U.S. patent application number 12/389235 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-13 for targeted therapeutic proteins.
This patent application is currently assigned to ZyStor Therapeutics, Inc.. Invention is credited to Stephen M. Beverley, Jonathan H. LeBowitz.
Application Number | 20090203575 12/389235 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46298835 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090203575 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LeBowitz; Jonathan H. ; et
al. |
August 13, 2009 |
TARGETED THERAPEUTIC PROTEINS
Abstract
Targeted therapeutics that localize to a specific subcellular
compartment such as the lysosome are provided. The targeted
therapeutics include a therapeutic agent and a targeting moiety
that binds a receptor on an exterior surface of the cell,
permitting proper subcellular localization of the targeted
therapeutic upon internalization of the receptor. Nucleic acids,
cells, and methods relating to the practice of the invention are
also provided.
Inventors: |
LeBowitz; Jonathan H.;
(Whitefish Bay, WI) ; Beverley; Stephen M.;
(Clayton, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHOATE, HALL & STEWART LLP
TWO INTERNATIONAL PLACE
BOSTON
MA
02110
US
|
Assignee: |
ZyStor Therapeutics, Inc.
Milwaukee
WI
|
Family ID: |
46298835 |
Appl. No.: |
12/389235 |
Filed: |
February 19, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10272483 |
Oct 16, 2002 |
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12389235 |
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10136841 |
Apr 30, 2002 |
7396811 |
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10272483 |
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60287531 |
Apr 30, 2001 |
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60304609 |
Jul 10, 2001 |
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60329461 |
Oct 15, 2001 |
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60351276 |
Jan 23, 2002 |
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60351276 |
Jan 23, 2002 |
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60384452 |
May 29, 2002 |
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60386019 |
Jun 5, 2002 |
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60408816 |
Sep 6, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
514/1.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C07K 2319/61 20130101;
A61K 2039/515 20130101; C07K 2319/50 20130101; A61K 47/551
20170801; C07K 2319/06 20130101; C12N 9/2402 20130101; C12N 15/62
20130101; A61K 38/47 20130101; C07K 2319/33 20130101; A61K 48/00
20130101; C07K 2319/01 20130101; A61K 47/64 20170801; A61K 47/642
20170801; A61K 47/6425 20170801; C07K 2319/00 20130101; C12N 9/0051
20130101; C07K 2319/74 20130101; C07K 2319/75 20130101; A61K 35/12
20130101; C12Y 302/01022 20130101; C07K 2319/02 20130101; A61K
35/54 20130101; A61K 38/30 20130101; C07K 14/65 20130101; C07K
16/28 20130101; C07K 2317/77 20130101; A61K 39/3955 20130101; A61K
2039/505 20130101; A61K 38/44 20130101; A61P 3/00 20180101; C07K
2319/21 20130101; A61K 38/30 20130101; A61K 2300/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
514/2 |
International
Class: |
A61K 38/02 20060101
A61K038/02 |
Claims
1. A targeted therapeutic comprising: a therapeutic agent that is
therapeutically active in a mammalian lysosome; and means for
binding an extracellular domain of human cation-independent
mannose-6-phosphate receptor in a mannose-6-phosphate-independent
manner.
2-57. (canceled)
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No.
60/287,531, filed Apr. 30, 2001; U.S. Ser. No. 60/304,609, filed
Jul. 10, 2001; U.S. Ser. No. 60/329,461, filed Oct. 15, 2001, U.S.
Ser. No. 60/351,276, filed Jan. 23, 2002; U.S. Ser. No. 10/136,841,
filed Apr. 30, 3002; U.S. Ser. No. 60/384,452, filed May 29, 2002;
U.S. Ser. No. 60/386,019, filed Jun. 5, 2002; and U.S. Ser. No.
60/408,816, filed Sep. 6, 2002, the contents of which are
incorporated by reference.
[0002] This invention provides a means for specifically delivering
proteins to a targeted subcellular compartment of a mammalian cell.
The ability to target proteins to a subcellular compartment is of
great utility in the treatment of metabolic diseases such as
lysosomal storage diseases, a class of over 40 inherited disorders
in which particular lysosomal enzymes are absent or deficient.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Enzyme deficiencies in cellular compartments such as the
golgi, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the lysosome cause a wide
variety of human diseases. For example, lysyl hydroxylase, an
enzyme normally in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, is
required for proper processing of collagen; absence of the enzyme
causes Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type VI, a serious connective tissue
disorder. GnT II, normally found in the golgi, is required for
normal glycosylation of proteins; absence of GnT II causes leads to
defects in brain development. More than forty lysosomal storage
diseases (LSDs) are caused, directly or indirectly, by the absence
of one or more proteins in the lysosome.
[0004] Mammalian lysosomal enzymes are synthesized in the cytosol
and traverse the ER where they are glycosylated with N-linked, high
mannose type carbohydrate. In the golgi, the high mannose
carbohydrate is modified on lysosomal proteins by the addition of
mannose-6-phosphate (M6P) which targets these proteins to the
lysosome. The M6P-modified proteins are delivered to the lysosome
via interaction with either of two M6P receptors. The most
favorable form of modification is when two M6Ps are added to a high
mannose carbohydrate.
[0005] Enzyme replacement therapy for lysosomal storage diseases
(LSDs) is being actively pursued. Therapy, except in Gaucher's
disease, generally requires that LSD proteins be taken up and
delivered to the lysosomes of a variety of cell types in an
M6P-dependent fashion. One possible approach involves purifying an
LSD protein and modifying it to incorporate a carbohydrate moiety
with M6P. This modified material may be taken up by the cells more
efficiently than unmodified LSD proteins due to interaction with
M6P receptors on the cell surface. However, because of the time and
expense required to prepare, purify and modify proteins for use in
subcellular targeting, a need for new, simpler, more efficient, and
more cost-effective methods for targeting therapeutic agents to a
cellular compartment remains.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention facilitates the treatment of metabolic
diseases by providing targeted protein therapeutics that localize
to a subcellular compartment of a cell where the therapeutic is
needed. The invention simplifies preparation of targeted protein
therapeutics by reducing requirements for posttranslational or
postsynthesis processing of the protein. For example, a targeted
therapeutic of the present invention can be synthesized as a fusion
protein including a therapeutic domain and a domain that targets
the fusion protein to a correct subcellular compartment. ("Fusion
protein," as used herein, refers to a single polypeptide having at
least two domains that are not normally present in the same
polypeptide. Thus, naturally occurring proteins are not "fusion
proteins" as used herein.) Synthesis as a fusion protein permits
targeting of the therapeutic domain to a desired subcellular
compartment without complications associated with chemical
crosslinking of separate therapeutic and targeting domains, for
example.
[0007] The invention also permits targeting of a therapeutic to a
lysosome in an M6P-independent manner. Accordingly, the targeted
therapeutic need not be synthesized in a mammalian cell, but can be
synthesized chemically or in a bacterium, yeast, protozoan, or
other organism regardless of glycosylation pattern, facilitating
production of the targeted therapeutic with high yield and
comparatively low cost. The targeted therapeutic can be synthesized
as a fusion protein, further simplifying production, or can be
generated by associating independently-synthesized therapeutic
agents and targeting moieties.
[0008] The present invention permits lysosomal targeting of
therapeutics without the need for M6P addition to high mannose
carbohydrate. It is based in part on the observation that one of
the 2 M6P receptors also binds other ligands with high affinity.
For example, the cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor is
also known as the insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-II) receptor
because it binds IGF-II with high affinity. This low molecular
weight polypeptide interacts with three receptors, the insulin
receptor, the IGF-I receptor and the M6P/IGF-II receptor. It is
believed to exert its biological effect primarily through
interactions with the former two receptors while interaction with
the cation-independent M6P receptor is believed to result
predominantly in the IGF-II being transported to the lysosome where
it is degraded.
[0009] Accordingly, the invention relates in one aspect to a
targeted therapeutic including a targeting moiety and a therapeutic
agent that is therapeutically active in a mammalian lysosome.
"Therapeutically active," as used herein, encompasses at least
polypeptides or other molecules that provide an enzymatic activity
to a cell or a compartment thereof that is deficient in that
activity. "Therapeutically active" also encompasses other
polypeptides or other molecules that are intended to ameliorate or
to compensate for a biochemical deficiency in a cell, but does not
encompass molecules that are primarily cytotoxic or cytostatic,
such as chemotherapeutics.
[0010] In one embodiment, the targeting moiety is a means (e.g. a
molecule) for binding the extracellular domain of the human
cation-independent M6P receptor in an M6P-independent manner when
the receptor is present in the plasma membrane of a target cell. In
another embodiment, the targeting moiety is an unglycosylated
lysosomal targeting domain that binds the extracellular domain of
the human cation-independent M6P receptor. In either embodiment,
the targeting moiety can include, for example, IGF-II; retinoic
acid or a derivative thereof; a protein having an amino acid
sequence at least 70% identical to a domain of urokinase-type
plasminogen activator receptor; an antibody variable domain that
recognizes the receptor; or variants thereof. In some embodiments,
the targeting moiety binds to the receptor with a submicromolar
dissociation constant (e.g. less than 10.sup.-8 M, less than
10.sup.-9 M, less than 10.sup.-10 M, or between 10.sup.-7 M and
10.sup.-11 M) at or about pH 7.4 and with an dissociation constant
at or about pH 5.5 of at least 10.sup.-6 M and at least ten times
the dissociation constant at or about pH 7.4. In particular
embodiments, the means for binding binds to the extracellular
domain at least 10-fold less avidly (i.e. with at least a ten-fold
greater dissociation constant) at or about pH 5.5 than at or about
pH 7.4; in one embodiment, the dissociation constant at or about pH
5.5 is at least 10.sup.-6 M. In a further embodiment, association
of the targeted therapeutic with the means for binding is
destabilized by a pH change from at or about pH 7.4 to at or about
pH 5.5.
[0011] In another embodiment, the targeting moiety is a lysosomal
targeting domain that binds the extracellular domain of the human
cation-independent M6P receptor but does not bind a mutein of the
receptor in which amino acid 1572 is changed from isoleucine to
threonine, or binds the mutein with at least ten-fold less affinity
(i.e. with at least a ten-fold greater dissociation constant). In
another embodiment, the targeting moiety is a lysosomal targeting
domain capable of binding a receptor domain consisting essentially
of repeats 10-15 of the human cation-independent M6P receptor: the
lysosomal targeting domain can bind a protein that includes repeats
10-15 even if the protein includes no other moieties that bind the
lysosomal targeting domain. Preferably, the lysosomal targeting
domain can bind a receptor domain consisting essentially of repeats
10-13 of the human cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor.
More preferably, the lysosomal targeting domain can bind a receptor
domain consisting essentially of repeats 11-12, repeat 11, or amino
acids 1508-1566 of the human cation-independent M6P receptor. In
each of these embodiments, the lysosomal targeting domain
preferably binds the receptor or receptor domain with a
submicromolar dissociation constant at or about pH 7.4. In one
preferred embodiment, the lysosomal targeting domain binds with an
dissociation constant of about 10.sup.-7 M. In another preferred
embodiment, the dissociation constant is less than about 10.sup.-7
M.
[0012] In another embodiment, the targeting moiety is a binding
moiety sufficiently duplicative of human IGF-II such that the
binding moiety binds the human cation-independent M6P receptor. The
binding moiety can be sufficiently duplicative of IGF-II by
including an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to at
least a portion of IGF-II, or by including a molecular structure
sufficiently representative of at least a portion of IGF-II, such
that the binding moiety binds the cation-independent M6P receptor.
The binding moiety can be an organic molecule having a
three-dimensional shape representative of at least a portion of
IGF-II, such as amino acids 48-55 of human IGF-II, or at least
three amino acids selected from the group consisting of amino acids
8, 48, 49, 50, 54, and 55 of human IGF-II. A preferred organic
molecule has a hydrophobic moiety at a position representative of
amino acid 48 of human IGF-II and a positive charge at or about pH
7.4 at a position representative of amino acid 49 of human IGF-II.
In one embodiment, the binding moiety is a polypeptide including a
polypeptide having antiparallel alpha-helices separated by not more
than five amino acids. In another embodiment, the binding moiety
includes a polypeptide with the amino acid sequence of IGF-I or of
a mutein of IGF-I in which amino acids 55-56 are changed and/or
amino acids 1-4 are deleted or changed. In a further embodiment,
the binding moiety includes a polypeptide with an amino acid
sequence at least 60% identical to human IGF-II; amino acids at
positions corresponding to positions 54 and 55 of human IGF-II are
preferably uncharged or negatively charged at or about pH 7.4.
[0013] In one embodiment, the targeting moiety is a polypeptide
comprising the amino acid sequence phenylalanine-arginine-serine.
In another embodiment, the targeting moiety is a polypeptide
including an amino acid sequence at least 75% homologous to amino
acids 48-55 of human IGF-II. In another embodiment, the targeting
moiety includes, on a single polypeptide or on separate
polypeptides, amino acids 8-28 and 41-61 of human IGF-II. In
another embodiment, the targeting moiety includes amino acids 41-61
of human IGF-II and a mutein of amino acids 8-28 of human IGF-II
differing from the human sequence at amino acids 9, 19, 26, and/or
27.
[0014] In some embodiments, the association of the therapeutic
agent with the targeting moiety is labile at or about pH 5.5. In a
preferred embodiment, association of the targeting moiety with the
therapeutic agent is mediated by a protein acceptor (such as
imidazole or a derivative thereof such as histidine) having a pKa
between 5.5 and 7.4. Preferably, one of the therapeutic agent or
the targeting moiety is coupled to a metal, and the other is
coupled to a pH-dependent metal binding moiety.
[0015] In another aspect, the invention relates to a therapeutic
fusion protein including a therapeutic domain and a subcellular
targeting domain. The subcellular targeting domain binds to an
extracellular domain of a receptor on an exterior surface of a
cell. Upon internalization of the receptor, the subcellular
targeting domain permits localization of the therapeutic domain to
a subcellular compartment such as a lysosome, an endosome, the
endoplasmic reticulum (ER), or the golgi complex, where the
therapeutic domain is therapeutically active. In one embodiment,
the receptor undergoes constitutive endocytosis. In another
embodiment, the therapeutic domain has a therapeutic enzymatic
activity. The enzymatic activity is preferably one for which a
deficiency (in a cell or in a particular compartment of a cell) is
associated with a human disease such as a lysosomal storage
disease.
[0016] In further aspects, the invention relates to nucleic acids
encoding therapeutic proteins and to cells (e.g. mammalian cells,
insect cells, yeast cells, protozoans, or bacteria) comprising
these nucleic acids. The invention also provides methods of
producing the proteins by providing these cells with conditions
(e.g. in the context of in vitro culture or by maintaining the
cells in a mammalian body) permitting expression of the proteins.
The proteins can be harvested thereafter (e.g. if produced in
vitro) or can be used without an intervening harvesting step (e.g.
if produced in vivo in a patient). Thus, the invention also
provides methods of treating a patient by administering a
therapeutic protein (e.g. by injection, in situ synthesis, or
otherwise), by administering a nucleic acid encoding the protein
(thereby permitting in vivo protein synthesis), or by administering
a cell comprising a nucleic acid encoding the protein. In one
embodiment, the method includes synthesizing a targeted therapeutic
including a therapeutic agent that is therapeutically active in a
mammalian lysosome and a targeting moiety that binds human
cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor in a
mannose-6-phosphate-independent manner, and administering the
targeted therapeutic to a patient. The method can also include
identifying the targeting moiety (e.g. by a recombinant display
technique such as phage display, bacterial display, or yeast
two-hybrid or by screening libraries for requisite binding
properties). In another embodiment, the method includes providing
(e.g. on a computer) a molecular model defining a three-dimensional
shape representative of at least a portion of human IGF-II;
identifying a candidate IGF-II analog having a three-dimensional
shape representative of at least a portion of IGF-II (e.g. amino
acids 48-55), and producing a therapeutic agent that is active in a
mammalian lysosome and directly or indirectly bound to the
candidate IGF-II analog. The method can also include determining
whether the candidate IGF-II analog binds to the human
cation-independent M6P receptor.
[0017] This invention also provides methods for producing
therapeutic proteins that are targeted to lysosomes and/or across
the blood-brain barrier and that possess an extended half-life in
circulation in a mammal. The methods include producing an
underglycosylated therapeutic protein. As used herein,
"underglycosylated" refers to a protein in which one or more
carbohydrate structures that would normally be present if the
protein were produced in a mammalian cell (such as a CHO cell) has
been omitted, removed, modified, or masked, thereby extending the
half-life of the protein in a mammal. Thus, a protein may be
actually underglycosylated due to the absence of one or more
carbohydrate structures, or functionally underglycosylated by
modification or masking of one or more carbohydrate structures that
promote clearance from circulation. For example, a structure could
be masked (i) by the addition of one or more additional moieties
(e.g. carbohydrate groups, phosphate groups, alkyl groups, etc.)
that interfere with recognition of the structure by a mannose or
asialoglycoprotein receptor, (ii) by covalent or noncovalent
association of the glycoprotein with a binding moiety, such as a
lectin or an extracellular portion of a mannose or
asialoglycoprotein receptor, that interferes with binding to those
receptors in vivo, or (iii) any other modification to the
polypeptide or carbohydrate portion of a glycoprotein to reduce its
clearance from the blood by masking the presence of all or a
portion of the carbohydrate structure.
[0018] In one embodiment, the therapeutic protein includes a
peptide targeting moiety (e.g. IGF-I, IGF-II, or a portion thereof
effective to bind a target receptor) that is produced in a host
(e.g. bacteria or yeast) that does not glycosylate proteins as
conventional mammalian cells (e.g. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)
cells) do. For example, proteins produced by the host cell may lack
terminal mannose, fucose, and/or N-acetylglucosamine residues,
which are recognized by the mannose receptor, or may be completely
unglycosylated. In another embodiment, the therapeutic protein,
which may be produced in mammalian cells or in other hosts, is
treated chemically or enzymatically to remove one or more
carbohydrate residues (e.g. one or more mannose, fucose, and/or
N-acetylglucosamine residues) or to modify or mask one or more
carbohydrate residues. Such a modification or masking may reduce
binding of the therapeutic protein to the hepatic mannose and/or
asialoglycoprotein receptors. In another embodiment, one or more
potential glycosylation sites are removed by mutation of the
nucleic acid encoding the targeted therapeutic protein, thereby
reducing glycosylation of the protein when synthesized in a
mammalian cell or other cell that glycosylates proteins.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 depicts several types of underglycosylation.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a map of the human IGF-II open reading frame (SEQ
ID NO:1) and its encoded protein (SEQ ID NO:2). Mature IGF-II lacks
the signal peptide and COOH-cleaved regions.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a Leishmania codon-optimized IGF-II depicted in
the XbaI site of pIR1-SAT; the nucleic acid is SEQ ID NO:3 and the
encoded protein is SEQ ID NO:4.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a depiction of a preferred embodiment of the
invention, incorporating a signal peptide sequence, the mature
human .beta.-glucuronidase sequence, a bridge of three amino acids,
and an IGF-II sequence. The depicted nucleic acid is SEQ ID NO:5,
and the encoded protein is SEQ ID NO:6.
[0023] FIG. 5 depicts .beta.-glucuronidase (GUS) activity in human
mucopolysaccharidosis VII skin fibroblast GM4668 cells exposed to
GUS, a GUS-IGF-II fusion protein (GILT-GUS), GILT-GUS with A1-7 and
Y27L mutations in the IGF-II portion (GILT.sup.2-GUS), or a
negative control (DMEM).
[0024] FIG. 6 depicts GUS activity in GM4668 cells exposed to GUS
(+.beta.-GUS), GUS-GILT (+GILT), GUS-GILT in the presence of excess
IGF-II (+GILT+IGF-II), or a negative control (GM4668).
[0025] FIG. 7 is an alignment of human IGF-I (SEQ ID NO:7) and
IGF-II (SEQ ID NO:8), showing the A, B, C, and D domains.
[0026] FIG. 8 depicts GUS in GM4668 cells exposed to GUS, GUS-GILT,
GUS-GILT, GUS-GILT with a deletion of the seven amino-terminal
residues (GUS-GILT .DELTA.1-7), GUS-GILT in the presence of excess
IGF-II, GUS-GILT .DELTA.1-7 in the presence of excess IGF-II, or a
negative control (Mock).
[0027] FIG. 9A depicts one form of a phosphorylated high mannose
carbohydrate structure linked to a glycoprotein via an asparagine
residue, and also depicts the structures of mannose and
N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). FIG. 9B depicts a portion of the high
mannose carbohydrate structure at a higher level of detail, and
indicates positions vulnerable to cleavage by periodate treatment.
The positions of the sugar residues within the carbohydrate
structure are labeled with circled, capital letters A-H; phosphate
groups are indicated with a circled capital P.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] As used herein, "glycosylation independent lysosomal
targeting" and "GILT" refer to lysosomal targeting that is
mannose-6-phosphate-independent.
[0029] As used herein, "GILT construct" refers to a construct
including a mannose-6-phosphate-independent lysosomal targeting
portion and a therapeutic portion effective in a mammalian
lysosome.
[0030] As used herein, "GUS" refers to .beta.-glucuronidase, an
exemplary therapeutic portion.
