U.S. patent application number 14/322547 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-23 for albumin variants.
The applicant listed for this patent is NOVOZYMES BIOPHARMA DK A/S. Invention is credited to Jan Terje Andersen, Jason Cameron, Bjorn Dalhus, Karen Delahay, Esben Peter Friis, Andrew Plumridge, Inger Sandlie.
Application Number | 20140315816 14/322547 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46027974 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140315816 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Andersen; Jan Terje ; et
al. |
October 23, 2014 |
ALBUMIN VARIANTS
Abstract
The invention relates to variants of a parent albumin having
altered plasma half-life compared with the parent albumin. The
invention also relates to fusion polypeptides and conjugates
comprising said variant albumin.
Inventors: |
Andersen; Jan Terje; (Oslo,
NO) ; Dalhus; Bjorn; (Hagen, NO) ; Sandlie;
Inger; (Oslo, NO) ; Cameron; Jason;
(Nottingham, GB) ; Plumridge; Andrew; (Derbyshire,
GB) ; Friis; Esben Peter; (Herlev, DK) ;
Delahay; Karen; (Nottingham, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NOVOZYMES BIOPHARMA DK A/S |
Bagsvaerd |
|
DK |
|
|
Family ID: |
46027974 |
Appl. No.: |
14/322547 |
Filed: |
July 2, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13463944 |
May 4, 2012 |
8822417 |
|
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14322547 |
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61614135 |
Mar 22, 2012 |
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61551598 |
Oct 26, 2011 |
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61482830 |
May 5, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
514/15.2 ;
435/254.21; 435/320.1; 435/358; 435/369; 435/419; 435/69.6;
530/363; 536/23.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C07K 14/765 20130101;
A61P 7/00 20180101; A61P 43/00 20180101; C07K 2319/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
514/15.2 ;
530/363; 536/23.4; 435/69.6; 435/320.1; 435/254.21; 435/358;
435/369; 435/419 |
International
Class: |
C07K 14/765 20060101
C07K014/765 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 5, 2011 |
EP |
11164991.9 |
Oct 13, 2011 |
EP |
11185064.0 |
Mar 16, 2012 |
EP |
12160007.6 |
Claims
1. A method for preparing a polypeptide which is a variant of
albumin, fragment thereof or fusion polypeptide comprising said
variant albumin or fragment thereof having a binding affinity to
FcRn which is altered compared to the binding affinity of a
reference albumin comprising human serum albumin (SEQ ID No: 2),
fragment or fusion thereof to FcRn, comprising: (a) providing a
nucleic acid encoding a parent albumin having at least 80% sequence
identity to SEQ ID NO: 2; (b) modifying the sequence of step (a),
to encode a polypeptide which is a variant albumin, fragment
thereof or fusion polypeptide comprising said variant albumin or
fragment thereof having one or more alterations at one or more
position corresponding to positions in SEQ ID NO: 2 selected from:
(a) any of 75 to 91 (preferably 83); (b) any of 492 to 538; (c)
505, 531, 524, 472, 108, 190, 197 and 425; (d) any of 186 to 201;
(e) any of 457 to 472; (f) any of 414 to 426; (g) any of 104 to
120; (h) any of 144 to 150; (i) any of 30 to 41, (j) any of 550 to
585, (k) any of 276, 410 and 414 with one or more of A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y; wherein when the
polypeptide comprises one or more alterations selected from: (v)
the group consisting of positions 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495,
496, 499, 500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538,
540, 550, 573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582 and 584; (vi)
insertion of or substitution with a Cys at one or more (several) of
the group consisting of positions 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83,
86, 90, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506,
512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580,
581, 582, 584, 585; (vii) alteration at one or more (several) of
positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567 to break a disulphide
bond, and/or (viii) D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E, R114G,
E119K, V146E, H464A, H464N, C201F, D494N, E501K, E503K, E505K,
H510A, 1513N, D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M, H535A, K536E, I537N,
D550G, D550A, V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K, E570K, K573E, K574N,
K574E, K584E; the polypeptide also comprises one or more
alterations at a position selected from group consisting of
positions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75, 76,
77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 104,
105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117,
118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188,
189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201,
276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424,
425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468,
469, 470, 471, 472, 497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512, 513,
514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526,
527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555,
556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 569,
570, 571, 572, 576, 583, 585 and/or a stop codon inserted or
substituted at a position selected from 497 to 585; (c) introducing
the modified sequence of step (b) in a suitable host cell; (d)
growing the cells in a suitable growth medium under condition
leading to expression of the polypeptide; and (e) recovering the
polypeptide from the growth medium; wherein the polypeptide has an
altered binding affinity to FcRn and/or an altered plasma half-life
compared with the half-life of a parent albumin, reference albumin,
fragment thereof or fusion polypeptide comprising said parent
albumin, reference albumin or fragment or fusion thereof.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the alteration is a
substitution.
3. A polypeptide which is a variant of albumin, fragment thereof or
fusion polypeptide comprising said variant albumin or a fragment
thereof having at least 90% sequence identity to human serum
albumin (SEQ ID NO: 2) and an altered binding affinity to FcRn
compared with the binding affinity of human serum albumin (SEQ ID
No: 2), fragment thereof or fusion polypeptide comprising human
serum albumin (SEQ ID No: 2), or fragment or fusion thereof to
FcRn, the polypeptide comprising one or more alterations at one or
more position corresponding to positions in SEQ ID NO: 2 selected
from: (a) 75 to 91 (preferably 83); (b) 492 to 538; (c) 505, 531,
524, 472, 108, 190, 197 and 425; (d) 186 to 201; (e) 457 to 472;
(f) 414 to 426; (g) 104 to 120; (h) 144 to 150; (i) 30 to 41; (j)
550 to 585, (k) any of 276, 410 and 414 with one or more of A, C,
D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y; wherein when
the polypeptide comprises one or more alterations selected from:
(v) the group consisting of positions 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495,
496, 499, 500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538,
540, 550, 573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582 and 584; (vi)
insertion of or substitution with a Cys at one or more (several) of
the group consisting of positions 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83,
86, 90, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506,
512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580,
581, 582, 584, 585; (vii) alteration at one or more (several) of
positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567 to break a disulphide
bond; and/or (viii) the group consisting of positions D63N, E82K,
E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E, R114G, E119K, V146E, H464A, H464N, C201F,
D494N, E501K, E503K, E505K, H510A, I513N, D518N, K525E, E529K,
V533M, H535A, K536E, I537N, D550G, D550A, V557M, K560E, D563N,
E565K, E570K, K573E, K574N, K574E, K584E; the polypeptide also
comprises one or more alterations at a position selected from group
consisting of positions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40,
41, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90,
91, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115,
116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186,
187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199,
200, 201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422,
423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466,
467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511,
512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524,
525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553,
554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567,
568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583, 585 and/or a stop codon inserted
or substituted at a position selected from 497 to 585.
4. The polypeptide according to claim 3 wherein the alteration is a
substitution.
5. The polypeptide according to claim 4, having a stronger binding
affinity to FcRn and/or longer plasma half-life than SEQ ID NO: 2,
fragment thereof or fusion polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 2.
6. The polypeptide according to claim 3, comprising one or more
further alterations that provides a conjugatable thiol group on the
polypeptide.
7. The polypeptide according to claim 5, wherein the fragment is at
least 200 amino acids, more preferred at least 300 amino acids,
more preferred at least 400 amino acids and most preferred at least
500 amino acids.
8. A fusion polypeptide comprising a polypeptide according to claim
3 and a fusion partner polypeptide.
9. A conjugate comprising a polypeptide according to claim 3 and a
conjugation partner.
10. An associate comprising a polypeptide according to claim 3 and
a therapeutic, prophylactic, diagnostic, imaging or other
beneficial moiety.
11. A nanoparticle or microparticle comprising a polypeptide
according to claim 3, a fusion polypeptide according to claim 8, a
conjugate according to claim 9 or an associate according to claim
10.
12. A composition comprising a polypeptide, fusion polypeptide,
conjugate, associate or nanoparticle or microparticle according to
claim 3, wherein the binding affinity of the polypeptide, fusion
polypeptide, conjugate, associate or nanoparticle or microparticle
to FcRn is stronger than the binding affinity of a composition
comprising the human serum albumin (SEQ ID NO: 2), fragment thereof
or fusion polypeptide, conjugate, associate or nanoparticle or
microparticle comprising human serum albumin (SEQ ID NO: 2) or
fragment or fusion thereof to FcRn.
13. The composition according to claim 12, comprising a polypeptide
or fusion polypeptide according to claim 3, a conjugate according
to claim 9, an associate according to claim 10 or a nanoparticle or
microparticle according to claim 11, further comprising a compound
comprising an antibody binding domain (ABD) and a therapeutic,
prophylactic, diagnostic, imaging or other beneficial moiety.
14. The composition according to claim 13, comprising a
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
15. A method of using of a polypeptide or fusion polypeptide
according to claim 3, a conjugate according to claim 9, an
associate according to claim 10 or a nanoparticle or microparticle
according to claim 11 or a composition according to claim 12 to
increase the binding affinity to FcRn or half-life, preferably in
plasma, of a therapeutic, prophylactic, diagnostic, imaging or
other beneficial moiety relative to the binding affinity of a
reference comprising or consisting of HSA (SEQ ID NO: 2) or a
fragment, fusion, conjugate, associate, nanoparticle or
microparticle thereof to FcRn.
16. A method for altering the binding affinity to FcRn or half-life
preferably in plasma, of a molecule comprising: (a) where the
molecule is a polypeptide, fusing or conjugating the molecule to a
polypeptide according to claim 3 or to a conjugate according to
claim 9; associating the molecule to a polypeptide according to
claim 3 or to a conjugate according to claim 9; incorporating the
molecule in an associate according to claim 10, in nanoparticle or
microparticle according to claim 11 or a composition according to
claim 12; (b) where the molecule is not a polypeptide, conjugating
the molecule to a polypeptide according to claim 3 or to a
conjugate according to claim 9; associating the molecule to a
polypeptide according to claim 3 or to a conjugate according to
claim 9; incorporating the molecule in an associate according to
claim 10, in nanoparticle or microparticle according to claim 11 or
a composition according to claim 12.
17. A nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide or fusion polypeptide
of claim 3.
18. A vector comprising a nucleic acid according to claim 17.
19. A host cell comprising a nucleic acid according to claim
17.
20. A host cell according to claim 19 wherein the host cell is a
eukaryote, preferably a yeast (such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae) or
a mammalian cell (such as CHO or HEK) or a plant cell (such as
rice).
21. A method of prophylaxis, treatment or diagnosis comprising
administering a polypeptide, fusion polypeptide, conjugate,
composition, associate, nanoparticle or microparticle or
polynucleotide according to claim 3 to a subject.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No.
13/463,944 filed May 4, 2013 (now allowed), which claims priority
or the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 of European application nos.
11164991.9, 11185064.0 and 12160007.6 filed on May 5, 2011, Oct.
13, 2011 and Mar. 16, 2012, respectively, and U.S. provisional
application Nos. 61/482,830, 61/551,598 and 61/614,135 filed on May
5, 2011, Oct. 26, 2011 and Mar. 22, 2012, respectively, the
contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.
REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING
[0002] This application contains a Sequence Listing in computer
readable form, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The invention relates to variants of albumin or fragments
thereof or fusion polypeptides comprising variant albumin or
fragments thereof having a change in binding affinity to FcRn
and/or a change in half-life compared to the albumin, fragment
thereof or fusion polypeptide comprising albumin or a fragment
thereof. The invention allows tailoring of binding affinity and/or
half-life of an albumin to the requirements and desires of a user
or application.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] Albumin is a protein naturally found in the blood plasma of
mammals where it is the most abundant protein. It has important
roles in maintaining the desired osmotic pressure of the blood and
also in transport of various substances in the blood stream.
Albumins have been characterized from many species including human,
pig, mouse, rat, rabbit and goat and they share a high degree of
sequence and structural homology.
[0007] Albumin binds in vivo to its receptor, the neonatal Fc
receptor (FcRn) "Brambell" and this interaction is known to be
important for the plasma half-life of albumin. FcRn is a membrane
bound protein, expressed in many cell and tissue types. FcRn has
been found to salvage albumin from intracellular degradation
(Roopenian D. C. and Akilesh, S. (2007), Nat. Rev. Immunol 7,
715-725). FcRn is a bifunctional molecule that contributes to
maintaining a high level of IgGs and albumin in serum in mammals
such as human beings.
[0008] Whilst the FcRn-immunoglobulin (IgG) interaction has been
characterized in the prior art, the FcRn-albumin interaction is
less well characterized. The major FcRn binding site is localized
within DIII (381-585). Andersen et al (2010), Clinical Biochemistry
43, 367-372. Data indicates that IgG and albumin bind
non-cooperatively to distinct sites on FcRn (Andersen et al.
(2006), Eur. J. Immunol 36, 3044-3051; Chaudhury et al. (2006),
Biochemistry 45, 4983-4990).
[0009] It is known that mouse FcRn binds IgG from mice and humans
whereas human FcRn appears to be more discriminating (Ober et al.
(2001) Int. Immunol 13, 1551-1559). Andersen et al. (2010) Journal
of Biological Chemistry 285(7):4826-36, describes the affinity of
human and mouse FcRn for each mouse and human albumin (all possible
combinations). No binding of albumin from either species was
observed at physiological pH to either receptor. At acidic pH, a
100-fold difference in binding affinity was observed. In all cases,
binding of albumin and IgG from either species to both receptors
were additive.
[0010] Human serum albumin (HSA) has been well characterized as a
polypeptide of 585 amino acids, the sequence of which can be found
in Peters, T., Jr. (1996) All about Albumin: Biochemistry, Genetics
and Medical, Applications pp 10, Academic Press, Inc., Orlando
(ISBN 0-12-552110-3). It has a characteristic binding to its
receptor FcRn, where it binds at pH 6.0 but not at pH 7.4.
[0011] The plasma half-life of HSA has been found to be
approximately 19 days. A natural variant having lower plasma
half-life has been identified (Peach, R. J. and Brennan, S. O.,
(1991) Biochim Biophys Acta. 1097:49-54) having the substitution
D494N. This substitution generated an N-glycosylation site in this
variant, which is not present in the wild-type albumin. It is not
known whether the glycosylation or the amino acid change is
responsible for the change in plasma half-life.
[0012] Albumin has a long plasma half-life and because of this
property it has been suggested for use in drug delivery. Albumin
has been conjugated to pharmaceutically beneficial compounds (WO
2000/69902A), and it was found that the conjugate maintained the
long plasma half-life of albumin. The resulting plasma half-life of
the conjugate was generally considerably longer than the plasma
half-life of the beneficial therapeutic compound alone.
[0013] Further, albumin has been genetically fused to
therapeutically beneficial peptides (WO 2001/79271 A and WO
2003/59934 A) with the typical result that the fusion has the
activity of the therapeutically beneficial peptide and a
considerably longer plasma half-life than the plasma half-life of
the therapeutically beneficial peptides alone.
[0014] Otagiri et al (2009), Biol. Pharm. Bull. 32(4), 527-534,
discloses more than 70 albumin variants, of these 25 of these are
found to be mutated in domain III. A natural variant lacking the
last 175 amino acids at the carboxy termini has been shown to have
reduced half-life (Andersen et al (2010), Clinical Biochemistry 43,
367-372). Iwao et al (2007) studied the half-life of naturally
occurring human albumin variants using a mouse model, and found
that K541E and K560E had reduced half-life, E501K and E570K had
increased half-life and K573E had almost no effect on half-life
(Iwao, et. al. (2007) B.B.A. Proteins and Proteomics 1774,
1582-1590).
[0015] Galliano et al (1993) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1225, 27-32
discloses a natural variant E505K. Minchiotti et al (1990)
discloses a natural variant K536E. Minchiotti et al (1987) Biochim.
Biophys. Acta 916, 411-418 discloses a natural variant K574N.
Takahashi et al (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 4413-4417,
discloses a natural variant D550G. Carlson et al (1992). Proc. Nat.
Acad. Sci. USA 89, 8225-8229, discloses a natural variant
D550A.
[0016] WO2011/051489 (PCT/EP2010/066572) discloses a number of
point mutations in albumin which modulate the binding of albumin to
FcRn, WO2010/092135 discloses a number of point mutations in
albumin which increase the number of thiols available for
conjugation in the albumin, the disclosure is silent about the
affect of the mutations on the binding of the albumin to FcRn.
WO2011/103076 discloses albumin variants, each containing a
substitution in Domain III of HSA.
[0017] Albumin has the ability to bind a number of ligands and
these become associated (associates) with albumin. This property
has been utilized to extend the plasma half-life of drugs having
the ability to non-covalently bind to albumin. This can also be
achieved by binding a pharmaceutical beneficial compound, which has
little or no albumin binding properties, to a moiety having albumin
binding properties. See review article and reference therein, Kratz
(2008) Journal of Controlled Release 132, 171-183.
[0018] Albumin is used in preparations of pharmaceutically
beneficial compounds, in which such a preparation maybe for
example, but not limited to, a nanoparticle or microparticle of
albumin. In these examples the delivery of a pharmaceutically
beneficial compound or mixture of compounds may benefit from
alteration in the albumin's affinity to its receptor where the
beneficial compound has been shown to associate with albumin for
the means of delivery.
[0019] It is not clear what determines the plasma half-life of the
formed associates (for example but not limited to Levemir.RTM.,
Kurtzhals P et al. Biochem. J. 1995; 312:725-731), conjugates or
fusion polypeptides but it appears to be a result of the
combination of the albumin and the selected pharmaceutically
beneficial compound/polypeptide. It would be desirable to be able
to control the plasma half-life of given albumin conjugates,
associates or albumin fusion polypeptides so that a longer or
shorter plasma half-life can be achieved than given by the
components of the association, conjugation or fusion, in order to
be able to design a particular drug according to the particulars of
the indication intended to be treated.
[0020] Albumin is known to accumulate and be catabolised in
tumours, it has also been shown to accumulate in inflamed joints of
rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. See review article and reference
therein, Kratz (2008) Journal of Controlled Release 132, 171-183.
It is envisaged that HSA variants with increased affinity for FcRn
would be advantageous for the delivery of pharmaceutically
beneficial compounds.
[0021] It may even be desirable to have variants of albumin that
have little or no binding to FcRn in order to provide shorter
half-lives or controlled serum pharmacokinetics as described by
Kenanova et al (2009) J. Nucl. Med.; 50 (Supplement 2):1582).
[0022] Kenanova et al (2010, Protein Engineering, Design &
Selection 23(10): 789-798; WO2010/118169) discloses a docking model
comprising a structural model of domain III of HSA (solved at pH 7
to 8) and a structural model of FcRn (solved at pH 6.4). Kenanova
et al discloses that positions 464, 505, 510, 531 and 535 in domain
III potentially interact with FcRn. The histidines at positions
464, 510 and 535 were identified as being of particular interest by
Chaudhury et al., (2006) and these were shown to have a significant
reduction in affinity and shorter half-life in mouse by Kenanova
(2010). However, the studies of Kenanova et al are limited to
domain III of HSA and therefore do not consider HSA in its native
intact configuration. Furthermore, the identified positions result
in a decrease in affinity for the FcRn receptor.
[0023] International patent application WO2011/051489
(PCT/EP10/066,572) discloses a first class of variant albumins
having modulated (i.e. increased or decreased) binding affinity to
FcRn receptor due to the presence of one or more point mutations in
the albumin sequence. International patent application
WO2011/124718 (PCT/EP2011/055577) discloses a second class of
variant albumins having modulated binding affinity to FcRn
receptor, the variants comprise domain III of an albumin with one
or more other domains of albumin and optionally include one or more
point mutations.
[0024] The present invention further variants having modulated
binding affinity to the FcRn receptor and, through provision of a
range of molecules, allows binding affinity (and therefore)
half-life to be tailored according to requirements. Such tailoring
may range from a large increase in binding affinity to FcRn and/or
half-life to a small increase in binding affinity to FcRn and/or
half-life, a small decrease in binding affinity to FcRn and/or
half-life to a large decrease in binding affinity to FcRn and/or
half-life. The albumin moiety or moieties may therefore be used to
tailor the binding affinity to FcRn and/or half-life of fusion
polypeptides, conjugates, associates, nanoparticles and
compositions comprising the albumin moiety.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The invention provides a method of identifying and/or
designing variants of albumin which have improved properties
compared to a parent albumin. WO2011/051489 (PCT/EP2010/066572)
discloses a number of point mutations in albumin which modulate the
binding of albumin to FcRn. The point mutations were used to
prepare a docking model comprising HSA and FcRn. The docking model
was used to identify regions of albumin which interact with FcRn
during binding and therefore whose mutation will alter binding
affinity between albumin and FcRn, relative to the binding affinity
between wild-type HSA and FcRn.
[0026] The invention provides variants of an albumin with improved
properties compared to its parent or reference. In particular the
invention provides variants of an albumin having altered binding
affinity to FcRn and/or an altered plasma half-life compared to its
parent or reference.
[0027] Therefore the invention relates to isolated variants of
albumin or fragments thereof, or fusion polypeptides comprising
variant albumin or fragments thereof, of a parent or reference
albumin, comprising an alteration at one or more (several)
positions corresponding to positions in an albumin equivalent to
positions in SEQ ID NO: 2 selected from: (a) 492 to 538; (b) 505,
531, 524, 472, 108, 190, 197 and 425; (c) 186 to 201; (d) 457 to
472; (e) 414 to 426; (f) 104 to 120; (g) 75 to 91; (h) 144 to 150;
(i) 30 to 41, (j) 550 to 585 and (k) 276, 410 and 414 with one or
more (several) of A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, Y and/or a stop codon at a position from 497 to 585;
wherein, it is preferred that, when the polypeptide comprises one
or more (several) alterations selected from (i) the group
consisting of positions 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 499,
500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540, 550,
573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582 and 584, and/or (ii)
the group consisting of positions 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83,
86, 90, 91, 104, 113, 115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503,
504, 505, 506, 512, 514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560, 562, 564, 565,
567, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 (particularly
a substitution of one or more (several) of positions 34, 38, 40,
76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503,
504, 505, 506, 512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577,
578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 from the native residue (e.g.
non-Cys residue) to Cys and/or a deletion of or substitution of one
or more (several) of positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567
from Cys, to a non-Cys residue), and/or (iii) the group consisting
of positions 63, 82, 84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464, 201, 494,
501, 503, 505, 510, 513, 518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536, 537, 550,
550, 557, 560, 563, 565, 570, 573, 574, 574, 584 (particularly one
or more of (several) D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E, R114G,
E119K, V146E, H464A, H464N, C201F, D494N, E501K, E503K, E505K,
H510A, 1513N, D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M, H535A, K536E, I537N,
D550G, D550A, V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K, E570K, K573E, K574N,
K574E, K584E); the polypeptide also comprises one or more (several)
alterations at a position selected from group consisting of
positions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75, 76,
77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 104,
105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117,
118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188,
189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201,
276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424,
425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468,
469, 470, 471, 472, 497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512, 513,
514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526,
527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555,
556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 569,
570, 571, 572, 576, 583, 585 and/or a stop codon inserted or
substituted at a position selected from 497 to 585.
[0028] The invention also comprises introduction of a stop codon at
a position from residue 497 to 585, i.e. any of positions 497, 498,
499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511,
512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524,
525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537,
538, 539, 540, 541, 542, 543, 544, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 550,
551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563,
564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576,
577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585 (or equivalent
position, relative to SEQ ID NO: 2). Introduction of a stop codon
may be instead of or together with the one or more (several)
alterations mentioned herein.
[0029] The invention provides an albumin variant or fragment
thereof having altered binding affinity to FcRn compared with a
parent or reference albumin, comprising an alteration (such as a
substitution, deletion or insertion) at: [0030] (a) one or more
(several) positions corresponding to the following positions of SEQ
ID No: 2: any of 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, 77, 78, 79,
81, 84, 85, 87, 88, 89, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112,
117, 118, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188,
189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197; and/or [0031] (b) one
or more (several) positions corresponding to the following
positions of SEQ ID No: 2: any of 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194,
195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 276; and/or [0032] (c) one or more
(several) positions corresponding to the following positions of SEQ
ID No: 2: 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423,
424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468,
469, 470, 472, 497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 515, 516, 517,
518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530,
531, 532, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 561, 566, 568,
569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583 wherein the altered binding affinity
of the variant or fragment thereof is relative to the binding
affinity of a reference such as a parent albumin or fragment which
does not comprise the alteration.
[0033] The positions described in (a) (above) may be in a first
Domain (e.g. Domain I) of a polypeptide such as an albumin, e.g.
HSA. The positions described in (b) (above) may be in a second
Domain (e.g. Domain II) of a polypeptide such as an albumin, e.g.
HSA. The positions described in (c) (above) may be in a third
Domain (e.g. Domain 1111) of a polypeptide such as an albumin, e.g.
HSA.
[0034] The albumin variant or fragment thereof may further comprise
an alteration (such as a substitution or insertion) at one more
(several) positions corresponding to the following positions of SEQ
ID No: 2:
[0035] (i) any of 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 499, 500, 501,
503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540, 550, 573, 574,
575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584,
[0036] (ii) any of 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 90, 91, 104,
113, 115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506,
512, 514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560, 562, 564, 565, 567, 573, 574,
577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 (particularly a substitution
of one or more (several) of positions 34, 38, 40, 76, 80, 82, 83,
86, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506,
512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580,
581, 582, 584, 585 from the native residue (e.g. non-Cys residue)
to Cys and/or a deletion of or substitution of one or more
(several) of positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567 from Cys,
to a non-Cys residue), and/or
[0037] (iii) any of 63, 82, 84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464,
201, 494, 501, 503, 505, 510, 513, 518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536,
537, 550, 550, 557, 560, 563, 565, 570, 573, 574, 574, 584
(particularly one or more of (several) D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N,
L90P, K106E, R114G, E119K, V146E, H464A, H464N, C201F, D494N,
E501K, E503K, E505K, H510A, 1513N, D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M,
H535A, K536E, I537N, D550G, D550A, V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K,
E570K, K573E, K574N, K574E, K584E).
[0038] It is preferred that the parent albumin and/or the variant
albumin comprises or consists of:
[0039] (a) a polypeptide having at least 60% sequence identity to
the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2;
[0040] (b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that
hybridizes under low stringency conditions with (i) the mature
polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or (ii) the
full-length complement of (i);
[0041] c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least
60% identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID
NO: 1; and/or
[0042] (d) a fragment of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:
2.
[0043] The alteration at one or more position may independently be
selected among substitutions, insertions and deletions, where
substitutions are preferred.
[0044] The invention also relates to isolated polynucleotides
encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host
cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of producing the
variants.
[0045] The invention also relates to conjugates or associates
comprising the variant albumin or fragment thereof according to the
invention and a beneficial therapeutic moiety or to a fusion
polypeptide comprising a variant albumin or fragment thereof of the
invention and a fusion partner polypeptide.
[0046] The invention further relates to compositions comprising the
variant albumin, fragment thereof, fusion polypeptide comprising
variant albumin or fragment thereof or conjugates comprising the
variant albumin or fragment thereof, according to the invention or
associates comprising the variant albumin or fragment thereof,
according to the invention. The compositions are preferably
pharmaceutical compositions.
[0047] The invention further relates to a pharmaceutical
composition comprising a variant albumin, fragment thereof, fusion
polypeptide comprising variant albumin or fragment thereof or
conjugates comprising the variant albumin or fragment thereof, or
associates comprising the variant albumin or fragment thereof,
wherein said variant albumin, fragment thereof, fusion polypeptide
comprising variant albumin or fragment thereof or conjugates
comprising the variant albumin or fragment or associates of variant
albumin or fragment thereof has altered binding affinity to FcRn
and/or an altered plasma half-life compared to the corresponding
binding affinity and/or plasma half-life of the HSA or fragment
thereof, fusion polypeptide comprising HSA or fragment thereof or
conjugates or associates of HSA or, fragment thereof, comprising
HSA or fragment thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0048] The patent or application file contains at least one drawing
executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application
publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office
upon request and payment of the necessary fee.
[0049] FIG. 1: Multiple alignment of amino acid sequences of (i)
full length mature HSA (Hu.sub.--1.sub.--2.sub.--3), (ii) an
albumin variant comprising domain I and domain III of HSA
(Hu.sub.--1.sub.--3), (iii) an albumin variant comprising domain II
and domain III of HSA (Hu.sub.--2.sub.--3), (iv) full-length Macaca
mulatta albumin (Mac_mul), (v) full-length Rattus norvegicus
albumin (Rat) and (vi) full-length Mus musculus albumin (Mouse).
Positions 500, 550 and 573 (relative to full length HSA) are
indicated by arrows. In FIG. 4, Domains I, II and III are referred
to as 1, 2 and 3 (respectively).
[0050] FIG. 2: Multiple alignment of amino acid sequence of mature
albumin from human, sheep, mouse, rabbit and goat and immature
albumins from chimpanzee ("Chimp"), macaque, hamster, guinea pig,
rat, cow, horse, donkey, dog, chicken, and pig. The Start and End
amino acids of domains 1, 2 and 3 (as defined by Dockal et al (The
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1999, Vol. 274(41): 29303-29310))
are indicated with respect to mature human albumin.
[0051] FIG. 3: Conserved groups of amino acids based on their
properties.
[0052] FIG. 4: Domain architecture of HSA and shFcRn binding
properties of HSA hybrid molecules. (A) Overall structure of shFcRn
showing the location of the pH-dependent flexible loop (orange
ribbon immediately below `His 166` label)) and His-166 relative to
the IgG binding site (red residues in ball-and-stick (ball and
stick residues below `.alpha.2` label and to left of `Glu115,
Glu116` and `IgG` labels) (23). (B) The crystal structure of
full-length HSA consists of three .alpha.-helical domains; DI
(pink), DII (orange) and DIII (cyan/blue) (19). The DIII is split
into sub-domains DIIIa (cyan) and DIIIb (blue). (C) Domain
organization of constructed hybrid HSA molecules (DI-DII, DI-DIII,
DII-DIII, DIII; the domains are shaded in the same scheme as FIGS.
4A and 4B). (D) SDS-PAGE gel migration of the HSA domain variants.
(E) SPR sensorgrams of WT HSA and domain combinations injected over
immobilized shFcRn at pH 6.0. (F) ELISA showing pH dependent
binding of WT HSA, HSA DIIIa and HSA Bartin to shFcRn at pH 7.4 and
pH 6.0.
[0053] FIG. 5: The structural implications of HSA Casebrook on
shFcRn binding. (A) Close-up view of the interaction network around
Asp-494 in HSA. Asp-494 is located in the loop connecting
sub-domain DIIIa (cyan) and DIIIb (blue). Asp-494 forms an ionic
interaction with Arg-472 and a hydrogen bond interaction with
Gln417, which both are located in sub-domain DIIIa. Asp-494 also
forms a hydrogen bond with Thr-496, thus stabilizing the loop
connecting DIIIa and DIIIb. (B) SDS-PAGE gel migration of the
mutants D494N, D494A, D494Q, E495Q, E495A, T496A and D494N/T496A.
SPR sensorgrams showing binding of shFcRn to WT HSA and (C)
recombinantly produced Casebrook (D494N), D494A and D494Q. (D)
E495Q and E495A and (E) T496A and D494N/T496A at pH 6.0. (F) SPR
sensorgrams of shFcRn binding to WT HSA and Casebrook isolated from
a heterozygote patient. (G) Competitive binding of WT HSA and
Casebrook to shFcRn at pH 6.0. The receptor was injected in the
presence of titrated amounts of WT or Casebrook HSA over
immobilized HSA. (H) SPR sensorgrams showing binding of shFcRn to
WT HSA and Q417A at pH 6.0.
[0054] FIG. 6: Conserved histidines are fundamental for binding to
shFcRn. (A) Location of selected residues in DIII of HSA. Residues
in the loop connecting the sub-domains DIIIa and DIIIb selected for
mutagenesis (Asp-494, Glu-495, Lys-500 and Glu-501) as well as
additional residues close to the connecting loop such as the
conserved histidines (His-464, His-510 and His-536) and Lys-536 and
Pro-537 are displayed as ball-and-stick (maroon). The non-conserved
His-440 is distally localized. The last C-terminal .alpha.-helix is
highlighted in yellow (labeled `C-terminal .alpha.-helix`). SPR
sensorgrams of shFcRn binding to WT HSA and (B) P499A, K500A and
E501A, and (C) H440Q, H464Q, H510Q and H535Q as well as (C) K536A,
P537A and K538A at acidic pH (6.0).
[0055] FIG. 7: His-166 stabilizes a flexible loop in a pH-dependent
manner. Close up view of the FcRn HC loop area at different pH
conditions. (A) At low pH (4.2), the positively charged His-166
forms charge-stabilized hydrogen bond interactions with Glu-54 and
Tyr-60 within the surface exposed loop in shFcRn (23). (B) At high
pH (8.2), the uncharged His-166 loosens the interactions with
Glu-54 and Tyr-60, and the loop between residues Trp-51 and Tyr-60
becomes flexible and structurally disordered (represented by the
dashed line) (8). (C) Binding of shFcRn WT and mutants (E54Q, Q56A
and H166A) to titrated amount of HSA coated in ELISA wells at pH
6.0.
[0056] FIG. 8: A proposed shFcRn-HSA docking model.
[0057] (A) An overview of the docked molecules in two orientations
showing the FcRn HC (green, labeled `FcRn.alpha.1`, `FcRn.alpha.2`
and `FcRn.alpha.3`), .beta.2m (gray) and the three HSA
.alpha.-helical domains DI (pink), DII (orange) and DIII
(cyan/blue). The DIII sub-domain is split into DIIIa (cyan) and
DIIIb (blue).
[0058] (B) Close-up view of the interaction interface between
shFcRn (green cartoon) and HSA (blue surface shown by space filling
diagram (in greyscale: darker grey)) in the docking model. The
C-terminal end of HSA (dark blue (in greyscale: darker grey)) and
the loop corresponding to residues 490-510 between sub-domains
DIIIa and DIIIb form a crevice on the HSA surface into which the
pH-dependent and flexible loop in shFcRn (residues 51-59) might
bind. His-166 of shFcRn may form strong, charge-stabilized
interactions with HSA residues Glu-54 and Glu-505. HSA Glu-505
could further interact with shFcRn Arg-162. Possible salt-bridges
are formed between Lys-150 and Glu-151 of shFcRn with Glu-501 and
Lys-500 of HSA. A cleft on the HSA surface is formed between the
loop connecting DIIIa and DIIIb and the .alpha.-helix encompassing
residues 520-535. His-161 of shFcRn may interact with Glu-531 of
HSA at low pH, and the complex could be further reinforced by the
salt bridge between shFcRn Glu-168 and HSA Lys-524.
[0059] (C) Interaction interface between shFcRn (green surface
(space filling diagram at bottom left of figure) and HSA (pink,
blue and cyan cartoon (ribbon diagram)) in the docking model. A
.beta.-hairpin loop in shFcRn is wedged in-between domains DI
(pink, including labels Lys190, Asp108 and Arg197) and Din a (cyan,
including labels Glu425 and His464) in HSA. The shFcRn Asp110 could
be a partner to either Lys190 or Arg197 of HSA following some
structural rearrangements in this interface. The conserved His464
is located in the DIIIa .alpha.-helix contacting the .beta.-hairpin
loop.
[0060] FIG. 9: Representation of shFcRn-HSA docking model. (A-B)
Two orientations of the complex are shown. Albumin is shown by a
space-filling diagram, FcRn is shown as a ribbon diagram. The core
binding interface of HSA is highlighted in pink (in grey-scale this
is seen as the darkest (almost black) region; DI (CBI)), while the
area distally localized from the interface is shown as DII (orange)
and DIII is split into sub-domains DIIIa (cyan) and DIIIb
(blue).
[0061] FIG. 10: Binding of shFcRn-GST to HSA Casebrook mutations
series (100-0.045 .mu.g/ml) at pH 6.0 and pH 7.4. The ELISA values
represent the mean of duplicates.
[0062] FIG. 11: Binding of Casebrook HSA variant isolated from a
heterozygous individual and WT HSA (200-1.625 .mu.g/ml) to
shFcRn-GST at pH6.0.
[0063] FIG. 12: CD spectra of WT HSA and Casebrook variants at pH
6.0. 5 .mu.M of each variant was evaluated and the spectra shown
represent the average of 5 runs.
[0064] FIG. 13: Reducing SDS-PAGE analysis of histidine variants of
HSA. Lane 1, SeeBlue.RTM. Plus2 (6 .mu.l) and 1 .mu.g per lane of
each (2) H440Q, (3) H464Q, (4) H510Q and (5) H535Q.
