scholarly journals A high-affinity antibody against the CSP N-terminal domain lacks Plasmodium falciparum inhibitory activity

2020 ◽  
Vol 217 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Thai ◽  
Giulia Costa ◽  
Anna Weyrich ◽  
Rajagopal Murugan ◽  
David Oyen ◽  
...  

Malaria is a global health concern, and research efforts are ongoing to develop a superior vaccine to RTS,S/AS01. To guide immunogen design, we seek a comprehensive understanding of the protective humoral response against Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP). In contrast to the well-studied responses to the repeat region and the C-terminus, the antibody response against the N-terminal domain of PfCSP (N-CSP) remains obscure. Here, we characterized the molecular recognition and functional efficacy of the N-CSP–specific monoclonal antibody 5D5. The crystal structure at 1.85-Å resolution revealed that 5D5 binds an α-helical epitope in N-CSP with high affinity through extensive shape and charge complementarity and the unusual utilization of an antibody N-linked glycan. Nevertheless, functional studies indicated low 5D5 binding to live Pf sporozoites and lack of sporozoite inhibition in vitro and in vivo. Overall, our data do not support the inclusion of the 5D5 N-CSP epitope into the next generation of CSP-based vaccines.

Author(s):  
Elaine Thai ◽  
Giulia Costa ◽  
Anna Weyrich ◽  
Rajagopal Murugan ◽  
David Oyen ◽  
...  

AbstractMalaria is a global health concern and research efforts are ongoing to develop a superior vaccine to RTS,S/AS01. To guide immunogen design, we seek a comprehensive understanding of the protective humoral response against Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP). In contrast to the well-studied responses to the repeat region and the C-terminus, the antibody response against the N-terminal domain of PfCSP (N-CSP) remains obscure. Here, we characterized the molecular recognition and functional efficacy of the N-CSP-specific monoclonal antibody 5D5. The crystal structure at 1.85 Å resolution revealed that 5D5 binds an α-helical epitope in N-CSP with high affinity through extensive shape and charge complementarity, and the unusual utilization of an N-linked glycan. Nevertheless, functional studies indicated low 5D5 binding to live Pf sporozoites, and lack of sporozoite inhibition in vitro and in mosquitoes. Overall, our data on low recognition and inhibition of sporozoites do not support the inclusion of the 5D5 epitope into the next generation of CSP-based vaccines.Summary StatementThe Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite surface protein, PfCSP, is an attractive vaccine target, but the antibody response against the CSP N-terminal domain has remained understudied. Here, to guide immunogen design, Thai et al. provide insights into the binding motif and functional efficacy of the N-terminal domain-specific monoclonal antibody, 5D5.


1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 3268-3276 ◽  
Author(s):  
A B Sachs ◽  
R W Davis ◽  
R D Kornberg

The poly(A)-binding protein (PAB) gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is essential for cell growth. A 66-amino acid polypeptide containing half of a repeated N-terminal domain can replace the entire protein in vivo. Neither an octapeptide sequence conserved among eucaryotic RNA-binding proteins nor the C-terminal domain of PAB is required for function in vivo. A single N-terminal domain is nearly identical to the entire protein in the number of high-affinity sites for poly(A) binding in vitro (one site with an association constant of approximately 2 X 10(7) M-1) and in the size of the binding site (12 A residues). Multiple N-terminal domains afford a mechanism of PAB transfer between poly(A) strands.