[0031] As used herein, "GUS.DELTA.C18" refers to GUS with a
deletion of the C-terminal 18 amino acids, removing a potential
proteolysis site.
[0032] As used herein, "GUS-GILT" refers to a GILT construct with
GUS coupled to an IGF-II targeting portion.
[0033] All references to amino acid positions in IGF-II refer to
the positions in mature human IGF-II. Thus, for example, positions
1, 2, and 3 are occupied by alanine, tyrosine, and arginine,
respectively.
[0034] As used herein, GILT.DELTA.1-7 refers to an IGF-II targeting
portion with a deletion of the N-terminal 7 amino acids.
[0035] As used herein, GUS.DELTA.C18-GILT.DELTA.1-7 refers to a
fusion protein in which GUS.DELTA.C18 is fused to the N-terminus of
GILT.DELTA.1-7.
[0036] The present invention facilitates treatment of metabolic
diseases by providing targeted therapeutics that, when provided
externally to a cell, enter the cell and localize to a subcellular
compartment where the targeted therapeutic is active. The targeted
therapeutic includes at least a therapeutic agent and a targeting
moiety, such as a subcellular targeting domain of a protein, or,
for lysosomal targeting, a means (e.g. a protein, peptide, peptide
analog, or organic chemical) for binding the human
cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor.
Association Between Therapeutic Agent and Targeting Moiety
[0037] The therapeutic agent and the targeting moiety are
necessarily associated, directly or indirectly. In one embodiment,
the therapeutic agent and the targeting moiety are non-covalently
associated. The association is preferably stable at or about pH
7.4. For example, the targeting moiety can be biotinylated and bind
avidin associated with the therapeutic agent. Alternatively, the
targeting moiety and the therapeutic agent can each be associated
(e.g. as fusion proteins) with different subunits of a multimeric
protein. In another embodiment, the targeting moiety and the
therapeutic agent are crosslinked to each other (e.g. using a
chemical crosslinking agent).
[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the therapeutic agent is fused to
the targeting moiety as a fusion protein. The targeting moiety can
be at the amino-terminus of the fusion protein, the
carboxy-terminus, or can be inserted within the sequence of the
therapeutic agent at a position where the presence of the targeting
moiety does not unduly interfere with the therapeutic activity of
the therapeutic agent.
[0039] Where the therapeutic agent is a heteromeric protein, one or
more of the subunits can be associated with a targeting portion.
Hexosaminidase A, for example, a lysosomal protein affected in
Tay-Sachs disease, includes an alpha subunit and a beta subunit.
The alpha subunit, the beta subunit, or both can be associated with
a targeting moiety in accordance with the present invention. If,
for example, the alpha subunit is associated with a targeting
moiety and is coexpressed with the beta subunit, an active complex
is formed and targeted appropriately (e.g. to the lysosome).
[0040] For targeting a therapeutic to the lysosome, the therapeutic
agent can be connected to the targeting moiety through an
interaction that is disrupted by decreasing the pH from at or about
7.4 to at or about 5.5. The targeting moiety binds a receptor on
the exterior of a cell; the selected receptor is one that undergoes
endocytosis and passes through the late endosome, which has a pH of
about 5.5. Thus, in the late endosome, the therapeutic agent
dissociates from the targeting moiety and proceeds to the lysosome,
where the therapeutic agent acts. For example, a targeting moiety
can be chemically modified to incorporate a chelating agent (e.g.
EDTA, EGTA, or trinitrilotriacetic acid) that tightly binds a metal
ion such as nickel. The targeting moiety (e.g. GUS) can be
expressed as a fusion protein with a six-histidine tag (e.g. at the
amino-terminus, at the carboxy-terminus, or in a surface-accessible
flexible loop). At or about pH 7.4, the six-histidine tag is
substantially deprotonated and binds metal ions such as nickel with
high affinity. At or about pH 5.5, the six-histidine tag is
substantially protonated, leading to release of the nickel and,
consequently, release of the therapeutic agent from the targeting
moiety.
Therapeutic Agent
[0041] While methods and compositions of the invention are useful
for producing and delivering any therapeutic agent to a subcellular
compartment, the invention is particularly useful for delivering
gene products for treating metabolic diseases.
[0042] Preferred LSD genes are shown in Table 1, and preferred
genes associated with golgi or ER defects are shown in Table 2. In
a preferred embodiment, a wild-type LSD gene product is delivered
to a patient suffering from a defect in the same LSD gene. In
alternative embodiments, a functional sequence or species variant
of the LSD gene is used. In further embodiments, a gene coding for
a different enzyme that can rescue an LSD gene defect is used
according to methods of the invention.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Lysosomal Storage Diseases and associated
enzyme defects Substance Disease Name Enzyme Defect Stored A.
Glycogenosis Disorders Pompe Disease Acid-a1, 4- Glycogen .alpha.
1-4 linked Glucosidase Oligosaccharides B. Glycolipidosis Disorders
GM1 Gangliodsidosis .beta.-Galactosidase GM.sub.1 Ganliosides
Tay-Sachs Disease .beta.-Hexosaminidase A GM.sub.2 Ganglioside GM2
Gangliosidosis: GM.sub.2 Activator GM.sub.2 Ganglioside AB Variant
Protein Sandhoff Disease .beta.-Hexosaminidase GM.sub.2 Ganglioside
A&B Fabry Disease .alpha.-Galactosidase A Globosides Gaucher
Disease Glucocerebrosidase Glucosylceramide Metachromatic
Arylsulfatase A Sulphatides Leukodystrophy Krabbe Disease
Galactosylceramidase Galactocerebroside Niemann-Pick, Types Acid
Sphingomyelin A and B Sphingomyelinase Niemann-Pick, Type C
Cholesterol Sphingomyelin Esterification Defect Nieman-Pick, Type D
Unknown Sphingomyelin Farber Disease Acid Ceramidase Ceramide
Wolman Disease Acid Lipase Cholesteryl Esters C. Mucopolysaccharide
Disorders Hurler Syndrome .alpha.-L-Iduronidase Heparan & (MPS
IH) Dermatan Sulfates Scheie Syndrome .alpha.-L-Iduronidase Heparan
& (MPS IS) Dermatan, Sulfates Hurler-Scheie
.alpha.-L-Iduronidase Heparan & (MPS IH/S) Dermatan Sulfates
Hunter Syndrome Iduronate Sulfatase Heparan & (MPS II) Dermatan
Sulfates Sanfilippo A Heparan N-Sulfatase Heparan (MPS IIIA)
Sulfate Sanfilippo B .alpha.-N- Heparan (MPS IIIB)
Acetylglucosaminidase Sulfate Sanfilippo C Acetyl-CoA- Heparan (MPS
IIIC) Glucosaminide Sulfate Acetyltransferase Sanfilippo D
N-Acetylglucosamine- Heparan (MPS IIID) 6-Sulfatase Sulfate Morquio
A Galactosamine-6- Keratan (MPS IVA) Sulfatase Sulfate Morquio B
.beta.-Galactosidase Keratan (MPS IVB) Sulfate Maroteaux-Lamy
Arylsulfatase B Dermatan (MPS VI) Sulfate Sly Syndrome
.beta.-Glucuronidase (MPS VII) D. Oligosaccharide/Glycoprotein
Disorders .alpha.-Mannosidosis .alpha.-Mannosidase Mannose/
Oligosaccharides .beta.-Mannosidosis .beta.-Mannosidase Mannose/
Oligosaccharides Fucosidosis .alpha.-L-Fucosidase Fucosyl
Oligosaccharides Asparylglucosaminuria N-Aspartyl-.beta.-
Asparylglucosamine Glucosaminidase Asparagines Sialidosis
.alpha.-Neuraminidase Sialyloligosaccharides (Mucolipidosis I)
Galactosialidosis Lysosomal Protective Sialyloligosaccharides
(Goldberg Syndrome) Protein Deficiency Schindler Disease
.alpha.-N-Acetyl- Galactosaminidase E. Lysosomal Enzyme Transport
Disorders Mucolipidosis II (I- N-Acetylglucosamine- Heparan Sulfate
Cell Disease) 1-Phosphotransferase Mucolipidosis III Same as ML II
(Pseudo-Hurler Polydystrophy) F. Lysosomal Membrane Transport
Disorders Cystinosis Cystine Transport Free Cystine Protein Salla
Disease Sialic Acid Transport Free Sialic Acid and Protein
Glucuronic Acid Infantile Sialic Acid Sialic Acid Transport Free
Sialic Acid and Storage Disease Protein Glucuronic Acid G. Other
Batten Disease Unknown Lipofuscins (Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid
Lipofuscinosis) Infantile Neuronal Palmitoyl-Protein Lipofuscins
Ceroid Lipofuscinosis Thioesterase Mucolipidosis IV Unknown
Gangliosides & Hyaluronic Acid Prosaposin Saposins A, B, C or
D
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Diseases of the golgi and ER Disease Name
Gene and Enzyme Defect Features Ehlers- PLOD1 lysyl hydroxylase
Defect in lysyl hydroxylation Danlos of Collagen; located in ER
Syndrome lumen Type VI Type Ia glucose6 phosphatase Causes
excessive glycoge accumulation of Glycogen in storage the liver,
kidney, and disease Intestinal mucosa; enzyme is transmembrane but
active site is ER lumen Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation CDG
Ic ALG6 Defects in N-glycosylation ER .alpha.1,3
glucosyltransferase lumen CDG Id ALG3 Defects in N-glycosylation ER
.alpha.1,3 mannosyltransferase transmembrane protein CDG IIa MGAT2
Defects in N-glycosylation N-acetylglucosaminyl- golgi
transmembrane protein transferase II CDG IIb GCS1 Defect in N
glycosylation .alpha.1,2-Glucosidase I ER membrane bound with
lumenal catalytic domain releasable by proteolysis
[0043] One particularly preferred therapeutic agent is
glucocerebrosidase, currently manufactured by Genzyme as an
effective enzyme replacement therapy for Gaucher's Disease.
Currently, the enzyme is prepared with exposed mannose residues,
which targets the protein specifically to cells of the macrophage
lineage. Although the primary pathology in type 1 Gaucher patients
are due to macrophage accumulating glucocerebroside, there can be
therapeutic advantage to delivering glucocerebrosidase to other
cell types. Targeting glucocerebrosidase to lysosomes using the
present invention would target the agent to multiple cell types and
can have a therapeutic advantage compared to other
preparations.
Subcellular Targeting Domains
[0044] The present invention permits targeting of a therapeutic
agent to a lysosome using a protein, or an analog of a protein,
that specifically binds a cellular receptor for that protein. The
exterior of the cell surface is topologically equivalent to
endosomal, lysosomal, golgi, and endoplasmic reticulum
compartments. Thus, endocytosis of a molecule through interaction
with an appropriate receptor(s) permits transport of the molecule
to any of these compartments without crossing a membrane. Should a
genetic deficiency result in a deficit of a particular enzyme
activity in any of these compartments, delivery of a therapeutic
protein can be achieved by tagging it with a ligand for the
appropriate receptor(s).
[0045] Multiple pathways directing receptor-bound proteins from the
plasma membrane to the golgi and/or endoplasmic reticulum have been
characterized. Thus, by using a targeting portion from, for
example, SV40, cholera toxin, or the plant toxin ricin, each of
which coopt one or more of these subcellular trafficking pathways,
a therapeutic can be targeted to the desired location within the
cell. In each case, uptake is initiated by binding of the material
to the exterior of the cell. For example, SV40 binds to MHC class I
receptors, cholera toxin binds to GM1 ganglioside molecules and
ricin binds to glycolipids and glycoproteins with terminal
galactose on the surface of cells. Following this initial step the
molecules reach the ER by a variety of pathways. For example, SV40
undergoes caveolar endocytosis and reaches the ER in a two step
process that bypasses the golgi whereas cholera toxin undergoes
caveolar endocytosis but traverses the golgi before reaching the
ER.
[0046] If a targeting moiety related to cholera toxin or ricin is
used, it is important that the toxicity of cholera toxin or ricin
be avoided. Both cholera toxin and ricin are heteromeric proteins,
and the cell surface binding domain and the catalytic activities
responsible for toxicity reside on separate polypeptides. Thus, a
targeting moiety can be constructed that includes the
receptor-binding polypeptide, but not the polypeptide responsible
for toxicity. For example, in the case of ricin, the B subunit
possesses the galactose binding activity responsible for
internalization of the protein, and can be fused to a therapeutic
protein. If the further presence of the A subunit improves
subcellular localization, a mutant version (mutein) of the A chain
that is properly folded but catalytically inert can be provided
with the B subunit-therapeutic agent fusion protein.
[0047] Proteins delivered to the golgi can be transported to the
endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via the KDEL receptor, which retrieves
ER-targeted proteins that have escaped to the golgi. Thus,
inclusion of a KDEL motif at the terminus of a targeting domain
that directs a therapeutic protein to the golgi permits subsequent
localization to the ER. For example, a targeting moiety (e.g. an
antibody, or a peptide identified by high-throughput screening such
as phage display, yeast two hybrid, chip-based assays, and
solution-based assays) that binds the cation-independent M6P
receptor both at or about pH 7.4 and at or about pH 5.5 permits
targeting of a therapeutic agent to the golgi; further addition of
a KDEL motif permits targeting to the ER.
Lysosomal Targeting Moieties
[0048] The invention permits targeting of a therapeutic agent to a
lysosome. Targeting may occur, for example, through binding of a
plasma membrane receptor that later passes through a lysosome.
Alternatively, targeting may occur through binding of a plasma
receptor that later passes through a late endosome; the therapeutic
agent can then travel from the late endosome to a lysosome. A
preferred lysosomal targeting mechanism involves binding to the
cation-independent M6P receptor.
Cation-Independent M6P Receptor
[0049] The cation-independent M6P receptor is a 275 kDa single
chain transmembrane glycoprotein expressed ubiquitously in
mammalian tissues. It is one of two mammalian receptors that bind
M6P: the second is referred to as the cation-dependent M6P
receptor. The cation-dependent M6P receptor requires divalent
cations for M6P binding; the cation-independent M6P receptor does
not. These receptors play an important role in the trafficking of
lysosomal enzymes through recognition of the M6P moiety on high
mannose carbohydrate on lysosomal enzymes. The extracellular domain
of the cation-independent M6P receptor contains 15 homologous
domains ("repeats") that bind a diverse group of ligands at
discrete locations on the receptor.
[0050] The cation-independent M6P receptor contains two binding
sites for M6P: one located in repeats 1-3 and the other located in
repeats 7-9. The receptor binds monovalent M6P ligands with a
dissociation constant in the .mu.M range while binding divalent M6P
ligands with a dissociation constant in the nM range, probably due
to receptor oligomerization. Uptake of IGF-II by the receptor is
enhanced by concomitant binding of multivalent M6P ligands such as
lysosomal enzymes to the receptor.
[0051] The cation-independent M6P receptor also contains binding
sites for at least three distinct ligands that can be used as
targeting moieties. The cation-independent M6P receptor binds
IGF-II with a dissociation constant of about 14 nM at or about pH
7.4, primarily through interactions with repeat 11. Consistent with
its function in targeting IGF-II to the lysosome, the dissociation
constant is increased approximately 100-fold at or about pH 5.5
promoting dissociation of IGF-II in acidic late endosomes. The
receptor is capable of binding high molecular weight O-glycosylated
IGF-II forms.
[0052] An additional useful ligand for the cation-independent M6P
receptor is retinoic acid. Retinoic acid binds to the receptor with
a dissociation constant of 2.5 nM. Affinity photolabeling of the
cation-independent M6P receptor with retinoic acid does not
interfere with IGF-II or M6P binding to the receptor, indicating
that retinoic acid binds to a distinct site on the receptor.
Binding of retinoic acid to the receptor alters the intracellular
distribution of the receptor with a greater accumulation of the
receptor in cytoplasmic vesicles and also enhances uptake of M6P
modified .beta.-glucuronidase. Retinoic acid has a photoactivatable
moiety that can be used to link it to a therapeutic agent without
interfering with its ability to bind to the cation-independent M6P
receptor.
[0053] The cation-independent M6P receptor also binds the
urokinase-type plasminogen receptor (uPAR) with a dissociation
constant of 9 .mu.M. uPAR is a GPI-anchored receptor on the surface
of most cell types where it functions as an adhesion molecule and
in the proteolytic activation of plasminogen and TGF-.beta..
Binding of uPAR to the C1-M6P receptor targets it to the lysosome,
thereby modulating its activity. Thus, fusing the extracellular
domain of uPAR, or a portion thereof competent to bind the
cation-independent M6P receptor, to a therapeutic agent permits
targeting of the agent to a lysosome.
IGF-II
[0054] In a preferred embodiment, the lysosomal targeting portion
is a protein, peptide, or other moiety that binds the cation
independent M6P/IGF-II receptor in a
mannose-6-phosphate-independent manner. Advantageously, this
embodiment mimics the normal biological mechanism for uptake of LSD
proteins, yet does so in a manner independent of
mannose-6-phosphate.
[0055] For example, by fusing DNA encoding the mature IGF-II
polypeptide to the 3' end of LSD gene cassettes, fusion proteins
are created that can be taken up by a variety of cell types and
transported to the lysosome. Alternatively, DNA encoding a
precursor IGF-II polypeptide can be fused to the 3' end of an LSD
gene cassette; the precursor includes a carboxyterminal portion
that is cleaved in mammalian cells to yield the mature IGF-II
polypeptide, but the IGF-II signal peptide is preferably omitted
(or moved to the 5' end of the LSD gene cassette). This method has
numerous advantages over methods involving glycosylation including
simplicity and cost effectiveness, because once the protein is
isolated, no further modifications need be made.
[0056] IGF-II is preferably targeted specifically to the M6P
receptor. Particularly useful are mutations in the IGF-II
polypeptide that result in a protein that binds the M6P receptor
with high affinity while no longer binding the other two receptors
with appreciable affinity. IGF-II can also be modified to minimize
binding to serum IGF-binding proteins (Baxter (2000) Am. J. Physiol
Endocrinol Metab. 278(6):967-76) to avoid sequestration of
IGF-II/GILT constructs. A number of studies have localized residues
in IGF-I and IGF-II necessary for binding to IGF-binding proteins.
Constructs with mutations at these residues can be screened for
retention of high affinity binding to the M6P/IGF-II receptor and
for reduced affinity for IGF-binding proteins. For example,
replacing PHE 26 of IGF-II with SER is reported to reduce affinity
of IGF-II for IGFBP-1 and -6 with no effect on binding to the
M6P/IGF-II receptor (Bach et al. (1993) J. Biol. Chem.
268(13):9246-54). Other substitutions, such as SER for PHE 19 and
LYS for GLU 9, can also be advantageous. The analogous mutations,
separately or in combination, in a region of IGF-I that is highly
conserved with IGF-II result in large decreases in IGF-BP binding
(Magee et al. (1999) Biochemistry 38(48):15863-70).
[0057] An alternate approach is to identify minimal regions of
IGF-II that can bind with high affinity to the M6P/IGF-II receptor.
The residues that have been implicated in IGF-II binding to the
M6P/IGF-II receptor mostly cluster on one face of IGF-II (Terasawa
et al. (1994) EMBO J. 13(23):5590-7). Although IGF-II tertiary
structure is normally maintained by three intramolecular disulfide
bonds, a peptide incorporating the amino acid sequence on the
M6P/IGF-II receptor binding surface of IGF-II can be designed to
fold properly and have binding activity. Such a minimal binding
peptide is a highly preferred targeting portion. Designed peptides
based on the region around amino acids 48-55 can be tested for
binding to the M6P/IGF-II receptor. Alternatively, a random library
of peptides can be screened for the ability to bind the M6P/IGF-II
receptor either via a yeast two hybrid assay, or via a phage
display type assay.
Blood Brain Barrier
[0058] One challenge in therapy for lysosomal storage diseases is
that many of these diseases have significant neurological
involvement. Therapeutic enzymes administered into the blood stream
generally do not cross the blood brain barrier and therefore cannot
relieve neurological symptoms associated with the diseases. IGF-II,
however, has been reported to promote transport across the blood
brain barrier via transcytosis (Bickel et al. (2001) Adv. Drug
Deliv. Rev. 46(1-3):247-79). Thus, appropriately designed GILT
constructs should be capable of crossing the blood brain barrier,
affording for the first time a means of treating neurological
symptoms associated with lysosomal storage diseases. The constructs
can be tested using GUS minus mice as described in Example 12.
Further details regarding design, construction and testing of
targeted therapeutics that can reach neuronal tissue from blood are
disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 60/329,650, filed Oct. 16, 2001, and in
U.S. Ser. No. 10/136,639, filed Apr. 30, 2002.
Structure of IGF-II
[0059] NMR structures of IGF-II have been solved by two groups
(Terasawa et al. (1994) EMBO J. 13(23):5590-7; Torres et al. (1995)
J. Mol. Biol. 248(2):385-401) (see, e.g., Protein Data Bank record
1IGL). The general features of the IGF-II structure are similar to
IGF-I and insulin. The A and B domains of IGF-II correspond to the
A and B chains of insulin. Secondary structural features include an
alpha helix from residues 11-21 of the B region connected by a
reverse turn in residues 22-25 to a short beta strand in residues
26-28. Residues 25-27 appear to form a small antiparallel beta
sheet; residues 59-61 and residues 26-28 may also participate in
intermolecular beta-sheet formation. In the A domain of IGF-II,
alpha helices spanning residues 42-49 and 53-59 are arranged in an
antiparallel configuration perpendicular to the B-domain helix.