[0065] FIG. 14: Binding of truncated WT HSA and HSA variant 568stop
(truncated variant that lacks the last 17 amino acids). Binding of
C-terminal truncated HSA variant HSA to shFcRn. 10 .mu.M of each
was injected over immobilised shFcRn (2000 RU) at pH 6.0.
[0066] FIG. 15: Binding of shFcRn-GST to WT HSA and HSA E168A
(200-0.045 .mu.g/ml) at pH 6.0 and pH 7.4. The ELISA values
represent the mean of duplicates.
[0067] FIG. 16: A proposed shFcRn-HSA docking model showing, in two
orientations, the simultaneous binding of the two ligands (IgG and
HSA) to FcRn.
[0068] FIG. 17: Comparison of the fatty acid bound and the free
state of HSA showing no substantial rearrangements within
sub-domain DIII of HSA upon binding, but a considerable shift in
orientation of HSA DI relative to HSA DIII. Myr: myristate;
.beta.2m: .beta.2-microglobulin
[0069] FIG. 18: is an extract of the alpha carbons from the PDB
file of HSA (SEQ ID No. 2) from the docking model of HSA and FcRn
described in Example 1.
[0070] FIG. 19: is an extract of the alpha carbons from the PDB
file of FcRn (SEQ ID No. of FcRn) from the docking model of HSA and
FcRn described in Example 1.
[0071] FIG. 20: Binding of C-terminal truncated HSA variants to
shFcRn. 10 .mu.M of each variant was injected over immobilized
shFcRn-GST (2000 RU) at pH 6.0.
[0072] FIG. 21: Competitive binding of C-terminal truncated HSA
variants. Competitive binding was measure by injecting shFcRn-GST
(100 nM) alone or together with serial dilutions of HSA variants
over immobilized HSA (.about.2200 RU) at pH 6.0
[0073] FIG. 22: Point mutations in the C-terminal end of HSA
modulate binding to shFcRn. 10 .mu.M of HSA WT and HSA (A) HSA
Q580A, (B) HSA K574A and (C) HSA K573P/Q580A were injected over
immobilized shFcRn-GST (.about.2000 RU) at pH 6.0.
[0074] FIG. 23: shFcRn binding of WT HSA, HSA K573P and HSA
N111Q/K573P at pH5.5, samples were injected over immobilized
shFcRn-HIS (.about.1500-2500 RU) at pH 5.5.
[0075] FIG. 24: A proposed shFcRn-HSA docking model, showing the
spatial relationship between shFcRn (space filling diagram) and HSA
(ribbon diagram) DI, DII and DIII including loops of HSA comprising
positions 78-88 and 108-112.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0076] The invention relates to isolated variants of albumin or
fragments thereof, or fusion polypeptides comprising variant
albumin or fragments thereof, of a parent or reference albumin,
comprising an alteration at one or more (several) positions which
affect and/or are involved in the interaction between albumin and
FcRn, preferably an alteration at one or more (several) positions
corresponding to positions 30 to 41, 75 to 91, 104 to 120, 144 to
150, 186 to 201, 414 to 426, 457 to 472, 492 to 538, 550 to 585,
276, 410, and/or 411 of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2,
wherein, it is preferred that, when the variant, fragment or fusion
thereof comprises one or more (several) substitutions at positions
selected from (i) the group consisting of positions 417, 464, 492,
493, 494, 495, 496, 499, 500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535,
536, 537, 538, 540, 550, 573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581,
582 and 584 and/or (ii) the group consisting of positions 34, 38,
40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 90, 91, 104, 113, 115, 116, 200, 461,
471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512, 514, 538, 550, 558,
559, 560, 562, 564, 565, 567, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581,
582, 584, 585 (particularly a substitution of one or more (several)
of positions 34, 38, 40, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 104, 113, 115, 116,
471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512, 538, 550, 560, 562,
564, 565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 from the
native residue (e.g. non-Cys residue) to Cys and/or a deletion of
or substitution of one or more (several) of positions 91, 200, 461,
514, 558, 559, 567 from Cys, to a non-Cys residue) the variant,
fragment or fusion thereof also comprises one or more (several)
alterations at a position selected from group consisting of 30, 31,
32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81,
82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108,
109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 144,
145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192,
193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 276, 410, 411, 414,
415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458,
459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472,
497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517,
518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530,
531, 532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559,
560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576,
583, 585.
[0077] Preferred alterations include those made at positions
equivalent to 534, 505, 111, 527, 510 and/or 108 (positions are
with reference to SEQ ID No: 2). More preferred are substitutions
K534V, E505Q, N111D, T527M, H510D and D108A or such substitutions
at positions equivalent thereto. Substitutions K534I, K534L, D108E
and N111E, or such substitutions at positions equivalent thereto,
are also preferred because they are highly conserved substitutions
of K534V, D108A and N111D. Alterations at positions equivalent to a
loop comprising positions 105 to 120 (with reference to SEQ ID No:
2) are preferred, more preferred are positions equivalent to
positions 106 to 115 and even more preferred positions equivalent
to 108, 109, 110, 111 and 112. The skilled person can identify
positions equivalent to those of SEQ ID No: 2 as described
herein.
[0078] The invention provides an albumin variant or fragment
thereof having altered binding affinity to FcRn compared with a
parent or reference albumin, comprising an alteration (such as a
substitution, deletion or insertion) at: [0079] (a) one or more
(several) positions corresponding to the following positions of SEQ
ID No: 2: any of 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, 77, 78, 79,
81, 84, 85, 87, 88, 89, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112,
117, 118, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188,
189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197; and/or [0080] (b) one
or more (several) positions corresponding to the following
positions of SEQ ID No: 2: any of 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194,
195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 276; and/or [0081] (c) one or more
(several) positions corresponding to the following positions of SEQ
ID No: 2: 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423,
424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468,
469, 470, 472, 497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 515, 516, 517,
518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530,
531, 532, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 561, 566, 568,
569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583 wherein the altered binding affinity
of the variant or fragment thereof is relative to the binding
affinity of a reference such as a parent albumin or fragment which
does not comprise the alteration.
[0082] The positions described in (a) (above) may be in a first
Domain (e.g. Domain I) of a polypeptide such as an albumin, e.g.
HSA. The positions described in (b) (above) may be in a second
Domain (e.g. Domain II) of a polypeptide such as an albumin, e.g.
HSA. The positions described in (c) (above) may be in a third
Domain (e.g. Domain 1111) of a polypeptide such as an albumin, e.g.
HSA.
[0083] The albumin variant or fragment thereof may further comprise
an alteration (such as a substitution or insertion) at one more
(several) positions corresponding to the following positions of SEQ
ID No: 2:
(i) any of 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 499, 500, 501, 503,
504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540, 550, 573, 574, 575,
577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, (ii) any of 34, 38, 40, 75, 76,
80, 82, 83, 86, 90, 91, 104, 113, 115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496,
498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512, 514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560,
562, 564, 565, 567, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584,
585 (particularly a substitution of one or more (several) of
positions 34, 38, 40, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471,
496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564,
565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 from the
native residue (e.g. non-Cys residue) to Cys and/or a deletion of
or substitution of one or more (several) of positions 91, 200, 461,
514, 558, 559, 567 from Cys, to a non-Cys residue), and/or (iii)
any of 63, 82, 84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464, 201, 494, 501,
503, 505, 510, 513, 518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536, 537, 550, 550,
557, 560, 563, 565, 570, 573, 574, 574, 584 (particularly one or
more of (several) D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E, R114G,
E119K, V146E, H464A, H464N, C201F, D494N, E501K, E503K, E505K,
H510A, I513N, D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M, H535A, K536E, I537N,
D550G, D550A, V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K, E570K, K573E, K574N,
K574E, K584E).
[0084] It is preferred that the parent albumin and/or the variant
albumin comprises or consists of:
[0085] (a) a polypeptide having at least 60% sequence identity to
the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2;
[0086] (b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that
hybridizes under low stringency conditions with (i) the mature
polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or (ii) the
full-length complement of (i);
[0087] c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least
60% identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID
NO: 1; and/or
[0088] (d) a fragment of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:
2.
[0089] The alteration at one or more position may independently be
selected among substitutions, insertions and deletions, where
substitutions are preferred.
[0090] The invention also comprises introduction of a stop codon at
a position from residue 497 to 585 (or equivalent position,
relative to SEQ ID NO: 2) or from residue 497 (or equivalent
position, relative to SEQ ID NO: 2) to the last residue of the
mature sequence of the albumin. Introduction of a stop codon may be
instead of or together with the one or more (several) alterations
mentioned herein.
[0091] The invention allows the binding affinity (and therefore the
half-life) of an albumin moiety for the FcRn receptor to be
tailored to meet the requirements of a particular user or
application. Such tailoring may range from a large increase in
half-life to a small increase in half-life, a small decrease in
half-life to a large decrease in half-life. The albumin moiety or
moieties may therefore be used to tailor the half-life of fusion
polypeptides, conjugates, associates, nanoparticles and
compositions comprising the albumin moiety. The invention is
particularly applicable to pharmaceuticals. Some pharmaceuticals
benefit from a long half-life, e.g. to increase dosage intervals.
Some pharmaceuticals benefit from a short plasma half-life, e.g. to
accelerate clearance from the body of a patient. Therefore, use of
an albumin moiety according to the invention in pharmaceuticals
allows the half-life of the pharmaceutical to be tailored as
desired.
DEFINITIONS
[0092] Variant: The term "variant" means a polypeptide derived from
a parent albumin by one or more (several) alteration(s), i.e., a
substitution, insertion, and/or deletion, at one or more (several)
positions. A substitution means a replacement of an amino acid
occupying a position with a different amino acid; a deletion means
removal of an amino acid occupying a position; and an insertion
means adding 1 or more, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10,
preferably 1-3 amino acids immediately adjacent an amino acid
occupying a position. In relation to substitutions, `immediately
adjacent` may be to the N-side (`upstream`) or C-side
(`downstream`) of the amino acid occupying a position (`the named
amino acid`). Therefore, for an amino acid named/numbered `X`, the
insertion may be at position `X+1` (`downstream`) or at position
`X-1` (`upstream`).
[0093] Mutant: The term "mutant" means a polynucleotide encoding a
variant.
[0094] Wild-Type Albumin: The term "wild-type" (WT) albumin means
albumin having the same amino acid sequence as naturally found in
an animal or in a human being.
[0095] FcRn and shFcRn: The term "FcRn" means the human neonatal Fc
receptor (FcRn). shFcRn is a soluble recombinant form of FcRn.
hFcRn is a heterodimer of SEQ ID NO: 30 (truncated heavy chain of
the major histocompatibility complex class I-like Fc receptor
(FCGRT)) and SEQ ID NO: 31 (beta-2-microglobulin). Together, SEQ ID
NO: 30 and 31 form hFcRn.
[0096] smFcRn: The term "smFcRn" is a soluble recombinant form of
the mouse neonatal Fc Receptor.
[0097] Isolated variant: The term "isolated variant" means a
variant that is modified by the hand of man and separated
completely or partially from at least one component with which it
naturally occurs. The variant may be at least 1% pure, e.g., at
least 5% pure, at least 10% pure, at least 20% pure, at least 40%
pure, at least 60% pure, at least 80% pure, and at least 90% pure,
as determined by SDS-PAGE or GP-HPLC.
[0098] Substantially pure variant: The term "substantially pure
variant" means a preparation that contains at most 10%, at most 8%,
at most 6%, at most 5%, at most 4%, at most 3%, at most 2%, at most
1%, and at most 0.5% by weight of other polypeptide material with
which it is natively or recombinantly associated. Preferably, the
variant is at least 92% pure, e.g., at least 94% pure, at least 95%
pure, at least 96% pure, at least 97% pure, at least 98% pure, at
least 99%, at least 99.5% pure, and 100% pure by weight of the
total polypeptide material present in the preparation. The variants
of the invention are preferably in a substantially pure form. This
can be accomplished, for example, by preparing the variant by
well-known recombinant methods and by purification methods.
[0099] Mature polypeptide: The term "mature polypeptide" means a
polypeptide in its final form following translation and any
post-translational modifications, such as N-terminal processing,
C-terminal truncation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, etc. The
mature polypeptide may be amino acids 1 to 585 of SEQ ID NO: 2,
with the inclusion of any post-translational modifications.
[0100] Mature polypeptide coding sequence: The term "mature
polypeptide coding sequence" means a polynucleotide that encodes a
mature albumin polypeptide. The mature polypeptide coding sequence
may be nucleotides 1 to 1758 of SEQ ID NO: 1.
[0101] Sequence Identity: The relatedness between two amino acid
sequences or between two nucleotide sequences is described by the
parameter "sequence identity".
[0102] For purposes of the invention, the degree of sequence
identity between two amino acid sequences is determined using the
Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol.
Biol. 48: 443-453) as implemented in the Needle program of the
EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open
Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, Trends Genet. 16: 276-277),
preferably version 3.0.0 or later. The optional parameters used are
gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the
EBLOSUM62 (EMBOSS version of BLOSUM62) substitution matrix. The
output of Needle labelled "longest identity" (obtained using the
-nobrief option) is used as the percent identity and is calculated
as follows:
(Identical Residues.times.100)/(Length of Alignment-Total Number of
Gaps in Alignment)
[0103] For purposes of the invention, the degree of sequence
identity between two deoxyribonucleotide sequences is determined
using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970,
supra) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package
(EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice
et al., 2000, supra), preferably version 3.0.0 or later. The
optional parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension
penalty of 0.5, and the EDNAFULL (EMBOSS version of NCBI NUC4.4)
substitution matrix. The output of Needle labeled "longest
identity" (obtained using the -nobrief option) is used as the
percent identity and is calculated as follows:
(Identical Deoxyribonucleotides.times.100)/(Length of
Alignment-Total Number of Gaps in Alignment)
[0104] Fragment: The term "fragment" means a polypeptide having one
or more (several) amino acids deleted from the amino and/or
carboxyl terminus of an albumin and/or an internal region of
albumin that has retained the ability to bind to FcRn. Fragments
may consist of one uninterrupted sequence derived from HSA or it
may comprise two or more (several) sequences derived from HSA. The
fragments according to the invention have a size of more than
approximately 20 amino acid residues, preferably more than 30 amino
acid residues, more preferred more than 40 amino acid residues,
more preferred more than 50 amino acid residues, more preferred
more than 75 amino acid residues, more preferred more than 100
amino acid residues, more preferred more than 200 amino acid
residues, more preferred more than 300 amino acid residues, even
more preferred more than 400 amino acid residues and most preferred
more than 500 amino acid residues. A fragment may comprise or
consist of one more domains of albumin such as DI+DII, DI+DIII,
DII+DIII, DIII+DIII, DI+DIII+DIII, DIII+DIII+DIII, or fragments of
such domains or combinations of domains.
[0105] Domains I, II and III may be defined with reference to HSA
(SEQ ID NO: 2). For example, HSA domain I may consist of or
comprise amino acids 1 to 194 (.+-.1 to 15 amino acids) of SEQ ID
NO: 2, HSA domain II may consist of or comprise amino acids 192
(.+-.1 to 15 amino acids) to 387 (.+-.1 to 15 amino acids) of SEQ
ID NO: 2 and domain III may consist of or comprise amino acid
residues 381 (.+-.1 to 15 amino acids) to 585 (.+-.1 to 15 amino
acids) of SEQ ID NO: 2. ".+-.1 to 15 amino acids" means that the
residue number may deviate by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
12, 13, 14, or 15 amino acids to the C-terminus and/or to the
N-terminus of the stated amino acid position. Examples of domains
I, II and III are described by Dockal et al (The Journal of
Biological Chemistry, 1999, Vol. 274(41): 29303-29310) and Kjeldsen
et al (Protein Expression and Purification, 1998, Vol 13: 163-169)
and are tabulated below.
TABLE-US-00001 Amino acid residues of HSA domains I, II and III
with reference to SEQ ID NO: 2 Dockal et al Kjeldsen et al Domain I
.sup. 1 to 197 1 to 192 Domain II 189 to 385 193 to 382 Domain III
381 to 585 383 to 585
[0106] The skilled person can identify domains I, II and III in
non-human albumins by amino acid sequence alignment with HSA, for
example using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch,
1970, J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443-453) as implemented in the Needle
program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular
Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, Trends Genet. 16:
276-277), preferably version 3.0.0 or later. The optional
parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty
of 0.5, and the EBLOSUM62 (EMBOSS version of BLOSUM62) substitution
matrix. Other suitable software includes MUSCLE ((Multiple sequence
comparison by log-expectation, Robert C. Edgar, Version 3.6,
http://www.drive5.com/muscle; Edgar (2004) Nucleic Acids Research
32(5), 1792-97 and Edgar (2004) BMC Bioinformatics, 5(1):113) which
may be used with the default settings as described in the User
Guide (Version 3.6, September 2005). Versions of MUSCLE later than
3.6 may also be used for any aspect of the invention). Examples of
suitable alignments are provided in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0107] Allelic variant: The term "allelic variant" means any of two
or more alternative forms of a gene occupying the same chromosomal
locus. Allelic variation arises naturally through mutation, and may
result in polymorphism within populations. Gene mutations can be
silent (no change in the encoded polypeptide) or may encode
polypeptides having altered amino acid sequences. An allelic
variant of a polypeptide is a polypeptide encoded by an allelic
variant of a gene.
[0108] Coding sequence: The term "coding sequence" means a
polynucleotide, which directly specifies the amino acid sequence of
its translated polypeptide product. The boundaries of the coding
sequence are generally determined by an open reading frame, which
usually begins with the ATG start codon or alternative start codons
such as GTG and TTG and ends with a stop codon such as TAA, TAG,
and TGA. The coding sequence may be a DNA, cDNA, synthetic, or
recombinant polynucleotide.
[0109] cDNA: The term "cDNA" means a DNA molecule that can be
prepared by reverse transcription from a mature, spliced, mRNA
molecule obtained from a eukaryotic cell. cDNA lacks intron
sequences that may be present in the corresponding genomic DNA. The
initial, primary RNA transcript is a precursor to mRNA that is
processed through a series of steps, including splicing, before
appearing as mature spliced mRNA.
[0110] Nucleic acid construct: The term "nucleic acid construct"
means a nucleic acid molecule, either single- or double-stranded,
which is isolated from a naturally occurring gene or is modified to
contain segments of nucleic acids in a manner that would not
otherwise exist in nature or which is synthetic. The term nucleic
acid construct is synonymous with the term "expression cassette"
when the nucleic acid construct contains the control sequences
required for expression of a coding sequence of the invention.
[0111] Control sequences: The term "control sequences" means all
components necessary for the expression of a polynucleotide
encoding a variant of the invention. Each control sequence may be
native or foreign to the polynucleotide encoding the variant or
native or foreign to each other. Such control sequences include,
but are not limited to, a leader, polyadenylation sequence,
propeptide sequence, promoter, signal peptide sequence, and
transcription terminator. At a minimum, the control sequences
include a promoter, and transcriptional and translational stop
signals. The control sequences may be provided with linkers for the
purpose of introducing specific restriction sites facilitating
ligation of the control sequences within the coding region of the
polynucleotide encoding a variant.
[0112] Operably linked: The term "operably linked" means a
configuration in which a control sequence is placed at an
appropriate position relative to the coding sequence of a
polynucleotide such that the control sequence directs the
expression of the coding sequence.
[0113] Expression: The term "expression" includes any step involved
in the production of the variant including, but not limited to,
transcription, post-transcriptional modification, translation,
post-translational modification, and secretion.
[0114] Expression vector: The term "expression vector" means a
linear or circular DNA molecule that comprises a polynucleotide
encoding a variant and is operably linked to additional nucleotides
that provide for its expression.
[0115] Host cell: The term "host cell" means any cell type that is
susceptible to transformation, transfection, transduction, and the
like with a nucleic acid construct or expression vector comprising
a polynucleotide of the invention. The term "host cell" encompasses
any progeny of a parent cell that is not identical to the parent
cell due to mutations that occur during replication.
[0116] Plasma half-life: Plasma half-life is ideally determined in
vivo in suitable individuals. However, since it is time consuming
and expensive and there inevitable are ethical concerns connected
with doing experiments in animals or man it is desirable to use an
in vitro assay for determining whether plasma half-life is extended
or reduced. It is known that the binding of albumin to its receptor
FcRn is important for plasma half-life and the correlation between
receptor binding and plasma half-life is that a higher affinity of
albumin to its receptor leads to longer plasma half-life. Thus for
the invention a higher affinity of albumin to FcRn is considered
indicative of an increased plasma half-life and a lower affinity of
albumin to its receptor is considered indicative of a reduced
plasma half-life.
[0117] In this application and claims the binding of albumin to its
receptor FcRn is described using the term affinity and the
expressions "stronger" or "weaker". Thus, it should be understood
that a molecule having a higher affinity to FcRn than HSA is
considered to bind stronger to FcRn than HSA and a molecule having
a lower affinity to FcRn than HSA is considered to bind weaker to
FcRn than HSA.
[0118] The terms "longer plasma half-life" or "shorter plasma
half-life" and similar expressions are understood to be in
relationship to the corresponding parent or reference or
corresponding albumin molecule. Thus, a longer plasma half-life
with respect to a variant albumin of the invention means that the
variant has longer plasma half-life than the corresponding albumin
having the same sequences except for the alteration(s) described
herein, e.g. at one or more (several) positions corresponding to 30
to 41, 75 to 91, 104 to 120, 144 to 150, 186 to 201, 414 to 426,
457 to 472, 492 to 538, 550 to 585, 276, 410, and/or 411 of the
mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein, it is preferred that,
when the variant, fragment or fusion polypeptide comprises one or
more (several) alterations selected from (i) the group consisting
of positions 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 499, 500, 501, 503,
504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540, 550, 573, 574, 575,
577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582 and 584, (ii) the group consisting of
positions 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 90, 91, 104, 113,
115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512,
514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560, 562, 564, 565, 567, 573, 574, 577,
578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 (particularly an alteration of
one or more (several) of positions 34, 38, 40, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86,
104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512,
538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581,
582, 584, 585 from the native residue (e.g. non-Cys residue) to Cys
and/or a deletion of or substitution of one or more (several) of
positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567 from Cys, to a non-Cys
residue), or the group consisting of positions (iii) 63, 82, 84,
87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464, 201, 494, 501, 503, 505, 510, 513,
518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536, 537, 550, 550, 557, 560, 563, 565,
570, 573, 574, 574, 584 (particularly one or more of (several)
D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E, R114G, E119K, V146E, H464A,
H464N, C201F, D494N, E501K, E503K, E505K, H510A, I513N, D518N,
K525E, E529K, V533M, H535A, K536E, I537N, D550G, D550A, V557M,
K560E, D563N, E565K, E570K, K573E, K574N, K574E, K584E); the
polypeptide also comprises one or more alterations at a position
selected from group consisting of positions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,
36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85,
86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111,
112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147,
148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195,
196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418,
419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461,
462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497, 498, 502,
507, 508, 509, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520,
521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533,
534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562,
563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583, 585 and/or a
stop codon inserted or substituted at a position selected from 497
to 585, or from residue 497 (or equivalent position, relative to
SEQ ID NO: 2) to the last residue of the mature sequence of the
albumin. Introduction of a stop mutation may be instead of or
together with the one or more (several) alterations mentioned
herein.
[0119] Reference: a reference is an albumin, fusion, conjugate,
composition, associate or nanoparticle to which an albumin variant,
fusion, conjugate, composition, associate or nanoparticle is
compared. The reference may comprise or consist of full length
albumin (such as HSA or a natural allele thereof) of a fragment
thereof. A reference may also be referred to as a `corresponding`
albumin, fusion, conjugate, composition, associate or nanoparticle
to which an albumin variant, fusion, conjugate, composition,
associate or nanoparticle. A reference may comprise or consist of
HSA (SEQ ID NO: 2) or a fragment, fusion, conjugate, associate,
nanoparticle or microparticle thereof. Preferably, the reference is
identical to the polypeptide, fusion polypeptide, conjugate,
composition, associate, nanoparticle or microparticle according to
the invention ("being studied") with the exception of the albumin
moiety. Preferably the albumin moiety of the reference comprises or
consists of an albumin (e.g. HSA, SEQ ID NO: 2) or a fragment
thereof. The amino acid sequence of the albumin moiety of the
reference may be longer than, shorter than or, preferably, the same
(.+-.1 to 15 amino acids) length as the amino sequence of the
albumin moiety of the polypeptide, fusion polypeptide, conjugate,
composition, associate, nanoparticle or microparticle according to
the invention ("being studied").
[0120] Equivalent amino acid positions: Throughout this
specification amino acid positions are defined in relation to
full-length mature human serum albumin (i.e. without leader
sequence, SEQ ID NO: 2). However, the skilled person understands
that the invention also relates to variants of non-human albumins
e.g. those disclosed herein) and/or fragments of a human or
non-human albumin. Equivalent positions can be identified in
fragments of human serum albumin, in animal albumins and in
fragments, fusions and other derivative or variants thereof by
comparing amino acid sequences using pairwise (e.g. ClustalW) or
multiple (e.g. MUSCLE) alignments. For example, FIG. 1 shows that
positions equivalent to 500, 550 and 573 in full length human serum
albumin are easily identified in fragments of human serum albumin
and in albumins of other species. Positions 500, 550 and 573 are
indicated by arrows. Further details are provided in Table 1
below.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1 Example of identification of equivalent
positions in HSA, animal albumins and albumin fragments Albumin
Position equivalent to human serum albumin Organism (accession Full
length or Fragment Total length of (native amino acid): number of
protein) fragment details mature protein 500 (K) 550 (D) 573 (K)
Homo sapiens Full length -- 585 500 (K) 550 (D) 573 (K) (AAA98797)
Homo sapiens Fragment DI, DIII 399 314 (K) 364 (D) 387 (K) Homo
sapiens Fragment DI, DIII 403 318 (K) 368 (D) 391 (K) Macaca
mulatta Full length -- 584 500 (K) 550 (N) 573 (P).sup.
(NP_001182578) Rattus norvegicus Full length -- 584 500 (K) 550 (D)
573 (P).sup. (AAH85359) Mus musculus Full length -- 584 500 (K) 550
(D) 573 (P).sup. (AAH49971)
[0121] FIG. 1 was generated by MUSCLE using the default parameters
including output in ClustalW 1.81 format. The raw output data was
shaded using BoxShade 3.21
(http://www.ch.embnet.org/software/BOX_form.html) using Output
Format: RTF_new; Font Size: 10; Consensus Line: no consensus line;
Fraction of sequences (that must agree for shading): 0.5; Input
sequence format: ALN. Therefore, throughout this specification
amino acid positions defined in human serum albumin also apply to
equivalent positions in fragments, derivatives or variants and
fusions of human serum albumin, animals from other species and
fragments and fusions thereof. Such equivalent positions may have
(i) a different residue number in its native protein and/or (ii) a
different native amino acid in its native protein.
[0122] Likewise, FIG. 2 shows that equivalent positions can be
identified in fragments (e.g. domains) of an albumin with reference
to SEQ ID NO: 2 (HSA).
Conventions for Designation of Variants
[0123] For purposes of the invention, the mature polypeptide
disclosed in SEQ ID NO: 2 is used to determine the corresponding
amino acid residue in another albumin. The amino acid sequence of
another albumin is aligned with the mature polypeptide disclosed in
SEQ ID NO: 2, and based on the alignment, the amino acid position
number corresponding to any amino acid residue in the mature
polypeptide disclosed in SEQ ID NO: 2 is determined using the
Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol.
Biol. 48: 443-453) as implemented in the Needle program of the
EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open
Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, Trends Genet. 16: 276-277),
preferably version 3.0.0 or later.
[0124] Identification of the corresponding amino acid residue in
another albumin can be confirmed by an alignment of multiple
polypeptide sequences using "ClustalW" (Larkin et al., 2007,
Bioinformatics 23: 2947-2948).
[0125] When the other polypeptide (or protein) has diverged from
the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 such that traditional
sequence-based comparison fails to detect their relationship
(Lindahl and Elofsson, 2000, J. Mol. Biol. 295: 613-615), other
pairwise sequence comparison algorithms can be used. Greater
sensitivity in sequence-based searching can be attained using
search programs that utilize probabilistic representations of
polypeptide families (profiles) to search databases. For example,
the PSI-BLAST program generates profiles through an iterative
database search process and is capable of detecting remote homologs
(Atschul et al., 1997, Nucleic Acids Res. 25: 3389-3402). Even
greater sensitivity can be achieved if the family or superfamily
for the polypeptide has one or more representatives in the protein
structure databases. Programs such as GenTHREADER (Jones, 1999, J.
Mol. Biol. 287: 797-815; McGuffin and Jones, 2003, Bioinformatics
19: 874-881) utilize information from a variety of sources
(PSI-BLAST, secondary structure prediction, structural alignment
profiles, and solvation potentials) as inputs to a neural network
that predicts the structural fold for a query sequence. Similarly,
the method of Gough et al., 2000, J. Mol. Biol. 313: 903-919, can
be used to align a sequence of unknown structure within the
superfamily models present in the SCOP database. These alignments
can in turn be used to generate homology models for the
polypeptide, and such models can be assessed for accuracy using a
variety of tools developed for that purpose.
[0126] For proteins of known structure, several tools and resources
are available for retrieving and generating structural alignments.
For example the SCOP superfamilies of proteins have been
structurally aligned, and those alignments are accessible and
downloadable. Two or more protein structures can be aligned using a
variety of algorithms such as the distance alignment matrix (Holm
and Sander, 1998, Proteins 33: 88-96) or combinatorial extension
(Shindyalov and Bourne, 1998, Protein Engineering 11: 739-747), and
implementations of these algorithms can additionally be utilized to
query structure databases with a structure of interest in order to
discover possible structural homologs (e.g., Holm and Park, 2000,
Bioinformatics 16: 566-567).
[0127] In describing the albumin variants of the invention, the
nomenclature described below is adapted for ease of reference. The
accepted IUPAC single letter or three letter amino acid
abbreviation is employed. The term `point mutation` and/or
`alteration` includes deletions, insertions and substitutions.
[0128] Substitutions. For an amino acid substitution, the following
nomenclature is used: Original amino acid, position, substituted
amino acid. Accordingly, for example the substitution of threonine
with alanine at position 226 is designated as "Thr226Ala" or
"T226A". Multiple mutations (or alterations) are separated by
addition marks ("+"), e.g., "Gly205Arg+Ser411Phe" or "G205R+S411F",
representing substitutions at positions 205 and 411 of glycine (G)
with arginine (R) and serine (S) with phenylalanine (F),
respectively. The Figures also use ("/"), e.g., "E492T/N503D" this
should be viewed as interchangeable with ("+").
[0129] Deletions. For an amino acid deletion, the following
nomenclature is used: Original amino acid, position*. Accordingly,
the deletion of glycine at position 195 is designated as "Gly195*"
or "G195*". Multiple deletions are separated by addition marks
("+"), e.g., "Glyl95*+Ser411*" or "G195*+S411*".
[0130] Insertions. As disclosed above, an insertion may be to the
N-side (`upstream`, `X-1`) or C-side (`downstream`, `X+1`) of the
amino acid occupying a position (`the named (or original) amino
acid`, `X`).
[0131] For an amino acid insertion to the C-side (`downstream`,
`X+1`) of the original amino acid (`X`), the following nomenclature
is used: Original amino acid, position, original amino acid,
inserted amino acid. Accordingly the insertion of lysine after
glycine at position 195 is designated "Gly195GlyLys" or "G195GK".
An insertion of multiple amino acids is designated [Original amino
acid, position, original amino acid, inserted amino acid #1,
inserted amino acid #2; etc.]. For example, the insertion of lysine
and alanine after glycine at position 195 is indicated as
"Gly195GlyLysAla" or "G195GKA".
[0132] In such cases the inserted amino acid residue(s) are
numbered by the addition of lower case letters to the position
number of the amino acid residue preceding the inserted amino acid
residue(s). In the above example, the sequence would thus be:
TABLE-US-00003 Parent: Variant: 195 195 195a 195b G G - K - A
[0133] For an amino acid insertion to the N-side (`upstream`,
`X-1`) of the original amino acid (X), the following nomenclature
is used: Original amino acid, position, inserted amino acid,
original amino acid. Accordingly the insertion of lysine (K) before
glycine (G) at position 195 is designated "Gly195LysGly" or
"G195KG". An insertion of multiple amino acids is designated
[Original amino acid, position, inserted amino acid #1, inserted
amino acid #2; etc., original amino acid]. For example, the
insertion of lysine (K) and alanine (A) before glycine at position
195 is indicated as "Gly195LysAlaGly" or "G195KAG". In such cases
the inserted amino acid residue(s) are numbered by the addition of
lower case letters with prime to the position number of the amino
acid residue following the inserted amino acid residue(s). In the
above example, the sequence would thus be:
TABLE-US-00004 Parent: Variant: 195 195a' 195b' 195 G K - A - G
[0134] Multiple alterations. Variants comprising multiple
alterations are separated by addition marks ("+"), e.g.,
"Arg170Tyr+Gly195Glu" or "R170Y+G195E" representing a substitution
of tyrosine and glutamic acid for arginine and glycine at positions
170 and 195, respectively.
[0135] Different substitutions. Where different substitutions can
be introduced at a position, the different substitutions are
separated by a comma, e.g., "Arg170Tyr, Glu" represents a
substitution of arginine with tyrosine or glutamic acid at position
170. Thus, "Tyr167Gly, Ala+Arg170Gly, Ala" designates the following
variants: "Tyr167Gly+Arg170Gly", "Tyr167Gly+Arg170Ala",
"Tyr167Ala+Arg170Gly", and "Tyr167Ala+Arg170Ala".
Parent Albumin
[0136] Albumins are proteins and constitute the most abundant
protein in plasma in mammals and albumins from a long number of
mammals have been characterized by biochemical methods and/or by
sequence information. Several albumins, e.g., human serum albumin
(HSA), have also been characterized crystallographically and the
structure determined (HSA: He X M, Carter D C (July 1992). "Atomic
structure and chemistry of human serum albumin". Nature 358 (6383):
209-15; horse albumin: Ho, J. X. et al. (2001). X-ray and primary
structure of horse serum albumin (Equus caballus) at 0.27-nm
resolution. Eur J. Biochem. 215(1):205-12).
[0137] The term "parent" or "parent albumin" means an albumin to
which an alteration is made by the hand of man to produce the
albumin variants of the invention. The parent may be a naturally
occurring (wild-type) polypeptide or an allele thereof, or even a
variant thereof.
[0138] The term "albumin" means a protein having the same and/or
very similar three dimensional structure as HSA or HSA domains and
has similar properties. Similar three dimensional structures are
for example the structures of the albumins from the species
mentioned under parent albumin. Some of the major properties of
albumin is its ability to regulate of plasma volume since it
contributes to 85% of the osmotic effect of normal plasma, a long
plasma half-life of around 19 days.+-.5 days, ligand-binding, e.g.
binding of endogenous molecules such as acidic, lipophilic
compounds including bilirubin, fatty acids, hemin and thyroxine
(see also Table 1 of Kragh-Hansen et al, 2002, Biol. Pharm. Bull.
25, 695, hereby incorporated by reference), binding of small
organic compounds with acidic or electronegative features e.g.
drugs such as warfarin, diazepam, ibuprofen and paclitaxel (see
also Table 1 of Kragh-Hansen et al, 2002, Biol. Pharm. Bull. 25,
695, hereby incorporated by reference). Not all of these properties
need to be fulfilled to in order to characterize a protein or
fragment as an albumin.
[0139] HSA is a preferred albumin according to the invention and is
a protein consisting of 585 amino acid residues and has a molecular
weight of 67 kDa. In its natural form it is not glycosylated. The
amino acid sequence of HSA is shown in SEQ ID NO: 2. The skilled
person will appreciate that natural alleles may exist having
essentially the same properties as HSA but having one or more amino
acid changes compared to SEQ ID NO: 2, and the inventors also
contemplate the use of such natural alleles as parent albumin
according to the invention.
[0140] Albumins have generally a long plasma half-life of
approximately 20 days or longer, e.g., HSA has a plasma half-life
of 19 days. It is known that the long plasma half-life of HSA is
mediated via interaction with its receptor FcRn, however, an
understanding or knowledge of the exact mechanism behind the long
half-life of HSA is not essential for the invention.
[0141] According to the invention the term "albumin" means a
protein having the same, or very similar three dimensional
structure as HSA and having a long plasma half-life. As examples of
albumin proteins according to the invention can be mentioned human
serum albumin (e.g. AAA98797 or P02768-1, SEQ ID NO: 2 (mature),
SEQ ID NO: 4 (immature)), primate serum albumin, (such as
chimpanzee serum albumin (e.g. predicted sequence XP.sub.--517233.2
SEQ ID NO: 5), gorilla serum albumin or macaque serum albumin (e.g.