2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (22) ◽  
pp. 12406-12415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Moffat ◽  
Chengjun Mo ◽  
Jason J. Cheng ◽  
Marvin Sommer ◽  
Leigh Zerboni ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) glycoprotein E (gE) is essential for VZV replication. To further analyze the functions of gE in VZV replication, a full deletion and point mutations were made in the 62-amino-acid (aa) C-terminal domain. Targeted mutations were introduced in YAGL (aa 582 to 585), which mediates gE endocytosis, AYRV (aa 568 to 571), which targets gE to the trans-Golgi network (TGN), and SSTT, an “acid cluster” comprising a phosphorylation motif (aa 588 to 601). Substitutions Y582G in YAGL, Y569A in AYRV, and S593A, S595A, T596A, and T598A in SSTT were introduced into the viral genome by using VZV cosmids. These experiments demonstrated a hierarchy in the contributions of these C-terminal motifs to VZV replication and virulence. Deletion of the gE C terminus and mutation of YAGL were lethal for VZV replication in vitro. Mutations of AYRV and SSTT were compatible with recovery of VZV, but the AYRV mutation resulted in rapid virus spread in vitro and the SSTT mutation resulted in higher virus titers than were observed for the parental rOka strain. When the rOka-gE-AYRV and rOka-gE-SSTT mutants were evaluated in skin and T-cell xenografts in SCIDhu mice, interference with TGN targeting was associated with substantial attenuation, especially in skin, whereas the SSTT mutation did not alter VZV infectivity in vivo. These results provide the first information about how targeted mutations of this essential VZV glycoprotein affect viral replication in vitro and VZV virulence in dermal and epidermal cells and T cells within intact tissue microenvironments in vivo.


1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 3268-3276 ◽  
Author(s):  
A B Sachs ◽  
R W Davis ◽  
R D Kornberg

The poly(A)-binding protein (PAB) gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is essential for cell growth. A 66-amino acid polypeptide containing half of a repeated N-terminal domain can replace the entire protein in vivo. Neither an octapeptide sequence conserved among eucaryotic RNA-binding proteins nor the C-terminal domain of PAB is required for function in vivo. A single N-terminal domain is nearly identical to the entire protein in the number of high-affinity sites for poly(A) binding in vitro (one site with an association constant of approximately 2 X 10(7) M-1) and in the size of the binding site (12 A residues). Multiple N-terminal domains afford a mechanism of PAB transfer between poly(A) strands.


2009 ◽  
Vol 418 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia S. López ◽  
R. Sean Peacock ◽  
Jorge H. Crosa ◽  
Hans J. Vogel

In the fish pathogen Vibrio anguillarum the TonB2 protein is essential for the uptake of the indigenous siderophore anguibactin. Here we describe deletion mutants and alanine replacements affecting the final six amino acids of TonB2. Deletions of more than two amino acids of the TonB2 C-terminus abolished ferric-anguibactin transport, whereas replacement of the last three residues resulted in a protein with wild-type transport properties. We have solved the high-resolution solution structure of the TonB2 C-terminal domain by NMR spectroscopy. The core of this domain (residues 121–206) has an αββαβ structure, whereas residues 76–120 are flexible and extended. This overall folding topology is similar to the Escherichia coli TonB C-terminal domain, albeit with two differences: the β4 strand found at the C-terminus of TonB is absent in TonB2, and loop 3 is extended by 9 Å (0.9 nm) in TonB2. By examining several mutants, we determined that a complete loop 3 is not essential for TonB2 activity. Our results indicate that the β4 strand of E. coli TonB is not required for activity of the TonB system across Gram-negative bacterial species. We have also determined, through NMR chemical-shift-perturbation experiments, that the E. coli TonB binds in vitro to the TonB box from the TonB2-dependent outer membrane transporter FatA; moreover, it can substitute in vivo for TonB2 during ferric-anguibactin transport in V. anguillarum. Unexpectedly, TonB2 did not bind in vitro to the FatA TonB-box region, suggesting that additional factors may be required to promote this interaction. Overall our results indicate that TonB2 is a representative of a different class of TonB proteins.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara J. Mann ◽  
Sai K. Balchand ◽  
Patricia Wadsworth

