypeptide dimer) can also be engineered to contain other modifications for heterodimerization, e.g., electrostatic engineering of contact residues within a CH3-CH3 interface that are naturally charged or hydrophobic patch modifications.
The knobs-into-holes approach (e.g., T366W knob substitution on one polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) with the T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole substitution on the other polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide)) can be used with any of the polypeptides described herein (e.g., a CD98hc-binding polypeptide having a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:28-45, or a TfR-binding polypeptide having a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77 or a sequence of any one of the clones listed in Table 29).
In some embodiments, only one of the two polypeptides (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprises a CD98hc-binding site (e.g., a CD98hc-binding polypeptide having a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:28-45) while the other polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) does not contain a CD98hc-binding site. In particular embodiments, one of the polypeptides (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) is a CD98hc-binding polypeptide and contains a knob mutation (e.g., T366W), while the other polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) does not bind to CD98hc and contains a hole mutation (e.g., T366S, L368A, and Y407V). In other embodiments, one of the polypeptides (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) is a CD98hc-binding polypeptide and contains a hole mutation (e.g., T366S, L368A, and Y407V), while the other polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) does not bind to CD98hc and contains a knob mutation (e.g., T366W).
In some embodiments, only one of the two polypeptides (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprises a TfR-binding site (e.g., a TfR-binding polypeptide having a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77 or a sequence of any one of the clones listed in Table 29) while the other polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) does not contain a TfR-binding site. In particular embodiments, one of the polypeptides (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) is a TfR-binding polypeptide and contains a knob mutation (e.g., T366W), while the other polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) does not bind to TfR and contains a hole mutation (e.g., T366S, L368A, and Y407V). In other embodiments, one of the polypeptides (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) is a TfR-binding polypeptide and contains a hole mutation (e.g., T366S, L368A, and Y407V), while the other polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) does not bind to TfR and contains a knob mutation (e.g., T366W).
In particular embodiments, a polypeptide dimer (e.g., an Fc polypeptide dimer) that specifically binds to CD98hc can have a first polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having the T366W knob mutation and at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identical to any one of SEQ ID NOS:28-45, and a second polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having the T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole mutations and at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identical to SEQ ID NO:1. In other embodiments, a polypeptide dimer (e.g., an Fc polypeptide dimer) that specifically binds to CD98hc can have a first polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having the T366W knob mutation and at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identical to SEQ ID NO:1, and a second polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having the T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole mutations and at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identical to any one of SEQ ID NOS:28-45. In other embodiments, a polypeptide dimer (e.g., an Fc polypeptide dimer) that specifically binds to CD98hc can have a first polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having the T366W knob mutation and at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identical to SEQ ID NOS:28-45, and a second polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having the T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole mutations and at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identical to any one of SEQ ID NOS:28-45.
In particular embodiments, a polypeptide dimer (e.g., an Fc polypeptide dimer) that specifically binds to TfR can have a first polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having the T366W knob mutation and at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identical to a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77 or a sequence of any one of the clones listed in Table 29, and a second polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having the T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole mutations and at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identical to SEQ ID NO:1. In other embodiments, a polypeptide dimer (e.g., an Fc polypeptide dimer) that specifically binds to TfR can have a first polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having the T366W knob mutation and at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identical to SEQ ID NO:1, and a second polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having the T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole mutations and at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identical to a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77 or a sequence of any one of the clones listed in Table 29. In other embodiments, an Fc polypeptide dimer (e.g., an Fc polypeptide dimer) that specifically binds to TfR can have a first polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having the T366W knob mutation and at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identical to a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77 or a sequence of any one of the clones listed in Table 29, and a second polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having the T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole mutations and at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identical to a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77 or a sequence of any one of the clones listed in Table 29.
In some embodiments, a polypeptide dimer described herein is an Fc polypeptide dimer comprising two Fc polypeptides. In some embodiments, both Fc polypeptides in the Fc polypeptide dimer can comprise modifications that reduce or eliminate effector function, i.e., having a reduced ability to induce certain biological functions upon binding to an Fc receptor expressed on an effector cell that mediates the effector function. Effector cells include, but are not limited to, monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, eosinophils, mast cells, platelets, B cells, large granular lymphocytes, Langerhans' cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and cytotoxic T cells. Examples of antibody effector functions include, but are not limited to, Clq binding and complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), Fc receptor binding, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), antibody-dependent cell-mediated phagocytosis (ADCP), down-regulation of cell surface receptors (e.g., B cell receptor), and B-cell activation.
Illustrative Fc polypeptide mutations that reduce effector function include, but are not limited to, substitutions in a CH2 domain, e.g., at positions 234 and 235 and/or at position 329, according to the EU numbering scheme. For example, in some embodiments, both Fc polypeptides comprise Ala residues at positions 234 and 235 (also referred to as “LALA” herein). In some embodiments, both Fc polypeptides comprise Gly residue at position 329 (also referred to as “P329G” or “PG” herein) or Ser residue at position 329 (also referred to as “P329S” or “PS” herein). In some embodiments, both Fc polypeptides comprise Ala residues at positions 234 and 235, and Gly residue at position 329 (also referred to as “LALA PG” herein). In some embodiments, both Fc polypeptides comprise Ala residues at positions 234 and 235, and Ser residue at position 329 (also referred to as “LALA PS” herein).
Additional Fc polypeptide mutations that modulate an effector function include, but are not limited to, the following: position 329 may have a mutation in which Pro is substituted with a Gly, Ala, Ser, or Arg or an amino acid residue large enough to destroy the Fc/Fc receptor interface that is formed between proline 329 of the Fc and Trp residues Trp87 and Trp110 of FcγRIII. Additional illustrative substitutions include S228P, E233P, L235E, N297A, N297D, and P331S, according to the EU numbering scheme. Multiple substitutions may also be present, e.g., L234A, L235A, and P329G of human IgG1; S228P and L235E of human IgG4; L234A and G237A of human IgG1; L234A, L235A, and G237A of human IgG1; V234A and G237A of human IgG2; L235A, G237A, and E318A of human IgG4; and S228P and L236E of human IgG4, according to the EU numbering scheme.
In some embodiments, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) that specifically binds to CD98hc comprises LALA substitutions and a sequence having at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to any one of SEQ ID NOS:28-45.
In some embodiments, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) that specifically binds to CD98hc comprises LALA and P329G or P329S substitutions and a sequence having at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to any one of SEQ ID NOS:28-45.
In some embodiments, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) that specifically binds to TfR comprises LALA substitutions and a sequence having at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77 or a sequence of any one of the clones listed in Table 29.
In some embodiments, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) that specifically binds to TfR comprises LALA and P329G or P329S substitutions and a sequence having at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77 or a sequence of any one of the clones listed in Table 29.
In some embodiments, modifications to enhance serum half-life can be introduced into any polypeptides described herein. For example, in some embodiments, a polypeptide dimer described herein is an Fc polypeptide dimer comprising two Fc polypeptides. In some embodiments, both Fc polypeptides in the Fc polypeptide dimer can comprise M428L and N434S substitutions (also referred to as LS substitutions), as numbered according to the EU numbering scheme. Alternatively, both Fc polypeptides in an Fc polypeptide dimer can have an N434S or N434A substitution. Alternatively, both Fc polypeptides in an Fc polypeptide dimer can have an M428L substitution. In other embodiments, both Fc polypeptides in an Fc polypeptide dimer can comprise M252Y, S254T, and T256E substitutions.
In any of the embodiments described herein, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) that specifically binds to CD98hc can further comprise LS substitutions. For example, in some embodiments, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) that specifically binds to CD98hc comprises LS substitutions and a sequence having at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to any one of SEQ ID NOS:28-45.
In any of the embodiments described herein, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) that specifically binds to TfR can further comprise LS substitutions. For example, in some embodiments, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) that specifically binds to TfR comprises LS substitutions and a sequence having at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:72-77 or a sequence of any one of the clones listed in Table 29.
Polypeptide with C-terminal Lysine Residue Removed
In some embodiments, one or both of the polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) can have its C-terminal lysine removed (e.g., the Lys residue at position 447 of the Fc polypeptide, according to EU numbering). The C-terminal lysine residue is highly conserved in immunoglobulins across many species and may be fully or partially removed by the cellular machinery during protein production. In some embodiments, removal of the C-terminal lysines in the Fc polypeptides can improve the stability of the proteins.
A modified CH3 domain of the present disclosure may be joined to a CH2 domain, which may be a naturally occurring CH2 domain or a variant CH2 domain, typically at the C-terminal end of the CH2 domain to form a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) that binds to CD98hc. In some embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) further comprises a partial or full hinge region of an antibody, which is joined to the N-terminal end of the CH2 domain. The hinge region can be from any immunoglobulin subclass or isotype. An illustrative immunoglobulin hinge is an IgG hinge region, such as an IgG1 hinge region, e.g., human IgG1 hinge amino acid sequence EPKSCDKTHTCPPCP (SEQ ID NO:4).
In certain embodiments, provided herein are CD98hc-binding polypeptides which when bound to human CD98hc, binds to at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 of the residues selected from positions of the group consisting of: 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483, 486, 499, 497, 498, 500, 501, and 502 of SEQ ID NO: 134. In certain embodiments, provided herein are CD98hc-binding polypeptides which when bound to human CD98hc, binds to at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 of the residues selected from positions of the group consisting of: 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483, 486, 499, 497, 498, 500, 501, and 502 of SEQ ID NO: 134, and optionally binds additionally to at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 additional residue selected from positions of the group consisting of: 229, 231, 232, 236, 235, 488, 495, and 496 of SEQ ID NO: 134 or at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 additional residue selected from positions of the group consisting of: 312, 315, 348, 381, 439, 444, 443, 485, 484, 476, 475, and 442 of SEQ ID NO: 134. In some embodiments, provided herein are CD98hc-binding polypeptides which, when bound to human CD98hc, the polypeptide binds to positions 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483, 486, 499, 497, 498, 500, 501, and 502 of SEQ ID NO: 134. In certain embodiments, provided herein are CD98hc-binding polypeptides which when bound to human CD98hc, binds to at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22 of the residues selected from positions of the group consisting of: 229, 231, 232, 236, 235, 486, 488, 495, 496, 498, 500, 499, 497, 482, 481, 483, 477, 480, 501, 502, 478, and 479 of SEQ ID NO:134. In some embodiments, provided herein are CD98hc-binding polypeptides which when bound to human CD98hc, binds the residues at positions 229, 231, 232, 236, 235, 486, 488, 495, 496, 498, 500, 499, 497, 482, 481, 483, 477, 480, 501, 502, 478, and 479 of SEQ ID NO:134. In certain embodiments, provided herein are CD98hc-binding polypeptides which when bound to human CD98hc, binds to at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or 26 of the residues selected from positions of the group consisting of: 312, 315, 348, 381, 439, 444, 443, 485, 484, 477, 483, 481, 480, 478, 476, 502, 499, 501, 500, 498, 497, 486, 479, 482, 475, and 442 of SEQ ID NO: 134. In some embodiments, provided herein are CD98hc-binding polypeptides which when bound to human CD98hc, binds to the residues at positions 312, 315, 348, 381, 439, 444, 443, 485, 484, 477, 483, 481, 480, 478, 476, 502, 499, 501, 500, 498, 497, 486, 479, 482, 475, and 442 of SEQ ID NO: 134.
In some embodiments, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) can comprise a sequence from Table 2A and the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) can be further modified to contain a CD98hc binding site in the modified CH3 domain as described herein.
In further embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) described herein can be further joined to another moiety, for example, a Fab fragment, thus generating a CD98hc-binding Fc-Fab fusion. In some embodiments, the CD98hc-binding Fc-Fab fusion comprises a modified CH3 domain, a CH2 domain, a hinge region, and a Fab fragment. The Fab fragment may be to any target of interest, e.g., a therapeutic neurological target, where the Fab is delivered to the target by transcytosis across the BBB mediated by the binding of the modified CH3 domain polypeptide to CD98hc.
The CD98hc-binding polypeptide (e.g., a CD98hc-binding Fc polypeptide) may also be fused to a polypeptide of interest other than a Fab. For example, in some embodiments, the CD98hc-binding polypeptide (e.g., a CD98hc-binding Fc polypeptide) may be fused to a polypeptide that is desirable to target to a CD98hc-expressing cell or to deliver across an endothelium, e.g., the BBB, by transcytosis. In some embodiments, the CD98hc-binding polypeptide (e.g., a CD98hc-binding Fc polypeptide) is fused to a soluble protein. In still other embodiments, the CD98hc-binding polypeptide (e.g., a CD98hc-binding Fc polypeptide) may be fused to a peptide or protein useful in protein purification, e.g., polyhistidine, epitope tags, e.g., FLAG, c-Myc, hemagglutinin tags and the like, glutathione S transferase (GST), thioredoxin, protein A, protein G, or maltose binding protein (MBP). In some cases, the peptide or protein to which the CD98hc-binding polypeptide (e.g., a CD98hc-binding Fc polypeptide) is fused may comprise a protease cleavage site, such as a cleavage site for Factor Xa or Thrombin.
In some embodiments, the polypeptides that bind to CD98hc are from the LLB2 family. In some embodiments, the polypeptide comprises at least eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 378, 380, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 389, 391, 421, 422, 424, 426, 428, 434, 436, 438, 440, 441, and 442.
In some embodiments, the substitutions are selected from a S, V, D, E, or Y at position 378, a L, I, M, A, Q, V, or K at position 380, a N, S, L, M, P, Y, K, A, or T at position 382, a T, F, N, P, D, L, H, or Q at position 383, a K, R, H, I, L, F, Y, V, or Q at position 384, a F or Y at position 385, a V, L, A, I, F, Y, S, T, H, R, or E at position 386, a L or I at position 387, a D, Q, A, T, H, or V at position 389, a T, V, or A at position 391, a E, Q, or A at position 421, a L, M, I, T, or P at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a L, T, P, Y F, I, A, K, H, or W at position 428, a S at position 434, a L, V, H, F, P, R or W at position 436, a F or W at position 438, a L, P, E, N, V, A, I, or D at position 440, a P at position 441, and an A, V, M, Q, F, P, L, Y, K, R, H, or M at position 442. In some embodiments, the polypeptide comprises a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:5-27 and at least eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a S, V, D, E, or Y at position 378, a L, I, M, A, Q, V, or K at position 380, a N, S, L, M, P, Y, K, A, or T at position 382, a T, F, N, P, D, L, H, or Q at position 383, a K, R, H, I, L, F, Y, V, or Q at position 384, a F or Y at position 385, a V, L, A, I, F, Y, S, T, H, R, or E at position 386, a L or I at position 387, a D, Q, A, T, H, or V at position 389, a T, V, or A at position 391, a E, Q, or A at position 421, a L, M, I, T, or P at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a L, T, P, Y F, I, A, K, H, or W at position 428, a S at position 434, a L, V, H, F, P, R or W at position 436, a F or W at position 438, a L, P, E, N, V, A, I, or D at position 440, a P at position 441, and an A, V, M, Q, F, P, L, Y, K, R, H, or M at position 442.
In some embodiments, the polypeptide comprises a modified constant domain (e.g., a modified CH3 domain) that comprises a sequence having at least 85%, 90%, or 95% sequence identity to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of SEQ ID NOS:28-43. In some embodiments, the polypeptide comprises a modified constant domain (e.g., a modified CH3 domain) that comprises a sequence having at least 85%, 90%, or 95% sequence identity to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of SEQ ID NOS:28-43, wherein the modified constant domain comprises at least eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a S, V, D, E, or Y at position 378, a L, I, M, A, Q, V, or K at position 380, a N, S, L, M, P, Y, K, A, or T at position 382, a T, F, N, P, D, L, H, or Q at position 383, a K, R, H, I, L, F, Y, V, or Q at position 384, a F or Y at position 385, a V, L, A, I, F, Y, S, T, H, R, or E at position 386, a L or I at position 387, a D, Q, A, T, H, or V at position 389, a T, V, or A at position 391, a E, Q, or A at position 421, a L, M, I, T, or P at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a L, T, P, Y F, I, A, K, H, or W at position 428, a S at position 434, a L, V, H, F, P, R or W at position 436, a F or W at position 438, a L, P, E, N, V, A, I, or D at position 440, a P at position 441, and an A, V, M, Q, F, P, L, Y, K, R, H, or M at position 442.
In some embodiments, the polypeptide comprises at least eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 380, 382, 384, 385, 386, 387, 421, 422, 424, 426, 428, 436, 438, 440, and 442. In some embodiments, the substitutions are selected from a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R, H, or Q at position 384, a F or Y at position 385, a V, L, I, F, Y, or E at position 386, a L at position 387, a E, Q or A at position 421, a I, T, or P at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y or W at position 428, a R or W at position 436, a F or W at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A, Q, K, R, H, or M at position 442. In some embodiments, the polypeptide comprises a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:5-27 and at least eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R, H, or Q at position 384, a F or Y at position 385, a V, L, I, F, Y, or E at position 386, a L at position 387, a E, Q, or A at position 421, a I, T, or P at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y or W at position 428, a R or W at position 436, a F or W at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A, Q, K, R, H, or M at position 442.
In some embodiments, the polypeptide comprises a modified constant domain (e.g., a modified CH3 domain) that comprises a sequence having at least 85%, 90%, or 95% sequence identity to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of SEQ ID NOS:28-43, wherein the modified constant domain comprises at least eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R, H, or Q at position 384, a F or Y at position 385, a V, L, I, F, Y, or E at position 386, a L at position 387, a E, Q, or A at position 421, a I, T, or P at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y or W at position 428, a R or W at position 436, a F or W at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A, Q, K, R, H, or M at position 442.