NP.sub.--001182578, SEQ ID NO: 6), rodent serum albumin (such as
hamster serum albumin (e.g. A6YF56, SEQ ID NO: 7), guinea pig serum
albumin (e.g. Q6WDN9-1, SEQ ID NO: 8), mouse serum albumin (e.g.
AAH49971 or P07724-1 Version 3, SEQ ID NO: 9) and rat serum albumin
(e.g. AAH85359 or P02770-1 Version 2, SEQ ID NO: 10))), bovine
serum albumin (e.g. cow serum albumin P02769-1, SEQ ID NO: 11),
equine serum albumin such as horse serum albumin (e.g. P35747-1,
SEQ ID NO: 12) or donkey serum albumin (e.g. Q5XLE4-1, SEQ ID NO:
13), rabbit serum albumin (e.g. P49065-1 Version 2, SEQ ID NO: 14),
goat serum albumin (e.g. ACF10391, SEQ ID NO: 15), sheep serum
albumin (e.g. P14639-1, SEQ ID NO: 16), dog serum albumin (e.g.
P49822-1, SEQ ID NO: 17), chicken serum albumin (e.g. P19121-1
Version 2, SEQ ID NO: 18) and pig serum albumin (e.g. P08835-1
Version 2, SEQ ID NO: 19) or a polypeptide having at least 70, 75,
80, 85, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or at least 99% amino
acid identity to such an albumin. The parent or reference albumin
may be an artificial variant such as HSA K573P (SEQ ID NO: 3) or a
chimeric albumin such as the N-terminal of HSA and the C-terminal
of macaca albumin (SEQ ID NO: 20), N-terminal of HSA and the
C-terminal of mouse albumin (SEQ ID NO: 21), N-terminal of HSA and
the C-terminal of rabbit albumin (SEQ ID NO: 22), N-terminal of HSA
and the C-terminal of sheep albumin (SEQ ID NO: 23).
[0142] Other examples of albumin, which are also included in the
scope of this application, include ovalbumin (e.g. P01012.pro:
chicken ovalbumin; O73860.pro: turkey ovalbumin). HSA as disclosed
in SEQ ID NO: 2 or any naturally occurring allele thereof, is the
preferred albumin according to the invention.
[0143] The parent albumin, a fragment thereof, or albumin part of a
fusion polypeptide comprising albumin or a fragment thereof
according to the invention has generally a sequence identity to the
sequence of HSA shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 of at least 60%, preferably
at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, preferably at least 85%,
preferably at least 86%, preferably at least 87%, preferably at
least 88%, preferably at least 89%, preferably at least 90%,
preferably at least 91%, preferably at least 92%, preferably at
least 93%, preferably at least 94%, preferably at least 95%, more
preferred at least 96%, more preferred at least 97%, more preferred
at least 98% and most preferred at least 99%. The sequence identity
may be over the full-length of SEQ ID NO: 2 or over a molecule
consisting or comprising of a fragment such as one or more domains
of SEQ ID NO: 2 such as a molecule consisting of or comprising
domain III (e.g. SEQ ID NO: 27), a molecule consisting of or
comprising domain II and domain III (e.g. SEQ ID NO: 25), a
molecule consisting of or comprising domain I and domain III (e.g.
SEQ ID NO: 24), a molecule consisting of or comprising two copies
of domain III (e.g. SEQ ID NO: 26), a molecule consisting of or
comprising three copies of domain III (e.g. SEQ ID NO: 28) or a
molecule consisting of or comprising domain I and two copies of
domain III (e.g. SEQ ID NO: 29).
[0144] The parent preferably comprises or consists of the amino
acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. The parent may comprise or consist
of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2.
[0145] In another embodiment, the parent is an allelic variant of
the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2.
[0146] The parent albumin many be encoded by a polynucleotide that
hybridizes under very low stringency conditions, low stringency
conditions, medium stringency conditions, medium-high stringency
conditions, high stringency conditions, or very high stringency
conditions with (i) the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 1, (ii) the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:
1, or (iii) the full-length complementary strand of (i) or (ii) (J.
Sambrook, E. F. Fritsch, and T. Maniatis, 1989, Molecular Cloning,
A Laboratory Manual, 2d edition, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.).
[0147] The polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a subsequence thereof,
as well as the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a fragment
thereof, may be used to design nucleic acid probes to identify and
clone DNA encoding a parent from strains of different genera or
species according to methods well known in the art. In particular,
such probes can be used for hybridization with the genomic or cDNA
of the genus or species of interest, following standard Southern
blotting procedures, in order to identify and isolate the
corresponding gene therein. Such probes can be considerably shorter
than the entire sequence, but should be at least 14, e.g., at least
25, at least 35, or at least 70 nucleotides in length. Preferably,
the nucleic acid probe is at least 100 nucleotides in length, e.g.,
at least 200 nucleotides, at least 300 nucleotides, at least 400
nucleotides, at least 500 nucleotides, at least 600 nucleotides, at
least 700 nucleotides, at least 800 nucleotides, or at least 900
nucleotides in length. Both DNA and RNA probes can be used. The
probes are typically labelled for detecting the corresponding gene
(for example, with .sup.32P, .sup.3H, .sup.35S, biotin, or avidin).
Such probes are encompassed by the invention.
[0148] A genomic DNA or cDNA library prepared from such other
organisms may be screened for DNA that hybridizes with the probes
described above and encodes a parent. Genomic or other DNA from
such other organisms may be separated by agarose or polyacrylamide
gel electrophoresis, or other separation techniques. DNA from the
libraries or the separated DNA may be transferred to and
immobilized on nitrocellulose or other suitable carrier material.
In order to identify a clone or DNA that is homologous with SEQ ID
NO: 1 or a subsequence thereof, the carrier material is used in a
Southern blot.
[0149] For purposes of the invention, hybridization indicates that
the polynucleotide hybridizes to a labelled nucleotide probe
corresponding to the polynucleotide shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, its
complementary strand, or a subsequence thereof, under low to very
high stringency conditions. Molecules to which the probe hybridizes
can be detected using, for example, X-ray film or any other
detection means known in the art.
[0150] The nucleic acid probe may comprise or consist of the mature
polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, i.e. nucleotides 1 to
1785 of SEQ ID NO: 1. The nucleic acid probe may comprise or
consist of a polynucleotide that encodes the polypeptide of SEQ ID
NO: 2 or a fragment thereof.
[0151] For long probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, very
low to very high stringency conditions are defined as
pre-hybridization and hybridization at 42.degree. C. in
5.times.SSPE, 0.3% SDS, 200 micrograms/ml sheared and denatured
salmon sperm DNA, and either 25% formamide for very low and low
stringencies, 35% formamide for medium and medium-high
stringencies, or 50% formamide for high and very high stringencies,
following standard Southern blotting procedures for 12 to 24 hours
optimally. The carrier material is finally washed three times each
for 15 minutes using 2.times.SSC, 0.2% SDS at 45.degree. C. (very
low stringency), 50.degree. C. (low stringency), 55.degree. C.
(medium stringency), 60.degree. C. (medium-high stringency),
65.degree. C. (high stringency), or 70.degree. C. (very high
stringency).
[0152] For short probes that are about 15 nucleotides to about 70
nucleotides in length, stringency conditions are defined as
pre-hybridization and hybridization at about 5.degree. C. to about
10.degree. C. below the calculated T.sub.m using the calculation
according to Bolton and McCarthy (1962, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
48: 1390) in 0.9 M NaCl, 0.09 M Tris-HCl pH 7.6, 6 mM EDTA, 0.5%
NP-40, 1.times.Denhardt's solution, 1 mM sodium pyrophosphate, 1 mM
sodium monobasic phosphate, 0.1 mM ATP, and 0.2 mg of yeast RNA per
ml following standard Southern blotting procedures for 12 to 24
hours optimally. The carrier material is finally washed once in
6.times.SCC plus 0.1% SDS for 15 minutes and twice each for 15
minutes using 6.times.SSC at 5.degree. C. to 10.degree. C. below
the calculated T.sub.m.
[0153] The parent may be encoded by a polynucleotide with a
sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ
ID NO: 1 of at least 60%, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at
least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%,
at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100%,
which encodes a polypeptide which is able to function as an
albumin. In an embodiment, the parent is encoded by a
polynucleotide comprising or consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1.
Albumin Moiety
[0154] The albumin part of a fusion polypeptide, conjugate,
associate, nanoparticle or composition comprising the albumin
variant or fragment thereof according to the invention, may be
referred to as an `albumin moiety` or `albumin component`. A
polypeptide according to the invention may comprise or consist of
an albumin moiety.
[0155] Particular aspects of the invention are discussed below:
Preparation of Variants
[0156] A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for
preparing a polypeptide which is a variant albumin, fragment
thereof, or fusion polypeptide comprising variant albumin or a
fragment thereof, preferably having a binding affinity to FcRn
(preferably shFcRn) or half-life (e.g. in plasma) which is altered
relative to a reference albumin, the method comprising the steps
of: [0157] a. Identifying one or more (several) amino acid residue
positions being important for the binding of albumin to FcRn or
half-life (e.g. in plasma), in an albumin or a fragment thereof or
the albumin part of a fusion polypeptide comprising albumin or a
fragment thereof; [0158] b. Providing a nucleic acid encoding said
albumin, the fragment thereof or the albumin part of a fusion
polypeptide comprising albumin or the fragment thereof; [0159] c.
Modifying the nucleic acid provided in b., so that the one or more
(several) amino acid residue located at the positions identified in
a., there is an alteration such as a deletion, substitution or an
insertion, most preferably a substitution; [0160] d. Expressing the
modified nucleic acid in a suitable host cell; and [0161] e.
Recovering the variant albumin, the fragment thereof or the fusion
polypeptide comprising variant albumin or the fragment thereof.
[0162] The identification of one or more (several) amino acid
residue positions being important for the binding of albumin to
FcRn or half-life (e.g. in plasma), in albumin, fragment thereof or
the albumin part of a fusion polypeptide can be done in several
ways including, but not limited to, random mutagenesis followed by
analysis of the generated mutants and comparison with the
non-mutated parent or reference molecule, and identification based
on structural considerations optionally followed by generation of
variants having the identified alterations and comparison with the
non-mutated patent molecule.
[0163] Reference albumins are disclosed herein, it is particularly
preferred that the reference albumin is HSA (SEQ ID No: 2).
[0164] A preferred method for identification of one or more
(several) amino acid residue positions to be changed to in order to
prepare a variant HSA having an altered binding to FcRn or
half-life (e.g. in plasma) compared with natural HSA, comprises the
following steps: [0165] i) providing a three dimensional structure
(model) of an albumin, such as HSA; [0166] ii) providing a three
dimensional structure (model) of FcRn; [0167] iii) using the
albumin structure of (i) and the FcRn structure of (ii) to model
the structure of the complex formed by albumin and FcRn when bound
together, thus generating a `docking model`; [0168] iv) using the
docking model to identify amino acid residues in the albumin which
interact with FcRn or are involved in the interaction with
FcRn;
[0169] Step iii) and iv) can be done using techniques well known to
the skilled person.
[0170] The docking model may be prepared using any suitable method
or software. Suitable software includes fast fourier based software
such as ZDOCK Fast Fourier Transform based protein docking program
(Chen R et al (2003). Proteins 52(1):80-87). With regards
construction of a docking model for FcRn and albumin, it is
preferred that the model of albumin comprises domain III and at
least one of domain I or domain II, preferably all domains.
Preferably the albumin is HSA (e.g. SEQ ID NO: 2). Preferably, the
model of albumin is resolved at pH 7 to 8. The model of albumin may
be, or be based on the crystal structure of HSA at 2.5 .ANG. (PDB
code 1 bm0 (Sugio S et al (1999) Protein Eng 12(6):439-446).
Preferably the FcRn is a human FcRn and most preferably soluble
human FcRn. It is preferred that the model of FcRn is solved at a
pH lower than 6.4, for example at a pH equal to or lower than pH
6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6, 5.9, 5.8, 5.7, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0,
4.9, 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, 4.4, 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, 3.9, 3.8, 3.7,
3.6, 3.5, 3.4, 3.3, 3.2, 3.1, 3.0. More preferably the pH is from
3.7 to 4.7, 4.0 to 4.4 and most preferably 4.2. An advantage of a
low pH is that it is more representative of the natural
physiological environment in which albumin and FcRn bind. The model
of FcRn may be, or be based on, the 2.7 .ANG. resolution structure
of FcRn at pH 8.2 (PDB code 1exu).
[0171] A second FcRn model may be used in addition to the first
FcRn model and it is preferred that the second model is solved at a
different pH to the first model, e.g. a higher pH such as a pH
equal to or higher than 6.4, 6.8, 7.0, 7.2, 7.4, 7.6, 7.8, 8.0,
8.2, 8.4, 8.6, 8.8 or 9.0. An advantage of using an additional FcRn
model is that the impact of pH on binding between FcRn and an
albumin moiety can be studied. Thus, docking models created using
FcRns solved at different pHs may be compared to identify amino
acid residues which are involved in albumin-FcRn binding at one pH
but not the other, i.e. pH-dependent binding.
[0172] Identification of amino acid residues in the albumin which
interact with FcRn or are involved in the interaction with FcRn may
be done manually and/or visually
[0173] Optionally, the method of preparing and/or method of
identification may comprise comparing the primary structure and/or
the tertiary structure of a second albumin (e.g. a non-human
albumin) with the primary structure and/or the tertiary structure
of the albumin of (i) to identify equivalent amino acids to those
identified in (iv). Primary structure comparison may be done by
sequence alignment between the second albumin and the albumin of
(i). Secondary structure comparison may be done using publicly
available software such as PDBeFold (also known as SSM), an
interactive service for comparing protein structures in 3D (e.g.
Version 2.36 or later, available at
http://www.ebi.ac.uk/msd-srv/ssm/ and described in publications
such as Krissinel et al (2004) Acta Cryst. D60, 2256-2268 and
Krissinel (2007) Bioinformatics 23, 717-723).
[0174] Optionally, the method of preparing and/or method of
identification may comprise preparing variants of albumin at the
positions identified in (iv) or (v) and confirming (e.g. by binding
affinity analysis) that the prepared variants have altered binding
to FcRn compared to a reference such as the albumin of (i). Binding
affinity analysis may be carried out by surface plasmon resonance
(e.g. as disclosed herein) and/or by ELISA (e.g. as disclosed in
WO2011/051489 (PCT/EP10/066,572), incorporated herein by reference)
and/or confirming that the prepared variants have altered
half-lives, e.g. in plasma, compared a reference such as the
albumin of (i). However, the skilled person will appreciate that
other methods may be used to identify polypeptides having different
binding properties to FcRn than HSA, and that the method is not
dependent on how the polypeptide, having different binding
properties to FcRn, has been identified.
[0175] According to the first aspect of the invention, preferably
the amino acid resides of albumin which affect the binding of the
albumin to FcRn or half-life (e.g. in plasma) are located in one or
more (several) of the following regions: (a) 505, 531, 524, 472,
108, 190, 197 and 425; (b) 492 to 538; (c) 186 to 201; (d) 457 to
472; (e) 414 to 426; (f) 104 to 120; (g) 75 to 91; (h) 144 to 150;
(i) 30 to 41, (j) 550 to 585 and (k) 276, 410 and 414 with one or
more (several) of A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, Y and/or a stop codon at a position from 497 to 585;
wherein, it is preferred that, when the polypeptide comprises one
or more (several) alterations selected from (i) the group
consisting of positions 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 499,
500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540, 550,
573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582 and 584, and/or (ii)
the group consisting of positions 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83,
86, 90, 91, 104, 113, 115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503,
504, 505, 506, 512, 514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560, 562, 564, 565,
567, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 (particularly
a substitution of one or more (several) of positions 34, 38, 40,
76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503,
504, 505, 506, 512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577,
578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 from the native residue (e.g.
non-Cys residue) to Cys and/or a deletion of or substitution of one
or more (several) of positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567
from Cys, to a non-Cys residue), and/or the group consisting of
positions (iii) 82, 114, 119, 464, 201, 505, 510, 513, 533, 535,
536, 550, 560, 563, 565, 573, 574 (particularly one or more of
(several) D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E, R114G, E119K, V146E,
H464A, H464N, C201F, D494N, E501K, E503K, E505K, H510A, I513N,
D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M, H535A, K536E, 1537N, D550G, D550A,
V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K, E570K, K573E, K574N, K574E, K584E); the
polypeptide also comprises one or more (several) alterations at a
position selected from group consisting of positions 30, 31, 32,
33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82,
83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109,
110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145,
146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193,
194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415,
416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459,
460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497,
498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518,
519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531,
532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560,
561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583,
585 and/or a stop codon inserted or substituted at a position
selected from 497 to 585 (positions are provided relative to SEQ ID
NO: 2, however the invention also includes equivalent positions in
sequences other than SEQ ID No: 2).
[0176] Furthermore introduction of a stop codon may be made at any
of positions 497 to 585, i.e. any of positions 497, 498, 499, 500,
501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513,
514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526,
527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539,
540, 541, 542, 543, 544, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 552,
553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565,
566, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578,
579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, (or equivalent position,
relative to SEQ ID NO: 2). The introduction may be made by
insertion or substitution. Introduction of such a stop codon may be
in addition to or instead of an alteration described herein.
[0177] Therefore, the first aspect of the invention provides an
albumin variant or fragment thereof having altered binding affinity
to FcRn compared with a parent or reference albumin, comprising an
alteration (such as a substitution, deletion or insertion) at:
[0178] (a) one or more (several) positions corresponding to the
following positions of SEQ ID No: 2: any of 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36,
37, 39, 41, 77, 78, 79, 81, 84, 85, 87, 88, 89, 105, 106, 107, 108,
109, 110, 111, 112, 117, 118, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149,
150, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197;
and/or [0179] (b) one or more (several) positions corresponding to
the following positions of SEQ ID No: 2: any of 189, 190, 191, 192,
193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199; and/or [0180] (c) one or more
(several) positions corresponding to the following positions of SEQ
ID No: 2: 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425,
426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470,
472, 497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519,
520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532,
534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 561, 566, 568, 569, 570,
571, 572, 576, 583 wherein the altered binding affinity of the
variant or fragment thereof is relative to the binding affinity of
a reference such as a parent albumin or fragment which does not
comprise the alteration.
[0181] The positions described in (a) (above) may be in a first
Domain (e.g. Domain I) of a polypeptide such as an albumin, e.g.
HSA. The positions described in (b) (above) may be in a second
Domain (e.g. Domain II) of a polypeptide such as an albumin, e.g.
HSA. The positions described in (c) (above) may be in a third
Domain (e.g. Domain 1111) of a polypeptide such as an albumin, e.g.
HSA.
[0182] The albumin variant or fragment thereof may further comprise
an alteration (such as a substitution or insertion) at one more
(several) positions corresponding to the following positions of SEQ
ID No: 2:
[0183] (i) any of 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 499, 500, 501,
503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540, 550, 573, 574,
575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584,
[0184] (ii) any of 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 90, 91, 104,
113, 115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506,
512, 514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560, 562, 564, 565, 567, 573, 574,
577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 (particularly a substitution
of one or more (several) of positions 34, 38, 40, 76, 80, 82, 83,
86, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506,
512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580,
581, 582, 584, 585 from the native residue (e.g. non-Cys residue)
to Cys and/or a deletion of or substitution of one or more
(several) of positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567 from Cys,
to a non-Cys residue), and/or
[0185] (iii) any of 63, 82, 84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464,
201, 494, 501, 503, 505, 510, 513, 518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536,
537, 550, 550, 557, 560, 563, 565, 570, 573, 574, 574, 584
(particularly one or more of (several) D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N,
L90P, K106E, R114G, E119K, V146E, H464A, H464N, C201F, D494N,
E501K, E503K, E505K, H510A, I513N, D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M,
H535A, K536E, I537N, D550G, D550A, V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K,
E570K, K573E, K574N, K574E, K584E).
[0186] It is preferred that the parent albumin and/or the variant
albumin comprises or consists of:
[0187] (a) a polypeptide having at least 60% sequence identity to
the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2;
[0188] (b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that
hybridizes under low stringency conditions with (i) the mature
polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or (ii) the
full-length complement of (i);
[0189] c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least
60% identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID
NO: 1; and/or
[0190] (d) a fragment of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:
2.
[0191] Further preferences for the first aspect of the invention
are provided below the thirteenth aspect of the invention. The
skilled person understands that any aspect of the invention may be
combined with another aspect or aspects of the invention and/or
with one or more (several) of the preferences for the aspects of
the invention and/or other disclosures made herein.
[0192] A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for
obtaining a variant albumin or fragments thereof, or fusion
polypeptides comprising the variant albumin or fragments thereof,
or associates of variant albumin or fragment thereof
comprising:
[0193] (a) introducing into a parent albumin or fragments thereof,
or fusion polypeptides comprising the parent albumin or fragments
thereof an alteration at one or more (several) positions
corresponding to positions 30 to 41, 75 to 91, 104 to 120, 144 to
150, 186 to 201, 414 to 426, 457 to 472, 492 to 538, 550 to 585,
276, 410, and/or 411 of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2,
wherein, it is preferred that, when the polypeptide comprises one
or more (several) alterations selected from (i) the group
consisting of positions 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 499,
500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540, 550,
573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582 and 584, and/or (ii)
the group consisting of positions 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83,
86, 90, 91, 104, 113, 115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503,
504, 505, 506, 512, 514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560, 562, 564, 565,
567, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 (particularly
a substitution of one or more (several) of positions 34, 38, 40,
76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503,
504, 505, 506, 512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577,
578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 from the native residue (e.g.
non-Cys residue) to Cys and/or a deletion of or substitution of one
or more (several) of positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567
from Cys, to a non-Cys residue), and/or the group consisting of
positions (iii) 63, 82, 84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464, 201,
494, 501, 503, 505, 510, 513, 518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536, 537,
550, 550, 557, 560, 563, 565, 570, 573, 574, 574, 584 (particularly
one or more of (several) D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E,
R114G, E119K, V146E, H464A, H464N, C201F, D494N, E501K, E503K,
E505K, H510A, 1513N, D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M, H535A, K536E,
I537N, D550G, D550A, V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K, E570K, K573E,
K574N, K574E, K584E); the polypeptide also comprises one or more
(several) alterations at a position selected from group consisting
of positions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75,
76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91,
104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116,
117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187,
188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200,
201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423,
424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467,
468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512,
513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525,
526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554,
555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568,
569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583, 585 and/or a stop codon inserted or
substituted at a position selected from 497 to 585; and
[0194] (b) recovering the variant albumin or fragments thereof, or
fusion polypeptides comprising the variant albumin or fragments
thereof. T
[0195] Therefore, positions may be selected from one or more
(several) of: 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75,
76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91,
104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116,
117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187,
188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200,
201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422,
423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465,
466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497,
498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510,
511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523,
524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536,
537, 538, 550, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560,
561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574,
575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585.
[0196] Furthermore introduction of a stop codon may be made at any
of positions 497 to 585, i.e. any of positions 497, 498, 499, 500,
501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513,
514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526,
527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539,
540, 541, 542, 543, 544, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 552,
553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565,
566, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578,
579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585 (or equivalent position, relative
to SEQ ID NO: 2). The introduction may be made by insertion or
substitution. Introduction of such a stop codon may be in addition
to or instead of an alteration described herein.
[0197] Therefore, the second aspect of the invention relates to a
method for obtaining a variant albumin or fragments thereof, or
fusion polypeptides comprising the variant albumin or fragments
thereof, or associates of variant albumin or fragment thereof
comprising:
[0198] (a) introducing into a parent albumin or fragments thereof,
or fusion polypeptides comprising the parent albumin or fragments
thereof an alteration at one or more (several) positions
corresponding to positions albumin variant or fragment thereof
having altered binding affinity to FcRn compared with a parent or
reference albumin, comprising an alteration (such as a
substitution, deletion or insertion) at: [0199] (a) one or more
(several) positions corresponding to the following positions of SEQ
ID No: 2: any of 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, 77, 78, 79,
81, 84, 85, 87, 88, 89, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112,
117, 118, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188,
189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197; and/or [0200] (b) one
or more (several) positions corresponding to the following
positions of SEQ ID No: 2: any of 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194,
195, 196, 197, 198, 199; and/or [0201] (c) one or more (several)
positions corresponding to the following positions of SEQ ID No: 2:
414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 457,
458, 459, 460, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 472, 497,
498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521,
522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 534, 551,
552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 561, 566, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572,
576, 583 wherein the altered binding affinity of the variant or
fragment thereof is relative to the binding affinity of a reference
such as a parent albumin or fragment which does not comprise the
alteration.
[0202] The positions described in (a) (above) may be in a first
Domain (e.g. Domain I) of a polypeptide such as an albumin, e.g.
HSA. The positions described in (b) (above) may be in a second
Domain (e.g. Domain II) of a polypeptide such as an albumin, e.g.
HSA. The positions described in (c) (above) may be in a third
Domain (e.g. Domain IIII) of a polypeptide such as an albumin, e.g.
HSA.
[0203] The albumin variant or fragment thereof may further comprise
an alteration (such as a substitution or insertion) at one more
(several) positions corresponding to the following positions of SEQ
ID No: 2:
[0204] (i) any of 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 499, 500, 501,
503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540, 550, 573, 574,
575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584,
[0205] (ii) any of 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 90, 91, 104,
113, 115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506,
512, 514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560, 562, 564, 565, 567, 573, 574,
577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 (particularly a substitution
of one or more (several) of positions 34, 38, 40, 76, 80, 82, 83,
86, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506,
512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580,
581, 582, 584, 585 from the native residue (e.g. non-Cys residue)
to Cys and/or a deletion of or substitution of one or more
(several) of positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567 from Cys,
to a non-Cys residue), and/or
[0206] (iii) any of 63, 82, 84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464,
201, 494, 501, 503, 505, 510, 513, 518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536,
537, 550, 550, 557, 560, 563, 565, 570, 573, 574, 574, 584
(particularly one or more of (several) D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N,
L90P, K106E, R114G, E119K, V146E, H464A, H464N, C201F, D494N,
E501K, E503K, E505K, H510A, I513N, D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M,
H535A, K536E, I537N, D550G, D550A, V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K,
E570K, K573E, K574N, K574E, K584E).
[0207] It is preferred that the parent albumin and/or the variant
albumin comprises or consists of:
[0208] (a) a polypeptide having at least 60% sequence identity to
the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2;
[0209] (b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that
hybridizes under low stringency conditions with (i) the mature
polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or (ii) the
full-length length complement of (i);
[0210] c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least
60% identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID
NO: 1; and/or
[0211] (d) a fragment of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:
2.
[0212] The variants can be prepared by those skilled persons using
any mutagenesis procedure known in the art, such as site-directed
mutagenesis, synthetic gene construction, semi-synthetic gene
construction, random mutagenesis, shuffling, etc.
[0213] Site-directed mutagenesis is a technique in which one or
more (several) mutations (alterations) are created at one or more
(several) defined sites in a polynucleotide encoding the
parent.
[0214] Site-directed mutagenesis can be accomplished in vitro by
PCR involving the use of oligonucleotide primers containing the
desired mutation. Site-directed mutagenesis can also be performed
in vitro by cassette mutagenesis involving the cleavage by a
restriction enzyme at a site in the plasmid comprising a
polynucleotide encoding the parent and subsequent ligation of an
oligonucleotide containing the mutation in the polynucleotide.
Usually the restriction enzyme that digests at the plasmid and the
oligonucleotide is the same, permitting ligation of the plasmid and
insert to one another. See, e.g., Scherer and Davis, 1979, Proc.
Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76: 4949-4955; and Barton et al., 1990,
Nucleic Acids Res. 18: 7349-4966.
[0215] Site-directed mutagenesis can also be accomplished in vivo
by methods known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Patent Application
Publication NO: 2004/0171154; Storici et al., 2001, Nature
Biotechnol. 19: 773-776; Kren et al., 1998, Nat. Med. 4: 285-290;
and Calissano and Macino, 1996, Fungal Genet. Newslett. 43:
15-16.
[0216] Any site-directed mutagenesis procedure can be used in the
invention. There are many commercial kits available that can be
used to prepare variants.
[0217] Synthetic gene construction entails in vitro synthesis of a
designed polynucleotide molecule to encode a polypeptide of
interest. Gene synthesis can be performed utilizing a number of
techniques, such as the multiplex microchip-based technology
described by Tian et al. (2004, Nature 432: 1050-1054) and similar
technologies wherein oligonucleotides are synthesized and assembled
upon photo-programmable microfluidic chips.
[0218] Single or multiple amino acid substitutions, deletions,
and/or insertions can be made and tested using known methods of
mutagenesis, recombination, and/or shuffling, followed by a
relevant screening procedure, such as those disclosed by
Reidhaar-Olson and Sauer, 1988, Science 241: 53-57; Bowie and
Sauer, 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 2152-2156; WO 95/17413;
or WO 95/22625. Other methods that can be used include error-prone
PCR, phage display (e.g., Lowman et al., 1991, Biochemistry 30:
10832-10837; U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409; WO 92/06204) and
region-directed mutagenesis (Derbyshire et al., 1986, Gene 46: 145;
Ner et al., 1988, DNA 7: 127).
[0219] Mutagenesis/shuffling methods can be combined with
high-throughput, automated screening methods to detect activity of
cloned, mutagenized polypeptides expressed by host cells (Ness et
al., 1999, Nature Biotechnology 17: 893-896). Mutagenized DNA
molecules that encode active polypeptides can be recovered from the
host cells and rapidly sequenced using standard methods in the art.
These methods allow the rapid determination of the importance of
individual amino acid residues in a polypeptide.
[0220] Semi-synthetic gene construction is accomplished by
combining aspects of synthetic gene construction, and/or
site-directed mutagenesis, and/or random mutagenesis, and/or
shuffling. Semi-synthetic construction is typified by a process
utilizing polynucleotide fragments that are synthesized, in
combination with PCR techniques. Defined regions of genes may thus
be synthesized de novo, while other regions may be amplified using
site-specific mutagenic primers, while yet other regions may be
subjected to error-prone PCR or non-error prone PCR amplification.
Polynucleotide sub sequences may then be shuffled.
[0221] Further preferences for the second aspect of the invention
are provided below the thirteenth aspect of the invention.
Variants
[0222] A third aspect of the invention provides variant albumins or
fragments thereof, or fusion polypeptides comprising the variant
albumin or fragments thereof, of a parent albumin, comprising an
alteration at one or more (several) positions corresponding to
positions 30 to 41, 75 to 91, 104 to 120, 144 to 150, 186 to 201,
414 to 426, 457 to 472, 492 to 538, 550 to 585, 276, 410 and/or 411
of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein, it is preferred
that, when the polypeptide comprises one or more (several)
alterations selected from (i) the group consisting of positions
417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 499, 500, 501, 503, 504, 505,
506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540, 550, 573, 574, 575, 577, 578,
579, 580, 581, 582 and 584, and/or (ii) the group consisting of
positions 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 90, 91, 104, 113,
115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512,
514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560, 562, 564, 565, 567, 573, 574, 577,
578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 (particularly a substitution of
one or more (several) of positions 34, 38, 40, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86,
104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512,
538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581,
582, 584, 585 from the native residue (e.g. non-Cys residue) to Cys
and/or a deletion of or substitution of one or more (several) of
positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567 from Cys, to a non-Cys
residue), and/or the group consisting of positions (iii) 63, 82,
84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464, 201, 494, 501, 503, 505, 510,
513, 518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536, 537, 550, 550, 557, 560, 563,
565, 570, 573, 574, 574, 584 (particularly one or more of (several)
D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E, R114G, E119K, V146E, H464A,
H464N, C201F, D494N, E501K, E503K, E505K, H510A, I513N, D518N,
K525E, E529K, V533M, H535A, K536E, I537N, D550G, D550A, V557M,
K560E, D563N, E565K, E570K, K573E, K574N, K574E, K584E); the
polypeptide also comprises one or more (several) alterations at a
position selected from group consisting of positions 30, 31, 32,
33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82,
83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109,
110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145,
146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193,
194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415,
416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459,
460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497,
498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518,
519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531,
532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560,
561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583,
585 and/or a stop codon inserted or substituted at a position
selected from 497 to 585.
[0223] Furthermore a stop codon may be introduced at any of
positions 497 to 585. The introduction may be made by insertion or
substitution. Introduction of such a stop codon may be in addition
to or instead of a mutation described herein.
[0224] Therefore, the third aspect of the invention provides
variant albumins or fragments thereof, or fusion polypeptides
comprising the variant albumin or fragments thereof, of a parent
albumin, comprising an alteration (such as a substitution, deletion
or insertion) at: [0225] (a) one or more (several) positions
corresponding to the following positions of SEQ ID No: 2: any of
30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, 77, 78, 79, 81, 84, 85, 87, 88,
89, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 117, 118, 120, 144,
145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192,
193, 194, 195, 196, 197; and/or [0226] (b) one or more (several)
positions corresponding to the following positions of SEQ ID No: 2:
any of 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199;
and/or [0227] (c) one or more (several) positions corresponding to
the following positions of SEQ ID No: 2: 414, 415, 416, 418, 419,
420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 462, 463,
465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 472, 497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509,
511, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526,
527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556,
557, 561, 566, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583.
[0228] The positions described in (a) (above) may be in a first
Domain (e.g. Domain I) of a polypeptide such as an albumin, e.g.
HSA. The positions described in (b) (above) may be in a second
Domain (e.g. Domain II) of a polypeptide such as an albumin, e.g.
HSA. The positions described in (c) (above) may be in a third
Domain (e.g. Domain IIII) of a polypeptide such as an albumin, e.g.
HSA.
[0229] The albumin variant or fragment thereof may further comprise
an alteration (such as a substitution or insertion) at one more
(several) positions corresponding to the following positions of SEQ
ID No: 2:
[0230] (i) any of 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 499, 500, 501,
503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540, 550, 573, 574,
575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584,
[0231] (ii) any of 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 90, 91, 104,
113, 115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506,
512, 514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560, 562, 564, 565, 567, 573, 574,
577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 (particularly a substitution
of one or more (several) of positions 34, 38, 40, 76, 80, 82, 83,
86, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506,
512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580,
581, 582, 584, 585 from the native residue (e.g. non-Cys residue)
to Cys and/or a deletion of or substitution of one or more
(several) of positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567 from Cys,
to a non-Cys residue), and/or
[0232] (iii) any of 63, 82, 84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464,
201, 494, 501, 503, 505, 510, 513, 518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536,
537, 550, 550, 557, 560, 563, 565, 570, 573, 574, 574, 584
(particularly one or more of (several) D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N,
L90P, K106E, R114G, E119K, V146E, H464A, H464N, C201F, D494N,
E501K, E503K, E505K, H510A, 1513N, D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M,
H535A, K536E, 1537N, D550G, D550A, V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K,
E570K, K573E, K574N, K574E, K584E).
[0233] It is preferred that the parent albumin and/or the variant
albumin comprises or consists of:
[0234] (a) a polypeptide having at least 60% sequence identity to
the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2;
[0235] (b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that
hybridizes under low stringency conditions with (i) the mature
polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or (ii) the
full-length complement of (i);
[0236] c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least
60% identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID
NO: 1; and/or
[0237] (d) a fragment of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:
2.
[0238] The variant albumin, a fragment thereof, or albumin part of
a fusion polypeptide comprising variant albumin or a fragment
thereof according to the invention has generally a sequence
identity the sequence of HSA shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 of at least 60%,
preferably at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, preferably at
least 85%, preferably at least 90%, more preferred at least 95%,
more preferred at least 96%, more preferred at least 97%, more
preferred at least 98% and most preferred at least 99%.
[0239] In one aspect, the number of alterations in the variants of
the invention is 1-20, e.g., 1-10 and 1-5, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 alterations.
[0240] The variant albumin, a fragment thereof or fusion
polypeptide comprising the variant albumin or fragment thereof has
altered binding affinity to FcRn and/or an altered plasma half-life
compared with the corresponding parent or reference albumin,
fragment thereof, or fusion polypeptide comprising the variant
albumin or fragment thereof and/or an altered binding affinity to
FcRn.
[0241] In a particular preferred embodiment the parent or reference
albumin is HSA and the variant albumin, a fragment thereof or
fusion polypeptide comprising the variant albumin or fragment
thereof has altered binding affinity to FcRn and/or an altered
plasma half-life compared with the HSA, the corresponding fragment
or fusion polypeptide comprising HSA or fragment thereof and/or an
altered binding affinity to FcRn.
[0242] The correlation between binding of albumin to its receptor
and plasma half-life has been realized by the present inventors
based on the natural occurring allele of HSA D494N. The inventors
have previously analyzed this allele and found that it has a lower
affinity to its receptor FcRn than the affinity of WT HSA to
FcRn.