Mitotic motor proteins generate force to establish and maintain spindle bipolarity, but how they are temporally and spatially regulated in vivo is unclear. Prior work demonstrated that a microtubule-associated protein, TPX2, targets kinesin-5 and kinesin-12 motors to spindle microtubules. The C-terminal domain of TPX2 contributes to the localization and motility of the kinesin-5, Eg5, but it is not known whether this domain regulates kinesin-12, Kif15. We found that the C-terminal domain of TPX2 contributes to the localization of Kif15 to spindle microtubules in cells and suppresses motor walking in vitro. Kif15 and Eg5 are partially redundant motors, and overexpressed Kif15 can drive spindle formation in the absence of Eg5 activity. Kif15-dependent bipolar spindle formation in vivo requires the C-terminal domain of TPX2. In the spindle, fluorescent puncta of GFP-Kif15 move toward the equatorial region at a rate equivalent to microtubule growth. Reduction of microtubule growth with paclitaxel suppresses GFP-Kif15 motility, demonstrating that dynamic microtubules contribute to Kif15 behavior. Our results show that the C-terminal region of TPX2 regulates Kif15 in vitro, contributes to motor localization in cells, and is required for Kif15 force generation in vivo and further reveal that dynamic microtubules contribute to Kif15 behavior in vivo.


Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 2368-2368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asumi Yokota ◽  
Hideyo Hirai ◽  
Tsukimi Shoji ◽  
Taira Maekawa ◽  
Keiko Okuda

Abstract ARG (ABL2) is a member of ABL family kinases and highly homologous to ABL (ABL1) except the C-terminal domain adjacent to the kinase domain. TEL/ARG that consists of ARG fused to TEL (ETV6) has been found in AML M3, M4 or T-ALL patients, with additional chromosomal abnormalities of t(15;17)(q12;q21), inv(16)(p13;q12) or t(1;10;12)(q25;q23;p13) translocation, respectively. The structure of TEL/ARG is similar to that of TEL/ABL, which has been found in patients with T-ALL, B-ALL, AML and CML. TEL mediates homo-oligomerization of these fusion proteins, TEL/ABL and TEL/ARG, resulting in constitutive activation of the tyrosine kinases. Although ABL fusion proteins such as BCR/ABL and TEL/ABL have been intensively investigated, the involvement of TEL/ARG in leukemogenesis is not fully elucidated yet. We have recently reported that in vitro transforming activity of TEL/ARG was significantly lower than that of TEL/ABL although their kinase activities were almost identical. Interestingly, the in vitro transforming activities of C-terminus-swapped mutants, TEL/ABL with C-terminal domain of ARG [TEL-ABL (ARG-C)] or TEL/ARG with C-terminal domain of ABL [TEL/ARG (ABL-C)], were comparable to those of TEL/ARG or TEL/ABL, respectively, while kinase activities in the swapped mutants were not altered. These results suggest that C-termini of ABL family kinases contain some functional domain that defines their distinct transforming activities. The purpose of this study is to compare the in vivo leukemogenic activities of TEL/ABL and TEL/ARG, and evaluate the impact of the C-terminal domains. First, we investigated whether TEL/ABL or TEL/ARG caused leukemia in mice. Each fusion gene together with GFP gene was retrovirally transduced into the bone marrow cells harvested from C57BL/6 mice treated with 5-fluorouracil, and the transduced cells were transplanted into lethally irradiated mice. Similar to BCR/ABL, transplantation of TEL/ABL-transduced cells induced rapid myeloproliferative status accompanied by hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly, and all the recipient mice died within 33 days after transplantation, indicating the development of myeloid leukemia. In contrast, the recipient mice transplanted with TEL/ARG-transduced cells did not develop myeloid leukemia but infiltrative mastocytosis, and died around 200 days after transplantation (Figure 1). Hemophagocytic mast cells accumulating in the bone marrow, and mast cells circulating in the peripheral blood were also observed in these mice. Next we investigated the roles of C-terminal domains of ABL and ARG in their in vivo leukemogenic activities. C-terminus-swapped mutants, TEL/ABL (ARG-C) and TEL/ARG (ABL-C) were retrovirally transduced into bone marrow cells and the transduced cells were transplanted as described above. Intriguingly, TEL/ABL (ARG-C) mutant failed to cause myeloproliferative status or leukemia at day 153 (Figure 2A). On the other hand, TEL/ARG (ABL-C) induced lethal myeloid leukemia in 4 out of 13 mice (30.8%) within 111 days after transplantation (Figure 2B). Collectively, the in vivo phenotypes induced by TEL/ABL (ARG-C) or TEL/ARG (ABL-C) resembled those induced by TEL/ARG or TEL/ABL, respectively. Mastocytosis, a characteristic of TEL-ARG-induced phenotype, has not been observed so far in any of the recipients of TEL/ABL (ARG-C) or TEL/ARG (ABL-C). In conclusion, these results indicate that C-terminal domain of ABL family kinases defines their distinct leukemogenic activities in vivo through modulating both proliferation and differentiation. Notably, C-terminus of ARG strongly suppressed the in vivo leukemogenic activity of TEL/ABL without impairing the tyrosine kinase activity. Further clarification of the molecular mechanisms underlying the suppressive activity of C-terminus of ARG will lead to development of a novel therapeutic strategy, especially for patients with CML harboring mutations, which are resistant to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Figure 1 Figure 1. Figure 2 Figure 2. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2003 ◽  
Vol 374 (2) ◽  
pp. 433-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miki OKADA ◽  
Hideaki ITOH ◽  
Takashi HATAKEYAMA ◽  
Hiroshi TOKUMITSU ◽  
Ryoji KOBAYASHI