Hydrophobic clusters formed by two of the three disulfide bridges
and conserved hydrophobic residues stabilize these secondary
structure features. The N and C termini remain poorly defined as is
the region between residues 31-40.
[0060] IGF-II binds to the IGF-II/M6P and IGF-I receptors with
relatively high affinity and binds with lower affinity to the
insulin receptor. IGF-II also interacts with a number if serum
IGFBPs.
Binding to the IGF-II/M6P Receptor
[0061] Substitution of IGF-II residues 48-50 (Phe Arg Ser) with the
corresponding residues from insulin, (Thr Ser Ile), or substitution
of residues 54-55 (Ala Leu) with the corresponding residues from
IGF-I (Arg Arg) result in diminished binding to the IGF-II/M6P
receptor but retention of binding to the IGF-I and insulin
receptors (Sakano et al (1991) J. Biol. Chem.
266(31):20626-35).
[0062] IGF-I and IGF-II share identical sequences and structures in
the region of residues 48-50 yet have a 1000-fold difference in
affinity for the IGF-II receptor. The NMR structure reveals a
structural difference between IGF-I and IGF-II in the region of
IGF-II residues 53-58 (IGF-I residues 54-59): the alpha-helix is
better defined in IGF-II than in IGF-I and, unlike IGF-I, there is
no bend in the backbone around residues 53 and 54 (Torres et al.
(1995) J. Mol. Biol. 248(2):385-401). This structural difference
correlates with the substitution of Ala 54 and Leu 55 in IGF-II
with Arg 55 and Arg 56 in IGF-I. It is possible either that binding
to the IGF-II receptor is disrupted directly by the presence of
charged residues in this region or that changes in the structure
engendered by the charged residues yield the changes in binding for
the IGF-II receptor. In any case, substitution of uncharged
residues for the two Arg residues in IGF-I resulted in higher
affinities for the IGF-II receptor (Cacciari et al. (1987)
Pediatrician 14(3):146-53). Thus the presence of positively charged
residues in these positions correlates with loss of binding to the
IGF-II receptor.
[0063] IGF-II binds to repeat 11 of the cation-independent M6P
receptor. Indeed, a minireceptor in which only repeat 11 is fused
to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the
cation-independent M6P receptor is capable of binding IGF-II (with
an affinity approximately one tenth the affinity of the full length
receptor) and mediating internalization of IGF-II and its delivery
to lysosomes (Grimme et al. (2000) J. Biol. Chem.
275(43):33697-33703). The structure of domain 11 of the M6P
receptor is known (Protein Data Base entries 1GP0 and 1GP3; Brown
et al. (2002) EMBO J. 21(5):1054-1062). The putative IGF-II binding
site is a hydrophobic pocket believed to interact with hydrophobic
amino acids of IGF-II; candidate amino acids of IGF-II include
leucine 8, phenylalanine 48, alanine 54, and leucine 55. Although
repeat 11 is sufficient for IGF-II binding, constructs including
larger portions of the cation-independent M6P receptor (e.g.
repeats 10-13, or I-15) generally bind IGF-II with greater affinity
and with increased pH dependence (see, for example, Linnell et al.
(2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276(26):23986-23991).
Binding to the IGF-I Receptor
[0064] Substitution of IGF-II residues Tyr 27 with Leu, Leu 43 with
Val or Ser 26 with Phe diminishes the affinity of IGF-II for the
IGF-I receptor by 94-, 56-, and 4-fold respectively (Torres et al.
(1995) J. Mol. Biol. 248(2):385-401). Deletion of residues 1-7 of
human IGF-II resulted in a 30-fold decrease in affinity for the
human IGF-I receptor and a concomitant 12 fold increase in affinity
for the rat IGF-II receptor (Hashimoto et al (1995) J. Biol. Chem.
270(30):18013-8). The NMR structure of IGF-II shows that Thr 7 is
located near residues 48 Phe and 50 Ser as well as near the 9
Cys-47 Cys disulfide bridge. It is thought that interaction of Thr
7 with these residues can stabilize the flexible N-terminal
hexapeptide required for IGF-I receptor binding (Terasawa et al.
(1994) EMBO J. 13(23)5590-7). At the same time this interaction can
modulate binding to the IGF-II receptor. Truncation of the
C-terminus of IGF-II (residues 62-67) also appear to lower the
affinity of IGF-II for the IGF-I receptor by 5 fold (Roth et al
(1991) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 181(2):907-14).
Deletion mutants of IGF-II
[0065] The binding surfaces for the IGF-I and cation-independent
M6P receptors are on separate faces of IGF-II. Based on structural
and mutational data, functional cation-independent M6P binding
domains can be constructed that are substantially smaller than
human IGF-II. For example, the amino terminal amino acids 1-7
and/or the carboxy terminal residues 62-67 can be deleted or
replaced. Additionally, amino acids 29-40 can likely be eliminated
or replaced without altering the folding of the remainder of the
polypeptide or binding to the cation-independent M6P receptor.
Thus, a targeting moiety including amino acids 8-28 and 41-61 can
be constructed. These stretches of amino acids could perhaps be
joined directly or separated by a linker. Alternatively, amino
acids 8-28 and 41-61 can be provided on separate polypeptide
chains. Comparable domains of insulin, which is homologous to
IGF-II and has a tertiary structure closely related to the
structure of IGF-II, have sufficient structural information to
permit proper refolding into the appropriate tertiary structure,
even when present in separate polypeptide chains (Wang et al (1991)
Trends Biochem. Sci. 279-281). Thus, for example, amino acids 8-28,
or a conservative substitution variant thereof, could be fused to a
therapeutic agent; the resulting fusion protein could be admixed
with amino acids 41-61, or a conservative substitution variant
thereof, and administered to a patient.
Binding to IGF Binding Proteins
[0066] IGF-II and related constructs can be modified to diminish
their affinity for IGFBPs, thereby increasing the bioavailability
of the tagged proteins.
[0067] Substitution of IGF-II residue phenylalanine 26 with serine
reduces binding to IGFBPs 1-5 by 5-75 fold (Bach et al (1993) J.
Biol. Chem. 268(13):9246-54). Replacement of IGF-II residues 48-50
with threonine-serine-isoleucine reduces binding by more than 100
fold to most of the IGFBPs (Bach et al (1993) J. Biol. Chem.
268(13):9246-54); these residues are, however, also important for
binding to the cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor. The
Y27L substitution that disrupts binding to the IGF-I receptor
interferes with formation of the ternary complex with IGFBP3 and
acid labile subunit (Hashimoto et al. (1997) J. Biol. Chem.
272(44):27936-42); this ternary complex accounts for most of the
IGF-II in the circulation (Yu et al. (1999) J. Clin. Lab Anal.
13(4):166-72). Deletion of the first six residues of IGF-II also
interferes with IGFBP binding (Luthi et al. (1992) Eur. J. Biochem.
205(2):483-90).
[0068] Studies on IGF-I interaction with IGFBPs revealed
additionally that substitution of serine for phenylalanine 16 did
not effect secondary structure but decreased IGFBP binding by
between 40 and 300 fold (Magee et al. (1999) Biochemistry
38(48):15863-70). Changing glutamate 9 to lysine also resulted in a
significant decrease in IGFBP binding. Furthermore, the double
mutant lysine 9/serine 16 exhibited the lowest affinity for IGFBPs.
Although these mutations have not previously been tested in IGF-II,
the conservation of sequence between this region of IGF-I and
IGF-II suggests that a similar effect will be observed when the
analogous mutations are made in IGF-II (glutamate 12
lysine/phenylalanine 19 serine).
IGF-II Homologs
[0069] The amino acid sequence of human IGF-II, or a portion
thereof affecting binding to the cation-independent M6P receptor,
may be used as a reference sequence to determine whether a
candidate sequence possesses sufficient amino acid similarity to
have a reasonable expectation of success in the methods of the
present invention. Preferably, variant sequences are at least 70%
similar or 60% identical, more preferably at least 75% similar or
65% identical, and most preferably 80% similar or 70% identical to
human IGF-II.
[0070] To determine whether a candidate peptide region has the
requisite percentage similarity or identity to human IGF-II, the
candidate amino acid sequence and human IGF-II are first aligned
using the dynamic programming algorithm described in Smith and
Waterman (1981) J. Mol. Biol. 147:195-197, in combination with the
BLOSUM62 substitution matrix described in FIG. 2 of Henikoff and
Henikoff (1992) PNAS 89:10915-10919. For the present invention, an
appropriate value for the gap insertion penalty is -12, and an
appropriate value for the gap extension penalty is -4. Computer
programs performing alignments using the algorithm of
Smith-Waterman and the BLOSUM62 matrix, such as the GCG program
suite (Oxford Molecular Group, Oxford, England), are commercially
available and widely used by those skilled in the art.
[0071] Once the alignment between the candidate and reference
sequence is made, a percent similarity score may be calculated. The
individual amino acids of each sequence are compared sequentially
according to their similarity to each other. If the value in the
BLOSUM62 matrix corresponding to the two aligned amino acids is
zero or a negative number, the pairwise similarity score is zero;
otherwise the pairwise similarity score is 1.0. The raw similarity
score is the sum of the pairwise similarity scores of the aligned
amino acids. The raw score is then normalized by dividing it by the
number of amino acids in the smaller of the candidate or reference
sequences. The normalized raw score is the percent similarity.
Alternatively, to calculate a percent identity, the aligned amino
acids of each sequence are again compared sequentially. If the
amino acids are non-identical, the pairwise identity score is zero;
otherwise the pairwise identity score is 1.0. The raw identity
score is the sum of the identical aligned amino acids. The raw
score is then normalized by dividing it by the number of amino
acids in the smaller of the candidate or reference sequences. The
normalized raw score is the percent identity. Insertions and
deletions are ignored for the purposes of calculating percent
similarity and identity. Accordingly, gap penalties are not used in
this calculation, although they are used in the initial
alignment.
IGF-II Structural Analogs
[0072] The known structures of human IGF-II and the
cation-independent M6P receptors permit the design of IGF-II
analogs and other cation-independent M6P receptor binding proteins
using computer-assisted design principles such as those discussed
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,226,603 and 6,273,598. For example, the known
atomic coordinates of IGF-II can be provided to a computer equipped
with a conventional computer modeling program, such as INSIGHTII,
DISCOVER, or DELPHI, commercially available from Biosym,
Technologies Inc., or QUANTA, or CHARMM, commercially available
from Molecular Simulations, Inc. These and other software programs
allow analysis of molecular structures and simulations that predict
the effect of molecular changes on structure and on intermolecular
interactions. For example, the software can be used to identify
modified analogs with the ability to form additional intermolecular
hydrogen or ionic bonds, improving the affinity of the analog for
the target receptor.
[0073] The software also permits the design of peptides and organic
molecules with structural and chemical features that mimic the same
features displayed on at least part of the surface of the
cation-independent M6P receptor binding face of IGF-II. Because a
major contribution to the receptor binding surface is the spatial
arrangement of chemically interactive moieties present within the
sidechains of amino acids which together define the receptor
binding surface, a preferred embodiment of the present invention
relates to designing and producing a synthetic organic molecule
having a framework that carries chemically interactive moieties in
a spatial relationship that mimics the spatial relationship of the
chemical moieties disposed on the amino acid sidechains which
constitute the cation-independent M6P receptor binding face of
IGF-II. Preferred chemical moieties, include but are not limited
to, the chemical moieties defined by the amino acid side chains of
amino acids constituting the cation-independent M6P receptor
binding face of IGF-II. It is understood, therefore, that the
receptor binding surface of the IGF-II analog need not comprise
amino acid residues but the chemical moieties disposed thereon.
[0074] For example, upon identification of relevant chemical
groups, the skilled artisan using a conventional computer program
can design a small molecule having the receptor interactive
chemical moieties disposed upon a suitable carrier framework.
Useful computer programs are described in, for example, Dixon
(1992) Tibtech 10: 357-363; Tschinke et al. (1993) J. Med. Chem 36:
3863-3870; and Eisen et al. (1994) Proteins: Structure, Function,
and Genetics 19: 199-221, the disclosures of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
[0075] One particular computer program entitled "CAVEAT" searches a
database, for example, the Cambridge Structural Database, for
structures which have desired spatial orientations of chemical
moieties (Bartlett et al. (1989) in "Molecular Recognition:
Chemical and Biological Problems" (Roberts, S. M., ed) pp 182-196).
The CAVEAT program has been used to design analogs of tendamistat,
a 74 residue inhibitor of .alpha.-amylase, based on the orientation
of selected amino acid side chains in the three-dimensional
structure of tendamistat (Bartlett et al. (1989) supra).
[0076] Alternatively, upon identification of a series of analogs
which mimic the cation-independent M6P receptor binding activity of
IGF-II, the skilled artisan may use a variety of computer programs
which assist the skilled artisan to develop quantitative structure
activity relationships (QSAR) and further to assist in the de novo
design of additional morphogen analogs. Other useful computer
programs are described in, for example, Connolly-Martin (1991)
Methods in Enzymology 203:587-613; Dixon (1992) supra; and
Waszkowycz et al. (1994) J. Med. Chenm. 37: 3994-4002.
Targeting Moiety Affinities
[0077] Preferred targeting moieties bind to their target receptors
with a submicromolar dissociation constant. Generally speaking,
lower dissociation constants (e.g. less than 10.sup.-7 M, less than
10.sup.-8 M, or less than 10.sup.-9 M) are increasingly preferred.
Determination of dissociation constants is preferably determined by
surface plasmon resonance as described in Linnell et al. (2001) J.
Biol. Chem. 276(26):23986-23991. A soluble form of the
extracellular domain of the target receptor (e.g. repeats 1-15 of
the cation-independent M6P receptor) is generated and immobilized
to a chip through an avidin-biotin interaction. The targeting
moiety is passed over the chip, and kinetic and equilibrium
constants are detected and calculated by measuring changes in mass
associated with the chip surface.
Nucleic Acids and Expression Systems
[0078] Chimeric fusion proteins can be expressed in a variety of
expression systems, including in vitro translation systems and
intact cells. Since M6P modification is not a prerequisite for
targeting, a variety of expression systems including yeast,
baculovirus and even prokaryotic systems such as E. coli that do
not glycosylate proteins are suitable for expression of targeted
therapeutic proteins. In fact, an unglycosylated protein generally
has improved bioavailability, since glycosylated proteins are
rapidly cleared from the circulation through binding to the mannose
receptor in hepatic sinusoidal endothelium.
[0079] Alternatively, production of chimeric targeted lysosomal
enzymes in mammalian cell expression system produces proteins with
multiple binding determinants for the cation-independent M6P
receptor. Synergies between two or more cation-independent M6P
receptor ligands (e.g. M6P and IGF-II, or M6P and retinoic acid)
can be exploited: multivalent ligands have been demonstrated to
enhance binding to the receptor by receptor crosslinking.
[0080] In general, gene cassettes encoding the chimeric therapeutic
protein can be tailored for the particular expression system to
incorporate necessary sequences for optimal expression including
promoters, ribosomal binding sites, introns, or alterations in
coding sequence to optimize codon usage. Because the protein is
preferably secreted from the producing cell, a DNA encoding a
signal peptide compatible with the expression system can be
substituted for the endogenous signal peptide. For example, for
expression of .beta.-glucuronidase and .alpha.-galactosidase A
tagged with IGF-II in Leishmania, DNA cassettes encoding Leishmania
signal peptides (GP63 or SAP) are inserted in place of the DNA
encoding the endogenous signal peptide to achieve optimal
expression. In mammalian expression systems the endogenous signal
peptide may be employed but if the IGF-II tag is fused at the 5'
end of the coding sequence, it could be desirable to use the IGF-II
signal peptide.
[0081] CHO cells are a preferred mammalian host for the production
of therapeutic proteins. The classic method for achieving high
yield expression from CHO cells is to use a CHO cell line deficient
in dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), for example CHO line DUKX
(O'Dell et al. (1998) Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 30(7):767-71).
This strain of CHO cells requires hypoxanthine and thymidine for
growth. Co-transfection of the gene to be overexpressed with a DHFR
gene cassette, on separate plasmids or on a single plasmid, permits
selection for the DHFR gene and generally allows isolation of
clones that also express the recombinant protein of choice. For
example, plasmid pcDNA3 uses the cytomegalovirus (CMV) early region
regulatory region promoter to drive expression of a gene of
interest and pSV2DHFR to promote DHFR expression. Subsequent
exposure of cells harboring the recombinant gene cassettes to
incrementally increasing concentrations of the folate analog
methotrexate leads to amplification of both the gene copy number of
the DHFR gene and of the co-transfected gene.
[0082] A preferred plasmid for eukaryotic expression in this system
contains the gene of interest placed downstream of a strong
promoter such as CMV. An intron can be placed in the 3' flank of
the gene cassette. A DHFR cassette can be driven by a second
promoter from the same plasmid or from a separate plasmid.
Additionally, it can be useful to incorporate into the plasmid an
additional selectable marker such as neomycin phosphotransferase,
which confers resistance to G418.
[0083] Another CHO expression system (Ulmasov et al. (2000) PNAS
97(26):14212-14217) relies on amplification of the gene of interest
using G418 instead of the DHFR/methotrexate system described above.
A pCXN vector with a slightly defective neomycin phosphotransferase
driven by a weak promoter (see, e.g., Niwa et al. (1991) Gene
108:193-200) permits selection for transfectants with a high copy
number (>300) in a single step.
[0084] Alternatively, recombinant protein can be produced in the
human HEK 293 cell line using expression systems based on the
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) replication system. This consists of the
EBV replication origin oriP and the EBV ori binding protein,
EBNA-1. Binding of EBNA-1 to oriP initiates replication and
subsequent amplification of the extracliromosomal plasmid. This
amplification in turn results in high levels of expression of gene
cassettes housed within the plasmid. Plasmids containing oriP can
be transfected into EBNA-1 transformed HEK 293 cells (commercially
available from Invitrogen) or, alternatively, a plasmid such as
pCEP4 (commercially available from Invitrogen) which drives
expression of EBNA-1 and contains the EBV oriP can be employed.
[0085] In E. coli, the therapeutic proteins are preferably secreted
into the periplasmic space. This can be achieved by substituting
for the DNA encoding the endogenous signal peptide of the LSD
protein a nucleic acid cassette encoding a bacterial signal peptide
such as the ompA signal sequence. Expression can be driven by any
of a number of strong inducible promoters such as the lac, trp, or
tac promoters. One suitable vector is pBAD/gIII (commercially
available from Invitrogen) which uses the Gene III signal peptide
and the araBAD promoter.
In Vitro Refolding
[0086] One useful IGF-II targeting portion has three intramolecular
disulfide bonds. GILT fusion proteins (for example GUS-GILT) in E.
coli can be constructed that direct the protein to the periplasmic
space. IGF-II, when fused to the C-terminus of another protein, can
be secreted in an active form in the periplasm of E. coli
(Wadensten et al. (1991) Biotechnol. Appl. Biochem. 13(3):412-21).
To facilitate optimal folding of the IGF-II moiety, appropriate
concentrations of reduced and oxidized glutathione are preferably
added to the cellular milieu to promote disulfide bond formation.
In the event that a fusion protein with disulfide bonds is
incompletely soluble, any insoluble material is preferably treated
with a chaotropic agent such as urea to solubilize denatured
protein and refolded in a buffer having appropriate concentrations
of reduced and oxidized glutathione, or other oxidizing and
reducing agents, to facilitate formation of appropriate disulfide
bonds (Smith et al. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264(16):9314-21). For
example, IGF-I has been refolded using 6M guanidine-HCl and 0.1 M
tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine reducing agent for denaturation and
reduction of IGF-II (Yang et al. (1999) J. Biol. Chem.
274(53):37598-604). Refolding of proteins was accomplished in 0.1M
Tris-HCl buffer (pH8.7) containing 1 mM oxidized glutathione, 10 mM
reduced glutathione, 0.2M KCl and 1 mM EDTA.
Underglycosylation
[0087] Targeted therapeutic proteins are preferably
underglycosylated: one or more carbohydrate structures that would
normally be present if the protein were produced in a mammalian
cell is preferably omitted, removed, modified, or masked, extending
the half-life of the protein in a mammal. Underglycosylation can be
achieved in many ways, several of which are diagrammed in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, a protein may be actually underglycosylated,
actually lacking one or more of the carbohydrate structures, or
functionally underglycosylated through modification or masking of
one or more of the carbohydrate structures. A protein may be
actually underglycosylated when synthesized, as discussed in
Example 14, and may be completely unglycosylated (as when
synthesized in E. coli), partially unglycosylated (as when
synthesized in a mammalian system after disruption of one or more
glycosylation sites by site-directed mutagenesis), or may have a
non-mammalian glycosylation pattern. Actual underglycosylation can
also be achieved by deglycosylation of a protein after synthesis.
