U.S. patent application number 12/203580 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-29 for pharmaceutical compositions comprising bioelastomer fusion proteins.
Invention is credited to Ashutosh CHILKOTI.
Application Number | 20090270317 12/203580 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23042233 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090270317 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHILKOTI; Ashutosh |
October 29, 2009 |
Pharmaceutical compositions comprising bioelastomer fusion
proteins
Abstract
Bioelastomers are disclosed for use in methods of binding
compounds including immunoassay methods, in biosensors and methods
or regenerating biosensors, and in methods for targeting the
delivery of a compound to a particular location within an animal
subjects. In general, the bioelastomer is conjugated to a binding
compound, which is in turn used to bind a compound of interest. For
targeted compound delivery, the bioelastomer is conjugated to the
compound to be delivered.
Inventors: |
CHILKOTI; Ashutosh; (Durham,
NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COOLEY GODWARD KRONISH LLP;ATTN: Patent Group
Suite 1100, 777 - 6th Street, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20001
US
|
Family ID: |
23042233 |
Appl. No.: |
12/203580 |
Filed: |
September 3, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
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Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10153753 |
Jul 23, 2002 |
7429458 |
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12203580 |
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09695483 |
Oct 24, 2000 |
6582926 |
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10153753 |
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09273025 |
Mar 19, 1999 |
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09695483 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
514/21.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61K 47/58 20170801;
B82Y 30/00 20130101; C07K 16/1232 20130101; A61K 41/00 20130101;
A61P 35/00 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
514/12 |
International
Class: |
A61K 38/16 20060101
A61K038/16; A61P 35/00 20060101 A61P035/00 |
Claims
1-68. (canceled)
69. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically
effective amount of a fusion protein and a pharmaceutically
acceptable carrier, the composition formulated for systemic
administration by injection, and the fusion protein comprising a
bioelastic protein and at least one therapeutic protein or peptide,
wherein the fusion protein is in soluble form at physiological
conditions.
70. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 69, wherein the
bioelastic protein is fused to the C-terminus of the therapeutic
protein or peptide.
71. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 69, wherein the
bioelastic protein has a molecular weight of from about 24.3 to
about 71 kDa.
72. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 71, wherein the
bioelastic protein has a molecular weight of about 50 kDa.
73. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 69, wherein the
bioelastic protein has a transition temperature under physiological
conditions of from about 37.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C.
74. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 69, wherein the
bioelastic protein has a transition temperature under physiological
conditions of about 40 to 42.degree. C.
75. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 69, wherein the
bioelastic protein forms a beta-spiral structure.
76. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 69, wherein the
bioelastic protein comprises repeats of the sequence
Val-Pro-Gly-X-Gly, where each X is an independently selected amino
acid.
77. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 76, wherein X is
independently selected from valine, alanine, and glycine.
78. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 76, wherein the
bioelastic protein has the formula (VPGXG).sub.n, where n is
greater than 100.
79. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 69, wherein the
therapeutic protein or peptide is an antibody or hormone
sequence.
80. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 69, wherein the
composition is formulated for systemic administration by
subcutaneous injection, intradermal injection, intravenous
injection, or intramuscular injection.
81. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 69, wherein the
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a buffered aqueous
solution.
82. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 69, wherein the
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a non-aqueous
liquid.
83. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 69, wherein the
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a water-in-oil
emulsion or an oil-in-water emulsion.
84. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 69, wherein the
composition is isotonic with human blood.
85. A method for treating a patient comprising, administering the
pharmaceutical composition of claim 69 to a patient in need of said
therapeutic protein or peptide.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of commonly
owned, copending application Ser. No. 09/273,025, filed Mar. 19,
1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein
in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention concerns bioelastic polymers and
methods of use thereof, particularly for immunoassays, for the
production of regenerable biosensors, for the localized delivery of
compounds in vivo, and for the patterning of molecules on
substrates.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Numerous bioelastic polymers, also known as bioelastomers or
elastin-like proteins ("ELPs") are known. Examples are described in
D. Urry et al., A Simple Method for the Purification of a
Bioelastic Polymer, PCT Application WO 96/32406. Such compounds are
proteins or peptides, typically polypeptides, that exhibit an
inverse temperature transition: that is, the compounds condense at
a higher temperature range in an aqueous system on raising the
temperature of the compounds through their transition temperature
(T.sub.I). Bioelastic polymers are soluble in water at a
sufficiently low temperature, but hydrophobically fold and
associate to form a separate phase as the temperature is raised
through a particular temperature range.
1. Separation and Immunoassay Systems.
[0004] Immunoassays are commonly used to detect analytes such as
enzymes, hormones, drugs, and other molecules of interest in
complex biological mixtures. By definition, an immunoassay relies
on the specific binding of an antigen by an antibody, but assays
using other biological high affinity binding partners (e.g.,
ligand-cell surface receptor, inhibitor-enzyme, etc.) can also be
employed in an analogous manner. A number of different immunoassay
formats have been developed to detect and/or quantitate the levels
of analytes; for a review of immunoassays, see PCT Patent
Application WO 86/06492.
2. Biosensor Systems and Biosensor Regeneration.
[0005] Ligand-binding proteins such as receptors and antibodies,
currently used in biosensors, can detect specific analytes
(ligands) with high sensitivity in the presence of potential
interference's in complex mixtures. The high affinity of
protein-analyte interactions is the basis of their exquisite
sensitivity. However, high affinity is generally accompanied by an
extremely slow dissociation rate (off rate) of the protein-ligand
complex. Therefore, in practice, most biosensors are "one shot"
devices; dosimeters rather than continuous sensors or
alternatively, sensors with very slow response times. In order to
use biosensors for the semi-continuous, in situ monitoring of
analytes, or for subsequent rounds of sensing in batch mode, the
sensor must be regenerated for reuse in an expedient time
frame.
[0006] There are two possible approaches to sensor regeneration.
When the receptor is covalently coupled to the sensor surface, free
receptor can be regenerated by displacing the bound analyte.
Unfortunately, methods to gently and reversibly regenerate
analyte-free receptor do not currently exist: most current methods
disrupt noncovalent interactions between analyte and receptor by
partially denaturing the receptor using drastic changes in the
protein-ligand environment such as low pH (<3), or high
chaotrope concentration, conditions which often irreversibly
denature the protein after a few rounds of regeneration.
[0007] If the receptor is not covalently attached to the substrate,
a second method for surface regeneration is feasible where the
surface itself can be regenerated by removing the analyte-bound
receptor from the surface. The potential advantage is that the
analyte "sees" fresh receptor in every round of sensing, which can
decrease drift in the sensor response and maintain high affinity
and homogenous binding kinetics. This approach to sensor
regeneration is difficult to broadly implement because noncovalent
methods to immobilize proteins on surfaces typically involves their
physical adsorption, which is typically irreversible, and
subsequent stripping of adsorbed protein with detergents or
chaotropes is frequently incomplete. In order to noncovalently and
reversibly bind a receptor to the surface, methods must be found to
reversibly control the physico-chemical properties of the receptor
such that the adsorption-desorption process can be triggered
reversibly.
3. Targeted Delivery of Therapeutics to Solid Tumors by
Thermally-Responsive Polymers.
[0008] The targeted delivery of drugs to solid tumors is a complex
problem because of the impediments to drug delivery that are posed
by tumor heterogeneity. Cancer cells typically occupy less than
half of the total tumor volume. Approximately 1-10% is contributed
by tumor vasculature, and the rest is occupied by a collagen-rich
interstitium. The major impediments to drug delivery arise from
heterogeneous distribution of blood vessels, combined with aberrant
branching and tortuosity, which results in uneven and slowed blood
flow. The leakiness of tumor vessels combined with the absence of a
functional lymphatic system results in an elevated interstitial
pressure, which retards the convective transport of high MW
(>2000 Da) drugs. R. Jain, Sci. Am. 271: 58-65 (1994). The
heterogeneity of antigen and receptor expression in tumors is an
additional problem in affinity-targeted delivery of drugs to solid
tumors.
[0009] Front-line therapies for different tumors include surgery,
chemotherapy, and radiation. The infiltrative nature of many solid
tumors often prevents complete surgical resection because of the
high risk of compromising function, thereby necessitating
postoperative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. However,
chemotherapy, particularly when delivered systemically is of
limited effectiveness due to inadequate drug delivery, systemic
toxicity, and a markedly variable biological sensitivity. External
beam irradiation, while useful for many types of tumors, is also
limited by dose limiting toxicity to healthy tissue.
[0010] Two other treatment modalities that have been suggested for
the treatment of solid tumors, are hyperthermia [S. Field and J.
Hand, An Introduction to the Practical Aspects of Clinical
Hyperthermia (Taylor and Francis, London 1990)] and targeted
radiotherapy [C. Hoefnagel., Int. J. Biol. Markers 8: 172 (1993);
M. Gaze, Phys. Med. Biol. 41: 1895 (1993)]. The use of local
hyperthermia as a therapeutic modality for sold tumors is motivated
by the increased thermal sensitivity of tumor vasculature compared
to normal vasculature. Hyperthermia, at temperatures between 40 and
42.degree. C., is known to increase tumor blood flow and vascular
permeability. Because hyperthermia sensitizes cells to radiation,
it has been combined with radiation therapy to increase tumor
cytotoxicity [M. Hauck et al., in Handbook of Targeted Delivery of
Imaging Agents, pp. 335-361 (V. Torchilin Ed. 1995)].
[0011] The limitations of current therapeutic approaches for the
management of solid tumors provide a compelling need for the
development of improved modalities for the targeted delivery of
therapeutics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] A first aspect of the present invention is a method of
binding a compound of interest in an aqueous solution. The method
comprises the steps of:
[0013] (a) providing a conjugate comprising a bioelastic compound
and a binding compound, wherein the binding compound specifically
binds the compound of interest, and wherein the bioelastic compound
has a transition temperature below which the bioelastic compound is
soluble in the solution, and above which the bioelastic compound is
insoluble in the solution;
[0014] (b) contacting the conjugate to the compound of interest in
an aqueous solution so that the compound binds thereto, with the
contacting step carried out at a temperature below the transition
temperature of the bioelastic compound; and then
[0015] (c) raising the temperature of the conjugate to a
temperature above the transition temperature of the bioelastic
compound so that the conjugate separates from the aqueous solution
with the compound of interest bound thereto. Separation may be
passive (e.g., precipitation in solution) or active (e.g., by
centrifugation or filtration). Thus, the step of "raising the
temperature" may be thought of as being followed by a step of
separating (i.e., actively separating) the conjugate with the
compound of interest bound thereto from the solution.
[0016] A second aspect of the present invention is a method useful
for immunologically detecting an analyte in an aqueous solution.
The method comprises the steps of:
[0017] (a) providing a conjugate comprising a bioelastic compound
and a binding compound, wherein the binding compound specifically
binds the analyte, and wherein the bioelastic compound has a
transition temperature below which the bioelastic compound is
soluble in the solution, and above which the bioelastic compound is
insoluble in the solution;
[0018] (b) contacting the conjugate to the analyte in an aqueous
solution so that the compound binds thereto, with the contacting
step carried out at a temperature below the transition temperature
of the bioelastic compound;
[0019] (c) raising the temperature of the conjugate to a
temperature above the transition temperature of the bioelastic
compound so that the conjugate separates from the aqueous solution
with the analyte bound thereto; and then
[0020] (d) detecting the analyte.
[0021] A third aspect of the present invention is an article useful
as a regenerable biosensor for binding a compound of interest from
an aqueous solution, or for any such other purposes to which the
article may be suitable. The article comprises:
[0022] (a) a solid support having a hydrophobic surface formed
thereon; and
[0023] (b) a conjugate reversibly bonded to the hydrophobic
surface, the conjugate comprising (i) a bioelastic compound and a
(ii) binding compound, wherein the binding compound specifically
binds the compound of interest, and wherein the bioelastic compound
has a transition temperature below which the bioelastic compound is
soluble in the solution, and above which the bioelastic compound is
insoluble in the solution; so that the biosensor may be used to
bind the compound of interest at a temperature above the transition
temperature, and so that the conjugate can be removed from the
solid support for recycling of the article by lowering the
temperature of the solid support (and/or the solution; so long as
the temperature of the conjugate is lowered) below the transition
temperature.
[0024] A fourth aspect of the invention is a method of recycling a
used biosensor to which has been bound a compound of interest. The
method comprises:
[0025] (a) providing a biosensor comprising a solid support having
a hydrophobic surface formed thereon and a first conjugate
reversibly bonded to the hydrophobic surface, the conjugate
comprising (i) a bioelastic compound (which is bonded to the
hydrophobic surface by hydrophobic interactions when at a
temperature above its transition temperature) and (ii) a binding
compound, wherein the binding compound has the compound of interest
specifically bound thereto, and wherein the bioelastic compound has
a transition temperature below which the bioelastic compound is
soluble in the solution, and above which the bioelastic compound is
insoluble in the solution; and then
[0026] (b) separating the conjugate with the compound of interest
bound thereto from the solid support by lowering the temperature of
the biosensor to below the transition temperature; and then
[0027] (c) binding a second conjugate to the hydrophobic surface,
the second conjugate comprising a second bioelastic compound and a
second binding compound, so that the biosensor may be reused. The
second conjugate may be the same as or different from the first
conjugate.
[0028] A fifth aspect of the present invention is a method for the
targeted delivering of a compound in vivo to a selected region
within a subject. The method comprises:
[0029] (a) administering a conjugate to the subject, the conjugate
comprising the compound to be delivered and a polymer that
undergoes an inverse temperature transition, wherein the polymer
has a transition temperature (T.sub.I) greater than the temperature
at which the compound is delivered; and then
[0030] (b) heating the selected region to a temperature greater
than the transition temperature of the polymer, so that the
compound is preferentially delivered to the selected region.
[0031] A sixth aspect of the present invention is the use of a
conjugate as described above for the preparation of a medicament
for the targeted delivery of a compound as described above.
[0032] The foregoing and other objects and aspects of the present
invention are explained in detail in the drawings herein and the
specification below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates the Expression construct in pET-32b,
which includes two N-terminal domains: thioredoxin, and a
(His).sub.6 tag.
[0034] FIG. 2a illustrates an immunoassay with no thioredoxin-ELP
(and hence no specific antibody capture);
[0035] FIG. 2b illustrates an immunoassay with 10:1
thioredoxin-ELP:antibody ratio (and hence nearly complete antibody
capture);
[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates an immunoassay calibration curve. The
X-axis is the ratio of unlabeled to total antibody concentrations,
with points corresponding to unlabeled antibody concentrations of
0, 0.005, 0.05, 0.5, and 5 .mu.M (left to right). The Y-axis is the
ratio of fluorescence in the pellet to total fluorescence
(pellet+supernatant), and represents the fraction of labeled
anti-thioredoxin antibodies specifically captured.
[0037] FIG. 4. Absorbance at 350 nm of the thioredoxin-ELP 18-mer
by UV-visible spectrophotometry in 50 mM phosphate, pH 7.4, 1 M
NaCl. Relative turbidity is defined as the absorbance at 350 nm
(due to scattering) normalized to the maximum absorbance at the
same wavelength during the course of the experiment.
[0038] FIG. 5. In situ ellipsometry measurements of the change in
adlayer thickness of the thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein in contact
with a hydrophobic SAM as a function of temperature, calculated by
nonlinear regression using the measured values of the polarizer and
analyzer angles. The thickness of the protein adlayer measured by
ellipsometry increases as the temperature is raised through the
T.sub.I to a maximum of 180 .ANG., and decreases to within 5 .ANG.
of the baseline thickness upon lowering the temperature to
.about.18.degree. C.
[0039] FIG. 6 illustrates relative SPR signal as a function of
recording time of the experiment. The recording time is not
identical to the experimental time, since some time segments such
as flushing, buffer exchange, etc. are not included, to enhance
clarity.
[0040] FIG. 7 illustrates desorption of thioredoxin-ELP fusion
protein monitored by the SPR signal relative to control channel as
a function of temperature.
[0041] FIG. 8. Absorbance at 350 nm of the ELP 6-mer (filled
squares). 9-mer (open squares), and 18-mer (filled triangles) as a
function of temperature.