[0243] Further, it has been disclosed that a transgenic mouse
having the natural mouse FcRn replaced with human FcRn has a higher
serum albumin level than normal mouse (J Exp Med. (2003)
197(3):315-22). The inventors have previously discovered that human
FcRn has a higher affinity to mouse serum albumin than mouse FcRn
has to mouse serum albumin and, therefore, the observed increase in
serum albumin in the transgenic mice corresponds with a higher
affinity between serum albumin and its receptor, confirming the
correlation between albumin binding to FcRn and plasma half-life.
In addition, variants of albumin that have little or no binding to
FcRn have been shown to have reduced half-life in a mouse model,
Kenanova et al (2009) J. Nucl. Med.; 50 (Supplement 2):1582).
[0244] One way to determine whether the affinity of a variant
albumin to FcRn is higher or lower than the parent or reference
albumin is to use the Surface Plasmon Resonance assay (SPR) as
described below. The skilled person will understand that other
methods might be useful to determine whether the affinity of a
variant albumin to FcRn is higher or lower than the affinity of the
parent or reference albumin to FcRn, e.g., determination and
comparison of the binding constants KD. Thus, according to the
invention variant albumins having a KD that is lower than the KD
for natural HSA is considered to have a higher plasma half-life
than HSA and variant albumins having a KD that is higher than the
KD for natural HSA is considered to have a lower plasma half-life
than HSA.
[0245] The variants of albumin or fragments thereof or fusion
polypeptides comprising albumin or fragments thereof comprise one
or more (several) alterations, such as substitutions, deletions or
insertions at one or more (several) positions corresponding to the
positions in HSA selected from the group consisting of 30 to 41, 75
to 91, 104 to 120, 144 to 150, 186 to 201, 414 to 426, 457 to 472,
492 to 538, 550 to 585, 276, 410 and/or 411 of the mature
polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or introduction of a stop codon may
be made at any of positions 497 to 585 of the mature polypeptide of
SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein, it is preferred that, when the polypeptide
comprises one or more (several) alterations selected from (i) the
group consisting of positions 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496,
499, 500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540,
550, 573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582 and 584, (ii) the
group consisting of positions 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86,
90, 91, 104, 113, 115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504,
505, 506, 512, 514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560, 562, 564, 565, 567,
573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 (particularly a
substitution of one or more (several) of positions 34, 38, 40, 76,
80, 82, 83, 86, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504,
505, 506, 512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577, 578,
579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 from the native residue (e.g. non-Cys
residue) to Cys and/or a deletion of or substitution of one or more
(several) of positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567 from Cys,
to a non-Cys residue), or the group consisting of positions (iii)
63, 82, 84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464, 201, 494, 501, 503,
505, 510, 513, 518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536, 537, 550, 550, 557,
560, 563, 565, 570, 573, 574, 574, 584 (particularly one or more of
(several) D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E, R114G, E119K, V146E,
H464A, H464N, C201F, D494N, E501K, E503K, E505K, H510A, I513N,
D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M, H535A, K536E, I537N, D550G, D550A,
V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K, E570K, K573E, K574N, K574E, K584E); the
polypeptide also comprises one or more (several) alterations at a
position selected from group consisting of positions 30, 31, 32,
33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82,
83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109,
110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145,
146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193,
194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415,
416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459,
460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497,
498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518,
519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531,
532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560,
561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583,
585 and/or a stop codon inserted or substituted at a position
selected from 497 to 585. The introduction may be made by insertion
or substitution. Introduction of such a stop codon may be in
addition to or instead of an alteration described herein. The
substitution may be any substitution where the amino acid in the
natural albumin sequence is substituted with a different amino acid
selected among the remaining 19 natural occurring amino acids.
[0246] In one aspect, a variant comprises an alteration at one or
more (several) positions corresponding to positions 30 to 41, 75 to
91, 104 to 120, 144 to 150, 186 to 201, 414 to 426, 457 to 472, 492
to 538, 550 to 585, 276, 410 and/or 411 of the mature polypeptide
of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein, it is preferred that, when the
polypeptide comprises one or more (several) alterations selected
from (i) the group consisting of positions 417, 464, 492, 493, 494,
495, 496, 499, 500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537,
538, 540, 550, 573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582 and 584,
(ii) the group consisting of positions 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82,
83, 86, 90, 91, 104, 113, 115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496, 498, 501,
503, 504, 505, 506, 512, 514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560, 562, 564,
565, 567, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585
(particularly a substitution of one or more (several) of positions
34, 38, 40, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498,
501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573,
574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 from the native residue
(e.g. non-Cys residue) to Cys and/or a deletion of or substitution
of one or more (several) of positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559,
567 from Cys, to a non-Cys residue), or the group consisting of
positions (iii) 63, 82, 84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464, 201,
494, 501, 503, 505, 510, 513, 518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536, 537,
550, 550, 557, 560, 563, 565, 570, 573, 574, 574, 584 (particularly
one or more of (several) D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E,
R114G, E119K, V146E, H464A, H464N, C201F, D494N, E501K, E503K,
E505K, H510A, I513N, D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M, H535A, K536E,
I537N, D550G, D550A, V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K, E570K, K573E,
K574N, K574E, K584E); the polypeptide also comprises one or more
(several) alterations at a position selected from group consisting
of positions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75,
76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91,
104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116,
117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187,
188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200,
201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423,
424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467,
468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512,
513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525,
526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554,
555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568,
569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583, 585 and/or a stop codon inserted or
substituted at a position selected from 497 to 585.
[0247] In another aspect, a variant comprises an alteration at two
or more (several) positions corresponding to any of 30 to 41, 75 to
91, 104 to 120, 144 to 150, 186 to 201, 414 to 426, 457 to 472, 492
to 538, 550 to 585, and/or 276, 410, 411 of the mature polypeptide
of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein, it is preferred that, when the variant,
fragment or fusion thereof comprises one or more (several)
substitutions at positions 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 499,
500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540, 550,
573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582 and 584 the variant,
fragment or fusion thereof also comprises one or more (several)
substitutions at a position selected from group consisting of 30,
31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80,
81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 104, 105, 106, 107,
108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120,
144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191,
192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 276, 410, 411,
414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 457,
458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471,
472, 497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516,
517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529,
530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558,
559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572,
576, 583, 585 and/or a stop codon inserted or substituted at a
position selected from 497 to 585. It is also preferred that when
the polypeptide comprises one or more (several) alterations
selected from (i) the group consisting of positions 417, 464, 492,
493, 494, 495, 496, 499, 500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535,
536, 537, 538, 540, 550, 573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581,
582 and 584, (ii) the group consisting of positions 34, 38, 40, 75,
76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 90, 91, 104, 113, 115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496,
498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512, 514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560,
562, 564, 565, 567, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584,
585 (particularly a substitution of one or more (several) of
positions 34, 38, 40, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471,
496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564,
565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 from the
native residue (e.g. non-Cys residue) to Cys and/or a deletion of
or substitution of one or more (several) of positions 91, 200, 461,
514, 558, 559, 567 from Cys, to a non-Cys residue), or the group
consisting of positions (iii) 63, 82, 84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119,
146, 464, 201, 494, 501, 503, 505, 510, 513, 518, 525, 529, 533,
535, 536, 537, 550, 550, 557, 560, 563, 565, 570, 573, 574, 574,
584 (particularly one or more of (several) D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N,
L90P, K106E, R114G, E119K, V146E, H464A, H464N, C201F, D494N,
E501K, E503K, E505K, H510A, 1513N, D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M,
H535A, K536E, I537N, D550G, D550A, V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K,
E570K, K573E, K574N, K574E, K584E); the polypeptide also comprises
one or more (several) alterations at a position selected from group
consisting of positions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40,
41, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90,
91, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115,
116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186,
187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199,
200, 201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422,
423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466,
467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511,
512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524,
525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553,
554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567,
568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583, 585 and/or a stop codon inserted
or substituted at a position selected from 497 to 585.
[0248] In another aspect, a variant comprises an alteration at
three positions corresponding to any of positions 30 to 41, 75 to
91, 104 to 120, 144 to 150, 186 to 201, 414 to 426, 457 to 472, 492
to 538, 550 to 585, 276, 410, and/or 411 of the mature polypeptide
of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein, it is preferred that, when the
polypeptide comprises one or more (several) alterations selected
from (i) the group consisting of positions 417, 464, 492, 493, 494,
495, 496, 499, 500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537,
538, 540, 550, 573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582 and 584,
(ii) the group consisting of positions 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82,
83, 86, 90, 91, 104, 113, 115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496, 498, 501,
503, 504, 505, 506, 512, 514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560, 562, 564,
565, 567, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585
(particularly a substitution of one or more (several) of positions
34, 38, 40, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498,
501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573,
574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 from the native residue
(e.g. non-Cys residue) to Cys and/or a deletion of or substitution
of one or more (several) of positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559,
567 from Cys, to a non-Cys residue), or the group consisting of
positions (iii) 63, 82, 84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464, 201,
494, 501, 503, 505, 510, 513, 518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536, 537,
550, 550, 557, 560, 563, 565, 570, 573, 574, 574, 584 (particularly
one or more of (several) D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E,
R114G, E119K, V146E, H464A, H464N, C201F, D494N, E501K, E503K,
E505K, H510A, 1513N, D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M, H535A, K536E,
I537N, D550G, D550A, V557M, K.sub.560E, D563N, E565K, E570K, K573E,
K574N, K574E, K584E); the polypeptide also comprises one or more
(several) alterations at a position selected from group consisting
of positions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75,
76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91,
104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116,
117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187,
188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200,
201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423,
424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467,
468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512,
513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525,
526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554,
555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568,
569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583, 585 and/or a stop codon inserted or
substituted at a position selected from 497 to 585 and/or a stop
codon inserted or substituted at a position selected from 497 to
585.
[0249] Possible insertions and substitutions for each of the
mentioned positions are provided in Table 2 below.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 2 Possible and preferred alterations of a
parent albumin, positions are relative to SEQ ID NO: 2, however the
invention also includes equivalent positions in sequences other
than SEQ ID No: 2. AA No. AA Substitution Insertion 30 Y A, C, D,
E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W A, C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 31 L A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
K, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N,
P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 32 Q A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P,
R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T,
V, W, Y 33 Q A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V, W,
Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 34 C
A, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 35 P A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, K, L, M, N, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K,
L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 36 F A, C, D, E, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q,
R, S, T, V, W, Y 37 E A, C, D, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W,
Y 38 D A, C, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 39 H A, C,
D, E, F, G, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 40 V A, C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 41 K A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P,
Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, Y 75 C A, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,
W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 76
T A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, V, W, Y A, C, D,
E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 77 V A, C, D, E,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 78 A C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L,
M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P,
Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 79 T A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q,
R, S, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,
W, Y 80 L A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y
A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 81 R A,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 82 E A, C, D, F, G, H,
I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L,
M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 83 T A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, Q, R, S, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R,
S, T, V, W, Y 84 Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y
85 G A, C, D, E, F, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C,
D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 86 E A, C, D,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 87 M A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K,
L, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P,
Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 88 A C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R,
S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,
W, Y 89 D A, C, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y
A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 90 C A,
D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 91 C A, D, E, F, G, H,
I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L,
M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 104 Q A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R,
S, T, V, W, Y 105 H A, C, D, E, F, G, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T,
V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y
106 K A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C,
D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 107 D A, C, E,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 108 D A, C, E, F, G, H, I, K,
L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N,
P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 109 N A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, P, Q,
R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T,
V, W, Y 110 P A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, Q, R, S, T, V, W,
Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 111 N
A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 112 L A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, K, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K,
L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 113 P A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L,
M, N, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q,
R, S, T, V, W, Y 114 R A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, S,
T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W,
Y 115 L A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 116 V A, C,
D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 117 R A, C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 118 P A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N,
Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, Y 119 E A, C, D, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,
W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 120
V A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, W, Y A, C, D,
E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 144 R A, C, D, E,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 145 R A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K,
L, M, N, P, Q, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P,
Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 146 H A, C, D, E, F, G, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R,
S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,
W, Y 147 P A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y
A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 148 Y A,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 149 F A, C, D, E, G, H,
I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L,
M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 150 Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R,
S, T, V, W, Y 186 R A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, S, T,
V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y
187 D A, C, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C,
D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 188 E A, C, D,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 189 G A, C, D, E, F, H, I, K,
L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N,
P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 190 K A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q,
R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T,
V, W, Y 191 A C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W,
Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 192 S
A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 193 S A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K,
L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 194 A C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q,
R, S, T, V, W, Y 195 K A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W,
Y 196 Q A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V, W, Y A,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 197 R A, C,
D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 198 L A, C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, K, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 199 K A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P,
Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, Y 200 C A, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,
W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 201
A C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D,
E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 276 K A, C, D, E,
F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 410 R A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K,
L, M, N, P, Q, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P,
Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 411 Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q,
R, S, T, V, W A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,
W, Y 414 K A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y
A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 415 V A,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, W, Y A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 416 P A, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, K, L, M, N, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L,
M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 417 Q A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R,
S, T, V, W, Y 418 V A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y
419 S A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, T, V, W, Y A, C,
D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 420 T A, C, D,
E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 421 P A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
K, L, M, N, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N,
P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 422 T A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P,
Q, R, S, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T,
V, W, Y 423 L A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W,
Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 424 V
A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, W, Y A, C, D, E,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 425 E A, C, D, F, G,
H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K,
L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 426 V A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L,
M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q,
R, S, T, V, W, Y 457 L A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W,
Y 458 N A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 459 Q A, C,
D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 460 L A, C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, K, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 461 C A, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P,
Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, Y 462 V A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T,
W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 463
L A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D,
E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 464 H A, C, D, E,
F, G, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 465 E A, C, D, F, G, H, I, K, L,
M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P,
Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 466 K A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, R,
S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,
W, Y 467 T A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, V, W, Y
A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 468 P A,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 469 V A, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L,
M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 470 S A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, Q, R, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R,
S, T, V, W, Y 471 D A, C, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T,
V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y
472 R A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, S, T, V, W, Y A, C,
D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 492 E A, C, D,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 493 V A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N,
P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 494 D A, C, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q,
R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T,
V, W, Y 495 E A, C, D, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W,
Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 496 T
A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, V, W, Y A, C, D, E,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 497 Y A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K,
L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 498 V A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L,
M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q,
R, S, T, V, W, Y 499 P A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W,
Y 500 K A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 501 E A, C,
D, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 502 F A, C, D, E, G, H, I,
K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 503 N A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, P,
Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, Y 504 A C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,
W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 505
E A, C, D, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D,
E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 506 T A, C, D, E,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 507 F A, C, D, E, G, H, I, K, L,
M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P,
Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 508 T A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q,
R, S, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,
W, Y 509 F A, C, D, E, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y
A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 510 H A,
C, D, E, F, G, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 511 A C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L,
M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 512 D A, C, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N,
P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 513 I A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K,
L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 514 C A, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q,
R, S, T, V, W, Y 515 T A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R,
S, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W,
Y 516 L A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 517 S A, C,
D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 518 E A, C, D, F, G, H, I,
K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 519 K A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P,
Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, Y 520 E A, C, D, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,
W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 521
R A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D,
E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 522 Q A, C, D, E,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 523 I A, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, L,
M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P,
Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 524 K A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, R,
S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,
W, Y 525 K A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y
A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 526 Q A,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 527 T A, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L,
M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 528 A C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N,
P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R,
S, T, V, W, Y 529 L A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T,
V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y
530 V A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, W, Y A, C,
D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 531 E A, C, D,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 532 L A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
K, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N,
P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 533 V A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P,
Q, R, S, T, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T,
V, W, Y 534 K A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W,
Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 535 H
A, C, D, E, F, G, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 536 K A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K,
L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 537 P A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L,
M, N, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q,
R, S, T, V, W, Y 538 K A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W,
Y 550 D A, C, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 551 F A, C,
D, E, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 552 A C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 553 A C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P,
Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, Y 554 F A, C, D, E, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,
W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 555
V A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, W, Y A, C, D,
E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 556 E A, C, D, F,
G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 557 K A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L,
M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P,
Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 558 C A, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R,
S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,
W, Y 559 C A, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y
A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 560 K A,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 561 A C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L,
M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 562 D A, C, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N,
P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R,
S, T, V, W, Y 563 D A, C, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T,
V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y
564 K A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C,
D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 565 E A, C, D,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 566 T A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N,
P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 567 C A, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q,
R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T,
V, W, Y 568 F A, C, D, E, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W,
Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 569 A
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 570 E A, C, D, F, G,
H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K,
L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 571 E A, C, D, F, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q,
R, S, T, V, W, Y 572 G A, C, D, E, F, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W,
Y 573 K A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 574 K A, C,
D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 575 L A, C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, K, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M,
N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 576 V A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N,
P, Q, R, S, T, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S,
T, V, W, Y 577 A C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,
W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 578
A C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D,
E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 579 S A, C, D, E,
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 580 Q A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K,
L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P,
Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 581 A C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R,
S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,
W, Y 582 A C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y
A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 583 L A,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 584 G A, C, D, E, F, H,
I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L,
M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y 585 L A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, M, N,
P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R,
S, T, V, W, Y
[0250] In Table 2, above, reference is made to HSA (SEQ ID NO: 2).
However, the invention also includes variants of non-human albumins
and/or fragments of human or non-human albumin having the herein
mentioned alterations at positions equivalent to those stated for
HSA. The skilled person can identify equivalent positions by
sequence alignment with SEQ ID NO: 2.
[0251] The variant may further comprise alterations are at one or
more (several) positions selected from the group consisting of 34,
38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 90, 91, 104, 113, 115, 116, 200,
461, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512, 514, 538, 550,
558, 559, 560, 562, 564, 565, 567, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580,
581, 582, 584, 585 (numbers relative to SEQ ID No. 2), more
particularly a substitution to or insertion of Cys at one or more
(several) of these positions. For example, substitution of one or
more (several) of positions 34, 38, 40, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 104,
113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512, 538,
550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582,
584, 585 from the native residue (e.g. non-Cys residue) to Cys to
introduce a Cys which may be available for conjugation via its
thiol group and/or a deletion of or substitution of one or more
(several) of positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567 from Cys,
to a non-Cys residue which may break an existing disulphide bond to
generate a Cys which may be available for conjugation via its thiol
group. One or more (several) of these positions may be altered
alone or, more preferably, in combination with another position or
positions disclosed herein.
[0252] The variant may further comprise alterations are at one or
more (several) positions selected from the group consisting of 63,
82, 84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464, 201, 494, 501, 503, 505,
510, 513, 518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536, 537, 550, 550, 557, 560,
563, 565, 570, 573, 574, 574, 584 (numbers relative to SEQ ID No.
2). One or more (several) of these positions may be altered alone
or, more preferably, in combination with another position or
positions disclosed herein. It is preferred that if an alteration
selected from more particularly one or more (several) of the
following substitutions: D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E,
R114G, E119K, V146E, H464A, H464N, C201F, D494N, E501K, E503K,
E505K, H510A, 1513N, D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M, H535A, K536E,
I537N, D550G, D550A, V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K, E570K, K573E,
K574N, K574E, K584E, it is combined with an alteration at another
position or positions disclosed herein.
[0253] For the avoidance of doubt, variants of albumin comprising a
C-terminal truncation of from 1 to 88 amino acids are included in
all aspects of the invention and also form an aspect of the
invention in their own right. Therefore, a variant may comprise or
consist of an albumin having a sequence equivalent to positions 1
to 497 to 1 to 584 of SEQ ID NO: 2. Such a variant may be prepared
by introducing a stop codon at any of positions 497, 498, 499, 500,
501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513,
514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526,
527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539,
540, 541, 542, 543, 544, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 552,
553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565,
566, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578,
579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585. Thus the albumin may be
truncated by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,
34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50,
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67,
68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84,
85, 86, 87, 88 relative to the parent albumin, or fragment thereof,
from which it is derived. It is preferred that the truncation is no
longer than 88 amino acids, therefore it is preferred that the
albumin is be truncated by at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27,
28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44,
45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61,
62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78,
79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 amino acids relative to the
parent albumin, or fragment thereof, from which it is derived. It
is less preferred that the variant comprises a stop codon at
position 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411 or 585. The variant may or
may not comprise one or more (several) other alterations as
described herein. Truncations may be referred to as
`fragments`.
[0254] Preferred truncations are at positions from 500 to 584, such
as from 573 or 574 to 584. Such variants are thus truncated
relative to a parent albumin, e.g. HSA (SEQ ID NO: 2), but apply
equally to fragments of albumin such as DII+DIII, DIII, or DI+DIII.
The skilled person can determine the location of the truncation
within such a fragment by alignment of the fragment with HSA. Thus
the variant may comprise or consist of the N-terminal at least 85
to 99.5% of a parent albumin or fragment thereof, such as the
N-terminal at least 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96,
97, 98, 99 or 99.5%. Preferred truncations comprise the N-terminal
85, 86, 97 or 98% of a parent albumin or fragment thereof.
Accordingly, methods of preparation, fragments, fusions,
conjugates, nanoparticles, associates and compositions may comprise
such a truncated variant. It is preferred that the truncated
variant retains position 573 (or equivalent thereof). It is further
preferred that the amino acid at 573 is Pro, Trp or Tyr.
[0255] In one embodiment the variant albumin or fragments thereof,
or fusion polypeptides comprising the variant albumin or fragments
thereof according to the invention contains one substitution at a
position corresponding to a position in HSA selected from the group
consisting of 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75,
76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91,
104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116,
117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187,
188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200,
201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423,
424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467,
468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512,
513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525,
526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554,
555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568,
569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583, 585, in SEQ ID NO: 2.
[0256] In one embodiment the variant albumin or fragments thereof,
or fusion polypeptides comprising the variant albumin or fragments
thereof according to the invention contains one substitution at a
position corresponding to a position in HSA selected from the group
consisting of 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, 77, 78, 79, 81,
84, 85, 87, 88, 89, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 117,
118, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188, 189,
190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 201, 276, 410,
411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426,
457, 458, 459, 460, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 472,
497, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 513, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520,
521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 534,
551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 561, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572,
576, 583, in SEQ ID NO: 2.
[0257] The variant albumin, fragment thereof or fusion polypeptides
comprising variant albumin or a fragment thereof according to the
invention may comprise additional substitutions, insertions or
deletions at one or more (several) positions corresponding to other
positions in HSA. In another embodiment the variant albumin or
fragments thereof, or fusion polypeptides comprising variant
albumin or fragments thereof according to the invention contains
two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven,
twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen,
nineteen, twenty or even more substitutions at positions
corresponding to positions in HSA selected from the group
consisting of 30 to 41, 75 to 91, 104 to 120, 144 to 150, 186 to
201, 414 to 426, 457 to 472, 492 to 538, 550 to 585, 276, 410
and/or 411 of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein, it
is preferred that, when the polypeptide comprises one or more
(several) alterations selected from (i) the group consisting of
positions 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 499, 500, 501, 503,
504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540, 550, 573, 574, 575,
577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582 and 584, (ii) the group consisting of
positions 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 90, 91, 104, 113,
115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512,
514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560, 562, 564, 565, 567, 573, 574, 577,
578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 (particularly a substitution of
one or more (several) of positions 34, 38, 40, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86,
104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512,
538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581,
582, 584, 585 from the native residue (e.g. non-Cys residue) to Cys
and/or a deletion of or substitution of one or more (several) of
positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567 from Cys, to a non-Cys
residue), or the group consisting of positions (iii) 63, 82, 84,
87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464, 201, 494, 501, 503, 505, 510, 513,
518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536, 537, 550, 550, 557, 560, 563, 565,
570, 573, 574, 574, 584 (particularly one or more of (several)
D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E, R114G, E119K, V146E, H464A,
C201F, D494N, E501K, E503K, E505K, H510A, I513N, D518N, K525E,
E529K, V533M, H535A, K536E, I537N, D550G, D550A, V557M, K560E,
D563N, E565K, E570K, K573E, K574N, K574E, K584E); the polypeptide
also comprises one or more (several) alterations at a position
selected from group consisting of positions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,
36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85,
86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111,
112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147,
148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195,
196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418,
419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461,
462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497, 498, 502,
507, 508, 509, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520,
521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533,
534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562,
563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583, 585 and/or a
stop codon inserted or substituted at a position selected from 497
to 585. The variant albumin or fragments thereof, or fusion
polypeptides comprising variant albumin or fragments thereof
according to the invention may comprise additional substitutions,
insertions or deletions at positions corresponding to other
positions in HSA.
[0258] In a further embodiment the variants of albumin or fragments
thereof, or fusion polypeptides comprising variant albumin or a
fragment thereof according to the invention have a plasma half-life
that is longer than the plasma half-life of the parent or reference
albumin fragment thereof or fusion polypeptide comprising the
parent or reference albumin or a fragment thereof and/or an
stronger binding affinity to FcRn.
[0259] In a further embodiment the variants of albumin or fragments
thereof, or fusion polypeptides comprising variant albumin or
fragments thereof according to the invention have a plasma
half-life that is shorter than the plasma half-life of the parent
or reference albumin fragment thereof or fusion polypeptide
comprising the parent or reference albumin or a fragment thereof
and/or an weaker binding affinity to FcRn.
[0260] In addition to the one or more (several) substitutions at
one or more (several) positions corresponding to positions 30, 31,
32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81,
82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108,
109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 144,
145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192,
193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 276, 410, 411, 414,
415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458,
459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472,
497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517,
518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530,
531, 532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559,
560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576,
583, 585 in SEQ ID NO: 2 the variant albumin or fragments thereof,
or fusion polypeptides comprising variant albumin or fragments
thereof according to the invention may contain additional
substitutions, deletions or insertions in other positions of the
molecules. Such additional substitutions, deletions or insertions
may be useful in order to alter other properties of the molecules
such as but not limited to altered glycosylation; introduction of
reactive groups of the surface such a thiol groups,
removing/generating a carbamoylation site; etc.
[0261] Residues that might be altered in order to provide reactive
residues on the surface and which advantageously could be applied
to the invention has been disclosed in WO2010/092135 (incorporated
herein by reference). Particular preferred residues include the
positions corresponding to positions in SEQ ID NO: 2.
[0262] As examples of alterations that can be made in SEQ ID NO: 2
or in corresponding positions in other albumins in order to provide
a reactive thiol group on the surface includes alterations
corresponding to following alterations in SEQ ID NO: 2: L585C, D1C,
A2C, D562C, A364C, A504C, E505C, T79C, E86C, D129C, D549C, A581C,
D121C, E82C, S270C, A578C, L595LC, D1 DC, A2AC, D562DC, A364AC,
A504AC, E505EC, T79TC, E86EC, D129DC, D549DC, A581AC, A581AC,
D121DC, E82EC, S270SC, A579AC, C360*, C316*, C75*, C168*, C558*,
C361*, C91*, C124*, C169* and C567*. Alternatively a cysteine
residue may be added to the N or C terminal of albumin. The term
`reactive thiol` means and/or includes a thiol group provided by a
Cys which is not disulphide bonded to a Cysteine and/or which is
sterically available for binding to a partner such as a conjugation
partner.
Polynucleotides
[0263] A fourth aspect of the invention relates to isolated
polynucleotides that encode any of the variants of the invention.
The polynucleotide may be an isolated polynucleotide. The
polynucleotide may be comprised a in a vector (such as a plasmid)
and/or in a host cell.
Nucleic Acid Constructs
[0264] The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs
comprising a polynucleotide encoding a variant of the invention
operably linked to one or more (several) control sequences that
direct the expression of the coding sequence in a suitable host
cell under conditions compatible with the control sequences.
[0265] A polynucleotide may be manipulated in a variety of ways to
provide for expression of a variant. Manipulation of the
polynucleotide prior to its insertion into a vector may be
desirable or necessary depending on the expression vector. The
techniques for modifying polynucleotides utilizing recombinant DNA
methods are well known in the art.
[0266] The control sequence may be a promoter sequence, which is
recognized by a host cell for expression of the polynucleotide. The
promoter sequence contains transcriptional control sequences that
mediate the expression of the variant. The promoter may be any
nucleic acid sequence that shows transcriptional activity in the
host cell including mutant, truncated, and hybrid promoters, and
may be obtained from genes encoding extracellular or intracellular
polypeptides either homologous or heterologous to the host
cell.
[0267] In a yeast host, useful promoters are obtained from the
genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase (ENO-1), Saccharomyces
cerevisiae protease A (PRA1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae protease B
(PRB1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae translation elongation factor
(TEF1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae translation elongation factor
(TEF2), Saccharomyces cerevisiae galactokinase (GAL1),
Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcohol
dehydrogenase/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (ADH1,
ADH2/GAP), Saccharomyces cerevisiae triose phosphate isomerase
(TPI), Saccharomyces cerevisiae metallothionein (CUP1), and
Saccharomyces cerevisiae 3-phosphoglycerate kinase. Other useful
promoters for yeast host cells are described by Romanos et al.,
1992, Yeast 8: 423-488.
[0268] The skilled person knows useful promoters for use in rice
and mammalian cells, such as CHO or HEK. In a rice host, useful
promoters are obtained from cauliflower mosaic virus .sup.35S RNA
gene (CaMV35S), maize alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh1) and alpha
Amy3.
[0269] In a mammalian host cell, such as CHO or HEK, useful
promoters are obtained from Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and CAG hybrid
promoter (hybrid of CMV early enhancer element and chicken
beta-actin promoter), Simian vacuolating virus 40 (SV40).
[0270] The control sequence may also be a suitable transcription
terminator sequence, which is recognized by a host cell to
terminate transcription. The terminator sequence is operably linked
to the 3'-terminus of the polynucleotide encoding the variant. Any
terminator that is functional in the host cell may be used.
[0271] Preferred terminators for yeast host cells are obtained from
the genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase, Saccharomyces
cerevisiae cytochrome C(CYC1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcohol
dehydrogenase (ADH1) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae
glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Other useful terminators
for yeast host cells are described by Romanos et al., 1992, supra.
Other useful terminators for yeast host cells are described by
Romanos et al., 1992, supra. The skilled person knows useful
terminators for use in rice and mammalian cells, such as CHO or
HEK. For example, in a rice host, preferred terminators are
obtained from Agrobacterium tumefaciens nopaline synthase (Nos) and
cauliflower mosaic virus .sup.35S RNA gene (CaMV35S)
[0272] The control sequence may also be a suitable leader sequence,
a nontranslated region of an mRNA that is important for translation
by the host cell. The leader sequence is operably linked to the
5'-terminus of the polynucleotide encoding the variant. Any leader
sequence that is functional in the host cell may be used.
[0273] Suitable leaders for yeast host cells are obtained from the
genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase (ENO-1), Saccharomyces
cerevisiae 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, Saccharomyces cerevisiae
alpha-factor, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcohol
dehydrogenase/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase
(ADH2/GAP).
[0274] The control sequence may also be a polyadenylation sequence,
a sequence operably linked to the 3'-terminus of the
variant-encoding sequence and, when transcribed, is recognized by
the host cell as a signal to add polyadenosine residues to
transcribed mRNA. Any polyadenylation sequence that is functional
in the host cell may be used.
[0275] Useful polyadenylation sequences for yeast host cells are
described by Guo and Sherman, 1995, Mol. Cellular Biol. 15:
5983-5990.
[0276] The control sequence may also be a signal peptide coding
region that encodes a signal peptide linked to the N-terminus of a
variant and directs the variant into the cell's secretory pathway.
The 5'-end of the coding sequence of the polynucleotide may
inherently contain a signal peptide coding region naturally linked
in translation reading frame with the segment of the coding region
that encodes the variant. Alternatively, the 5'-end of the coding
sequence may contain a signal peptide coding region that is foreign
to the coding sequence. The foreign signal peptide coding region
may be required where the coding sequence does not naturally
contain a signal peptide coding region. Alternatively, the foreign
signal peptide coding region may simply replace the natural signal
peptide coding region in order to enhance secretion of the variant.
However, any signal peptide coding region that directs the
expressed variant into the secretory pathway of a host cell may be
used.
[0277] Useful signal peptides for yeast host cells are obtained
from the genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor and
Saccharomyces cerevisiae invertase. Other useful signal peptide
coding sequences are described by Romanos et al., 1992, supra. The
skilled person knows useful signal peptides for use in rice and
mammalian cells, such as CHO or HEK.
[0278] Where both signal peptide and propeptide regions are present
at the N-terminus of a variant, the propeptide region is positioned
next to the N-terminus of the variant and the signal peptide region
is positioned next to the N-terminus of the propeptide region.
[0279] Further preferences for the fourth aspect of the invention
are provided below the thirteenth aspect of the invention.
Methods of Production
[0280] A fifth aspect of the invention relates to methods of
preparation of a variant according to the invention. The variants
of the invention can be prepared using techniques well known to the
skilled person. One convenient way is by cloning nucleic acid
encoding the parent albumin or a fragment thereof or fusion
polypeptide comprising albumin or a fragment thereof, modifying
said nucleic acid to introduce the desired substitution(s) at one
or more (several) positions corresponding to positions 30 to 41, 75
to 91, 104 to 120, 144 to 150, 186 to 201, 414 to 426, 457 to 472,
492 to 538, 550 to 585, 276, 410 and/or 411 of the mature
polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein, it is preferred that, when
the polypeptide comprises one or more (several) alterations
selected from (i) the group consisting of positions 417, 464, 492,
493, 494, 495, 496, 499, 500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535,
536, 537, 538, 540, 550, 573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581,
582 and 584, (ii) the group consisting of positions 34, 38, 40, 75,
76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 90, 91, 104, 113, 115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496,
498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512, 514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560,
562, 564, 565, 567, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584,
585 (particularly a substitution of one or more (several) of
positions 34, 38, 40, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471,
496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564,
565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 from the
native residue (e.g. non-Cys residue) to Cys and/or a deletion of
or substitution of one or more (several) of positions 91, 200, 461,
514, 558, 559, 567 from Cys, to a non-Cys residue), or the group
consisting of positions (iii) 63, 82, 84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119,
146, 464, 201, 494, 501, 503, 505, 510, 513, 518, 525, 529, 533,
535, 536, 537, 550, 550, 557, 560, 563, 565, 570, 573, 574, 574,
584 (particularly one or more of (several) D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N,
L90P, K106E, R114G, E119K, V146E, H464A, C201F, D494N, E501K,
E503K, E505K, H510A, I513N, D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M, H535A,
K536E, I537N, D550G, D550A, V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K, E570K,
K573E, K574N, K574E, K584E); the polypeptide also comprises one or
more (several) alterations at a position selected from group
consisting of positions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40,
41, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90,
91, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115,
116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186,
187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199,
200, 201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422,
423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466,
467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511,
512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524,
525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553,
554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567,
568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583, 585 and/or a stop codon inserted
or substituted at a position selected from 497 to 585, preparing a
suitable genetic construct where the modified nucleic acid is
placed in operative connection with suitable regulatory genetic
elements, such as promoter, terminator, activation sites, ribosome
binding sites etc., introducing the genetic construct into a
suitable host organism, culturing the transformed host organism
under conditions leading to expression of the variant and
recovering the variant. All these techniques are known in the art
and it is within the skills of the average practitioner to design a
suitable method for preparing a particular variant according to the
invention.
[0281] The variant polypeptide of the invention may also be
connected to a signal sequence in order to have the variant
polypeptide secreted into the growth medium during culturing of the
transformed host organism. It is generally advantageous to have the
variant polypeptide secreted into the growth medium in order to
ease recovery and purification.
[0282] Techniques for preparing variant polypeptides have also been
disclosed in WO 2009019314 (included by reference) and these
techniques may also be applied to the invention.
[0283] Albumins have been successfully expressed as recombinant
proteins in a range of hosts including fungi (including but not
limited to Aspergillus (WO06066595), Kluyveromyces (Fleer 1991,
Bio/technology 9, 968-975), Pichia (Kobayashi 1998 Therapeutic
Apheresis 2, 257-262) and Saccharomyces (Sleep 1990, Bio/technology
8, 42-46)), bacteria (Pandjaitab 2000, J. Allergy Clin. Immunol.
105, 279-285)), animals (Barash 1993, Transgenic Research 2,
266-276) and plants (including but not limited to potato and
tobacco (Sijmons 1990, Bio/technology 8, 217 and Farran 2002,
Transgenic Research 11, 337-346) and rice e.g. Oryza sativa) and
mammalian cells such as CHO and HEK. The variant polypeptide of the
invention is preferably produced recombinantly in a suitable host
cell. In principle any host cell capable of producing a polypeptide
in suitable amounts may be used and it is within the skills of the
average practitioner to select a suitable host cell according to
the invention. A preferred host organism is yeast, preferably
selected among Saccharomycacae, more preferred Saccharomyces
cerevisiae.