As discussed in Example 14, deglycosylation can be through chemical
or enzymatic treatments, and may lead to complete deglycosylation
or, if only a portion of the carbohydrate structure is removed,
partial deglycosylation.
In Vivo Expression
[0088] A nucleic acid encoding a therapeutic protein, preferably a
secreted therapeutic protein, can be advantageously provided
directly to a patient suffering from a disease, or may be provided
to a cell ex vivo, followed by administration of the living cell to
the patient. In vivo gene therapy methods known in the art include
providing purified DNA (e.g. as in a plasmid), providing the DNA in
a viral vector, or providing the DNA in a liposome or other vesicle
(see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,703, disclosing lipid
carriers for use in gene therapy, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,010,
providing adenoviral vectors useful in gene therapy).
[0089] Methods for treating disease by implanting a cell that has
been modified to express a recombinant protein are also well known.
See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,346, disclosing methods for
introducing a nucleic acid into a primary human cell for
introduction into a human. Although use of human cells for ex vivo
therapy is preferred in some embodiments, other cells such as
bacterial cells may be implanted in a patient's vasculature,
continuously releasing a therapeutic agent. See, for example, U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,309,776 and 5,704,910.
[0090] Methods of the invention are particularly useful for
targeting a protein directly to a subcellular compartment without
requiring a purification step. In one embodiment, an IGF-II fusion
protein is expressed in a symbiotic or attenuated parasitic
organism that is administered to a host. The expressed IGF-II
fusion protein is secreted by the organism, taken up by host cells
and targeted to their lysosomes.
[0091] In some embodiments of the invention, GILT proteins are
delivered in situ via live Leishmania secreting the proteins into
the lysosomes of infected macrophage. From this organelle, it
leaves the cell and is taken up by adjacent cells not of the
macrophage lineage. Thus, the GILT tag and the therapeutic agent
necessarily remain intact while the protein resides in the
macrophage lysosome. Accordingly, when GILT proteins are expressed
in situ, they are preferably modified to ensure compatibility with
the lysosomal environment. Human .beta.-glucuronidase (human
"GUS"), an exemplary therapeutic portion, normally undergoes a
C-terminal peptide cleavage either in the lysosome or during
transport to the lysosome (e.g. between residues 633 and 634 in
GUS). Thus, in embodiments where a GUS-GILT construct is to be
expressed by Leishmania in a macrophage lysosome human GUS is
preferably modified to render the protein resistant to cleavage, or
the residues following residue 633 are preferably simply omitted
from a GILT fusion protein. Similarly, IGF-II, an exemplary
targeting portion, is preferably modified to increase its
resistance to proteolysis, or a minimal binding peptide (e.g. as
identified by phage display or yeast two hybrid) is substituted for
the wildtype IGF-II moiety.
Administration
[0092] The targeted therapeutics produced according to the present
invention can be administered to a mammalian host by any route.
Thus, as appropriate, administration can be oral or parenteral,
including intravenous and intraperitoneal routes of administration.
In addition, administration can be by periodic injections of a
bolus of the therapeutic or can be made more continuous by
intravenous or intraperitoneal administration from a reservoir
which is external (e.g., an i.v. bag). In certain embodiments, the
therapeutics of the instant invention can be pharmaceutical-grade.
That is, certain embodiments comply with standards of purity and
quality control required for administration to humans. Veterinary
applications are also within the intended meaning as used
herein.
[0093] The formulations, both for veterinary and for human medical
use, of the therapeutics according to the present invention
typically include such therapeutics in association with a
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier therefor and optionally other
ingredient(s). The carrier(s) can be "acceptable" in the sense of
being compatible with the other ingredients of the formulations and
not deleterious to the recipient thereof. Pharmaceutically
acceptable carriers, in this regard, are intended to include any
and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and
antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the
like, compatible with pharmaceutical administration. The use of
such media and agents for pharmaceutically active substances is
known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent
is incompatible with the active compound, use thereof in the
compositions is contemplated. Supplementary active compounds
(identified according to the invention and/or known in the art)
also can be incorporated into the compositions. The formulations
can conveniently be presented in dosage unit form and can be
prepared by any of the methods well known in the art of
pharmacy/microbiology. In general, some formulations are prepared
by bringing the therapeutic into association with a liquid carrier
or a finely divided solid carrier or both, and then, if necessary,
shaping the product into the desired formulation.
[0094] A pharmaceutical composition of the invention is formulated
to be compatible with its intended route of administration.
Examples of routes of administration include oral or parenteral,
e.g., intravenous, intradermal, inhalation, transdermal (topical),
transmucosal, and rectal administration. Solutions or suspensions
used for parenteral, intradermal, or subcutaneous application can
include the following components: a sterile diluent such as water
for injection, saline solution, fixed oils, polyethylene glycols,
glycerine, propylene glycol or other synthetic solvents;
antibacterial agents such as benzyl alcohol or methyl parabens;
antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite; chelating
agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; buffers such as
acetates, citrates or phosphates and agents for the adjustment of
tonicity such as sodium chloride or dextrose. Ph can be adjusted
with acids or bases, such as hydrochloric acid or sodium
hydroxide.
[0095] Useful solutions for oral or parenteral administration can
be prepared by any of the methods well known in the pharmaceutical
art, described, for example, in Remington's Pharmaceutical
Sciences, (Gennaro, A., ed.), Mack Pub., 1990. Formulations for
parenteral administration also can include glycocholate for buccal
administration, methoxysalicylate for rectal administration, or
cutric acid for vaginal administration. The parenteral preparation
can be enclosed in ampoules, disposable syringes or multiple dose
vials made of glass or plastic. Suppositories for rectal
administration also can be prepared by mixing the drug with a
non-irritating excipient such as cocoa butter, other glycerides, or
other compositions that are solid at room temperature and liquid at
body temperatures. Formulations also can include, for example,
polyalkylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol, oils of vegetable
origin, hydrogenated naphthalenes, and the like. Formulations for
direct administration can include glycerol and other compositions
of high viscosity. Other potentially useful parenteral carriers for
these therapeutics include ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer
particles, osmotic pumps, implantable infusion systems, and
liposomes. Formulations for inhalation administration can contain
as excipients, for example, lactose, or can be aqueous solutions
containing, for example, polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether,
glycocholate and deoxycholate, or oily solutions for administration
in the form of nasal drops, or as a gel to be applied intranasally.
Retention enemas also can be used for rectal delivery.
[0096] Formulations of the present invention suitable for oral
administration can be in the form of discrete units such as
capsules, gelatin capsules, sachets, tablets, troches, or lozenges,
each containing a predetermined amount of the drug; in the form of
a powder or granules; in the form of a solution or a suspension in
an aqueous liquid or non-aqueous liquid; or in the form of an
oil-in-water emulsion or a water-in-oil emulsion. The therapeutic
can also be administered in the form of a bolus, electuary or
paste. A tablet can be made by compressing or moulding the drug
optionally with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressed
tablets can be prepared by compressing, in a suitable machine, the
drug in a free-flowing form such as a powder or granules,
optionally mixed by a binder, lubricant, inert diluent, surface
active or dispersing agent. Molded tablets can be made by molding,
in a suitable machine, a mixture of the powdered drug and suitable
carrier moistened with an inert liquid diluent.
[0097] Oral compositions generally include an inert diluent or an
edible carrier. For the purpose of oral therapeutic administration,
the active compound can be incorporated with excipients. Oral
compositions prepared using a fluid carrier for use as a mouthwash
include the compound in the fluid carrier and are applied orally
and swished and expectorated or swallowed. Pharmaceutically
compatible binding agents, and/or adjuvant materials can be
included as part of the composition. The tablets, pills, capsules,
troches and the like can contain any of the following ingredients,
or compounds of a similar nature: a binder such as microcrystalline
cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; an excipient such as starch
or lactose; a disintegrating agent such as alginic acid, Primogel,
or corn starch; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate or Sterotes;
a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; a sweetening agent
such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such as
peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring.
[0098] Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for injectable use
include sterile aqueous solutions (where water soluble) or
dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation
of sterile injectable solutions or dispersion. For intravenous
administration, suitable carriers include physiological saline,
bacteriostatic water, Cremophor ELTM (BASF, Parsippany, N.J.) or
phosphate buffered saline (PBS). In all cases, the composition can
be sterile and can be fluid to the extent that easy syringability
exists. It can be stable under the conditions of manufacture and
storage and can be preserved against the contaminating action of
microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. The carrier can be a
solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water,
ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene glycol, and
liquid polyetheylene glycol, and the like), and suitable mixtures
thereof. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the
use of a coating such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the
required particle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of
surfactants. Prevention of the action of microorganisms can be
achieved by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for
example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, ascorbic acid,
thimerosal, and the like. In many cases, it will be preferable to
include isotonic agents, for example, sugars, polyalcohols such as
manitol, sorbitol, and sodium chloride in the composition.
Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can be brought
about by including in the composition an agent which delays
absorption, for example, aluminum monostearate and gelatin.
[0099] Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by
incorporating the active compound in the required amount in an
appropriate solvent with one or a combination of ingredients
enumerated above, as required, followed by filtered sterilization.
Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the active
compound into a sterile vehicle which contains a basic dispersion
medium and the required other ingredients from those enumerated
above. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation of
sterile injectable solutions, methods of preparation include vacuum
drying and freeze-drying which yields a powder of the active
ingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from a previously
sterile-filtered solution thereof.
[0100] Formulations suitable for intra-articular administration can
be in the form of a sterile aqueous preparation of the therapeutic
which can be in microcrystalline form, for example, in the form of
an aqueous microcrystalline suspension. Liposomal formulations or
biodegradable polymer systems can also be used to present the
therapeutic for both intra-articular and ophthalmic
administration.
[0101] Formulations suitable for topical administration, including
eye treatment, include liquid or semi-liquid preparations such as
liniments, lotions, gels, applicants, oil-in-water or water-in-oil
emulsions such as creams, ointments or pasts; or solutions or
suspensions such as drops. Formulations for topical administration
to the skin surface can be prepared by dispersing the therapeutic
with a dermatologically acceptable carrier such as a lotion, cream,
ointment or soap. In some embodiments, useful are carriers capable
of forming a film or layer over the skin to localize application
and inhibit removal. Where adhesion to a tissue surface is desired
the composition can include the therapeutic dispersed in a
fibrinogen-thrombin composition or other bioadhesive. The
therapeutic then can be painted, sprayed or otherwise applied to
the desired tissue surface. For topical administration to internal
tissue surfaces, the agent can be dispersed in a liquid tissue
adhesive or other substance known to enhance adsorption to a tissue
surface. For example, hydroxypropylcellulose or fibrinogen/thrombin
solutions can be used to advantage. Alternatively, tissue-coating
solutions, such as pectin-containing formulations can be used.
[0102] For inhalation treatments, such as for asthma, inhalation of
powder (self-propelling or spray formulations) dispensed with a
spray can, a nebulizer, or an atomizer can be used. Such
formulations can be in the form of a finely comminuted powder for
pulmonary administration from a powder inhalation device or
self-propelling powder-dispensing formulations. In the case of
self-propelling solution and spray formulations, the effect can be
achieved either by choice of a valve having the desired spray
characteristics (i.e., being capable of producing a spray having
the desired particle size) or by incorporating the active
ingredient as a suspended powder in controlled particle size. For
administration by inhalation, the therapeutics also can be
delivered in the form of an aerosol spray from a pressured
container or dispenser which contains a suitable propellant, e.g.,
a gas such as carbon dioxide, or a nebulizer. Nasal drops also can
be used.
[0103] Systemic administration also can be by transmucosal or
transdermal means. For transmucosal or transdermal administration,
penetrants appropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in
the formulation. Such penetrants generally are known in the art,
and include, for example, for transmucosal administration,
detergents, bile salts, and filsidic acid derivatives. Transmucosal
administration can be accomplished through the use of nasal sprays
or suppositories. For transdermal administration, the therapeutics
typically are formulated into ointments, salves, gels, or creams as
generally known in the art.
[0104] In one embodiment, the therapeutics are prepared with
carriers that will protect against rapid elimination from the body,
such as a controlled release formulation, including implants and
microencapsulated delivery systems. Biodegradable, biocompatible
polymers can be used, such as ethylene vinyl acetate,
polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters, and
polylactic acid. Methods for preparation of such formulations will
be apparent to those skilled in the art. The materials also can be
obtained commercially from Alza Corporation and Nova
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Liposomal suspensions can also be used as
pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. These can be prepared
according to methods known to those skilled in the art, for
example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,811. Microsomes and
microparticles also can be used.
[0105] Oral or parenteral compositions can be formulated in dosage
unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage.
Dosage unit form refers to physically discrete units suited as
unitary dosages for the subject to be treated; each unit containing
a predetermined quantity of active compound calculated to produce
the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required
pharmaceutical carrier. The specification for the dosage unit forms
of the invention are dictated by and directly dependent on the
unique characteristics of the active compound and the particular
therapeutic effect to be achieved, and the limitations inherent in
the art of compounding such an active compound for the treatment of
individuals.
[0106] Generally, the therapeutics identified according to the
invention can be formulated for parenteral or oral administration
to humans or other mammals, for example, in therapeutically
effective amounts, e.g., amounts which provide appropriate
concentrations of the drug to target tissue for a time sufficient
to induce the desired effect. Additionally, the therapeutics of the
present invention can be administered alone or in combination with
other molecules known to have a beneficial effect on the particular
disease or indication of interest. By way of example only, useful
cofactors include symptom-alleviating cofactors, including
antiseptics, antibiotics, antiviral and antifungal agents and
analgesics and anesthetics.
[0107] The effective concentration of the therapeutics identified
according to the invention that is to be delivered in a therapeutic
composition will vary depending upon a number of factors, including
the final desired dosage of the drug to be administered and the
route of administration. The preferred dosage to be administered
also is likely to depend on such variables as the type and extent
of disease or indication to be treated, the overall health status
of the particular patient, the relative biological efficacy of the
therapeutic delivered, the formulation of the therapeutic, the
presence and types of excipients in the formulation, and the route
of administration. In some embodiments, the therapeutics of this
invention can be provided to an individual using typical dose units
deduced from the earlier-described mammalian studies using
non-human primates and rodents. As described above, a dosage unit
refers to a unitary, i.e. a single dose which is capable of being
administered to a patient, and which can be readily handled and
packed, remaining as a physically and biologically stable unit dose
comprising either the therapeutic as such or a mixture of it with
solid or liquid pharmaceutical diluents or carriers.
[0108] In certain embodiments, organisms are engineered to produce
the therapeutics identified according to the invention. These
organisms can release the therapeutic for harvesting or can be
introduced directly to a patient. In another series of embodiments,
cells can be utilized to serve as a carrier of the therapeutics
identified according to the invention.
[0109] Therapeutics of the invention also include the "prodrug"
derivatives. The term prodrug refers to a pharmacologically
inactive (or partially inactive) derivative of a parent molecule
that requires biotransformation, either spontaneous or enzymatic,
within the organism to release or activate the active component.
Prodrugs are variations or derivatives of the therapeutics of the
invention which have groups cleavable under metabolic conditions.
Prodrugs become the therapeutics of the invention which are
pharmaceutically active in vivo, when they undergo solvolysis under
physiological conditions or undergo enzymatic degradation. Prodrug
of this invention can be called single, double, triple, and so on,
depending on the number of biotransformation steps required to
release or activate the active drug component within the organism,
and indicating the number of functionalities present in a
precursor-type form. Prodrug forms often offer advantages of
solubility, tissue compatibility, or delayed release in the
mammalian organism (see, Bundgard, Design of Prodrugs, pp. 7-9,
21-24, Elsevier, Amsterdam 1985 and Silverman, The Organic
Chemistry of Drug Design and Drug Action, pp. 352-401, Academic
Press, San Diego, Calif., 1992). Moreover, the prodrug derivatives
according to this invention can be combined with other features to
enhance bioavailability.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
GILT Constructs
[0110] IGF-II cassettes have been synthesized by ligation of a
series of overlapping oligos and cloned into Pir1-SAT, a standard
Leishmania expression vector. 4 IGF-II cassettes have been made:
one that encodes the wildtype mature polypeptide, one with a A1-7
deletion, one with a Y27L mutation, and one with both mutations.
These mutations are reported to reduce binding of IGF-II to the
other receptors while not affecting binding to the M6P
receptor.
[0111] The coding sequence of human IGF-II is shown in FIG. 2. The
protein is synthesized as a pre-pro-protein with a 24 amino acid
signal peptide at the amino terminus and a 89 amino acid carboxy
terminal region both of which are removed post-translationally,
reviewed in (O'Dell et al. (1998) Int. J. Biochem Cell Biol.
30(7):767-71. The mature protein is 67 amino acids. A Leishmania
codon optimized version of the mature IGF-II is shown in FIG. 3
(Langford et al. (1992) Exp. Parasitol 74(3):360-1). This cassette
was constructed by annealing overlapping oligonucleotides whose
sequences are shown in Table 3. Additional cassettes containing a
deletion of amino acids 1-7 of the mature polypeptide (.DELTA.1-7),
alteration of residue 27 from tyrosine to leucine (Y27L) or both
mutations (.DELTA.1-7,Y27L) were made to produce IGF-II cassettes
with specificity for only the desired receptor as described below.
To make the wildtype IGF-II cassette, oligos GILT1-9 were annealed
and ligated. To make the Y27L cassette, oligos 1, 12, 3, 4, 5, 16,
7, 8 and 9 were annealed and ligated. After ligation, the two
cassettes were column purified. Wildtype and Y27L cassettes were
amplified by PCR using oligos GILT 20 and 10 and the appropriate
template. To incorporate the .DELTA.1-7 deletion, the two templates
were amplified using oligos GILT 11 and 10. The resulting 4 IGF-II
cassettes (wildtype, Y27L, .DELTA.1-7, and Y27L.DELTA.1-7) were
column purified, digested with XbaI, gel purified and ligated to
XbaI cut Pir1-SAT.
[0112] Gene cassettes were then cloned between the XmaI site (not
shown) upstream of XbaI in the vector and the AscI site in such a
way as to preserve the reading frame. An overlapping DAM methylase
site at the 3' XbaI site permitted use of the 5' XbaI site instead
of the XmaI site for cloning. The AscI site adds a bridge of 3
amino acid residues.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Oligonucleotides used in the construction of
Pir-GILT vectors. SEQ NAME ID NO: SEQUENCE POSITION GILT 1 9
GCGGCGGCGAGCTGGTGGA 48-97 top CACGCTGCAGTTCGTGTGC strand
GGCGACCGCGGC GILT 2 10 TTCTACTTCAGCCGCCCGG 98-147 top
CCAGCCGCGTGAGCCGCCG strand CAGCCGCGGCAT GILT 3 11
CGTGGAGGAGTGCTGCTTC 148-197 top CGCAGCTGCGACCTGGCGC strand
TGCTGGAGACGT GILT 4 12 ACTGCGCGACGCCGGCGAA 198-237 top
GTCGGAGTAAGATCTAGAG strand CG GILT 5 13 AGCGTGTCCACCAGCTCGC 72-23
bottom CGCCGCACAGCGTCTCGCT CGGGCGGTACGC GILT 6 14
GGCTGGCCGGGCGGCTGAA 122-73 bottom GTAGAAGCCGCGGTCGCCG CACACGAACTGC
GILT 7 15 GCTGCGGAAGCAGCACTCC 172-123 bottom TCCACGATGCCGCGGCTGC
GGCGGCTCACGC GILT 8 16 CTCCGACTTCGCCGGCGTC 223-173 bottom
GCGCAGTACGTCTCCAGCA GCGCCAGGTCGCA GILT 9 17 CCGTCTAGAGCTCGGCGCG
1-47 top strand CCGGCGTACCGCCCGAGCG AGACGCTGT GILT 10 18
CGCTCTAGATCTTACTCCG 237-202 bottom ACTTCG GILT 11 19
CCGTCTAGAGCTCGGCGCG 1-67, .DELTA.23-43 CCGCTGTGCGGCGGCGAGC top
TGGTGGAC GILT 12 20 TTCCTGTTCAGCCGCCCGG 98-147 (Y27L)
CCAGCCGCGTGAGCCGCCG top CAGCCGCGGCAT GILT 16 21 GGCTGGCCGGGCGGCTGAA
122-73 (Y27L) CAGGAAGCCGCGGTCGCCG bot CACACGAACTGC GILT 20 22
CCGTCTAGAGCTCGGCGCG 1-25 top strand CCGGCG
[0113] The purpose of incorporating the indicated mutations into
the IGF-II cassette is to insure that the fusion proteins are
targeted to the appropriate receptor. Human IGF-II has a high
degree of sequence and structural similarity to IGF-I (see, for
example FIG. 7) and the B and A chains of insulin (Terasawa et al.
(1994) Embo J. 13(23):5590-7). Consequently, it is not surprising
that these hormones have overlapping receptor binding
specificities. IGF-II binds to the insulin receptor, the IGF-I
receptor and the cation independent mannose 6-phosphate/IGF-II
receptor (CIM6P/IGF-II). The CIM6P/IGF-II receptor is a dual
activity receptor acting as a receptor for IGF-II and as a mannose
6-phosphate receptor involved in sorting of lysosomal hydrolases.