Hsp90 (heat-shock protein 90) alone can act to prevent protein aggregation and promote refolding in vitro, but in vivo it operates as a part of a multichaperone complex, which includes Hsp70 and cohort proteins. Since the physiological function of Hsp90 is not yet fully understood, the development of specific antagonists might open new lines of investigation on the role of Hsp90. In an effort to discover Hsp90 antagonists, we screened many drugs and found that the anti-allergic drugs DSCG (disodium cromoglycate) and amlexanox target Hsp90. Both drugs were found to bind directly wild-type Hsp90 via the N- and C-terminal domains. Both drugs strongly suppressed the in vitro chaperone activity of native Hsp90 towards citrate synthase at 1.5–3.0 μM. Amlexanox suppressed C-terminal chaperone activity in vitro, but not N-terminal chaperone activity, and inhibited the association of cohort proteins, such as cyclophilin 40 and Hsp-organizing protein, to the C-terminal domain of Hsp90. These data suggest that amlexanox might disrupt the multichaperone complex, including Hsp70 and cohort proteins, both in vitro and in vivo. Although DSCG inhibited the in vitro chaperone activity of the N-terminal domain, the drug had no effect either on the C-terminal chaperone activity or on the association of the cohort proteins with the C-terminus of Hsp90. The physiological significance of these interactions in vivo remains to be investigated further, but undoubtedly must be taken into account when considering the pharmacology of anti-allergic drugs. DSCG and amlexanox may serve as useful tools for evaluating the physiological significance of Hsp90.


2010 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 3529-3539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph B. McPhee ◽  
Patricio Mena ◽  
James B. Bliska