[0042] FIG. 9. Absorbance at 350 nm of the ELP 15-mer (filled
squares) and poly(NIPAAm/AAm) copolymer (open squares) by
UV-visible spectrophotometry. Assay conditions: 1 mg/ml, PBS, pH
7.2 heating rate=.about.1.0.degree. C./min.
[0043] FIG. 10. Absorbance at 350 nm of the ELP 15-mer (filled
squares) and Rhodamine-ELP 15 mer conjugate (filled circles) by
UV-visible spectrophotometry. Assay conditions: 1 mg/ml, PBS, pH
7.2 heating rate=.about.1.0.degree. C./min.
[0044] FIG. 11A. Fluorescence intensities of Rhodamine-ELP
conjugate in tumor window chamber as a function of time post
injection under hyperthermic conditions (42.degree. C.). The light
intensity of a representative vascular region (I.sub.v) (open
squares) and interstitial region (I.sub.i) (filled squares) are
shown normalized to the maximum vascular concentration.
[0045] FIG. 11B. Fluorescence intensities of Rhodamine-ELP
conjugate in tumor window chamber as a function of time post
injection under normothermic conditions (34.degree. C.). The light
intensity of a representative vascular region (I.sub.v) (open
squares) and interstitial region (I.sub.i) (filled squares) are
shown normalized to the maximum vascular concentration.
[0046] FIG. 12A shows a fluoroescence image of a tumor under
hyperthermic conditions (42.degree. C.).
[0047] FIG. 12B shows a fluoroescence image of a tumor under
normothermic control (34.degree. C.).
[0048] FIG. 13. Turbidity profile of 1 .mu.M thioredoxin-ELP as a
function of temperature in PBS at 150 mM NaCl and 1.25 M NaCl. The
change in turbidity with increasing temperature indicates the onset
of the inverse phase transition due to the formation of aggregates
of the thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein. Two thermal cycles are shown
in (A) (the up and down cycles are marked by arrows), showing the
reversibility of the inverse phase transition. These results also
show that the inverse transition can be induced isothermally at
room temperature by increasing the ionic strength by the addition
of NaCl.
[0049] FIG. 14. Binding and desorption of a thioredoxin antibody
onto the thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein, adsorbed above its T.sub.t
onto a HDT SAM on gold. The relative SPR signal (channel 1-channel
2) is shown as a function of recording time of the experiment. The
recording time is not identical to the experimental time, because
some time segments in the SPR experiment such as flushing, buffer
exchange, etc. are not included, to enhance clarity.
[0050] FIG. 15A. Adsorption of thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein on a
patterned hydrophobic SAM on a hydrophilic SAM background in
response to the ELP phase transition. Fluorescence microscopy of a
hydrophobic patterned SAM against a hydrophilic background (40
.mu.m wide lines of HDT against a background of MUD) incubated with
Alexa488 labeled thioredoxin-ELP (1 .mu.M in PBS) after addition of
NaCl to a final concentration of 1.25 M to drive the phase
transition. The sample was washed in high ionic strength buffer
before imaging the sample in the same buffer.
[0051] FIG. 15B. Reversibility of the pattern upon driving the
phase transition backwards. A line profile of the intensity of the
fluorescence images of a patterned HDT/MUD SAM on Au after
incubation of Alexa488 labeled thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein in
high ionic strength (PBS+1.25 M NaCl) and after washing the
patterned sample (as in (A) and whose contrast is shown by the
upper line intensity profile) in low ionic strength buffer (PBS) at
4.degree. C.
[0052] FIG. 16A. Binding of an anti-thioredoxin monoclonal
antibody-FITC conjugate to a thioredoxin-ELP pattern (formed as in
FIG. 3) under high ionic strength conditions, with the exception
that the thioredoxin-ELP was not labeled with a fluorophore.
[0053] FIG. 16B. Reversibility of the pattern, as shown by the line
profile of the fluorescence intensity of the bound antibody-FITC
conjugate at 1.25 M NaCl (upper line profile) and after reversing
the ELP phase transition by lowering the ionic strength and
reducing the temperature to 4.degree. C.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0054] "Compound of interest" as used herein refers to any
compound, including proteins, peptides, nucleic acids particularly
polynucleic acids (e.g., DNA, RNA), organic compounds, etc. Such
compounds may be antibodies, receptors, ligands, hormones, drugs,
etc. When the method of the invention is employed to qualitatively
or quantitatively detect the compound of interest, the compound of
interest may be referred to as an "analyte". The compound of
interest or analyte may be carried by a cell (particularly on the
surface of a cell) so that a cell (or cell of interest) is bound to
the binding partner through the compound of interest.
[0055] "Binding compound" as used herein refers to a compound that
specifically or selectively binds the compound of interest. In
general, the binding compound and the compound of interest together
comprise a specific binding pair. The binding compound may be any
compound, including proteins, peptides, nucleic acids particularly
polynucleic acids (e.g., DNA, RNA), organic compounds, etc. Such
compounds may be antibodies, receptors, ligands, hormones, drugs,
etc.
[0056] "Conjugate" as used herein refers to two moieties or
functional groups that are covalently or noncovalently joined to
one another, such that the two groups function together as a single
structure under the conditions of the methods described herein. In
one embodiment, the conjugate is a fusion protein. The binding
compound may be carried by (e.g., on the surface of) a cell, which
cell is coupled to the polymer that undergoes an inverse
temperature transition through an antibody or other binding partner
with the cell.
[0057] "Fusion protein" as used herein refers to a protein or
peptide, produced by recombinant means (i.e., expression from a
nucleic acid) that is comprised of a first protein or peptide
covalently joined on expression to a second protein or peptide.
[0058] A "polymer that undergoes an inverse temperature transition"
herein refers to a polymer that is soluble in an aqueous solution
at a lower temperature, and is insoluble in an aqueous solution at
a higher temperature.
[0059] "Transition temperature" or "T.sub.I" as used herein, refers
to the temperature above which a polymer that undergoes an inverse
temperature transition is insoluble in an aqueous system (e.g.,
water, physiological saline solution), and below which such a
polymer is soluble in an aqueous system. Preferred T.sub.Is for in
vitro applications of the invention are O.degree. or 20.degree. to
60.degree. or 100.degree. C.; preferred T.sub.Is for in vivo
applications are 35.degree. to 45.degree. C.
[0060] A "bioelastic polymer" is, in general, a polypeptide that
exhibits an inverse temperature transition. Bioelastic polymers are
discussed in greater detail below.
[0061] "Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) polymer" as used herein refers
to a class of polymers, including copolymers thereof, that exhibit
an inverse temperature transition. The polymers are formed of at
least N-isopropylacrylamide, and may include other monomers that
polymerize therewith, such as acrylamide (Aam), methacrylamide,
propylacrylamide, butylacrylamide, acrylate, methacrylate, etc.
1. Bioelastic Polymers.
[0062] Bioelastic polymers are, in general, polypeptides that
comprise repeating units that form beta-turns. A beta-turn is a 10
atom hydrogen-bonded ring in which the C.dbd.O of amino acid
residue i is hydrogen-bonded to the NH residue of amino acid i+3.
Repetitive beta-turns result in elastic beta-spiral structures.
Bioelastic polymers, in general, are soluble in water at a
sufficiently low temperature, but hydrophobically fold and
associate to form a separate phase as the temperature is raised
through the transition temperature. When more hydrophobic amino
acids are included in the bioelastic polymer the transition
temperature is lower; when fewer hydrophobic amino acids are
included in the bioelastic polymer the transition temperature is
greater. The phase transition can occur reversibly or irreversibly
upon raising the temperature. The chain length of the bioelastic
polymer is not critical, but typically is from 10 or 20 to 50, 100,
200, or 1000 or more amino acids. Numerous bioelastic polymers are
known and described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,132,746;
4,187,852; 4,589,822; 4,870,055; and 5,064,430 (applicants
specifically intend that the disclosures of all patent references
cited herein be incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety). A particularly preferred bioelastic polymer is one that
contains the elastin repeat: (Val-Pro-Gly-X-Gly).sub.n or
(VPGXG).sub.n, where n is from 2, 3 or 4 to 10, 20, 30, 40, 100 or
200 or more, and X is any amino acid, such as valine, alanine or
glycine, with X being the same or different in each repeat unit of
the polypeptide chain (that is, X may be a combination of different
amino acids, in various ratios).
2. Separation and Immunoassay Systems.
[0063] As noted above, the present invention provides a method of
binding a compound of interest in an aqueous solution, the method
comprising the steps of:
[0064] (a) providing a conjugate comprising a bioelastic compound
and a binding compound, wherein the binding compound specifically
binds the compound of interest, and wherein the bioelastic compound
has a transition temperature below which the bioelastic compound is
soluble in the solution, and above which the bioelastic compound is
insoluble in the solution;
[0065] (b) contacting the conjugate to the compound of interest in
an aqueous solution so that the compound binds thereto, with the
contacting step carried out at a temperature below the transition
temperature of the bioelastic compound; and then
[0066] (c) raising the temperature of the conjugate to a
temperature above the transition temperature of the bioelastic
compound so that the conjugate separates from the aqueous solution
with the compound of interest bound thereto.
[0067] As noted above, the binding compound may be any suitable
molecule, such as a protein or peptide. The binding compound may be
an antibody. Likewise, the compound of interest, may be a protein
or peptide such as an antibody.
[0068] When the method is used as an immunoassay, the compound of
interest is referred to as an analyte, and the binding step is
followed by the step of detecting the analyte. Typically, but not
in all cases, either the binding compound or the analyte is an
antibody in an immunoassay. How detection of the analyte is carried
out is not critical and will depend upon the particular immunoassay
format. The present invention can be implemented with any
immunoassay format, including direct immunoassays, indirect
immunoassays, and sandwich assays; and heterogeneous or homogeneous
immunoassays, numerous variations of which are known to persons
skilled in the art.
3. Biosensor Systems and Biosensor Regeneration.
[0069] As also noted above, the present invention provides an
article useful as a regenerable biosensor for binding a compound of
interest from an aqueous solution, the article comprising:
[0070] (a) a solid support having a hydrophobic surface formed
thereon; and
[0071] (b) a conjugate reversibly bonded to the hydrophobic
surface, the conjugate comprising (i) a bioelastic compound and a
(ii) binding compound, wherein the binding compound specifically
binds the compound of interest, and wherein the bioelastic compound
has a transition temperature below which the bioelastic compound is
soluble in the solution, and above which the bioelastic compound is
insoluble in the solution; so that the biosensor may be used to
bind the compound of interest at a temperature above the transition
temperature, and so that the conjugate can be removed from the
solid support for recycling of the article by lowering the
temperature of the solid support (or the solution in which the
solid support is carried, so long as the temperature of the
bioelastic compound is lowered) below the transition temperature.
Again, the binding compound may be a protein or peptide, such as an
antibody, and the compound of interest may be a protein or peptide,
such as an antibody.
[0072] The present invention can be utilized with any type of
biosensor where it is desirable to regenerate a solid support that
has a binding compound immobilized thereon. For example, the
present invention may be utilized with optical biosensors such as
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,313,264 to Ulf et al., 5,846,842 to
Herron et al., 5,496,701 to Pollard-Knight et al., etc. The present
invention may be utilized with potentiometric or electrochemical
biosensors, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,690 to Kost,
or PCT Application WO98/35232 to Fowlkes and Thorp. The present
invention may be utilized with a diamond film biosensor, such as
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,777,372 to Kobashi. Thus, the solid
support may be organic or inorganic; may be metal (e.g., copper or
silver) or non-metal; may be a polymer or nonpolymer; may be
conducting, semiconducting or nonconducting (insulating); may be
reflecting or nonreflecting; may be porous or nonporous; etc. For
example, the solid support may be comprised of polyethylene,
polytetrafluoroethylene, gold, silicon, silicon oxide, silicon
oxynitride, indium, platinum, iridium, indium tin oxide, diamond or
diamond-like film, etc. When the solid support does not inherently
provide a hydrophobic surface to which the bioelastic polymer may
reversibly bind (i.e., non-covalently, primarily by means of
hydrophobic interactions), the surface may be functionalized or
coated to render it hydrophobic in accordance with any of a variety
of standard techniques.
[0073] The present invention may be utilized with different binding
compounds or compounds of interested are desired to be bound to a
substrate, for the high throughput screening of molecular
interactions, such as in "chip-based" and "pin-based" combinatorial
chemistry techniques, and can be prepared by modification of known
techniques based on the disclosure provided herein. In such case
the substrate or solid support has a surface portion, with the
surface portion comprising a plurality of discrete known regions
(each of which has a hydrophobic surface portion formed thereon). A
plurality of different conjugates (differing in the binding
compound, and optionally in the bioelastic compound thereof) are
bound to the surface portion, with different conjugates positioned
on the surface portion in different ones of the discrete known
regions. All can be prepared in accordance with known techniques.
See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,934 to Fodor et al., U.S. Pat. No.
5,288,514 to Ellman, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,711 to Sundberg et
al., the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein
in their entirety.
[0074] Thus the present invention provides a method of recycling a
biosensor as described above by:
[0075] (a) providing a biosensor comprising a solid support having
a hydrophobic surface formed thereon and a first conjugate
reversibly bonded to the hydrophobic surface, the conjugate
comprising (i) a bioelastic compound and (ii) a binding compound,
wherein the binding compound has the compound of interest
specifically bound thereto, and wherein the bioelastic compound has
a transition temperature below which the bioelastic compound is
soluble in the solution, and above which the bioelastic compound is
insoluble in the solution; and then
[0076] (b) separating the conjugate with the compound of interest
bound thereto from the solid support by lowering the temperature of
the biosensor (or the solution in which the sensor is carried, so
long as the temperature of the bioelastic compound is lowered) to
below the transition temperature; and then
[0077] (c) binding a second conjugate to the hydrophobic surface,
the second conjugate comprising a second bioelastic compound and a
second binding compound, so that the biosensor may be reused.
Again, the second conjugate may be the same or different from the
first conjugate, and either or both of the second bioelastic
compound and second binding compound may be different from the
first.
4. Targeted Delivery of Therapeutics to Solid Tumors by
Thermally-Responsive Polymers.
[0078] As discussed above, a method for the targeted delivering of
a compound in vivo to a selected region within a subject comprises:
(a) administering a conjugate to the subject, the conjugate
comprising the compound to be delivered and a polymer that
undergoes an inverse temperature transition, wherein the polymer
has a transition temperature (T.sub.I) greater than the temperature
at which the compound is delivered; and then (b) heating the
selected region to a temperature greater than the transition
temperature of the polymer, so that the compound is preferentially
delivered to the selected region. The polymer may be a bioelastic
polymer as described above, or may be a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)
polymer as described above.
[0079] While the present invention is concerned primarily with the
treatment of human subjects, the invention may also be used for the
treatment of animal subjects, particularly mammalian subjects such
as dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, etc., for veterinary
purposes.
[0080] Administering of the conjugate to the subject may be carried
out by any suitable means, such as subcutaneous injection,
intraperitoneal injection, intraveneous injection, intramuscular
injection, oral administration, inhalation administration,
transdermal administration, etc. Preferred administration
techniques are typically "systemic" in that a particular region of
interest is not specifically targeted.
[0081] The selected region may be any suitable target or portion of
the subject's body, such as a limb, organ, or other tissue or
tissue portion. The selected region may be comprised of
hyperproliferative tissue which may be malignant or non-malignant,
such as a solid tumor). Examples of tumors, cancers and neoplastic
tissue that can be treated by the present invention include but are
not limited to malignant disorders such as breast cancers;
osteosarcomas; angiosarcomas; fibrosarcomas and other sarcomas;
leukemias; lymphomas; sinus tumors; ovarian, uretal, bladder,
prostate and other genitourinary cancers; colon esophageal and
stomach cancers and other gastrointestinal cancers; lung cancers;
myelomas; pancreatic cancers; liver cancers; kidney cancers;
endocrine cancers; skin cancers; and brain or central and
peripheral nervous (CNS) system tumors, malignant or benign,
including gliomas and neuroblastomas. Examples of premalignant and
nonneoplastic hyperproliferative disorders include but are not
limited to myelodysplastic disorders; cervical carcinoma-in-situ;
familial intestinal polyposes such as Gardner syndrome; oral
leukoplakias; histiocytoses; keloids; hemangiomas; etc.