For a number of years, these two activities were attributed to
separate proteins until it was determined that both activities
resided in a single protein (Morgan et al. (1987) Nature
329(6137):301-7); (Tong et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem.
263(6):2585-8).
[0114] The most profound biological effects of IGF-II, such as its
mitogenic effect, are mediated through the IGF-I receptor rather
than the CIM6P/IGF-II receptor, reviewed in (Ludwig et al. (1995)
Trends in Cell Biology 5:202-206) also see (Korner et al (1995) J.
Biol. Chem. 270(1):287-95). It is thought that the primary result
of IGF-II binding to the CIM6P/IGF-II receptor is transport to the
lysosome for subsequent degradation. This represents an important
means of controlling IGF-II levels and explains why mice carrying
null mutants of the CIM6P/IGF-II receptor exhibit perinatal
lethality unless IGF-II is also deleted (Lau et al. (1994) Genes
Dev. 8(24):2953-63); (Wang et al. (1994) Nature 372(6505):464-7);
(Ludwig et al. (1996) Dev. Biol. 177(2):517-35). In methods of the
present invention, it is desirable to have the IGF-II fusion
proteins bind to the CIM6P/IGF-II receptor. The Y27L and .DELTA.1-7
mutations reduce IGF-II binding to the IGF-I and insulin receptors
without altering the affinity for the CIM6P/IGF-II receptor (Sakano
et al. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266(31):20626-35); (Hashimoto et al.
(1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270(30):18013-8). Therefore, according to the
invention, these mutant forms of IGF-II should provide a means of
targeting fusion proteins specifically to the CIM6P/IGF-II
receptor.
[0115] In one experiment, 4 different IGF-II cassettes with the
appropriate sequences, wild type, .DELTA.1-7, Y27L and
.DELTA.1-7/Y27L are made. .beta.-GUS cassettes are fused to IGF-II
cassettes and these constructs are put into parasites.
Alpha-galactosidase cassettes are also fused to the IGF-II
cassettes. GUS fusions have been tested and shown to produce
enzymatically active protein.
[0116] One preferred construct, shown in FIG. 4, includes the
signal peptide of the L. mexicana secreted acid phosphatase, SAP-1,
cloned into the XbaI site of a modified Pir1-SAT in which the
single SalI site has been removed. Fused in-frame is the mature
.beta.-GUS sequence, connected to an IGF-II tag by a bridge of
three amino acids.
Example 2
GILT Protein Preparation
[0117] L. mexicana expressing and secreting .beta.-GUS were grown
at 26.degree. C. in 100 ml Standard Promastigote medium (M199 with
40 mM HEPES, pH 7.5, 0.1 mM adenine, 0.0005% hemin, 0.0001% biotin,
5% fetal bovine serum, 5% embryonic fluid, 50 units/ml penicillin,
50 .mu.g/ml streptomycin and 50 .mu.g/ml nourseothricin). After
reaching a density of approximately 5.times.10.sup.6
promastigotes/ml, the promastigotes were collected by
centrifugation for 10 min. at 1000.times.g at room temperature;
these promastigotes were used to inoculate 1 liter of low protein
medium (M199 supplemented with 0.1 mM adenine, 0.0001% biotin, 50
units/ml penicillin and 50 .mu.g/ml streptomycin) at room
temperature. The 1 liter cultures were contained in 2 liter capped
flasks with a sterile stir bar so that the cultures could be
incubated at 26.degree. C. with gentle stirring. The 1 liter
cultures were aerated twice a day by moving them into a laminar
flow hood, removing the caps and swirling vigorously before
replacing the caps. When the cultures reached a density of
2-3.times.10.sup.7 promastigotes/ml, the cultures were centrifuged
as described above except the promastigote pellet was discarded and
the media decanted into sterile flasks. The addition of 434 g
(NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4 per liter precipitated active GUS protein
from the medium; the salted out medium was stored at 4.degree. C.
overnight. Precipitated proteins were harvested either by
centrifugation at 10,500.times.g for 30 min. or filtration through
Gelman Supor-800 membrane; the proteins were resuspended in 10 mM
Tris pH 8, 1 mM CaCl.sub.2 and stored at -80.degree. C. until
dialysis. The crude preparations from several liters of medium were
thawed, pooled, placed in dialysis tubing (Spectra/Por-7, MWCO
25,000), and dialyzed overnight against two 1 liter volumes of DMEM
with bicarbonate (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium).
Example 3
GILT Uptake Assay
[0118] Skin fibroblast line GM4668 (human, NIGMS Human Genetic
Mutant Cell Repository) is derived from a patient with
mucopolysaccharidosis VII; the cells therefore have little or no
.beta.-GUS activity. GM4668 cells are therefore particularly useful
for testing the uptake of GUS-GILT constructs into human cells.
GM4668 cells were cultured in 12-well tissue culture plates in
Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 15%
(v/v) fetal calf serum at 37.degree. C. in 5% CO.sub.2. Fibroblasts
were cultured overnight in the presence of about 150 units of
preparations of Leishmania-expressed human .beta.-glucuronidase
(GUS), GUS-IGF-II fusion protein (GUS-GILT), or mutant GUS-IGF-II
fusion protein (GUS.DELTA.-GILT) prepared as described in Example
2. Control wells contained no added enzyme (DMEM media blank).
After incubation, media was removed from the wells and assayed in
triplicate for GUS activity. Wells were washed five times with 1 ml
of 37.degree. C. phosphate-buffered saline, then incubated for 15
minutes at room temperature in 0.2 ml of lysis buffer (10 mM Tris,
pH7.5, 100 mM NaCl, 5 mM EDTA, 2 mM
4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride (AEBSF,
Sigma), and 1% NP-40). Cell lysates were transferred to microfuge
tubes, then spun at 13,000 rpm for 5 minutes to remove cell debris.
Three 10 .mu.L aliquots of lysate were assayed for protein
concentration (Pierce Micro BCA protein assay, Pierce, Ill.).
[0119] Three 38 .mu.L aliquots of lysate were assayed for GUS
activity using a standard fluorometric assay adapted from (Wolfe et
al. (1996) Protocols for Gene Transfer in Neuroscience: Towards
Gene Therapy of Neurological Disorders 263-274). Assays are done in
disposable fluorimeter cuvettes. 150 .mu.l of reaction mix is added
to each cuvette. 1 ml reaction mix is 860 .mu.l H2O, 100 .mu.l 1M
NaAcetate, 40 .mu.l 25.times..beta.-GUS substrate mix.
(25.times..beta.-GUS substrate mix is a suspension of 250 mg
4-methylumbelliferyl-.beta.-D glucuronide in 4.55 ml ethanol stored
at -20.degree. C. in a dessicator. 38 .mu.l of sample are added to
the reaction mix and the reaction is incubated at 37.degree. C.
Reactions are terminated by addition of 2 ml stop solution (10.6 g
Na.sub.2CO.sub.3, 12.01 g glycine, H2O to 500 ml, pH 10.5).
Fluorescence output is then measured by fluorimeter.
[0120] Results of the uptake experiment indicate that the amount of
cell-associated GUS-GILT is 10-fold greater that that of the
unmodified GUS (FIG. 5). The double mutant construct is about
5-fold more effective than unmodified GUS. These results indicate
that the GILT technology is an effective means of targeting a
lysosomal enzyme for uptake. Uptake can also be verified using
standard immunofluorescence techniques.
Example 4
Competition Experiments
[0121] To verify that the GILT-mediated uptake occurs via the
IGF-II binding site on the cation-independent M6P receptor,
competition experiments were performed using recombinant IGF-II.
The experimental design was identical to that described above
except that GM4668 fibroblasts were incubated with indicated
proteins in DMEM minus serum+2% BSA for about 18 hours. Each
.beta.-GUS derivative was added at 150 U per well. 2.85 .mu.g
IGF-II was added to each well for competition. This represents
approximately a 100 fold molar excess over GILT-GUS, a
concentration sufficient to compete for binding to the M6P/IGF-II
receptor.
[0122] Results of the competition experiment are depicted in FIG.
6. In the absence of IGF-II over 24 units of GILT-GUS/mg lysate
were detected. Upon addition of IGF-II, the amount of cell
associated GILT-GUS fell to 5.4 U. This level is similar to the
level of unmodified GUS taken up by the fibroblasts. Thus, the bulk
of the GILT protein uptake can be competed by IGF-II indicating
that the uptake is indeed occurring through a specific
receptor-ligand interaction.
Example 5
Gene Product Expression in Serum Free Media
[0123] Expression products can also be isolated from serum free
media. In general, the expression strain is grown in medium with
serum, diluted into serum free medium, and allowed to grow for
several generations, preferably 2-5 generations, before the
expression product is isolated. For example, production of secreted
targeted therapeutic proteins can be isolated from Leishmania
mexicana promastigotes that are cultured initially in 50 ml
1.times.M199 medium in a 75 cm2 flask at 27.degree. C. When the
cell density reaches 1-3.times.10.sup.7/ml, the culture is used to
inoculate 1.2 L of M199 media. When the density of this culture
reaches about 5.times.10.sup.6/ml, the cells are harvested by
centrifugation, resuspended in 180 ml of the supernatant and used
to inoculate 12 L of "Zima" medium in a 16 L spinner flask. The
initial cell density of this culture is typically about
5.times.10.sup.5/ml. This culture is expanded to a cell density of
about 1.0-1.7.times.10e.sup.7 cells/ml. When this cell density is
reached, the cells are separated from the culture medium by
centrifugation and the supernatant is filtered at 4.degree. C.
through a 0.2.mu. filter to remove residual promastigotes. The
filtered media was concentrated from 12.0 L to 500 ml using a
tangential flow filtration device (MILLIPORE Prep/Scale-TFF
cartridge).
[0124] Preferred growth media for this method are M199 and "Zima"
growth media. However, other serum containing and serum free media
are also useful. M199 growth media is as follows: (1 L batch)=200
ml 5.times.M199 (with phenol red pH indicator)+636 ml H.sub.2O,
50.0 ml fetal bovine serum, 50.0 ml EF bovine embryonic fluid, 1.0
ml of 50 mg/ml nourseothricin, 2.0 ml of 0.25% hemin in 50%
triethanolamine, 10 ml of 10 mM adenine in 50 mM Hepes pH 7.5, 40.0
ml of 1M Hepes pH 7.5, 1 ml of 0.1% biotin in 95% ethanol, 10.0 ml
of penicillin/streptomycin. All sera used are inactivated by heat.
The final volume=1 L and is filter sterilized. "Zima" modified M199
media is as follows: (20.0 L batch)=219.2 g M199 powder (-)phenol
red+7.0 g sodium bicarbonate, 200.0 ml of 10 mM adenine in 50 mM
Hepes pH 7.5, 800.0 ml Of Hepes free acid pH 7.5, 20.0 ml 0.1%
biotin in 95% ethanol, 200.0 ml penicillin/streptomycin, Final
volume=20.0 L and is filter sterilized.
[0125] The targeted therapeutic proteins are preferably purified by
Concanavalin A (ConA) chromatography. For example, when a culture
reaches a density of >1.0.times.10.sup.7 promastigotes/ml, L.
mexicana are removed by centrifugation, 10 min at 500.times.g. The
harvested culture medium is passed through a 0.2 .mu.m filter to
remove particulates before being loaded directly onto a
ConA-agarose column (4% cross-linked beaded agarose, Sigma). The
ConA-agarose column is pretreated with 1 M NaCl, 20 mM Tris pH 7.4,
5 mM each of CaCl.sub.2, MgCl.sub.2 and MnCl.sub.2 and then
equilibrated with 5 volumes of column buffer (20 mM Tris pH 7.4, 1
mM CaCl.sub.2, and 1 mM MnCl.sub.2). A total of 179,800 units
(nmol/hr) of GUS activity (in 2 L) in culture medium is loaded onto
a 22 ml ConA agarose column. No activity is detectable in the flow
through or wash. The GUS activity is eluted with column buffer
containing 200 mM methyl mannopyranoside. Eluted fractions
containing the activity peak are pooled and concentrated. Uptake
and competition experiments were performed as described in Examples
3 and 4, except that the organisms were grown in serum-free medium
and purified with ConA; about 350-600 units of enzyme were applied
to the fibroblasts. Results are shown in FIG. 8.
Example 6
Competition Experiments Using Denatured IGF-II as Competitor
[0126] The experiment in Example 4 is repeated using either normal
or denatured IGF-II as competitor. As in Example 4, the amount of
cell-associated GUS-GILT is reduced when coincubated with normal
IGF-II concentrations that are effective for competition but, at
comparable concentrations, denatured IGF-II has little or no
effect.
Example 7
Enzyme Assays
[0127] Assays for GUS activity are performed as described in
Example 3 and/or as described below.
[0128] Glass assay tubes are numbered in triplicate, and 100 .mu.L
of 2.times.GUS reaction mix are added to each tube. 2.times.GUS
reaction mix is prepared by adding 100 mg of
4-methylumbelliferyl-.beta.-D glucuronide to 14.2 mL 200 mM sodium
acetate, pH adjusted to 4.8 with acetic acid. Up to 100 .mu.L of
sample are added to each tube; water is added to a final reaction
volume of 200 .mu.L. The reaction tubes are covered with parafilm
and incubated in a 37.degree. C. water bath for 1-2 hours. The
reaction is stopped by addition of 1.8 mL of stop buffer (prepared
by dissolving 10.6 g of Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 and 12.01 g of glycine in
a final volume of 500 mL of water, adjusting the pH to 10.5 and
filter-sterilizing into a repeat-dispensor). A fluorimeter is then
calibrated using 2 mL of stop solution as a blank, and the
fluorescence is read from the remaining samples. A standard curve
is prepared using 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 .mu.L of a 166 .mu.M
4-methylumbelliferone standard in a final volume of 2 mL stop
buffer.
[0129] The 4-methylumbelliferone standard solution is prepared by
dissolving 2.5 mg 4-methylumbelliferone in 1 mL ethanol and adding
99 mL of sterile water, giving a concentration of approximately 200
nmol/mL. The precise concentration is determined
spectrophotometrically. The extinction coefficient at 360 nm is
19,000 cm.sup.-1M.sup.-1. For example, 100 .mu.L is added to 900
.mu.L of stop buffer, and the absorbance at 360 nm is read. If the
reading is 0.337, then the concentration of the standard solution
is 0.337.times.10 (dilution)/19,000=177 .mu.M, which can then be
diluted to 166 .mu.M by addition of an appropriate amount of
sterile water.
Example 8
Binding Uptake and Halflife Experiments
[0130] Binding of GUS-GILT proteins to the M6P/IGF-II receptor on
fibroblasts are measured and the rate of uptake is assessed similar
to published methods (York et al. (1999) J. Biol. Chem.
274(2):1164-71). GM4668 fibroblasts cultured in 12 well culture
dishes as described above are washed in ice-cold media minus serum
containing 1% BSA. Ligand, (either GUS, GUS-GILT or
GUS-.DELTA.GILT, or control proteins) is added to cells in cold
media minus serum plus 1% BSA. Upon addition of ligand, the plates
are incubated on ice for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, ligand is
removed and cells are washed quickly 5 times with ice cold media.
Wells for the 0 time point receive 1 ml ice cold stripping buffer
(0.2 M Acetic acid, pH 3.5, 0.5M NaCl). The plate is then floated
in a 37.degree. water bath and 0.5 ml prewarmed media is added to
initiate uptake. At every stopping point, 1 ml of stripping buffer
is added. When the experiment is over, aliquots of the stripping
buffer are saved for fluorometric assay of .beta.-glucuronidase
activity as described in Example 3. Cells are then lysed as
described above and the lysate assayed for .beta.-glucuronidase
activity. Alternatively, immunological methods can be used to test
the lysate for the presence of the targeted therapeutic
protein.
[0131] It is expected that GUS-GILT is rapidly taken up by
fibroblasts in a matter of minutes once the temperature is shifted
to 37.degree. C. (York et al. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274(2):1164-71)
and that the enzyme activity persists in the cells for many
hours.
Example 9
Protein Production in Mammalian Cells
CHO Cells
[0132] GUS-GILT.DELTA.1-7 and GUS.DELTA.C18-GILT.DELTA.1-7 were
expressed in CHO cells using the system of Ulmasov et al. (2000)
PNAS 97(26):14212-14217. Appropriate gene cassettes were inserted
into the Eco RI site of the pCXN vector, which was electroporated
into CHO cells at 50 .mu.F and 1,200 V in a 0.4-cm cuvette.
Selection of colonies and amplification was mediated by 400
.mu.g/mL G418 for 2-3 weeks. The CHO cells were propagated in MEM
media supplemented with 15% FBS, 1.2 mM glutamine, 50 .mu.g/mL
proline, and 1 mM pyruvate. For enzyme production cells were plated
in multifloor flasks in MEM. Once cells reached confluence,
collection medium (Weymouth medium supplemented with 2% FBS, 1.2 mM
glutamine, and 1 mM pyruvate) was applied to the cells. Medium
containing the secreted recombinant enzyme was collected every
24-72 hours. A typical level of secretion for one
GUS-GILT.DELTA.1-7 cell line was 4000-5000 units/mL/24 hours.
[0133] A number of GUS.DELTA.C18-GILT.DELTA.1-7 CHO lines were
assayed for the amount of secreted enzyme produced. The six highest
producers secreted between 8600 and 14900 units/mL/24 hours. The
highest producing line was selected for collection of protein.
HEK 293 Cells
[0134] GUS-GILT cassettes were cloned into pCEP4 (Invitrogen) for
expression in HEK 293 cells. Cassettes used included wild-type
GUS-GILT; GUS-GILT.DELTA.1-7; GUS-GILTY27L;
GUS.DELTA.C18-GILT.DELTA.1-7; GILTY27L, and GUS-GILTF19S/E12K.
[0135] HEK 293 cells were cultured to 50-80% confluency in 12-well
plates containing DMEM medium with 4 mM glutamine and 10% FBS.
Cells were transfected with pCEP-GUS-GILT DNA plasmids using FuGENE
6 (Roche) as described by the manufacturer. 0.5 .mu.g DNA and 2
.mu.L of FuGENE 6 were added per well. Cells were removed from
wells 2-3 days post-transfection using trypsin, then cultured in
T25 cm.sup.2 culture flasks containing the above DMEM medium with
100 .mu.g/mL hygromycin to select for a stable population of
transfected cells. Media containing hygromycin were changed every
2-3 days. The cultures were expanded to T75 cm.sup.2 culture flasks
within 1-2 weeks. For enzyme production cells were plated in
multifloor flasks in DMEM. Once cells reached confluence,
collection medium (Weymouth medium supplemented with 2% FBS, 1.2 mM
glutamine, and 1 mM pyruvate) was applied to the cells. This medium
has been optimized for CHO cells, not for 293 cells; accordingly,
levels of secretion with the HEK 293 lines may prove to be
significantly higher in alternate media.
[0136] Levels of secreted enzyme are shown in Table 4.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Cell line Recombinant Protein Units/mL/24
hours HEK293 2-1 GUS-GILT 3151 HEK293 2-2
GUS.DELTA.C18-GILT.DELTA.1-7 10367 HEK293 2-3 GUS-GILT.DELTA.1-7
186 HEK293 4-4 GILTY27L 3814 HEK293 3-5 GUS-GILTF19S/E12K 13223
HEK293 3-6 GILTY27L 7948 CHO 15 GUS.DELTA.C18-GILT.DELTA.1-7
18020
Example 10
Purification of GUS-GILT Fusion Proteins
[0137] Chromoatography, including conventional chromatography and
affinity chromatography, can be used to purify GUS-GILT fusion
proteins.
Conventional Chromatography
[0138] One procedure for purifying GUS-GILT fusion proteins
produced in Leishmania is described in Example 2. An alternative
procedure is described in the following paragraph.
[0139] Culture supernatants from Leishmania mexicana cell lines
expressing GUS-GILT fusions were harvested, centrifuged, and passed
through a 0.2.mu. filter to remove cell debris. The supernatants
were concentrated using a tangential ultrafilter with a 100,000
molecular weight cutoff and stored at -80.degree. C. Concentrated
supernatants were loaded directly onto a column containing
Concanavalin A (ConA) immobilized to beaded agarose. The column was
washed with ConA column buffer (50 mM Tris pH 7.4, 1 mM CaCl.sub.2,
1 mM MnCl.sub.2) before mannosylated proteins including GUS-GILT
fusions were eluted using a gradient of 0-0.2M
methyl-.alpha.-D-pyranoside in the ConA column buffer. Fractions
containing glucuronidase activity (assayed as described in Example
7) were pooled, concentrated, and the buffer exchanged to SP column
buffer (25 mM sodium phosphate pH 6, 20 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA) in
preparation for the next column. The concentrated fractions were
loaded onto an SP fast flow column equilibrated in the same buffer,
and the column was washed with additional SP column buffer. The
GUS-GILT fusions were eluted from the column in two steps: 1) a
gradient of 0-0.15 M glucuronic acid in 25 mM sodium phosphate pH 6
and 10% glycerol, followed by 0.2 M glucuronic acid, 25 mM sodium
phosphate pH 6, 10% glycerol. Fractions containing glucuronidase
activity were pooled, and the buffer exchanged to 20 mM potassium
phosphate pH 7.4. These pooled fractions were loaded onto an
HA-ultrogel column equilibrated with the same buffer. The GUS-GILT
fusion proteins were eluted with an increasing gradient of
phosphate buffer, from 145-340 mM potassium phosphate pH 7.4. The
fractions containing glucuronidase activity were pooled,
concentrated, and stored at -80.degree. C. in 20 mM Tris pH 8 with
25% glycerol.