[0284] The variant polypeptides of the invention may be recovered
and purified from the growth medium using a combination of known
separation techniques such as filtration, centrifugation,
chromatography, and affinity separation techniques etc. It is
within the skills of the average practitioner to purify the
variants of the invention using a particular combination of such
known separation steps. As an example of purification techniques
that may be applied to the variants of the invention can be
mentioned the teaching of WO00/44772.
[0285] The variant polypeptides of the invention may be used for
delivering a therapeutically beneficial compound (including
prophylactically beneficial compound such as a vaccine) to an
animal or a human individual in need thereof. Such therapeutically
beneficial compounds include, but are not limited, to labels and
readily detectable compounds for use in diagnostics, such as
various imaging techniques; pharmaceutical active compounds such as
drugs, or specifically binding moieties such as antibodies. The
variants of the invention may even be connected to two or more
(several) different therapeutically beneficial compounds, e.g., an
antibody and a drug, which gives the combined molecule the ability
to bind specifically to a desired target and thereby provide a high
concentration of the connected drug at that particular target.
[0286] Further preferences for the fifth aspect of the invention
are provided below the thirteenth aspect of the invention.
Fusion Polypeptides
[0287] A sixth aspect of the invention relates to fusion
polypeptides. Therefore, the variants of albumin or fragments
thereof according to the invention may be fused with a non-albumin
polypeptide fusion partner. The fusion partner may in principle be
any polypeptide but generally it is preferred that the fusion
partner is a polypeptide having therapeutic, prophylactic
(including vaccine), diagnostic, imaging or other beneficial
properties. Such properties may be referred to as `pharmaceutically
beneficial properties`. Fusion polypeptides comprising albumin or
fragments thereof are known in the art. It has been found that such
fusion polypeptides comprising albumin or a fragment thereof and a
fusion partner polypeptide have a longer plasma half-life compared
to the unfused fusion partner polypeptide alone. According to the
invention it is possible to alter the plasma half-life of the
fusion polypeptides according to the invention compared to the
corresponding fusion polypeptides of the prior art. `Alter`
includes both increasing the plasma half-life or decreasing the
plasma half-life. Increasing the plasma half-life is preferred. The
invention allows tailoring of half-life to a term desired.
[0288] One or more (several) therapeutic, prophylactic (including
vaccine), diagnostic, imaging or other beneficial may be fused to
the N-terminus, the C-terminus of albumin, inserted into a loop in
the albumin structure or any combination thereof. It may or it may
not comprise linker sequences separating the various components of
the fusion polypeptide.
[0289] Teachings relating to fusions of albumin or a fragment
thereof are known in the art and the skilled person will appreciate
that such teachings can also be applied to the invention. WO
2001/79271A (particularly page 9 and/or Table 1), WO 2003/59934A
(particularly Table 1), WO03/060071 (particularly Table 1) and
WO01/079480 (particularly Table 1) (each incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety) also contain examples of therapeutic,
prophylactic (including vaccine), diagnostic, imaging or other
beneficial polypeptides that may be fused to albumin or fragments
thereof, and these examples apply also to the invention. Further
preferences for the sixth aspect of the invention are provided
below the thirteenth aspect of the invention.
Conjugates
[0290] A seventh aspect of the invention relates to conjugates
(conjugations). Therefore, the variants of albumin or fragments
thereof according to the invention may be conjugated to a second
molecule (`conjugation partner`) using techniques known within the
art. The conjugation partner may be a therapeutic, prophylactic
(including vaccine), diagnostic, imaging or other beneficial
moiety. Said conjugation partner may be a polypeptide or a
non-polypeptide chemical. The conjugation partner may be a
polypeptide, chemical (e.g. chemically synthesised drug) or a
nucleic acid (e.g. DNA, RNA, siRNA).
[0291] Said second molecule may comprise a diagnostic or imaging
moiety, and in this embodiment the conjugate may be useful as a
diagnostic tool such as in imaging; or the second molecule may be a
therapeutic or prophylactic (e.g. vaccine) compound and in this
embodiment the conjugate may be used for therapeutic or
prophylactic (e.g. vaccination) purposes where the conjugate will
have the therapeutic or prophylactic properties of the therapeutic
or prophylactic compound as well as the desirable plasma half-life
provided by the albumin part of the conjugate. Conjugates of
albumin and a therapeutic molecule are known in the art and it has
been verified that such conjugates have long plasma half-life
compared with the non-conjugated, free therapeutic molecule as
such. According to the invention it is possible to alter the
binding affinity to FcRn and/or plasma half-life of the conjugate
according to the invention compared to the corresponding conjugates
of the prior art. `Alter` includes both increasing the plasma
half-life and decreasing the plasma half-life binding affinity to
FcRn and/or increasing the binding affinity and decreasing the
binding affinity to FcRn. Increasing the plasma half-life and/or
binding affinity to FcRn is preferred. The conjugates may
conveniently be linked via a free thiol group present on the
surface of HSA (amino acid residue 34 of mature HSA) using well
known chemistry.
[0292] In one particular preferred aspect the variant albumin or
fragment thereof is conjugated to a beneficial therapeutic or
prophylactic (including vaccine) compound and the conjugate is used
for treatment of a condition in a patient in need thereof, which
condition is responsive to the particular selected therapeutic
compound. Techniques for conjugating such a therapeutically useful
compound to the variant albumin or fragment thereof are known in
the art. WO 2009/019314 (incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety) discloses examples of techniques suitable for conjugating
a therapeutically compound to a polypeptide which techniques can
also be applied to the invention. Further WO 2009/019314 discloses
examples of compounds and moieties that may be conjugated to
substituted transferrin and these examples may also be applied to
the invention. The teaching of WO 2009/019314 is included herein by
reference.
[0293] HSA contains in its natural form one free thiol group (at
Cys34) that conveniently may be used for conjugation. As a
particular embodiment within this aspect the variant albumin or
fragment thereof may comprise further modifications provided to
generate additional free thiol groups on the surface. This has the
benefit that the payload of the variant albumin or fragment thereof
is increased so that more than one molecule of the therapeutic
(e.g. prophylactic) compound can be conjugated to each molecule of
variant albumin or fragment thereof, or two or more (several)
different therapeutic compounds may be conjugated to each molecule
of variant albumin or fragment thereof, e.g., a compound having
targeting properties such as an antibody specific for example a
tumour; and a cytotoxic drug conjugated to the variant albumin or
fragment thereof thereby creating a highly specific drug against a
tumour. Teaching of particular residues that may be modified to
provide for further free thiol groups on the surface can be found
in co-pending patent application WO 2010/092135, which is
incorporated by reference.
[0294] The conjugation partner may alternatively be conjugated to a
fusion polypeptide (described herein), resulting in a molecule
comprising a fusion partner fused to the albumin as well as a
conjugation partner conjugated to the same albumin or even to the
fusion partner.
[0295] Further preferences for the seventh aspect of the invention
are provided below the thirteenth aspect of the invention.
Associates
[0296] An eighth aspect of the invention relates to associates.
Therefore, the variants of albumin or fragments thereof may further
be used in form of "associates". In this connection the term
"associate" is intended to mean a compound comprising a variant of
albumin or a fragment thereof and another compound bound or
associated to the variant albumin or fragment thereof by
non-covalent binding. As an example of such an associate can be
mentioned an associate consisting variant albumin and a lipid
associated to albumin by a hydrophobic interaction. Such associates
are known in the art and they may be prepared using well known
techniques. As an example of a preferred associate according to the
invention can be mentioned an associate comprising variant albumin
and a taxane, a taxol or taxol derivative (e.g. paclitaxel).
Further examples of associates comprise a therapeutic, prophylactic
(including vaccine), diagnostic, imaging or other beneficial
moiety.
[0297] The half-life of an albumin associate according to the
invention may be longer or shorter than the half-life of the `other
compound` alone. The half-life of an albumin associate according to
the invention may be longer or shorter than the half-life of the
analogous/equivalent albumin associate comprising or consisting of
a reference albumin such as native HSA (instead of an albumin
variant or derivative according to the invention) and the `other
compound`. Likewise, the binding affinity to FcRn an albumin
associate according to the invention may be stronger or weaker than
the binding affinity to FcRn of the analogous/equivalent albumin
associate comprising or consisting of a reference albumin such as
native HSA (instead of an albumin variant or derivative according
to the invention) and the `other compound`. Methods for the
preparation of associates are well-known to the skilled person, for
example, formulation (by association) of HSA with Lipo-compounds is
described in Hussain, R. and Siligardi, G. (2006) International
Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics, Vol. 12, NO: 3, pp.
311-315. Further preferences for the eighth aspect of the invention
are provided below the thirteenth aspect of the invention.
Other Uses
[0298] A ninth aspect of the invention relates to use of a variant
albumin, fragment, fusion or conjugate thereof or nanoparticle or
associate thereof. The variant albumin or fragments thereof or
fusion polypeptides comprising variant albumin or fragments thereof
according to the invention have the benefit that their binding
affinity to FcRn and/or plasma half-life is altered compared to the
parent or reference albumin or fragments thereof or fusion
polypeptides comprising parent or reference albumin or fragments
thereof. This has the advantage that the binding affinity to FcRn
and/or plasma half-life of conjugates comprising variant albumin or
a fragment thereof or fusion polypeptide comprising variant albumin
or a fragment thereof, or an associate comprising variant albumin
or a fragment thereof according to the invention can be selected in
accordance with the particular therapeutic purpose.
[0299] For example for a conjugate, associate or fusion polypeptide
used for imaging purposes in animals or human beings, where the
imaging moiety has an very short half-life and a conjugate or a
fusion polypeptide comprising HSA has a plasma half-life that is
far longer than needed for the imaging purposes it would be
advantageous to use a variant albumin or fragment thereof of the
invention having a shorter plasma half-life than the parent or
reference albumin or fragment thereof, to provide conjugates of
fusion polypeptides having a plasma half-life that is sufficiently
long for the imaging purpose but sufficiently short to be cleared
form the body of the particular patient on which it is applied.
[0300] In another example for a conjugate, an associate or fusion
polypeptide comprising a therapeutic compound effective to treat or
alleviate a particular condition in a patient in need for such a
treatment it would be advantageous to use the variant albumin or
fragment thereof having a longer plasma half-life than the parent
or reference albumin or fragment thereof, to provide associates or
conjugates or fusion polypeptides having longer plasma half-lives
which would have the benefit that the administration of the
associate or conjugate or fusion polypeptide of the invention would
be needed less frequently or reduced dose with less side effects
compared to the situation where the parent or reference albumin or
associates thereof or fragment thereof was used. For example, the
invention provides a method of treating a proliferative disease in
an individual, comprising administering the individual an effective
amount of an associate according to the invention in which the
associate comprises a taxane, a taxol or taxol derivative (e.g.
paclitaxel).
[0301] In a further aspect the invention relates to compositions
comprising the variant albumin, associates thereof or fragment
thereof, variant albumin fragment or associates thereof or fusion
polypeptide comprising variant albumin or fragment thereof
according to the invention. The compositions are preferably
pharmaceutical compositions. The composition may be prepared using
techniques known in the area such as disclosed in recognized
handbooks within the pharmaceutical field. Since the albumin,
variant, fragment, fusion, conjugate or associate thereof has a
binding affinity to FcRn and/or plasma half-life which is modulated
(i.e. stronger or weaker and/or longer or shorter) than that of a
reference molecule, the composition also has a binding affinity to
FcRn and/or modulated plasma half-life relative to an equivalent
composition comprising the reference molecule in place of the
albumin, variant, fragment, fusion, conjugate or associate thereof
as described herein. The composition may be a vaccine. The
polypeptide according to the invention may be an active
pharmaceutical or an excipient. Optionally, the composition is
provided in unit dosage form.
[0302] Preferably the albumin, variant, fragment, fusion, conjugate
or associate thereof has a plasma half-life that is longer than the
plasma half-life of the reference molecule e.g. the same
composition except that the albumin component (e.g. albumin,
variant, fragment, fusion, conjugate or associate) is wild-type
albumin (e.g. HSA) or a variant, fragment, fusion, conjugate or
associate.
[0303] In a particular embodiment the compositions comprise a
variant albumin or a fragment thereof according to the invention
and a compound comprising a pharmaceutically beneficial moiety and
an albumin binding domain (ABD). According to the invention ABD
means a site, moiety or domain capable of binding to circulating
albumin in vivo and thereby conferring transport in the circulation
of the ABD and any compound or moiety bound to said ABD. ABD's are
known in the art and have been shown to bind very tight to albumin
so a compound comprising an ABD bound to albumin will to a certain
extent behave as a single molecule. The inventors have realized by
using the variant albumin or fragment thereof according to the
invention together with a compound comprising a pharmaceutically
beneficial moiety and an ABD makes it possible to alter the binding
affinity to FcRn and/or plasma half-life of the compound comprising
a pharmaceutically beneficial moiety and an ABD compared to the
situation where said compound were injected as such in a patient
having need thereof or administered in a formulation comprising
natural albumin or a fragment thereof.
[0304] The variant albumin or fragments thereof, conjugates
comprising variant albumin or a fragment thereof or fusion
polypeptide comprising variant albumin or a fragment thereof, or an
associate comprising variant albumin or a fragment thereof
according to the invention may also be incorporated into nano- or
microparticles using techniques well known within the art. A
preferred method for preparing nano- or microparticles that may be
applied to the variant albumins or fragments thereof according to
the invention is disclosed in WO 2004/071536 or WO2008/007146 or
Oner & Groves (Pharmaceutical Research, Vol 10(9), 1993, pages
1387 to 1388) which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0305] Further preferences for the ninth aspect of the invention
are provided below the thirteenth aspect of the invention.
Compositions
[0306] A tenth aspect of the invention relates to compositions.
Therefore the invention is also directed to the use of a variant of
albumin or a fragment thereof or fusion polypeptides comprising
variant albumin or fragments thereof, or a conjugate comprising a
variant of albumin or a fragment thereof, or an associate
comprising a variant of albumin or a fragment thereof for the
manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition, wherein the variant of
albumin or a fragment thereof or fusion polypeptides comprising
variant albumin or fragments thereof, or a conjugate comprising a
variant of albumin or a fragment thereof, or an associate
comprising a variant of albumin or a fragment thereof has an
altered binding affinity to FcRn and/or an altered plasma half-life
compared with HSA or the corresponding fragment thereof or fusion
polypeptide comprising HSA or fragment thereof or conjugate
comprising HSA.
[0307] In this connection the corresponding fragment of HSA is
intended to mean a fragment of HSA that aligns with and has same
number of amino acids as the fragment of the variant albumin with
which it is compared. Similarly the corresponding fusion
polypeptide comprising HSA or conjugate comprising HSA is intended
to mean molecules having same size and amino acid sequence as the
fusion polypeptide of conjugate comprising variant albumin, with
which it is compared. Further preferences for the tenth aspect of
the invention are provided below the thirteenth aspect of the
invention.
Nanoparticles
[0308] An eleventh aspect of the invention relates to a
nanoparticle comprising a variant, fusion, conjugate, associate,
nanoparticle, composition or polynucleotide as disclosed
herein.
[0309] Techniques for incorporation of a molecule into nano- or
microparticles are known in the art. Preferred methods for
preparing nano- or microparticles that may be applied to the
albumin, variant, fragment, fusion, conjugate or associate thereof
according to the invention is disclosed in WO 2004/071536 or
WO2008/007146 or Oner & Groves (Pharmaceutical Research, Vol
10(9), 1993, pages 1387 to 1388) which are incorporated herein by
reference. Preferably the average diameter of a nano-particle is
from 5 to 1000 nm, more preferably 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 80, 100,
130, 150, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, or 999 to 5, 10,
20, 30, 40, 50, 80, 100, 130, 150, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700,
800, 900, or 1000 nm. An advantage of a microparticle less than 200
nm diameter, and more particularly less than 130 nm, is that is
amenable to sterilisation by filtration through a 0.2 .mu.m
(micron) filter. Preferably, the average diameter of a
micro-particle is from 1000 nm (1 .mu.m (micron)) to 100 .mu.m
(micron), more preferably from 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70,
80, 90, 100 to 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100
.mu.m (micron).
[0310] Further preferences for the eleventh aspect of the invention
are provided below the thirteenth aspect of the invention.
[0311] A twelfth aspect of the invention relates to use of a
variant, fusion, conjugate, associate, nanoparticle, composition or
polynucleotide as disclosed herein in a method of treatment or
prophylaxis or diagnosis. In some situations, it would be
advantageous to use an albumin, variant, fragment, fusion,
conjugate or associate or composition thereof having a longer
plasma half-life than the reference molecule or composition since
this would have the benefit that the administration of the albumin,
variant, fragment, fusion, conjugate or associate or composition
thereof would be needed less frequently or at a reduced dose (and
consequently with fewer side effects) compared to the situation
where the reference molecule or composition was used. With respect
to the use of a variant, fusion, conjugate, associate,
nanoparticle, composition or polynucleotide the albumin moiety may
comprise one more alterations as disclosed herein.
[0312] Further preferences for the twelfth aspect of the invention
are provided below the thirteenth aspect of the invention.
[0313] A thirteenth aspect of the invention provides a method for
altering the half-life of a molecule comprising:
[0314] (a) where the molecule is a polypeptide, fusing or
conjugating the molecule to a polypeptide disclosed herein or to a
conjugate disclosed herein; associating the molecule to a
polypeptide disclosed herein or to a conjugate disclosed herein;
incorporating the molecule in a nanoparticle disclosed herein or a
composition disclosed herein;
[0315] (b) where the molecule is not a polypeptide, conjugating the
molecule to a polypeptide disclosed herein or to a conjugate
disclosed herein; associating the molecule to a polypeptide
disclosed herein or to a conjugate a disclosed herein;
incorporating the molecule in a nanoparticle disclosed herein or a
composition disclosed herein.
[0316] Examples of `molecule` include those useful in therapy,
prophylaxis (including those used in vaccines either as an active
pharmaceutical ingredient or as an excipient), imaging and
diagnosis, such as those described herein.
[0317] Preferences for all aspects of the invention are provided
below. The skilled person understands that any aspect of the
invention may be combined with another aspect or aspects of the
invention and/or with one or more (several) of the preferences for
the aspects of the invention and/or other disclosures made
herein.
[0318] The variant of albumin or a fragment thereof or fusion
polypeptides comprising variant albumin or fragments thereof,
fragment thereof, conjugate, nanoparticle, associate or composition
may have a plasma half-life that is either longer or shorter,
preferably longer, than the plasma half-life than a corresponding
albumin or a fragment thereof or fusion polypeptides comprising
albumin or fragments thereof, fragment thereof, conjugate,
nanoparticle, associate or composition or a binding to FcRn that is
stronger or weaker, preferably weaker. Preferably the variant of
albumin or a fragment thereof or fusion polypeptides comprising
variant albumin or fragments thereof, fragment thereof, conjugate,
nanoparticle, associate or composition has a plasma half-life that
is longer than the plasma half-life of HSA or the corresponding
albumin or a fragment thereof or fusion polypeptides comprising
albumin or fragments thereof, fragment thereof, conjugate,
nanoparticle, associate or composition.
[0319] Alternatively, this may be expressed as the variant of
albumin or a fragment thereof or fusion polypeptides comprising
variant albumin or fragments thereof, fragment thereof, conjugate,
nanoparticle, associate or composition having a KD to FcRn (e.g.
shFcRn) that is lower that the corresponding KD for HSA to FcRn or
the corresponding fragment thereof or fusion polypeptide comprising
HSA or fragment thereof. Preferably, the KD for the variant of
albumin or a fragment thereof or fusion polypeptides comprising
variant albumin or fragments thereof, fragment thereof, conjugate,
nanoparticle, associate or composition is less than 0.9.times.KD
for HSA to FcRn, more preferred less than 0.5.times.KD for HSA to
FcRn, more preferred less than 0.1.times.KD for HSA to FcRn, even
more preferred less than 0.05.times.KD for HSA to FcRn, even more
preferred less than 0.02.times.KD for HSA to FcRn and most
preferred less than 0.01.times.KD for HSA to FcRn (where X means
`multiplied by`). The KD of the variant of albumin or a fragment
thereof or fusion polypeptides comprising variant albumin or
fragments thereof, fragment thereof, conjugate, nanoparticle,
associate or composition may be between the KD of WT albumin (e.g.
SEQ ID No. 2) for FcRn and the KD of HSA K573P (SEQ ID No. 3) for
FcRn. Such KDs represent binding affinities that are higher than
the binding affinity between HSA and FcRn. A higher binding
affinity indicates a longer half-life, for example plasma
half-life.
[0320] Alternatively, the variant of albumin or a fragment thereof
or fusion polypeptides comprising variant albumin or fragments
thereof, fragment thereof, conjugate, nanoparticle, associate or
composition has a plasma half-life that is shorter than the plasma
half-life of HSA or the corresponding fragment thereof or fusion
polypeptide comprising HSA or fragment thereof.
[0321] This may be expressed as the variant of albumin or a
fragment thereof or fusion polypeptides comprising variant albumin
or fragments thereof, fragment thereof, conjugate, nanoparticle,
associate or composition having a KD to FcRn that is higher that
the corresponding KD for HSA to FcRn or the corresponding of
albumin or a fragment thereof or fusion polypeptides comprising
albumin or fragments thereof, fragment thereof, conjugate,
nanoparticle, associate or composition. Preferably, the KD for the
variant of albumin or a fragment thereof or fusion polypeptides
comprising variant albumin or fragments thereof, fragment thereof,
or a conjugate comprising a variant of albumin or a fragment
thereof is more than 2.times.KD for HSA to FcRn, more preferred
more than 5.times.KD for HSA to FcRn, more preferred more than
10.times.KD for HSA to FcRn, even more preferred more than
25.times.KD for HSA to FcRn, even most preferred more than
50.times.KD for HSA to FcRn. The variant of albumin or a fragment
thereof or fusion polypeptides comprising variant albumin or
fragments thereof, fragment thereof, conjugate, nanoparticle,
associate or composition may be a null binder to FcRn.
[0322] The variant of albumin or a fragment thereof or fusion
polypeptides comprising variant albumin or fragments thereof,
fragment thereof, or a conjugate or nanoparticle or associate or
composition comprising a variant of albumin or a fragment thereof
is preferably the variant of albumin or a fragment thereof or
fusion polypeptides comprising variant albumin or fragments
thereof, fragment thereof, or a conjugate or nanoparticle or
associate or composition comprising a variant of albumin or a
fragment thereof according to the invention. A lower binding
affinity indicates a shorter half-life, for example plasma
half-life.
[0323] One advantage of the invention is that it allows the
half-life of albumin, a variant of albumin or a fragment thereof or
fusion polypeptides comprising variant albumin or fragments
thereof, fragment thereof, conjugate, nanoparticle, associate or
composition to be tailored in order to achieve a binding affinity
or half-life which meets the needs of the user.
[0324] When determining and/or comparing KD, one or more (and
preferably all) of the following parameters may be used:
[0325] Instrument: Biacore 3000 instrument (GE Healthcare)
[0326] Flow cell: CM5 sensor chip
[0327] FcRn: human FcRn, preferably soluble human FcRn, optionally
coupled to a tag such as GST
[0328] Quantity of FcRn: 1500-2500 RU
[0329] Coupling chemistry: amine coupling chemistry (e.g. as
described in the protocol provided by the manufacturer of the
instrument).
[0330] Coupling method: The coupling may be performed by injecting
10 .mu.g/ml of the protein in 10 mM sodium acetate pH 5.0 (GE
Healthcare). Phosphate buffer (67 mM phosphate buffer, 0.15 M NaCl,
0.005% Tween 20) at pH 6.0) may be used as running buffer and
dilution buffer. Regeneration of the surfaces may be done using
injections of HBS-EP buffer (0.01M HEPES, 0.15M NaCl, 3 mM EDTA,
0.005% surfactant P20) at pH 7.4 (Biacore AB).
[0331] Quantity of injection of test molecule (e.g. HSA or variant)
1.0-0.5 mM
[0332] Flow rate of injection: constant, e.g. 40 .mu.l/ml
[0333] Temperature of injection: 25.degree. C.
[0334] Data evaluation software: BIAevaluation 4.1 software
(BIAcore AB).
[0335] The invention discloses positions in SEQ ID NO: 2 (and
therefore equivalent positions in albumins and fragments from human
serum and albumin and non-human serum albumins) which may be
altered in order to modulate (increase of decrease) the binding
affinity and/or half-life e.g. plasma half-life of an albumin,
fragment, fusion, conjugate, associate, nanoparticle or
composition. An alteration may be a substitution, insertion or
deletion. Substitution is preferred.
[0336] A substitution or insertion may or may not comprise
introduction of a conserved amino acid, i.e. conserved in relation
to the amino acid at the position of interest. Examples of
conserved amino acids are shown by the groups of FIG. 3: aliphatic,
aromatic, hydrophobic, charged, polar, positive, tiny and
small.
[0337] Preferred positions are those which interact with FcRn
during binding and/or affect the interaction of the albumin,
fragment, fusion, conjugate, associate, nanoparticle or composition
with FcRn.
[0338] Preferred positions correspond to positions in SEQ ID NO: 2
selected from: (a) 492 to 538; (b) 505, 531, 524, 472, 108, 190,
197 and 425; (c) 186 to 201; (d) 457 to 472; (e) 414 to 426; (f)
104 to 120; (g) 75 to 91; (h) 144 to 150; (i) 30 to 41, (j) 550 to
585 and (k) 276, 410 and 414 with one or more (several) of A, C, D,
E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y and/or a stop
codon at a position from 497 to 585;
[0339] wherein, it is preferred that, when the polypeptide
comprises one or more (several) alterations selected from (i) the
group consisting of positions 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496,
499, 500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540,
550, 573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582 and 584, (ii) the
group consisting of positions 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86,
90, 91, 104, 113, 115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504,
505, 506, 512, 514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560, 562, 564, 565, 567,
573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 (particularly a
substitution of one or more (several) of positions 34, 38, 40, 76,
80, 82, 83, 86, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504,
505, 506, 512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577, 578,
579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 from the native residue (e.g. non-Cys
residue) to Cys and/or a deletion of or substitution of one or more
(several) of positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567 from Cys,
to a non-Cys residue), and/or (iii) the group consisting of
positions 63, 82, 84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464, 201, 494,
501, 503, 505, 510, 513, 518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536, 537, 550,
550, 557, 560, 563, 565, 570, 573, 574, 574, 584 (particularly one
or more of (several) D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E, R114G,
E119K, V146E, H464A, C201F, D494N, E501K, E503K, E505K, H510A,
I513N, D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M, H535A, K536E, I537N, D550G,
D550A, V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K, E570K, K573E, K574N, K574E,
K584E); the polypeptide also comprises one or more (several)
alterations at a position selected from group consisting of
positions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75, 76,
77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 104,
105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117,
118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188,
189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201,
276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424,
425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468,
469, 470, 471, 472, 497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512, 513,
514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526,
527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555,
556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 569,
570, 571, 572, 576, 583, 585 and/or a stop codon inserted or
substituted at a position selected from 497 to 585.
[0340] More preferred, when the polypeptide comprises one or more
(several) alterations selected from (ii) the (ii) group consisting
of positions 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 90, 91, 104, 113,
115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512,
514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560, 562, 564, 565, 567, 573, 574, 577,
578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585 (particularly a substitution of
one or more (several) of positions 34, 38, 40, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86,
104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512,
538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581,
582, 584, 585 from the native residue (e.g. non-Cys residue) to Cys
and/or a deletion of or substitution of one or more (several) of
positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567 from Cys, to a non-Cys
residue), and/or (iii) the group consisting of positions 63, 82,
84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464, 201, 494, 501, 503, 505, 510,
513, 518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536, 537, 550, 550, 557, 560, 563,
565, 570, 573, 574, 574, 584 (particularly one or more of (several)
D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E, R114G, E119K, V146E, H464A,
C201F, D494N, E501K, E503K, E505K, H510A, 1513N, D518N, K525E,
E529K, V533M, H535A, K536E, I537N, D550G, D550A, V557M, K560E,
D563N, E565K, E570K, K573E, K574N, K574E, K584E); the polypeptide
also comprises one or more (several) alterations at a position
selected from group consisting of positions 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36,
37, 39, 41, 77, 78, 79, 81, 84, 85, 87, 88, 89, 105, 106, 107, 108,
109, 110, 111, 112, 117, 118, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149,
150, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197,
198, 199, 201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421,
422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 462, 463, 465, 466,
467, 468, 469, 470, 472, 497, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 513, 515,
516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528,
529, 530, 531, 532, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 561,
568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583 and/or a stop codon inserted or
substituted at a position selected from 497 to 585.
[0341] According to the invention, it is preferred that when an
albumin variant comprises an alteration selected from D63N, E82K,
E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E, R114G, E119K, V146E, H464A, C201F, D494N,
E501K, E503K, E505K, H510A, I513N, D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M,
H535A, K536E, I537N, D550G, D550A, V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K,
E570K, K573E, K574N, K574E, K584E, then the alteration is provided
in combination with one or more (several) alterations described
herein. Other alterations at one or more (several) of positions 63,
82, 84, 87, 90, 106, 114, 119, 146, 464, 201, 494, 501, 503, 505,
510, 513, 518, 525, 529, 533, 535, 536, 537, 550, 550, 557, 560,
563, 565, 570, 573, 574, 574, 584 may or may not be provided in
combination with one or more (several) alterations described
herein.
[0342] A stop codon may introduced at any of positions 497 to 585,
i.e. any of positions 497, 498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505,
506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518,
519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531,
532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539, 540, 541, 542, 543, 544,
545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557,
558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 569, 570,
571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583,
584, 585, more preferably from 570 to 585 (or equivalent position,
relative to SEQ ID NO: 2). The introduction may be made by
insertion or substitution. Introduction of such a stop codon may be
in addition to or instead of an alteration described herein.
[0343] For insertion of one or more (several) amino acids to the
N-side ("X-1") of an amino acid at a position selected from the
group consisting of positions 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496,
499, 500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540,
550, 573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582 and 584, there may
or may not be an additional alteration selected from the group
consisting of positions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40,
41, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90,
91, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115,
116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186,
187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199,
200, 201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422,
423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466,
467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497, 498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511,
512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524,
525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553,
554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567,
568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583, 585 and/or a stop codon inserted
or substituted at a position selected from 497 to 585.
[0344] Conversely, for insertion of one or more (several) amino
acids to the C-side ("X+1") of an amino acid at a position selected
from the group consisting of positions 417, 464, 492, 493, 494,
495, 496, 499, 500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537,
538, 540, 550, 573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582 and 584,
it is preferred that there is an additional alteration selected
from the group consisting of positions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36,
37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86,
87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112,
113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148,
149, 150, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196,
197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419,
420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462,
463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497, 498, 502, 507,
508, 509, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521,
522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534,
551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562, 563,
564, 565, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583, 585 and/or a stop
codon inserted or substituted at a position selected from 497 to
585.
[0345] An amino acid residue of HSA interacting with FcRn is
considered to be any amino acid residues of HSA being located less
than 10 .ANG. (for example less than 5 .ANG.) from an amino acid in
the FcRn or any amino acid residue that is involved in a hydrogen
bond, a salt bridge or a polar or nonpolar interaction with an
amino acid residue that is located less than 10 .ANG. from an amino
acid in the FcRn. Preferably the amino acid in HSA residues are
located less than 10 .ANG. from amino acids in the FcRn, more
preferred less than 6 .ANG. from amino acids in the FcRn and most
preferred less than 3 .ANG. from amino acids in the FcRn.
[0346] Preferably the amino acids residues of albumin which affect
the binding of the albumin to FcRn are located in the binding
surface, such as a binding surface defined in FIG. 9 (pink (in
grey-scale this is seen as the darkest (almost black) region)). The
amino acids may be in a part of the binding surface provided by
domain I or in a part of the binding surface provided by domain III
of albumin.
[0347] Therefore the one or more (several) alterations may be in
domain I, e.g. at positions selected from the group consisting of
30 to 41, 75 to 91, 104 to 120, 144 to 150, 186 to 201. The one or
more alterations may be in domain II, e.g. position 276. The one or
more alterations may be in domain III, e.g. at positions selected
from the group consisting of 414 to 426, 457 to 472, 492-538, 550
to 585.
[0348] Positions 83, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 105 to 120, 190, 197,
425, 472, 505, 510, 524, 527, 531, 534, are particularly
preferred.
[0349] Advantageously, the polypeptide retains substantially the
same tertiary structure (or, for a fragment, the relevant part of
the structure) as a reference or parent albumin such as HSA. The
skilled person understand the term `substantially the same tertiary
structure` bearing in mind that some degree of variation in
tertiary structure is expected as all proteins have some degree of
structural flexibility. This applies particularly to polypeptides
have a higher binding affinity to FcRn than the parent or reference
albumin (e.g. HSA) has to FcRn.
[0350] One or more of the His residues may or may not be maintained
relative to the parent albumin. For example, with reference to SEQ
ID NO: 2, one or more of the following His residues may be
maintained: 3, 9, 39, 67, 105, 128, 146, 242, 247, 288, 338, 367,
440, 464, 510, 535. One or more, preferably all, of the His
residues in domain I are maintained (i.e. 3, 9, 39, 67, 105, 128,
146). One or more, preferably all, of the His residues in domain II
are maintained (i.e. 242, 247, 288, 338, 367). One or more,
preferably all, of the His residues in domain III are maintained
(i.e. 440, 464, 510, 535). One or more or all three of His 464,
510, 535 may be maintained.
[0351] It is preferred that at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or 17 of the disulphide bonds of the albumin
are maintained in the polypeptide. For a polypeptide derived from a
full length albumin, it is preferred that all disulphide bonds
usually present in that albumin are maintained. For a polypeptide
derived from a fragment of albumin, it is preferred that all
disulphide bonds usually present in that fragment are maintained.
It is preferred that Cys-34 (or equivalent in non-human albumins)
is maintained.
[0352] When the alteration is at a position selected from one or
more (several) of 75, 90, 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559 and 567, it
is preferred that there is also one or more (several) alterations
at a position selected from group consisting of 30, 31, 32, 33, 34,
35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84,
85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111,
112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147,
148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195,
196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418,
419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461,
462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497, 498, 502,
507, 508, 509, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520,
521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533,
534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562,
563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583, 585 and/or a
stop codon inserted or substituted at a position selected from 497
to 585.
[0353] For a polypeptide, particularly a polypeptide comprising a
single alteration, it is preferred that an alteration does not
comprise substitution with a Cys, insertion of a Cys and/or
deletion of a residue which disrupts a disulphide bond and
therefore provides an additional conjugatable Cys within the
polypeptide. It is particularly preferred that the alteration(s) at
one or more (several) of positions 75, 90, 91, 200, 461, 514, 558,
559 and 567 is not a substitution from Cys to any other amino acid
(A, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y), is not
deletion of the Cys, is not substitution or deletion of the
disulphide binding partner of that Cys, therefore preferably Cys at
one more of positions 53, 62, 75, 90, 91, 101, 124, 168, 169, 177,
200, 245, 246, 253, 265, 278, 279, 289, 316, 360, 361, 369, 392,
437, 438, 448, 461, 476, 477, 487, 514, 558, 559, 567 are not
deleted, substituted and/or subjected to an insertion. Most
preferably, no Cys usually involved in disulphide binding is
deleted, substituted and/or subjected to an insertion. Therefore,
it is preferred that if an alteration is at one or more (several)
of positions 34, 38, 40, 76, 79, 80, 82, 83, 86, 104, 113, 115,
116, 471, 490, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512, 538, 542,
550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582,
584, 585, the alteration is not a substitution to Cys and/or an
insertion of a Cys.
[0354] For all aspects of the invention, it is preferred that
position 573 (or equivalent thereof) is a Pro, Trp or Tyr residue.
Therefore, when there are 2 or more (several) alterations, it is
preferred that position 573 (or equivalent thereof) is Pro, Trp or
Tyr.