In some embodiments, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) that specifically binds to a CD98hc comprises a modified CH3 domain, wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises: (i) a first amino acid sequence of LX1NX2X3X4X5L (SEQ ID NO:46), wherein X1 is any amino acid, wherein X2 is R, H, or Q, wherein X3 is F or Y, wherein X4 is V, L, I, F, Y, or E, wherein X5 is any amino acid; (ii) a second amino acid sequence of X1X2X3AX4X5X6X7 (SEQ ID NO:47), wherein X1 is E, N, Q, or A, wherein X2 is I, V, T, or P, wherein X3 and X4 are any amino acid, wherein X5 is N or S, wherein X6 is any amino acid, wherein X7 is Y or W; and (iii) a third amino acid sequence of X1X2X3X4NX5X6 (SEQ ID NO:48), wherein X1 is Y, R, or W, wherein X2 is any amino acid, wherein X3 is F or W, wherein X4 and X5 are any amino acid, and wherein X6 is A, Q, K, R, H, M, or S.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:28. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fc dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) further comprises a T366W knob mutation.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:29. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fc dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an E at position 421, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In another embodiment, a bivalent dimer (e.g., a bivalent Fc dimer) comprises two polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) each having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an E at position 421, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) further comprises a T366W knob mutation.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:30. In one embodiment, a bivalent dimer (e.g., a bivalent Fe dimer) comprises two polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) each having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a Q at position 384, a Y at position 385, a E at position 386, a L at position 387, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:31. In one embodiment, a bivalent dimer (e.g., a bivalent Fc dimer) comprises two polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) each having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a H at position 384, a Y at position 385, a E at position 386, a L at position 387, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:32. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fc dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In another embodiment, a bivalent dimer (e.g., a bivalent Fc dimer) comprises two polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) each having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) further comprises a T366W knob mutation.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:33. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fc dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an E at position 421, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In another embodiment, a bivalent dimer (e.g., a bivalent Fc dimer) comprises two polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) each having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, aR at position 384, aF at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an E at position 421, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) further comprises a T366W knob mutation.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:34. In one embodiment, a bivalent dimer (e.g., a bivalent Fe dimer) comprises two polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) each having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an E at position 421, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, and a N at position 440.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:35. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and a R at position 442. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) further comprises a T366W knob mutation.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:36. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and a H at position 442. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) further comprises a T366W knob mutation.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:37. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a Rat position 436, aF at position 438, aN at position 440, and a R at position 442. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) further comprises a T366W knob mutation.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:38. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a H at position 384, a Y at position 385, a E at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) further comprises a T366W knob mutation.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:39. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a Q at position 384, a F at position 385, a H at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and a L at position 442. In another embodiment, a bivalent dimer (e.g., a bivalent Fe dimer) comprises two polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) each having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a Q at position 384, a F at position 385, a H at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and a L at position 442. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) further comprises a T366W knob mutation.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:40. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an T at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:41. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and a K at position 442. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) further comprises a T366W knob mutation.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:42. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a W at position 436, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and a R at position 442. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) further comprises a T366W knob mutation.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:43. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a Q at position 384, a Y at position 385, a L at position 386, a L at position 387, an E at position 421, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442.
Additional polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) from the LLB2 family that specifically bind to CD98hc are shown in Tables A2-A8 and A12.
In some embodiments, the polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) that bind to CD98hc are from the LLB1 family. In some embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprises at least eight, nine, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 378, 380, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 389, 421, 422, 424, 426, 428, 434, 436, 438, 440, and 442. In some embodiments, the substitutions are selected from a S or V at position 378, a D, M, N, P, F, or H at position 380, a R, Y, F, S, W, Y, K, or N at position 382, a T at position 383, a L, Y, A, S, or F at position 384, a F, K, D, M, I, N, Y, L, or H at position 385, a T, P, E, K, A, V, D, T, or F at position 386, a N, L, Y, R, F, G, S, D, or T at position 387, a T, Y, or F at position 389, a D, E, or Q at position 421, a I, K, L, R, T, F, or H at position 422, a V, W, G, L, I, P, or Y at position 424, a D, A, Q, W, L, or P at position 426, a L or Y at position 428, a S at position 434, a F at position, 436, a I, V, F, N, P, or S at position 438, and a K, T, P, I, or F at position 440, and a Q or M at position 442. In some embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprises a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:5-27 and at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a S or V at position 378, a D, M, N, P, F, or H at position 380, a R, Y, F, S, W, Y, K, or N at position 382, a T at position 383, a L, Y, A, S, or F at position 384, a F, K, D, M, I, N, Y, L, or H at position 385, a T, P, E, K, A, V, D, T, or F at position 386, a N, L, Y, R, F, G, S, D, or T at position 387, a T, Y, or F at position 389, a D, E, or Q at position 421, a I, K, L, R, T, F, or H at position 422, a V, W, G, L, I, P, or Y at position 424, a D, A, Q, W, L, or P at position 426, a L or Y at position 428, a S at position 434, a F at position, 436, a I, V, F, N, P, or S at position 438, and a K, T, P, I, or F at position 440, and a Q or M at position 442.
In some embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprises a sequence having at least 85%, 90%, or 95% sequence identity to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of SEQ ID NOS:44-45. In some embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprises a modified constant domain (e.g., a modified CH3 domain) that comprises a sequence having at least 85%, 90%, or 95% sequence identity to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of SEQ ID NOS:44-45, wherein the modified constant domain comprises at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a S or V at position 378, a D, M, N, P, F, or H at position 380, a R, Y, F, S, W, Y, K, or N at position 382, a T at position 383, a L, Y, A, S, or F at position 384, a F, K, D, M, I, N, Y, L, or H at position 385, a T, P, E, K, A, V, D, T, or F at position 386, a N, L, Y, R, F, G, S, D, or T at position 387, a T, Y, or F at position 389, a D, E, or Q at position 421, a I, K, L, R, T, F, or H at position 422, a V, W, G, L, I, P, or Y at position 424, a D, A, Q, W, L, or P at position 426, a L or Y at position 428, a S at position 434, a F at position, 436, a I, V, F, N, P, or S at position 438, and a K, T, P, I, or F at position 440, and a Q or M at position 442.
In some embodiments, the polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) that bind to CD98hc are from the LLB1 family. In some embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprises at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, or thirteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 380, 382, 384, 385, 386, 387, 422, 424, 426, 428, 434, 438, and 440. In some embodiments, the substitutions are selected from a D, M, N, P, F, or H at position 380, a R, Y, F, S, W, Y, K, or N at position 382, a L, Y, A, S, or F at position 384, a F, K, D, M, I, N, Y, L, or H at position 385, a T, P, E, K, A, V, D, T, or F at position 386, a N, L, Y, R, G, S, D, or T at position 387, a I, K, R, T, F, or H at position 422, a V, W, G, L, I, P, or Y at position 424, a D, A, Q, W, L, or P at position 426, a L at position 428, a S at position 434, a I, F, N, P, or S at position 438, and a K, T, I, or F at position 440. In some embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprises a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:5-27 and at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, or thirteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a D, M, N, P, F, or H at position 380, a R, Y, F, S, W, Y, K, or N at position 382, a L, Y, A, S, or F at position 384, a F, K, D, M, I, N, Y, L, or H at position 385, a T, P, E, K, A, V, D, T, or F at position 386, a N, L, Y, R, G, S, D, or T at position 387, a I, K, R, T, F, or H at position 422, a V, W, G, L, I, P, or Y at position 424, a D, A, Q, W, L, or P at position 426, a L at position 428, a S at position 434, a I, F, N, P, or S at position 438, and a K, T, I, or F at position 440.
In some embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprises a modified constant domain (e.g., a modified CH3 domain) that comprises a sequence having at least 85%, 90%, or 95% sequence identity to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of SEQ ID NOS:44-45, wherein the modified constant domain comprises at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, or thirteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a D, M, N, P, F, or H at position 380, a R, Y, F, S, W, Y, K, or N at position 382, a L, Y, A, S, or F at position 384, a F, K, D, M, I, N, Y, L, or H at position 385, a T, P, E, K, A, V, D, T, or F at position 386, a N, L, Y, R, G, S, D, or T at position 387, a I, K, R, T, F, or H at position 422, a V, W, G, L, I, P, or Y at position 424, a D, A, Q, W, L, or P at position 426, a L at position 428, a S at position 434, a I, F, N, P, or S at position 438, and a K, T, I, or F at position 440.
In some embodiments, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprises at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 378, 380, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 389, 421, 422, 424, 426, 428, 434, 436, 438, 440, and 442. In some embodiments, the substitutions are selected from a S or V at position 378, a D at position 380, a R at position 382, a T at position 383, a Y at position 384, a K at position 385, a P at position 386, a Y at position 387, a T, Y, or F at position 389, a D, E, or Q at position 421, an I at position 422, a V at position 424, a D at position 426, a L or Y at position 428, a S at position 434, a F at position 436, an I or V at position 438, a K at position 440, and a Q or M at position 442. In some embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprise a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:5-27 and at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a S or V at position 378, a D at position 380, a R at position 382, a T at position 383, a Y at position 384, a K at position 385, alP at position 386, a Y at position 387, a T, Y, or F at position 389, a D, E, or Q at position 421, an I at position 422, a V at position 424, a D at position 426, a L or Y at position 428, a S at position 434, a F at position 436, an I or V at position 438, a K at position 440, and a Q or M at position 442.
In some embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprises a modified constant domain (e.g., a modified CH3 domain) that comprises a sequence having at least 85%, 90%, or 95% sequence identity to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of SEQ ID NOS:44-45, wherein the modified constant domain comprises at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a S or V at position 378, a D at position 380, a R at position 382, a T at position 383, a Y at position 384, a K at position 385, a P at position 386, a Y at position 387, a T, Y, or F at position 389, a D, E, or Q at position 421, an I at position 422, a V at position 424, a D at position 426, a L or Y at position 428, a S at position 434, a F at position 436, an I or V at position 438, a K at position 440, and a Q or M at position 442.
In some embodiments, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprises at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 389, 421, 422, 424, 426, 428, 436, 438, and 440. In some embodiments, the substitutions are selected from a R at position 382, a T at position 383, a Y at position 384, a K at position 385, a P at position 386, a Y at position 387, a T at position 389, a D at position 421, an I at position 422, a V at position 424, a D at position 426, a L at position 428, a F at position 436, a I at position 438, and a K at position 440. In some embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprises a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:5-27 and at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a R at position 382, a T at position 383, a Y at position 384, a K at position 385, a P at position 386, a Y at position 387, a T at position 389, a D at position 421, an I at position 422, a V at position 424, a D at position 426, a L at position 428, a F at position 436, a I at position 438, and a K at position 440.
In some embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) comprises a modified constant domain (e.g., a modified CH3 domain) that comprises a sequence having at least 85%, 90%, or 95% sequence identity to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:28-43, wherein the modified constant domain comprises at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a R at position 382, a T at position 383, a Y at position 384, a K at position 385, a P at position 386, a Y at position 387, a T at position 389, a D at position 421, an I at position 422, a V at position 424, a D at position 426, a L at position 428, a F at position 436, a I at position 438, and a K at position 440.
In some embodiments, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) that specifically binds to a CD98hc comprises a modified CH3 domain, wherein the modified CH3 domain comprises: (i) a first amino acid sequence of X1X2YKPYX3T (SEQ ID NO:49), wherein X1 is E or R, wherein X2 is S or T, wherein X3 is any amino acid; (ii) a second amino acid sequence of X1X2X3VX4DX5X6 (SEQ ID NO:50), wherein X1 is N or D, wherein X2 is V or I, wherein X3, X4, and X5 and are any amino acid, wherein X6 is M or L; and (iii) a third amino acid sequence of X1X2IX3X4 (SEQ ID NO:51), wherein X1 is Y or F, wherein X2 and X3 are any amino acid, wherein and X4 is S or K.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:44. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having a R at position 382, a T at position 383, a Y at position 384, a K at position 385, a P at position 386, a Y at position 387, a T at position 389, a D at position 421, an I at position 422, a V at position 424, a D at position 426, a F at position 436, a I at position 438, and a K at position 440. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) further comprises a T366W knob mutation.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:45. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having a R at position 382, a T at position 383, a Y at position 384, a K at position 385, a P at position 386, a Y at position 387, a T at position 389, a D at position 421, an I at position 422, a V at position 424, a D at position 426, a L at position 428, a F at position 436, a I at position 438, and a K at position 440. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) further comprises a T366W knob mutation.
Additional polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) from the LLB1 family that specifically bind to CD98hc are shown in Tables A9-A11 and A13.
A CH3 domain of the present disclosure may be joined to a CH2 domain, which may be a naturally occurring CH2 domain or a variant CH2 domain, typically at the C-terminal end of the CH2 domain to form a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) that binds to TfR. In some embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) further comprises a partial or full hinge region of an antibody, which is joined to the N-terminal end of the CH2 domain. The hinge region can be from any immunoglobulin subclass or isotype. An illustrative immunoglobulin hinge is an IgG hinge region, such as an IgG1 hinge region, e.g., human IgG1 hinge amino acid sequence EPKSCDKTHTCPPCP (SEQ ID NO:4).
In some embodiments, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) can comprise a sequence from Table 2A and the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) can be further modified to contain a TfR binding site in the modified CH3 domain as described herein.
In further embodiments, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) can be further joined to another moiety, for example, a Fab fragment, thus generating a TfR-binding Fc-Fab fusion. In some embodiments, the TfR-binding Fc-Fab fusion comprises a modified CH3 domain, a CH2 domain, a hinge region, and a Fab fragment. The Fab fragment may be to any target of interest, e.g., a therapeutic neurological target, where the Fab is delivered to the target by transcytosis across the BBB mediated by the binding of the modified CH3 domain polypeptide to TfR.
The TfR-binding polypeptide (e.g., a TfR-binding Fc polypeptide) may also be fused to a polypeptide of interest other than a Fab. For example, in some embodiments, the TfR-binding polypeptide (e.g., a TfR-binding Fc polypeptide) may be fused to a polypeptide that is desirable to target to a TfR-expressing cell or to deliver across an endothelium, e.g., the BBB, by transcytosis. In some embodiments, the TfR-binding polypeptide (e.g., a TfR-binding Fc polypeptide) is fused to a soluble protein. In still other embodiments, the TfR-binding polypeptide (e.g., a TfR-binding Fc polypeptide) may be fused to a peptide or protein useful in protein purification, e.g., polyhistidine, epitope tags, e.g., FLAG, c-Myc, hemagglutinin tags and the like, glutathione S transferase (GST), thioredoxin, protein A, protein G, or maltose binding protein (MBP). In some cases, the peptide or protein to which the TfR-binding polypeptide (e.g., a TfR-binding Fc polypeptide) is fused may comprise a protease cleavage site, such as a cleavage site for Factor Xa or Thrombin.
42.2.19
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:72. Further, a polypeptide can comprise a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:78, 84, 90, 96, 102, 108, 114, and 120. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fc dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having F at position 382, Y at position 383, D at position 384, D at position 385, S at position 386, K at position 387, L at position 388, T at position 389, P at position 419, R at position 420, G at position 421, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, G at position 442, and E at position 443, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) in the monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fc dimer) further comprises a T366W knob mutation. In another embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) in the monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fc dimer) further comprises T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole mutations. In another embodiment, a bivalent dimer (e.g., a bivalent Fe dimer) comprises two polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) each having F at position 382, Y at position 383, D at position 384, D at position 385, S at position 386, K at position 387, L at position 388, T at position 389, P at position 419, R at position 420, G at position 421, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, G at position 442, and E at position 443, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:73. Further, a polypeptide can comprise a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:79, 85, 91, 97, 103, 109, 115, and 121. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fc dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having F at position 382, Y at position 383, G at position 384, N at position 385, A at position 386, K at position 387, T at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) in the monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fc dimer) further comprises a T366W knob mutation. In another embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) in the monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fc dimer) further comprises T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole mutations. In another embodiment, a bivalent dimer (e.g., a bivalent Fc dimer) comprises two polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) each having F at position 382, Y at position 383, G at position 384, N at position 385, A at position 386, K at position 387, T at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
42.8.196
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:74. Further, a polypeptide can comprise a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:80, 86, 92, 98, 104, 110, 116, and 122. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fc dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having F at position 382, Y at position 383, E at position 384, A at position 385, K at position 387, L at position 388, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) in the monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fc dimer) further comprises a T366W knob mutation. In another embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) in the monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) further comprises T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole mutations. In another embodiment, a bivalent dimer (e.g., a bivalent Fe dimer) comprises two polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) each having F at position 382, Y at position 383, E at position 384, A at position 385, K at position 387, L at position 388, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
42.8.80
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:75. Further, a polypeptide can comprise a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:81, 87, 93, 99, 105, 111, 117, and 123. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having F at position 382, E at position 384, S at position 386, K at position 387, T at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) in the monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) further comprises a T366W knob mutation. In another embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) in the monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) further comprises T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole mutations. In another embodiment, a bivalent dimer (e.g., a bivalent Fe dimer) comprises two polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) each having F at position 382, E at position 384, S at position 386, K at position 387, T at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
42.8.15
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:76. Further, a polypeptide can comprise a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:82, 88, 94, 100, 106, 112, 118, and 124. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having F at position 382, G at position 384, A at position 385, K at position 387, S at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) in the monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) further comprises a T366W knob mutation. In another embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) in the monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fe dimer) further comprises T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole mutations. In another embodiment, a bivalent dimer (e.g., a bivalent Fe dimer) comprises two polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) each having F at position 382, G at position 384, A at position 385, K at position 387, S at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
42.8.17
In certain embodiments, a polypeptide comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:77. Further, a polypeptide can comprise a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:83, 89, 95, 101, 107, 113, 119, and 125. In one embodiment, a monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fc dimer) comprises a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) having F at position 382, G at position 384, A at position 385, K at position 387, L at position 388, T at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In one embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) in the monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fc dimer) further comprises a T366W knob mutation. In another embodiment, the polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) in the monovalent dimer (e.g., a monovalent Fc dimer) further comprises T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole mutations. In another embodiment, a bivalent dimer (e.g., a bivalent Fc dimer) comprises two polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) each having F at position 382, G at position 384, A at position 385, K at position 387, L at position 388, T at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, L at position 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) that binds to CD98hc can form a dimer (e.g., an Fc dimer) comprising two polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides). The dimer may be a heterodimer or a homodimer.
In some embodiments, the dimer is an Fc dimer that comprises two Fc polypeptides in which each contains a CD98hc binding site, i.e., binds CD98hc bivalently. In an Fc dimer that binds CD98hc bivalently, the first and second Fc polypeptides may comprise the same modified CH3 domain. In other embodiments, the second Fc polypeptide may comprise a different modified CH3 domain from that in the first Fc polypeptide to provide a second CD98hc-binding site.