[0082] Heating of the selected region may be carried out by any
means, such as by application of an heat source e.g., a heat pad, a
hot water bath, infrared heating lamps, etc., or by heating means
such as directing microwave, ultrasound or other radio frequency
energy at the selected region, etc.
[0083] Any suitable compound for which targeted delivery is desired
may be administered by this means, including imaging agents (or
contrast agents) and therapeutic agents.
[0084] In a preferred embodiment, the therapeutic agent is a
radionuclide. Any radionuclide, whether it be for therapeutic or
imaging purposes, may be employed, including but not limited to,
.sup.131I, .sup.90Y, .sup.211At, .sup.212Bi, .sup.67Cu, .sup.186Re,
.sup.188Re, and .sup.212Pb.
[0085] The therapeutic agent may be a chemotherapeutic agent or
cytotoxic agent. Examples of chemotherapeutic agents which may be
coupled to the conjugate include, but are not limited to,
methotrexate, adriamycin, doxorubicin, taxol, etc. Examples of
cytotoxic agents which may be coupled to the conjugate include, but
are not limited to, ricin, (or more particularly the ricin A
chain).
[0086] Imaging agents may be fluorescent compounds such as
rhodamine or green fluorescent protein (GFP) or a radionuclide such
as .sup.111In.
[0087] Coupling of conjugates may be carried out by any suitable
means, such as by recombinant means where elastin is joined to a
protein or peptide such as GFP; by chemical means where the
compound to be coupled to the polymer is a small molecule; or by
enzymatic coupling.
[0088] The conjugates (or "active compounds") described above may
be formulated for administration in a single pharmaceutical carrier
or in separate pharmaceutical carriers for the treatment of a
variety of conditions. In the manufacture of a pharmaceutical
formulation according to the invention, the active compounds
including the physiologically acceptable salts thereof, or the acid
derivatives of either thereof are typically admixed with, inter
alia, an acceptable carrier. The carrier must, of course, be
acceptable in the sense of being compatible with any other
ingredients in the formulation and must not be deleterious to the
patient. The carrier may be a solid or a liquid, or both, and is
preferably formulated with the compound as a unit-dose formulation,
for example, a tablet, which may contain from 0.5% to 95% by weight
of the active compound. One or more active compounds may be
incorporated in the formulations of the invention, which may be
prepared by any of the well known techniques of pharmacy consisting
essentially of admixing the components, optionally including one or
more accessory ingredients.
[0089] The formulations of the invention include those suitable for
oral, rectal, topical, buccal (e.g., sub-lingual), parenteral
(e.g., subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal, or intravenous)
and transdermal administration, although the most suitable route in
any given case will depend on the nature and severity of the
condition being treated and on the nature of the particular active
compound which is being used.
[0090] Formulations suitable for oral administration may be
presented in discrete units, such as capsules, cachets, lozenges,
or tablets, each containing a predetermined amount of the active
compound; as a powder or granules; as a solution or a suspension in
an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid; or as an oil-in-water or
water-in-oil emulsion. Such formulations may be prepared by any
suitable method of pharmacy which includes the step of bringing
into association the active compound and a suitable carrier (which
may contain one or more accessory ingredients as noted above). In
general, the formulations of the invention are prepared by
uniformly and intimately admixing the active compound with a liquid
or finely divided solid carrier, or both, and then, if necessary,
shaping the resulting mixture. For example, a tablet may be
prepared by compressing or molding a powder or granules containing
the active compound, optionally with one or more accessory
ingredients. Compressed tablets may be prepared by compressing, in
a suitable machine, the compound in a free-flowing form, such as a
powder or granules optionally mixed with a binder, lubricant, inert
diluent, and/or surface active/dispersing agent(s). Molded tablets
may be made by molding, in a suitable machine, the powdered
compound moistened with an inert liquid binder.
[0091] Formulations of the present invention suitable for
parenteral administration conveniently comprise sterile aqueous
preparations of the active compound, which preparations are
preferably isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient. These
preparations may be administered by means of subcutaneous,
intravenous, intramuscular, or intradermal injection. Such
preparations may conveniently be prepared by admixing the compound
with water or a glycine buffer and rendering the resulting solution
sterile and isotonic with the blood.
[0092] Formulations suitable for transdermal administration may be
presented as discrete patches adapted to remain in intimate contact
with the epidermis of the recipient for a prolonged period of time.
Formulations suitable for transdermal administration may also be
delivered by iontophoresis (see, for example, Pharmaceutical
Research 3 (6):318 (1986)) and typically take the form of an
optionally buffered aqueous solution of the active compound.
Suitable formulations comprise citrate or bis\tris buffer (pH 6) or
ethanol/water and contain from 0.1 to 0.2M active ingredient.
[0093] The therapeutically effective dosage of any one active
agent, the use of which is in the scope of present invention, will
vary somewhat from compound to compound, patient to patient, and
will depend upon factors such as the condition of the patient and
the route of delivery. Such dosages can be determined in accordance
with routine pharmacological procedures known to those skilled in
the art, particularly in light of the disclosure provided herein.
In one example, the dosage is from 1 to 10 micrograms of active
compound per Kilogram subject body weight.
[0094] In another example, where the therapeutic agent is
.sup.131I, the dosage to the patient is typically from 10 mCi to
100, 300 or even 500 mCi. Stated otherwise, where the therapeutic
agent is .sup.131I, the dosage to the patient is typically from
5,000 Rads to 100,000 Rads (preferably at least 13,000 Rads, or
even at least 50,000 Rads). Doses for other radionuclides are
typically selected so that the tumoricidal dosae is equivalent to
the foregoing range for .sup.131I.
5. Thermodynamically Addressable Reversible Adsorption of Peptides
(TRAP).
[0095] Patterned biomolecules on surfaces have applications ranging
from modulation of cell-substrate interactions in biomaterials and
tissue engineering, to the fabrication of multi-analyte biosensors,
clinical assays, and genomic and proteomic arrays. Many methods
exist to pattern biomolecules on different substrates, such as
metals, polymers, glass and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs).
Patterned SAMs, which can be fabricated by photolithography,
micromachining, microwriting, and microcontact printing (.mu.CP),
are convenient molecular templates for protein patterning on gold
and silicon oxide substrates. A number of other methods such as
electrochemical patterning of SAMs on gold, direct protein
microstamping (also called .mu.CP) and reactive microcontact
printing onto SAMs and activated polymer surfaces have also been
recently applied to pattern proteins at the micrometer scale.
[0096] A primary limitation of many current patterning methods is
the lack of temporal control over the patterns. Most current
protein patterning methods result in static patterns, i.e.,
patterns that cannot be dynamically controlled or modulated after
fabrication. There are several possible solutions to the problem of
creating dynamic protein patterns. The first approach is to create
"smart" patterned templates--surfaces whose reactivity can be
turned on at specific times--to subsequently allow dynamic
presentation of ligands and immobilization of proteins. In one
example, Mrksich and coworkers have synthesized electroactive SAMS
which release attached groups when an electrical potential is
applied to the gold. More recently, they have shown that the
reactivity of SAMs presenting a terminal quinone-moiety can be
chemically or electrochemically modulated, and that a protein can
be specifically immobilized on these electroactive, dynamic SAMs.
The extension of this method to create dynamic protein patterns on
these "smart" SAMs, still remains to be achieved.
[0097] This application describes a different approach to directly
modulate the interaction between a patterned surface and a protein
to create dynamic protein patterns. This method involves extrinsic
control of the hydrophobic interaction between a protein and a
surface template that contains hydrophobic patterns against a
protein-resistant hydrophilic background. In one example embodiment
(Example 5 below), we have imparted environmentally triggered,
reversible hydrophobicity to a model protein, thioredoxin, by
fusing it to an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP).
[0098] A further aspect of the present invention is, accordingly,
an article having a regenerable patterned surface for binding
compounds of interest from an aqueous solution, the article
comprising: (a) a solid support having a plurality of separate and
discrete hydrophobic surfaces formed thereon; and (b) a conjugate
(e.g., a fusion protein) reversibly bonded to each of the separate
and discrete hydrophobic surfaces, the conjugate comprising (i) a
bioelastic compound and (ii) a binding compound (e.g., a protein or
peptide), wherein the binding compound specifically binds a
compound of interest, and wherein the bioelastic compound has a
transition temperature below which the bioelastic compound is
soluble in the solution, and above which the bioelastic compound is
insoluble in the solution; so that the surfaces may be used to bind
a compound of interest at a temperature above the transition
temperature, and so that the conjugate can be removed from the
hydrophobic surface for recycling of the article by lowering the
temperature of the solid support below the transition temperature.
Preferably, the separate and discrete hydrophobic surfaces are
separated by a hydrophilic surface.
[0099] In one preferred embodiment, conjugates bound to different
ones of the separate and discrete hydrophobic surfaces have
different bioelastic compounds, so that different conjugates may be
removed from different hydrophobic surfaces with different release
conditions. Any release conditions may be employed, including but
not limited to change in temperature, ionic strength, pH, chemical
or biochemical modification, or binding of the ligand to sequences
within an elastin that alter the transition temperature and thereby
induce the transition isothermally.
[0100] In a preferred embodiment, conjugates bound to different
ones of the separate and discrete hydrophobic surfaces have
different binding compounds, so that different compounds of
interest are selectively bound at different ones of the separate
and discrete hydrophobic surfaces.
[0101] Any suitable binding compound may be employed, such as an
antibody. Any suitable compound of interest may be employed,
including but not limited to proteins and peptides (e.g., an
antibody).
[0102] The solid support may comprise a polymer, a metal such as
gold, a semiconductor, and combinations thereof.
[0103] Further, a method of recycling a used article that has a
patterned surface to which has been bound at least one compound of
interest, comprises (a) providing an article as described above,
and (b) separating the conjugate from each of the separate and
discrete hydrophobic surfaces by lowering the temperature of the
biosensor to below the transition temperature. The method may
further comprise the step of (c) binding a second conjugate to each
of the separate and discrete hydrophobic surfaces, the second
conjugate comprising a second bioelastic compound and a second
binding compound, so that the biosensor may be reused. The first
conjugates and the second conjugates replaced at each of the
separate and discrete hydrophobic surfaces may be the same or
different. In addition, individual ones of the conjugates may be
released (and optionally replaced), as where conjugates bound to
different ones of the separate and discrete hydrophobic surfaces
each have a different bioelastic compound, so that different ones
of the conjugates may be removed from different hydrophobic
surfaces with different release conditions.
[0104] The present invention is explained in greater detail in the
following non-limiting Examples.
Example 1
Production of a Thioredoxin-ELP Fusion Protein and Poly-NIPAAm/Am
Copolymer
[0105] Gene Synthesis. The synthetic gene for the ELP-1 mer was
constructed from four 5'-phosphorylated, PAGE purified synthetic
oligonucleotides (Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc.), ranging in
size from 86 to 97 bases. The oligonucleotides were annealed (100
pmol of each oligonucleotide in 50 .mu.l ligase buffer, NEB Inc.)
to form double-stranded DNA spanning the ELP gene with EcoRI and
HindIII compatible ends. The annealed oligonucleotides (2 pmol)
were then ligated using T4 DNA ligase (10:1 insert:vector molar
ratio) into EcoRI-HindIII linearized and dephosphorylated pUC-19
(NEB, Inc.). Chemically competent E. Coli XL1-Blue cells were then
transformed with the ligation mixture, and incubated on
ampicillin-containing agar plates. Colonies were initially screened
by blue-white screening, and subsequently by colony PCR to verify
the presence of an insert. The DNA sequence of a putative insert
was verified by automated fluorescent DNA sequencing (ABI 373 DNA
Sequencer).
[0106] Gene Oligomerization. First, a 2-mer was created by ligating
a 1-mer into a vector containing a 1-mer insert. This process was
repeated to create a library of mers ranging from 2 to 9-mer. For a
typical oligomerization, the vector was linearized with PflMI, and
enzymatically dephosphorylated. The insert was doubly digested with
PflMI and BglII, purified by agarose gel electrophoresis (Qiaex II
Gel Extraction Kit, Qiagen Inc.), ligated into the linearized
vector with T4 DNA ligase at a 5:1 insert vector molar ratio, and
transformed into chemically competent E. coli XL1-Blue cells.
Transformants were screened by colony PCR, and oligomerization of
the 2-mer and 3-mer was further confirmed by DNA sequencing.
Standard molecular biology protocols were used for gene synthesis
and oligomerization (F. Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in
Molecular Biology (John Wiley & Sons 1995)).
[0107] Protein Expression. The genes were subcloned from pUC-19
into a modified expression vector derived from pET-32b (Novagen
Inc.). After confirmation of successful cloning by colony PCR and
DNA sequencing, pET-32b containing the ELP insert were transformed
into the expression strain, BLR21(DE3) (Novagen, Inc.). 2xYT media,
supplemented with 100 .mu.g/ml ampicillin, were inoculated with
transformed cells, incubated at 37.degree. C. with shaking (250
rpm), and induced at an OD.sub.600 of 0.6 by the addition of
isopropyl .alpha.-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) to a final
concentration of 1 mM. The culture were incubated an additional 3
hours, harvested by centrifugation at 4.degree. C., resuspended in
water. and lysed by ultrasonic disruption at 4.degree. C. Soluble
and insoluble fractions of the cell lysate were then characterized
by sodium-dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
(SDS-PAGE) (U. Lammli, Nature 227: 680 (1971).
[0108] ELP Expression and Purification. The ELP of interest was
expressed as a C-terminal fusion, with thioredoxin and a
(His).sub.6 tag at the N-terminus with an intervening thrombin
cleavage site (FIG. 1). The fusion protein was initially purified
by immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) using a
Nickel-chelating nitrilotriacetic derivatized resin (Novagen Inc.)
(J. Porath, Prot. Expr. Purif. 3: 262 (1992). Alternatively, the
fusion protein was purified by repeated cycles of thermal- or
salt-induced aggregation, followed by centrifugation, and
resolubilization under conditions of low salt or temperature such
that the solution temperature was below the inverse transition of
the ELP fusion protein. After purification, the soluble
ELP-thioredoxin fusion was cleaved by incubation with thrombin, and
the ELP was purified by salt- or temperature cycling.
[0109] Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(NIPAAm) copolymer.
The T.sub.I of poly(NIPAAm) can be adjusted by copolymerizing
NIPAAm with acrylamide homologs. Based on previous studies which
have reported on this effect (C. Chiklis and J. Grasshof, J. Polym.
Sci. Part A-2 8: 1617 (1970); L. Taylor and L. Cerankowski, J.
Polym. Sci. Polym. Chem. 13: 2551 (1975)), we synthesized .about.3
g. of an amine-terminated poly(NIPAAm/AAm) copolymer containing
16.6 mol % AAm by free radical copolymerization of NIPAAm and AAm
in methanol at 60.degree. C. for 20 h using 1 mmol % of
2,2'-azobisbutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator and 1 mmol % of
2-aminoethanethiol hydrochloride (AET) as chain transfer agent. (Y.
Takei et al., Bioconj. Chem. 4: 42 (1993). The copolymer was
purified by precipitating the reaction solution into diethyl ether
and dried under vacuum. The molecular weight distribution of this
copolymer was determined by gel permeation chromatography using
monodisperse poly(ethylene glycol) standards to calibrate the MW.
The polymer has a weight average MW of 20,800 Da and a
polydispersity of 2.28.
[0110] Inverse Transition Temperature. The optical absorbance at
500 nm of the ELP biopolymer or poly(NIPAAm/AAm) copolymer was
monitored in the 4-80.degree. C. range on a Shimadzu-2001
UV-visible spectrophotometer, equipped with a water-jacketed
optical cell connected to a recirculating water bath. The T.sub.I
was determined from the midpoint of the change in optical
absorbance at 350 nm due to aggregation of ELP or ELP-thioredoxin
fusion protein as a function of temperature at a heating or cooling
rate of 1.3.degree. C. min.sup.-1.