[0140] A conventional chromatography method for purifying GUS-GILT
fusion proteins produced in mammalian cells is described in the
following paragraphs.
[0141] Mammalian cells overexpressing a GUS-GILT fusion protein are
grown to confluency in Nunc Triple Flasks, then fed with serum-free
medium (Waymouth MB 752/1) supplemented with 2% fetal bovine serum
to collect enzyme for purification. The medium is harvested and the
flasks are refed at 24 hour intervals. Medium from several flasks
is pooled and centrifuged at 5000.times.g for 20 minutes at
4.degree. C. to remove detached cells, etc. The supernatant is
removed and aliquots are taken for a .beta.-GUS assay. The medium
can now be used directly for purification or frozen at -20.degree.
C. for later use.
[0142] 1 L of secretion medium is thawed at 37.degree. C. (if
frozen), filtered through a 0.2.mu. filter, and transferred to a 4
L beaker. The volume of the medium is diluted 4-fold by addition of
3 L of dd water to reduce the salt concentration; the pH of the
diluted medium is adjusted to 9.0 using 1 M Tris base. 50 mL of
DEAF-Sephacel pre-equilibrated with 10 mM Tris pH 9.0 is added to
the diluted medium and stirred slowly with a large stirring bar at
4.degree. C. for 2 hours. (A small aliquot can be removed,
microfuged, and the supernatant assayed to monitor binding.) When
binding is complete, the resin is collected on a fritted glass
funnel and washed with 750 mL of 10 mM Tris pH 9.0 in several
batches. The resin is transferred to a 2.5 cm column and washed
with an additional 750 mL of the same buffer at a flow rate of 120
mL/hour. The DEAE column is eluted with a linear gradient of 0-0.4
M NaCl in 10 mM Tris pH 9.0. The fractions containing the GUS-GILT
fusion proteins are detected by 4-methylumbelliferyl-.beta.-D
glucuronide assay, pooled, and loaded onto a 600 mL column of
Sephacryl S-200 equilibrated with 25 mM Tris pH 8, 1 mM
.beta.-glycerol phosphate, 0.15 M sodium chloride and eluted with
the same buffer.
[0143] The fractions containing the GUS-GILT fusion proteins are
pooled and dialyzed with 3.times.4 L of 25 mM sodium acetate pH
5.5, 1 mM .beta.-glycerol phosphate, 0.025% sodium azide. The
dialyzed enzyme is loaded at a flow rate of 36 mL/hour onto a 15 mL
column of CM-Sepharose equilibrated with 25 mM sodium acetate pH
5.5, 1 mM .beta.-glycerol phosphate, 0.025% sodium azide. It is
then washed with 10 column volumes of this same buffer. The CM
column is eluted with a linear gradient of 0-0.3 M sodium chloride
in the equilibration buffer. The fractions containing the GUS-GILT
fusion proteins are pooled and loaded onto a 2.4.times.70 cm (Bed
volume=317 mL) column of Sephacryl S-300 equilibrated with 10 mM
Tris pH 7.5, 1 mM .beta.-glycerol phosphate, 0.15 M NaCl at a flow
rate of 48 mL/hour. The fractions containing the fusion proteins
are pooled; the pool is assayed for GUS activity and for protein
concentration to determine specific activity. Aliquots are run on
SDS-PAGE followed by Coomassie or silver staining to confirm
purity. If a higher concentration of enzyme is required, Amicon
Ultrafiltration Units with an XM-50 membrane (50,000 molecular
weight cutoff) or Centricon C-30 units (30,000 molecular weight
cutoff) can be used to concentrate the fusion protein. The fusion
protein is stored at -80.degree. C. in the 10 mM Tris pH 7.5, 1 mM
sodium .beta.-glycerol phosphate, 0.15 M NaCl buffer.
Affinity Chromatography
[0144] Affinity chromatography conditions are essentially as
described in Islam et al. (1993) J. Biol. Chem.
268(30):22627-22633. Conditioned medium from mammalian cells
overexpressing a GUS-GILT fusion protein (collected and centrifuged
as described above for conventional chromatography) is filtered
through a 0.22.mu. filter. Sodium chloride (crystalline) is added
to a final concentration of 0.5M, and sodium azide is added to a
final concentration of 0.025% by adding 1/400 volume of a 10% stock
solution. The medium is applied to a 5 mL column of anti-human
.beta.-glucuronidase-Affigel 10 (pre-equilibrated with Antibody
Sepharose Wash Buffer: 10 mM Tris pH 7.5, 10 mM potassium
phosphate, 0.5 M NaCl, 0.025% sodium azide) at a rate of 25 mL/hour
at 4.degree. C. Fractions are collected and monitored for any GUS
activity in the flow-through. The column is washed at 36 mL/hour
with 10-20 column volumes of Antibody Sepharose Wash Buffer.
Fractions are collected and monitored for GUS activity. The column
is eluted at 36 mL/hour with 50 mL of 10 mM sodium phosphate pH
5.0+3.5 M MgCl.sub.2. 4 mL fractions are collected and assayed for
GUS activity. Fractions containing the fusion protein are pooled,
diluted with an equal volume of P6 buffer (25 mM Tris pH 7.5, 1 mM
.beta.-glycerol phosphate, 0.15 mM NaCl, 0.025% sodium azide) and
desalted over a BioGel P6 column (pre-equilibrated with P6 buffer)
to remove the MgCl.sub.2 and to change the buffer to P6 buffer for
storage. The fusion protein is eluted with P6 buffer, fractions
containing GUS activity are pooled, and the pooled fractions
assayed for GUS activity and for protein. An SDS-PAGE gel stained
with Coomassie Blue or silver stain is used to confirm purity. The
fusion protein is stored frozen at -80.degree. C. in P6 buffer for
long-term stability.
Example 11
Uptake Experiments on Mammalian-Produced Proteins
[0145] Culture supernatants from HEK293 cell lines or CHO cell
lines producing GUS or GUS-GILT constructs were harvested through a
0.2 .mu.m filter to remove cells GM 4668 fibroblasts were cultured
in 12-well tissue culture plates in DMEM supplemented with 15%
(v/v) fetal calf serum at 37.degree. C. in 5% CO.sub.2. Cells were
washed once with uptake medium (DMEM+2% BSA (Sigma A-7030)) at
37.degree. C. Fibroblasts were then cultured (3-21 hours) with
1000-4000 units of enzyme per mL of uptake medium. In some
experiments, competitors for uptake were added. Mannose-6-phosphate
(Calbiochem 444100) was added to some media at concentrations from
2-8 mM and pure recombinant IGF-II (Cell Sciences OU100) was added
to some media at 2.86 mM, representing a 10-100 fold molar excess
depending on the quantity of input enzyme. Uptake was typically
measured in triplicate wells.
[0146] After incubation, the media were removed from the wells and
assayed in duplicate for GUS activity. Wells were washed five times
with 1 mL of 37.degree. C. phosphate-buffered saline, then
incubated for 15 minutes at room temperature in 0.2 mL of lysis
buffer (10 mM Tris, pH 7.5, 100 mM NaCl, 5 mM EDTA, and 1% NP-40).
Cell lysates were transferred to microfuge tubes and spun at 13,000
rpm for 5 minutes to remove cell debris. Two 10 .mu.L aliquots of
lysate were assayed for GUS activity using a standard fluorometric
assay. Three 10 .mu.L aliquots of lysate were assayed for protein
concentration (Pierce Micro BCA protein assay, Pierce, Ill.).
[0147] An initial experiment compared uptake of CHO-produced
GUS-GILT.DELTA.1-7 with CHO-produced GUS.DELTA.C18-GILT.DELTA.1-7.
As shown in Table 5, the GUS.DELTA.C18-GILT.DELTA.1-7 protein,
which was engineered to eliminate a potential protease cleavage
site, has significantly higher levels of uptake levels that can be
inhibited by IGF-II and by M6P. In contrast, the uptake of a
recombinant GUS produced in mammalian cells lacking the IGF-II tag
was unaffected by the presence of excess IGF-II but was completely
abolished by excess M6P. In this experiment, uptake was performed
for 18 hours.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Input Uptake +IGF-II % IGF-II +M6P % M6P
Enzyme units (units/mg) (units/mg) inhibition (units/mg) inhibition
CHO GUS-GILT.DELTA.1-7 982 310 .+-. 27 84 .+-. 20 73 223 .+-. 36 28
CHO GUS.DELTA.C18- 1045 704 .+-. 226 258 .+-. 50 63 412 .+-. 79 41
GILT.DELTA.1-7 CHO GUS 732 352 .+-. 30 336 .+-. 77 5 1 .+-. 0.2
99.7
[0148] A subsequent experiment assessed the uptake of CHO- and
HEK293-produced enzymes by human fibroblasts from MPSVII patients.
In this experiment, uptake was for 21 hours.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 +IGF-II Input Uptake Uptake % IGF-II Enzyme
units (units/mg) (units/mg) inhibition CHO GUS.DELTA.C18- 2812 4081
.+-. 1037 1007 .+-. 132 75 GILT.DELTA.1-7 HEK GUS-GILT 2116 1432
.+-. 196 HEK GUS.DELTA.C18- 3021 5192 .+-. 320 1207 .+-. 128 77
GILT.DELTA.1-7 HEK GUS-GILTY27L 3512 1514 .+-. 203 HEK GUS- 3211
4227 .+-. 371 388 .+-. 96 90.8 GILTF19SE12K HEK GUS-GILTF19S 3169
4733 .+-. 393 439 .+-. 60 90.7
[0149] A further experiment assessed the uptake of selected enzymes
in the presence of IGF-II, 8 mM M6P, or both inhibitors. Uptake was
measured for a period of 22.5 hours.
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 +IGF-II + Uptake +IGF-II % IGF- +M6P M6P %
IGF- Input (units/ (units/ II (units/ % M6P (units/ II + M6P Enzyme
units mg) mg) inhibition mg) inhibition mg) inhibition CHO 1023
1580 .+-. 150 473 .+-. 27 70 639 .+-. 61 60 0 .+-. 1 100
GUS.DELTA.C18- GILT.DELTA.1-7 HEK GUS- 880 1227 .+-. 76 22 .+-. 2
98.2 846 .+-. 61 31 0 .+-. 3 100 GILTF19S E12K HEK GUS- 912 1594
.+-. 236 217 .+-. 17 86 952 .+-. 96 60 15 .+-. 2 99.06 GILTF19S
[0150] The experiments described above show that CHO and HEK293
production systems are essentially equivalent in their ability to
secrete functional recombinant proteins. The experiments also show
that the presence of excess IGF-II diminishes uptake of tagged
proteins by 70-90+%, but does not markedly affect uptake of
untagged protein (4.5%), indicating specific IGF-II-mediated uptake
of the mammalian-produced protein. Unlike Leishmania-produced
proteins, the enzymes produced in mammalian cells are expected to
contain M6P. The presence of two ligands on these proteins capable
of directing uptake through the M6P/IGF-II receptor implies that
neither excess IGF-II nor excess M6P should completely abolish
uptake. Furthermore, since the two ligands bind to discrete
locations on the receptor, binding to the receptor via one ligand
should not be markedly affected by the presence of an excess of the
other competitor.
Example 12
In Vivo Therapy
[0151] Initially, GUS minus mice can be used to assess the
effectiveness of GUS-GILT and derivatives thereof in enzyme
replacement therapy. GUS minus mice are generated by heterozygous
matings of B6.C-H-2.sup.bml/ByBIR-gus.sup.mpd/+ mice as described
by Birkenmeier et al. (1989) J. Clin. Invest 83(4):1258-6.
Preferably, the mice are tolerant to human .beta.-GUS. The mice may
carry a transgene with a defective copy of human .beta.-GUS to
induce immunotolerance to the human protein (Sly et al. (2001) PNAS
98:2205-2210). Alternatively, human .beta.-GUS (e.g. as a GUS-GILT
protein) can be administered to newborn mice to induce
immunotolerance. However, because the blood-brain barrier is not
formed until about day 15 in mice, it is simpler to determine
whether GILT-GUS crosses the blood-brain barrier when initiating
injections in mice older than 15 days; transgenic mice are
therefore preferable.
[0152] The initial experiment is to determine the tissue
distribution of the targeted therapeutic protein. At least three
mice receive a CHO-produced GILT-tagged .beta.-GUS protein referred
to herein as GUS.DELTA.C18-GILT.DELTA.1-7, in which GUS.DELTA.18, a
.beta.-GUS protein omitting the last eighteen amino acids of the
protein, is fused to the N-terminus of .DELTA.1-7 GILT, an IGF-II
protein missing the first seven amino acids of the mature protein.
Other mice receive either .beta.-GUS, a buffer control, or a
GUS.DELTA.C18-GILT.DELTA.1-7 protein treated with periodate and
sodium borohydride as described in Example 14. Generally, preferred
doses are in the range of 0.5-7 mg/kg body weight. In one example,
the enzyme dose is 1 mg/kg body weight administered intravenously,
and the enzyme concentration is about 1-3 mg/mL. In addition, at
least three mice receive a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight of
GUS.DELTA.C18-GILT.DELTA.1-7 protein treated with periodate and
sodium borohydride. After 24 hours, the mice are sacrificed and the
following organs and tissues are isolated: liver, spleen, kidney,
brain, lung, muscle, heart, bone, and blood. Portions of each
tissue are homogenized and the .beta.-GUS enzyme activity per mg
protein is determined as described in Sly et al. (2001) PNAS
98:2205-2210. Portions of the tissues are prepared for
histochemistry and/or histopathology carried out by published
methods (see, e.g., Vogler et al. (1990) Am J. Pathol.
136:207-217).
[0153] Further experiments include multiple injection protocols in
which the mice receive weekly injections at a dose of 1 mg/kg body
weight. In addition, measurement of the half-life of the
periodate-modified enzyme is determined in comparison with
untreated enzyme as described in Example 14.
[0154] Two other assay formats can be used. In one format, 3-4
animals are given a single injection of 20,000 U of enzyme in 100
.mu.l enzyme dilution buffer (150 mM NaCl, 10 mM Tris, pH7.5). Mice
are killed 72-96 hours later to assess the efficacy of the therapy.
In a second format, mice are given weekly injections of 20,000
units over 3-4 weeks and are killed 1 week after the final
injection. Histochemical and histopathologic analysis of liver,
spleen and brain are carried out by published methods (Birkenmeier
et al. (1991) Blood 78(11):3081-92; Sands et al. (1994) J. Clin.
Invest 93(6):2324-31; Daly et al. (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
96(5):2296-300). In the absence of therapy, cells (e.g. macrophages
and Kupffer cells) of GUS minus mice develop large intracellular
storage compartments resulting from the buildup of waste products
in the lysosomes. It is anticipated that in cells in mice treated
with GUS-GILT constructs, the size of these compartments will be
visibly reduced or the compartments will shrink until they are no
longer visible with a light microscope.
[0155] Similarly, humans with lysosomal storage diseases will be
treated using constructs targeting an appropriate therapeutic
portion to their lysosomes. In some instances, treatment will take
the form of regular (e.g. weekly) injections of a GILT protein. In
other instances, treatment will be achieved through administration
of a nucleic acid to permit persistent in vivo expression of a GILT
protein, or through administration of a cell (e.g. a human cell, or
a unicellular organism) expressing the GILT protein in the patient.
For example, the GILT protein can be expressed in situ using a
Leishmania vector as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,144, issued
Feb. 1, 2000; U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/250,446; and U.S.
Provisional Application Attorney Docket No. SYM-005PRA, "Protozoan
Expression Systems for Lysosomal Storage Disease Genes", filed May
11, 2001.
[0156] Targeted therapeutic proteins of the invention can also be
administered, and their effects monitored, using methods (enzyme
assays, histochemical assays, neurological assays, survival assays,
reproduction assays, etc.) previously described for use with GUS.
See, for example, Vogler et al. (1993) Pediatric Res.
34(6):837-840; Sands et al. (1994) J. Clin. Invest. 93:2324-2331;
Sands et al. (1997) J. Clin. Invest. 99:1596-1605; O'Connor et al.
(1998) J. Clin. Invest. 101:1394-1400; and Soper et al. (1999)
45(2):180-186.
Example 13
[0157] The objective of these experiments is to evaluate the
efficacy of GILT-modified alpha-galactosidase A (.alpha.-GAL A) as
an enzyme replacement therapy for Fabry's disease.
[0158] Fabry's disease is a lysosomal storage disease resulting
from insufficient activity of .alpha.-GAL A, the enzyme responsible
for removing the terminal galactose from GL-3 and other neutral
sphingolipids. The diminished enzymatic activity occurs due to a
variety of missense and nonsense mutations in the x-linked gene.
Accumulation of GL-3 is most prevalent in lysosomes of vascular
endothelial cells of the heart, liver, kidneys, skin and brain but
also occurs in other cells and tissues. GL-3 buildup in the
vascular endothelial cells ultimately leads to heart disease and
kidney failure.
[0159] Enzyme replacement therapy is an effective treatment for
Fabry's disease, and its success depends on the ability of the
therapeutic enzyme to be taken up by the lysosomes of cells in
which GL-3 accumulates. The Genzyme product, Fabrazyme, is
recombinant .alpha.-GAL A produced in DUKX B11 CHO cells that has
been approved for treatment of Fabry's patients in Europe due to
its demonstrated efficacy.
[0160] The ability of Fabrazyme to be taken up by cells and
transported to the lysosome is due to the presence of mannose
6-phosphate (M6P) on its N-linked carbohydrate. Fabrazyme is
delivered to lysosomes through binding to the
mannose-6-phosphate/IGF-II receptor (M6P/IGF-Iir), present on the
cell surface of most cell types, and subsequent receptor mediated
endocytosis. Fabrazyme reportedly has three N-linked glycosylation
sites at ASN residues 108, 161, and 184. The predominant
carbohydrates at these positions are fucosylated biantennary
bisialylated complex, monophosphorylated mannose-7 oligomannose,
and biphosphorylated mannose-7 oligomannose, respectively.
[0161] The glycosylation independent lysosomal targeting (GILT)
technology of the present invention directly targets therapeutic
proteins to the lysosome via a different interaction with the
M6P/IGF-Iir. A targeting ligand is derived from mature human
IGF-II, which also binds with high affinity to the M6P/IGF-Iir. In
current applications, the IGF-II tag is provided as a c-terminal
fusion to the therapeutic protein, although other configurations
are feasible including cross-linking. The competency of
GILT-modified enzymes for uptake into cells has been established
using GILT-modified .beta.-glucuronidase, which is efficiently
taken up by fibroblasts in a process that is competed with excess
IGF-II. Advantages of the GILT modification are increased binding
to the M6P/IGF-II receptor, enhanced uptake into lysosomes of
target cells, altered or improved pharmacokinetics, and expanded,
altered or improved range of tissue distribution. The improved
range of tissue distributions could include delivery of
GILT-modified .alpha.-GAL A across the blood-brain barrier since
IGF proteins demonstrably cross the blood-brain barrier.
[0162] Another advantage of the GILT system is the ability to
produce uptake-competent proteins in non-mammalian expression
systems where M6P modifications do not occur. In certain
embodiments, GILT-modified protein will be produced primarily in
CHO cells. In certain others, the GILT tag will be placed at the
c-terminus of .alpha.-GAL A although the invention is not so
limited.
Example 14
Underglycosylated Therapeutic Proteins
[0163] The efficacy of a targeted therapeutic can be increased by
extending the serum half-life of the targeted therapeutic. Hepatic
mannose receptors and asialoglycoprotein receptors eliminate
glycoproteins from the circulation by recognizing specific
carbohydrate structures (Lee et al. (2002) Science
295(5561):1898-1901; Ishibashi et al. (1994) J. Biol. Chem.
269(45):27803-6). In some embodiments, the present invention
permits targeting of a therapeutic to lysosomes and/or across the
blood brain barrier in a manner dependent not on a carbohydrate,
but on a polypeptide or an analog thereof. Actual
underglycosylation of these proteins is expected to greatly
increase their half-life in the circulation, by minimizing their
removal from the circulation by the mannose and asialoglycoprotein
receptors. Similarly, functional deglycosylation (e.g. by modifying
the carbohydrate residues on the therapeutic protein, as by
periodate/sodium borohydride treatment) achieves similar effects by
interfering with recognition of the carbohydrate by one or more
clearance pathways. Nevertheless, because targeting of the protein
relies, in most embodiments, on protein-receptor interactions
rather than carbohydrate-receptor interactions, modification or
elimination of glycosylation should not adversely affect targeting
of the protein to the lysosome and/or across the blood brain
barrier.
