Structure-activity analysis of truncated albumin-binding domains suggests new lead constructs for potential therapeutic delivery. 2020

Conan K Wang, and Anna S Amiss, and Joachim Weidmann, and David J Craik
Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Rapid clearance by renal filtration is a major impediment to the translation of small bioactive biologics into drugs. To extend serum t1/2, a commonly used approach is to attach drug leads to the G-related albumin-binding domain (ABD) to bind albumin and evade clearance. Despite the success of this approach in extending half-lives of a wide range of biologics, it is unclear whether the existing constructs are optimized for binding and size; any improvements along these lines could lead to improved drugs. Characterization of the biophysics of binding of an ABD to albumin in solution could shed light on this question. Here, we examine the binding of an ABD to human serum albumin using isothermal titration calorimetry and assess the structural integrity of the ABD using CD, NMR, and molecular dynamics. A structure-activity analysis of truncations of the ABD suggests that downsized variants could replace the full-length domain. Reducing size could have the benefit of reducing potential immunogenicity problems. We further showed that one of these variants could be used to design a bifunctional molecule with affinity for albumin and a serum protein involved in cholesterol metabolism, PCSK9, demonstrating the potential utility of these fragments in the design of cholesterol-lowering drugs. Future work could extend these in vitro binding studies to other ABD variants to develop therapeutics. Our study presents new understanding of the solution structural and binding properties of ABDs, which has implications for the design of next-generation long-lasting therapeutics.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004337 Drug Carriers Forms to which substances are incorporated to improve the delivery and the effectiveness of drugs. Drug carriers are used in drug-delivery systems such as the controlled-release technology to prolong in vivo drug actions, decrease drug metabolism, and reduce drug toxicity. Carriers are also used in designs to increase the effectiveness of drug delivery to the target sites of pharmacological actions. Liposomes, albumin microspheres, soluble synthetic polymers, DNA complexes, protein-drug conjugates, and carrier erythrocytes among others have been employed as biodegradable drug carriers. Drug Carrier
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000072417 Protein Domains Discrete protein structural units that may fold independently of the rest of the protein and have their own functions. Peptide Domain,Protein Domain,Domain, Peptide,Domain, Protein,Domains, Peptide,Domains, Protein,Peptide Domains
D000075462 Serum Albumin, Human Serum albumin from humans. It is an essential carrier of both endogenous substances, such as fatty acids and BILIRUBIN, and of XENOBITOICS in the blood. Albumin Human,Human Albumin,Human Serum Albumin,Albumin, Human,Albumin, Human Serum,Human, Albumin
D013329 Structure-Activity Relationship The relationship between the chemical structure of a compound and its biological or pharmacological activity. Compounds are often classed together because they have structural characteristics in common including shape, size, stereochemical arrangement, and distribution of functional groups. Relationship, Structure-Activity,Relationships, Structure-Activity,Structure Activity Relationship,Structure-Activity Relationships
D062105 Molecular Docking Simulation A computer simulation technique that is used to model the interaction between two molecules. Typically the docking simulation measures the interactions of a small molecule or ligand with a part of a larger molecule such as a protein. Molecular Docking,Molecular Docking Simulations,Molecular Docking Analysis,Analysis, Molecular Docking,Docking Analysis, Molecular,Docking Simulation, Molecular,Docking, Molecular,Molecular Docking Analyses,Molecular Dockings,Simulation, Molecular Docking

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