ABSTRACT The YopM protein of Yersinia sp. is a type III secreted effector that is required for virulence in murine models of infection. YopM has previously been shown to contain leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) and to interact with two host kinases, RSK1 and PRK2, although the consequence of these interactions is unknown. A series of YopM proteins missing different numbers of LRRs or a C-terminal domain were produced and used for in vitro binding reactions to map domains required for interaction with RSK1 and PRK2. A C-terminal domain of YopM (from LRR12 to the C terminus) was shown to be required for interaction with RSK1, while an internal portion encompassing LRR6 to LRR15 was shown to be required for interaction with PRK2. The virulence of a Yersinia pseudotuberculosis ΔyopM mutant in mice via an intravenous route of infection was significantly attenuated. At day 4 postinfection, there were significantly increased levels of gamma interferon and reduced levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and IL-10 in the serum of the ΔyopM-infected mice compared to that of mice infected with the wild type, suggesting that YopM action alters the balance of these key cytokines to promote virulence. The PRK2 and RSK1 interaction domains of YopM were both required for IL-10 induction in vivo, irrespective of splenic colonization levels. In an orogastric model of Y. pseudotuberculosis infection, a ΔyopM mutant was defective in dissemination from the intestine to the spleen and significantly reduced in virulence. In addition, Y. pseudotuberculosis mutants expressing YopM proteins unable to interact with either RSK1 (YopMΔ12-C) or PRK2 (YopMΔ6-15) were defective for virulence in this assay, indicating that both interaction domains are important for YopM to promote pathogenesis.


Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 4312-4312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Woelfel ◽  
Simon De Meyer ◽  
Patricia Wagner ◽  
Kathleen E McGinness ◽  
Denisa D. Wagner ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 4312 Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a national health concern, with an occurrence of over 900,000 cases per year and over 300,000 deaths per year. The total number of cases of VTE and the incidence of VTE-related deaths exceeds those related to both myocardial infarction and stroke. With an aging population, the incidence of VTE has also been increasing. Current treatment of venous thromboembolism with anti-coagulation is not optimal. There is a risk of bleeding, thrombus extension, pain and swelling as well as a recurrence rate of 3–9%. A significant inflammatory response occurs with venous thromboembolism. This inflammation can influence the extent of thrombosis, vein wall fibrosis and valve damage in the thrombosed vein. In a high percentage of VTE patients a condition of venous insufficiency known as post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) can develop. PTS is associated with stasis ulceration, dermatitis and edema. Venous thrombogenesis is influenced by platelet (PLT) and leukocyte (WBC) adhesion as well as interactions between these cells. There is growing evidence to suggest that VWF interactions with PLT GPIbα can mediate some of these early events. This is evidenced by the reduction in PLT/WBC recruitment and reduced thrombus growth seen in either VWF or GPIbα deficient mice. These data point to a role for VWF in VTE. We sought to develop an aptamer to mouse VWF that would inhibit its interactions with platelet GPIbα. The availability of this tool would support investigations into the role of VWF in mouse models of VTE. Aptamers are oligonucleotides that fold into three-dimensional structures and specifically bind to ligands with high affinity. Aptamers bound to proteins can modify and/or inhibit protein-protein interactions. Using an in vitro selection method known as Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX), we generated aptamers that bind to murine VWF (mVWF) from a modified RNA pool. Nine of these aptamers bind to mVWF with single-digit or sub- nanomolar affinity. A subset of these aptamers also binds to human VWF (hVWF). The aptamers that bind to hVWF inhibit platelet adhesion/aggregation in human whole blood. Further in vitro characterization has demonstrated that five of these aptamers specifically inhibit the interaction between mVWF and recombinant human GPIbα, but do not interfere with the binding of mVWF to collagen. These five aptamers were also active in vivo in a FeCl3-induced thrombosis model in mice. Intravenous injection of the anti-mVWF aptamers prolonged time to occlusion from a baseline of 10–15 minutes to either 25–35 minutes or >40 minutes in this model, depending on the aptamer. These results demonstrate that we have identified high affinity aptamers to mVWF that specifically disrupt mVWF binding to platelets and have an antithrombotic effect in an in vivo mouse model of thrombosis. These aptamers will allow us to investigate the role of VWF in murine models of venous thrombosis. This project was supported by Award Number R01HL095091 from the National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute. Disclosures: Woelfel: Archemix Corporation: Employment. Wagner:Archemix Corporation: Employment. McGinness:Archemix Corporation: Employment. Schaub:Archemix Corporation: Employment.


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