[0164] Any lysosomal enzyme using a peptide targeting signal such
as IGF-II can be chemically or enzymatically deglycosylated or
modified to produce a therapeutic with the desirable properties of
specific lysosomal targeting plus long serum half-life. In the case
of some lysosomal storage diseases where it might be important to
deliver the therapeutic to macrophage or related cell types via
mannose receptor, fully glycosylated therapeutics can be used in
combination with underglycosylate targeted therapeutics to achieve
targeting to the broadest variety of cell types.
Proteins Underglycosylated when Synthesized
[0165] In some cases it will be preferable to produce the targeted
therapeutic protein initially in a system that does not produce a
fully glycosylated protein. For example, a targeted therapeutic
protein can be produced in E. coli, thereby generating a completely
unglycosylated protein. Alternatively, an unglycosylated protein is
produced in mammalian cells treated with tunicamycin, an inhibitor
of Dol-PP-GlcNAc formation. If, however, a particular targeted
therapeutic does not fold correctly in the absence of
glycosylation, it is preferably produced initially as a
glycosylated protein, and subsequently deglycosylated or rendered
functionally underglycosylated.
[0166] Underglycosylated targeted therapeutic proteins can also by
prepared by engineering a gene encoding the targeted therapeutic
protein so that an amino acid that normally serves as an acceptor
for glycosylation is changed to a different amino acid. For
example, an asparagine residue that serves as an acceptor for
N-linked glycosylation can be changed to a glutamine residue, or
another residue that is not a glycosylation acceptor. This
conservative change is most likely to have a minimal impact on
enzyme structure while eliminating glycosylation at the site.
Alternatively, other amino acids in the vicinity of the
glycosylation acceptor can be modified, disrupting a recognition
motif for glycosylation enzymes without necessarily changing the
amino acid that would normally be glycosylated.
[0167] In the case of GUS, removal of any one of 4 potential
glycosylation sites lessens the amount of glycosylation while
retaining ample enzyme activity (Shipley et al. (1993) J. Biol.
Chem. 268(16):12193-8). Removal of some sets of two glycosylation
sites from GUS still permits significant enzyme activity. Removal
of all four glycosylation sites eliminates enzyme activity, as does
treatment of cells with tunicamycin, but deglycosylation of
purified enzyme results in enzymatically active material.
Therefore, loss of activity associated with removal of the
glycosylation sites is likely due to incorrect folding of the
enzyme.
[0168] Other enzymes, however, fold correctly even in the absence
of glycosylation. For example, bacterial .beta.-glucuronidase is
naturally unglycosylated, and can be targeted to a mammalian
lysosome and/or across the blood brain barrier using the targeting
moieties of the present invention. Such enzymes can be synthesized
in an unglycosylated state, rather than, for example, synthesizing
them as glycosylated proteins and subsequently deglycosylating
them.
Deglycosylation
[0169] If the targeted therapeutic is produced in a mammalian cell
culture system, it is preferably secreted into the growth medium,
which can be harvested, permitting subsequent purification of the
targeted therapeutic by, for example, chromatographic purification
protocols, such as those involving ion exchange, gel filtration,
hydrophobic chromatography, ConA chromatography, affinity
chromatography or immunoaffinity chromatography.
[0170] Chemical deglycosylation of glycoproteins can be achieved in
a number of ways, including treatment with trifluoromethane
sulfonic acid (TFMS), or treatment with hydrogen fluoride (HF).
[0171] Chemical deglycosylation by TFMS (Sojar et al. (1989) J.
Biol. Chem. 264(5):2552-9; Sojar et al. (1987) Methods Enzymol.
138:341-50): 1 mg GILT-GUS is dried under vacuum overnight. The
dried protein is treated with 150 .mu.l TFMS at 0.degree. C. for
0.5-2 hours under nitrogen with occasional shaking. The reaction
mix is cooled to below -20.degree. C. in a dry ice-ethanol bath and
the reaction is neutralized by the gradual addition of a prechilled
(-20.degree. C.) solution of 60% pyridine in water. The neutralized
reaction mix is then dialyzed at 4.degree. C. against several
changes of NH.sub.4HCO.sub.3 at pH 7.0. Chemical deglycosylation
with TFMS can result in modifications to the treated protein
including methylation, succinimide formation and isomerization of
aspartate residues (Douglass et al. (2001) J. Protein Chem.
20(7):571-6).
[0172] Chemical deglycosylation by HF (Sojar et al. (1987) Methods
Enzymol. 138:341-50): The reaction is carried out in a closed
reaction system such as can be obtained from Peninsula
Laboratories, Inc. 10 mg GILT-GUS is vacuum dried and placed in a
reaction vessel which is then connected to the HF apparatus. After
the entire HF line is evacuated, 10 mL anhydrous HF is distilled
over from the reservoir with stirring of the reaction vessel. The
reaction is continued for 1-2 hours at 0.degree. C. Afterwards, a
water aspirator removes the HF over 15-30 minutes. Remaining traces
of HF are removed under high vacuum. The reaction mixture is
dissolved in 2 mL 0.2M NaOH to neutralize any remaining HF and the
pH is readjusted to 7.5 with cold 0.2M HCl.
[0173] Enzymatic deglycosylation (Thotakura et al. (1987) Methods
Enzymol. 138:350-9): N-linked carbohydrates can be removed
completely from glycoproteins using protein N-glycosidase (PNGase)
A or F. In one embodiment, a glycoprotein is denatured prior to
treatment with a glycosidase to facilitate action of the enzyme on
the glycoprotein; the glycoprotein is subsequently refolded as
discussed in the "In vitro refolding" section above. In another
embodiment, excess glycosidase is used to treat a native
glycoprotein to promote effective deglycosylation.
[0174] In the case of a targeted therapeutic protein that is
actually underglycosylated, it is possible that the reduced
glycosylation will reveal protease-sensitive sites on the targeted
therapeutic protein, which will diminish the half-life of the
protein. N-linked glycosylation is known to protect a subset of
lysosomal enzymes from proteolysis (Kundra et al. (1999) J. Biol.
Chem. 274(43):31039-46). Such protease-sensitive sites are
preferably engineered out of the protein (e.g. by site-directed
mutagenesis). As discussed below, the risk of revealing either a
protease-sensitive site or a potential epitope can be minimized by
incomplete deglycosylation or by modifying the carbohydrate
structure rather than omitting the carbohydrate altogether.
Modification of Carbohydrate Structure or Partial
Deglycosylation
[0175] In some embodiments, the therapeutic protein is partially
deglycosylated. For example, the therapeutic protein can be treated
with an endoglycosidase such as endoglycosidase H, which cleaves
N-linked high mannose carbohydrate but not complex type
carbohydrate leaving a single GlcNAc residue linked to the
asparagine. A therapeutic protein treated in this way will lack
high mannose carbohydrate, reducing interaction with the hepatic
mannose receptor. Even though this receptor recognizes terminal
GlcNAc, the probability of a productive interaction with the single
GlcNAc on the protein surface is not as great as with an intact
high mannose structure. If the therapeutic protein is produced in
mammalian cells, any complex carbohydrate present on the protein
will remains unaffected by the endoH treatment and may be
terminally sialylated, thereby diminishing interactions with
hepatic carbohydrate recognizing receptors. Such a protein is
therefore likely to have increased half-life. At the same time,
steric hinderance by the remaining carbohydrate should shield
potential epitopes on the protein surface from the immune system
and diminish access of proteases to the protein surface (e.g. in
the protease-rich lysosomal environment).
[0176] In other embodiments, glycosylation of a therapeutic protein
is modified, e.g. by oxidation, reduction, dehydration,
substitution, esterification, alkylation, sialylation,
carbon-carbon bond cleavage, or the like, to reduce clearance of
the therapeutic protein from the blood. In some preferred
embodiments, the therapeutic protein is not sialylated. For
example, treatment with periodate and sodium borohydride is
effective to modify the carbohydrate structure of most
glycoproteins. Periodate treatment oxidizes vicinal diols, cleaving
the carbon-carbon bond and replacing the hydroxyl groups with
aldehyde groups; borohydride reduces the aldehydes to hydroxyls.
Many sugar residues include vicinal diols and, therefore, are
cleaved by this treatment. As shown in FIG. 9A, a protein may be
glycosylated on an asparagine residue with a high mannose
carbohydrate that includes N-acetylglucosamine residues near the
asparagine and mannose residues elsewhere in the structure. As
shown in FIG. 9B, the terminal mannose residues have three
consecutive carbons with hydroxyl groups; both of the carbon-carbon
bonds involved are cleaved by periodate treatment. Some nonterminal
mannose residues also include a vicinal diol, which would similarly
be cleaved. Nevertheless, while this treatment converts cyclic
carbohydrates into linear carbohydrates, it does not completely
remove the carbohydrate, minimizing risks of exposing potentially
protease-sensitive or antigenic polypeptide sites.
[0177] The half-life of lysosomal enzyme .beta.-glucuronidase is
known to increase more than tenfold after sequential treatment with
periodate and sodium borohydride (Houba et al. (1996) Bioconjug.
Chem. 7(5):606-11; Stahl et al (1976) PNAS 73:4045-4049; Achord et
al. (1977) Pediat. Res. 11:816-822; Achord et al. (1978) Cell
15(1):269-78). Similarly, ricin has been treated with a mixture of
periodate and sodium cyanoborohydride (Thorpe et al. (1985) Eur. J.
Biochem. 147:197). After injection into rats, the fraction of ricin
adsorbed by the liver decreased from 40% (untreated ricin) to 20%
(modified ricin) of the injected dose with chemical treatment. In
contrast the amount of ricin in the blood increased from 20%
(untreated ricin) to 45% (treated ricin). Thus, the treated ricin
enjoyed a wider tissue distribution and longer half-life in the
circulation.
[0178] A .beta.-glucuronidase construct (or other glycoprotein)
coupled to a targeting moiety of the invention when deglycosylated
or modified by sequential treatment with periodate and sodium
borohydride should enjoy a similar (e.g. more than twofold, more
than fourfold, or more than tenfold) increase in halflife while
still retaining a high affinity for the cation-independent M6P
receptor, permitting targeting of the construct to the lysosome of
all cell types that possess this receptor. The construct is also
predicted to cross the blood brain barrier efficiently. In
contrast, if a .beta.-glucuronidase preparation that relies on M6P
for lysosomal targeting is deglycosylated or treated with periodate
and sodium borohydride, it will enjoy an elevated serum half-life
but will be unable to target the lysosome since the M6P targeting
signal will have been modified by the treatment.
[0179] Carbohydrate modification by sequential treatment with
periodate and sodium borohydride can be performed as follows:
Purified GILT-GUS is incubated with 40 mM NaIO.sub.4 in 50 mM
sodium acetate pH 4.5 for 2 hours at 4.degree. C. The reaction is
stopped by addition of excess ethylene glycol and unreacted
reagents are removed by passing the reaction mix over Sephadex
G-25M equilibrated with PBS pH 7.5. This treatment is followed by
incubation with 40 mM NaBH.sub.4 in PBS at pH 7.5 and 37.degree. C.
for three hours and then for one hour at 4.degree. C. Passing the
reaction mixture over a Sephadex G-25M column eluted with PBS at pH
7.5 terminates the reaction.
[0180] Another protocol for periodate and sodium borohydride
treatment is described in Hickman et al. (1974) BBRC 57:55-61. The
purified protein is dialyzed into 0.01M sodium phosphate pH 6.0,
0.15 M NaCl. Sodium periodate is added to a final concentration of
0.01M and the reaction proceeds at 4.degree. C. in the dark for at
least six hours. Treatment of .beta.-hexosaminidase with periodate
under these conditions is sufficient to prevent uptake of the
protein by fibroblasts; uptake is normally dependent on M6P
moieties on the .beta.-hexosaminidase with the M6P receptor on the
fibroblast cell surface. Thus, periodate oxidation modifies M6P
sufficiently to abolish its ability to interact with the M6P
receptor.
[0181] Alternatively, the carbohydrate can be modified by treatment
with periodate and cyanoborohydride in a one step reaction as
disclosed in Thorpe et al. (1985) Eur. J. Biochem. 147:197-206.
[0182] The presence of carbohydrate in a partially deglycosylated
protein or a protein with a modified glycosylation pattern should
shield potential polypeptide epitopes that might be uncovered by
complete absence of glycosylation. In the event that a therapeutic
protein does provoke an immune response, immunosuppressive
therapies can be used in conjunction with the therapeutic protein
(Brooks (1999) Molecular Genetics and Metabolism 68:268-275). For
example, it has been reported that about 15% of Gaucher disease
patients treated with alglucerase developed immune responses
(Beutler, et al., in The Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited
Disease, 8.sup.th ed. (2001), Scriver et al., eds., pp. 3635-3668).
Fortunately, many (82/142) of the patients that produced antibody
against alglucerase became tolerized by the normal treatment
regimen (Rosenberg et al., (1999) Blood 93:2081-2088). Thus, to
benefit the small minority of patients who may develop an immune
response, a patient receiving a therapeutic protein also receives
an immunosuppressive therapy in some embodiments of the
invention.
Testing
[0183] To verify that a protein is underglycosylated, it can be
tested by exposure to ConA. An underglycosylated protein is
expected to demonstrate reduced binding to ConA-sepharose when
compared to the corresponding fully glycosylated protein.
[0184] An actually underglycosylated protein can also be resolved
by SDS-PAGE and compared to the corresponding fully-glycosylated
protein. For example, chemically deglycosylated GUS-GILT can be
compared to untreated (glycosylated) GUS-GILT and to enzymatically
deglycosylated GUS-GILT prepared with PNGase A. The
underglycosylated protein is expected to have a greater mobility in
SDS-PAGE when compared to the fully glycosylated protein.
[0185] Underglycosylated targeted therapeutic proteins display
uptake that is dependent on the targeting domain. Underglycosylated
proteins should display reduced uptake (and, preferably,
substantially no uptake) that is dependent on mannose or M6P. These
properties can be experimentally verified in cell uptake
experiments.
[0186] For example, a GUS-GILT protein synthesized in mammalian
cells and subsequently treated with periodate and borohydride can
be tested for functional deglycosylation by testing M6P-dependent
and mannose-dependent uptake. To demonstrate that M6P-dependent
uptake has been reduced, uptake assays are performed using GM4668
fibroblasts. In the absence of competitor, treated and untreated
enzyme will each display significant uptake. The presence of excess
IGF-II substantially reduces uptake of treated and untreated
enzyme, although untreated enzyme retains residual uptake via a
M6P-dependent pathway. Excess M6P reduces the uptake of untreated
enzyme, but is substantially less effective at reducing the uptake
of functionally deglycosylated protein. For treated and untreated
enzymes, the simultaneous presence of both competitors should
substantially abolish uptake.
[0187] Uptake assays to assess mannose-dependent uptake are
performed using J774-E cells, a mouse macrophage-like cell line
bearing mannose receptors but few, if any, M6P receptors (Diment et
al. (1987) J. Leukocyte Biol. 42:485-490). The cells are cultured
in DMEM, low glucose, supplemented with 10% FBS, 4 mM glutamine,
and antibiotic, antimycotic solution (Sigma, A-5955). Uptake assays
with these cells are performed in a manner identical to assays
performed with fibroblasts. In the presence of excess M6P and
IGF-II, which will eliminate uptake due to any residual M6P/IGF-II
receptor, fully glycosylated enzyme will display significant uptake
due to interaction with the mannose receptor. Underglycosylated
enzyme is expected to display substantially reduced uptake under
these conditions. The mannose receptor-dependent uptake of fully
glycosylated enzyme can be competed by the addition of excess (100
.mu.g/mL) mannan.
[0188] Pharmacokinetics of deglycosylated GUS-GILT can be
determined by giving intravenous injections of 20,000 enzyme units
to groups of three MPSVII mice per timepoint. For each timepoint 50
.mu.L of blood is assayed for enzyme activity.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0189] The disclosure of each of the patent documents, scientific
publications, and Protein Data Bank records disclosed herein, and
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/250,446, filed Nov. 30, 2000;
U.S. Provisional Application 60/287,531, filed Apr. 30, 2001; U.S.
Provisional Application 60/290,281, filed May 11, 2001; U.S.
Provisional Application 60/304,609, filed Jul. 10, 2001; U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/329,461, filed Oct. 15, 2001;
International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US01/44935, filed
Nov. 30, 2001; U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/351,276, filed
Jan. 23, 2002; U.S. Ser. Nos. 10/136,841 and 10/136,639, filed Apr.
30, 2002, U.S. Ser. No. 60/384,452, filed May 29, 2002; U.S. Ser.
No. 60/386,019, filed Jun. 5, 2002; and U.S. Ser. No. 60/408,816,
filed Sep. 6, 2002, are incorporated by reference into this
application in their entirety.