Example 2
Immunoassay with a Thioredoxin-ELP Fusion Protein
[0111] Immunoassays are commonly used to detect analytes such as
enzymes, hormones, drugs, and other molecules of interest in
complex biological mixtures. By definition, an immunoassay relies
on the specific binding of an antigen by an antibody, but assays
using other biological high affinity binding partners (e.g.,
ligand-cell surface receptor, inhibitor-enzyme, etc.) can also be
employed in an analogous manner. A number of different immunoassay
formats have been developed to detect and/or quantitate the levels
of analytes; for a review of immunoassays, see PCT Patent
Application WO 86/06492.
[0112] Here we report an immunoassay in which one of the reactants
(e.g., either the antigen or the antibody) is genetically fused to
an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP), which we define as oligomeric
polypeptides composed of the pentapeptide repeat Val-Pro-Gly-X-Gly
(where X, the guest residue, can be any amino acid). ELPs undergo a
reversible phase transition. Below the transition temperature
(T.sub.t), the polypeptide is highly soluble in aqueous solution;
But when the solution temperature is raised above the T.sub.t, the
transition occurs, resulting in aggregation of the polypeptide and
partitioning from solution to form a coacervate phase. The
aggregated polypeptide can then be easily and selectively
precipitated from solution by centrifugation or ultrafiltration.
The precipitation is thermally reversible, and upon subsequently
resuspending the precipitated polypeptide in an aqueous solution at
a temperature below the T.sub.t, the precipitate completely
redissolves. The transition is also sharp, taking place over a
1-2.degree. C. range, and can be designed to occur at any
temperature between 0 and 100.degree. C. by precisely specifying
the guest residue sequence and chain length of the ELP polypeptide,
variables that can be exquisitely controlled at the gene level.
[0113] In the assay reported here, the reactants were thioredoxin,
a soluble E. coli protein, and an anti-thioredoxin mouse antibody.
A competitive binding assay was developed in which known amounts of
fluorophore-labeled antibody and thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein
were incubated with unknown amounts of the analyte (unlabeled
antibody), followed by thermally-induced capture of the complex and
spectrofluorimetric analysis.
[0114] One strength of this immunoassay method is that the ELP is
fused to the reactant genetically rather than by chemical
conjugation. This is achieved by joining a gene encoding the
polypeptide sequence to a gene of the reactant protein using the
techniques of molecular biology. The reactant could be a protein
antigen, an antibody or antibody fragment, an enzyme inhibitor, a
receptor, or any other protein in an affinity pair of interest.
Once constructed, the fused gene can be used in protein expression
systems to produce the ELP-fused immunoassay reactant.
A. Materials and Methods
[0115] Synthesis of the ELP Gene. A gene encoding a 50 amino acid
sequence was constructed from chemically-synthesized
oligonucleotides (Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc.) using standard
molecular biology protocols. The 50 amino acid sequence contained
10 repeats of the pentapeptide VPGXG, where the guest residues (V,
A, and G in a 5:2:3 molar ratio) were selected to provide in a
T.sub.t of 40.degree. C. The gene was oligomerized end-to-end 15
times by standard molecular biology techniques, to produce an
oligomeric ELP gene encoding a 750 residue polypeptide.
[0116] Production of Thioredoxin/ELP Fusion. The DNA sequence of
pET-32b (Novagen, Inc.), an expression plasmid containing a gene
for thioredoxin, was modified to include a Sfi I restriction site,
which permitted insertion of the ELP gene downstream of the
thioredoxin gene. The modified plasmid, containing the gene
sequence for a thioredoxin-ELP fusion, was transformed into the E.
coli strain BLR(DE3) (Novagen Inc.). Shaker flask cultures of the
transformed cells were incubated at 37.degree. C. to mid-log phase
(A.sub.600=0.800). Protein expression was then induced with 1 mM
IPTG, and the cultures were incubated for a further 3 hours. Cells
were lysed by ultrasonication, and the soluble fusion protein was
purified from cell lysate by thermally-induced aggregation of the
thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein, followed by centrifugation. The
fusion protein was subsequently resolubilized in cold buffer at a
temperature below the T.sub.t. Protein purity was ascertained by
SDS-PAGE, and protein concentration was determined
spetrophotometrically (UV-1601, Shimadzu Corp.).
[0117] Anti-Thioredoxin Antibody Preparation. A mouse IgG
monoclonal anti-thioredoxin antibody (gift of David Huston, Baylor
College of Medicine) was conjugated to fluoroscein-5-isothiocyanate
(FITC) (Molecular Probes, Inc.). Labeled antibody was then
separated from unreacted FITC by gel filtration on a Sephadex G-25
column (Pharmacia, Inc.). The concentration of antibody was
determined spectrophotometrically and by BCA total protein assay
(Pierce Chemical Company). The fluorophore to protein ratio in the
FITC-labeled antibody was approximately 3.0.
[0118] Immunoassay. FITC-labeled antibody and thioredoxin-ELP were
each added to a concentration of 0.5 .mu.M in 50 .mu.l PBS. Free
ELP (without fused thioredoxin) was also added to a final
concentration of 15 .mu.M to facilitate precipitation of the
antibody-thioredoxin/ELP complex. Unlabeled antibody (the analyte)
was added to the assay mixture in varying amounts, with final
concentrations ranging from 5 nM to 5 .mu.M.
[0119] The analyte-antibody mixtures were incubated at 37.degree.
C. for 1 hour, then heated to 48.degree. C. for five minutes to
induce the ELP phase transition, and then centrifuged warm
(T>45.degree. C.) for 10 minutes at 16,000 g. The supernatant
was removed, and the pellet was resuspended in cold PBS. The
fluorescence (excitation.sub.max=494 nm, emission.sub.max=519 nm)
of both the supernatant and the resolubilized precipitate were
determined by spectrofluorimetry (SLM-Aminco Inc.).
B. Results and Discussion
[0120] Capture of the FITC-labeled antibody by the thioredoxin-ELP
fusion was demonstrated in two control experiments, one with no
specific capture (FIG. 2a) and one with nearly complete capture
(FIG. 2b). These experiments also allowed the characterization of
baseline fluorescence for both the supernatant and pellet
fractions.
[0121] In FIG. 2a, the reaction was set up as described in Methods,
except that both the unlabeled antibody and thioredoxin-ELP were
omitted from the reaction mixture. Because no thioredoxin-ELP was
present to capture the FITC-labeled antibody, the precipitate
formed after raising the temperature above the T.sub.t contained
only free ELP. Therefore, the majority of the fluorescence remained
in the supernatant, with only 3.4% of the total fluorescence
observed in the pellet. This small amount of residual fluorescence,
which represents the background fluorescence for the pellet
fraction of the immunoassay, is likely due to incomplete removal of
the supernatant and to non-specific trapping of the labeled
antibody in the aggregated ELP phase.
[0122] In FIG. 2b, a ten-fold greater concentration of
thioredoxin-ELP fusion (5 .mu.M versus 0.5 .mu.M for the standard
assay described in Methods) was added and the unlabeled antibody
was omitted. An equilibrium model of binding predicts that 96% of
the labeled antibody should be bound at this thioredoxin
concentration, assuming a K.sub.D of 1.times.10.sup.7 M
(independently determined by BIAcore analysis). However, the
fraction of total fluorescence observed in the pellet is 48.4%
(when corrected for pellet background fluorescence). We believe
that the residual background fluorescence in the supernatant is
from contaminating mouse IgG antibodies, which are present in mouse
ascites fluid from which the anti-thioredoxin monoclonal antibodies
are Protein-A affinity purified. This is supported by previous
experiments in which residual antibodies, which remained in the
supernatant after one round of capture using thioredoxin-ELP
concentrations theoretically sufficient for complete capture, were
not captured in a subsequent experiment by a large molar excess of
thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein. This result indicates that these
residual antibodies do not bind thioredoxin. Hence, if the pelleted
fraction contains 96% of the anti-thioredoxin antibodies, then the
fraction of contaminating antibodies which do not bind thioredoxin
is 49.5%, which represents the background fluorescence for the
supernatant fraction of the immunoassay.
[0123] A calibration curve for the immunoassay is shown in FIG. 3.
On the X-axis, the analyte concentration is represented by the
ratio of analyte concentration (unlabeled antibody) to total
antibody concentration. Data points are in decade increments of
absolute analyte concentrations, ranging from 0.005 to 5 .mu.M. On
the Y-axis, the assay output signal is the ratio of the
fluorescence intensity of the pellet fraction to the total
fluorescence intensity (i.e., the summed fluorescence intensities
of the pellet and the supernatant). The background fluorescence was
subtracted from the intensities for both the supernatant and
pellet. Because the fluorescence intensity is quantitatively
related to the concentration of the labeled anti-thioredoxin
antibody, this ratio is the fraction of labeled antibody that binds
to the thioredoxin-ELP fusion and is precipitated.
[0124] Qualitatively, the curve indicates that as the fraction of
unlabeled antibody increases, the fraction of labeled antibody
bound decreases, as expected for a competitive binding assay.
Conversely, as the fraction of unlabeled antibody decreases, the
fraction of labeled antibody bound increases, approaching a maximum
where no competing unlabeled antibody is bound. The data exhibits a
near linear relationship (R.sup.2=0.993). However the shape of the
curve could be non-linear under other immunoassay conditions, as
described below. Once generated, the calibration curve can then be
used to quantitatively determine the concentration of unlabeled
antibody in unknown samples.
[0125] Two primary parameters by which any immunoassay is judged
are sensitivity and dynamic range. This competitive capture assay
has a maximum sensitivity when the concentration of unlabeled
analyte is equal to that of the competing labeled antibody (i.e.,
0.5 on the X-axis in FIG. 3). As the concentration of unlabeled
analyte is decreased or increased from this point (e.g., moving on
the calibration curve left or right from center), the interval for
each successive decade in absolute concentration of analyte
decreases, thereby reducing signal sensitivity. In this particular
case, the immunoassay's maximum sensitivity was focused on an
analyte concentration of 0.5 .mu.M, determined by the selection of
that same concentration for the FITC-labeled antibody. This center
of sensitivity could be shifted, or focused, by simply varying the
labeled antibody concentration. The range over which this shift
could be achieved would be limited in higher concentrations only by
the supply of reagents and in lower concentrations by the
antibody's binding affinity. The antibody affinity, and hence the
lower limit for this particular assay, are as yet undetermined.
However, preliminary calculations indicate that the antibody
affinity is on the order 0.1 .mu.M, yielding a lower limit for the
center of sensitivity of approximately the same magnitude. It is
worth noting that this affinity is relatively low when compared to
many antibodies, and therefore significantly lower concentrations
could be measured with immunoassays utilizing higher affinity
binding pairs.
[0126] The dynamic range of a particular immunoassay (that is, the
useful range on either side of a given center of sensitivity) is
determined primarily by the sensitivity of the fluorimeter or other
reporter detection instrumentation. For the data in FIG. 3, the
range for the most highly sensitive concentration measurements
spans roughly two orders of magnitude (ranging from 50 nM to 5
.mu.M). At least two additional orders of magnitude (one on each
end of this range) could be determined with a sensitivity roughly
10% of that for the central region, for a total range of 5 nM to 50
.mu.M. The absolute upper and lower limits of the useful range
about the center of sensitivity have not yet been determined
experimentally, but may even exceed this preliminary estimate of
four orders of magnitude.
[0127] Just as the selection of the labeled antibody concentration
has important ramifications on the center of sensitivity,
equilibrium models of competitive binding reveal that the selection
of antigen (thioredoxin-ELP) concentration critically affects the
shape of the calibration curve, as alluded to earlier.
Specifically, if the antigen concentration is higher than the
labeled antibody concentration, then the curve takes on a
non-linear shape with a plateau at lower unlabeled antibody
concentrations giving way to a rapid drop-off in signal at higher
antibody concentrations. This results in a significant decrease in
the dynamic range of the assay. On the other hand, as the antigen
concentration becomes smaller than the labeled antibody
concentration, the curve takes on a more linear shape which is also
accompanied by an overall reduction in fraction of total antibody
bound and captured, and hence a reduction in signal sensitivity.
The optimum conditions for the assay, therefore, requires equal
concentrations of antigen and labeled antibody, which produces both
a nearly linear curve and maximum sensitivity. However, this
parameter could be varied depending on the requirements of a
particular immunoassay, with high antigen concentrations used to
achieve very high sensitivity over a small dynamic range, or
conversely low antigen concentrations used to achieve a very broad
range with reduced overall sensitivity.
[0128] The precipitation of the ELP-antibody-antigen complex can be
induced by increasing the solution temperature above the T.sub.t,
as was done in the example immunoassay presented here, or by
increasing the ionic strength of the solution, or a combination of
both. The T.sub.t of a given ELP construct is decreased as the
ionic strength of the solution is increased. Therefore, aggregation
may be induced isothermally by increasing the ionic strength such
that the ELP T.sub.t is depressed below the solution temperature.
In addition, the ELP phase transition can also be induced in
modified ELP sequences containing appropriate residues by known
changes in pH, or in response to chemical or biochemical
modification (e.g., phosphorylation). Our claim for this
immunoassay therefore covers any physical, chemical, or biological
phenomenon that can induce a phase transition in an ELP sequence or
its derivatives.
[0129] Selection of the means of precipitation depends primarily on
ease of use, equipment available, and avoidance of potential
deleterious effects on the reactants. For example, high saline
concentrations could interfere with antibody binding, while high
temperatures could cause protein denaturing. However, sufficient
flexibility exists in the design of the ELP T.sub.t that gentle
conditions for precipitation should be obtainable for any
prospective application.
[0130] The ELP-precipitation immunoassay method presented here
could be used in a number of different configurations or formats
known to those skilled in the art. Flexibility in this assay arises
from the following factors, which can be implemented in any
combination: either one of the binding partners can be attached to
the ELP, either one of the binding partners can be
reporter-labeled, and either one of the binding partners can be the
analyte. Flexibility can be further expanded by the use of a
secondary antibody ("Indirect assay") or an antibody with a
non-overlapping epitope ("Sandwich"). These configurations simplify
the initial immunoassay reaction and eliminate the need for
labeling of the reagent (which may otherwise reduce affinity), but
require a secondary incubation and precipitation step.
[0131] The only limitation in these configurations is that the
antibody cannot be both fused to an ELP and labeled with a reporter
because, in this configuration, no reporter could ever be captured.
Another requirement for all configurations is that for quantitative
detection, only the analyte (and not its affinity partner) can
occur in the unknown sample.
[0132] Selection of a particular configuration would depend
primarily upon the availability of a gene for one of the binding
partners. The availability of sufficient quantities of reagent as
the labeled species may also be an important consideration. One of
the species may not be at all available as a reagent. In this case,
configurations exist for which the analyte can be previously
unknown. This could be useful, for example, in screening libraries
of engineered antibodies for molecules specific to a particular
antigen.
[0133] This immunoassay is also amenable to the measurement of
multiple analytes in a single sample using a set of analyte-binding
proteins, each of which is specific to an analyte of interest.
Detection of each analyte can be achieved by two alternative
strategies. In the first approach, each analyte-binding protein is
attached to a distinct reporter (e.g., fluorophores with unique
excitation and emission properties). The assay would be performed
identically to that for a single analyte, and independent detection
of each analyte would be simultaneously achieved by monitoring the
unique spectroscopic signal for each reporter.
[0134] The alternative approach, a sequential detection scheme,
would utilize fusion of each antigen or antibody to ELPs with
different T.sub.t's. The non-covalent complexes formed would be
sequentially and independently precipitated, thereby allowing
separate measurement of each analyte. This approach requires ELPs
with distinct, non-overlapping T.sub.t's, which can be achieved by
a combination of varying the identity of the guest residue and by
varying the ELP molecular weight. We have previously demonstrated
the feasibility of this approach by the synthesis of ELPs of
varying chain length exhibiting different T.sub.t's, and we can
further expand upon the available range of T.sub.t's available by
producing ELPs with different compositions.
[0135] The genetic attachment of the ELP provides several key
advantages as compared to chemically-conjugated, synthetic
temperature-sensitive polymers outlined in patent WO 86/06492.