In some embodiments, a bivalent Fe dimer that specifically binds to CD98hc described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2C and (i) each of the first and second Fc polypeptides are further modified to contain a CD98hc binding site in the modified CH3 domain as described herein or (ii) wherein the first and second Fc polypeptides contain a CD98hc binding site in the modified CH3 domain as described herein. In other embodiments, a bivalent Fc dimer that specifically binds to CD98hc described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2C, wherein the first polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the sequence from first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2C, wherein the second polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2C, and wherein each of the first and second Fc polypeptides are further modified to contain a CD98hc binding site in the modified CH3 domain as described herein. In one embodiment, a bivalent Fc dimer that specifically binds to CD98hc described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2C, wherein the first polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the sequence from first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2C, wherein the second polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polylpeptide sequence from Table 2C, and wherein each of the first and second Fc polypeptides are further modified to contain a CD98hc binding site in the modified CH3 domain comprising: (i) at least eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 380, 382, 384, 385, 386, 387, 421, 422, 424, 426, 428, 436, 438, 440, and 442. In some embodiments, the substitutions are selected from a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R, H, or Q at position 384, a F or Y at position 385, a V, L, I, F, Y, or E at position 386, a L at position 387, a E, Q, or A at position 421, a I, T, or P at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y or W at position 428, a R or W at position 436, a F or W at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A, Q, K, R, H, or M at position 442, (ii) at least eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a S, V, D, E, or Y at position 378, a L, I, M, A, Q, V, or K at position 380, a N, S, L, M, P, Y, K, A, or T at position 382, a T, F, N, P, D, L, H, or Q at position 383, a K, R, H, I, L, F, Y, V, or Q at position 384, a F or Y at position 385, a V, L, A, I, F, Y, S, T, H, R, or E at position 386, a L or I at position 387, a D, Q, A, T, H, or V at position 389, a T, V, or A at position 391, a E, Q, or A at position 421, a L, M, I, T, orP at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a L, T, P, Y F, I, A, K, H, or W at position 428, a S at position 434, a L, V, H, F, P, R or W at position 436, a F or W at position 438, a L, P, E, N, V, A, I, or D at position 440, a P at position 441, and an A, V, M, Q, F, P, L, Y, K, R, H, or M at position 442, or (iii) at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a S or V at position 378, a D, M, N, P, F, or H at position 380, a R, Y, F, S, W, Y, K, or N at position 382, a T at position 383, a L, Y, A, S, or F at position 384, a F, K, D, M, I, N, Y, L, or H at position 385, a T, P, E, K, A, V, D, T, or F at position 386, a N, L, Y, R, F, G, S, D, or T at position 387, a T, Y, or F at position 389, a D, E, or Q at position 421, a I, K, L, R, T, F, or H at position 422, a V, W, G, L, I, P, or Y at position 424, a D, A, Q, W, L, or P at position 426, a L or Y at position 428, a S at position 434, a F at position, 436, a I, V, F, N, P, or S at position 438, and a K, T, P, I, or F at position 440, and a Q or M at position 442.
In one embodiment, a bivalent Fe dimer that specifically binds to CD98hc described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2C, wherein the first polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the sequence from first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2C, wherein the second polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2C, and wherein each of the first and second Fc polypeptides are further modified to contain a CD98hc binding site in the modified CH3 domain comprising a set of modifications selected from Table 2B.
In some embodiments, the dimer is a monovalent Fc dimer that comprises two Fc polypeptides, in which only one of the two Fc polypeptides in the monovalent Fc dimer comprises a CD98hc-binding site, while the other Fc polypeptide does not bind to CD98hc. In addition, the Fc polypeptides can contain modifications for promoting heterodimzerization of the Fc dimer (e.g., T366W; and T366S, L368A, and Y407V). In some embodiments, a monovalent Fc dimer that specifically binds to CD98hc described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2D and the first Fc polypeptide is further modified to contain a CD98hc binding site in the modified CH3 domain as described herein. In other embodiments, a monovalent Fe dimer that specifically binds to CD98hc described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2D, wherein the first polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the sequence from first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, wherein the second polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, and wherein the first Fc polypeptides is further modified to contain a CD98hc binding site in the modified CH3 domain as described herein. In one embodiment, a monovalent Fc dimer that specifically binds to CD98hc described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2D, wherein the first polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the sequence from first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, wherein the second polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, and wherein the first Fc polypeptide is further modified to contain a CD98hc binding site in the modified CH3 domain comprising: (i) at least eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of 380, 382, 384, 385, 386, 387, 421, 422, 424, 426, 428, 436, 438, 440, and 442. In some embodiments, the substitutions are selected from a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R, H, or Q at position 384, a F or Y at position 385, a V, L, I, F, Y, or E at position 386, a L at position 387, a E, Q, or A at position 421, a I, T, or P at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y or W at position 428, a R or W at position 436, a F or W at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A, Q, K, R, H, or M at position 442, (ii) at least eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a S, V, D, E, or Y at position 378, a L, I, M, A, Q, V, or K at position 380, a N, S, L, M, P, Y, K, A, or T at position 382, a T, F, N, P, D, L, H, or Q at position 383, a K, R, H, I, L, F, Y, V, or Q at position 384, a F or Y at position 385, a V, L, A, I, F, Y, S, T, H, R, or E at position 386, a L or I at position 387, a D, Q, A, T, H, or V at position 389, a T, V, or A at position 391, a E, Q, or A at position 421, a L, M, I, T, or P at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a L, T, P, Y F, I, A, K, H, or W at position 428, a S at position 434, a L, V, H, F, P, R or W at position 436, a F or W at position 438, a L, P, E, N, V, A, I, or D at position 440, a P at position 441, and an A, V, M, Q, F, P, L, Y, K, R, H, or M at position 442, or (iii), at least eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen substitutions in a set of amino acid positions consisting of a S or V at position 378, a D, M, N, P, F, or H at position 380, a R, Y, F, S, W, Y, K, or N at position 382, a T at position 383, a L, Y, A, S, or F at position 384, a F, K, D, M, I, N, Y, L, or H at position 385, a T, P, E, K, A, V, D, T, or F at position 386, a N, L, Y, R, F, G, S, D, or T at position 387, a T, Y, or F at position 389, a D, E, or Q at position 421, a I, K, L, R, T, F, or H at position 422, a V, W, G, L, I, P, or Y at position 424, a D, A, Q, W, L, or P at position 426, a L or Y at position 428, a S at position 434, a F at position, 436, a I, V, F, N, P, or S at position 438, and a K, T, P, I, or F at position 440, and a Q or M at position 442.
For example, the first Fc polypeptide from dimer pair K from Table 2D (i.e., SEQ ID NO:11) is further modified to comprise a L at position 380, a N at position 382, a R at position 384, a F at position 385, a V at position 386, a L at position 387, an E at position 421, an I at position 422, an A at position 424, a N at position 426, a Y at position 428, a F at position 438, a N at position 440, and an A at position 442.
In one embodiment, a monovalent Fe dimer that specifically binds to CD98hc described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2D, wherein the first polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the sequence from first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, wherein the second polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2B, and wherein the first Fc polypeptide is further modified to contain a CD98hc binding site in the modified CH3 domain comprising a set of modifications selected from Table 2B.
In some embodiments, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) that binds to TfR can form a dimer (e.g., an Fc dimer) comprising two polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides). The dimer may be a heterodimer or a homodimer.
In some embodiments, the dimer is an Fc dimer that comprises two polypeptides (e.g., Fc polypeptides) in which each contains a TfR binding site, i.e., binds TfR bivalently. In an Fc dimer that binds TfR bivalently, the first and second Fc polypeptides may comprise the same CH3 domain. In other embodiments, the second Fc polypeptide may comprise a different CH3 domain from that in the first Fc polypeptide to provide a second TfR-binding site.
In some embodiments, a bivalent Fe dimer that specifically binds to TfR described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2C and (i) each of the first and second Fc polypeptides are further modified to contain a CD98hc binding site in the modified CH3 domain as described herein or (ii) wherein the first and second Fc polypeptides contain a CD98hc binding site in the modified CH3 domain as described herein. In other embodiments, a bivalent Fc dimer that specifically binds to TfR described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2C, wherein the first Fc polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2C, wherein the second Fc polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2C, and wherein each of the first and second Fc polypeptides are further modified to contain a TfR binding site in the modified CH3 domain as described herein.
In one embodiment, a bivalent Fc dimer that specifically binds to TfR described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2C, wherein the first Fc polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2C, wherein the second Fc polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polylpeptide sequence from Table 2C, and wherein each of the first and second Fc polypeptides are further modified to contain a TfR binding site in the modified CH3 domain comprising: three, four, five, six, seven, or eight amino acid substitutions and/or one or two amino acid deletions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380 and 382-389; and five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, the substitutions and/or deletions are selected from: E, N, F, or Y at position 380, F at position 382, Y, S, A, or an amino acid deletion at position 383, G, D, E, or N at position 384, D, G, N, or A at position 385, Q, S, G, A, or N at position 386, K, I, R, or G at position 387, E, L, D, or Q at position 388, N, T, S, or R at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, H or E at position 433, N or G at position 434, Y at position 438, and L at position 440.
In one embodiment, a bivalent Fe dimer that specifically binds to TfR described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2C, wherein the first Fc polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2C, wherein the second Fc polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polylpeptide sequence from Table 2C, and wherein each of the first and second Fc polypeptides are further modified to contain a TfR binding site in the modified CH3 domain comprising: three, four, five, six, seven, or eight amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380 and 382-389 (e.g., F at position 382, Y or S at position 383, G, D, or E at position 384, D, G, N, or A at position 385, Q, S, or A at position 386, K at position 387, E or L at position 388, and N, T, or S at position 389); and five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440 (e.g., L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, and L at position 440), wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In some embodiments, the dimer is a monovalent Fc dimer that comprises two Fc polypeptides, in which only one of the two Fc polypeptides in the monovalent Fc dimer comprises a TfR-binding site, while the other Fc polypeptide does not bind to TfR. In addition, the Fc polypeptides can contain modifications for promoting heterodimzerization of the Fc dimer (e.g., T366W; and T366S, L368A, and Y407V). In some embodiments, a monovalent Fc dimer that specifically binds to TfR described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2D and the first Fc polypeptide is further modified to contain a TfR-binding site in the modified CH3 domain as described herein. In some embodiments, a monovalent Fc dimer that specifically binds to TfR described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2D and the second Fc polypeptide is further modified to contain a TfR-binding site in the modified CH3 domain as described herein.
In other embodiments, a monovalent Fc dimer that specifically binds to TfR described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2D, wherein the first polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the sequence from first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, wherein the second polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, and wherein the first Fc polypeptides is further modified to contain a TfR-binding site in the modified CH3 domain as described herein.
In one embodiment, a monovalent Fc dimer that specifically binds to TfR described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2D, wherein the first polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, wherein the second polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, and wherein the first Fc polypeptide is further modified to contain a TfR-binding site in the modified CH3 domain comprising: three, four, five, six, seven, or eight amino acid substitutions and/or one or two amino acid deletions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380 and 382-389; and five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In some embodiments, the substitutions and/or deletions are selected from: E, N, F, or Y at position 380, F at position 382, Y, S, A, or an amino acid deletion at position 383, G, D, E, or N at position 384, D, G, N, or A at position 385, Q, S, G, A, or N at position 386, K, I, R, or G at position 387, E, L, D, or Q at position 388, N, T, S, or R at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, H or E at position 433, N or G at position 434, Y at position 438, and L at position 440.
In one embodiment, a monovalent Fc dimer that specifically binds to TfR described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2D, wherein the first polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, wherein the second polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, and wherein the first Fc polypeptide is further modified to contain a TfR-binding site in the modified CH3 domain comprising: three, four, five, six, seven, or eight amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380 and 382-389 (e.g., F at position 382, Y or S at position 383, G, D, or E at position 384, D, G, N, or A at position 385, Q, S, or A at position 386, K at position 387, E or L at position 388, and N, T, or S at position 389); and five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440 (e.g., L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, and L at position 440), wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In other embodiments, a monovalent Fe dimer that specifically binds to TfR described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2D, wherein the first polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the sequence from first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, wherein the second polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, and wherein the second Fc polypeptides is further modified to contain a TfR-binding site in the modified CH3 domain as described herein.
In one embodiment, a monovalent Fc dimer that specifically binds to TfR described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2D, wherein the first polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, wherein the second polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, and wherein the second Fc polypeptide is further modified to contain a TfR-binding site in the modified CH3 domain comprising: three, four, five, six, seven, or eight amino acid substitutions and/or one or two amino acid deletions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380 and 382-389; and five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440, wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In some embodiments, the substitutions and/or deletions are selected from: E, N, F, or Y at position 380, F at position 382, Y, S, A, or an amino acid deletion at position 383, G, D, E, or N at position 384, D, G, N, or A at position 385, Q, S, G, A, or N at position 386, K, I, R, or G at position 387, E, L, D, or Q at position 388, N, T, S, or R at position 389, L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, H or E at position 433, N or G at position 434, Y at position 438, and L at position 440.
In one embodiment, a monovalent Fc dimer that specifically binds to TfR described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2D, wherein the first polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, wherein the second polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, and wherein the second Fc polypeptide is further modified to contain a TfR-binding site in the modified CH3 domain comprising: three, four, five, six, seven, or eight amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380 and 382-389 (e.g., F at position 382, Y or S at position 383, G, D, or E at position 384, D, G, N, or A at position 385, Q, S, or A at position 386, K at position 387, E or L at position 388, and N, T, or S at position 389); and five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440 (e.g., L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, and L at position 440), wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
For example, the first Fc polypeptide from dimer pair K from Table 2D (i.e., SEQ ID NO:11) is further modified to comprise three, four, five, six, seven, or eight amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 380 and 382-389 (e.g., F at position 382, Y or S at position 383, G, D, or E at position 384, D, G, N, or A at position 385, Q, S, or A at position 386, K at position 387, E or L at position 388, and N, T, or S at position 389); and five, six, or seven amino acid substitutions in a set of amino acid positions comprising 422, 424, 426, 433, 434, 438, and 440 (e.g., L at position 422, A at position 424, E at position 426, Y at position 438, and L at position 440), wherein the positions are determined according to EU numbering.
In one embodiment, a monovalent Fc dimer that specifically binds to TfR described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2D, wherein the first Fc polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, wherein the second Fc polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, and wherein the first Fc polypeptide is further modified to contain a TfR-binding site in the modified CH3 domain comprising a set of modifications selected from a row from Table 29 (e.g., TfR-binding site modifications from clones 42.2.19, 42.2.3-1H, 42.8.196, 42.8.80, 42.8.15, or 42.8.17 in Table 29). In one embodiment, a monovalent Fc dimer that specifically binds to TfR described herein comprises a first and second Fc polypeptide pair from Table 2D, wherein the first Fc polypeptide has at least 85% (e.g., at least 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99F) or 100 identity to the first Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, wherein the second Fc polypeptide has at least 85 (e.g., at least 86, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98, or 99%) or 100% identity to the second Fc polypeptide sequence from Table 2D, and wherein the second Fc polypeptide is further modified to contain a TfR-binding site in the modified CH3 domain comprising a set of modifications selected from a row from Table 29 (e.g., TfR-binding site modifications from clones 42.2.19, 42.2.3-1H, 42.8.196, 42.8.80, 42.8.15, or 42.8.17 in Table 29).
In another aspect, the disclosure provides Fc polypeptide dimers having sequences of the first and second Fc polypeptides as listed in Tables 2C and 2D below:
In some embodiments, a polypeptide (e.g., an Fc polypeptide) described herein is linked to an agent, e.g., an agent that is to be internalized into a cell and/or for transcytosis across an endothelium, such as the BBB, via a linker. The linker may be any linker suitable for joining an agent to the polypeptide. In some embodiments, the linkage is enzymatically cleavable. In certain embodiments, the linkage is cleavable by an enzyme present in the central nervous system.
In some embodiments, the linker is a peptide linker. The peptide linker may allow for the rotation of the agent and the polypeptide relative to each other; and/or is resistant to digestion by proteases. In some embodiments, the linker may be a flexible linker, e.g., containing amino acids such as Gly, Asn, Ser, Thr, Ala, and the like. Such linkers are designed using known parameters. For example, the linker may have repeats, such as Gly-Ser repeats.
In various embodiments, the conjugates can be generated using well-known chemical cross-linking reagents and protocols. For example, the cross-linking agents are heterobifunctional cross-linkers, which can be used to link molecules in a stepwise manner. Heterobifunctional cross-linkers provide the ability to design more specific coupling methods for conjugating proteins, thereby reducing the occurrences of unwanted side reactions such as homo-protein polymers. A wide variety of heterobifunctional cross-linkers are known in the art, including N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) or its water soluble analog N-Hydroxysulfosuccinimide (Sulfo-NHS), Succinimidyl 4-(N-Maleimidomethyl)Cyclohexane-1-carboxylate (SMCC), m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS); N-succinimidyl (4-iodoacetyl) aminobenzoate (SIAB), succinimidyl 4-(p-maleimidophenyl)butyrate (SMPB), 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC); 4-succinimidyloxycarbonyl-a-methyl-a-(2-pyridyldithio)-toluene (SMPT), N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP), and succinimidyl 6-[3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate]hexanoate (LC-SPDP). Those cross-linking agents having N-hydroxysuccinimide moieties can be obtained as the N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide analogs, which generally have greater water solubility. In addition, those cross-linking agents having disulfide bridges within the linking chain can be synthesized instead as the alkyl derivatives so as to reduce the amount of linker cleavage in vivo. In addition to the heterobifunctional cross-linkers, there exist a number of other cross-linking agents including homobifunctional and photoreactive cross-linkers. Disuccinimidyl subcrate (DSS), bismaleimidohexane (BMH) and dimethylpimelimidate·2HCl (DMP) are examples of useful homobifunctional cross-linking agents, and bis-[B-(4-azidosalicylamido)ethyl]disulfide (BASED) and N-succinimidyl-6(4′-azido-2′-nitrophenylamino)hexanoate (SANPAH) are examples of useful photoreactive cross-linkers.
The agent of interest may be a therapeutic agent, including a cytotoxic agent, a DNA or RNA molecule, an antisense oligonucloetide, a chemical moiety, and the like. In some embodiments, the agent may be a peptide or small molecule therapeutic or imaging agent. In some embodiments, the small molecule is less than 1000 Da, less than 750 Da, or less than 500 Da.
The agent of interest may be linked to the N-terminal or C-terminal region of the CD98hc-binding polypeptide, or attached to any region of the polypeptide, so long as the agent does not interfere with binding of the CD98hc-binding polypeptide to CD98hc or CD98 heterodimer, i.e., CD98hc in complex with a CD98 light chain (LAT1 (SLC7A5), LAT2 (SLC7A8), y+LAT1 (SLC7A7), y+LAT2 (SLC7A6), Asc-1 (SLC7A10), or xCT (SLC7A11).
The agent of interest may be linked to the N-terminal or C-terminal region of the TfR-binding polypeptide, or attached to any region of the polypeptide, so long as the agent does not interfere with binding of the TfR-binding polypeptide to TfR.