[0355] For all aspects of the invention fusion partner polypeptides
and/or conjugates may comprise one or more (several) of: 4-1BB
ligand, 5-helix, A human C-C chemokine, A human L105 chemokine, A
human L105 chemokine designated huL105.sub.--3., A monokine induced
by gamma-interferon (MIG), A partial CXCR4B protein, A platelet
basic protein (PBP), .alpha.1-antitrypsin, ACRP-30 Homologue;
Complement Component C1q C, Adenoid-expressed chemokine (ADEC),
aFGF; FGF-1, AGF, AGF Protein, albumin, an etoposide, angiostatin,
Anthrax vaccine, Antibodies specific for collapsin, antistasin,
Anti-TGF beta family antibodies, antithrombin III, APM-1; ACRP-30;
Famoxin, apo-lipoprotein species, Arylsulfatase B, b57 Protein,
BCMA, Beta-thromboglobulin protein (beta-TG), bFGF; FGF2, Blood
coagulation factors, BMP Processing Enzyme Furin, BMP-10, BMP-12,
BMP-15, BMP-17, BMP-18, BMP-2B, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6, BMP-9, Bone
Morphogenic Protein-2, calcitonin, Calpain-10a, Calpain-10b,
Calpain-10c, Cancer Vaccine, Carboxypeptidase, C-C chemokine, MCP2,
CCR5 variant, CCR7, CCR7, CD11a Mab, CD137; 4-1BB Receptor Protein,
CD20 Mab, CD27, CD27L, CD30, CD30 ligand, CD33 immunotoxin, CD40,
CD40L, CD52 Mab, Cerebus Protein, Chemokine Eotaxin., Chemokine
hIL-8, Chemokine hMCP1, Chemokine hMCP1a, Chemokine hMCP1b,
Chemokine hMCP2, Chemokine hMCP3, Chemokine hSDF1b, Chemokine
MCP-4, chemokine TECK and TECK variant, Chemokine-like protein
IL-8M1 Full-Length and Mature, Chemokine-like protein IL-8M10
Full-Length and Mature, Chemokine-like protein IL-8M3,
Chemokine-like protein IL-8M8 Full-Length and Mature,
Chemokine-like protein IL-8M9 Full-Length and Mature,
Chemokine-like protein PF4-414 Full-Length and Mature,
Chemokine-like protein PF4-426 Full-Length and Mature,
Chemokine-like protein PF4-M2 Full-Length and Mature, Cholera
vaccine, Chondromodulin-like protein, c-kit ligand; SCF; Mast cell
growth factor; MGF; Fibrosarcoma-derived stem cell factor, CNTF and
fragment thereof (such as CNTFAx15' (Axokine.TM.)), coagulation
factors in both pre and active forms, collagens, Complement C5 Mab,
Connective tissue activating protein-III, CTAA16.88 Mab, CTAP-III,
CTLA4-Ig, CTLA-8, CXC3, CXC3, CXCR3; CXC chemokine receptor 3,
cyanovirin-N, Darbepoetin, designated exodus, designated
huL105.sub.--7., DIL-40, DNase, EDAR, EGF Receptor Mab, ENA-78,
Endostatin, Eotaxin, Epithelial neutrophil activating protein-78,
EPO receptor; EPOR, erythropoietin (EPO) and EPO mimics, Eutropin,
Exodus protein, Factor IX, Factor VII, Factor VIII, Factor X and
Factor XIII, FAS Ligand Inhibitory Protein (DcR3), FasL, FasL,
FasL, FGF, FGF-12; Fibroblast growth factor homologous factor-1,
FGF-15, FGF-16, FGF-18, FGF-3; INT-2, FGF-4; gelonin, HST-1;
HBGF-4, FGF-5, FGF-6; Heparin binding secreted transforming
factor-2, FGF-8, FGF-9; Glia activating factor, fibrinogen, flt-1,
flt-3 ligand, Follicle stimulating hormone Alpha subunit, Follicle
stimulating hormone Beta subunit, Follitropin, Fractalkine,
fragment. myofibrillar protein Troponin I, FSH, Galactosidase,
Galectin-4, G-CSF, GDF-1, Gene therapy, Glioma-derived growth
factor, glucagon, glucagon-like peptides, Glucocerebrosidase,
glucose oxidase, Glucosidase, Glycodelin-A; Progesterone-associated
endometrial protein, GM-CSF, gonadotropin, Granulocyte chemotactic
protein-2 (GCP-2), Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating
factor, growth hormone, Growth related oncogene-alpha (GRO-alpha),
Growth related oncogene-beta (GRO-beta), Growth related
oncogene-gamma (GRO-gamma), hAPO-4; TROY, hCG, Hepatitus B surface
Antigen, Hepatitus B Vaccine, HER2 Receptor Mab, hirudin, HIV
gp120, HIV gp41, HIV Inhibitor Peptide, HIV Inhibitor Peptide, HIV
Inhibitor Peptide, HIV protease inhibiting peptides, HIV-1 protease
inhibitors, HPV vaccine, Human 6CKine protein, Human Act-2 protein,
Human adipogenesis inhibitory factor, human B cell stimulating
factor-2 receptor, Human beta-chemokine H1305 (MCP-2), Human C-C
chemokine DGWCC, Human CC chemokine ELC protein, Human CC type
chemokine interleukin C, Human CCC3 protein, Human CCF18 chemokine,
Human CC-type chemokine protein designated SLC (secondary lymphoid
chemokine), Human chemokine beta-8 short forms, Human chemokine
010, Human chemokine CC-2, Human chemokine CC-3, Human chemokine
CCR-2, Human chemokine Ckbeta-7, Human chemokine ENA-78, Human
chemokine eotaxin, Human chemokine GRO alpha, Human chemokine
GROalpha, Human chemokine GRObeta, Human chemokine HCC-1, Human
chemokine HCC-1, Human chemokine 1-309, Human chemokine IP-10,
Human chemokine L105.sub.--3, Human chemokine L105.sub.--7, Human
chemokine MIG, Human chemokine MIG-beta protein, Human chemokine
MIP-1alpha, Human chemokine MIP1beta, Human chemokine MIP-3alpha,
Human chemokine MIP-3beta, Human chemokine PF4, Human chemokine
protein 331D5, Human chemokine protein 61164, Human chemokine
receptor CXCR3, Human chemokine SDFlalpha, Human chemokine
SDF1beta, Human chemokine ZSIG-35, Human Chr19Kine protein, Human
CKbeta-9, Human CKbeta-9, Human CX3C111 amino acid chemokine, Human
DNAX interleukin-40, Human DVic-1 C-C chemokine, Human EDIRF 1
protein sequence, Human EDIRF II protein sequence, Human eosinocyte
CC type chemokine eotaxin, Human eosinophil-expressed chemokine
(EEC), Human fast twitch skeletal muscle troponin C, Human fast
twitch skeletal muscle troponin 1, Human fast twitch skeletal
muscle Troponin subunit C, Human fast twitch skeletal muscle
Troponin subunit 1 Protein, Human fast twitch skeletal muscle
Troponin subunit T, Human fast twitch skeletal muscle troponin T,
Human foetal spleen expressed chemokine, FSEC, Human GM-CSF
receptor, Human gro-alpha chemokine, Human gro-beta chemokine,
Human gro-gamma chemokine, Human IL-16 protein, Human IL-1RD10
protein sequence, Human IL-1RD9, Human IL-5 receptor alpha chain,
Human IL-6 receptor, Human IL-8 receptor protein hIL8RA, Human IL-8
receptor protein hIL8RB, Human IL-9 receptor protein, Human IL-9
receptor protein variant #3, Human IL-9 receptor protein variant
fragment, Human IL-9 receptor protein variant fragment#3, Human
interleukin 1 delta, Human Interleukin 10, Human Interleukin 10,
Human interleukin 18, Human interleukin 18 derivatives, Human
interleukin-1 beta precursor, Human interleukin-1 beta precursor.,
Human interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein, Human interleukin-1
receptor antagonist beta, Human interleukin-1 type-3 receptor,
Human Interleukin-10 (precursor), Human Interleukin-10 (precursor),
Human interleukin-11 receptor, Human interleukin-12 40 kD subunit,
Human interleukin-12 beta-1 receptor, Human interleukin-12 beta-2
receptor, Human Interleukin-12 p35 protein, Human Interleukin-12
p40 protein, Human interleukin-12 receptor, Human interleukin-13
alpha receptor, Human interleukin-13 beta receptor, Human
interleukin-15, Human interleukin-15 receptor from clone P1, Human
interleukin-17 receptor, Human interleukin-18 protein (IL-18),
Human interleukin-3, human interleukin-3 receptor, Human
interleukin-3 variant, Human interleukin-4 receptor, Human
interleukin-5, Human interleukin-6, Human interleukin-7, Human
interleukin-7., Human interleukin-8 (IL-8), Human intracellular
IL-1 receptor antagonist, Human IP-10 and HIV-1 gp120 hypervariable
region fusion protein, Human IP-10 and human Muc-1 core epitope
(VNT) fusion protein, human liver and activation regulated
chemokine (LARC), Human Lkn-1 Full-Length and Mature protein, Human
mammary associated chemokine (MACK) protein Full-Length and Mature,
Human mature chemokine Ckbeta-7, Human mature gro-alpha, Human
mature gro-gamma polypeptide used to treat sepsis, Human MCP-3 and
human Muc-1 core epitope (VNT) fusion protein, Human MI10 protein,
Human MI1A protein, Human monocyte chemoattractant factor hMCP-1,
Human monocyte chemoattractant factor hMCP-3, Human monocyte
chemotactic proprotein (MCPP) sequence, Human neurotactin chemokine
like domain, Human non-ELR CXC chemokine H174, Human non-ELR CXC
chemokine IP10, Human non-ELR CXC chemokine Mig, Human PAI-1
mutants, Human protein with IL-16 activity, Human protein with
IL-16 activity, Human secondary lymphoid chemokine (SLC), Human
SISD protein, Human STCP-1, Human stromal cell-derived chemokine,
SDF-1, Human T cell mixed lymphocyte reaction expressed chemokine
(TMEC), Human thymus and activation regulated cytokine (TARC),
Human thymus expressed, Human TNF-alpha, Human TNF-alpha, Human
TNF-beta (LT-alpha), Human type CC chemokine eotaxin 3 protein
sequence, Human type II interleukin-1 receptor, Human wild-type
interleukin-4 (hIL-4) protein, Human ZCHEMO-8 protein, Humanized
Anti-VEGF Antibodies, and fragments thereof, Humanized Anti-VEGF
Antibodies, and fragments thereof, Hyaluronidase, ICE 10 kD
subunit., ICE 20 kD subunit., ICE 22 kD subunit.,
Iduronate-2-sulfatase, Iduronidase, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-1
inhibitor (IL-1i)., IL-1 mature, IL-10 receptor, IL-11, IL-11,
IL-12 p40 subunit., IL-13, IL-14, IL-15, IL-15 receptor, IL-17,
IL-17 receptor, II-17 receptor, II-17 receptor, IL-19, IL-11
fragments, IL1-receptor antagonist, IL-21 (TIF), IL-3 containing
fusion protein., IL-3 mutant proteins, IL-3 variants, IL-3
variants, IL-4, IL-4 mutein, IL-4 mutein Y124G, IL-4 mutein Y124X,
IL-4 muteins, 1'-5 receptor, IL-6, 11-6 receptor, IL-7 receptor
clone, IL-8 receptor, IL-9 mature protein variant (Met117 version),
immunoglobulins or immunoglobulin-based molecules or fragment of
either (e.g. a Small Modular ImmunoPharmaceutical.TM. ("SMIP") or
dAb, Fab' fragments, F(ab')2, scAb, scFv or scFv fragment),
including but not limited to plasminogen, Influenza Vaccine,
Inhibin alpha, Inhibin beta, insulin, insulin-like growth factor,
Integrin Mab, inter-alpha trypsin inhibitor, inter-alpha trypsin
inhibitor, Interferon gamma-inducible protein (IP-10), interferons
(such as interferon alpha species and sub-species, interferon beta
species and sub-species, interferon gamma species and sub-species),
interferons (such as interferon alpha species and sub-species,
interferon beta species and sub-species, interferon gamma species
and sub-species), Interleukin 6, Interleukin 8 (IL-8) receptor,
Interleukin 8 receptor B, Interleukin-1alpha, Interleukin-2
receptor associated protein p43, interleukin-3, interleukin-4
muteins, Interleukin-8 (IL-8) protein., interleukin-9,
Interleukin-9 (IL-9) mature protein (Thr117 version), interleukins
(such as IL10, IL11 and IL2), interleukins (such as IL10, IL11 and
IL2), Japanese encephalitis vaccine, Kalikrein Inhibitor,
Keratinocyte growth factor, Kunitz domain protein (such as
aprotinin, amyloid precursor protein and those described in WO
03/066824, with or without albumin fusions), Kunitz domain protein
(such as aprotinin, amyloid precursor protein and those described
in WO 03/066824, with or without albumin fusions), LACI,
lactoferrin, Latent TGF-beta binding protein II, leptin, Liver
expressed chemokine-1 (LVEC-1), Liver expressed chemokine-2
(LVEC-2), LT-alpha, LT-beta, Luteinization Hormone, Lyme Vaccine,
Lymphotactin, Macrophage derived chemokine analogue MDC (n+1),
Macrophage derived chemokine analogue MDC-eyfy, Macrophage derived
chemokine analogue MDC-yl, Macrophage derived chemokine, MDC,
Macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), Maspin; Protease Inhibitor 5,
MCP-1 receptor, MCP-1a, MCP-1b, MCP-3, MCP-4 receptor, M-CSF,
Melanoma inhibiting protein, Membrane-bound proteins, Met117 human
interleukin 9, MIP-3 alpha, MIP-3 beta, MIP-Gamma, MIRAP, Modified
Rantes, monoclonal antibody, MP52, Mutant Interleukin 6 S176R,
myofibrillar contractile protein Troponin I, Natriuretic Peptide,
Nerve Growth Factor-beta, Nerve Growth Factor-beta2, Neuropilin-1,
Neuropilin-2, Neurotactin, Neurotrophin-3, Neurotrophin-4,
Neurotrophin-4-a, Neurotrophin-4-b, Neurotrophin-4-c,
Neurotrophin-4-d, Neutrophil activating peptide-2 (NAP-2), NOGO-66
Receptor, NOGO-A, NOGO-B, NOGO-C, Novel beta-chemokine designated
PTEC, N-terminal modified chemokine GroHEK/hSDF-1alpha, N-terminal
modified chemokine GroHEK/hSDF-1beta., N-terminal modified
chemokine met-hSDF-1 alpha, N-terminal modified chemokine
met-hSDF-1 beta, OPGL, Osteogenic Protein-1; OP-1; BMP-7,
Osteogenic Protein-2, OX40; ACT-4, OX40L, Oxytocin (Neurophysin I),
parathyroid hormone, Patched, Patched-2, PDGF-D, Pertussis toxoid,
Pituitary expressed chemokine (PGEC), Placental Growth Factor,
Placental Growth Factor-2, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1;
PAI-1, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-2; PAI-2, Plasminogen
Activator Inhibitor-2; PAI-2, Platelet derived growth factor,
Platelet derived growth factor Bv-sis, Platelet derived growth
factor precursor A, Platelet derived growth factor precursor B,
Platelet Mab, platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor
(PD-ECGF), Platelet-Derived Growth Factor A chain, Platelet-Derived
Growth Factor B chain, polypeptide used to treat sepsis,
Preproapolipoprotein "milano" variant, Preproapolipoprotein "paris"
variant, pre-thrombin, Primate CC chemokine "ILINCK", Primate CXC
chemokine "IBICK", proinsulin, Prolactin, Prolactin2, prosaptide,
Protease inhibitor peptides, Protein C, Protein S, pro-thrombin,
prourokinase, RANTES, RANTES 8-68, RANTES 9-68, RANTES peptide,
RANTES receptor, Recombinant interleukin-16, Resistin,
restrictocin, Retroviral protease inhibitors, ricin, Rotavirus
Vaccine, RSV Mab, saporin, sarcin, Secreted and Transmembrane
polypeptides, Secreted and Transmembrane polypeptides, serum
cholinesterase, serum protein (such as a blood clotting factor),
Soluble BMP Receptor Kinase Protein-3, Soluble VEGF Receptor, Stem
Cell Inhibitory Factor, Straphylococcus Vaccine, Stromal Derived
Factor-1 alpha, Stromal Derived Factor-1 beta, Substance P
(tachykinin), T1249 peptide, T20 peptide, T4 Endonuclease, TACI,
Tarc, TGF-beta 1, TGF-beta 2, Thr117 human interleukin 9, thrombin,
thrombopoietin, Thrombopoietin derivative1, Thrombopoietin
derivative2, Thrombopoietin derivative3, Thrombopoietin
derivative4, Thrombopoietin derivative5, Thrombopoietin
derivative6, Thrombopoietin derivative7, Thymus expressed chemokine
(TECK), Thyroid stimulating Hormone, tick anticoagulant peptide,
Tim-1 protein, TNF-alpha precursor, TNF-R, TNF-R11; TNF p75
Receptor; Death Receptor, tPA, transferrin, transforming growth
factor beta, Troponin peptides, Truncated monocyte chemotactic
protein 2 (6-76), Truncated monocyte chemotactic protein 2 (6-76),
Truncated RANTES protein (3-68), tumour necrosis factor, Urate
Oxidase, urokinase, Vasopressin (Neurophysin II), VEGF R-3; flt-4,
VEGF Receptor; KDR; flk-1, VEGF-110, VEGF-121, VEGF-138, VEGF-145,
VEGF-162, VEGF-165, VEGF-182, VEGF-189, VEGF-206, VEGF-D, VEGF-E;
VEGF-X, von Willebrand's factor, Wild type monocyte chemotactic
protein 2, Wild type monocyte chemotactic protein 2, ZTGF-beta 9,
alternative antibody scaffolds e.g. anticalin(s), adnectin(s),
fibrinogen fragment(s), nanobodies such as camelid nanobodies,
infestin, and/or any of the molecules mentioned in WO01/79271
(particularly page 9 and/or Table 1), WO 2003/59934 (particularly
Table 1), WO03/060071 (particularly Table 1) or WO01/079480
(particularly Table 1) (each incorporated herein by reference in
their entirety).
[0356] Furthermore, conjugates may comprise one or more (several)
of chemotherapy drugs such as: 13-cis-Retinoic Acid, 2-CdA,
2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine, 5-Azacitidine, 5-Fluorouracil, 5-FU,
6-Mercaptopurine, 6-MP, 6-TG, 6-Thioguanine, A, Abraxane,
Accutane.RTM., Actinomycin-D, Adriamycin.RTM., Adrucil.RTM.,
Agrylin.RTM., Ala-Cort.RTM., Aldesleukin, Alemtuzumab, ALIMTA,
Alitretinoin, Alkaban-AQ.RTM., Alkeran.RTM., All-transretinoic
Acid, Alpha Interferon, Altretamine, Amethopterin, Amifostine,
Aminoglutethimide, Anagrelide, Anandron.RTM., Anastrozole,
Arabinosylcytosine, Ara-C, Aranesp.RTM., Aredia.RTM.,
Arimidex.RTM., Aromasin.RTM., Arranon.RTM., Arsenic Trioxide,
Asparaginase, ATRA, Avastin.RTM., Azacitidine, BCG, BCNU,
Bevacizumab, Bexarotene, BEXXAR.RTM., Bicalutamide, BiCNU,
Blenoxane.RTM., Bleomycin, Bortezomib, Busulfan, Busulfex.RTM.,
C225, Calcium Leucovorin, Campath.RTM., Camptosar.RTM.,
Camptothecin-11, Capecitabine, Carac.TM., Carboplatin, Carmustine,
Carmustine Wafer, Casodex.RTM., CC-5013, CCNU, CDDP, CeeNU,
Cerubidine.RTM., Cetuximab, Chlorambucil, Cisplatin, Citrovorum
Factor, Cladribine, Cortisone, Cosmegen.RTM., CPT-11,
Cyclophosphamide, Cytadren.RTM., Cytarabine, Cytarabine Liposomal,
Cytosar-U.RTM., Cytoxan.RTM., Dacarbazine, Dacogen, Dactinomycin,
Darbepoetin Alfa, Dasatinib, Daunomycin, Daunorubicin, Daunorubicin
Hydrochloride, Daunorubicin Liposomal, DaunoXome.RTM., Decadron,
Decitabine, Delta-Cortef.RTM., Deltasone.RTM., Denileukin diftitox,
DepoCyt.TM., Dexamethasone, Dexamethasone acetate, Dexamethasone
Sodium Phosphate, Dexasone, Dexrazoxane, DHAD, DIC, Diodex,
Docetaxel, Doxil.RTM., Doxorubicin, Doxorubicin liposomal,
Droxia.TM., DTIC, DTIC-Dome.RTM., Duralone.RTM., Efudex.RTM.,
Eligard.TM., Ellence.TM., Eloxatin.TM., Elspar.RTM., Emcyt.RTM.,
Epirubicin, Epoetin alfa, Erbitux.TM., Erlotinib, Erwinia
L-asparaginase, Estramustine, Ethyol, Etopophos.RTM., Etoposide,
Etoposide Phosphate, Eulexin.RTM., Evista.RTM., Exemestane,
Fareston.RTM., Faslodex.RTM., Femara.RTM., Filgrastim, Floxuridine,
Fludara.RTM., Fludarabine, Fluoroplex.RTM., Fluorouracil,
Fluorouracil (cream), Fluoxymesterone, Flutamide, Folinic Acid,
FUDR.RTM., Fulvestrant, G-CSF, Gefitinib, Gemcitabine, Gemtuzumab
ozogamicin, Gemzar.RTM., Gleevec.TM., Gliadel.RTM. Wafer, GM-CSF,
Goserelin, Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor, Granulocyte
Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor, Halotestin.RTM.,
Herceptin.RTM., Hexadrol, Hexylen.RTM., Hexamethylmelamine, HMM,
Hycamtin.RTM., Hydrea.RTM., Hydrocort Acetate.RTM., Hydrocortisone,
Hydrocortisone Sodium Phosphate, Hydrocortisone Sodium Succinate,
Hydrocortone Phosphate, Hydroxyurea, Ibritumomab, Ibritumomab
Tiuxetan, Idamycin.RTM., Idarubicin, Ifex.RTM., IFN-alpha,
Ifosfamide, IL-11, IL-2, Imatinib mesylate, Imidazole Carboxamide,
Interferon alfa, Interferon Alfa-2b (PEG Conjugate), Interleukin-2,
Interleukin-11, Intron A.RTM. (interferon alfa-2b), Iressa.RTM.,
Irinotecan, Isotretinoin, Kidrolase.RTM., Lanacort.RTM., Lapatinib,
L-asparaginase, LCR, Lenalidomide, Letrozole, Leucovorin, Leukeran,
Leukine.TM., Leuprolide, Leurocristine, Leustatin.TM., Liposomal
Ara-C, Liquid Pred.RTM., Lomustine, L-PAM, L-Sarcolysin,
Lupron.RTM., Lupron Depot.RTM., M, Matulane.RTM., Maxidex,
Mechlorethamine, Mechlorethamine Hydrochloride, Medralone.RTM.,
Medrol.RTM., Megace.RTM., Megestrol, Megestrol Acetate, Melphalan,
Mercaptopurine, Mesna, Mesnex.TM., Methotrexate, Methotrexate
Sodium, Methylprednisolone, Meticorten.RTM., Mitomycin,
Mitomycin-C, Mitoxantrone, M-Prednisol.RTM., MTC, MTX,
Mustargen.RTM., Mustine, Mutamycin.RTM., Myleran.RTM., Mylocel.TM.,
Mylotarg.RTM., Navelbine.RTM., Nelarabine, Neosar.RTM.,
Neulasta.TM., Neumega.RTM., Neupogen.RTM., Nexavar.RTM.,
Nilandron.RTM., Nilutamide, Nipent.RTM., Nitrogen Mustard,
Novaldex.RTM., Novantrone.RTM., Octreotide, Octreotide acetate,
Oncospar.RTM., Oncovin.RTM., Ontak.RTM., Onxal.TM., Oprevelkin,
Orapred.RTM., Orasone.RTM., Oxaliplatin, a taxol or taxol
derivative e.g. Paclitaxel or Paclitaxel Protein-bound,
Pamidronate, Panitumumab, Panretin.RTM., Paraplatin.RTM.,
Pediapred.RTM., PEG Interferon, Pegaspargase, Pegfilgrastim,
PEG-INTRON.TM., PEG-L-asparaginase, PEMETREXED, Pentostatin,
Phenylalanine Mustard, Platinol.RTM., Platinol-AQ.RTM.,
Prednisolone, Prednisone, Prelone.RTM., Procarbazine, PROCRIT.RTM.,
Proleukin.RTM., Prolifeprospan 20 with Carmustine Implant,
Purinethol.RTM., R, Raloxifene, Revlimid.RTM., Rheumatrex.RTM.,
Rituxan.RTM., Rituximab, Roferon-A.RTM. (Interferon Alfa-2a),
Rubex.RTM., Rubidomycin hydrochloride, Sandostatin.RTM.,
Sandostatin LAR.RTM., Sargramostim, Solu-Cortef.RTM.,
Solu-Medrol.RTM., Sorafenib, SPRYCEL.TM., STI-571, Streptozocin,
SU11248, Sunitinib, Sutent.RTM., Tamoxifen, Tarceva.RTM.,
Targretin.RTM., Taxol.RTM., Taxotere.RTM., Temodar.RTM.,
Temozolomide, Teniposide, TESPA, Thalidomide, Thalomid.RTM.,
TheraCys.RTM., Thioguanine, Thioguanine Tabloid.RTM.,
Thiophosphoamide, Thioplex.RTM., Thiotepa, TICE.RTM., Toposar.RTM.,
Topotecan, Toremifene, Tositumomab, Trastuzumab, Tretinoin,
Trexall.TM., Trisenox.RTM., TSPA, TYKERB.RTM., VCR, Vectibix.TM.,
Velban.RTM., Velcade.RTM., VePesid.RTM., Vesanoid.RTM., Viadur.TM.,
Vidaza.RTM., Vinblastine, Vinblastine Sulfate, Vincasar Pfs.RTM.,
Vincristine, Vinorelbine, Vinorelbine tartrate, VLB, VM-26,
Vorinostat, VP-16, Vumon.RTM., Xeloda.RTM., Zanosar.RTM.,
Zevalin.TM., Zinecard.RTM., Zoladex.RTM., Zoledronic acid, Zolinza,
Zometa.RTM.; radiopharmaceuticals such as: Carbon-11, Carbon-14,
Chromium-51, Cobalt-57, Cobalt-58, Erbium-169, Fluorine-18,
Gallium-67, Gold-198, Indium-111, Indium-113m, Iodine-123,
Iodine-125, Iodine-131, Iron-59, Krypton-81m, Nitrogen-13,
Oxygen-15, Phosphorous-32, Rhenium-186, Rubidium-82, Samarium-153,
Selenium-75, Strontium-89, Technetium-99m, Thallium-201, Tritium,
Xenon-127, Xenon-133, Yttrium-90; imaging agents such as
Gadolinium, magnetite, manganese, technetium, 1125, 1131, P32,
T1201, Iopamidol, PET-FDG.
[0357] Further fusion partners, conjugation partners and/or
molecules for inclusion in a nanoparticle, associate or composition
according to the invention include: acromegaly drugs e.g.
somatuline, lanreotide, octreotide, Sandostatin; antithrombotics
e.g. bivalirudin, Angiomax, dalteparin, Fragmin, enoxaparin,
Lovenox, Drotrecogin alfa (e.g. Activated), Xigris, heparin;
assisted reproductive therapy compounds e.g. choriogonadotropin,
Ovidrel, follitropin, alpha/beta; enzymes e.g. hyaluronidase,
Hylenex; diabetes drugs e.g. exenatide, Byetta, glucagon, insulin,
liraglutide, albiglutide, GLP-1 agonists, exendin or an exendin
analog; compounds useful in diagnosis e.g. protirelin, Thyrel TRH
Thypinone, secretin (e.g. synthetic human), Chirhostim, thyrotropin
(e.g. alpha), Thyrogen' erythropoiesis drugs e.g. Darbepoetin alfa,
Aranesp, Epoetin alfa, Epogen, Eprex, drugs for the treatment of
genetic defects e.g. pegademase, drugs for the treatment of growth
failure e.g. Adagen, mecasermin, rinfabate, drugs for the treatment
of cystic fibrosis e.g. Dornase alfa, Pulmozyme, drugs for the
treatment of metaoblic disorders e.g. Agalsidase beta, Fabrazyme,
alglucosidase alpha, Myozyme, Laronidase, Aldurazyme, drugs for the
treatment of genital wart intralesional e.g. Interferon alfa-n3,
Alferon N, drugs for the treatment of granulomatous disease e.g.
Interferon gamma-1b, Actimmune; drugs for the treatment of growth
failure e.g. pegvisomant, Somavert, somatropin, Genotropin,
Nutropin, Humatrope, Serostim, Protropin; drugs for the treatment
of heart failure e.g. nesiritide, Natrecor; drugs for the treatment
of hemophilia e.g. a coagulation factor e.g. Factor VIII, Helixate
FS, Kogenate FS, Factor IX, BeneFIX, Factor VIIa, Novoseven,
desmopressin, Stimate, DDAVP; hemopoetic drugs e.g. Filgrastim
(G-CSF), Neupogen, Oprelvekin, Neumega, Pegfilgrastim, Neulasta,
Sargramostim, Leukine; drugs for the treatment of hepatitis C e.g.
Interferon alfa-2a, Roferon A, Interferon alfa-2b, Intron A,
Interferon alfacon-1, Infergen, Peginterferon alfa-2a, Pegasys,
Peginterferon alfa-2b, PEG-Intron; drugs for the treatment of HIV
e.g. enfuvirtide, Fuzeon; Fabs e.g. Fab (antithrombin), Abciximab,
ReoPro; monoclonal antibodies e.g. Daclizumab, Zenapax; antiviral
monoclonal antibodies e.g. Palivizumab, Synagis; monoclonal
antibodies for the treatment of asthma e.g. Omalizumab, Xolair;
monoclonal antibodies for use in diagnostic imaging e.g.
Arcitumomab, CEA-Scan, Capromab Pendetide, ProstaScint, Satumomab
Pendetide, OncoScint CR/OV, Fabs for use in diagnostic imaging e.g.
Nofetumomab, Verluma; iimmuno-supressant monoclonal antibodies e.g.
Basiliximab, Simulect, Muromonab-CD3, Orthoclone OKT3; monoclonal
antibodies for the treatment of malignancy e.g. Alemtuzumab,
Campath, Ibritumomab tiuxetan, Zevalin, Rituximab, Rituxan,
Trastuzumab, Herceptin; monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) e.g. Adalimumab, Humira, Infliximab,
Remicade; monoclonal antibodies for use as a
radio-immuno-therapeutic e.g. Tositumomab and Iodine I.sup.131,
Tositumomab, Bexxar; drugs for the treatment of macular
degeneration e.g. pegaptanib, Macugen; drugs for the treatment of
malignancy e.g. Aldesleukin, Proleukin, Interleukin-2,
Asparaginase, Elspar, Rasburicase, Elitek, Denileukin diftitox,
Ontak, Pegaspargase, Oncaspar, goserelin, leuprolide; drugs for the
treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) e.g. Glatiramer acetate (e.g.
copolymer-1), Copaxone, Interferon beta-1a, Avonex, Interferon
beta-1a, Rebif, Interferon beta-1b, Betaseron; drugs for the
treatment of mucositis e.g. palifermin, Kepivance; drug for the
treatment of dystonia e.g., neurotoxin, Botulinum Toxin Type A,
BOTOX, BOTOX Cosmetic, Botulinum Toxin Type B, MYOBLOC; drugs for
the treatment of osteoporosis e.g. teriparatide, Forteo; drugs for
the treatment of psoriasis e.g. Alefacept, Amevive; drugs for the
treatment of RA e.g. abatacept, Orencia, Anakinra, Kineret,
Etanercept, Enbrel; thrombolytics e.g. Alteplase, Activase, rtPA,
Anistreplase, Eminase, Reteplase, Retavase, Streptokinase,
Streptase, Tenecteplase, TNKase, Urokinase, Abbokinase, Kinlytic;
drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis e.g. calcitonin (e.g.
salmon), Miacalcin, Fortical, drugs for the treatment of skin
ulcers e.g. Becaplermin, Regranex, Collagenase, Santyl.
[0358] Such polypeptides and chemical compounds may be referred to
as diagnostic moieties, therapeutic moieties, prophylactic moieties
or beneficial moieties.
[0359] Preferably the fusion partner and/or conjugation partner is
not an albumin, variant or fragment thereof.
[0360] One or more (several) therapeutic or prophylactic
polypeptides may be fused to the N-terminus, the C-terminus of
albumin, inserted into a loop in the albumin structure or any
combination thereof. It may or it may not comprise linker sequences
separating the various components of the fusion polypeptide.
[0361] Teachings relating to fusions of albumin or a fragment
thereof are known in the art and the skilled person will appreciate
that such teachings can also be applied to the invention. WO
2001/79271A and WO 2003/59934A (incorporated herein by reference)
also contain examples of therapeutic and prophylactic polypeptides
that may be fused to albumin or fragments thereof, and these
examples apply also to the invention.
[0362] The invention is further described by the following examples
that should not be construed as limiting the scope of the
invention.
EXAMPLES
Materials and Methods
Production of HSA Mutants and Hybrid Molecules Including Generation
of C-Terminal Truncations of Albumin.
[0363] Variants of albumin were prepared using techniques known to
the skilled person, for example using the methods of WO2011/051489
(PCT/EP10/066,572) or by PCR using mutagenic oligonucleotide
primers.
[0364] Production of shFcRn. The construction and production of
recombinant variants of shFcRn, such as GST-tagged shFcRn, have
previously been described (36). Alternatively HIS-tagged shFcRn
heterodimer was prepared as described in WO2011/124718.
[0365] ELISA. ELISA, using microtiter plates coated with HSA
variants. GST-tagged shFcRn and horse radish peroxidase conjugated
goat anti GST antibody was carried out according to Andersen et al
(2012; Nature Communications 3:610; D01:10.1038/ncomms1607).
[0366] Surface plasmon resonance. A Biacore 3000 instrument (GE
Healthcare) was used with CM5 sensor chips coupled with shFcRn-GST
(1000-2000 RU) using amine coupling chemistry as described by the
manufacturer. The coupling was performed by injecting 10-12
.mu.g/ml of each protein into 10 mM sodium acetate, pH 4.5 (GE
Healthcare). For all experiments, phosphate buffer (67 mM phosphate
buffer, 0.15M NaCl, 0.005% Tween 20) at pH 6.0 or 7.4, or HBS-P
buffer (0.01M HEPES, 0.15M NaCl, 0.005% surfactant P20) at pH 7.4
were used as running buffer and dilution buffer. Kinetic
measurements were performed by injecting serial dilutions of HSA
variants (80-0.1 .mu.M) at 25.degree. C. at a flow rate of 50
.mu.l/min. In all experiments, data were zero adjusted, and the
reference cell value was subtracted. Kinetic rate values were
calculated using predefined models (Langmuir 1:1 ligand model and
steady-state affinity model) provided by using the BlAevaluation
4.1 software.
[0367] Competitive binding was measured by injecting shFcRn (100
nM) alone or together with titrated amounts of HSA variants
(1000-0.015 nM) over immobilized HSA (2000-2500 RU). The percentage
(%) binding of shFcRn to HSA immobilised on the chip was calculated
by dividing the total SPR response given by injecting the shFcRn
alone by the response when pre-incubated with HSA variant.
Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy
[0368] Circular dichroism (CD) spectra were recorded using a Jasco
J-810 spectropolarimeter (Jasco International Co., Ltd., Tokyo
Japan) calibrated with ammonium d-camphor-10-sulfonate (Icatayama
Chemicals, Tokyo Japan). All measurements were performed with a HSA
concentration of 2 mg ml.sup.-1 in 10 mM PBS (pH 6.0) without NaCl
added, at 23.degree. C. using a quartz cuvette (Starna, Essex, UK)
with a path length of 0.1 cm. Each sample was scanned 7 times at 20
nm min.sup.-1 (band width of 1 nm) at a response time of 1 s, and
the wavelength range was set to 190-260 nm. The collected data were
averaged and the spectrum of a sample-free control was subtracted.
The content of secondary structural elements was calculated after
smoothing (means-movement, convolution width 5) from ellipticity
data, using the neural network program CDNN version 2.1 and the
supplied neural network based on the 33-member basis set (Bohm eti
al (1992) Protein Eng 5, 191-195).
[0369] Docking procedure. Docking models of HSA and shFcRn were
generated using the ZDOCK Fast Fourier Transform based protein
docking program (37). The coordinates for HSA DIII (residues
382-582) were retrieved from the crystal structure of HSA at 2.5
.ANG. (PDB code 1bm0) (19)). Two different models of shFcRn were
used: the 2.7 .ANG. resolution structure of FcRn at pH 8.2 (PDB
code 1exu) and the 2.6 .ANG. resolution structure at pH 4.2 (PDB
code 3 m17) 98, 23). The .beta.2m domain, present in both
structural models of shFcRn, was included in the receptor model
during docking. The ZDOCK program was run with preferences for
docking poses with the two histidines His-161 and His-166 in FcRn
and residues His-464, His-510 and His-535 in HSA. All crystal
structure figures were designed using PyMOL (DeLano Scientific)
with the crystallographic data described herein.