First, this method of synthesizing the thermally precipitating
reagent is technically simpler and less costly, with no need for
separate and often complex synthesis of the polymer nor for a
subsequent chemical conjugation step to couple the immunoassay
reactant to the thermally-responsive polymer. Second, the
genetically-produced ELP is monodisperse, whereas production of
synthetic polymers results in a population of molecules with
varying chain lengths. This heterogeneity may adversely affect the
performance of the immunoassay by, for example, shifting or
broadening the range of temperatures over which the phase
transition occurs. Finally, genetic fusion allows absolute control
over the number (typically one) and location of the ELP(s) in the
fusion protein. Chemical conjugation of a synthetic polymer to a
protein, in contrast, usually results in random attachment of the
polymer at conjugation sites located throughout the primary amino
acid sequence of the protein, resulting in varied numbers and
diverse locations of attached polymers. If any of these conjugation
sites are near the binding site, reduction of affinity or complete
blockage of binding results, thereby adversely affecting the
performance of the immunoassay. Furthermore, chemical conjugation
of protein and polymer is inefficient and incomplete, whereas
genetic ELP incorporation insures that every molecule has exactly
the same structure and properties.
[0136] In summary, the immunoassay described herein provides a
novel method for reactions in which at least one of the binding
partners is a recombinant protein. It has important advantages over
similar methods in terms of simplicity and precision of reagent
production. It is flexible and can be utilized in a variety of
configurations, and can be readily automated. Finally, it provides
high sensitivity over a wide range of medically-relevant analyte
concentrations.
Example 3
Sensor Regeneration with a Thioredoxin-ELP Fusion Protein
[0137] This examples shows that an environmentally-responsive
polypeptide tag can be introduced into a model protein by genetic
engineering, that the polypeptide tag allows the fusion protein to
adsorb to a hydrophobic surface, and that the fusion protein can be
desorbed from the surface by altering the solvation of the protein
in response to an environmental signal, thereby allowing
regeneration of the surface back to the protein-free substrate.
This approach is generic for the following reasons: first, the
introduction of environmentally-triggered properties in a target
protein simply involves gene-level N or --C-terminal fusion of the
peptide codons into a cloned or synthetic gene, which is easily
achieved by standard molecular biology manipulations. Second,
fusion proteins containing this polypeptide tag are rendered
environmentally-responsive, and this appears to be a fairly general
phenomena. Finally, the polypeptide tag can be chemically
conjugated to molecules that are not genetically-encodable, thereby
creating an environmentally-responsive bioconjugate that can be
reversibly adsorbed and desorbed by small changes in solution
conditions.
A. Experimental Details
[0138] Solution Inverse Transition. The optical absorbance at 350
nm of the thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein was monitored in the
4-60.degree. C. range on a Cary Bio-300 UV-visible
spectrophotometer, equipped with a multi-cell peltier temperature
controller. The T.sub.I was determined from the midpoint of the
change in optical absorbance at 350 nm due to aggregation of ELP or
thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein as a function of temperature at a
heating or cooling rate of 1-1.5.degree. C. min.sup.-1.
[0139] Substrate Preparation: Gold substrate were prepared by
thermal evaporation of 50 .ANG. Cr on a silicon wafer (for
ellipsometry) or glass slide (for BIACORE instrument measurements)
followed by 500 .ANG. gold. The gold substrate were cleaned in a
1:1:3 solution of NH.sub.4OH:H.sub.2O.sub.2:H.sub.2O and incubated
overnight in a 1 mM solution of hexadecanethiol in ethanol to form
a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on gold. The SAMs were sonicated
in ethanol for 1 min, dried under nitrogen and used immediately
thereafter. Advancing water contact angle of the SAMs were
.about.100.degree.. for the hydrophobic SAM of hexadecanethiol.
[0140] In situ Ellipsometry. The SAMs were mounted on the
ellipsometer stage in a cuvet and the cuvet was filled with 50 mM
phosphate, pH 7.4, 1 M NaCl. The polarizer and analyzer angle of
the thiol-functionalized gold substrate were measured in buffer and
converted to ellipsometric parameters (.psi., .DELTA.). Next, a
concentrated stock solution of thioredoxin/ELP fusion protein was
pipetted into the cuvet to a final concentration of 1 .mu.M. The
time course of adsorption of the fusion protein on
SAM-functionalized gold substrates was examined by in situ
ellipsometry as the ELP underwent a hydrophilic-hydrophobic
transition as the temperature was raised from 15-40.degree. C. at
.about.1.degree. C. min.sup.-1. The ellipsometer cuvet was heated
and cooled by an immersion coil connected to a thermally
programmable (-20-100.degree. C.) recirculating water bath. The in
situ temperature of the buffer in the cuvet was measured by a
thermocouple at each time point for which ellipsometric parameters
were measured. The polarizer and analyzer angles were monitored
through the thermal ramp on the upward and downward cycle and were
used in a nonlinear regression simulation program to obtain
thickness and complex refractive indices for the silicon substrate,
silicon oxide, gold, SAM, and protein overlayers. Effective
thickness of the protein adlayer was calculated assuming a protein
refractive index of 1.45.
[0141] BIACORE.TM. Instrument Analysis: Typically, a gold-coated
glass slide was mounted in an empty BIACORE.TM. sensor cartridge
using water-insoluble double-sided sticky tape. The sensor
cartridge was docked into a BIACORE X.TM. instrument system, and a
system check was performed to ensure the absence of leaks in the
fluid path and minimal baseline drift. The cartridge was then
removed from the instrument and cooled to low temperature
(approximately -20.degree. C.). The sensor surface was incubated
with 1 .mu.M thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein in 2 M NaCl at
.about.4.degree. C., warmed to room temperature to allow the fusion
protein to undergo the phase transition, and adsorbed to the sensor
surface for 5 min. Excess protein was washed away with buffered 2M
NaCl at room temperature and the sensor cartridge was then
reinserted into the BIACORE X.TM. instrument, which was maintained
at 35.degree. C. All buffers used for BIACORE.TM. instrument
measurements were 50 mM potassium phosphate, pH 7.4 of varying NaCl
concentrations.
B. Results and Discussion.
[0142] Design of ELP Carrier. Based on previous studies that have
delineated the effect of varying the identity of the fourth, guest
residue (X) in the repeat unit, and its mole fraction on the
T.sub.I, a gene was synthesized encoding an ELP sequence with guest
residues Val (V), Ala (A), and Gly (G) in the ratio 5:2:3 in
accordance with the procedures described in Example 1 above to
provide a solution T.sub.I in water of 37.degree. C. By adjusting
the sequence length, as well as its composition, we can design
sequences that undergo the inverse transition at any temperature
between 0 and 100.degree. C. The ELP-1 mer (50 amino acids) was
oligomerized to produce a library of ELP oligomers at the gene
level. The 18-mer was chosen as a carrier polypeptide in the first
generation expression vector, based on its experimentally-observed
T.sub.I.
[0143] Inverse Transition of Thioredoxin-ELP Fusion Protein in
Solution. The inverse transition of thioredoxin-ELP 18-mer fusion
protein (25 .mu.M fusion protein in 50 mM phosphate, 1 M NaCl) as a
function of temperature (1.5.degree. C. min.sup.-1 heating rate) is
shown in FIG. 4. With the exception of a higher concentration of
fusion protein, these experimental conditions are identical to
those used for surface regeneration. As the temperature was raised,
the turbidity of the solution, spectrophotometrically monitored by
the absorbance at 350 nm, stayed constant up to a certain
temperature. Further increase in temperature resulted in a sharp
(<2.degree. C.) increase in the turbidity to a maximum value,
due to aggregation of the thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein. The
inverse transition temperature (T.sub.I) is defined as the midpoint
of the spectrophotometrically observed transition. The
experimentally-observed T.sub.I of the thioredoxin-ELP fusion was
25.degree. C., which was identical to that of the ELP with no
fusion partner (results for ELP not shown), demonstrating that the
inverse transition of the ELP was not affected by conjugation to
thioredoxin. This process was reversible with slight hysteresis,
and the aggregated fusion protein could be resolubilized completely
by lowering the temperature below the T.sub.I. The thioredoxin
control exhibited no change in absorbance with increasing
temperature. We also observed complete retention of thioredoxin
activity after several rounds of thermal cycling. These results
validate our first hypothesis, that the inverse transition of the
ELP sequence is retained upon its expression in a fusion protein,
and that the ELP tag does not compromise the activity of the target
protein, which is critical for biosensor applications.
[0144] Surface Binding and Regeneration of Thioredoxin-ELP Fusion
Protein. This experiment was designed to investigate the hypothesis
that desolvation of the ELP sequence upon raising the temperature
above its T.sub.I will drive a protein to the surface via
hydrophobic interactions between the desolvated, hydrophobic ELP
sequence and the hydrophobic surface. Subsequently, upon lowering
the temperature below the T.sub.I, the ELP sequence solvates and
becomes hydrophilic, which should lead to spontaneous desorption of
the ELP fusion protein from the surface.
[0145] The adsorption of the fusion protein on the hydrophobic SAM
was examined by in situ ellipsometry as the ELP underwent a
hydrophilic-hydrophobic transition in 50 mM phosphate, 1 M NaCl as
the temperature was raised from 15-40.degree. C. at a rate of
1.degree. C. min.sup.-1. The polarizer and analyzer angles were
monitored through the temperature ramp. FIG. 5 shows the change in
thickness of the protein adlayer as a function of temperature,
calculated by nonlinear regression using the measured values of the
polarizer and analyzer angles. The increase in adlayer thickness
with increasing temperature clearly shows that as the
thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein undergoes its inverse transition, it
adsorbs to the hydrophobic SAM during the upward thermal ramp. The
observed inverse transition of the ELP on the hydrophobic surface
is broader than the equivalent bulk transition. The ELP forms a
stable adlayer on the hydrophobic surface above the transition
temperature. Upon lowering the temperature to .about.20.degree. C.,
the adsorbed thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein desorbs from the
surface. Desorption is essentially complete as seen by the <5
.ANG. change in surface thickness after one thermal cycle.
[0146] In separate experiments, we have established that the
adsorbed protein completely desorbs from the surface, if the
maximum temperature in the cuvet is kept below 40.degree. C. This
process can be repeated several times with virtually no
irreversibility. A control experiment with thioredoxin alone,
showed little adsorption of thioredoxin in the time scale of the
experiment, and all of it was irreversible. This experiment
demonstrates the reversible adsorption/desorption of an ELP fusion
protein in response to a thermal stimulus.
[0147] Analyte Binding and Surface Regeneration by Surface Plasmon
Resonance. The objective of this set of experiments was to
demonstrate that adsorbed thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein can bind
to an analyte, anti-thioredoxin mAb, and that the antibody-fusion
protein complex can be desorbed after binding. This objective can
be achieved if the following can be demonstrated: [0148] 1)
Thioredoxin is exposed to the bulk after immobilization of the
ELP-thioredoxin fusion protein. [0149] 2) A monoclonal antibody
against thioredoxin can bind to the surface-immobilized
thioredoxin. [0150] 3) The thioredoxin-ELP/antibody complex remains
immobilized above the phase transition over time. [0151] 4)
Thioredoxin-ELP/antibody complex can be desorbed from the surface
upon lowering the temperature below the phase transition
temperature.
[0152] The BIACORE.TM. device divides the sensor surface into two
channels which can be addressed individually. This allows use of
one channel as a reference, and all signals presented here are
difference signals between channel 1 (measurement) and channel 2
(reference). As shown in FIG. 6, the bare surface [A] has a signal
difference between channel 1 and channel 2 of about 530 Response
Units (RU). This is due to small variations in substrate
preparation. At time [1] the sensor surface, to which the
thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein is adsorbed above the T.sub.I
outside the instrument is inserted [B] and a slight increase in
signal difference to about 725 RU is found, which may be due to the
insertion process. The reference channel 2 is then rinsed with pure
water for 5 minutes [2] which removes the adsorbed thioredoxin-ELP
fusion protein from the sensor surface in this channel. The signal
difference [C] of about 3300 RU corresponds to the amount of
adsorbed thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein in channel 1. At high salt
concentration, 2 M NaCl in the running buffer, the signal is
stable, but antibody binding is inefficient. Therefore the salt
concentration in the running buffer was reduced to 1 M NaCl [3],
which leads to a slow desorption [D] of about 20% of the protein in
about 1000 sec. The stable desorption rate is about 0.4 RU/sec.
[0153] Anti-thioredoxin binding. Channel 1 is selectively incubated
with 50 .mu.l anti-thioredoxin mAb (1:10 dilution) in running
buffer [4]. The signal increases by about 1600 RU [E] indicating
strong antibody binding. Upon completion of binding, only the
time-dependent desorption at a rate of 0.4 RU/sec is observed.
[0154] Desorption. The sensor temperature can be changed in the
BiacoreX, and although the temperature change is not linear with
time, the temperature is measured at the sensor surface, and can be
monitored as a function of time. Upon lowering the temperature [5]
from 35.degree. C. to 18.degree. C. the signal decreases [F] to
approximately the same level (400 RU) as the bare sensor surface.
FIG. 7 shows the desorption process as a function of
temperature.
[0155] These experiments demonstrate that a thioredoxin-ELP fusion
protein adsorbs to a hydrophobic surface and can be desorbed
completely by a small change of environmental conditions. The
observation that after adsorption of the fusion protein,
thioredoxin binds to an anti-thioredoxin mAb, suggests that the
water soluble thioredoxin exposed to the bulk and accessible to its
antibody. The immobilized complex is stable at the surface; in a
separate experiment with a running buffer containing 2 M NaCl,
after mAb binding, the SPR was stable to within 0.08 RU/sec over
several hours, though the affinity for antibody binding is reduced
at these salt concentrations (data not shown). Together, these
independent experiments show that the noncovalent complex of fusion
protein and antibody can be immobilized on the surface with high
stability. Finally, the complex can be desorbed completely from the
surface by lowering the temperature below the phase transition
temperature (aim 4).
[0156] These data indicate the feasibility of creating a
regenerable surface with the desired sensing specificity in
accordance with the present invention. We believe that our approach
to sensor regeneration is powerful and generic. This is because an
analyte-binding protein for biosensor applications can easily be
produced as a fusion with an ELP tag using standard molecular
biology methods with no loss of functional activity. For other
molecules which cannot be produced as a genetically-encoded fusion
with an ELP, including proteins for which a cloned or synthetic
gene is unavailable, the ELP tag can be chemically or
biochemically-conjugated to the target molecule. Creating a
reversible biosensor surface then only requires a hydrophobic
surface, which is also easily achieved by a variety of surface
functionalization methods, including SAMs on gold, silane
modification of glass or oxidized silicon, or any other method that
provides a hydrophobic surface. Combined, the
environmentally-triggered, reversible interaction of an ELP fusion
protein and a hydrophobic surface allows facile regeneration of
biosensors.
Example 4
Targeted Delivery of Therapeutics to Solid Tumors by Thermally
Responsive Polymers
[0157] Because targeting is necessary for efficient tumor
localization of systemically-delivered therapeutics, we propose a
thermal targeting scheme, where a thermally-responsive drug carrier
precipitates in regions of elevated temperature.
[0158] Polymers that undergo an inverse temperature transition are
useful as drug carriers for thermal targeting because they are
soluble in aqueous solutions below their inverse transition
temperature (T.sub.I), but when the temperature is raised above
their T.sub.I, they undergo a narrow phase transition within a
2-3.degree. C. range, leading to extensive desolvation and
aggregation. Elastin-like protein (ELP) biopolymers [D. Urry, J.
Prot. Chem. 7: 1-34 (1988); D. Urry, Prog. Biophys. Molec. Biol.
57: 23-57 (1992)] and copolymers of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)
(poly(NIPAAm)) [H. Schihld; Protg. Polym. Sci. 17: 163-249 (1992);
C. Chiklis and J. Grasshof, J. Polym. Sci. Part A-2 8: 1617 (1970);
L. Taylor and L. Cerankowski, J. Polym. Sci. Polym. Chem. 13: 2551
(1975); Y. Takei, Bioconj. Chem. 4: 42 (1993)] are two polymer
systems that can be designed to display this behavior slightly
above physiological temperature. ELP biopolymers can be designed to
exhibit a T.sub.I within a <2.degree. C. range between
0-100.degree. C. by specifying the identity and fraction of the
fourth residue [D. Urry et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 113: 4346
(1991)]. Chemically synthesized copolymers of NIPAAm and
alkylacrylamides, display a similar phase transition, the midpoint
of which can similarly be tuned by varying the fraction of the
NIPAAm monomer. To date, neither of these polymers have been
utilized as radionuclide carriers for targeted drug delivery by
hyperthermia.