In a further aspect, methods of engineering a modified CH3 domain to bind CD98hc are provided. In some embodiments, modification of a CH3 domain comprises substituting various amino acids relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 or to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. In some embodiments, the method comprises modifying a polynucleotide that encodes the modified CH3 domain polypeptide to incorporate amino acid changes, relative to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 or to amino acids 111-217 of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
In some embodiments of engineering polypeptides to bind CD98hc, the method comprises modifying a polynucleotide that encodes the modified CH3 domain comprising a sequence having a first sequence comprising at least one substitution or deletion relative to the sequence of EWESNGQP (SEQ ID NO:52; 380 to position 387 of an Fc polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1), EU numbering), (ii) a second sequence comprising at least one substitution relative to the sequence of NVFSCSVM (SEQ ID NO:53; 421 to position 428 of an Fc polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1, EU numbering), and (iii) a third sequence comprising at least one substitution relative to the sequence of YTQKSLS (SEQ ID NO:53; 436 to position 442 of an Fc polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1), EU numbering). In some embodiments, the method further comprises expressing and recovering a polypeptide comprising the modified CH3 domain; and determining whether the polypeptide binds to CD98hc.
In some embodiments of engineering polypeptides to bind TfR, the method comprises modifying a polynucleotide that encodes the modified CH3 domain comprising a sequence having a first sequence comprising at least one amino acid substitution and/or deletion relative to the sequence of AVEWESNGQPENN (SEQ ID NO:56), and (ii) a second sequence comprising at least one amino acid substitution in the sequence of VFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKS (SEQ ID NO:57), in which the sequence of SEQ ID NO:56 is from position 378 to position 390 of an Fc polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1), and the sequence of SEQ ID NO:57 is from position 422 to position 440 of an Fc polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1), and the positions are determined according to EU numbering. In some embodiments, the method further comprises expressing and recovering a polypeptide comprising the modified CH3 domain; and determining whether the polypeptide binds to TfR.
The amino acids introduced into the desired positions may be generated by randomization or partial randomization to generate a library of CH3 domain polypeptides with amino acid substitutions at the various positions described herein. In some embodiments, the modified CH3 domain polypeptide is mutated in the context of an Fc region, which may or may not contain part of, or all of, a full hinge region.
The polypeptides comprising the modified CH3 domain may be expressed using any number of systems. For example, in some embodiments, polypeptides are expressed in a display system. In other illustrative embodiments, mutant polypeptides are expressed as soluble polypeptides that are secreted from the host cell. In some embodiments, the expression system is a display system, e.g., a viral display system, a cell surface display system such as a yeast display system, an mRNA display system, or a polysomal display system. The library is screened using known methodology to identify CD98hc binders, which may be further characterized to determine binding kinetics. Additional mutations may then be introduced into selected clones.
CD98hc-binding polypeptides of the present disclosure may have a broad range of binding affinities, e.g., based on the format of the polypeptide. For example, in some embodiments, a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain has an affinity for CD98hc binding ranging anywhere from 1 μM to 10 μM. In some embodiments, the polypeptide binds human CD98hc with an affinity of 15 nM to 5 μM (e.g., 15 nM, 50 nM, 100 nM, 200 nM, 300 nM, 400 nM, 500 nM, 600 nM, 700 nM, 800 nM, 900 nM, 1 μM, 1.5 μM, 2 μM, 2.5 μM, 3 μM, 3.5 μM, 4 μM, 4.5 μM, or 5 μM). In another embodiment, the polypeptide binds to cynomolgus CD98hc with an affinity of 80 nM to 5 μM (e.g., 80 nM, 100 nM, 200 nM, 300 nM, 400 nM, 500 nM, 600 nM, 700 nM, 800 nM, 900 nM, 1 μM, 1.5 μM, 2 μM, 2.5 μM, 3 μM, 3.5 μM, 4 μM, 4.5 μM, or 5 μM). In some embodiments, affinity may be measured in a monovalent format. In other embodiments, affinity may be measured in a bivalent format.
TfR-binding polypeptides of the present disclosure may have a broad range of binding affinities, e.g., based on the format of the polypeptide. For example, in some embodiments, a polypeptide comprising a modified CH3 domain has an affinity for TfR binding ranging anywhere from 1 μM to 10 μM. In some embodiments, the polypeptide binds human TfR with an affinity of 15 nM to 10 μM (e.g., 15 nM, 50 nM, 100 nM, 200 nM, 300 nM, 400 nM, 500 nM, 600 nM, 700 nM, 800 nM, 900 nM, 1 μM, 1.5 μM, 2 μM, 2.5 μM, 3 μM, 3.5 μM, 4 μM, 4.5 μM, 5 μM, 5.5 μM, 6 μM, 6.5 μM, 7 μM, 7.5 μM, 8 μM, 8.5 μM, 9 μM, 9.5 μM, or 10 μM). In another embodiment, the polypeptide binds to cynomolgus TfR with an affinity of 80 nM to 5 μM (e.g., 80 nM, 100 nM, 200 nM, 300 nM, 400 nM, 500 nM, 600 nM, 700 nM, 800 nM, 900 nM, 1 μM, 1.5 μM, 2 μM, 2.5 μM, 3 μM, 3.5 μM, 4 μM, 4.5 μM, or 5 μM). In some embodiments, affinity may be measured in a monovalent format. In other embodiments, affinity may be measured in a bivalent format.
Methods for analyzing binding affinity, binding kinetics, and cross-reactivity are known in the art. These methods include, but are not limited to, solid-phase binding assays (e.g., ELISA assay), immunoprecipitation, surface plasmon resonance (e.g., Biacore™ (GE Healthcare, Piscataway, NJ)), kinetic exclusion assays (e.g., KinExA®), flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), BioLayer interferometry (e.g., Octet® (FortéBio, Inc., Menlo Park, CA)), and Western blot analysis. In some embodiments, ELISA is used to determine binding affinity and/or cross-reactivity. Methods for performing ELISA assays are known in the art and are also described in the Example section below. In some embodiments, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is used to determine binding affinity, binding kinetics, and/or cross-reactivity. In some embodiments, kinetic exclusion assays are used to determine binding affinity, binding kinetics, and/or cross-reactivity. In some embodiments, BioLayer interferometry assays are used to determine binding affinity, binding kinetics, and/or cross-reactivity.
The CD98hc-binding and TfR-binding polypeptides as described herein are typically prepared using recombinant methods. Accordingly, in some aspects, the disclosure provides isolated nucleic acids comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding any of the polypeptides as described herein, and host cells into which the nucleic acids are introduced that are used to replicate the polypeptide-encoding nucleic acids and/or to express the polypeptides. In some embodiments, the host cell is eukaryotic, e.g., a human cell.
In another aspect, polynucleotides are provided that comprise a nucleotide sequence that encodes the polypeptides described herein. The polynucleotides may be single-stranded or double-stranded. In some embodiments, the polynucleotide is DNA (e.g., cDNA). In some embodiments, the polynucleotide is RNA.
In some embodiments, the polynucleotide is included within a nucleic acid construct. In some embodiments, the construct is a replicable vector. In some embodiments, the vector is selected from a plasmid, a viral vector, a phagemid, a yeast chromosomal vector, and a non-episomal mammalian vector.
In some embodiments, the polynucleotide is operably linked to one or more regulatory nucleotide sequences in an expression construct. In one series of embodiments, the nucleic acid expression constructs are adapted for use as a surface expression library (e.g., yeast or phage). In another series of embodiments, the nucleic acid expression constructs are adapted for expression of the polypeptide in a system that permits isolation of the polypeptide in milligram or gram quantities. In some embodiments, the system is a mammalian cell or yeast cell expression system.
Expression vehicles for production of a recombinant polypeptide include plasmids and other vectors. Any appropriate plasmid or vector can be used for this purpose, including those suitable for transient expression of polypeptides in eukaryotic cells. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to express the recombinant polypeptide by the use of a baculovirus expression system using appropriate vectors. Additional expression systems include adenoviral, adeno-associated virus, and other viral expression systems.
Vectors may be transformed into any suitable host cell. In some embodiments, the host cells, e.g., bacteria or yeast cells, may be adapted for use as a surface expression library. In some cells, the vectors are expressed in host cells to express relatively large quantities of the polypeptide. Such host cells include mammalian cells, yeast cells, insect cells, and prokaryotic cells. In some embodiments, the cells are mammalian cells, such as Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell, baby hamster kidney (BHK) cell, NS0 cell, Y0 cell, HEK293 cell, COS cell, Vero cell, or HeLa cell.
A host cell transfected with an expression vector encoding a CD98hc-binding or TfR-binding polypeptide can be cultured under appropriate conditions to allow expression of the polypeptide. The polypeptides may be secreted and isolated from a mixture of cells and medium containing the polypeptides. Alternatively, the polypeptide may be retained in the cytoplasm or in a membrane fraction and the cells harvested, lysed, and the polypeptide isolated using a desired method.
A polypeptide described herein in accordance with the disclosure may be used therapeutically in many indications. In some embodiments, the polypeptide is used to deliver a therapeutic agent to a target cell type that expresses CD98hc or TfR. In some embodiments, the polypeptide may be used to transport a therapeutic moiety across an endothelium, e.g., the BBB, to be taken up by the brain. Thus, a polypeptide of the present disclosure may be used, e.g., conjugated to a therapeutic agent, to deliver the therapeutic agent to treat a neurological disorder such as a disease of the brain or central nervous system (CNS), to treat a cancer, to treat an autoimmune or inflammatory disease, or a cardiovascular disease.
In some embodiments, provided herein are methods of targeting extracellular targets in the brain using a polypeptide of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the polypeptide of the present disclosure is transported across the BBB and into the parenchyma without being transcytosed into a cell within the brain. In some embodiments, the method comprises the delivery of a therapeutic agent across the BBB to an extracellular target on or near an astrocyte, microglia, oligodendrocyte, or a cancer cell. In other embodiments, the extracellular target is an antigen in the brain, such as a plaque, tangle, or other non-cellular target. In some embodiments, targeted delivery is to an extracellular target on a microglia. In some embodiments, targeted delivery is to an extracellular target on a cancer cell.
In some embodiments, provided herein are methods of treating a disease in the brain of a patient, the method comprising the delivery of a therapeutic agent to an extracellular targets in the brain using a polypeptide of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the method comprises the delivery of the therapeutic agent across the BBB and into the parenchyma without being transcytosed into a cell within the brain. In some embodiments, the method comprises the delivery of a therapeutic agent across the BBB to an extracellular target on or near an astrocyte, microglia, oligodendrocyte, or a cancer cell. In other embodiments, the extracellular target is an antigen in the brain, such as a plaque, tangle, or other non-cellular target (e.g., Abeta, Tau or alpha-synuclein). In some embodiments, the disease of the brain to be treated is selected from the group consisting of Frontotemporal Dementia, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Alzheimer's Disease, and Parkinson's Disease. In some embodiments, the cancer is glioblastoma or metastatic cancer in the brain.
A polypeptide of the present disclosure is administered to a subject at a therapeutically effective amount or dose. The dosages may be varied according to several factors, including the chosen route of administration, the formulation of the composition, patient response, the severity of the condition, the subject's weight, and the judgment of the prescribing physician. The dosage can be increased or decreased over time, as required by an individual patient. In some embodiments, a patient initially is given a low dose, which is then increased to an efficacious dosage tolerable to the patient. Determination of an effective amount is well within the capability of those skilled in the art.
In various embodiments, a polypeptide of the present disclosure is administered parenterally (e.g., intraperiotneally, subcutaneously, intradermally, or intramuscularly). In some embodiments, the polypeptide is administered intravenously. Intravenous administration can be by infusion or as an intravenous bolus. Combinations of infusion and bolus administration may also be used. In other embodiments, a polypeptide may be administered orally, by pulmonary administration, intranasal administration, intraocular administration, or by topical administration. Pulmonary administration can also be employed, e.g., by use of an inhaler or nebulizer, and formulation with an aerosolizing agent.
In another aspect, pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising a polypeptide in accordance with the disclosure are provided.
Guidance for preparing formulations for use in the present disclosure can be found in any number of handbooks for pharmaceutical preparation and formulation that are known to those of skill in the art.
In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition comprises a polypeptide described herein and further comprises one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or excipients. A pharmaceutically acceptable carrier includes any solvents, dispersion media, or coatings that are physiologically compatible and that preferably does not interfere with or otherwise inhibit the activity of the active agent. Various pharmaceutically acceptable excipients are well-known.
In some embodiments, the carrier is suitable for intravenous, intrathecal, intramuscular, oral, intraperitoneal, transdermal, topical, or subcutaneous administration. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers can contain one or more physiologically acceptable compounds that act, for example, to stabilize the composition or to increase or decrease the absorption of the polypeptide. Physiologically acceptable compounds can include, for example, carbohydrates, such as glucose, sucrose, or dextrans, antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid or glutathione, chelating agents, low molecular weight proteins, compositions that reduce the clearance or hydrolysis of the active agents, or excipients or other stabilizers and/or buffers. Other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and their formulations are also available in the art.
The pharmaceutical compositions described herein can be manufactured in a manner that is known to those of skill in the art, e.g., by means of conventional mixing, dissolving, granulating, dragee-making, emulsifying, encapsulating, entrapping, or lyophilizing processes.
Typically, a pharmaceutical composition for use in in vivo administration is sterile. Sterilization can be accomplished according to methods known in the art, e.g., heat sterilization, steam sterilization, sterile filtration, or irradiation.
Dosages and desired drug concentration of pharmaceutical compositions of the disclosure may vary depending on the particular use envisioned. The determination of the appropriate dosage or route of administration can be determined by one of skill in the art.
In some embodiments, kits comprising a polypeptide described herein are provided. In some embodiments, the kits are for use in preventing or treating a neurological disorder such as a disease of the brain or central nervous system (CNS).
In some embodiments, the kit further comprises one or more additional therapeutic agents. For example, in some embodiments, the kit comprises a polypeptide as described herein and further comprises one or more additional therapeutic agents for use in the treatment of a neurological disorder. In some embodiments, the kit further comprises instructional materials containing directions (i.e., protocols) for the practice of the methods described herein (e.g., instructions for using the kit for administering a composition across the BBB). While the instructional materials typically comprise written or printed materials, they are not limited to such. Any medium capable of storing such instructions and communicating them to an end user is contemplated by this disclosure. Such media include, but are not limited to, electronic storage media (e.g., magnetic discs, tapes, cartridges, chips), optical media (e.g., CD-ROM), and the like. Such media may include addresses to internet sites that provide such instructional materials.
The present disclosure will be described in greater detail by way of specific examples. The following examples are offered for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the disclosure in any manner. Those of skill in the art will readily recognize a variety of noncritical parameters which can be changed or modified to yield essentially the same results. Efforts have been made to ensure accuracy with respect to numbers used (e.g., amounts, temperatures, etc.), but some experimental error and deviation may be present. The practice of the present disclosure will employ, unless otherwise indicated, conventional methods of protein chemistry, biochemistry, recombinant DNA techniques and pharmacology, within the skill of the art. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature. Additionally, it should be apparent to one of skill in the art that the methods for engineering as applied to certain libraries can also be applied to other libraries described herein.
We developed a beta-sheet library that was used for discovery of polypeptides capable of binding CD98hc. The library includes randomization at human Fc residues 380, 382, 384-387, 422, 424, 426, 438 and 440 (EU numbering). We have observed that large libraries (e.g., more than 9 residue positions) can produce clones that are non-specific and/or not well behaved because they have large numbers of unfavorable residues, often in adjacent positions. To reduce the frequency of residues that can create such liabilities (in particular, cysteine, arginine, tryptophan, and glycine as noted below), the library was engineered using a codon bias to limit the frequency and position of these residues. The libraries that implement this technology are called “limited liability” libraries. These disfavored residues include arginine and tryptophan, which can enhance the affinity of an interaction, but can also enhance non-specificity (entropic interactions); cysteine, which is an oxidation liability; and glycine, which increases the flexibility of protein structure and can destabilize secondary structure. To avoid these four residues at defined positions, we introduced the NHK codon into our libraries. By alternating NNK (allows all 20 amino acids) and NHK codons, this limits these four amino acids from being at neighboring positions without overly limiting the diversity of the library. This approach resulted in increased quality of the polypeptides identified in the library.
Taking the approach outlined above, a library was designed to limit the inclusion of liability residues at adjacent sites or in total, as follows in Table 2E. The libraries were generated using Kunkel mutagenesis with a mixture 6 oligos using the WT Fc gene in a phage display vector. The phage library called “LLB”, for Limited Liability B, was screened for binding to human CD98hc. The screening of these libraries resulted in five clones that bound weakly to human CD98hc (shown in Table A1), called LLB1, LLB2, and LLB3, LLB6, LLB7, which were selected for further engineering. LLB2 and LLB3 were found to be part of the same family (called LLB2). Clones LLB1, LLB6 and LLB7 were found to be part of the same family (called LLB1).
Two affinity maturation libraries (LLB2-AM1 and LLB2-AM2, Table 3) were designed for LLB2 and LLB3 clones as follows using Kunkel mutagenesis. Codons were chosen to include residues from the LLB2 and LLB3 hits to increase the library positions screened based on residues that are helpful for affinity maturation of these libraries. The libraries were screened using phage display to human CD98hc which resulted in 13 unique clones from these libraries that had affinity to human and cyno CD98hc (measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using a Biacore™ machine). The affinity of the clones is shown in Table 9A and the sequences of the clones are shown in Table A2. The affinity of these clones was measured with anti-BACE1 Fabs having full effector function (effector+) (i.e., no modifications for modulating effector function, such as LALA or PG/PS) and in a bivalent format (i.e., no knob or hole mutations). Cell binding of the clones was also tested in HeLa cells for huCD98hc binding, CHO:cyCD98hc cells for cyno binding, and CHO cells as a negative control.
The affinity to human and cyno CD98hc was further engineered and improved for the LLB2 family using two additional libraries that were created using LLB2-10 as a background with additional mutations and positions to further explore the sequence space (Table 4). 21 clones were selected using phage display to human CD98hc from these libraries. The sequences of the selected clones are shown in Table A3 and their affinity to human and cyno CD98hc (measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using a Biacore™ machine) is shown in Table 9A. The affinity of the clones was measured with anti-BACE1 Fabs having full effector function and in a bivalent format (i.e., no knob and hole mutations). Cell binding of the clones was also tested in HeLa cells for huCD98hc binding, CHO:cyCD98hc cells for cyno binding, and CHO cells as a negative control.
At the same time as selection with LLB2-AM3 and LLB2-AM4, the clone LLB2-10 background was used to make rational design changes which included residues predicted to further improve the affinity to human and cyno CD98hc. The clone sequences are shown in Table A4 and the affinity of the clones (measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using a Biacore™ machine) is shown in Table 9A. The affinity of the clones was measured with anti-BACE1 Fabs having full effector function and in a bivalent format (i.e., no knob or hole mutations). Clones LLB2-10-5, 2-10−6 and 2-10−8 were converted to a monovalent format and tested for affinity to CD98hc by SPR using a Biacore™ machine with anti-BACE1 Fabs having full effector function on both sides and with a CD98hc binding site on the knob side (and no CD98hc binding site on the hole side). The valency of the CD98hc-binding molecule did not have a great impact on the affinity to CD98hc, i.e., less than a 2-fold difference. Cell binding of the clones was also tested in HeLa cells for huCD98hc binding, CHO:cyCD98hc cells for cyno binding, and CHO cells as a negative control.