Sequence CWU 1
1
221543DNAHomo sapiensCDS(1)..(540) 1atg gga atc cca atg ggg aag tcg
atg ctg gtg ctt ctc acc ttc ttg 48Met Gly Ile Pro Met Gly Lys Ser
Met Leu Val Leu Leu Thr Phe Leu1 5 10 15gcc ttc gcc tcg tgc tgc att
gct gct tac cgc ccc agt gag acc ctg 96Ala Phe Ala Ser Cys Cys Ile
Ala Ala Tyr Arg Pro Ser Glu Thr Leu 20 25 30tgc ggc ggg gag ctg gtg
gac acc ctc cag ttc gtc tgt ggg gac cgc 144Cys Gly Gly Glu Leu Val
Asp Thr Leu Gln Phe Val Cys Gly Asp Arg 35 40 45ggc ttc tac ttc agc
agg ccc gca agc cgt gtg agc cgt cgc agc cgt 192Gly Phe Tyr Phe Ser
Arg Pro Ala Ser Arg Val Ser Arg Arg Ser Arg 50 55 60ggc atc gtt gag
gag tgc tgt ttc cgc agc tgt gac ctg gcc ctc ctg 240Gly Ile Val Glu
Glu Cys Cys Phe Arg Ser Cys Asp Leu Ala Leu Leu65 70 75 80gag acg
tac tgt gct acc ccc gcc aag tcc gag agg gac gtg tcg acc 288Glu Thr
Tyr Cys Ala Thr Pro Ala Lys Ser Glu Arg Asp Val Ser Thr85 90 95cct
ccg acc gtg ctt ccg gac aac ttc ccc aga tac ccc gtg ggc aag 336Pro
Pro Thr Val Leu Pro Asp Asn Phe Pro Arg Tyr Pro Val Gly Lys100 105
110ttc ttc caa tat gac acc tgg aag cag tcc acc cag cgc ctg cgc agg
384Phe Phe Gln Tyr Asp Thr Trp Lys Gln Ser Thr Gln Arg Leu Arg
Arg115 120 125ggc ctg cct gcc ctc ctg cgt gcc cgc cgg ggt cac gtg
ctc gcc aag 432Gly Leu Pro Ala Leu Leu Arg Ala Arg Arg Gly His Val
Leu Ala Lys130 135 140gag ctc gag gcg ttc agg gag gcc aaa cgt cac
cgt ccc ctg att gct 480Glu Leu Glu Ala Phe Arg Glu Ala Lys Arg His
Arg Pro Leu Ile Ala145 150 155 160cta ccc acc caa gac ccc gcc cac
ggg ggc gcc ccc cca gag atg gcc 528Leu Pro Thr Gln Asp Pro Ala His
Gly Gly Ala Pro Pro Glu Met Ala165 170 175agc aat cgg aag tga
543Ser Asn Arg Lys1802180PRTHomo sapiens 2Met Gly Ile Pro Met Gly
Lys Ser Met Leu Val Leu Leu Thr Phe Leu1 5 10 15Ala Phe Ala Ser Cys
Cys Ile Ala Ala Tyr Arg Pro Ser Glu Thr Leu 20 25 30Cys Gly Gly Glu
Leu Val Asp Thr Leu Gln Phe Val Cys Gly Asp Arg 35 40 45Gly Phe Tyr
Phe Ser Arg Pro Ala Ser Arg Val Ser Arg Arg Ser Arg 50 55 60Gly Ile
Val Glu Glu Cys Cys Phe Arg Ser Cys Asp Leu Ala Leu Leu65 70 75
80Glu Thr Tyr Cys Ala Thr Pro Ala Lys Ser Glu Arg Asp Val Ser Thr
85 90 95Pro Pro Thr Val Leu Pro Asp Asn Phe Pro Arg Tyr Pro Val Gly
Lys 100 105 110Phe Phe Gln Tyr Asp Thr Trp Lys Gln Ser Thr Gln Arg
Leu Arg Arg 115 120 125Gly Leu Pro Ala Leu Leu Arg Ala Arg Arg Gly
His Val Leu Ala Lys 130 135 140Glu Leu Glu Ala Phe Arg Glu Ala Lys
Arg His Arg Pro Leu Ile Ala145 150 155 160Leu Pro Thr Gln Asp Pro
Ala His Gly Gly Ala Pro Pro Glu Met Ala 165 170 175Ser Asn Arg Lys
1803237DNAArtificial SequenceLeishmania codon optimized IGF-II
3ccgtctagag ctc ggc gcg ccg gcg tac cgc ccg agc gag acg ctg tgc 49
Gly Ala Pro Ala Tyr Arg Pro Ser Glu Thr Leu Cys 1 5 10ggc ggc gag
ctg gtg gac acg ctg cag ttc gtg tgc ggc gac cgc ggc 97Gly Gly Glu
Leu Val Asp Thr Leu Gln Phe Val Cys Gly Asp Arg Gly 15 20 25ttc tac
ttc agc cgc ccg gcc agc cgc gtg agc cgc cgc agc cgc ggc 145Phe Tyr
Phe Ser Arg Pro Ala Ser Arg Val Ser Arg Arg Ser Arg Gly 30 35 40atc
gtg gag gag tgc tgc ttc cgc agc tgc gac ctg gcg ctg ctg gag 193Ile
Val Glu Glu Cys Cys Phe Arg Ser Cys Asp Leu Ala Leu Leu Glu45 50 55
60acg tac tgc gcg acg ccg gcg aag tcg gag taagatctag agcg 237Thr
Tyr Cys Ala Thr Pro Ala Lys Ser Glu 65 70470PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthetic Construct 4Gly Ala Pro Ala Tyr Arg Pro Ser Glu
Thr Leu Cys Gly Gly Glu Leu1 5 10 15Val Asp Thr Leu Gln Phe Val Cys
Gly Asp Arg Gly Phe Tyr Phe Ser 20 25 30Arg Pro Ala Ser Arg Val Ser
Arg Arg Ser Arg Gly Ile Val Glu Glu 35 40 45Cys Cys Phe Arg Ser Cys
Asp Leu Ala Leu Leu Glu Thr Tyr Cys Ala 50 55 60Thr Pro Ala Lys Ser
Glu65 7052169DNAArtificial SequenceA recombinant DNA sequence
incorporating a signal peptide sequence, the mature human
beta-glucuronidase sequence, a bridge of three amino acids, and an
IGF-II sequence 5atg gcc tct agg ctc gtc cgt gtg ctg gcg gcc gcc
atg ctg gtt gca 48Met Ala Ser Arg Leu Val Arg Val Leu Ala Ala Ala
Met Leu Val Ala1 5 10 15gcg gcc gtg tcg gtc gac gcg ctg cag ggc ggg
atg ctg tac ccc cag 96Ala Ala Val Ser Val Asp Ala Leu Gln Gly Gly
Met Leu Tyr Pro Gln 20 25 30gag agc ccg tcg cgg gag tgc aag gag ctg
gac ggc ctc tgg agc ttc 144Glu Ser Pro Ser Arg Glu Cys Lys Glu Leu
Asp Gly Leu Trp Ser Phe 35 40 45cgc gcc gac ttc tct gac aac cga cgc
cgg ggc ttc gag gag cag tgg 192Arg Ala Asp Phe Ser Asp Asn Arg Arg
Arg Gly Phe Glu Glu Gln Trp 50 55 60tac cgg cgg ccg ctg tgg gag tca
ggc ccc acc gtg gac atg cca gtt 240Tyr Arg Arg Pro Leu Trp Glu Ser
Gly Pro Thr Val Asp Met Pro Val65 70 75 80ccc tcc agc ttc aat gac
atc agc cag gac tgg cgt ctg cgg cat ttt 288Pro Ser Ser Phe Asn Asp
Ile Ser Gln Asp Trp Arg Leu Arg His Phe 85 90 95gtc ggc tgg gtg tgg
tac gaa cgg gag gtg atc ctg ccg gag cga tgg 336Val Gly Trp Val Trp
Tyr Glu Arg Glu Val Ile Leu Pro Glu Arg Trp 100 105 110acc cag gac
ctg cgc aca aga gtg gtg ctg agg att ggc agt gcc cat 384Thr Gln Asp
Leu Arg Thr Arg Val Val Leu Arg Ile Gly Ser Ala His 115 120 125tcc
tat gcc atc gtg tgg gtg aat ggg gtc gac acg cta gag cat gag 432Ser
Tyr Ala Ile Val Trp Val Asn Gly Val Asp Thr Leu Glu His Glu 130 135
140ggg ggc tac ctc ccc ttc gag gcc gac atc agc aac ctg gtc cag gtg
480Gly Gly Tyr Leu Pro Phe Glu Ala Asp Ile Ser Asn Leu Val Gln
Val145 150 155 160ggg ccc ctg ccc tcc cgg ctc cga atc act atc gcc
atc aac aac aca 528Gly Pro Leu Pro Ser Arg Leu Arg Ile Thr Ile Ala
Ile Asn Asn Thr 165 170 175ctc acc ccc acc acc ctg cca cca ggg acc
atc caa tac ctg act gac 576Leu Thr Pro Thr Thr Leu Pro Pro Gly Thr
Ile Gln Tyr Leu Thr Asp 180 185 190acc tcc aag tat ccc aag ggt tac
ttt gtc cag aac aca tat ttt gac 624Thr Ser Lys Tyr Pro Lys Gly Tyr
Phe Val Gln Asn Thr Tyr Phe Asp 195 200 205ttt ttc aac tac gct gga
ctg cag cgg tct gta ctt ctg tac acg aca 672Phe Phe Asn Tyr Ala Gly
Leu Gln Arg Ser Val Leu Leu Tyr Thr Thr 210 215 220ccc acc acc tac
atc gat gac atc acc gtc acc acc agc gtg gag caa 720Pro Thr Thr Tyr
Ile Asp Asp Ile Thr Val Thr Thr Ser Val Glu Gln225 230 235 240gac
agt ggg ctg gtg aat tac cag atc tct gtc aag ggc agt aac ctg 768Asp
Ser Gly Leu Val Asn Tyr Gln Ile Ser Val Lys Gly Ser Asn Leu 245 250
255ttc aag ttg gaa gtg cgt ctt ttg gat gca gaa aac aaa gtc gtg gcg
816Phe Lys Leu Glu Val Arg Leu Leu Asp Ala Glu Asn Lys Val Val Ala
260 265 270aat ggg act ggg acc cag ggc caa ctt aag gtg cca ggt gtc
agc ctc 864Asn Gly Thr Gly Thr Gln Gly Gln Leu Lys Val Pro Gly Val
Ser Leu 275 280 285tgg tgg ccg tac ctg atg cac gaa cgc cct gcc tat
ctg tat tca ttg 912Trp Trp Pro Tyr Leu Met His Glu Arg Pro Ala Tyr
Leu Tyr Ser Leu 290 295 300gag gtg cag ctg act gca cag acg tca ctg
ggg cct gtg tct gac ttc 960Glu Val Gln Leu Thr Ala Gln Thr Ser Leu
Gly Pro Val Ser Asp Phe305 310 315 320tac aca ctc cct gtg ggg atc
cgc act gtg gct gtc acc aag agc cag 1008Tyr Thr Leu Pro Val Gly Ile
Arg Thr Val Ala Val Thr Lys Ser Gln 325 330 335ttc ctc atc aat ggg
aaa cct ttc tat ttc cac ggt gtc aac aag cat 1056Phe Leu Ile Asn Gly
Lys Pro Phe Tyr Phe His Gly Val Asn Lys His 340 345 350gag gat gcg
gac atc cga ggg aag ggc ttc gac tgg ccg ctg ctg gtg 1104Glu Asp Ala
Asp Ile Arg Gly Lys Gly Phe Asp Trp Pro Leu Leu Val 355 360 365aag
gac ttc aac ctg ctt cgc tgg ctt ggt gcc aac gct ttc cgt acc 1152Lys
Asp Phe Asn Leu Leu Arg Trp Leu Gly Ala Asn Ala Phe Arg Thr 370 375
380agc cac tac ccc tat gca gag gaa gtg atg cag atg tgt gac cgc tat
1200Ser His Tyr Pro Tyr Ala Glu Glu Val Met Gln Met Cys Asp Arg
Tyr385 390 395 400ggg att gtg gtc atc gat gag tgt ccc ggc gtg ggt
ctg gcg ctg ccg 1248Gly Ile Val Val Ile Asp Glu Cys Pro Gly Val Gly
Leu Ala Leu Pro 405 410 415cag ttc ttc aac aac gtt tct ctg cat cac
cac atg cag gtg atg gaa 1296Gln Phe Phe Asn Asn Val Ser Leu His His
His Met Gln Val Met Glu 420 425 430gaa gtg gtg cgt agg gac aag aac
cac ccc gcg gtc gtg atg tgg tct 1344Glu Val Val Arg Arg Asp Lys Asn
His Pro Ala Val Val Met Trp Ser 435 440 445gtg gcc aac gag cct gcg
tcc cac cta gaa tct gct ggc tac tac ttg 1392Val Ala Asn Glu Pro Ala
Ser His Leu Glu Ser Ala Gly Tyr Tyr Leu 450 455 460aag atg gtg atc
gct cac acc aaa tcc ttg gac ccc tcc cgg cct gtg 1440Lys Met Val Ile
Ala His Thr Lys Ser Leu Asp Pro Ser Arg Pro Val465 470 475 480acc
ttt gtg agc aac tct aac tat gca gca gac aag ggg gct ccg tat 1488Thr
Phe Val Ser Asn Ser Asn Tyr Ala Ala Asp Lys Gly Ala Pro Tyr 485 490
495gtg gat gtg atc tgt ttg aac agc tac tac tct tgg tat cac gac tac
1536Val Asp Val Ile Cys Leu Asn Ser Tyr Tyr Ser Trp Tyr His Asp Tyr
500 505 510ggg cac ctg gag ttg att cag ctg cag ctg gcc acc cag ttt
gag aac 1584Gly His Leu Glu Leu Ile Gln Leu Gln Leu Ala Thr Gln Phe
Glu Asn 515 520 525tgg tat aag aag tat cag aag ccc att att cag agc
gag tat gga gca 1632Trp Tyr Lys Lys Tyr Gln Lys Pro Ile Ile Gln Ser
Glu Tyr Gly Ala 530 535 540gaa acg att gca ggg ttt cac cag gat cca
cct ctg atg ttc act gaa 1680Glu Thr Ile Ala Gly Phe His Gln Asp Pro
Pro Leu Met Phe Thr Glu545 550 555 560gag tac cag aaa agt ctg cta
gag cag tac cat ctg ggt ctg gat caa 1728Glu Tyr Gln Lys Ser Leu Leu
Glu Gln Tyr His Leu Gly Leu Asp Gln 565 570 575aaa cgc aga aaa tat
gtg gtt gga gag ctc att tgg aat ttt gcc gat 1776Lys Arg Arg Lys Tyr
Val Val Gly Glu Leu Ile Trp Asn Phe Ala Asp 580 585 590ttc atg act
gaa cag tca ccg acg aga gtg ctg ggg aat aaa aag ggg 1824Phe Met Thr
Glu Gln Ser Pro Thr Arg Val Leu Gly Asn Lys Lys Gly 595 600 605atc
ttc act cgg cag aga caa cca aaa agt gca gcg ttc ctt ttg cga 1872Ile
Phe Thr Arg Gln Arg Gln Pro Lys Ser Ala Ala Phe Leu Leu Arg 610 615
620gag aga tac tgg aag att gcc aat gaa acc agg tat ccc cac tca gta
1920Glu Arg Tyr Trp Lys Ile Ala Asn Glu Thr Arg Tyr Pro His Ser
Val625 630 635 640gcc aag tca caa tgt ttg gaa aac agc ccg ttt act
ggc gcg ccg gcg 1968Ala Lys Ser Gln Cys Leu Glu Asn Ser Pro Phe Thr
Gly Ala Pro Ala 645 650 655tac cgc ccg agc gag acg ctg tgc ggc ggc
gag ctg gtg gac acg ctg 2016Tyr Arg Pro Ser Glu Thr Leu Cys Gly Gly
Glu Leu Val Asp Thr Leu 660 665 670cag ttc gtg tgc ggc gac cgc ggc
ttc tac ttc agc cgc ccg gcc agc 2064Gln Phe Val Cys Gly Asp Arg Gly
Phe Tyr Phe Ser Arg Pro Ala Ser 675 680 685cgc gtg agc cgc cgc agc
cgc ggc atc gtg gag gag tgc tgc ttc cgc 2112Arg Val Ser Arg Arg Ser
Arg Gly Ile Val Glu Glu Cys Cys Phe Arg 690 695 700agc tgc gac ctg
gcg ctg ctg gag acg tac tgc gcg acg ccg gcg aag 2160Ser Cys Asp Leu
Ala Leu Leu Glu Thr Tyr Cys Ala Thr Pro Ala Lys705 710 715 720tcg
gag taa 2169Ser Glu6722PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic Construct
6Met Ala Ser Arg Leu Val Arg Val Leu Ala Ala Ala Met Leu Val Ala1 5
10 15Ala Ala Val Ser Val Asp Ala Leu Gln Gly Gly Met Leu Tyr Pro
Gln 20 25 30Glu Ser Pro Ser Arg Glu Cys Lys Glu Leu Asp Gly Leu Trp
Ser Phe 35 40 45Arg Ala Asp Phe Ser Asp Asn Arg Arg Arg Gly Phe Glu
Glu Gln Trp 50 55 60Tyr Arg Arg Pro Leu Trp Glu Ser Gly Pro Thr Val
Asp Met Pro Val65 70 75 80Pro Ser Ser Phe Asn Asp Ile Ser Gln Asp
Trp Arg Leu Arg His Phe 85 90 95Val Gly Trp Val Trp Tyr Glu Arg Glu
Val Ile Leu Pro Glu Arg Trp 100 105 110Thr Gln Asp Leu Arg Thr Arg
Val Val Leu Arg Ile Gly Ser Ala His 115 120 125Ser Tyr Ala Ile Val
Trp Val Asn Gly Val Asp Thr Leu Glu His Glu 130 135 140Gly Gly Tyr
Leu Pro Phe Glu Ala Asp Ile Ser Asn Leu Val Gln Val145 150 155
160Gly Pro Leu Pro Ser Arg Leu Arg Ile Thr Ile Ala Ile Asn Asn Thr
165 170 175Leu Thr Pro Thr Thr Leu Pro Pro Gly Thr Ile Gln Tyr Leu
Thr Asp 180 185 190Thr Ser Lys Tyr Pro Lys Gly Tyr Phe Val Gln Asn
Thr Tyr Phe Asp 195 200 205Phe Phe Asn Tyr Ala Gly Leu Gln Arg Ser
Val Leu Leu Tyr Thr Thr 210 215 220Pro Thr Thr Tyr Ile Asp Asp Ile
Thr Val Thr Thr Ser Val Glu Gln225 230 235 240Asp Ser Gly Leu Val
Asn Tyr Gln Ile Ser Val Lys Gly Ser Asn Leu 245 250 255Phe Lys Leu
Glu Val Arg Leu Leu Asp Ala Glu Asn Lys Val Val Ala 260 265 270Asn
Gly Thr Gly Thr Gln Gly Gln Leu Lys Val Pro Gly Val Ser Leu 275 280
285Trp Trp Pro Tyr Leu Met His Glu Arg Pro Ala Tyr Leu Tyr Ser Leu
290 295 300Glu Val Gln Leu Thr Ala Gln Thr Ser Leu Gly Pro Val Ser
Asp Phe305 310 315 320Tyr Thr Leu Pro Val Gly Ile Arg Thr Val Ala
Val Thr Lys Ser Gln 325 330 335Phe Leu Ile Asn Gly Lys Pro Phe Tyr
Phe His Gly Val Asn Lys His 340 345 350Glu Asp Ala Asp Ile Arg Gly
Lys Gly Phe Asp Trp Pro Leu Leu Val 355 360 365Lys Asp Phe Asn Leu
Leu Arg Trp Leu Gly Ala Asn Ala Phe Arg Thr 370 375 380Ser His Tyr
Pro Tyr Ala Glu Glu Val Met Gln Met Cys Asp Arg Tyr385 390 395
400Gly Ile Val Val Ile Asp Glu Cys Pro Gly Val Gly Leu Ala Leu Pro
405 410 415Gln Phe Phe Asn Asn Val Ser Leu His His His Met Gln Val
Met Glu 420 425 430Glu Val Val Arg Arg Asp Lys Asn His Pro Ala Val
Val Met Trp Ser 435 440 445Val Ala Asn Glu Pro Ala Ser His Leu Glu
Ser Ala Gly Tyr Tyr Leu 450 455 460Lys Met Val Ile Ala His Thr Lys
Ser Leu Asp Pro Ser Arg Pro Val465 470 475 480Thr Phe Val Ser Asn
Ser Asn Tyr Ala Ala Asp Lys Gly Ala Pro Tyr 485 490 495Val Asp Val
Ile Cys Leu Asn Ser Tyr Tyr Ser Trp Tyr His Asp Tyr 500 505 510Gly
His Leu Glu Leu Ile Gln Leu Gln Leu Ala Thr Gln Phe Glu Asn 515 520
525Trp Tyr Lys Lys Tyr Gln Lys Pro Ile Ile Gln Ser Glu Tyr Gly Ala
530 535 540Glu Thr Ile Ala Gly Phe His Gln Asp Pro Pro Leu Met Phe
Thr Glu545 550 555 560Glu Tyr Gln Lys Ser Leu Leu Glu Gln Tyr His
Leu Gly Leu Asp Gln 565 570 575Lys Arg Arg Lys Tyr Val Val Gly Glu
Leu Ile Trp Asn Phe Ala Asp 580 585 590Phe Met Thr Glu Gln
Ser Pro Thr Arg Val Leu Gly Asn Lys Lys Gly 595 600 605Ile Phe Thr
Arg Gln Arg Gln Pro Lys Ser Ala Ala Phe Leu Leu Arg 610 615 620Glu
Arg Tyr Trp Lys Ile Ala Asn Glu Thr Arg Tyr Pro His Ser Val625 630
635 640Ala Lys Ser Gln Cys Leu Glu Asn Ser Pro Phe Thr Gly Ala Pro
Ala 645 650 655Tyr Arg Pro Ser Glu Thr Leu Cys Gly Gly Glu Leu Val
Asp Thr Leu 660 665 670Gln Phe Val Cys Gly Asp Arg Gly Phe Tyr Phe
Ser Arg Pro Ala Ser 675 680 685Arg Val Ser Arg Arg Ser Arg Gly Ile
Val Glu Glu Cys Cys Phe Arg 690 695 700Ser Cys Asp Leu Ala Leu Leu
Glu Thr Tyr Cys Ala Thr Pro Ala Lys705 710 715 720Ser Glu770PRTHomo
sapiens 7Gly Pro Glu Thr Leu Cys Gly Ala Glu Leu Val Asp Ala Leu
Gln Phe1 5 10 15Val Cys Gly Asp Arg Gly Phe Tyr Phe Asn Lys Pro Thr
Gly Tyr Gly 20 25 30Ser Ser Ser Arg Arg Ala Pro Gln Thr Gly Ile Val
Asp Glu Cys Cys 35 40 45Phe Arg Ser Cys Asp Leu Arg Arg Leu Glu Met
Tyr Cys Ala Pro Leu 50 55 60Lys Pro Ala Lys Ser Ala65 70867PRTHomo
sapiens 8Ala Tyr Arg Pro Ser Glu Thr Leu Cys Gly Gly Glu Leu Val
Asp Thr1 5 10 15Leu Gln Phe Val Cys Gly Asp Arg Gly Phe Tyr Phe Ser
Arg Pro Ala 20 25 30Ser Arg Val Ser Arg Arg Ser Arg Gly Ile Val Glu
Glu Cys Cys Phe 35 40 45Arg Ser Cys Asp Leu Ala Leu Leu Glu Thr Tyr
Cys Ala Thr Pro Ala 50 55 60Lys Ser Glu65950DNAArtificial
SequenceOligonucleotide GILT 1 9gcggcggcga gctggtggac acgctgcagt
tcgtgtgcgg cgaccgcggc 501050DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide
GILT 2 10ttctacttca gccgcccggc cagccgcgtg agccgccgca gccgcggcat
501150DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide GILT 3 11cgtggaggag
tgctgcttcc gcagctgcga cctggcgctg ctggagacgt 501240DNAArtificial
SequenceOligonucleotide GILT 4 12actgcgcgac gccggcgaag tcggagtaag
atctagagcg 401350DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide GILT 5
13agcgtgtcca ccagctcgcc gccgcacagc gtctcgctcg ggcggtacgc
501450DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide GILT 6 14ggctggccgg
gcggctgaag tagaagccgc ggtcgccgca cacgaactgc 501550DNAArtificial
SequenceOligonucleotide GILT 7 15gctgcggaag cagcactcct ccacgatgcc
gcggctgcgg cggctcacgc 501651DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide
GILT 8 16ctccgacttc gccggcgtcg cgcagtacgt ctccagcagc gccaggtcgc a
511747DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide GILT 9 17ccgtctagag
ctcggcgcgc cggcgtaccg cccgagcgag acgctgt 471825DNAArtificial
SequenceOligonucleotide GILT 10 18cgctctagat cttactccga cttcg
251946DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide GILT 11 19ccgtctagag
ctcggcgcgc cgctgtgcgg cggcgagctg gtggac 462050DNAArtificial
SequenceOligonucleotide GILT 12 20ttcctgttca gccgcccggc cagccgcgtg
agccgccgca gccgcggcat 502150DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide
GILT 16 21ggctggccgg gcggctgaac aggaagccgc ggtcgccgca cacgaactgc
502225DNAArtificial SequenceOligonucleotide GILT 20 22ccgtctagag
ctcggcgcgc cggcg 25
* * * * *