A. Methods
[0159] Gene synthesis, oligomerization, protein expression,
purification, Poly (NIPAAm) synthesis and inverse transition
temperature characterization are described in Example 1 above.
[0160] Conjugation of Fluorophore. Approximately 11 milligrams of
thrombin-cleaved ELP-15 mer or the poly(NIPAAm/AAm) copolymer were
resuspended in 1 ml 100 mM sodium bicarbonate buffer, pH 8.34. 40
.mu.l of Rhodamine Red-X.TM. succinimidyl ester (10 mg/ml in DMF)
was added and incubated with gentle agitation for 2 hours at room
temperature. After incubation, the sample was centrifuged at 10,000
g for 5 min. to remove insoluble matter. The supernatant was then
thermally purified by adding NaCl to 500 mM, heating to 35.degree.
C., and centrifugation at T.gtoreq.35.degree. C. at 10,000 g for 5
minutes. The supernatant was removed, the pellet was resuspended in
cold PBS, and centrifuged cold. The resolubilized conjugate was
retained. The thermal purification was repeated twice. Conjugation
efficiency for the ELP 15-mer was determined by BCA total protein
assay and by rhodamine absorption at 570 nm.
[0161] Tumor Vascular Preparation. A small volume (.about.0.1
mm.sup.3) of tumor tissue (human ovarian carcinoma; SKOV-3) was
implanted in the dorsal skin flap window chamber in nude mice. The
implanted tumors were used 10-15 days after surgery, when the tumor
in the window chamber was 2-3 mm in diameter. The implanted tumors
in the window chamber can be placed under a microscope so that the
injected material of interest can be directly visualized in the
vascular and interstitial compartments and its concentration can be
directly measured.
[0162] Experimental Procedure for Mouse Window Chamber Technique.
In each experiment, a mouse was anesthetized with sodium
pentobarbital. The tail vein was cannulated to allow injection of
the Rhodamine-ELP conjugate. After cannulation, the animal was
placed on a temperature-controlled microscope stage to maintain
normal body temperature throughout the experiment. The tumor in the
window chamber was observed with a 20.times. objective. A region of
the preparation was selected such that blood flow appeared to be
normal and did not have any other blood vessels below it. Images of
the selected region were recorded by a SIT camera connected to a
S-VHS recorder under epifluorescent illumination before injection
of the ELP-Rhodamine conjugate. After injection of the conjugate
(t=0), the image from the selected region was recorded every 2 min.
for 5 sec over a duration of 40 min. The videotape was analyzed by
image processing software (NIH Image) on an IBM-compatible-PC. At
any time, the light intensity of the entire tissue area I.sub.t,
and a representative vascular region (I.sub.v) and interstitial
region (I.sub.i) were analyzed to provide the time dependence of
I.sub.v and I.sub.i.
B. Results
[0163] Design, Synthesis, Purification, and Characterization of ELP
Biopolymer and Poly(NIPAAm/AAm) Copolymer. The transition
temperature of an ELP biopolymer is strongly influenced by the
hydrophobicity of the guest residue (X) and its mole fraction
f.sub.x. Therefore, by varying the identity of guest residues, and
their mole fraction, ELP copolymers can be designed to exhibit a
predetermined inverse transition temperature in a 0-100.degree. C.
range. Based on these previous studies, a synthetic gene for the
monomer, which encodes 10 VPGXG repeats, was designed to
incorporate guest residues: X=valine (V), alanine (A), and glycine
(G) in the ratio 5:2:3 to achieve a T.sub.I of 42.degree. C.
Standard molecular biology procedures were used to construct the
synthetic gene of the ELP monomer, and to oligomerize the gene to
create a library ranging from 1 to 18-mer where each monomer
contains 50 residues.
[0164] In initial studies, the ELP 6-, 9-, 12- and 18-mers were
expressed in E. coli in a modified pET-32b expression vector as a
fusion with thioredoxin. Each fusion protein retained the
reversible phase transition of the ELP sequence, which allowed
one-step thermal purification of the thioredoxin-ELP fusion from
all other soluble E. coli contaminants. The amino acid sequence of
the fusion protein has a recognition site specific to thrombin,
located between thioredoxin and the ELP sequence. Cleavage with
thrombin at this site liberated the ELP from the fusion protein.
Thermal precipitation of the ELP was then used to purify the ELP
from other proteins. Because the thermally-induced aggregation of
ELP biopolymer is completely reversible in vitro, the ELP was then
solubilized for subsequent experiments by simply lowering the
temperature below its T.sub.I. The observation that the thioredoxin
fusion protein containing a C-terminal ELP sequence also exhibits
an inverse transition indistinguishable from the ELP sequence alone
is exciting, because it indicates that thermal targeting will also
be applicable to the delivery of protein therapeutics to
tumors.
[0165] The thermal behavior of the ELP 6, 9, and 18-mer (MWs=24.3
kDa, 35.9 kDa, and 71 kDa, respectively) in PBS ranged from
58.7.degree. C. to 35.1.degree. C. is shown in FIG. 8, and reveals
a strong inverse relation between MW and T.sub.I, which is
consistent with previous observations of Urry and colleagues for
ELPs with MWs<100 kDa. Interpolation of these results suggested
that an ELP 15-mer (MW.about.50 KDa) would allow the target T.sub.I
of 40-42.degree. C. to be achieved with the current ELP
composition, containing guest residues Val:Ala:Gly in a 5:2:3
ratio.
[0166] The ELP 15-mer was then synthesized and purified in mg
quantities. FIG. 9 displays the thermal behavior of the ELP 12-mer
in physiological saline. The T.sub.I of the ELP 15-mer, defined as
the midpoint of the experimentally-observed inverse transition, is
42.5.degree. C. The inverse transition of this polymer occurs over
a narrow, <3.degree. C. range, which is important for
hyperthermic targeting. While the first generation ELP 15-mer
construct will be useful for in vivo radionuclide delivery, it
would be desirable to have in hand additional constructs with MWs
in the 10-30 kDa range with a T.sub.I of 40.degree. C., in order to
explore the relationship between ELP MW and radionuclide
biodistribution. Based on previous studies by Urry et al., the
Val:Ala:Gly ratio is decreased to 5:1:1 to yield a polymer of 25
kDa MW and a T.sub.I of 40.degree. C. and is useful in the same
manner as described above.
[0167] The thermal behavior of the poly(NIPAAm/AAm) copolymer is
also shown in FIG. 9, and clearly demonstrates that the inverse
transition occurs in a narrow, 2.degree. C. range, and that the
T.sub.I is 41.degree. C. The copolymer contains one amine end group
per polymer chain for conjugation of amine-reactive radionuclides.
Future rounds of synthesis can be carried out to provide a library
of copolymers with MWs in the 10-50 kDa range by adjusting the
concentration of initiator and chain transfer agent relative to
monomer. If required, after synthesis the polymers can be
fractionated by size to provide polymers with a specified MW and
polydispersity.
[0168] Characterization of Rhodamine-Polymer Conjugates. The
thermal behavior of the ELP 15-mer and its conjugate with Rhodamine
is shown in FIG. 10. The conjugation of Rhodamine to the ELP 15-mer
results in a decrease in the T.sub.I from 43.degree. C. to
40.degree. C. This is consistent with the increased hydrophobicity
of the conjugate, which should result in a decrease in the observed
T.sub.I. Similarly, conjugation of Rhodamine to the
poly(NIPAAm/AAm) copolymer also results in a decrease in the
T.sub.I of the conjugate, but the magnitude (.about.1.degree. C.)
is slightly smaller than that observed for the ELP.
[0169] Fluorophore Targeting Study: Dorsal Skin Flap Window Model.
Equal amounts of Rhodamine-labeled ELP-12 mer (1.1 mg, 200 .mu.l)
or poly(NIPAAm) were injected into nude mice bearing subcutaneous
ovarian cancer tumors (SKOV-3) at normothermic and hyperthermic
temperature into two animals. In one experiment, the window chamber
was maintained at normothermic temperature (34.degree. C.), while
in the second experiment, the window chamber containing the
implanted s.c tumor was heated to 42.degree. C. Results from these
two experiments are shown in FIGS. 11a and 11b. Over a period of 40
min., the fluorescence in the vasculature remains constant and
approximately equal at both 34.degree. C. and 42.degree. C.
However, a significant difference is observed in the interstitial
concentration of the Rhodamine-ELP conjugate. At 42.degree. C., the
fluorescence intensity is four-fold higher than at 34.degree. C.
These results clearly indicate that the ELP is able to extravasate
out of the tumor endothelium and preferentially accumulates in the
interstitium at 42.degree. C. as compared to 34.degree. C. FIG. 12
also shows the qualitative difference between the behavior of the
ELP conjugate at the two different temperatures. FIG. 12a is a
captured image of the tumor under hyperthermic conditions
(42.degree. C.), and FIG. 12b is a fluorescence image for the
normothermic control (34.degree. C.). At 42.degree. C., fluorescent
aggregates are clearly visible in the tumor microvasculature,
whereas in the control, normothermic animal, no such aggregates are
visible, indicating that the ELP conjugate selectively precipitates
in the tumor microvasculature at 42.degree. C. These results are
consistent with our in vitro experiments, which demonstrated that
the T.sub.I of the Rhodamine-ELP conjugate was 39.degree. C.
Similar results were also obtained for a Rhodamine-poly(NIPAAm/AAm)
copolymer (results not shown).
C. Conclusions
[0170] This example demonstrates that:
[0171] (1) Two different classes of polymers have been synthesized
that display thermally-responsive behavior in the range of
40-42.degree. C. in physiological saline, a temperature range that
is clinically relevant for hyperthermia. The two polymers are (a)
an artificial polypeptide, based on a pentapeptide repeat found in
elastin, and (b) a poly(NIPAAm/AAm) copolymer. The
thermally-responsive behavior is manifested as a
solubility-insolubility transition, where the polymer is soluble
below the T.sub.i, and insoluble above the T.sub.i.
[0172] (2) In vitro, we have also demonstrated that this transition
is reversible, so that the polymers can be cycled between their
soluble and insoluble states as a function of temperature.
[0173] (3) For the ELP polymers, we have demonstrated that upon
fusion of an ELP with another protein the thermally-responsive
behavior is retained, and is identical to that observed for the ELP
alone. This clearly indicates that protein therapeutics can be
synthesized in vivo as fusion protein with an ELP carrier, thereby
obviating the need for post-expression chemical conjugation.
[0174] (4) Both classes of polymers have been synthesized to
contain a specified number of reactive groups so as to allow
conjugation of fluorophores, radionuclides, and drugs. We
conjugated a fluorophore, Rhodamine, both to the ELP and to the
poly(NIPAAm/AAm) copolymer. The fluorophore-polymer conjugate
conjugated demonstrated a similar T.sub.I (within 1-3.degree. C.)
of the unconjugated polymer. This decrease in the T.sub.I after
conjugation was addressed by selecting a polymer with a T.sub.I
slightly higher than optimal for hyperthermia, i.e., between
42-45.degree. C., so that upon conjugation, the T.sub.I of the
conjugate is then in the range of 40-42.degree. C.
[0175] (5) The delivery of the thermally-responsive ELP and
poly(NIPAAm/AAm) copolymer was investigated with and without
hyperthermia. Aggregation and precipitation of both the ELP and the
poly(NIPAAm/AAm) copolymer was clearly observed in the tumor window
under hyperthermic conditions. No aggregation was observed in the
tumor window of normothermic, control mice. Quantitative analysis
of the time course of vascular and interstitial concentration of
the thermally-responsive polymers showed that upon application of
hyperthermia, the interstitial concentration of the ELP was
enhanced by a factor of 250% in a 40 min period of hyperthermia
over that observed for the normothermic control. We conclude that
enhanced delivery of therapeutics can be achieved by conjugation to
thermally-responsive macromolecule carriers in concert with the
targeted application of hyperthermia to tumors.
Example 5
Thermodynamically Addressable Reversible Adsorption of Elastin
Fusion Proteins: A New Method to Dynamically Pattern Proteins on
Preformed Surface Templates by Switchable Interactions
[0176] This example shows that in response to its environmentally
triggered hydrophilic-hydrophobic phase transition, the
elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) drives the adsorption of a
thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein onto a hydrophobic SAM, patterned
against a background, hydrophilic SAM. The fusion protein can be
subsequently desorbed from the surface by resolvation of the ELP
tag by reversing the phase transition, thereby allowing
regeneration of the surface. We call this method to dynamically
pattern proteins, thermodynamically addressable reversible
patterning of proteins (TRAP). TRAP also enables patterning of a
biomolecule specific to the patterned protein by exploiting
molecular recognition of the patterned protein by its biomolecular
ligand. We demonstrate that the patterned thioredoxin-ELP fusion
protein displays selective binding for its ligand, a monoclonal
antibody specific to thioredoxin (anti-thioredoxin), thereby
enabling the antibody to be patterned onto the patterned fusion
protein. After binding of the antibody to the surface, the bound
complex can be desorbed from the surface by reversing the phase
transition of the ELP. The ability to reversibly pattern a protein
and its noncovalent complex by TRAP will, we believe find
application in biomaterials, biosensors, and proteomic arrays.
A. Experimental Section
[0177] ELP Gene Synthesis. A gene encoding a 50 amino acid sequence
was constructed from chemically synthesized oligonucleotides
(Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc.) using standard molecular
biology protocols. The 50 amino acid sequence contained 10 repeats
of the pentapeptide VPGXG, where the guest residues (V, A, and G in
a 5:2:3 molar ratio) were selected to provide in T.sub.t of
40.degree. C. in water at a concentration of 40 mg/ml. The gene was
oligomerized head-to-tail 18 times by standard molecular biology
techniques, to produce an oligomeric ELP gene encoding a 900
residue polypeptide.
[0178] B. Synthesis of Thioredoxin/ELP Fusion. The DNA sequence of
pET-32b (Novagen, Inc.), an expression plasmid containing a gene
for thioredoxin, was modified to include a Sfi I restriction site,
which permitted insertion of the ELP gene downstream of the
thioredoxin gene. The modified plasmid, containing the gene
sequence for the thioredoxin-ELP fusion, was transformed into the
E. coli strain BLR(DE3) (Novagen Inc.). Shaker flask cultures of
the transformed cells were incubated at 37.degree. C. to mid-log
phase (A.sub.600=0.8). Protein expression was then induced with 1
mM isopropyl-.beta.-thiogalactopyranoside, and the cultures were
incubated for a further 3 h. Cells were lysed by ultrasonication,
and the soluble fusion protein was purified from cell lysate by
thermally induced aggregation of the thioredoxin-ELP fusion
protein, followed by centrifugation to separate the thioredoxin-ELP
fusion protein from contaminating E. coli proteins. The fusion
protein was subsequently resolubilized in cold buffer at a
temperature below the T.sub.t. Protein purity was ascertained by
SDS-PAGE, and the concentration of the fusion protein was
determined spectrophotometrically by its absorbance at 280 nm
(UV-1601, Shimadzu Corp.).
[0179] Conjugation of Fluorophores. A mouse IgG monoclonal
anti-thioredoxin antibody (gift of David Huston, Baylor College of
Medicine) was conjugated to fluoroscein-5-isothiocyanate (FITC)
(Molecular Probes, Inc.) using the standard isothiocyanate coupling
protocol provided by the supplier. Labeled antibody was then
separated from unreacted FITC by gel filtration on a Sephadex G-25
column (Pharmacia, Inc.). The concentration of antibody was
determined spectrophotometrically and by a BCA total protein assay
(Pierce Chemical Company). The fluorophore to protein ratio in the
FITC-labeled antibody was approximately 3.0.