The ability to use yeast display to select for well-behaved clones using higher surface expression levels was leveraged to improve the properties of the LLB2 family. In order to achieve improved properties for this family, a soft mutagenesis library was made (70:10:10:10 oligo bias) (Table 5). To this end, the desired codon with a mix of 70% of the original base, with 10% of each of the other three bases was used. This resulted in approximately 50% of the original amino acids with the remainder being a mixture of the other amino acids. The original LLB2 clone backbone was used for soft mutagenesis, except residue L380 was soft mutagenized to the wild-type Glu residue and M428 was soft mutagenized to Leu residue. The library was assembled by two step PCR and yeast homologous recombination. This library was then displayed on the surface of yeast and the highest 20% of expressing clones that also bound tightly to human CD98hc were selected. This screening resulted in 9 clones that were tested for binding by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using a Biacore™ machine to CD98hc, see Table A5. The affinity of the clones was measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using a Biacore™ machine with non-binding Fabs having full effector function and in a bivalent format (i.e., no knob and hole mutations). Cell binding of the clones was also tested in HeLa cells for huCD98hc binding, CHO:cyCD98hc cells for cyno binding, and CHO cells as a negative control.
E
N
K
F
E
L
L
A
N
L
F
N
The M428L mutation in various LLB2 backbones appeared to contribute to a poor HIC profile and faster clearance in wild-type mice. This may be because of instability, poor specificity, and/or a difference in the interaction with mouse FcRn compared to a wild-type IgG. Therefore, the clones in Table A6 were designed using previous clones further engineered with a M428Y mutation in the LLB2 background mutation. Additionally, these clones also have a E380L mutation. These clones were made with non-binding Fabs having full effector function and in a monovalent format (i.e., CD98hc binding site on the knob side, with no CD98hc binding site on the hole side).
The LLB2-10-8 lead clone was affinity matured using mutagenesis of 4-5 positions to every amino acid (NNK) in patches around the structure. This was done to optimize each region separately and to build a consensus for the best sequence. The 10 libraries are shown below in Table 6 with NNK signifying that the residue was mutated in the background of the LL2-10−8 clone. The library was assembled by two step PCR and yeast homologous recombination. The top 24 clones were picked for affinity measurement by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using a Biacore™ machine. The affinity of the clones is shown in Table 9A and the sequences of the clones are shown in Table A7. The clones were made with non-binding Fabs having full effector function and in a monovalent format (i.e., CD98hc binding site on the knob side and no CD98hc binding site on the hole side). Cell binding of the clones was also tested in HeLa cells for huCD98hc binding, CHO:cyCD98hc cells for cyno binding, and CHO cells as a negative control.
In order to obtain affinity variants that bound with a weaker affinity to CD98hc than the LLB2-10-8 clone, single, double, or triple amino acid mutations were made to residues that were previously observed to bind to CD98hc at a weaker affinity (Table 7; Table A8). The variants were cloned, expressed, purified and tested for their affinity to human and cyno CD98hc by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using a Biacore™ machine. The affinity of the clones is shown in Table 9A. Combining these mutations allowed for development of variants with a greater affinity range. Together, the LLB2 family has clones that span Kd values from 15 nM to 5 μM for human CD98hc and 80 nM to 5 μM for cyno CD98hc. Cell binding of the clones was also tested in HeLa cells for huCD98hc binding, CHO:cyCD98hc cells for cyno binding, and CHO cells as a negative control.
In order to obtain further variants in the 600-5000 nM affinity range, a second dematuration was performed using LLB2-10−8-d6, LLB2-10−8-d12, and LLB2-10−8-d18 clones as a templates except for the following changes that were predicted to decrease the affinity to human CD98hc based on previous data. Position 382 was kept as N or changed to S, position 385 alternated between Y or F, position 386 was alternated between V, E, Q, and position 387 was kept as L or alternate to P. Variants were made in combinations that had not been tested previously. Variants that bound with measurable affinity from this round of engineering are shown in Table A12 and the corresponding human binding affinity by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using a Biacore™ machine are shown in Table 9B. Cell binding of the clones was also tested in HeLa cells for huCD98hc binding and CHO cells as a negative control.
Below in Table 8 are the residues that allow for binding to CD98hc in the LLB2 family.
To understand the nature of the interaction between the CD98hc binders described herein and CD98hc, a bivalent LLB2-10−6 CD98hc binder and bivalent LLB1-3-16 CD98hc binder (both without any Fabs attached) were each co-crystalized with human CD98hc extracellular domain (ECD) at 2.25 A resolution. The structure shows that the CD98hc binders binds to CD98hc at the engineered surface to an epitope on CD98hc of the structured loop region next to the alpha/beta barrel structure, (
The residues found in the clones of the LLB1 family (i.e., LLB1, LLB6 and LLB7) were used to create two phage display libraries (LLB1-AM1 and LLB1-AM2) to increase the affinity to CD98hc (Table 10). LLB1-AM1 did not expand the number of positions in the library. The LLB1-AM2 expanded to residues 428 and 434. These libraries were created using Kunkel mutagenesis and screened to human CD98hc using phage display. There were 16 clones that were selected for recombinant expression with anti-BACE1 Fabs with full effector function and in a bivalent format (i.e., no knob and hole mutations). The sequences of the clones are shown in Table A9. These clones were shown to bind to human CD98hc but not cyno CD98hc. The lead clone was reformatted in a monovalent format, called LLB1-3 monovalent, with anti-BACE1 Fabs having full effector function and with the CD98hc binding site on the knob side only, and its affinity to human CD98hc was measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using a Biacore™ machine. The valency of the CD98hc-binding molecule did not have a great impact on the affinity to CD98hc, i.e., less than a 2-fold difference. Cell binding of the clones was also tested in HeLa cells for huCD98hc binding, CHO:cyCD98hc cells for cyno binding, and CHO cells as a negative control.
E
E
N
G
Q
P
V
S
S
M
N
Q
S
LLB1 Family affinity maturation (LLB1-AM3 and LLB1-AM4)
A second round of affinity maturation using phage display was performed to increase the affinity of the LLB1 family to CD98hc (Table 11). The backbone of the library was the clone LLB1-3. Library LLB1-AM3 expands the library positions from the original clone using NHK or ARY. Library LLB1-AM4 expands the libraries and includes a mixture of residues that were found previously at those positions in the LLB1 family. The library was assembled using Kunkel mutagenesis and screened to human CD98hc. There were 20 clones selected and affinity was measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using a Biacore™ machine. Sequences of the clones are shown in Table A10 and affinity of the clones is shown in Table 12A. The format was anti-BACE1 Fabs having full effector function and in a bivalent format (i.e., no knob and hole mutations). Cell binding of the clones was also tested in HeLa cells for huCD98hc binding, CHO:cyCD98hc cells for cyno binding, and CHO cells as a negative control.
A
E
E
S
N
G
Q
P
N
N
V
S
S
M
N
Y
Q
S
S
Clone 1-3-16 was made using all the beneficial mutations for binding from previous libraries, with reversion of E380 to wild-type for improved PK. Additional clones with a reversion of E380 to wild-type were made. The sequences and affinity of these clones are shown in Table A1 l and Table 12A. Cell binding of the clones was also tested in HeLa cells for huCD98hc binding, CHO:cyCD98hc cells for cyno binding, and CHO cells as a negative control.
In order to engineer LLB1 family to be cyno cross reactive, new libraries were designed using LLB1-3-16 clone as a template. In some libraries on the right register position 382 was kept as R or NNK, position 383 was mostly kept as S or T and in some cases changed to NNK, position 384 was alternated predominantly changed to NNK and in few cases restricted to Y, position 385 was fixed to NNK, position 386 was kept at P and occasionally changed to NNK, position 387 was randomized to NNK, position 388 was unchanged and fixed to E and position 389 was switched between N and T. On the left register position 424 was for the most part fixed to V and in some libraries was NNK and same goes with position 440 which was fixed at K and only occasionally changed to NNK. Library sizes were kept small to 1e6 and yeast display technology was used to screen them. The affinity of the resulting clones are shown in Table 12B and the sequences of the clones are shown in Table A13. The affinity of these clones was measured with non-binding Fabs having full effector function (effector+) (i.e., no modifications for modulating effector function, such as LALA or PG/PS) and in a bivalent format (i.e., no knob or hole mutations). Cell binding of the clones was also tested in HeLa cells for huCD98hc binding and CHO cells as a negative control.
To begin characterizing the CD98hc-binding molecules, pharmacokinetics (PK) was assessed in in wild-type mice to demonstrate in vivo stability in a model lacking CD98hc-mediated clearance, as these CD98hc-binding molecules only bind human CD98hc and not murine CD98hc. The study design is shown in Table 13 below. 6-8 week-old C57B 16 (WT) mice were intravenously dosed and in-life bleeds were taken via submandibular-bleeds, at time points as indicated in Table 13 below. Blood was collected in EDTA plasma tubes, spun at 14,000 rpm for 5 minutes, and then plasma was isolated for subsequent analysis.
The total huIgG concentrations in plasma were quantified using a generic anti-human IgG sandwich-format ELISA. Briefly, plates were coated overnight at 4 C with donkey anti-human IgG (JIR #709-006-098) at 1 μg/mL in sodium bicarbonate solution (Sigma #C3041-50CAP) with gentle agitation. Plates were then washed 3× with wash buffer (PBS+0.0500 Tween 20). Assay standards and samples were diluted in PBS+0.05% Tween 20 and 100 BSA (10 mg/mL). Standard curve preparation ranged from 0.41 to 1,500 ng/mL or 0.003 to 10 nM (BLQ<0.03 nM). Standards and diluted samples were incubated with agitation for 2 hr at room temperature. After incubation, plates were washed 3× with wash buffer. Detection antibody, goat anti-human IgG(JIR #109-036-098), was diluted in blocking buffer (PBS+0.05% Tween 20+500 BSA (50 mg/mL)) to a final concentration of 0.02 μg/mL and plates were incubated with agitation for 1 hr at room temperature. After a final 3× wash, plates were developed by adding TMB substrate and incubated for 5-10 minutes. Reaction was quenched by adding 4N H2SO4 and read using 450 nM absorbance.
Results are shown in
Pharmacokinetics (PK) were tested for additional LLB1 and LLB2 clones in WT mice according to the study design in Table 14. Pharmacokinetics (PK) were assessed following the protocol for sample collection and analysis as described above. Results are shown in
Pharmacokinetics (PK) were assessed following the protocol for sample collection and analysis as described above. Results are shown in
Pharmacokinetics (PK) were tested for affinity matured LLB2 clones (i.e., stronger binding to CD98hc) in WT mice according to the study design in Table 15. Pharmacokinetics (PK) were assessed following the protocol for sample collection and analysis as described above. Results are shown in
Pharmacokinetics (PK) were assessed following the protocol for sample collection and analysis as described above. Results are shown in
Pharmacokinetics (PK) were tested for de-affinity matured LLB2 clones (i.e., weaker binding to CD98hc) in WT mice according to the study design in Table 16. Pharmacokinetics (PK) were assessed following the protocol for sample collection and analysis as described above. Results are shown in
Pharmacokinetics (PK) were assessed following the protocol for sample collection and analysis as described above. Results are shown in
Next, to characterize the CD98hc dependent brain uptake of LLB32 and LLB1 CD98hc-binding molecules, 6-month old homozygous CD98hcm/hu KI mice were intravenously dosed 50 mg/kg according to. the study design in Table 17 below.
A full ECD knock-in CD98hc mouse model (i.e., CD98hcmu/hu KI or SLCA3A2huECD/huECD) was designed and generated for this study. The construct for humanizing the extracellular domain (ECD) of CD98hc contained 5 primary elements. First, 3′ and 5′ arms homologous to the endogenous mouse SLC3A2 locus to enable homologous recombination. Next, point mutations were made in murine exons 2, 3, and 4 to humanize only those extracellular mouse residues that differ from the orthologous human residues. This second element enabled preservation of mouse introns 1, 2, and 3, which are predicted to have promoter regulatory regions, and the endogenous splice sites at the intron1-exonl/2, intron2-exon 2/3, intron3-exon 3/4, and intron4-exon4 junctions. The third element was an FRT flanked Neo cassette (neomycin resistance gene) into murine intron 4, which served to disrupt a long region of mouse homology that could have caused incomplete incorporation of the entire construct and enabled screening for partial incorporation based on neomycin antibiotic resistance. Because intron 4 also contained predicted promoter regulatory regions we were concerned the Neo cassette could disrupt Slc3a2 expression therefore the FRT sites provided the option to remove the cassette in ES after incorporation was confirmed. The fourth element was the cDNA of human residues E335 to the STOP codon in place of the murine genomic DNA from residue S268 in exon 5 to the STOP codon in exon 10, which achieved humanization of the remainder of the CD98hc ECD while providing enough differentiation from the endogenous mouse sequence that homologous recombination of the entire construct could be achieved. The fifth element was a F3′ flanked hygro cassette (hygromycin resistance gene) downstream of the murine 3′ UTR, which enabled screening for incorporation of the entire construct by adding hygromycin in addition to neomycin to the ES cell culture medium.
Because the hygromycin was after the stop codon, we did not anticipate it disrupting Slc3a2 expression and the cassette would be automatically excised in the male germline of the resulting mice. This construct was electroporated into ES cells from C57B16 mice. ES cells with proper homologous recombination were selected for by growing the cells in the presence of neomycin and hygromycin. Incorporation was confirmed by PCR. The Neo cassette was removed in vitro by electroporation of a Flp recombinase expressing construct. This step was critical as the Neo cassette was suspected to disrupt expression of the SLC3A2 gene, and CD98hc protein is required for sperm function. This approach resulted in surface expression of hCD98hc on the ES cells. By contrast, ES cells that retained the Neo cassette did not express huCD98hc on ES cells. ES cells containing the properly incorporated humanized SLC3A2 gene without the Neo cassette were injected into goGermline blastocytes (Ozgene), followed by embryo transfer to pseudo pregnant females. Founder males were selected from the offspring of the female that received the embryos and bred to wild-type females to generate F1 heterozygous mice. Homozygous mice were subsequently generated from breeding of F1 generation heterozygous mice.
After 48 hours from dosing, blood was collected via cardiac puncture, and the mice were perfused with PBS. Brain tissue was homogenized using a Qiagen TissueLyser in 10× tissue weight of lysis buffer containing 1% NP-40 in PBS with protease inhibitors. Blood was collected in EDTA tubes to prevent clotting and spun at 14000 rpm for 7 minutes to isolate plasma. Brain samples were homogenized in 1% NP40 lysis buffer and lysates diluted 1:2 and 1:20 for PK analysis. huIgG was measured, as described above, using a generic anti-human IgG sandwich-format ELISA. Dosing solutions were also analyzed on the same plate to confirm the correct dosage.
huIgG levels in plasma and brain 48 hr post 50 mg/kg IV dose of LLB1 and LLB2 variants in CD98hcmu/huKI mice are shown in
After perfusion with PBS, brains were dissected, and the meninges and choroid plexus removed. The fresh brain was homogenized with a Dounce homogenizer in HBSS. Homogenized samples were centrifuged (1,000 g for 10 min). After homogenization, an aliquot of the supernatant (non-cell associated fraction) was taken. Cell pellets were resuspended in 17% dextran. An additional aliquot of the total spun down cells (to represent all cells: cell-associated) was collected, washed, and lysed in lysis buffer containing 1% NP-40 in PBS with protease inhibitors. The remaining resuspended cells were centrifuged at 4,122 g for 15 min. Resulting cell pellet contained vasculature and the supernatant contained parenchymal cells. Supernatant was added to a tube containing 10 mL of HBSS and spun at 4,122 g for 15 min. Cell pellet contained parenchymal cells. Both vascular and parenchymal cell pellets were resuspended in lysis buffer containing 1% NP-40 in PBS with protease inhibitors. Total protein concentrations of samples were measured using BCA. huIgG concentration was measured as described above using human IgG assay (a generic anti-human IgG sandwich-format ELISA) and then normalized to total protein concentration in the sample.
In the parenchymal fraction, an 5-8-fold increase in the concentration of all CD98hc-binding molecules was observed compared to Ctrl 1 (negative control molecule with non-binding Fab (NBF)), demonstrating that CD98hc-binding molecules cross the BBB into the brain parenchyma. All huIgG values were normalized to total protein concentration measured by BCA (
To characterize LLB2 and LLB1 CNS biodistribution, IHC for huIgG was performed to determine the cell type specific localization of 3 clones selected from Example 5 above: Clone 4 (bivalent LLB1 clone), 9 (monovalent LLB2 clone), and 12 (monovalent LLB2 clone). After perfusion with PBS, hemi-brains were drop fixed in 4% PFA overnight. Sagittal brain sections (40 μm) were cut using a microtome, blocked in 5% BSA+0.3% Triton X-100, followed by fluorescent staining with Alexa488 anti-huIgG (Jackson Immunoresearch 109-545-003, 1:500), rabbit anti-Iba1 (Abcam abl78846, 1:500) or rabbit anti-aquaporrin4 (Millipore AB2218, 1:500)+goat anti-rabbit-568 (Invitrogen A-11011, 1:500). Brain images were taken using a Leica SP8 Lightning confocal microscope with a 40× objective. Broad brain vasculature and parenchymal staining was observed for CD98hc-binding molecules.
Immunohistochemistry for huIgG, huIgG and Iba1 (microglia marker), and huIgG and AQP4 (marker of astrocyte processes and endfeet) on brain sections from CD98hcmu/hu KI mice 48 hr post 50 mpk dose of LLB2 and LLB1 molecules are shown in
Brain uptake of additional variants of LLB2 and valency matched LLB1 CD98hc-binding molecules were tested in homozygous CD98hcmu/hu KI mice. The study design is shown in Table 18 below. 2-4 month old homozygous CD98hcmu/huKI mice were intravenously dosed 50 mg/kg.
huIgG concentrations in plasma and brain 48 hr post 50 mg/kg IV dose of additional LLB1 and LLB2 variants in CD98hcmu/hu KI mice mice were assessed as described above and results are shown in
Concentrations of huIgG in peripheral tissues (plasma, kidney, testis, bone marrow, lung, liver) were also measured (
To further characterize LLB2 molecules, plasma and brain exposure of the molecules over time was assessed in plasma, brain, kidney, testis, pancreas, lung, liver, spleen, intestine, and bone marrow. The study design is shown in Table 19 below. 6-8 month old homozygous CD98hcmu/hu KI mice were intravenously dosed 50 mg/kg according to the groups in Table 19 and plasma, brain, and peripheral tissues were collected at 1, 2, 4, 7, and 10 days post dose.