Example 1
Construction of Docking Model
[0370] Docking models of HSA and shFcRn were generated using the
ZDOCK Fast Fourier Transform based protein docking program (Chen R
et al (2003) Proteins 52(1):80-87). The coordinates for HSA DIII
(residues 382-582) were retrieved from the crystal structure of HSA
at 2.5 .ANG. (PDB code 1bm0 (Sugio S et al (1999) Protein Eng
12(6):439-446). Two different models of shFcRn were used: the 2.7
.ANG. resolution structure of FcRn at pH 8.2 (PDB code 1exu) and
the 2.6 .ANG. resolution structure at pH 4.2 (PDB code 3 m17) (West
et al (2000) Biochemistry 39(32):9698-9708, and Mezo A R et al
(2010) J Biol Chem 285(36):27694-27701). The .beta.2m domain,
present in both structural models of shFcRn, was included in the
receptor model during docking. The ZDOCK program was run with
preferences for docking poses with the two histidines His-161 and
His-166 in FcRn and residues His-464, His-510 and His-535 in HSA in
the protein-protein interface (19). All crystal structure figures
were designed using PyMOL (DeLano Scientific) with the
crystallographic data described above.
[0371] The software returned one model for the docking of
sub-domain DIII against shFcRn with an ordered loop at pH 4.2 and
eight models for shFcRn at pH 8.2, lacking loop residues 52-59.
Among these eight models, five evidently showed erroneous
(incompatible) poses as judged by the position of HSA domains DI
and DII, and were rejected. The three remaining models were closely
related and had the same general structural pose. Superposition of
the low pH form of FcRn on these then showed that the structured
loop made no severe conflicts with the docked HSA. The final
selected model (coordinates are shown in FIGS. 18 and 19) reveals
interaction areas that fit very well with the obtained binding data
(FIG. 8A). Particularly, the long loop between sub-domains DIIIa
and DIIIb (490-510) as well as the C-terminal part (last C-terminal
.alpha.-helix) of HSA form a crevice on the surface of HSA into
which the pH-dependent and flexible loop in shFcRn (residues 51-60)
may bind (FIG. 88). The structure of shFcRn reveals that His-166
stabilizes the loop through intra-molecular interaction with Glu-54
(FIG. 7A), however the docking model suggests that His-166 may
additionally be engaged in binding to Glu-505 of HSA (FIG. 88).
Glu-505 may also interact with Arg-162 of the receptor. A key role
of His-510 is supported by the fact that it is predicted to
interact with Glu-54 within the pH-dependent .alpha.1-domain loop
(FIG. 88). Mutation of His-510 (H510Q) reduced binding by 14-fold
(FIG. 3c, Table 1). Thus, His-166 in hFcRn and His-510 in HSA seem
to be involved in regulating an ionic network in the core of the
hFcRn-HSA interaction interface.
[0372] The model also predicts possible salt-bridges between
Lys-150 and Glu-151 of shFcRn with Glu-501 and Lys-500 of HSA,
respectively (FIG. 88). This is in line with the binding data that
show reduced binding capacity of HSA variants mutated at these
positions (FIG. 68). Furthermore, the model proposes a key role of
the alpha helix at the C-terminal end of HSA. This is supported by
the fact that deletion of the last 17 amino acids of DIIIb almost
eliminated binding to shFcRn (FIG. 14).
[0373] Another cleft on the surface of HSA is formed between the
DIIIa-DIIIb connecting loop and one of the other .alpha.-helices of
DIIIb (residues 520-535). Here, His-161 of shFcRn may interact with
Glu-531 at acidic pH (FIG. 88). This is in agreement with previous
findings where a 10-fold reduced binding affinity was found when
His-161 was mutated (Andersen J T et al (2006) The conserved
histidine 166 residue of the human neonatal Fc receptor heavy chain
is critical for the pH-dependent binding to albumin. Eur J Immunol
36(11):3044-3051). The HSA-shFcRn complex could further be
reinforced by a salt-bridge formed between Glu-168 of shFcRn and
Lys-524 of DIII, a prediction that is supported by the fact that
mutation of Glu-168 moderately reduces binding to HSA (FIG.
15).
[0374] Moreover, His-535 may interact favorably with Phe-157 while
His-464 is localized close to a .beta.-hairpin within FcRn
encompassing residues 99-102 that is wedged in-between domains DI
and the sub-domain DIIIa in HSA (FIG. 8C). Here, shFcRn Asp-101 has
several possible partners in DI such as Arg-197 and Lys-190,
however, they must necessarily undergo some conformational changes
in order to get close to Asp-101. Interestingly, the .beta.-hairpin
has two different conformations, depending on the pH (West et al
(2000)). This suggests that Asp-101 is indeed located in a flexible
element of shFcRn. Crystal structure and immunoglobulin G binding
properties of the human major histocompatibility complex-related Fc
receptor, Biochemistry 39(32):9698-9708, and Mezo A R et al (2010)
X-ray crystal structures of monomeric and dimeric peptide
inhibitors in complex with the human neonatal Fc receptor, FcRn. J
Biol Chem 285(36):27694-27701, suggesting that it forms a flexible
element in shFcRn.
[0375] The MHC class I-related FcRn has evolved to protect IgG and
albumin from catabolism (5, 8, 22). While FcRn binding to IgG has
been studied in great detail for decades, its recently discovered
interaction with albumin is poorly understood at the molecular
level. The data herein provides mechanistic evidence for the
importance of several interaction surfaces on both molecules that
reveal how they interact in a pH-sensitive fashion, facilitating
cellular recycling.
[0376] The finding that DIII alone, unlike DI+DII, could bind to
the receptor, modulated by pH, conclusively shows that DIII harbors
the principal core binding site for FcRn, in agreement with a
previous report (9. However, the data also show a role for DI in
binding, e.g. the docking model suggests an interaction between
FcRn and HSA DI. More specifically, the affinity for DIII alone is
considerably weaker than that for full length HSA, a finding that
suggest that there may be a moderate contribution to binding to the
receptor from DI or DII, either directly or indirectly. The data
also show that a DI-DIII construct bound hFcRn slightly stronger
than a single HSA DIII. This might be due to structural
stabilization of DIII or that DI interacts with hFcRn when fused to
DIII, although DI in the DI-DIII fusion has a different location
than DI in the full-length HSA. Interestingly, the model suggests
that there may be some interactions between DI and shFcRn
[0377] Several HSA polymorphisms, localized to DIII (16), may
affect receptor binding and consequently their levels in blood. One
such polymorphism, Casebrook, with a single point mutation that
introduces an N-linked glycosylation site, is present in about 35%
of WT albumin in heterozygous carriers (20). Introduction of the
mutation in rabbit albumin resulted in a variant with 50% reduction
in half-life when injected into rabbits (24). Based on these
observations, a HSA variant mimicking Casebrook was prepared
(WO2011/051489 (PCT/EP10/066,572), incorporated herein by
reference) and was found that it had a 2-fold reduction in affinity
for shFcRn. This was also the case for Casebrook variant isolated
from a heterozygous individual, displaying a 50% decrease in the
ability to compete for binding to shFcRn in the presence of WT
albumin. When inspecting the crystal structure of shFcRn solved at
acidic pH, the partially exposed and protonated His-166 was found
to be engaged in stabilizing a loop that was disordered at basic
pH, through binding to an acidic (Glu-54) and a polar (Tyr-60)
amino acid, respectively. The disorder of the loop is likely
explained by loss of protonation of His-166 at basic pH, which then
probably regulates the flexibility and conformation of the loop in
a pH-dependent manner.
[0378] A total of four histidine residues in HSA DIII were
individually mutated to glutamine residues. The three highly
conserved histidine residues (His-464, His-510 and His-535) were
found to be important for binding at acidic pH. The information
relating to the importance of the histidine residues present in
DIII, and also the importance of His-166 within FcRn for binding to
HSA, were used to guide docking of the HSA-shFcRn complex. In line
with the molecular data, DIII forms the major interaction interface
with a minor contribution from DI. Furthermore, it has been shown
that both IgG and albumin bind to non-overlapping sites without
interfering with the binding of the other protein (9, 21). This
fits well with the docking model where no hindrance exists for
simultaneous binding of the two ligands (FIG. 16). Whether or not
albumin binding induces conformation changes on the receptor or
vice versa cannot be excluded.
[0379] Following inspection of the docking model, no direct contact
between the oligosaccharide attachment site (Asn-494) present in
HSA Casebrook variant and shFcRn was found. However, Asp-494 is
part of the N-terminal region of the extended loop (490-510)
connecting DIIIa and DIIIb, and it is very likely that alteration
of the composition at the N-terminal end of the loop induces
conformation changes in the loop at large. Structural importance of
Asp-494 and Glu-495 residues is supported by the fact that both are
highly conserved across species (FIG. 2). Importantly, the docking
model suggests that several residues in the C-terminal end of the
loop are in direct contact with the .alpha.1-.alpha.2-platform of
the receptor, with predicted key residues being His-510 and Glu-505
on HSA, as well as Glu-54 on shFcRn. His-510 is one of the three
conserved histidine residues, and mutation of this residue (i.e.
H510Q) reduced binding to shFcRn significantly. Of the remaining
two conserved histidine residues on HSA that are involved in FcRn
binding, His-535 may reinforce the HSA-FcRn complex by aromatic
stacking or stabilization of the loop between sub-domains DIIIa and
DIIIb in HSA. His-464 may interact, directly or indirectly, with a
flexible .beta.-hairpin element in FcRn. Interestingly, this
.beta.-hairpin loop is the most flexible part in FcRn, except for
the pH-dependent loop stabilized by His-166, as judged by a
comparison of the low and high pH crystal structures. The flexible
.beta. hairpin loop is the most flexible part in FcRn, except for
the pH-dependent loop stabilized by His-166, as judged by a
comparison of the low and high pH crystal structures. The flexible
.beta.-hairpin in shFcRn is in contact with both the .alpha.-helix
in HSA that contains His-464 as well as a long loop in DI,
suggesting an indirect conformational "tuning" of the shFcRn-HSA
interface involving DI and DIIIa. In summary, the data shows that
histidine residues on both FcRn and albumin are fundamental for
optimal pH-dependent binding. The data support a study showing that
mutation of conserved histidine residues to alanine resulted in
increased clearance of HSA DIII mutants fused to antibody fragments
when injected into mice, however, no correlation to FcRn binding
was shown (25). Furthermore, from an evolutionary perspective it is
interesting that two completely unrelated soluble molecules with
different functions have evolved to bind a single cell bound
receptor in a similar pH- and histidine-dependent manner that in
both cases results in rescue from degradation and prolonged
half-life.
[0380] The principal function of albumin is to transport fatty
acids that are bound asymmetrically to hydrophobic pockets within
or between the three domains (1, 26, 27). HSA DIII harbors two high
affinity binding sites, and the fatty acids bind close to the loop
between HSA DIIIa and DIIIb, which also includes several residues
found to affect FcRn binding. Comparison of the fatty acid bound
and the free state of HSA (19, 27) shows no substantial
rearrangements within sub-domain DIII of HSA upon binding, but a
considerable shift in orientation of HSA DI relative to HSA DIII
(FIG. 17). In effect, superposition of DIII in the fatty acid
binding HSA onto the corresponding FcRn-binding domain in the
docking model reveals that DI may move away from FcRn when binding
fatty acids. The half-life regulatory function of FcRn may be
utilized for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, as discussed
elsewhere (28, 29). Obviously, bioactive peptides and small
proteins obtained from combinatorial libraries or molecular
engineering are promising candidates, however, they (and all drugs)
may fail to show convincing effects in vivo due to very short
half-lives as a consequence of their size being below the renal
clearance threshold as well as susceptibility to degradation by
proteases (30, 31). This limits transition of such molecules from
lead candidate to a drug(s) on the market. A solution to these
obstacles may be to take advantage of the prolonged half-life of
IgG or albumin controlled by FcRn. Several examples have shown that
genetic fusion of therapeutic proteins to the IgG Fc or HSA
improves bio-distribution and pharmacokinetics (29).
[0381] The serum half-life of IgG may also be extensively improved
beyond that evolved by nature. This is an intense area of research
that has generated engineered IgG variants with point mutations in
their Fc portion resulted in improved pH-dependent FcRn binding,
and consequently extended half-life in vivo (4, 5, 32). No examples
have so far been presented for albumin, except for the observation
that mouse albumin binds much stronger to shFcRn than HSA (21). The
docking model presented in this study may guide the development of
novel HSA variants with increased serum half-life, which could be
attractive for delivery of both chemical and biological drugs.
[0382] Tumors and inflamed tissues show increased accumulation of
albumin as a result of leaky capillaries and defective lymphatic
drainage (33). Consequently, albumin-based therapeutics or
diagnostics accumulate at the site of tumor or inflammation.
Furthermore, fine-tuning of albumin half-life may also be an
attractive approach in relation to tumor targeting and imaging due
to tissue toxicity of the fused molecules. Modulation of IgG
half-life by attenuating the affinity for FcRn has been shown to
improve tumor to normal tissue ratio and consequently improve tumor
imaging (34, 35). The HSA variants described in this paper, with
substantially reduced or no or intermediate FcRn binding
affinities, may serve as attractive albumin candidates.
[0383] WO2011/051489 (PCT/EP10/066,572; incorporated herein by
reference) shows that a given position of albumin (e.g. position
573 of HSA) can be substituted by any other amino acid to alter the
binding affinity for FcRn. Thus, alteration of a signal position
provides a group of albumin variants having binding affinity
different to the binding affinity of the parent albumin (WT HSA,
SEQ ID NO: 2). For position 573, all variants showed improved
binding to shFcRn compared with WT HSA. In particular the variants
K573F, K573H, K573P, K573W and K573Y had a more than 10 fold lower
KD to shFcRn than the parent HSA. The variant K.sub.573STOP is a
truncated albumin having a stop codon in position 573 and has
significantly reduced binding compare to WT HSA.
Example 2
Identification of the Regions of HSA that are Required for Optimal
Binding to FcRn and Therefore Whose Alteration Will Alter Binding
Affinity Between FcRn and Albumin
[0384] Based on the docking model, the positions of amino acid
residues were identified, visually, which are directly localized at
the interaction interface between albumin and FcRn or localized in
close proximity to the interface. These positions are shown by dark
shading in FIG. 9 and correspond to positions in Domain I of
albumin: 30 to 41, 75 to 91, 104 to 120, 144 to 150 and 186 to 201
and to positions in Domain III of albumin: 414 to 426, 457 to 572,
492 to 538 and 550 to 585.
Example 3
Identification of Amino Acid Positions Involved in Binding of HSA
to FcRn
DIII is Involved in pH Dependent Binding to FcRn
[0385] Albumin consists of three homologous domains (DI, DII and
DIII), comprising .alpha.-helices stabilized by a complex network
of twelve cysteine residues forming six disulfide bridges (19). The
three domains are linked by loops and form a heart shaped structure
(FIG. 48). Two previous studies have pointed to DIII of albumin as
being important for FcRn binding (2,17). To confirm this and
further investigate how each individual domain contributes to the
FcRn binding site, several domain variants (DI-DIII, DII-DIII,
DI-DII, DIII) as well as full length HSA (FIG. 4C) were produced in
yeast (FIG. 4D). The binding of each to immobilized soluble
recombinant human FcRn (shFcRn-GST) was measured by surface plasmon
resonance (SPR), such that equal amounts of domain variants were
injected at pH 6.0 and pH 7.4. The variant consisting solely of
DIII bound shFcRn, and the variant missing DIII did not bind (FIG.
4E). Furthermore, the DI-DIII variant bound slightly stronger to
shFcRn than DIII alone (Table 2a). DII, on the other hand, did not
seem to contribute to binding.
[0386] Each of the three HSA domains has two sub-domains, a and b.
To address the importance of the C-terminal sub-domain DIIIb, a HSA
variant where this domain was deleted was prepared (HSA Din a).
Lack of DIIIb completely abolished shFcRn binding (FIG. 4F). The
recombinant HSA Bartin variant was included for comparison (17) and
supports the observation that DIIIb is important for receptor
binding. These results demonstrate that an intact DIII is important
for receptor binding.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 2a SPR-derived kinetics for binding of HSA
variants to shFcRn-GST. SEQ ID Albumin variant No. Ka (10.sup.3/Ms)
Kd (10.sup.-3/s) KD (.mu.M).sup.a WT 2 5.9 .+-. 0.1 7.0 .+-. 0.2
1.1 DIII 27 2.6 .+-. 0.0 72.0 .+-. 0.0 27.0/17.4.sup.b DI-DII 145
NA.sup.d NA NA DII-DIII 25 1.4 .+-. 0.2 30.0 .+-. 0.2
21.4/22.3.sup.b DI-DIII 24 3.2 .+-. 0.1 45.2 .+-. 0.1
14.1/15.0.sup.b Q417A 146 5.0 .+-. 0.0 11.1 .+-. 0.1 2.2 H440Q 147
5.1 .+-. 0.0 7.0 .+-. 0.1 1.3 H464Q 148 ND.sup.c ND 14.1.sup.b
D494N (Casebrook) 149 3.8 .+-. 0.0 8.5 .+-. 0.0 2.2 D494A 150 5.9
.+-. 0.1 21.0 .+-. 0.0 3.6 D494Q 151 5.4 .+-. 0.2 25.5 .+-. 0.1 4.7
E495Q 152 4.2 .+-. 0.0 13.1 .+-. 0.0 3.1 E495A 153 3.8 .+-. 0.1
13.0 .+-. 0.0 3.4 T496A 154 5.4 .+-. 0.0 7.6 .+-. 0.2 1.4
D494N/T496A 155 5.4 .+-. 0.1 8.5 .+-. 0.2 1.5 Casebrook 149 3.6
.+-. 0.1 9.7 .+-. 0.1 2.7 P499A 157 2.6 .+-. 0.0 12.1 .+-. 0.0 4.6
K500A 158 14.3 .+-. 0.2 47.8 .+-. 0.0 33.4 E501A 159 5.1 .+-. 0.0
9.8 .+-. 0.0 1.9 H510Q 160 ND ND 12.1.sup.b H535Q 161 ND ND
16.2.sup.b K536A 162 4.4 .+-. 0.2 9.3 .+-. 0.1 2.1 P537A 163 3.7
.+-. 0.1 14.3 .+-. 0.2 3.9 K538A 164 3.9 .+-. 0.0 7.1 .+-. 0.0 1.8
HSA 568Stop 45 ND ND 17.0 HSA DIIIa 165 NA NA NA .sup.aThe kinetic
rate constants were obtained using a simple first-order (1:1)
Langmuir bimolecular interaction model, which assumes that one HSA
molecule binds one FcRn. The kinetic values represent the average
of triplicates. .sup.bThe steady-state affinity constant was
obtained using an equilibrium (Req) binding model supplied by the
BIAevaluation 4.1 software. The kinetic values represent the
average of triplicates. .sup.cND, not determined due to no or very
weak binding. .sup.dNA, not acquired because of fast binding
kinetics.
Casebrook--a Point Mutation in HSA DIII that Alters FcRn
Binding
[0387] HSA is normally non-glycosylated, but a few exceptions exist
due to rare polymorphisms (16). One such variant (Casebrook) has a
single nucleotide substitution that changes the coding from Asp to
Asn at amino acid residue 494 (20), localized in the stretch of
amino acids (residue 490-510) that form a long loop connecting the
sub-domains DIIIa and DIIIb (FIGS. 5A and 6A). This natural
polymorphism introduces a glycosylation motif
(.sup.494Asn-Glu-Thr.sup.496) and attachment of an N-linked
oligosaccharide. A study was made of migration in SDS-PAGE and FcRn
binding of a number of recombinant HSA variants that allowed us to
dissect the role of the oligosaccharide and individual amino acids
at .sup.494Asn-Glu-Thr.sup.496. The recombinant version of
Casebrook (D494N) migrated more slowly than wild type (WT) HSA in
SDS-PAGE, which reflects attachment of oligosaccharide residues
(FIG. 58). Moreover, in six variants, D494A, D494Q, E495Q, E495A,
T496A and D494N/T496A, the glycosylation motif was disrupted, and
consequently, all of these mutants migrated like their WT
counterpart (FIG. 58).
[0388] All variants were tested for binding to immobilized shFcRn
by SPR, and distinct binding differences were detected at acidic pH
with a hierarchy from strongest to weakest binding as follows;
WT>T496A>D494N/T496A>D494N>E495Q
E495A>D494A>D494Q (FIG. 5C-F, Table 2a). The same trend was
obtained when binding was studied by ELISA (FIG. 10). The binding
kinetics revealed differences in dissociation rates for most
mutants except D494N (Casebrook), which showed a 2-fold reduced
binding affinity, resulting from both altered association and
dissociation constants. Mutation of Asp-494 and Glu-495 to Ala or
Gln had a large effect on receptor binding, while mutation of the
flanking Thr-496 had only a small effect on binding. The HSA
Casebrook variant isolated from a heterozygous individual bound
shFcRn similar to its recombinant counterpart (FIG. 5F, FIG. 11,
Table 2a).
[0389] The Casebrook variant is present at a 2-3 fold lower level
than normal HSA in heterozygous individuals (20). To mimic an in
vivo situation, where the Casebrook variant exists in the presence
of large amounts of WT HSA that competes for FcRn binding, a
competitive SPR-based assay was used and found that the ability of
the Casebrook variant to compete for receptor binding was reduced
by almost 50% compared with HSA WT (FIG. 5G), a finding that
mirrors the 2-fold reduction in binding affinity (Table 2a).
Structural Implications of Casebrook--Stability of the DIIIa-DIIIb
Connecting Loop
[0390] The integrity and folding of the HSA mutants were
investigated by circular dichroism. No major difference from that
WT HSA was observed for any of the mutants at both pH 7.4 and pH
6.0 (FIG. 12, Table 3).
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 3 Secondary structural elements determined by
CD Structural elements pH 7.4 Structural elements pH 6.0 HSA Anti-
Beta Random Anti- Random Variant Helix parallel Parallel turn Coli
Helix parallel Parallel Beta turn Coli WT 72 0 0.7 7.3 20 64.8 0.5
1.7 10.1 22.4 D494N 65.6 0.4 1.7 10.3 22 67.9 0.2 1.4 9.3 21.2
D494A 62.2 1.4 2.5 12.7 21.2 65.9 0.5 1.7 10.3 21.7 E495Q 65.3 0.3
1.7 10.4 22.2 65 0.6 1.8 10.5 22.1 E495A 64.8 0.5 1.8 10.6 22.2
65.1 0.5 1.7 10.5 22.2 D494Q 66.1 0.3 1.6 10.1 21.8 67.1 0.3 1.5
9.5 21.6 D494N + 64.2 1 1.9 11.2 21.7 65.2 0.4 1.8 10.3 22.3 T496A
T496A 65.8 0.5 1.6 10.2 22 64.5 0.6 1.9 10.8 22.3
[0391] Next, the crystal structure of HSA (19) was inspected, and
found Asp-494 to be involved in an intra-molecular network of polar
interactions involving amino acids in both DIII sub-domains, a and
b (FIG. 5A). The carboxylic side chain of Asp-494 forms a
charged-stabilized salt-bridge with Arg-472 as well as hydrogen
bonds with both Gln-417 and Thr-496. N-linked glycosylation of
Asn-494 will reduce its hydrogen-bonding capacity and eliminate the
negative component of the salt-bridge, which may be important for
stabilizing the loop. In support of this is the finding that a
Q417A mutation also has reduced binding to shFcRn (FIG. 5H, Table
2a). Furthermore, glycosylation, i.e. an introduction of a bulky
moiety, may very well destabilize the N-terminal end of the loop
encompassing residues 490-495, and thus affect its
conformation.
[0392] Beside Asp-494, Glu-495 and Thr-496 at the N-terminal end of
the loop, Pro-499, Lys-500 and Glu-501 in the middle of the loop
(FIG. 6A) were targeted by mutagenesis and investigated the effect
on shFcRn binding. Moderate effects were found for P499A and E501A,
while K500A dramatically reduced binding to the receptor (FIG. 68,
Table 2a).
a Role for Conserved Histidine Residues in HSA DIII
[0393] Guided by the fact that histidine residues are key players
in the strictly pH-dependent IgG-FcRn interaction (4, 5), the role
of the four histidine residues found within HSA DIII were assessed.
Of these, three are highly conserved across species (His-464,
His-510 and His-535) and one is not (His-440) (FIG. 2). While
His-440 and His-464 are found within sub-domain DIIIa, His-510 is
localized to the end of the loop connecting sub-domains DIIIa and
DIIIb, and His-535 is found in one of the .alpha.-helices of DIIIb
(FIG. 6A). All four histidine residues were mutated individually to
glutamine (FIG. 13) and tested for binding to shFcRn at pH 6.0.
Mutation of each of the three conserved histidine residues almost
completely abolished binding, whereas mutation of the non-conserved
His-440 did not (FIG. 6C, Table 2a). Thus, the data pin point the
three histidine residues within DIII as fundamental for
pH-dependent FcRn binding, which parallels the requirement for
conserved histidine residues in the Fc elbow region of IgG (His-310
and His-435).
[0394] Furthermore, amino acids in the vicinity of His-535
(Lys-536, Pro-537 and Lys-538), when individually mutated to
alanine residues, were also shown to attenuate binding (FIG. 6D,
Table 2a). Taken together, the binding data define a core
structural area on DIII important for pH-dependent FcRn
binding.
Mapping the Binding Site on FcRn
[0395] We have previously identified a highly conserved histidine
residue localized to the .alpha.2-domain of both mouse and human
FcRn HC to be important for albumin binding (His-168 and His-166,
respectively) (21, 22). To obtain a molecular explanation, a
crystal structure of shFcRn that was recently solved under acidic
conditions (pH 4.2) (FIG. 4A) (23) was inspected. It was found that
His-166 is engaged in a network of intra-molecular interactions
that involves charge stabilized hydrogen bonds with Glu-54 and
Tyr-60 found on a surface exposed loop within the .alpha.1-domain
(residue 51-60) (FIG. 7A). At low pH, His-166 will carry a positive
charge and this suggests that uncharged His-166 will loosen or lose
its interactions with Glu-54 and Tyr-60 at physiological pH, which
will result in a more flexible loop. This explanation is supported
by the fact that this loop-region is structurally disordered in the
crystal structure of shFcRn solved at basic pH (pH 8.5) (FIG. 7B).
Further, the corresponding loop is also ordered with a defined
conformation in the co-crystal structure of rat FcRn in complex
with rat IgG2a Fc solved at acidic pH (6). A comparison of the two
human FcRn structures at low and high pH suggests a pivotal
regulatory role of His-166 in locking and release of the flexible
loop between Trp-51 and Tyr-60 (FIGS. 7a and 7b).
[0396] Glu-54 is also involved in an interaction with Gln-56 (FIG.
7A). To address the importance of Glu-54 and Gln-56, both residues
were individually mutated to glutamine or alanine, respectively,
and the two resulting receptor variants (shFcRn E54Q and shFcRn
Q56A) were tested for binding to HSA by ELISA at pH 6.0 (using the
method described in WO2011/051489 (PCT/EP10/066,572), incorporated
herein by reference). The impact of the E54Q mutation was striking,
as almost no receptor binding to HSA was detected, whereas the Q56A
variant partially lost binding to HSA (FIG. 7C). Thus, the data
demonstrate an important structural role for His-166 in stabilizing
the .alpha.1-domain loop of shFcRn in a pH-dependent fashion via
binding to Glu54, and that an ordered structure of this loop at
acidic pH is indispensable for efficient albumin binding.
Example 4
Truncation of the C-Terminal End of HSA Modulates Binding to
shFcRn
[0397] Expression constructs for truncated HSA mutants (Table 6,
below) were generated by PCR and gap-repair. PCR products were
generated using Phusion Polymerase (New England Biolabs), according
to the manufacturer's instruction, using pDB3927 (described in
WO2010/092135 (incorporated herein by reference)) as a template and
oligonucleotides (Tables 4 and 5). This resulted in DNAs in which
specific codons (i.e. amino acids 568 and 572 to 585, excluding
position 573) were replaced with the translational stop codon amino
TAA. These PCR products were cloned into plasmids and used to form
expression plasmids in yeast by gap repair.
TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 4 Truncated HSA molecules SEQ ID No.
Oligonucleotide Molecule (molecule) pair Plasmid HSA 585stop 32
xAP265/xAP294 pDB4544 HSA 584stop 33 xAP265/xAP295 pDB4545 HSA
583stop 34 xAP265/xAP296 pDB4546 HSA 582stop 35 xAP265/xAP297
pDB4547 HSA 581stop 36 xAP314/xAP298 pDB4548 HSA 580stop 37
xAP314/xAP299 pDB4549 HSA 579stop 38 xAP314/xAP300 pDB4550 HSA
578stop 39 xAP314/xAP301 pDB4551 HSA 577stop 40 xAP314/xAP302
pDB4552 HSA 576stop 41 xAP314/xAP303 pDB4553 HSA 575stop 42
xAP314/xAP304 pDB4554 HSA 574stop 43 xAP314/xAP305 pDB4555 HSA
572stop 44 xAP314/xAP306 pDB4556 HSA 568stop 45 xAP314/xAP307
pDB4557
In Table 4, albumin variants are named such that `HSA 585stop` is
an HSA variant in which the native amino acid at position 585 is
substituted with a stop codon.
[0398] Specifically, for HSA568stop expression construct
oligonucleotides xAP314 and xAP307 were used to amplify a 493 bp
fragment from pDB3927, containing DNA sequence encoding HSA DIII,
according to the manufacturer's instructions. A stop codon was
engineered into oligonucleotide xAP307 so that translation of the
DNA sequence encoding HSA terminated following amino acid 567. The
PCR fragment was digested with AvrII/Bsu361 purified using a Qiagen
PCR-clean up kit (according to the manufacturer's instructions) and
ligated into AvrII/Bsu361-digested pDB3927. Ligations were
transformed into E. coli DH5a, subsequently plasmids were isolated
from transformants (Qiagen miniprep kit (according to the
manufacturer's instructions)) and the correct constructs were
identified by restriction analysis. This produced the HSA568stop
expression construct pDB4557.
[0399] The HSA572stop and HSA574stop to HSA581 stop expression
constructs were made in the same manner as the HSA568stop construct
using the oligonucleotides (Table 5) to produce plasmids pDB4548 to
pDB4556 (Table 4).
[0400] For the HSA582stop to HSA585stop constructs (1.122 kb)
fragments were PCR amplified from pDB3927 using oligonucleotides
(Table 5). The PCR-fragments were each digested with Bg/II/HindIII
isolated and ligated into pDB2923 (Finnis, C. J. et al. (2010).
High-level production of animal-free recombinant transferrin from
Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Microb Cell Fact 9, 87) to produce
plasmids #10D, #11B, #12C and #13D, respectively. Plasmids #10D to
#13D were digested with AvrII/SphI and 666 bp fragments (containing
the DNA encoding the C-terminal end of albumin) were isolated from
each and ligated into AvrII/SphI-digested pDB3927 to produce the
gap-repair constructs pDB4544-pDB4547, respectively (Table 4).
[0401] Plasmids pDB4544-pDB4557 were digested with Nsi/I/Pvul, the
DNA was purified (Qiagen PCR Purification kit as per the
manufacturer's instructions), before being used, along with
Acc651/BamH1H-digested pDB3936, to co-transform S. cerevisiae
BXP10cir.sup.0 as described above generating expression plasmids in
the yeast by gap-repair.
[0402] Stocks were prepared for each resultant yeast strain. 10 ml
BMMD broth (0.17% (w/v) yeast nitrogen base without amino acid and
ammonium sulphate (Difco), 37.8 mM ammonium sulphate, 36 mM citric
acid, 126 mM disodium hydrogen orthophosphate pH6.5, 2% (w/v)
glucose, adjusted to pH 6.5 with NaOH) was inoculated with the
required strain and grown for 48 hours at 30.degree. C. with
orbital shaking at 200 rpm. 5 mL of each culture was then mixed
with an equal volume of 40% [w/v] trehalose and 1 ml aliquots
transferred to cryovials for storage at -80.degree. C.
[0403] Construction of a yeast strain producing the HSA573stop
variant is described in WO2011/0541489 (incorporated herein by
reference).
TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 5 Oligonucleotide sequences for preparation of
truncated HSA mutants Oligo- SEQ nucleotide Sequence (5'-3') ID No:
xAP265 GCTCGCCTGAGCCAGAG 46 xAP294 GAATTAAGCTTATTATTAGCCTAAGGCAGC
47 xAP295 GAATTAAGCTTATTATAATTATAAGGCAGC 48 xAP296
GAATTAAGCTTATTATAAGCCTTAGGCAGC 49 TTG xAP297
GAATTAAGCTTATTATAAGCCTAATTAGGC 50 TTGACTTGC xAP298
GAATTAAGCTTATTATAAGCCTAAGGCTTA 51 TTGACTTGCAGCAACAAG xAP299
GAATTAAGCTTATTATAAGCCTAAGGCAGC 52 TTAACTTGCAGCAACAAG xAP300
GAATTAAGCTTATTATAAGCCTAAGGCAGC 53 TTGTTATGCAGCAACAAG xAP301
GAATTAAGCTTATTATAAGCCTAAGGCAGC 54 TTGACTTTAAGCAACAAG xAP302
GAATTAAGCTTATTATAAGCCTAAGGCAGC 55 TTGACTTGCTTAAACAAGTTTTTTAC xAP303
GAATTAAGCTTATTATAAGCCTAAGGCAGC 56 TTGACTTGCAGCTTAAAGTTTTTTAC xAP304
GAATTAAGCTTATTATAAGCCTAAGGCAGC 57 TTGACTTGCAGCAACTTATTTTTTACCCTC
xAP305 GAATTAAGCTTATTATAAGCCTAAGGCAGC 58
TTGACTTGCAGCAACAAGTTATTTACCCTC xAP306
GAATTAAGCTTATTATAAGCCTAAGGCAGC 59 TTGACTTGCAGCAACAAGTTTTTTTTACTC
CTC xAP307 GAATTAAGCTTATTATAAGCCTAAGGCAGC 60
TTGACTTGCAGCAACAAGTTTTTTACCCTC CTCGGCTTAGCAGG xAP314
CTCAAGAAACCTAGGAAAAGTGGGCAGC 61
[0404] The following variants (fragments) were generated and
binding to the shFcRn-GST was determined as described in Materials
and Methods. More specifically, codons encoding amino acids at the
C-terminal end of HSA were individually replaced with TAA (i.e. a
translation stop codon) to generate the truncated HSA variants of
Table 6. Binding data for the HSA variants binding to shFcRn are
presented in Table 6, FIG. 20 and FIG. 21.
TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 6 SPR-derived kinetics for binding of HSA
truncation variants to shFcRn-GST. Albumin variant.sup.a Ka
(10.sup.3/Ms) kd (10.sup.-3/s) KD.sup.b (.mu.M) KD.sup.c (.mu.M) WT
6.6 .+-. 0.1 9.1 .+-. 0.1 1.3 2.4 584Stop 8.6 .+-. 0.0 32.0 .+-.
0.1 3.7 ND 582Stop 13.0 .+-. 0.2 65.0 .+-. 0.0 5.0 ND 581Stop 3.6
.+-. 0.0 32.0 .+-. 0.1 9.0 ND 580Stop 9.8 .+-. 0.1 6.0 .+-. 0.0 6.1
13.2 579Stop ND ND ND 17.0 578Stop ND ND ND 19.9 577Stop ND ND ND
23.0 573Stop ND ND ND 14.1 572Stop ND ND ND 10.4 568Stop ND ND ND
23.0 .sup.aDilutions of HSA variants were injected over immobilized
shFcRn (~2000 RU). .sup.bThe kinetic rate constants were obtained
using a simple first-order (1:1) bimolecular interaction model. The
kinetic values represent the average of duplicates. .sup.cThe
steady state affinity constant was obtained using an equilibrium
(Req) binding model supplied by the BIAevaluation 4.1 software.
.sup.dNot determined (ND).
[0405] The data of Table 6 and FIG. 20 show the importance of the
C-terminus of HSA in pH dependent binding to shFcRn. Surprisingly,
removal of the last amino acid (Leu585) reduced binding to the
receptor by 50% compared to WT HSA and further truncation increased
the effect (FIG. 20).
[0406] Similarly, the general trend in reduced affinity with an
increase in truncation length is observed in a competitive binding
assay (FIG. 21). i.e. competition was progressively reduced with
removal of more amino acids.
[0407] Determination of KDs shows the dramatic impact of C-terminal
truncations (Table 4).
Example 5
Alterations in the C-Terminal End of HSA Modulates Binding to
shFcRn
[0408] Expression constructs of HSA mutants (Table 7, below) were
generated by PCR and gap-repair. This was achieved by generating
PCR products using Phusion Polymerase (New England Biolabs),
according to the manufacturer's instruction, using pDB3927 as a
template and oligonucleotides (Table 7 and 8). Each PCR-fragment
was digested with AvrII/Bsu361, purified (Qiagen PCR-clean up kit
(according to the manufacturer's instructions)) and ligated into
AvrII/Bsu361-digested pDB3927. Ligations were transformed into E.
coli DH5a, subsequently plasmids were isolated from transformants
(Qiagen miniprep kit (according to the manufacturer's
instructions)) and the correct constructs were identified by
sequencing.