[0180] Thioredoxin-ELP was labeled with Alexa.TM.488 as follows: 1
ml of thioredoxin-ELP (1.36 mg/ml) in PBS with 0.1M NaHCO.sub.3 was
added to a vial containing a ten fold molar excess of Alexa.TM.488
N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester (Molecular Probes). After
incubation for 1 h with stirring at a room temperature, unreacted
Alexa488 NHS ester were inactivated by adding hydroxylamine. The
conjugated thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein and unreacted protein)
was separated from free fluorophore by addition of 1.5 M NaCl to
isothermally induce the ELP phase transition. The aggregated fusion
protein was separated from free fluorophore by centrifugation, and
resolubilized in PBS at room temperature. This process was repeated
twice. Final labeling mole ratio of Alexa 488 to ELP was .about.2,
determined by the absorption at 494 nm for Alexa488
(.epsilon.=71,000 M.sup.-1cm.sup.-1) and at 280 nm for ELP-Trx
(.epsilon.=19,870 M.sup.-1cm.sup.-1).
[0181] Solution Characterization of Thioredoxin-ELP Fusion. The
optical density of the thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein was monitored
at 350 nm as a function of temperature, at a rate of 1.degree. C.
min.sup.-1, in an UV-vis spectrophotometer (Varian, Cary Bio-300)
equipped with a thermoelectrically controlled multiple cell holder.
The temperature-dependent aggregation behavior of the
thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein was characterized by its inverse
transition temperature (T.sub.t), which is defined as the
temperature at which the optical density at 350 nm is 5% of the
maximum optical density at that wavelength.
[0182] Preparation of Patterned SAMs on Gold. Thin Gold Films were
Prepared by thermal evaporation of 50 .ANG. Cr on a silicon wafer
(for ellipsometry) or glass slide (for Biacore measurements)
followed by 500 .ANG. gold (Biacore analysis) and 2000 .ANG.
(elliposmtery). Thin gold films for SPR analysis (12 mm.times.12
mm) were also obtained from Biacore Inc. The gold substrate
obtained from Biacore Inc. were cleaned in Piranha solution--a
mixture of 30% H.sub.2O.sub.2 and 70% H.sub.2SO.sub.4 (v/v) at
80.degree. C. for 10 min, and subsequently in a 5:1:1 (v/v) mixture
of H.sub.2O, H.sub.2O.sub.2 and NH.sub.3 at 80.degree. C. for 10
min. The gold substrates prepared in house were cleaned in a 1:1:3
solution of NH.sub.4OH:H.sub.2O.sub.2:H.sub.2O.
[0183] For solution self assembly of SAMs onto gold, a freshly
prepared and cleaned gold film was incubated overnight in a 1 mM
solution of hexadecanethiol (HDT, Aldrich) or
11-mercapto-1-undecanol (MUOH, Aldrich) in ethanol. The SAMs were
then sonicated in ethanol for 1 min, dried under nitrogen and used
immediately thereafter. For .mu.CP, a cotton swab was wetted with a
solution of hexadecanethiol (HDT, 1 mM in ethanol, Aldrich Chemical
Co.) and dragged once across the face of a plasma-oxidized
polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp. Details of the fabrication of
the PDMS stamps with micrometer size relief features have been
reported elsewhere (ref). The stamp was dried with a stream of
nitrogen for 10 s and placed gently on the cleaned gold substrate.
After 2 min, the stamp was removed from the gold substrate. The
printed gold substrate was immersed immediately in a solution of
MUOH, for 2 min and rinsed with ethanol. The patterned gold
substrate was further cleaned with ethanol for 5 min in an
ultrasonic water bath and dried in a stream of nitrogen.
[0184] Ellipsometry. A manual nulling ellipsometer, built in house,
was used for all ellipsometric measurements. A He--Ne laser (632.8
nm, Melles Griot) incident at an angle of 68.25 was used as the
light source for intensity as well as for imaging ellipsometry.
Polarizer angles were determined with a precision of 0.01 and the
intensity was measured with a lock-in amplifier (Princeton Applied
Research, Princeton, N.J.).
[0185] Ex Situ Ellipsometry. Before adsorption of thioredoxin-ELP
fusion protein, the thickness of HDT and MUOH SAMs on gold were
separately measured by ellipsometry. Then, the gold substrates
presenting HDT and MUOH SAMs were immersed into 2 ml of PBS
solution containing 1 .mu.M thioredoxin-ELP, and NaCl was dissolved
in the solution. After incubation for 10 min, the substrate was
rinsed with water several times and dried in a stream of nitrogen.
The thickness of HDT and MUOH SAMs on gold were measured again to
examine the reversibility of adsorption of thioredoxin-ELP on HDT
and MUOH SAMs on gold. A similar experiment was performed with 1
.mu.M Alexa 488 labeled as a control. Ellipsometric constants of
the substrate were measured in air before and after modification
with SAMs and adsorption of protein. The thicknesses of the films
were calculated using a parallel slab model with assumed refractive
indices of 1.0 for air and 1.5 for the SAMs and 1.45 for the
thiroedoxin-ELP fusion protein.
[0186] In situ Ellipsometry. The SAMs were mounted on the
ellipsometer stage in a cuvet and the cuvet was filled with 50 mM
phosphate, pH 7.4, 1 M NaCl. The polarizer and analyzer angle of
the thiol-functionalized gold substrate were measured in buffer and
converted to ellipsometric parameters (.psi., .DELTA.). Next, a
concentrated stock solution of thioredoxin/ELP fusion protein was
pipetted into the cuvet to a final concentration of 1 .mu.M. The
time course of adsorption of the fusion protein on
SAM-functionalized gold substrates was examined by in situ
ellipsometry as the ELP underwent a hydrophilic-hydrophobic
transition as NaCl was added to the cuvet. The polarizer and
analyzer angles were monitored after each increment of NaCl and
were used in a nonlinear regression simulation program to obtain
thickness and complex refractive indices for the silicon substrate,
silicon oxide, gold, SAM, and protein overlayers. Effective
thickness of the protein adlayer was calculated assuming a protein
refractive index of 1.45.
[0187] SPR Analysis. Typically, an HDT SAM on a gold-coated glass
slide was mounted in an empty Biacore sensor cartridge using
water-insoluble double-sided sticky tape. The sensor cartridge was
docked into a BiacoreX SPR instrument, and a system check was
performed to ensure the absence of leaks in the fluid path and
minimal baseline drift. The cartridge was then removed from the
instrument and cooled to low temperature (-20.degree. C.). The
sensor surface was incubated with 1 .mu.M thioredoxin-ELP fusion
protein in 2 M NaCl at .about.4.degree. C., warmed to room
temperature to allow the fusion protein to undergo the phase
transition; and adsorbed to the sensor surface for 5 min. Excess
protein was washed away with buffered 2M NaCl at room temperature
and the sensor cartridge was then reinserted into the BiacoreX
instrument, which was maintained at 35.degree. C. All buffers used
for Biacore measurements were 50 mM potassium phosphate, pH 7.4 of
varying NaCl concentrations.
[0188] Protein Patterning and Fluorescence Imaging. Unless
otherwise noted, phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (0.01 M phosphate
and 150 mM NaCl was adjusted to pH 7.4) was used as the low salt
buffer. The gold substrate presenting patterned SAMs was immersed
into 2 ml of a 1 .mu.M solution of Alexa488 labeled thioredoxin-ELP
in PBS at 4.degree. C. Recrystallized NaCl was then added and
dissolved in the solution to raise the salt concentration by 1.25
M, and the solution was warmed to room temperature. Under these
solution conditions, the inverse transition occurs because T.sub.t
(22.degree. C.)<T.sub.solution(.about.25.degree. C.). After
incubation for 10 min, the substrate was rinsed in PBS at room
temperature, 1.5 M NaCl and imaged in the same buffer on a BioRad
MRC 1000 confocal microscope with a 10.times. or 20.times.
objective. The confocal microscope was set at 10% power level and
1500 V detector gain. After imaging, the substrate was incubated in
PBS for 5 min and extensively rinsed with PBS. The substrate was
imaged in PBS under the same operating conditions of the confocal
microscope to examine the reversibility of thioredoxin-ELP binding
onto the patterned SAM on gold.
[0189] The antibody binding to the thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein
was carried out as follows: first, unlabeled thioredoxin-ELP was
adsorbed to the patterned SAM under solution conditions where
T<T.sub.t, as described previously. After rinsing the sample in
PBS, 1.25 M NaCl, the sample was incubated with 0.5 .mu.M FITC
labeled anti-thioredoxin in PBS, 1.5 M NaCl for 30 min at room
temperature. The substrate was imaged under a confocal microscope
at 30% power level and 1500 V detector gain. After imaging, the
substrate was incubated with PBS for 5 min and rinsed with PBS. The
substrate was imaged again under the same operating conditions of
the confocal microscope to examine the reversibility of the
antibody pattern.
B. Results
[0190] Solution Characterization of Thioredoxin-ELP Fusion Protein.
The inverse transition was spectrophotometrically characterized by
monitoring solution turbidity as a function of temperature, due to
aggregation of the ELP as it undergoes its inverse transition. The
inverse transition of the thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein is shown
in FIG. 13. As the temperature was raised, the turbidity of the
solution, spectrophotometrically monitored by the optical density
at 350 nm, remained constant up to a critical temperature. Further
increase in temperature over a .about.5.degree. C. range resulted
in an increase in turbidity to a maximum value. The change in
turbidity with increasing temperature indicates the onset of the
inverse phase transition due to the formation of aggregates of the
thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein. The inverse transition temperature
(T.sub.t), defined as the temperature at the onset of the
spectrophotometrically observed transition (5% of the maximum
observed turbidity), is a convenient parameter to characterize the
inverse transition. A thioredoxin control exhibited no change in
absorbance with increasing temperature, indicating that the
thermally induced aggregation observed for the thioredoxin-ELP
fusion protein was due to the inverse transition of the ELP. The
inverse phase transition is also completely reversible: the
aggregates were resolubilized completely upon lowering the
temperature below the T.sub.t and little hysterisis was observed in
a thermal cycle (the up and down cycles are marked by arrows), as
shown in FIG. 13.
[0191] The T.sub.t for a given ELP decreases with increasing ionic
strength. By varying the ionic strength, the T.sub.t can therefore
be modulated over a wide range (FIG. 13), which provides a
convenient method to optimize the T.sub.t of a given ELP for a
specific application (FIG. 13). Manipulating the solution
temperature and ionic strength also provides experimental
flexibility in inducing the inverse transition for a specific ELP.
For example, in 150 mM NaCl, the T.sub.t is 43.degree. C. The
T.sub.t is greater than that of a solution, maintained at 4.degree.
C., and the thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein is therefore soluble.
Upon increasing the NaCl concentration by 1.25 M and warming to
room temperature, the T.sub.t decreases to .about.22.degree. C.,
which is the visible onset of the phase transition.
[0192] We sought to maximize pattern contrast--maximal, adsorption
onto hydrophobic SAM with concomitant minimal adsorption on to the
hydrophilic background SAM--and reversibilty of the patterns by
ensuring that adsorption onto the patterned surface template
occurred due to the phase transition rather than non-specific
adsorption prior to the phase transition. We specified the
following experimental parameters to achieve this objective:
protein concentration, initial incubation time and temperature of
the ELP fusion protein before induction of the ELP inverse
transition, and the environmental trigger to drive the ELP phase
transition. Because, protein adsorption onto surfaces is time,
temperature and concentration dependent, we chose a dilute, 1 .mu.M
solution of the fusion protein to minimize nonspecific adsorption
on the surface. Similarly, we exposed the patterned SAM to the
thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein briefly (5 min) at 4.degree. C.,
conditions chosen to minimize adsorption prior to the phase
transition. Finally, we sought to drive the phase transition to the
visible onset of turbidity to maximize interactions of the ELP with
the surface rather than solution aggregation, as it underwent its
hydrophilic-hydrophobic transition. This is because when the
intramolecular transition is initiated, the polymer chains
hydrophobically collapse, releasing waters of hydration to the
bulk. This event is subsequently followed by intermolecular
aggregation of the collapsed polymer chains, which is observed as
an increase in solution turbidity. Because intermolecular
aggregation is a secondary event, presumably with slower kinetics
(which are dependent on polymer concentration) than the
intramolecular transition itself, and because the solution is
heated at typically 1.degree. C. min.sup.-1, the visible onset of
turbidity at a NaCl concentration of 1.25 M indicates the
occurrence of the phase transition.
[0193] Based on these considerations, we chose to induce the phase
transition by adding 1.25 M NaCl to a 1 .mu.M solution of
thioredoxin-ELP in PBS at 4.degree. C. and warmed the solution to
room temperature up to the visible onset of turbidity to pattern
the thiroedoxin-ELP fusion protein onto the patterned SAMs. Under
these conditions, the visible onset of turbidity occurs at
.about.22.degree. C., slightly below room temperature. We also
wished to minimize the salt required to induce the phase transition
because of the effect of higher salt concentration on the
interaction of thioredoxin with anti-thioredoxin, as discussed
below.
Ellipsometry.
[0194] Ex Situ Measurements. A gold substrate was microcontact
printed (.mu.CP) with hexadecanethiol (HDT) using a flat
polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp inked with 1 mM ethanol solution
of the hydrophobic thiol. A part of the gold surface was brought in
contact with the inked PDMS stamp so that HDT was transferred to
only to half the surface, and formed a SAM in the region of
contact. Next, the entire substrate was briefly incubated in a
solution of MUOH which filled in the regions of the surface, which
had not been in contact with the stamp, with the hydrophilic SAM.
We measured the water contact angle and thickness of the surface by
ellipsometry. The SAM formed from HDT by .mu.CP was hydrophobic,
with a water contact angle of 92, and its thickness measured by
ellipsometry was 1.8 nm (Table I). This surface is less hydrophobic
than a control SAM of HDT created by self-assembly from a 1 mM
solution of HDT in ethanol, which exhibited a sessile water contact
angle of 105. These results suggest that the HDT SAM prepared by
.mu.CP is probably less ordered than the HDT SAM prepared by
solution self assembly. Alternatively, the SAM prepared by .mu.CP
using a flat stamp is less hydrophobic because it is subsequently
incubated in a solution of MUD in ethanol, while the control, HDT
SAM prepared by solution self assembly is not, which results in
replacement of some fraction of HDT with MUOH, thereby lowering the
water contact angle.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I Thickness and contact angle measurements on
hydrophobic and hydrophilic SAMs on gold. After ELP Before ELP
adsorption desorption Contact angle Thickness Sample Thickness (nm)
(.THETA..sub.a (H.sub.2O)) (nm) Flat Stamp (HDT 1.8 .+-. 0.1 92
.+-. 2.degree. 3.3 .+-. 0.2 region) Flat Stamp (MUD 1.4 .+-. 0.1 12
.+-. 2.degree. 1.9 .+-. 0.2 region) Solution (HDT) 1.7 .+-. 0.1 105
.+-. 1.degree. 3.2 .+-. 0.2 Solution (MUD) 1.4 .+-. 0.1 4 .+-.
2.degree. 1.8 .+-. 0.2
[0195] The thickness of the unstamped region of the surface, which
was briefly incubated in MUOH, is 1.4 nm, and is similar to that of
a control SAM of MUOH, prepared from solution. The water contact
angle of 12 showed that the surface is hydrophilic, but is somewhat
lower than the water contact angle of 4 of the control SAM prepared
by solution self-assembly of MUD. The higher contact angle, we
believe, is caused by the MUOH possible exposure of the methylene
groups due to disorder in the SAM, because the brief incubation
time does not allow the self assembly to proceed to
equilibrium.
[0196] SPR Analysis of ELP Adsorption and Antibody Binding. The
BiacoreX SPR instrument divides the sensor surface into two
channels, which can be separately used to immobilize biomolecules.
This allows one channel to be used as a reference, and all signals
presented here are difference signals between channel 1
(measurement) and channel 2 (reference). As shown in FIG. 14, for
the HDT SAM a signal difference between channel 1 and channel 2 of
about 530 Response Units (RU) was observed [A], possibly due to
small variations in substrate preparation. At time [1] the HDT SAM,
to which the thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein was adsorbed above the
T.sub.t outside the instrument was inserted [B] and a slight
increase in signal difference of .about.725 RU was observed, which
was caused by the insertion process. The reference channel 2 was
then rinsed with pure water for 5 minutes [2], which removed most
of the adsorbed thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein from the sensor
surface in this channel. The signal difference [C] of about 3300 RU
corresponds to the amount of adsorbed thioredoxin-ELP fusion
protein in channel 1.