Concentrations of huIgG were assessed as described above. huIgG pharmacokinetics (PK) in plasma and brain post 50 mg/kg IV dose of monovalent and bivalent LLB2 variants in CD98hcmu/hu KI mice are shown in
Furthermore, capillary depletion demonstrated that monovalent and bivalent LLB2 variants cross the BBB into the brain parenchyma (
huIgG pharmacokinetics (PK) in peripheral tissues with varying expression levels of CD98hc post 50 mg/kg IV dose of monovalent and bivalent LLB2 variants in CD98hcmu/hu KI mice are shown in
To assess the biodistribution of monovalent and bivalent LLB2-10-8 molecules over time, immunohistochemistry for huIgG on brain sections from CD98hcmu/huKI mice 1, 2, 4, 7, and 10 days post 50 mpk dose of monovalent LLB2-9-10 (Clone 9) and bivalent LLB2-10-8 (Clone 26) was performed. Fixed brain was collected and stained as described above. Results are shown in
Results for immunohistochemistry for huIgG and Iba1 (microglia) on brain sections from CD98hcmu/huKI mice 1, 2, 4, 7, and 10 days post 50 mpk dose of monovalent and bivalent LLB2-10-8 are shown in
To study the effect of chronic dosing on safety and transport capacity over time, plasma and brain exposure was assessed after repeat dosing of 50 mg/kg. Additionally, differences in LLB2 molecules with (i.e., effector positive) and without (i.e., effector negative via LALAPG mutation) effector function was analyzed. The study design is shown in Tables 20A and 20B below. 2-4 month old homozygous CD98hcmu/hu KI mice were intravenously dosed 50 mg/kg weekly for 4 weeks (5 doses). huIgG in plasma was measured 30 minutes and 6 days (Cmax and Ctrough) after each first 3 doses. After the 4th dose only Cmax sample was collected. Animals were taken down 24 hrs after the 5th dose and terminal plasma was collected. Brain, blood, and peripheral tissues were also collected 24 hours after the 5th dose.
Plasma and brain exposure after repeat dosing of monovalent LLB2 variants are shown in
Plasma and brain exposure after repeat dosing of bivalent LLB2 variants are shown in
Furthermore, fixed brain was collected and stained as described above. Immunohistochemistry for huIgG on brain sections from CD98hcmu/hu KI mice mice dosed weekly with 50 mpk for 4 weeks with monovalent LLB2-10-8 variants with either WT Fc (i.e., effector positive) and LALAPG mutations to make the Fc unable to bind FcγRs (i.e., effector negative) is shown in
We designed a library (termed 6.5.11) with diversity in residues predominantly located on the solvent-exposed side of the CH3 domain beta-sheet surface. This region has many advantages. For example, the beta-sheet structure is stable and should allow for amino acid diversity without destabilizing the CH3 domain fold. Moreover, a library based on the 6.5.11 register does not involve large randomization of flexible loop regions that may introduce undesired conformational flexibility. The beta-sheet region also forms a concave surface that may be ideal for protein-protein interactions. This concave surface is distinct from the FcRn and FcγR binding surface. The library is mapped onto the structure of the Fc polypeptide in
The 6.5.11 register positions include that are predominantly beta-sheet, specifically amino acid positions 380, 382, 387, 422, 424, 426, 438, 440, according to EU numbering. An “NNK walk” library was generated that involved making one-by-one NNK mutations of residues at these positions. The library was built and expressed on the yeast surface. The library was sorted with one round of magnetic bead sorting to full-length human TfR1, circularly permuted human TfR apical domain, and circularly permuted cyno TfR apical domain. The library was then sorted with three rounds of FACS using human TfR ECD or human TfR apical domain, and a negative selection on neutravidin-650 secondary antibody for the final round. The resulting populations were tested for binding to human TfR1 in the presence or absence of excess holoTf or a competitor clone. The results show that TfR binding of the library population did not compete with holo-Tf, but did compete with clone 35.21. The resulting population was sequenced and the top 6 clones were shown to bind human TfR ECD and human TfR apical domain by yeast display. A single clone, 6.5.11.1 (see Table 21 for clone sequence), was selected to move forward because of its better affinity to TfR and its lack of potential sequence liabilities.
Clone 6.5.11.1 was expressed recombinantly and tested for human TfR apical domain binding by Biacore with an estimated affinity around 20-40 μM, with very weak cross-reactivity to cyno TfR apical domain (see Table 22). “Clone 6.5.11.1 bivalent” is a bivalent Fc-Fab fusion polypeptide comprising two Fc polypeptides each comprising the sequence of clone 6.5.11.1, fused to the anti-BACE1 Fab domain (1A11).
Additional libraries based on clone 6.5.11.1 were generated to improve binding affinity against human TfR1 and cyno TfR. Six patch libraries (6.5.11.5, 6.5.11.6, 6.5.11.7, 6.5.11.8, 6.5.11.9, and 6.5.11.10) were generated that have 4 or 5 positions in different surface patches randomized with the codon NNW (Table 21). In some of the libraries, the residue at position 384 (which was not part of the original register) was also randomized.
The six patch libraries were screened with one round of MACS sorting using human TfR apical domain. This round was sorted with human TfR apical domain premixed with streptavidin-650, followed by three rounds of FACS sorting using human or cyno TfR ECD. Libraries 6.5.11.5 and 6.5.11.7 returned clones with improved binding affinity to human and cyno TfR ECD. The top 12 clones (6.5.11.5.23, 6.5.11.5.42, 6.5.11.5.50, 6.5.11.5.58, 6.5.11.5.59, 6.5.11.5.60, 6.5.11.5.64, 6.5.11.5.66, 6.5.11.5.67, 6.5.11.5.74, 6.5.11.5.75, and 6.5.11.7.122) were sequenced and tested as single clones to human TfR ECD, cyno TfR ECD, circularly permuted human TfR apical domain, and circularly permuted cyno TfR apical domain.
Analysis of the top 12 clones showed that six beta-sheet positions at 382, 422, 424, 426, 438, and 440 were invariant in clones that showed improved binding affinity to TfR. Additionally, three positions at 380, 384, and 387 led to an increase in binding affinity compared to the original parent clone 6.5.11.1. Several clones with amino acid deletions between residues at positions 383 to 387 were found to have improved binding affinity to human TfR. The binding affinity of clones 6.5.11.5.42 and 6.5.11.5.50 was measured by Biacore, with the lead clone 6.5.11.5.42 having a binding affinity of 2 μM towards circularly permuted human TfR apical domain (Table 22). In this example, the term “bivalent” refers to an Fc dimer in which both Fc polypeptides contain a TfR-binding site. The term “monovalent” refers to an Fc dimer in which one of the two Fc polypeptides contains a TfR-binding site while the other Fc polypeptide does not contain a TfR-binding site. Each of the clones shown in Table 22 is fused to an anti-BACE1 Fab domain.
Transgenic mice expressing human Tfrc apical domain within the murine Tfrc gene were generated using CRISPR/Cas9 technology (chimeric huTfRapical knock-in mice). The resulting chimeric TfR was expressed in vivo under the control of the endogenous promoter. Chimeric huTfRapical knock-in mice are described in International Patent Publication WO 2018/152285.
Fc fragments containing clone 6.5.11.5.42 fused to an anti-BACE1 Fab (2118) were dosed intravenously in chimeric huTfRapical knock-in mice to measure the reduction of amyloid beta 40 (AP40) in the mouse brain. “Clone 6.5.11.5.42 biv:2H8” is a bivalent Fc-Fab fusion polypeptide comprising two Fc polypeptides each comprising the sequence of clone 6.5.11.5.42, fused to the anti-BACE1 Fab domain (2118). “Clone 6.5.11.5.42 mono:2H8” is a monovalent Fc-Fab fusion polypeptide comprising a first Fc polypeptide containing the sequence of clone 6.5.11.5.42 and T366W knob mutation, and a second Fc polypeptide containing T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole mutations and not containing a TfR-binding site, fused to the anti-BACE1 Fab domain (2118). The term “bivalent” refers to an Fc dimer in which both Fc polypeptides contain a TfR-binding site. The term “monovalent” refers to an Fc dimer in which one of the two Fc polypeptides contains a TfR-binding site while the other Fc polypeptide does not contain a TfR-binding site. “Anti-BACE1 control” is a negative control without any TfR-binding site.
Clone 6.5.11.5.42 biv:2H8, clone 6.5.11.5.42 mono:2H8, and anti-BACE1 control were dosed at 50 mg/kg at 24 hours in chimeric huTfRapical knock-in mice. Both clone 6.5.11.5.42 biv:2H8 and clone 6.5.11.5.42 mono:2H8 had reduction of brain Aβ40 and significant reduction compared to the negative control (
Clone 6.5.11.5.42 was subjected to additional engineering by yeast display for further affinity maturation to human and cyno TfR, as well as to improve the PK in wild-type mice. Additional mutations were added to the backbone (i.e., non-register) positions that were predicted to enhance binding through direct interactions, second-shell interaction, or structure stabilization. By looking at the structure of a wild-type human Fc (PDB No.: 4W4O), 12 peripheral residues hypothesized to increase the affinity to TfR were chosen. Peripheral residues mutated were at positions 378, 385, 386, 389, 390, 391, 421, 436, 437, 439, 441, and 442 (Table 21). These peripheral residues, as well as the original library residues, were mutated to NNK in separate libraries. The NNK walk involved making one-by-one NNK mutations of residues that are near the original register. Libraries were produced separately using degenerate primers and assembly of two PCR products as previously described, and expressed on the surface of yeast.
Each library population was independently analyzed by flow cytometry for the clones' binding to 50 nM human TfR apical domain and 50 nM cyno TfR ECD by yeast surface display. If improvement was seen relative to the parent, the top 5% of the library was sorted and sequenced. Additionally, libraries were pooled and sorted twice for circularly permuted human or cyno TfR apical domains for improved TfR binding compared to the parent. Residues that appeared in sorts showing improved binding are shown in Table 21. Interestingly, only positions 380, 384, and 387 in the original register were able to accept any residue changes without complete loss of target binding, while the residues at positions 382, 422, 424, 426, 438, and 440 are the same as those in the parent clone 6.5.11.5.42.
The residues that most greatly improved affinity to TfR at positions 378, 380, 386. 387, 389, 390, and 391 from the peripheral walk (Table 21) were combined into two libraries and screened for improved TfR binding using yeast surface display. The first library, Hotspot Library 1, included E or Y at position 380, and NNK at positions 384, 385, 386, 387, and 389 (Table 21). The second library, Hotspot Library 2, included NNK at positions 378, 386, 389, 390, and 391, E or Y at position 380, and P or R at position 387. Each library was sorted once with human or cyno TfR apical domain by magnetic bead sorting, then sorted three times with human TfR ECD, cyno TfR ECD, or circularly permuted human TfR apical domain by FACS sorting. For the empty cells in Table 21, the amino acid at that position is the same as the one in the wild-type Fc.
The five best clones (clones 6.5.11.5.42.1, 6.5.11.5.42.2, 6.5.11.5.42.3, 6.5.11.5.42.4, and 6.5.11.5.42.8 in Table 21) were recombinantly expressed and tested by Biacore and cell binding. These five clones bound to human TfR with a binding affinity between 380 nM and 960 nM, and to cyno TfR with a binding affinity between 4.6 μM and less than 25 μM (Table 22).
Clones 6.5.11.5.42.1, 6.5.11.5.42.2, 6.5.11.5.42.3, 6.5.11.5.42.4, and 6.5.11.5.42.8, containing the Fc polypeptides as listed in Table 23, were tested for their PK in wild-type TfR mice to ensure that there are no PK liabilities. In
In order to test rain uptake of the clones with improve PK, clone 6.5.11.5.42.2 was chosen based on its affinity for human TfR (Kd=650 nM). In
The clones and the controls were dosed intravenously into huTfRapical knock-in mice at 50 mg/kg. Brain concentrations were measured in mouse brain at 24, 96, and 198 hours (
Previously, it had been shown that molecules that can bind two TfR molecules simultaneously can result in a decrease in circulating reticulocytes and TfR bone marrow cells. Given the crystal structure suggested only one TfR molecule could bind at a time, the levels of blood reticulocytes, Ter 19′ erythrocytes (
In an effort to weaken the affinity of clone 6.5.11.5.42.2, several residues were reverted back to the wild-type residue or to a residue that had previously been identified to affect the affinity to the human TfR apical domain. These were done either as single point mutations or as combinations. Clones were expressed and purified from HEK293 cells as previously, and their affinity to the human TfR apical domain was measured by Biacore.
Table 24 shows the library of 6.5.11.5.42.2 mutants. Each mutant contained 1, 2, or 3 amino acid substitutions of 6.5.11.5.42.2. For example, one mutant may contain D384N and the amino acids at the rest of the positions are the same as those in 6.5.11.5.42.2. The positions shown in Table 24 are numbered according to the EU numbering scheme. The amino acid in each mutant that is different from that in 6.5.11.5.42.2 is in bold.
N
Q
P
G
V
F
A
A
A
T
S
P
N
P
N
V
N
Q
F
Q
Clones 6.5.11.5.42.1, 6.5.11.5.42.2, 6.5.11.5.42.3, 6.5.11.5.42.4, and 6.5.11.5.42.8, containing the Fc polypeptides as listed in Table 23, were assessed by hydrophobic interaction (HIC) during developability assessment. Each clone is a monovalent Fc-Fab fusion polypeptide comprising (i) a first Fc polypeptide having the sequence of the identified clone, T366W knob mutation, and LALA mutations, (ii) a second Fc polypeptide containing T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole mutations, and LALA mutations, and (iii) the high affinity anti-BACE1 Fab domain (Ab153) linked to the Fc polypeptides. The control is the high affinity anti-BACE1 Fab domain (Ab153) linked to an Fc domain with LALA mutations and without TfR-binding sites.
Five (5) μg of each clone were injected onto two Thermo ProPac HIC-10 columns (5 μm, 4.6×100 mm, Cat. No. 63655) arranged in series. The mobile phases used in the columns are as follows: mobile phase A: 1× PBS, pH 7.4; mobile phase B: 1× PBS, 0.9 M Na2SO4; flow rate 0.75 mL/min, linear gradient starting at 80% mobile phase B for t=0 to 3 minutes, ramping down to 0% mobile phase B from t=3 to 19 minutes, holding at 0% mobile phase B for t=19 to 26 minutes, and returning to and holding at 80% mobile phase B from t=27 to 32 minutes, column temperature 25° C. Detection was carried out using fluorescence (excitation 290 nm/emission 325 nm), and the internal standard was NIST monoclonal antibody at 1 mg/mL. The results are illustrated in Table 25.
All clones exhibited higher recombinant protein titer and more hydrophobic properties than the wild-type control. Clone 6.5.11.5.42.2 exhibited the least change in hydrophobicity with respect to the wild-type control (as illustrated by retention time, or RT) and was selected for further evaluation.
Clone 6.5.11.5.42.2, with and without LS mutations, was assessed for low pH stability during developability assessment. The tested proteins are bivalent Fc-Fab fusion polypeptides comprising an anti-HER2 Fab domain linked to two Fc polypeptides each having the sequence of the identified clone and LALA mutations, with LS mutations or without LS mutations. An Fc control containing the anti-HER2 Fab domain linked to an Fc domain with LALA mutations and without TfR-binding sites was included for comparison.
Aliquots (100 μL) of each clone were added to wells of a 96-well plate containing 6 μL of 5% (v/v) acetic acid and mixed well. The plate was sealed and incubated at room temperature for about three (3) hours. Subsequently, 35 μL of 1 M Tris HCl (pH 7.5) was added to the samples and mixed well. The plate was sealed once again and incubated at room temperature for 24 hours. Control condition was storage in 1× PBS without any change in pH during incubation. The samples were then analyzed by Biacore for binding affinity and by size exclusion chromatography to detect intact fusion protein.
As illustrated in
Additional Clones from Structure Library
The structure of clone 6.5.11.5.42 with human TfR circularly permuted apical domain (
Each mutant in Table 27 contained several amino acid substitutions relative to wild-type human IgG1 Fc. For the empty cells in Table 27, the amino acid at that position is the same as the one in the wild-type Fc. The clones were expressed recombinantly and tested for human TfR apical domain binding with an estimated affinity around 43-1000 nM, with very weak cross-reactivity to cyno TfR apical domain (Table 28).
Clones 42.2.1.2 monovalent and 42.2.1.2 bivalent were tested for their PK in wild-type TfR mice to ensure that there are no PK liabilities. They were tested alongside previously tested clones 6.5.11.5.42.2 monovalent and 6.5.11.5.42.2 bivalent. Clone 42.2.1.2 monovalent used here contained 42.2.1.2 TfR-binding site with T366W knob, P329G, and LALA mutations as the first Fc polypeptide and Fc sequence with T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole, P329G, and LALA mutations as the second Fc polypeptide. Both of Fc polypeptides in clone 42.2.1.2 bivalent used here contained 42.2.1.2 TfR-binding site with P329G and LALA mutations. Clone 6.5.11.5.42.2 monovalent used here contained 6.5.11.5.42.2 TfR-binding site with T366W knob, P329G, and LALA mutations as the first Fc polypeptide and Fc sequence with T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole, P329G, and LALA mutations as the second Fc polypeptide. Both of Fc polypeptides in clone 6.5.11.5.42.2 bivalent used here contained 6.5.11.5.42.2 TfR-binding site with P329G and LALA mutations.
The clones and the controls were dosed intravenously into huTfRapical knock-in mice at 50 mg/kg. Brain and plasma concentrations were measured at 24 hours (
The effect of the clones on circulating reticulocytes was also investigated.
Further, concentrations of the clones in the brain and plasma were also measured in a time course experiment (see
Additional Clones from Rational Design
Based on the previous sorting results and sequences, the best residues at key positions in the clone that contributed to high affinity TfR binding were determined. To understand the relative impact of a few positions on binding and human/cyno cross-reactivity, a panel of rationally designed mutations at positions 382-389 were made. The clones contained 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 mutations at positions 382-389. 216 clones (Table 29) were made based on the sequence of clone 6.5.11.5.42.2 with the following substitutions in every combination: at position 383: S or Y; at position 384: G, D, or E; at position 385: D, A, or G; at position 386: Q or S; at position 388: E or L; and at position 389: N, T, or S. A few additional clones are also listed in Table 29. The positions listed in Table 29 are numbered according to EU numbering. For the positions not listed in Table 29, the amino acids at those positions are the same as those of the wild-type Fc polypeptide, except for clone 42.2.19, which has P at position 419, R at position 420, G at position 421, G at position 442, and E at position 443. In order to explore the affinity to TfR for every sequence combination at these positions, these clones were expressed in mammalian supernatant and their affinity to human and cyno apical domain was measured using Biacore™.
Clones were expressed in HEK293 cells. Supernatants were captured for SPR by GE Healthcare anti-human Fab capture kit and the affinity to human and cyno TfR apical domain was measured (Table 30). The clones in Table 30 were bivalent and each TfR-binding Fc polypeptide also contained P329G and LALA mutations. The clones displayed an estimated affinity around 293-10432 nM, with very weak cross-reactivity to cyno TfR apical domain.
Clones 42.8.17, 42.8.15, 42.8.80, 42.8.196, 42.2.3-1H, and 42.2.19 in monovalent and 42.2.1.2 bivalent forms were tested for their PK in huTfRappical knock-in mice to ensure that there are no PK liabilities. The monovalent clones used here contained the TfR-binding site with T366W knob, P329G, and LALA mutations as the first Fc polypeptide and Fc sequence with T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole, P329G, and LALA mutations as the second Fc polypeptide. Both of Fc polypeptides in bivalent clones used here contained the TfR-binding site with P329G and LALA mutations.
The clones and the controls were dosed intravenously into huTfRapical knock-in mice at 50 mg/kg. Brain and plasma concentrations were measured at 24 hours (
To further study plasma and brain PK of CD98hc-binding molecules, monovalent CD98hc LLB2-10-8 affinity variants ranging from 20 nM to S50 nM, CD98hcmu/hu KI mice were administered a single 50 mg/kg dose via IV according to the groups in Table 31A below. Mice were sacrificed on day 1, 2, 7, 14, or 21 post dose and blood and brain tissue were collected.
huIgG PK in plasma and whole brain lysate out to 21 days post dose was assessed following the protocol for sample collection and analysis as described above (i.e., Example 4 for plasma PK and Example 5 for brain PK). Results are shown in
Furthermore, capillary depletion (performed via the protocol described above in Example 5) demonstrated that all monovalent LL2 affinity variants crossed the BBB into the brain parenchyma (
To further study plasma and brain PK of CD98hc-binding molecules, bivalent CD98hc LLB2-10-8 affinity variants ranging from 275 nM to 2100 nM were administered to CD98hcmu/hu KI mice were at a single 50 mg/kg dose via IV according to the groups in Table 3lB below. Mice were sacrificed on day 1, 2, 7, 14, or 28 post dose and blood and brain tissue were collected.
huIgG PK in plasma and whole brain lysate out to 28 days post dose was assessed following the protocol for sample collection and analysis as described above (i.e., Example 4 for plasma PK and Example 5 for brain PK). Given a trend of higher brain exposure for bivalent CD98hc-binding molecules in
Furthermore, capillary depletion (performed via the protocol described above in Example 5) demonstrated that all bivalent LLB2 affinity variants crossed the BBB into the brain parenchyma (
In order to elucidate any differences between affinity matched monovalent LLB1 and LLB2 variants on plasma and brain pharmacokinetics (PK), CD98hcmu/hu KI mice were administered a 50 mg/kg IV dose according to the groups below in Table 31C. Mice were sacrificed on day 1, 2, 4, 10, or 21 post dose and blood and brain tissue were collected.
huIgG PK in plasma and whole brain lysate out to 21 days post dose was assessed following the protocol for sample collection and analysis as described above (i.e., Example 4 for plasma PK and Example 5 for brain PK). Results are shown in
To further elucidate differences in PK and brain biodistribution for monovalent and bivalent CD98hc LLB32-10−8 with and without effector function modifying mutations, CD98hcmu/hu KI mice were administered a single 50 mg/kg dose via IV according to the groups in Table 31D below. Mice were sacrificed on day 1, 4, 7, 14, or 21 post dose and blood and brain tissue were collected.
huIgG PK in plasma and whole brain lysate out to 21 days post dose was assessed following the protocol for sample collection and analysis as described above (i.e., Example 4 for plasma PK and Example 5 for brain PK). Results are shown in
Furthermore, capillary depletion (performed via the protocol described above in Example 5) demonstrated that all LLB2 variants crossed the BBB into the brain parenchyma (
Additionally, immunohistochemistry for huIgG on brain sections from CD98hcmu/hu KI mice 1, 7, 14 and 21 days post-dose was performed according to the protocols described above (i.e., in Example 6). Results are shown in
Immunohistochemistry for huIgG and CNS cell type markers (i.e., Iba1 for microglial, AQP4 for astrocyte processes, and NeuN for neurons) was performed on brain sections from CD98hcmu/hu KI 7 days post-dose was performed according to the protocols described above (i.e., in Example 6). Results are shown in
One interpretation of these data is that the delayed peak brain concentration (Cmax) observed above in Examples 16 and 17 is due a slower rate of internalization (compared to TfR binding molecules). Slow cellular internalization could also contribute to the CD98hc TV being found in the non-cellular fraction. This interpretation is consistent with the observation that increasing the probability of CD98hc-binding molecules disengaging via weaker affinity and/or monovalency, increases the proportion of CD98hc-binding molecules found in non-cell associated brain fractions.
To study the effects of binding Fabs on PK, PD, and CNS biodistribution of CD98hc molecules, monovalent and bivalent LLB2-10-8 TVs were constructed with anti-BACE1 Fabs. CD98hcmu/hu KI mice were administered a single 50 mg/kg dose via IV according to the groups in Table 31E below. Mice were sacrificed on day 1, 4, 7, 14, or 21 post dose and blood and brain tissue were collected.
huIgG PK in plasma and whole brain lysate out to 21 days post dose was assessed following the protocol for sample collection and analysis as described above (i.e., Example 4 for plasma PK and Example 5 for brain PK). Results are shown in
BACEl inhibition of amyloid precursor protein APP cleavage was used as a pharmacodynamic readout of antibody activity in brain. Brain tissue was homogenized in 10× tissue weight of 5M guanidine-HCl and then diluted 1:10 in 0.25% casein buffer in PBS. Mouse Aβ40 levels in brain lysate were measured using a sandwich ELISA. A 384-well MaxiSorp plate was coated overnight with a polyclonal capture antibody specific for the C-terminus of the Aβ40 peptide (Millipore #ABN240). Casein-diluted guanidine brain lysates were further diluted 1:2 on the ELISA plate and added concurrently with the detection antibody, biotinylated anti-mouse/rat β-Amyloid M3.2. Samples were incubated overnight at 4° C. prior to addition of streptavidin-TRP followed by TMB substrate. The standard curve, 0.78-50 pg/mL msAβ40, was fit using a four-parameter logistic regression.
Aβ40 measurements demonstrated that BACE1 inhibition occurred at 1, 4, and 7 days post dose, consistent with when LLB2:BACE1 molecule concentrations were greater than the control anti-BACE1 antibody (
Additionally, immunohistochemistry for huIgG, NeuN (neurons), and LAMP2 (lysosomes) was performed according to the protocols described above (i.e., in Example 6) on brain sections from CD98hcmu/hu KI 7 days post 50mpk dose of monovalent and bivalent LLB2:BACE1 molecules. The results are shown in
In order to characterize plasma and brain PK of CD98hc-binding molecules at lower dose levels, we dosed monovalent and bivalent LLB32 variants with affinities ranging from 20 nM to 550 nM at 15 mg/kg IV in CD98hcmu/hu KI mice according to the groups below in Tables 31F and 31G. Mice were sacrificed on day 1, 4, 7, 14, or 21 post dose and blood and brain tissue were collected.
huIgG PK in plasma and whole brain lysate was assessed following the protocol for sample collection and analysis as described above (i.e., Example 4 for plasma PK and Example 5 for brain PK). Results are shown in
In order to assess the translatability of the above data on CD98hc-binding molecules in mice, a study on plasma and brain exposure of LLB2 (CD98hc binding molecule) compared to TV42 (TfR binding molecule) was conducted. Groups of cynomolgus monkeys per Table 31H below were administered a single 30 mg/kg dose via IV. The monkeys were taken down 4 days post dose and blood and brain tissue were collected.
The total test article concentrations in monkey serum and brain lysate samples were quantified using a generic anti-human IgG sandwich-format electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) on a Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) platform. Briefly, 1% casein-based PBS blocking buffer (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA) was added to an MSD GOLD 96-well small-spot streptavidin-coated microtiter plate (Meso Scale Discovery, Rockville, MD) and incubated for approximately 1 h. Following the plate blocking and wash steps, a biotinylated goat anti-human IgG antibody (SouthernBiotech, Birmingham, AL) at a working concentration of 0.5 g/mL was added to coat the assay plate and allowed to incubate for 1-2 h. Subsequently, test samples were diluted (MRD of 1:100 in 0.5% casein-based PBS assay buffer) and added to the assay plate. Following the 1-2 h incubation in the capture step, a pre-adsorbed secondary ruthenylated (SULFO-TAG) goat anti-human IgG antibody (Meso Scale Discovery, Rockville, MD) at a working solution of 0.5 g/mL was added to the assay plate and incubated for approximately 1 h. An assay read buffer (1× MSD Read Buffer T) was then added to generate the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) assay signal, expressed in ECL units (ECLU). All of the assay reaction steps were performed at ambient temperature and with shaking on a plate shaker (where appropriate). In serum, the assay had an MRD of 100 and a dynamic calibration standard range of 19.5-2500 ng/mL in neat matrix with 8 standard points (serially-diluted at 1:2 including a blank matrix sample). The brain lysate required an MRD of 50 with a dynamic range of 4.9-2500 ng/mL with a 10 standard point curve (serially-diluted at 1:2 plus a blank brain lysate sample. Serum and brain lysate sample concentrations were back-calculated off the assay-specific calibration standard curve, which was fitted with a weighed four-parameter non-linear logistic regression. The sample back-calculated concentrations in ng/mL were subsequently converted to nanomolar (nM) or micromolar (μM) as the final sample results.
Results are shown in
Capillary depletion was performed using the methods described above and huIgG concentration were measure in each fraction with the MSD described above. Results demonstrated uptake of LLB2 and TV42 into the NHP brain parenchyma (
Furthermore, in order to study any CNS cell type biodistribution differences in NHP, immunohistochemistry for huIgG and CNS cell type markers was performed on the NHP brain sections. After perfusion with PBS, the right hemisphere of the brain was collected and sectioned into 4 mm thick coronal slabs. The 4 mm thick slabs were placed into individual tissue cassettes and immersion fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) and stored refrigerated (4 to 9° C.) for 48 hours. Immediately, following fixation, tissues were transferred to PBS+0.1% sodium azide. Thick slabs were further cut coronally into 40 μm sections on a microtome. Brain sections were blocked in 5% BSA+0.3% Triton X-100, followed by fluorescent staining with Alexa647 anti-huIgG (Southern Biotech 2049-31, 1:500) and rabbit anti-Iba1 (Abcam abl78846, 1:500)+goat anti-rabbit-568 (Invitrogen A-11011, 1:500). Additionally, sections were stained with Alexa647 anti-huIgG (Southern Biotech 2049-31, 1:500), rabbit anti-aquaporrin4 (Millipore AB2218, 1:500)+goat anti-rabbit-568 (Invitrogen A-11011, 1:500) and mouse anti-NeuN (Millipore MAB377, 1:500)+anti-msIgGl-488 (Invitrogen A21121, 1:500). Brain images were taken using a Leica SP8 Lightning confocal microscope with a 40× objective.
Results are shown in
A display phagemid was generated with a human Fc sequence fused to a 6×His tag, a c-Myc tag, and a truncated P3 protein from M13 phage. Mutagenic oligonucleotides containing degenerate codons at library positions were purchased from Integrated DNA Technologies. Using Künkel mutagenesis, a uridine-containing ssDNA template was generated and annealed with phosphorylated mutagenic oligonucleotides. T7 DNA polymerase and T4 DNA ligase was used to form a covalently closed circular dsDNA (CCC-dsDNA) library. The CCC-dsDNA library was electroporated into TG1 E. coli cells (Lucigen, 60502-2). Transformed cells were grown in SB media and infected with M13 K07 helper phage. Carbenicillin and kanamycin antibiotics were used to maintain the display and M13 K07 helper phagemids. The culture was grown overnight at 37° C. with shaking. Phage particles were precipitated from the media with a PEG/NaCl solution and resuspended in PBS.
The register was designed with diversity in residues that are predominantly located on the solvent-exposed side of the CH3 domain beta-sheet surface with additional residues adjacent to the beta-sheet. The library was generated by randomizing positions (according to EU numbering) 380, 382, 384, 385, 386, 387, 422, 424, 426, 438, and 440 on the Fc domain of hIgG1 with “NNK” degenerate codons. The library positions were mapped onto the structure of the Fc domain of human IgG1. The library was cloned onto a phagemid and displayed on phage with methods described above.
To select for human TfR-binding clones, recombinant biotinylated human TfR apical domain was captured by streptavidin magnetic beads (Invitrogen, 11206D). Human TfR-coated beads were washed and incubated with the phage library in PBS with 1% BSA for at least 1 hour at room temperature. Beads were washed 3 times for 1 minute each in PBS with 0.05% Tween-20. Bound phages were eluted with 100 mM glycine pH 2.7 for 15 minutes and neutralized with Tris-HCl buffer. Eluted phage was used to infect TG1 cells for additional rounds of selection. Four rounds of selection were performed. In each subsequent round, the concentration of soluble biotinylated human TfR apical domain was reduced and the time of washing was increased to provide selective binding pressure.
For libraries aimed at maturing binding affinity, phage libraries were incubated with 20 nM of soluble biotinylated human TfR apical domain for 30 minutes. Streptavidin magnetic beads were added for 5 minutes to capture biotinylated human TfR apical domain. Beads were washed 3 times for 15 minutes each in PBS with 0.05% Tween-20. Eluted phage was used to infect TG1 cells for additional rounds of selection. Four rounds of selection were performed. In each subsequent round, the time of washing was increased to provide selective binding pressure.
TfR-binding clones identified by phage display were reformatted by removing the 6×His tag, the c-Myc tag, and the truncated P3. A Fab was fused to the N-terminus of the clone to allow for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) capture (GE Healthcare, Anti-human Fab capture kit, 28958325). The fusions were expressed recombinantly in Expi293 cells and purified over Protein A.
Binding affinities of Fab-clone fusions for TfR apical domain were determined by surface plasmon resonance using a Biacore™ 8K instrument in 1× HBS-EP+ running buffer (GE Healthcare, BR100669). Biacore™ Series S CM5 sensor chips were immobilized with anti-human Fab (GE Healthcare, 28958325). Molecules were captured on each flow cell and serial 3-fold dilutions of human TfR apical domain (2, 0.67, 0.22, 0.074, 0.025, and 0 μM) and cynomologous TfR apical domain (4, 1.3, 0.44, 0.15, 0.05, and 0 μM) were injected at a flow rate of 30 μL/min using single cycle kinetics method. Each sample was analyzed with a 60-second association and a 3-minute dissociation. After each cycle, the chip was regenerated using 10 mM glycine-HCl (pH 2.1) for 30 seconds at 50 μL/min. Binding response was corrected by subtracting the RU from a reference flow cell. A 1:1 Langmuir model of simultaneous fitting of kon and koff was used for kinetics analysis using Biacore™ 8K Evaluation Software. Table 32A below summarizes the binding affinities of selected clones for human and cynomolgus TfR apical domains.
Cell uptake into TfR-positive cells was measured for clone 1 with LALA and clone 3 with LALA, showing uptake into human and cyno TfR-positive cells, but no uptake into negative control cells not expressing TfR.
The phage library was panned against biotinylated human TfR apical domain immobilized to magnetic streptavidin beads. Four rounds of phage panning were performed and enriched clones were sequenced. Unique hits were cloned onto an anti-BACE1 hIgG1 monoclonal antibody containing the “LALA” mutations, expressed in HEK293 cells, and purified by protein A chromatography. Affinity to human and cyno TfR apical domain was measured by SPR. Clones were evaluated for TfR-specific cell binding (
Clone 1 was selected for affinity maturation. Affinity maturation library AM1 was generated by soft randomizing positions 380, 382, 384, 385, 386, 387, 422, 424, 426, 438, and 440 of clone 1. Affinity maturation library AM2 was generated by keeping positions 382, 385, and 387 constant from clone 1 while hard randomizing positions 380, 386, 436, and 440 and soft randomizing positions 384, 422, 424, 426, 428, and 438. The libraries were cloned onto a phagemid and displayed on phage with methods described above. The AM1 and AM2 phage libraries were panned against biotinylated human and cyno TfR apical domain immobilized to magnetic streptavidin beads. Three rounds of phage panning were performed and enriched clones were sequenced. Periplasmic extracts of enriched clones were prepared and screened for binding by SPR. Top hits were cloned onto an anti-BACE1 hIgG1 monoclonal antibody containing the “LALA” mutations, expressed in HEK293 cells, and purified by protein A chromatography. Affinity to human and cyno TfR apical domain was measured by SPR (Table 32B). Several clones were selected and were shown to bind huTfR and cyTfR expressing cells. A multidose study was performed where 3 50 mg/kg IP doses of clone 1-112 with LALA and M428L were administered on day 0, 3, and 5 to chimeric huTfRapical knock-in mice. On day 6, clone 1-112 with LALA and M428L showed significant uptake into the brain and demonstrated a pharmacodynamic response through BACE1 inhibition.
Sequences of the clones shown in Tables 32A and 32B are shown in Table 32B-1 below. For the positions not listed, the amino acid at that position is the same as the one in the wild-type Fc.
Clone 1-112 was selected for mutational analysis. To understand the relative impact of each position of the register on binding and human/cyno cross-reactivity, a panel of single, double, or triple rationally designed mutations were made to clone 1-112. These mutations included an alanine scan of the register, a reversion to WT Fe scan, conservative mutations, and mutations observed from sequencing affinity maturation libraries. Mutations were cloned onto 1-112 and expressed in HEK293 cells. Supernatants were captured for SPR by GE Healthcare anti-human Fab capture kit and the affinity to human and cyno TfR apical domain was measured (Table 32C and Table 32D). This analysis revealed mutations that are important for binding, affinity, and cross-reactivity for human and cyno TfR.
Table 32C and Table 32D below show the library of clone 1-112 mutants and their binding affinities. Each mutant contained one or more amino acid substitutions of clone 1-112. For example, one mutant may contain an E380A mutation and the amino acids at the rest of the positions are the same as those in clone 1-112. Further, to generate the KD data in Table 32C, each of the clones in Table 32C (except for clones 1-112-102 to 1-112-104 and clones 1-112-106 to 1-112-114) also contained LALA and M428L. Clones 1-112-102 to 1-112-104 and clones 1-112-106 to 1-112-114 also contained LALA. The positions are numbered according to the EU numbering scheme.