[0197] At high salt concentration, 2 M NaCl in the running buffer,
the signal was stable, but antibody binding was inefficient.
Therefore the salt concentration in the running buffer was reduced
to 1 M NaCl [3], which led to a slow desorption [D] of about 20% of
the protein in about 1000 sec. The stable desorption rate was about
0.4 RU/sec. Next, channel 1 was selectively incubated with 50 .mu.l
anti-thioredoxin (1:10 dilution) in running buffer [4]. The signal
increased by about 1600 RU [E] indicating significant antibody
binding. Upon completion of binding, only the time-dependent
desorption at a rate of 0.4 RU/sec was observed.
[0198] The sensor temperature can be changed in the BiacoreX, and
although the temperature change is not linear with time, the
temperature is measured at the sensor surface, and can be monitored
as a function of time. Upon lowering the temperature [5] from
35.degree. C. to 18.degree. C. (T.sub.solution<T.sub.t) the
signal [F] decreased to approximately the same level (400 RU) as
the HDT SAM on gold.
[0199] The SPR measurements demonstrated that a thioredoxin-ELP
fusion protein adsorbs to a hydrophobic surface and can be
significantly desorbed by a small change of environmental
conditions. The observation that after adsorption of the fusion
protein, thioredoxin binds to an anti-thioredoxin mAb, suggests
that the thioredoxin is exposed to the bulk and accessible to
binding by anti-thioredoxin. The immobilized complex is stable at
the surface, because in a separate experiment after mAb binding,
the SPR signal was stable in a buffer containing 2 M NaCl, to
within 0.08 RU/sec over several hours, though the affinity for
initial antibody binding is reduced at these salt concentrations
(data not shown). Together, these independent experiments show that
the noncovalent complex of fusion protein and antibody can be
immobilized on the surface with high stability. Finally, the
complex can be desorbed to a significant extent from the surface by
lowering the temperature below the phase transition temperature.
These results show that binding and desorption of the ELP-antibody
complex is significantly reversible, but do not allow us to claim
that complete and absolute reversibilty in desorption because the
SPR measurements are relative to a reference channel that may not
show complete desorption of the fusion protein upon rinsing in
water.
[0200] Dynamic Patterning of Thioredoxin-ELP Fusion Proteins. We
fabricated a pattern of alternating 40 .mu.m wide lines of HDT
against a background of a MUOH SAM on gold by .mu.CP. The patterned
SAM was then incubated in Alexa488-labeled thioredoxin-ELP fusion
protein (1 .mu.M) in low ionic strength buffer for 5 min. at
4.degree. C. (T<T.sub.t). Recrystallized NaCl was added to a
final concentration of 1.25 M and the SAM was incubated for a
further 5 min at room temperature. The SAM was then removed from
the solution, washed in the high ionic strength buffer not
containing any protein (PBS, 1.5 M NaCl, pH 7.4) and then imaged
under a fluorescence microscope. The fluorescence image shown in
FIG. 15 shows significant contrast between the alternating
hydrophobic and hydrophilic stripes, indicating the preferential
adsorption of the thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein to the patterned
hydrophobic SAM. This result indicates that as the ELP becomes more
hydrophobic upon undergoing its inverse transition isothermally due
to the addition of NaCl, the fusion protein is preferentially
driven to, and adsorbs to the patterned hydrophobic regions on the
surface, mediated by hydrophobic interactions between the
hydrophobic ELP and the methyl-terminated SAM. A line profile of
the fluorescence intensity in FIG. 15B shows that high pattern
contrast can be obtained by TRAP. The SAM was then incubated in a
low ionic strength buffer (PBS) at 4.degree. C., conditions that
induce reversal of the ELP phase transition. Upon washing the
surface with a low salt buffer (T<T.sub.t), the fluorescence
contrast in the sample vanished (FIG. 15B, line profile 2),
indicating reversibility of protein patterning because of
resolvation of the ELP, and consequently decreased hydrophobic
interaction between the ELP and the HDT SAM.
[0201] The SPR results showed that that the preferential binding of
the ELP to the hydrophobic SAM above the T.sub.t oriented
thioredoxin such that is accessible for binding from solution. A
HDT/MUOH SAM was patterned as before, and then incubated in 1 .mu.M
thioredoxin-ELP under low ionic strength at 4.degree. C. so that
T<T.sub.t. Next, the ionic strength of NaCl was increased by
1.25 M, and the solution warmed to room temperature to induce the
phase transition and thereby pattern the fusion protein onto the
surface by hydrophobic interactions. The SAM was then removed and
washed in a high ionic strength to remove loosely adsorbed protein.
The SAM was incubated in FITC-labeled monoclonal anti-thioredoxin
antibody (0.1 .mu.M) for 15 min. The SAM was then washed in high
ionic strength buffer and imaged by fluorescence microscopy (FIG.
16A). The fluorescence image, especially the line profile in FIG.
5B clearly shows the preferential binding of the anti-thioredoxin
to the thioredoxin-ELP adsorbed on the HDT SAM. In contrast, little
antibody binding is observed on the regions that were patterned
with MUD. Because the antibody is sensitive to submonolayer
coverage of thioredoxin, the observed contrast confirms the
successful patterning of the thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein on the
patterned SAMs. Furthermore, these results also demonstrate that
that the patterned thioredoxin is accessible to its ligand, a
thioredoxin antibody from solution.
[0202] After imaging the bound complex on the surface by
fluorescence microscopy, the sample was removed form the high salt
buffer, and thoroughly washed in PBS at 4.degree. C., solution
conditions that reverse the transition. After washing, the sample
was imaged, and the line profile of fluorescence intensity clearly
shows that most of the bound complex desorbed from the surface due
to the reversibility of the inverse transition. Upon reducing the
temperature and ionic strength, the ELP resolvates and becomes
hydrophilic. Solvation of the ELP diminishes the hydrophobic
interaction between the ELP and the hydrophobic surface, which, we
postulate drives desorption of the bound complex from the
surface.
[0203] In Situ Ellipsometry. Although ex situ ellipsometry in air
is experimentally simpler and therefore more convenient, it does
not enable the final thickness of the adlayer to be measured
because drying the films leads to a large, extraneous contribution
to the film thickness due to crystallization of salt. We therefore
carried out in situ measurements of adsorption and desorption using
in situ ellipsometry. We examined the effect of increasing the salt
concentration to isothermally induce the ELP phase transition at
room temperature by in situ ellipsometry of unlabeled
thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein on monolayers of a HDT (hydrophobic)
and MUOH (hydrophilic) SAM on gold.
[0204] In separate experiments, the SAMs were mounted on the
ellipsometer in a cuvet containing PBS, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4, and
concentrated 4 M NaCl was added in step wise increments to raise
the NaCl concentration (data not shown). The in situ ellipsometry
revealed that the final steady sate thickness of the protein was
.about.120 .ANG. on the HDT SAM and .about.100 .ANG. on the MUOH
SAM at 1.8 M NaCl, conditions under which T.sub.solution is well
above the T.sub.t of the ELP. The extent of adsorption on the MUOH
SAM is greater than that suggested by the patterning experiments
conducted using fluorescence measurements. There are a number of
experimental differences between the two experiments, such as
initial adsorption temperature and time (4.degree. C., 5 min for
patterning, versus room temperature for in situ ellipsometry), and
a higher final salt concentration for the in situ ellipsometry
measurements; putuative causes of the different results obtained by
in situ ellipsometry and fluorescence microscopy are summarized in
the Discussion section of this paper.
[0205] Decreasing the salt concentration, by replacing the buffer
with lower salt concentration, resulted in partial desorption of
the fusion protein. The samples were then removed from the cuvet
and washed extensively in water. The samples were dried, and the
thickness were measured again in air, and showed a further decrease
in the thickness of the both adlayers. These results show partial,
80% reversibility of adsorption of the thioredoxin-ELP fusion on
both SAMs after extensive rinsing in water, and are qualitatively
consistent with the fluorescence measurements.
C. Discussion
[0206] Because protein adsorption mediated by hydrophobic
interactions on patterned hydrophobic SAMs (against a protein
resistant background) is perhaps the most generic protein
patterning method, we have focused on modulating the hydrophobic
interaction between a protein and a hydrophobic surface to allow
reversible binding of proteins to surfaces. We hypothesized that
because hydrophobic interactions are entropically driven by the
desolvation of a hydrophobic interface, triggered salvation and
desolvation of the interface would enable control of the
hydrophobic protein-surface interaction. In principle, this can be
achieved by two complementary methods: (1) creating a surface whose
surface energy can be switched by an external, environmental
trigger, and (2) a protein whose solvation can be externally
modulated. We have chosen to initially demonstrate this principle
using the latter route, namely by controlling the interaction
between an elastin fusion protein, where the elastin tail can be
reversibly switched between two states--a hydrophilic solvated
state below its inverse transition temperature, and a hydrophobic,
desolvated state above its inverse transition temperature.
[0207] We therefore sought to create dynamic protein patterns by
modulating the adsorption of proteins, by environmental, solution
control of the hydrophobic interaction between a protein and
surface. We achieved reversible, triggered solvation-desolvation of
a model protein by synthesizing fusion proteins which incorporated
a C-terminal polypeptide tag which exhibits thermally (or
ionically) reversible solvation in response to alterations in the
environmental conditions. The tag is an elastin-like polypeptide
which undergoes a thermally reversible inverse phase transition in
response to alterations in temperature or ionic strength.
[0208] We examined the interaction between the thioredoxin-ELP
fusion protein and a patterned SAM containing a hydrophilic and
hydrophobic region at the micrometer scale in response to the
inverse transition. The preferential and reversible adsorption of
ELP fusion proteins on hydrophobic substrates enables reversible
protein patterning by thermodynamically directing an ELP fusion
protein above its T.sub.t selectively onto micropatterned
hydrophobic regions against a hydrophilic background. We call this
method thermodynamically addressable reversible patterning (TRAP),
and it is potentially applicable to any molecule that contains a
moiety that is capable of undergoing a reversible
hydrophobic-hydrophilic transition. Patterning by TRAP using the
inverse transition takes advantage of a "thermodynamic address": a
surface template which exhibits patterned domains with different
surface energies, which can be easily achieved by microwriting and
.mu.CP of thiols on gold as well as by phase segregation of block
copolymers and polymer blends. The selective adsorption of ELP
fusion proteins above their T.sub.t on patterned hydrophobic
regions against a hydrophilic background, is then exploited to
thermodynamically direct the fusion protein to patterned
hydrophobic domains.
[0209] We have further shown that the thioredoxin-ELP patterns
created on the patterned SAMs on gold are oriented such that some
fraction of the thioredoxin is able to bind an anti-thioredoxin
monoclonal antibody from solution, and that binding selectively
occurs on the hydrophobic regions that are patterned with the
thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein. Because selective binding of the
antibody is observed on the hydrophobic regions, this suggests that
the concentration of adsorbed thioredoxin-ELP fusion is minimal on
the hydrophilic, OH-terminated regions. Finally, reversing the
phase transition, by lowering the salt concentration resulted in
essentially complete desorption of the antibody-thioredoxin complex
from the surface. This is an important observation, because it
shows that the selective binding of the antibody to the hydrophobic
surface is not caused by direct hydrophobic interactions between
the antibody and surface, but is instead due to specific molecular
recognition between the antibody and thioredoxin. Finally,
desorption of the bound antibody-fusion protein complex clearly
suggests that desorption is caused by reversibility of the ELP
phase transition.
[0210] The initial results reported here on dynamic protein
patterning by TRAP are promising, but there are a number of
significant differences between the results obtained by
fluorescence microscopy and in situ ellipsometry that require
further clarification. In situ ellipsometry showed significant
binding of the thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein onto the hydrophilic
MUOH SAM in its desolvated, hydrophobic state. There are a number
of reasons that could account for this discrepancy. First, because
ellipsometry measures the thickness change of all molecules
adsorbed at the surface, a small concentration of a surface-active
contaminant that binds preferentially to the surface, and is
detected in ellipsometry but not by fluorescence microscopy
(presumably because it was not labeled with Alexa due to a lack of
accessible amine groups) could account for the differences observed
by the two techniques. We believe this possibility to be unlikely,
because the thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein was exhaustively
purified prior to use.
[0211] An alternative reason for the discrepancy between in situ
ellipsometry and fluorescence microscopy may lie in subtle, but
important differences in experimental protocols such as the initial
temperature and incubation time, differences in the environmental
trigger used to induce the phase transition in the two experiments,
and well as in the rinsing procedure after adsorption of the
thioredoxin-ELP fusion protein above its transition temperature. It
is possible that the thiroedoxin-ELP fusion protein is weakly
adsorbed to the hydrophilic surface, and is removed in the
patterning experiments, but is retained in the in situ ellipsometry
dies to differences in the extent and vigor of rinsing in the two
separate experiments. The effect of the conjugation of the
fluorophore on surface adsorption, as well as distance dependent
quenching effects in fluorescence measurements on gold also cannot
be discounted. Studies are in progress to elucidate the origin of
these differences, as well as to optimize this patterning
methodology by systematic investigation of the effect of surface
chemistry (especially the use of oligoethylene glycol SAMs to
suppress ELP adsorption onto the background) and experimental
conditions on patterning by TRAP.
[0212] TRAP is an attractive methodology to dynamically pattern
proteins on the micrometer scale on patterned hydrophobic templates
because it is a generic method that is applicable to most soluble
proteins. First, this is because the introduction of
environmentally triggered properties in a target protein simply
involves gene-level N or --C-terminal fusion of the peptide codons
into a cloned or synthetic gene, which is easily achieved by
standard molecular biology manipulations. Second, fusion proteins
containing this polypeptide tag are rendered environmentally
responsive, and this appears to be a general phenomenon. Finally,
the ELP tag can be chemically conjugated to molecules that are not
genetically encodable, thereby creating an
environmentally-responsive bioconjugate that can be reversibly
adsorbed and desorbed by small changes in solution conditions.
[0213] Because proteins are patterned reversibly by TRAP, unlike
current methods for protein patterning, many applications can be
envisioned for dynamic, smart proteins that have tunable surface
properties that can be created by TRAP. Temporal control of protein
patterns is desirable for a number of applications. TRAP has
immediate application in patterning biomaterials with proteins or
other biomolecular ligands to modulate cellular interactions. For
example, dynamic protein patterns, where one or more proteins are
patterned reversibly, would introduce a greater level of
sophistication in the design of biomaterial surfaces that than is
currently possible. For example, multiple extracellular matrix
(ECM) proteins (or peptide ligands derived from ECM proteins) with
different desorption triggers could be patterned simultaneously,
but desorbed at different times, thereby providing temporal control
of protein density on a spatially-patterned surface, which could
potentially mimic the dynamic nature of the extracellular
matrix.
[0214] Similarly, dynamic protein patterning is also likely to be
useful in the regeneration of multi analyte biosensors and in
BioMEMS to control surface properties. Specifically, the ability to
bind and desorb protein by an external signal is useful in the
regeneration of biosensors that are integrated into microfabricated
devices containing microfluidics. This would enable delivery of an
analyte binding protein--the sensing molecule--to a chip surface
under conditions that induce the inverse transition of the ELP tag
and thereby promotes hydrophobic interaction between the protein
and sensor surface via the ELP tag. After analyte binding and
detection, in response to an environmental trigger--a modest change
in solution conditions such as decrease in temperature or ionic
strength--the ELP solvates, which enables the bound complex to be
desorbed from the surface, thereby regenerating the surface back to
initial conditions. Incorporation of a microfluidic system into the
microfabricated biosensor would enable analyte binding protein to
be delivered to the surface and bound by inducing the inverse
transition for a subsequent round of analyte detection. These
concepts can be further extended to reversibly pattern an array of
different proteins onto preformed, patterned SAM templates to
create proteomic arrays that are capable of releasing a bound
complex to solution for downstream analysis.
[0215] The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention, and
is not to be construed as limiting thereof. The invention is
defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to
be included therein.
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