For the second round of affinity maturation, three additional phage libraries were generated. Affinity maturation library AM3 was generated with degenerate or non-degenerate codons at the specified positions: “VWR” at 380, “GGG” at 382, “STIR” at 384, “GTG” at 385, “KCN” or “CAG” at 386, “ADA” at 422, “BCN” at 424, “RBY” at 426, “CTG” at 428, “ARY” at 434, “VTH” at 438, and “RBB” at 440. Affinity maturation library AM4 was generated with degenerate or non-degenerate codons at the specified positions: “NNK” at 378, “VWR” at 380, “GGG” at 382, “GAG” at 384, “GTG” at 385, “GCC” or “CAG” at 386, “NHIK” at 389, “NHIK” at 391, “NHIK” at 421, “ADA” at 422, “BCN” at 424, “RBY” at 426, “CTG” at 428, “ARY” at 434, “VTH” at 438, “RBB” at 440, and “NNK” at 442. Affinity maturation library AM5 was generated with degenerate or non-degenerate codons at the specified positions: “VWR” at 380, “NNK” at 382, “NNK” at 383, “NNK” at 384, “NNK” at 385, “NNK” at 386, “ADA” at 422, “BCN” at 424, “RBY” at 426, “CTG” at 428, “ARY” at 434, “VTH” at 438, and “RBB” at 440. The libraries were cloned onto a phagemid and displayed on phage with methods described above. Three rounds of solution phage panning was performed with increasing stringency per round and enriched clones were sequenced. Periplasmic extracts of enriched clones were prepared and screened for binding by SPR. Top hits were cloned onto an anti-BACE1 hIgG1 monoclonal antibody containing “LALA” mutations.
Additional clones were designed by incorporating enriched mutations from the second round of affinity maturation of clone 1 onto clone 1-131. These clones were expressed in HEK293 cells and purified by protein A chromatography. Affinity to human and cyno TfR apical domain was measured by SPR.
Table 32E below shows the library of affinity matured clones and their binding affinities. Each mutant contained several amino acid substitutions relative to wild-type Fc. For the empty cells in Table 32E, the amino acid at that position is the same as the one in the wild-type Fc. Further, to generate the KD data in Table 32E, each of the clones in Table 32E also contained LALA and M428L. The positions are numbered according to the EU numbering scheme.
Mutations N421L, Q438Y, and S442R were found to improve the affinity to human and cyno TfR apical domain by SPR. These mutations were incorporated onto clone 1-112 in order to broaden the affinity range. These mutations were also combined with WT Fc reversion mutations in order to weaken the affinity and reduce the total number of mutations. Variants were cloned as a monovalent dimer onto the heavy chain of an anti-BACE hIgG1 monoclonal antibody containing “LALA” and knob mutations. The clones were expressed in EK293 cells and purified by protein A chromatography. Affinity to human and cyno TfR apical domain was measured by SPR (Table 32F). Molecules containing N421L, Q438Y, or S442R mutations displayed weaker cell binding than anticipated. The affinity for full-length human TfR was measured by SPR for a select set of molecules. Clone 1-112 had a similar binding affinity for full-length human TfR and the apical domain ofhuman TfR. Molecules containingN421L, Q438Y, or S442 Rmutations bound to full-length human TfR with a weaker affinity than to the apical domain of human TfR. It was concluded that the affinity improvements observed from these mutations were specific to the apical domain construct.
To broaden the affinity of clone 1-112, an additional panel of variants were generated by combining mutations from the mutational analysis study. Engineered molecules in this set contained an N434S mutation. Variants were cloned as a monovalent dimer onto the heavy chain of an anti-BACE1 hIgG1 monoclonal antibody containing “LALA” and knob mutations. The second anti-BACE1 heavy chain contained “LALA”, hole, and “LS” mutations. The clones were expressed in HEK293 cells and purified by protein A chromatography. Affinity to human and cyno TfR apical domain was measured by SPR (Table 32G).
For the third round of affinity maturation, affinity maturation library AM6 was generated with degenerate or non-degenerate codons at the specified positions: “NHW” at 378, “NHW” at 380, “GGC” at 382, “VHIW” at 384, “GTG” at 385, “NHIW” at 386, “NTY” at 422, “BCN” at 424, “ABY” at 426, “CTG” at 428, “TCC” at 434, “NoeW” at 438, and “NNW” at 440. Three rounds of solution phage panning was performed with increasing stringency per round and enriched clones were sequenced. Periplasmic extracts of enriched clones were prepared and screened for binding by SPR. Top hits were cloned as a monovalent dimer onto the heavy chain of an anti-BACE hIgG1 monoclonal antibody containing “LALA” and knob mutations. The second anti-BACE1 heavy chain contained “LALA” and hole mutations. “LS” mutations were included on the “hole” heavy chain for clone 1-244 to clone 1-334. These clones were expressed in HEK293 cells and purified by protein A chromatography. Affinity to human and cyno TfR apical domain was measured by SPR (Table 32H). All residues and mutations observed in a validated TfR binder are summarized in Table 32I.
Sequences of the clones shown in Table 32H are shown in Table 32H-1 below. For the positions not listed, the amino acid at that position is the same as the one in the wild-type Fc.
Fe fragments containing clone 1 and clone 3 each fused to an anti-BACEl Fab (21H8) were tested for their PK in wild-type TfR mice to ensure that there are no PK liabilities. “Clone 1 biv:Ab 153” is a bivalent Fc-Fab fusion polypeptide comprising two Fc polypeptides each comprising the sequence of clone 1 with LALA and M428L, fused to the high affinity anti-BACEl Fab domain (Ab 153). “Clone 3 biv:Ab 153” is is a bivalent Fc-Fab fusion polypeptide comprising two Fc polypeptides each comprising the sequence of clone 3 with LALA and M428L, fused to the high affinity anti-BACEl Fab domain (Ab153). “Anti-BACEl control” is a negative control without any TfR-binding site. Clone 1 had normal clearance relative to the negative control (
From analysis of the TfR-binding clones, Table 32I further summarizes possible amino acids at each of the positions that has led to a TfR binder. The positions are numbered according to the EU numbering scheme.
Additional Clones from Rational Design and Affinity Maturation
To further broaden the affinity of clone 1-112, an additional panel of variants were generated by combining mutations from the mutational analysis study. Each mutant in Table 32J contained several amino acid substitutions relative to wild-type Fc. For the empty cells in Table 32J, the amino acid at that position is the same as the one in the wild-type Fc. The clones were expressed recombinantly and tested for human TfR apical domain binding by Biacore™ with an estimated affinity around 57-2300 nM, with very weak cross-reactivity to cyno TfR apical domain (Table 32K).
Clones 1-112_L monovalent, 1-112_LS monovalent, 1-292 monovalent, and 1-321 monovalent were tested for their PK in wild-type TfR mice to ensure that there are no PK liabilities. Clone 1-112_L monovalent used here contained 1-112 TfR-binding site with T366W knob, M428L, and LALA mutations as the first Fc polypeptide and Fc sequence with T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole, M428L, and LALA mutations as the second Fc polypeptide. Clone 1-112_LS monovalent used here contained 1-112 TfR-binding site with T366W knob, M428L, N434S, and LALA mutations as the first Fc polypeptide and Fc sequence with T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole, M428L, N434S, and LALA mutations as the second Fc polypeptide. Clone 1-292 monovalent used here contained 1-292 TfR-binding site with T366W knob, M428L, and LALA mutations as the first Fc polypeptide and Fc sequence with T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole, M428L, and LALA mutations as the second Fc polypeptide. Clone 1-321 monovalent used here contained 1-321 TfR-binding site with T366W knob, M428L, and LALA mutations as the first Fc polypeptide and Fc sequence with T366S, L368A, and Y407V hole, M428L, and LALA mutations as the second Fc polypeptide. Anti-BACE1 control is a negative control without any TfR-binding site.
The clones and the controls were dosed intravenously into huTfRapical knock-in mice at 50 mg/kg. Brain and plasma concentrations were measured at 24 hours (
In order to determine if the clones were safe after multiple doses, a multidose safety study was conducted using clone 6.5.11.5.42.2 and clone 1-112. “Clone 6.5.11.5.42.2 biv:Ab153” is a bivalent Fc-Fab fusion polypeptide comprising two Fc polypeptides each comprising the sequence of clone 6.5.11.5.42.2, fused to the high affinity anti-BACE1 Fab domain (Ab153); “clone 1-112 biv:Ab153” is a bivalent Fc-Fab fusion polypeptide comprising two Fc polypeptides each comprising the sequence of clone 1-112 with LALA and M428L, fused to the high affinity anti-BACE1 Fab domain (Ab153); and “anti-BACE1 control” is a negative control without any TfR-binding site. Chimeric huTfRapical knock-in mice (n=5/group) were intravenously dosed at 50 mg/kg on day 0, day 3, and day 5. All mice were perfused with PBS 24 hours post-dose. Prior to perfusion, blood was collected in EDTA plasma tubes via cardiac puncture and spun at 14,000 rpm for 5 minutes. Plasma was then isolated for subsequent PK and PD analysis. Brains were extracted after perfusion and hemi-brains were isolated for homogenization in 10× by tissue weight of 1% NP-40 in PBS (for PK) or 5 M GuHCl (for PD).
BACE1 inhibition of amyloid precursor protein APP cleavage was used as a pharmacodynamic readout of antibody activity in brain. Brain tissue was homogenized in 10× tissue weight of 5 M guanidine-HCl and then diluted 1:10 in 0.25% casein buffer in PBS. Mouse Aβ40 levels in brain lysate were measured using a sandwich ELISA. A 384-well MaxiSorp plate was coated overnight with a polyclonal capture antibody specific for the C-terminus of the Aβ40 peptide (Millipore #ABN240). Casein-diluted guanidine brain lysates were further diluted 1:2 on the ELISA plate and added concurrently with the detection antibody, biotinylated M3.2. Plasma was analyzed at a 1:5 dilution. Samples were incubated overnight at 4° C. prior to addition of streptavidin-TRP followed by TMB substrate. The standard curve, 0.78-50 μg/mL msAβ40, was fit using a four-parameter logistic regression.
His-tagged circularly permuted human TfR apical domain (huTfRapical) and clone 1-112 Fc with LALA and M428L were expressed in HEK cells at an initial cell density of 2.5×106 cells/mL. Conditioned media was collected 3-4 days post-transfection, and proteins were purified using Ni-NTA (Sigma) or protein A (Genescript) affinity chromatography, as appropriate. Proteins were further purified by size-exclusion chromatography on a Superdex75 16/60 (clone 1-112 with LALA and M428L) and Superdex200 26/60 (huTfRapical) and gel filtration column and eluted in 30 mM Hepes pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 50 mM KCl, 3% glycerol and 1 mM TCEP.
To obtain huTfRapical/clone 1-112 complexes, proteins were mixed with a 1.3 molar excess of huTfRapical and incubated for 1 hour at room temperature. Complexes were purified from excess unbound protein by size-exclusion chromatography on a Superdex200 column and buffer exchanged into 20 mM HEPES pH 7.5, 200 mM NaCl, with 5% glycerol and 1 mM TCEP to a final concentration of 12 mg/mL.
Crystals were grown at 4° C. by the sitting drop vapor diffusion method with a 2:1 mixture of the complex solution and the well solution containing 0.10 M MB2 pH 7.50, 10% amino acid mix (L-Na-Glutamate; Alanine (racemic); Glycine; Lysine HCl (racemic); Serine (racemic)) and 30% w/v PEG550 MME and PEG20k.
Crystals were flash frozen in liquid nitrogen using the crystallization mother liquid supplemented with 25% (v/v) ethylene glycol. Diffraction datasets for the complex were collected at the PX1/XO6SA SWISS LIGHT SOURCE (SLS) using the EIGERX16M detector at 100K. Crystals diffracted to 3.0 Å, and belong to the space group P212121 with two complexes in the same asymmetric unit. Data were indexed, integrated and scaled using the CCP4 suite programs (Xia2-XDS and XSCALE).
Initial phases of the structure were obtained by molecular replacement using PHASER, and the coordinates of the aglycosylated human Fc fragment (PDB ID: 3S7G) crystal structure were used as the search model. Models were refined by rigid-body refinement followed by restrained refinement using REFMAC. The data collection and refinement statistics are shown in Table 32L. All crystallographic calculations were performed with the CCP4 suite of programs. Model building of the complexes into the electron density was done using the graphics program, COOT.
The crystal structure was solved of clone 1-112 with LALA and M428L co-complexed with the human TfR circularly permuted apical domain (
The human and cyno circularly permuted apical domains were cloned into a pET28-Hisio-Smt3-Avi-PreScission-TfR vector, where the TfR residues 326-379 are N-terminal to TfR residues 194-296, to create a circular permutation with new N-terminus and C-teminus and deletion of TfR loop residues 297-325. The sequences for human TfR1 and cyno TfR are shown in SEQ ID NOS:127 and 128, respectively. Apical domain constructs are co-expressed with BirA in BL21(DE3) E. coli cells (Novagen) at 37° C. in LB medium containing antibiotics, until an OD of about 0.7, chilled on ice for 30 minutes, then induced with 1 mM IPTG at 18° C. for 16 hours. Cells are harvested by centrifugation, resuspended into 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 500 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol plus benzonase, incubated for 37° C. for 1 hour, lysed using a microfluidizer, and the insoluble material is removed by centrifugation. The circularly permuted TfR apical domains were purified using a 5 mL His Trap (GeHealthcare), washed with 25 mM and 50 mM imidazole, then eluted with a 100-500 mM imidazole gradient. Fractions were pooled, and cleaved with UlpI at a 100:1 molar ratio, incubated overnight, and dialyzed into 50 mM HEPES, pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM DTT at 4° C. Cleaved samples were again flowed over an equillibrarted 5 mL HisTrap and the flow through was collected. Samples were further purified by size exclusion chromatography on a Superdex 75 16/60 (GE Healthcare).
DNA encoding the TfR ectodomain (ECD) (residues 121-760 of the human TfR1 (SEQ ID NO:127) or cyno TfR (SEQ ID NO:128)) was cloned into a mammalian expression vector with C-terminal cleavable His- and Avi-tags. The plasmid was transfected and expressed in HEK293 cells. The ectodomain was purified from the harvested supernatant using Ni-NTA chromatography followed by size-exclusion chromatography to remove any aggregated protein. The yield was about 5 mg per liter of culture. The protein was stored in 10 mM K3PO4 (pH 6.7), 100 mM KCl, 100 mM NaCl, and 20% glycerol and frozen at −20° C.
The purified TfR ECDs were biotinylated using an EZ-link sulfo-NHS-LC-Biotin kit (obtained from Thermo Scientific), using five-fold molar excess of biotin. Excess biotin was removed by extensively dialyzing against PBS.
The Avi-tagged human TfR ECDs and apical domains were biotinylated using BirA-500 (BirA biotin-protein ligase standard reaction kit from Avidity, LLC). After reaction, the labeled proteins were further purified by size-exclusion chromatography to remove excess BirA enzyme. The final material was stored in 10 mM K3PO4 (pH 6.7), 100 mM KCl, 100 mM NaCl, and 20% glycerol and frozen at −20° C.
Full-length human and cyno TfR without Avi-tag was made as previously described in International Patent Publication No. WO 2018/152326.
A DNA template coding for the wild-type human Fc sequence was synthesized and incorporated into a yeast display vector. The Fc polypeptides were displayed on the Aga2p cell wall protein. The vectors contained prepro leader peptides with a Kex2 cleavage sequence, and a c-Myc epitope tag fused to the terminus of the Fc.
Freshly prepared electrocompetent yeast (i.e., strain EBY100) were electroporated with linearized vector and assembled library inserts. After recovery in selective SD-CAA media, the yeast were grown to confluence and split twice, then induced for protein expression by transferring to SG-CAA media. Typical library sizes ranged from about 107 to about 109 transformants. Fc-dimers were formed by pairing of adjacently displayed Fc monomers.
Magnetic-assisted cell sorting (MACS) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) selections were performed similarly to as described in Ackerman, et al. 2009 Biotechnol. Prog. 25(3), 774. Streptavidin magnetic beads (Promega) were labeled with biotinylated target and incubated with yeast (typically 5-10× library diversity). Unbound yeast were removed, the beads were washed, and bound yeast were grown in selective media and induced for subsequent rounds of selection.
For FACS selection, yeast were labeled with anti-c-Myc antibody to monitor expression and biotinylated target (concentration varied depending on the sorting round). In some experiments, the target was pre-mixed with streptavidin-Alexa Fluor® 647 in order to enhance the avidity of the interaction. In other experiments, the biotinylated target was detected after binding and washing with streptavidin-Alexa Fluor® 647. Singlet yeast with binding were sorted using a FACS Aria III cell sorter. The sorted yeast were grown in selective media and then induced for subsequent selection rounds.
After an enriched yeast population was achieved, yeast were plated on SD-CAA agar plates and single colonies were grown and induced for expression, then labeled as described above to determine their propensity to bind to the target. Positive single clones were subsequently sequenced for binding target, after which some clones were expressed either as a soluble Fc fragment or as fused to Fab fragments.
HEK293T, CHO:cyTfR, and CHO cells were plated at 40,000 cells/well of 96-well plates in standard growth media (DMEM (Gibco™ 11995073)+10% FBS (VWR 89510−188)+1×Pen/Strep (Gibco 15140122)). Approximately 24 hours later, molecules were diluted into standard growth media warmed to 37° C. Old media was removed from the cells, and the diluted molecules were added to the cells. Cells were incubated at 37° C. for 45 minutes. Cells were then washed with PBS and then fixed for 10 minutes in 4% PFA (Electron Microscopy Sciences 15714-S). Cells were washed with PBS and then blocked with 5% BSA, 0.3% TritonX100 in PBS for 30 minutes. Cells were stained with anti-human IgG-488 (1:1000; Jackson Immuno Research 109-545-003), cell mask (1:10,000; Thermo H32721), and DAPI (1:2000; Thermo D1306) diluted in 1% BSA, 0.3% TritonX100 in PBS for at least 30 minutes. Cells were washed with PBS, imaged on an Opera Phenix, and images were analyzed with Harmony software.
It is understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application and scope of the appended claims. The sequences of the sequence accession numbers cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present application is a 371 national stage application of PCT/US2022/053220, filed on Dec. 16, 2022, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/291,161, filed on Dec. 17, 2021, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/423,418, filed on Nov. 7, 2022, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2022/053220 | 12/16/2022 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63291161 | Dec 2021 | US | |
| 63423418 | Nov 2022 | US |