TABLE-US-00011 TABLE 7 Alterations in the C-terminal end of HSA SEQ
ID No. Molecule (molecule) Oligonucleotide pair Plasmid HSA K574A
62 xAP314/xAP309 pDB4536 HSA Q580A 63 xAP314/xAP308 pDB4535 HSA
K573P/Q580A 64 xAP314/xAP311 pDB4537
TABLE-US-00012 TABLE 8 Oligonucleotide sequences for preparation
alterations in the C-terminal end of HSA Oligo- SEQ nucleotide
Sequence (5'-3') ID No: xAP308 GAATTAAGCTTATTATAAGCCTAAGGCAGC 65
AGCACTTGCAGCAACAAG xAP309 GAATTAAGCTTATTATAAGCCTAAGGCAGC 66
TTGACTTGCAGCAACAAGAGCTTTACCCTC xAP311
GAATTAAGCTTATTATAAGCCTAAGGCAGC 67 AGCACTTGCAGCAACAAGTTTTGGACCCTCC
xAP314 CTCAAGAAACCTAGGAAAAGTGGGCAGC 61
[0409] Plasmids, pDB4535 to pDB4537, containing the desired
substitutions (Table 7) were digested with Nsi/I/Pvul, the DNA was
purified (Qiagen PCR Purification kit as per the manufacturer's
instructions), before being used, along with Acc651/BamHI-digested
pDB3936, to co-transform S. cerevisiae BXP10cir.sup.0 as described
above generating expression plasmids in the yeast by gap-repair.
Stocks were prepared for each resultant yeast strain as described
above.
[0410] The following variants were generated and binding affinity
to the shFcRn-GST was determined as described in Materials and
Methods. The results are presented in Table 9 and FIG. 22.
TABLE-US-00013 TABLE 9 SPR-derived kinetics for binding of HSA
variants to shFcRn-GST. Ka kd KD.sup.b KD.sup.c Albumin
variant.sup.a (10.sup.3/Ms) (10.sup.-3/s) (.mu.M) (.mu.M) WT 6.6
.+-. 0.1 9.1 .+-. 0.1 1.3 2.4 K574A 5.2 .+-. 0.1 9.9 .+-. 0.0 1.9
ND.sup.d Q580A 3.5 .+-. 02 18.0 .+-. 0.1 5.1 ND K573P/Q580A 4.1
.+-. 0.1 2.0 .+-. 0.0 0.4 ND .sup.aDilutions of HSA variants were
injected over immobilized shFcRn (~2000 RU). .sup.bThe kinetic rate
constants were obtained using a simple first-order (1:1)
bimolecular interaction model. The kinetic values represent the
average of duplicates. .sup.cThe steady state affinity constant was
obtained using an equilibrium (Req) binding model supplied by the
BIAevaluation 4.1 software. .sup.dNot determined (ND).
[0411] The data provide further evidence of the importance of the
C-terminal end of HSA in pH dependent binding to shFcRn. Alanine
substitutions of Q580 and K574 were shown to reduce the binding
affinity by approximately 2 and 4 fold, respectively (FIG. 22 and
Table 5). A double mutant (combining K573P with Q580A) gave rise to
improved affinity for shFcRn. Taken together, the data of Examples
4 and 5 show the importance of amino acids in the last
.alpha.-helix of DIIIb for binding of albumin to shFcRn.
Example 6
SPR Analysis of Binding Affinity of Albumin Variants to shFcRn
[0412] Variants of albumin were generated according to the methods
below.
Preparation of Specific HSA Mutein Expression Plasmids.
[0413] HSA variants were expressed using several standard molecular
biology techniques, such as described in Sambrook, J. and D. W.
Russell, 2001 (Molecular Cloning: a laboratory manual, 3.sup.rd ed.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.).
Described below are two methods employed to introduce mutations
within the HSA sequence, depending on the proximity of suitable
restriction sites in the plasmid encoding WT HSA, pDB3964
(described in WO2010/092135, incorporated herein by reference).
[0414] Method 1: Where restriction sites proximal to the desired
mutation existed, mutagenic oligonucleotides were designed,
incorporating both the desired change and relevant restriction
sites (Tables 10 and 11). The relevant primers were employed in the
PCR reaction (described in Tables 12 and 13), utilising the New
England Biolabs Phusion kit and pDB3964 as template. The resulting
products were purified (QIAquick PCR Purification Kit, according to
the manufacturer's instructions). The products were digested with
appropriate restriction enzymes (Table 10) and purified (QIAquick
Gel Extraction Kit (according to the manufacturer's instructions)).
The resulting fragments were ligated into appropriately digested
pDB3964 such that the WT HSA sequence was substituted with the HSA
sequence containing the desired mutation. Ligations were
transformed into E. coli DH5a cells and plasmids were isolated
(Qiagen Plasmid Plus Kit (according to the manufacturer's
instructions)). All plasmids were sequenced to confirm that the HSA
sequence was only mutated at the desired position(s).
TABLE-US-00014 TABLE 10 Plasmid and amino acid substitution and
relevant primers (see also Table 2) Restriction Digested SEQ ID No.
enzyme fragment Plasmid Mutant (mutant) Oligo 1 Oligo 2 digest plan
size (kb) name HSA N503D 69 xAP452 xAP453 SalI/Bsu36I 0.269 pDB4703
HSA E505Q 70 xAP453 xAP491 SalI/Bsu36I 0.269 pDB4704 HSA H510D 71
xAP455 xAP453 SalI/Bsu36I 0.269 pDB4705 HSA H510E 72 xAP456 xAP453
SalI/Bsu36I 0.269 pDB4706 HSA D512E 73 xAP457 xAP453 SalI/Bsu36I
0.269 pDB4707 HSA D512A 74 xAP458 xAP453 SalI/Bsu36I 0.269 pDB4708
HSA E565V 75 xAP472 xAP473 SalI/Bsu36I 0.269 pDB4709 HSA A569V 76
xAP472 xAP481 SalI/Bsu36I 0.269 pDB4710 HSA A569L 77 xAP472 xAP482
SalI/Bsu36I 0.269 pDB4711 HSA V576F 78 xAP472 xAP489 SalI/Bsu36I
0.269 pDB4712 HSA R410A 79 xAP441 xAP442 NcoI/BamHI 0.562 pDB4713
HSA Y411A 80 xAP441 xAP443 NcoI/BamHI 0.562 pDB4714 HSA P416A 81
xAP441 xAP444 NcoI/BamHI 0.562 pDB4715 HSA E425A 82 xAP441 xAP445
NcoI/BamHI 0.562 pDB4716 HSA E425K 83 xAP441 xAP446 NcoI/BamHI
0.562 pDB4717 HSA K524A 84 xAP449 xAP459 AvrlI/SacI 0.308 pDB4718
HSA K525A 85 xAP449 xAP460 AvrlI/SacI 0.308 pDB4719 HSA K534V 86
xAP453 xAP463 SacI/Bsu36I 0.151 pDB4749 HSA H535F 87 xAP453 xAP471
SacI/Bsu36I 0.151 pDB4720 HSA N503K 88 xAP493 xAP453 SalI/Bsu36I
0.269 pDB4737 HSA E505K 89 xAP492 xAP453 SalI/Bsu36I 0.269 pDB4738
HSA A569S 90 xAP472 xAP494 SalI/Bsu36I 0.269 pDB4740 HSA K466A 91
xAP449 xAP450 AvrlI/SalI 0.19 pDB4751 HSA D471A 92 xAP449 xAP451
AvrlI/SalI 0.19 pDB4741 HSA R472A 93 xAP449 xAP490 AvrlI/SalI 0.19
pDB4742 HSA T527D 94 xAP449 xAP461 AvrlI/SacI 0.308 pDB4752 HSA
T527M 95 xAP449 xAP495 AvrlI/SacI 0.308 pDB4753 HSA T527A 96 xAP449
xAP496 AvrlI/SacI 0.308 pDB4754 HSA K190A 97 xAP437 xAP438
SaclI/NheI 0.395 pDB4755 HSA R197A 98 xAP439 xAP440 NheI/NcoI 0.167
pDB4748
TABLE-US-00015 TABLE 11 Mutagenic oligonucleotides SEQ Oligo
Sequence (5' to 3') ID No. xAP437 TGAGTCCGCGGAAAATTGTGACAAATC 99
xAP438 GCAGAGCTAGCAGCCCCTTCATCCCGAAG 100 xAP439
GGAAGGCTAGCTCTGCCAAACAGGCTCTCA 101 AGTGTGCC xAP440
GATCTCCATGGCAGCATTCCGTGTGG 102 xAP441 TGCTGCCATGGAGATCTGCTCGAGTGTGC
103 xAP442 CATTTGGATCCCACTTTTCCTAGGTTTCTT 104
GAGACCTCTACAAGAGTTGGAGTTGACACT TGGGGTACTTTCTTGGTGTAAGCAACTAAT AGCGC
xAP443 CATTTGGATCCCACTTTTCCTAGGTTTCTT 105
GAGACCTCTACAAGAGTTGGAGTTGACACT TGGGGTACTTTCTTGGTAGCACGAACTAAT AGC
xAP444 CATTTGGATCCCACTTTTCCTAGGTTTCTT 106
GAGACCTCTACAAGAGTTGGAGTTGACACT TGAGCTACTTTCTTGG xAP445
CATTTGGATCCCACTTTTCCTAGGTTTCTT 107 GAGACAGCTACAAGAGTTGG xAP446
CATTTGGATCCCACTTTTCCTAGGTTTCTT 108 GAGACTTTTACAAGAGTTGG xAP449
AGAAACCTAGGAAAAGTGGGATCCAAATG 109 xAP450
TTTCGTCGACTTCCAGAGCTGAAAAGCATG 110 GTCGCCTGTTCACCAAGGATTCTGTGCAGC
ATTTGGTGACTCTGTCACTTACTGGCGTAG CCTCATGC xAP451
GTTTCGTCGACTTCCAGAGCTGAAAAGCAT 111 GGTCGCCTGTTCACCAAGGATTCTGTGCAG
CATTTGGTGACTCTAGCACTTACTGGCG xAP452 CTCTGGAAGTCGACGAAACATACGTTCCCA
112 AAGAGTTTGATGCTGAAACATTCAC xAP453
TATTATAAGCCTAAGGCAGCTTGACTTGCAG 113 xAP455
CTCTGGAAGTCGACGAAACATACGTTCCCA 114 AAGAGTTTAATGCTGAAACATTCACCTTCG
ATGCAGATATATGC xAP456 CTCTGGAAGTCGACGAAACATACGTTCCCA 115
AAGAGTTTAATGCTGAAACATTCACCTTCG AAGCAGATATATGC xAP457
CTCTGGAAGTCGACGAAACATACGTTCCCA 116 AAGAGTTTAATGCTGAAACATTCACCTTCC
ATGCAGAAATATGCACAC xAP458 CTCTGGAAGTCGACGAAACATACGTTCCCA 117
AAGAGTTTAATGCTGAAACATTCACCTTCC ATGCAGCTATATGCACAC xAP459
TTCACGAGCTCAACAAGTGCAGTTTGTTTA 118 GCGATTTGTCTCTCCTTCTC xAP460
TTCACGAGCTCAACAAGTGCAGTTTGAGCC 119 TTGATTTGTCTCTCCTTCTC xAP461
TTCACGAGCTCAACAAGTGCATCTTGTTTC 120 TTG xAP463
TTGTTGAGCTCGTGGTTCACAAGCCCAAG 121 xAP471
TTGTTGAGCTCGTGAAATTTAAGCCCAAGG 122 xAP472
CTGGAAGTCGACGAAACATACGTTCCC 123 xAP473
ATAAGCCTAAGGCAGCTTGACTTGCAGCAA 124 CAAGTTTTTTACCCTCCTCGGCAAAGCAGG
TAACCTTATCGTCAG xAP481 ATAAGCCTAAGGCAGCTTGACTTGCAGCAA 125
CAAGTTTTTTACCCTCCTCAACAAAGCAGGTC xAP482
ATAAGCCTAAGGCAGCTTGACTTGCAGCAA 126 CAAGTTTTTTACCCTCCTCCAAAAAGCAGGTC
xAP489 ATAAGCCTAAGGCAGCTTGACTTGCAGCAA 127 AAAGTTTTTTACC xAP490
GTTTCGTCGACTTCCAGAGCTGAAAAGCAT 128 GGTCGCCTGTTCACCAAGGATTCTGTGCAG
CATTTGGTGACAGCGTCACTTACTG xAP491 TGGAAGTCGACGAAACATACGTTCCCAAAG 129
AGTTTAATGCTCAAACATTCACC xAP492 TGGAAGTCGACGAAACATACGTTCCCAAAG 130
AGTTTAATGCTAAAACATTCACCTTCCATG xAP493
TGGAAGTCGACGAAACATACGTTCCCAAAG 131 AGTTTAAAGCTGAAACATTCACCTTCCATG
xAP494 ATAAGCCTAAGGCAGCTTGACTTGCAGCAA 132
CAAGTTTTTTACCCTCCTCAGAAAAGCAGG TCTCCTTATC xAP495
GTTTCACGAGCTCAACAAGTGCCATTTGTT 133 TCTTGATTTGTCTCTCCTTC xAP496
GTTTCACGAGCTCAACAAGTGCAGCTTGTT 134 TCTTGATTTGTCTCTCCTTC
TABLE-US-00016 TABLE 12 PCR reaction components HF buffer (5x) 20
.mu.l template DNA (5 ng/.mu.l) 2 .mu.l dNTP (10 mM) 2 .mu.l
Phusion (polymerase) 1 .mu.l oligo 1 (10 mM) 2 .mu.l dH.sub.2O 71
.mu.l oligo 2 (10 mM) 2 .mu.l
TABLE-US-00017 TABLE 13 PCR reaction conditions Temperature Cycle
length Number of cycles 98.degree. C. 2 min 1 98.degree. C. 10 sec
35 55.degree. C. 30 sec 72.degree. C. 20 sec 72.degree. C. 10 min
1
[0415] Method 2. If suitable restriction sites were not present in
the vicinity of a desired mutation, synthetic DNA fragments were
produced by gene assembly (GeneArt, Life Technologies) and were
designed to contain mutation(s) within the HSA gene and suitable
restriction sites for insertion into the plasmid encoding wild type
HSA, pDB3964, such that the nucleotide sequence of the synthetic
fragment encoding unchanged amino acids was identical to those in
pDB3964 (see Table 14 and 15). The synthetic constructs were
digested with the restriction enzymes designated in Table 14, the
desired fragments were purified (QIAquick Gel Extraction Kit) and
ligated into appropriately digested pDB3964 such that the WT HSA
sequence was substituted with the HSA sequence containing the
desired mutation. The ligated plasmids were transformed into E.
coli DH5a cells and plasmids were isolated (Qiagen Plasmid Plus Kit
(according to the manufacturer's instructions)). All plasmids were
sequenced to confirm that the HSA sequence was only mutated at the
desired position(s).
TABLE-US-00018 TABLE 14 Plasmid and amino acid substitution
Restriction Digested SEQ ID No. Mutant enzymes fragment size (kb)
Plasmid (mutant) HSA E531H SalI/Bsu36I 0.269 pDB4739 166 HSA E531A
SalI/Bsu36I 0.269 pDB4750 167 HSA D108A SacII/NheI 0.395 pDB4743
168 HSA N111K SacII/NheI 0.395 pDB4744 169 HSA N111D SacII/NheI
0.395 pDB4745 170 HSA N111G SacII/NheI 0.395 pDB4746 171 HSA N111H
SacII/NheI 0.395 pDB4747 172 HSA K276N NcoI/BamHI 0.562 pDB4756 173
HSA N111R SacII/NheI 0.395 pDB4860 174 HSA N111Q SacII/NheI 0.395
pDB4861 175 HSA N111E SacII/NheI 0.395 pDB4862 176 HSA N109D
SacII/NheI 0.395 pDB4866 177 HSA N109E SacII/NheI 0.395 pDB4867 178
HSA N109Q SacII/NheI 0.395 pDB4868 179 HSA N109R SacII/NheI 0.395
pDB4869 180 HSA N109K SacII/NheI 0.395 pDB4870 181 HSA N109H
SacII/NheI 0.395 pDB4871 182 HSA N109G SacII/NheI 0.395 pDB4872 183
HSA D108E SacII/NheI 0.395 pDB4873 184 HSA T83N SacII/NheI 0.395
pDB4874 156 HSA L575F SalI/Bsu36I 0.269 pDB4875 68
TABLE-US-00019 TABLE 15 Codons used to introduce amino acid
substitutions into HSA. Amino Amino Amino acid Codon acid Codon
acid Codon Gly GGT Asn AAT Leu TTG Glu GAA Met ATG Phe TTT Asp GAT
Ile ATT Ser TCT Val GTT Thr ACT Gln CAA Ala GCT Trp TGG His CAT Arg
AGA Cys TGT Pro CCA Lys AAA Tyr TAT Stop TAA
Production of Combination Mutants with K573P
[0416] Combination mutants (Table 16) were produced to combine a
subset of the mutations described in Tables 10 and 14 with the HSA
K573P variant (plasmid pDB4110). The 0.358 kb fragment encoding the
K573P variant DNA, was isolated from plasmid pDB4110 by digestion
with the SacI/SphI restriction enzymes, purified using a QIAquick
Gel Extraction Kit and ligated into pDB4704, pDB4716 and pDB4753
(see Table 10) digested with the same enzymes, to produce HSA
variants E505Q/K573P, E425A/K573P and T527M/K573P, respectively.
Further combination mutants were prepared by digestion of pDB4110
with the Nael/NcoI restriction enzymes, isolation as described
above and ligation of equivalent fragments from pDB4745, pDB4746
and pDB4747 (described in Table 14) to produce combination mutants
N111D/K573P, N111G/K573P and N111H/K573P, respectively. To produce
the K534V/K573P mutant, synthetic DNA was produced containing both
desired mutations by gene assembly (GeneArt, Life Technologies).
The fragment was digested via the Sal/I/Bsu361 restriction sites,
isolated as described above and ligated into appropriately digested
pDB3964. To produce combination mutants N111R/K573P, N111Q/K573P
and N111E/K573P, fragments containing the N111 mutations were
removed from GeneArt constructs via the SacII/NheI restriction
sites and cloned into appropriately digested pDB3964 containing the
SacI/SphI fragment of pDB4110, encoding the K573P mutation
(designated pDB4852) as described above. The ligated plasmids were
transformed into E. coli cells and plasmids were then isolated
(Qiagen Plasmid Plus Kit (according to the manufacturer's
instructions)). All plasmids underwent sequencing to confirm that
the HSA sequence was only mutated at the desired positions.
TABLE-US-00020 TABLE 16 Combination mutants. SEQ ID No. of Mutant
HSA mutant Plasmid E425A/K573P 135 pDB4849 T527M/K573P 136 pDB4850
E505Q/K573P 137 pDB4851 N111D/K573P 138 pDB4853 N111G/K573P 139
pDB4854 N111H/K573P 140 pDB4855 N111R/K573P 141 pDB4863 N111Q/K573P
142 pDB4864 N111E/K573P 143 pDB4865 K534V/K573P 144 pDB4876
Production of Expression Plasmid and Yeast Stocks
[0417] Preparation of the expression plasmids and transformation of
S. cerevisiae was performed as described above, with the
modification that cells were plated and subsequently patched onto
BMMD plates supplemented with 0.69 g/L CSM-Leu (MP
Biomedicals).
[0418] Stocks were prepared either by the 48 hour method described
above (pDB4703-pDB4720, pDB4737-pDB4756, pDB4849-pDB4855) or the 24
hour method described in WO 2011/051489 (pDB4860-pDB4876), with the
modification that BMMS broth (0.17% (w/v) yeast nitrogen base
without amino acid and ammonium sulphate (Difco), 37.8 mM ammonium
sulphate, 36 mM citric acid, 126 mM disodium hydrogen
orthophosphate pH6.5, 2% (w/v) sucrose, adjusted to pH 6.5 with
NaOH) was used in both cases.
SPR Analysis
[0419] SPR analyses were performed on a Biacore 3000 instrument (G
E Healthcare). Immobilisation was carried out on CM5 chips coupled
with shFcRn (GeneArt 1025291) using GE Healthcare amine coupling
chemistry as per manufacturer's instructions. Immobilised levels of
shFcRn-HIS were 1500-2500RU and achieved by injecting 5-10 pg/mL
shFcRn into sodium acetate pH5.0 (G E Healthcare). Chip surface was
left to stabilize with a constant flow (5 .mu.L/min) of running
buffer--HBS-EP buffer (0.01M HEPES, 0.15 M NaCl, 3 mM EDTA, 0.005%
surfactant P20) at pH 7.4 (GE Healthcare))) at 25.degree. C. for
.about.1-2 hours. After ligand stabilization, the chip surface was
primed (.times.2) with Di-basic/Mono-basic phosphate buffer pH5.5
and conditioned by injecting 5-12.times.45 .mu.L
Di-basic/Mono-basic phosphate buffer at 30 .mu.L/min followed by
HBS-EP regeneration steps (12s) in between each injection. Surfaces
were then checked for activity by injecting 3.times.45 .mu.L
positive control at 30 .mu.L/min, followed by 12s regeneration
pulse. Kinetic measurements were performed by injecting dilutions
(100 .mu.M-1 .mu.M) of HSA and HSA variants at 30 .mu.L/min over
immobilised shFcRn, at 25.degree. C. The reference cell value was
then subtracted and Biaevaluation software 4.1 used to obtain
kinetic data and confirm KD values.
[0420] The variants were albumin (SEQ ID NO: 2), each with one
point mutation selected from: D108A, N111D, N111G, N111H, N111K,
K190A, R197A, K276N, R410A, Y411A, P416A, E425A, E425K, K466A,
D471A, R472A, N503D, N503K, E505K, E505Q, H510D, H510E, D512A,
D512E, K524A, K525A, T527A, T527D, T527M, E531A, E531H, K534V,
H535F, E565V, A569L, A569S, A569V, and V576F.
[0421] Firstly, the variants were analysed by SPR to determine
their binding response (RU) to shFcRn. Only variants showing a
binding response more than 20% higher or lower than the binding
response of wild-type albumin were analysed to identify the KD
(Table 18, below). Wild-type HSA and HSA with mutation K573P were
used as controls.
TABLE-US-00021 TABLE 18 Binding affinity of albumin variants to
shFcRn-HIS Molecule Ka (10.sup.3/Ms) Kd (10.sup.-3/s) KD (.mu.M) WT
HSA -- -- 3.1 .+-. 0.4* HSA_K573P -- -- 0.4 .+-. 0.1* E505Q 2.1 2.9
1.4 N111D 0.8 4.4 5.2 T527M 2.7 3.3 1.2 N111G 1.6 5.2 3.3 N111H 0.5
2.4 5.0 D512E 2.7 10.9 4.1 K524A 3.3 11.6 3.5 T527A 2.6 13.7 5.2
E531H 3.5 20.8 6.2 N111K 0.5 8.3 17.3 E425K 3.6 12.4 3.5 K534V 4.8
5.5 1.1 H510D 0.2 0.4 2.0 A569S 0.7 4.8 6.8 D108A 0.9 12.7 13.7
*Mean of five repeats, therefore Ka and Kd data are not
provided
[0422] Variants with a lower KD than wild-type HSA have a higher
binding affinity to shFcRn. Conversely, variants with a higher KD
than wild-type HSA have a lower binding affinity to shFcRn.
[0423] The data for positions 108 and 111 support the involvement
of a loop including positions 105 to 120 in interaction with FcRn
and therefore predicts that alteration at any position within this
loop will modulate the binding affinity of albumin to FcRn.
Example 7
SPR Analysis of Binding Affinity of Albumin Variants to
shFcRn-HIS
[0424] The variants were albumin (SEQ ID NO: 2), each with one
point mutation selected from: N111D, N111G, N111H, N111D/K573P,
N111G/K573P, N111H/K573P, E505Q, E425A, T527M, E505Q/K573P,
E425A/K573P and T527M/K573P were prepared as described above.
TABLE-US-00022 TABLE 19 Binding affinity of albumin variants to
shFcRn-HIS Molecule Ka (10.sup.3/Ms) Kd (10.sup.-3/s) KD (.mu.M) WT
rHSA -- -- 3.6 .+-. 0.54* rHSA_K573P -- -- 0.6 .+-. 0.12** N111D
9.8 9.1 17.9 17.9 1.8 2.0 N111G 7.4 7.4 20.5 19.2 2.7 2.6 N111H 4.4
4.0 15.6 14.2 3.5 3.6 N111D-K573P 4.0 4.2 1.9 2.2 0.5 0.5
N111G-K573P 4.1 4.7 1.7 2.3 0.4 0.5 N111H-K573P 2.9 3.0 1.7 2.2 0.6
0.7 E505Q 5.1 5.0 4.9 6.0 1.0 1.2 E425A 6.6 7.9 34.1 28.1 5.1 3.6
T527M 4.9 4.8 4.4 5.1 0.9 1.1 E425A-K573P 3.4 3.6 2.5 3.2 0.7 0.9
E505Q-K573P 0.4 0.4 0.5 1.1 1.6 2.5 T527M-K573P 2.6 2.8 1.2 2.2 0.5
0.8 *Mean of 8 and standard deviation **Mean of 5 and standard
deviation.
Variants with a lower KD than wild-type HSA have a higher binding
affinity to shFcRn. Conversely, variants with a higher KD than
wild-type HSA have a lower binding affinity to shFcRn.
[0425] The data for including K573P generate increases in affinity
consistent with the K573P substitution only.
Example 8
SPR Analysis of Binding Affinity of Albumin Variants to
shFcRn-HIS
[0426] The variants were albumin (SEQ ID NO: 2), each with one
point mutation selected from: N111R, N111Q, N111E, N111R/K573P,
N111Q/K573P, N111E/K573P, N109D, N109E, N109Q, N109R, N109K, N109H,
N109G, D108E, T83N, L575F and K534V/K573P were prepared as
described above.
TABLE-US-00023 TABLE 20 Binding affinity of albumin variants to
shFcRn-HIS Molecule Ka (10.sup.3/Ms) Kd (10.sup.-3/s) KD (.mu.M) WT
rHA -- -- 2.0 .+-. 0.3* rHA_K573P -- -- 0.3 .+-. 0.0** N111E 15.3
14.3 13.1 15.2 0.8 1.1 N111E-K573P 4.2 -- 2.4 -- 0.6 -- N109K 9.7
6.3 18.3 21.6 1.9 3.4 D108E 13.9 7.5 16.6 19.5 1.2 2.6 T83N 17.7
15.2 15.6 16.8 0.9 1.1 L575F 11.8 8.3 31.3 32.2 2.7 4.0 K534V-K573P
4.7 4.5 6.9 6.9 1.5 1.5 *Mean of 11 and standard deviation **Mean
of 5 and standard deviation.
The data demonstrate a role for the 108-111 loop in binding of HSA
to FcRn, with reduced binding affinity observed in the D108A and
N111K variants (Table 18). Additional mutations at position 111
demonstrated a range of binding affinities, from the reduced
affinity observed for the N111K variant through to the N111E
variant, which displayed an increased affinity for FcRn as compared
to WT HSA (Table 20). Variant N111Q/K573P (FIG. 23) shows a binding
curve with increased response and reduced dissociation consistent
with the K573P substitution. The relative position of loop region
108-112 of HSA and FcRn (FIG. 24) suggests that this region has
potential to contribute to FcRn binding as predicted in Example
6.
[0427] The relative position of adjacent loop region of Domain 1,
comprising residues 78-88 (FIG. 24), suggests that this region has
potential to contribute to FcRn binding. This is supported by the
observation that the T83N variant shows increased affinity for FcRn
compared to WT HSA (Table 20).
[0428] Mutation of the adjacent residues, particularly E82, P110
and L112 (FIG. 24), would be predicted to alter the binding
affinity of HSA for FcRn.
[0429] The invention described and claimed herein is not to be
limited in scope by the specific aspects herein disclosed, since
these aspects are intended as illustrations of several aspects of
the invention. Any equivalent aspects are intended to be within the
scope of this invention. Indeed, various modifications of the
invention in addition to those shown and described herein will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing
description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within
the scope of the appended claims. In the case of conflict, the
present disclosure including definitions will control.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0430] 1. A method for preparing a polypeptide which is a variant
of albumin, fragment thereof or fusion polypeptide comprising said
variant albumin or fragment thereof having a binding affinity to
FcRn which is altered compared to the binding affinity of a
reference albumin, fragment or fusion thereof to FcRn, comprising:
[0431] (a) providing a nucleic acid encoding a parent albumin
having at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2; [0432] (b)
modifying the sequence of step (a), to encode a polypeptide which
is a variant albumin, fragment thereof or fusion polypeptide
comprising said variant albumin or fragment thereof having one or
more alterations at one or more position corresponding to positions
in SEQ ID NO: 2 selected from: (a) any of 75 to 91 (preferably 83);
(b) any of 492 to 538; (c) 505, 531, 524, 472, 108, 190, 197 and
425; (d) any of 186 to 201; (e) any of 457 to 472; (f) any of 414
to 426; (g) any of 104 to 120; (h) any of 144 to 150; (i) any of 30
to 41, (j) any of 550 to 585, (k) any of 276, 410 and 414 with one
or more of A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W,
Y; wherein when the polypeptide comprises one or more alterations
selected from: [0433] (i) the group consisting of positions 417,
464, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 499, 500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506,
510, 535, 536, 537, 538, 540, 550, 573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579,
580, 581, 582 and 584; [0434] (ii) insertion of or substitution
with a Cys at one or more (several) of the group consisting of
positions 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83, 86, 90, 104, 113, 115,
116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 512, 538, 550, 560,
562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585;
[0435] (iii) alteration at one or more (several) of positions 91,
200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567 to break a disulphide bond, and/or
[0436] (iv) D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E, R114G, E119K,
V146E, H464A, H464N, C201F, D494N, E501K, E503K, E505K, H510A,
1513N, D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M, H535A, K536E, I537N, D550G,
D550A, V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K, E570K, K573E, K574N, K574E,
K584E; the polypeptide also comprises one or more alterations at a
position selected from group consisting of positions 30, 31, 32,
33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82,
83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109,
110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145,
146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193,
194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415,
416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459,
460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497,
498, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518,
519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531,
532, 533, 534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560,
561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583,
585 and/or a stop codon inserted or substituted at a position
selected from 497 to 585; [0437] (c) introducing the modified
sequence of step (b) in a suitable host cell; [0438] (d) growing
the cells in a suitable growth medium under condition leading to
expression of the polypeptide; and [0439] (e) recovering the
polypeptide from the growth medium; [0440] wherein the polypeptide
has an altered binding affinity to FcRn and/or an altered plasma
half-life compared with the half-life of a parent albumin,
reference albumin, fragment thereof or fusion polypeptide
comprising said parent albumin, reference albumin or fragment or
fusion thereof. 2. The method of paragraph 1, wherein when the
polypeptide comprises one or more alterations selected from (ii)
the group consisting of positions 34, 38, 40, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83,
86, 90, 91, 104, 113, 115, 116, 200, 461, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503,
504, 505, 506, 512, 514, 538, 550, 558, 559, 560, 562, 564, 565,
567, 573, 574, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585, or the group
consisting of positions 82, 114, 119, 464, 201, 505, 510, 513, 533,
535, 536, 550, 560, 563, 565, 573, 574; the polypeptide also
comprises one or more alterations at a position selected from group
consisting of positions 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, 77, 78,
79, 81, 84, 85, 87, 88, 89, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112,
117, 118, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188,
189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 201, 276,
410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425,
426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470,
472, 497, 502, 507, 508, 509, 511, 513, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519,
520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532,
534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 561, 568, 569, 570, 571,
572, 576, 583 and/or a stop codon inserted or substituted at a
position selected from 497 to 585. 3. The method according to
paragraph 1, wherein the reference is HSA (SEQ ID No: 2) or a
fragment thereof, or a fusion polypeptide comprising HSA or a
fragment thereof, most preferably SEQ ID NO: 2. 4. The method of
paragraph 1, wherein the alteration is a substitution. 5. A
polypeptide which is a variant of albumin, fragments thereof or
fusion polypeptide comprising said variant albumin or a fragment
thereof having an altered binding affinity to FcRn compared with
the binding affinity of a parent albumin, reference albumin,
fragment thereof or fusion polypeptide comprising said parent
albumin, reference albumin or fragment or fusion thereof to FcRn,
the polypeptide comprising one or more alterations at one or more
position corresponding to positions in SEQ ID NO: 2 selected from:
(a) 75 to 91 (preferably 83); (b) 492 to 538; (c) 505, 531, 524,
472, 108, 190, 197 and 425; (d) 186 to 201; (e) 457 to 472; (f) 414
to 426; (g) 104 to 120; (h) 144 to 150; (i) 30 to 41; (j) 550 to
585, (k) any of 276, 410 and 414 with one or more of A, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y; wherein when the
polypeptide comprises one or more alterations selected from: [0441]
(i) the group consisting of positions 417, 464, 492, 493, 494, 495,
496, 499, 500, 501, 503, 504, 505, 506, 510, 535, 536, 537, 538,
540, 550, 573, 574, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582 and 584;
[0442] (ii) insertion of or substitution with a Cys at one or more
(several) of the group consisting of positions 34, 38, 40, 75, 76,
80, 82, 83, 86, 90, 104, 113, 115, 116, 471, 496, 498, 501, 503,
504, 505, 506, 512, 538, 550, 560, 562, 564, 565, 573, 574, 577,
578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 584, 585; [0443] (iii) alteration at one
or more (several) of positions 91, 200, 461, 514, 558, 559, 567 to
break a disulphide bond; and/or [0444] (iv) the group consisting of
positions D63N, E82K, E84K, D87N, L90P, K106E, R114G, E119K, V146E,
H464A, H464N, C201F, D494N, E501K, E503K, E505K, H510A, 1513N,
D518N, K525E, E529K, V533M, H535A, K536E, 1537N, D550G, D550A,
V557M, K560E, D563N, E565K, E570K, K573E, K574N, K574E, K584E; the
polypeptide also comprises one or more alterations at a position
selected from group consisting of positions 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35,
36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85,
86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111,
112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 144, 145, 146, 147,
148, 149, 150, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195,
196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 276, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 418,
419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461,
462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 497, 498, 502,
507, 508, 509, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520,
521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533,
534, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 560, 561, 562,
563, 564, 565, 567, 568, 569, 570, 571, 572, 576, 583, 585 and/or a
stop codon inserted or substituted at a position selected from 497
to 585. 6. The polypeptide according to paragraph 5 wherein the
reference is HSA (SEQ ID No: 2) or a fragment thereof, or a fusion
polypeptide comprising HSA or a fragment thereof, most preferably
SEQ ID NO: 2. 7. The polypeptide according to paragraph 6 wherein
the alteration is a substitution. 8 The polypeptide according to
paragraph 5, having a stronger binding affinity to FcRn and/or
longer plasma half-life than a parent albumin, reference albumin,
fragment thereof or fusion polypeptide comprising said parent
albumin, reference albumin or fragment or fusion thereof. 9. The
polypeptide according to paragraph 5, having a weaker binding
affinity to FcRn and/or shorter plasma half-life than a parent
albumin, reference albumin, fragment thereof or fusion polypeptide
comprising said parent albumin, reference albumin or fragment or
fusion thereof. 10. The polypeptide according to paragraph 5,
comprising one or more further alterations that provides a
conjugatable thiol group on the polypeptide. 11. The polypeptide
according to paragraph 5, wherein the sequence identity of the
polypeptide to SEQ ID NO: 2 is more than 80%, preferably more than
90%, more preferred more than 95%, more preferred more than 96%,
even more preferred more than 97%, more preferred more than 98% and
most preferred more than 99%. 12. The polypeptide according to
paragraph 5, wherein the fragment is at least 20 amino acids,
preferably at least 50 amino acids, preferably at least 100 amino
acids, more preferred at least 200 amino acids, more preferred at
least 300 amino acids, more preferred at least 400 amino acids and
most preferred at least 500 amino acids. 13. A fusion polypeptide
comprising a polypeptide according to paragraph 5 and a fusion
partner polypeptide selected from a therapeutic, prophylactic,
diagnostic, imaging or other beneficial moiety. 14. A conjugate
comprising a polypeptide according to paragraph 5 and a conjugation
partner. 15. The conjugate according to paragraph 14 wherein the
conjugation partner is a therapeutic, prophylactic, diagnostic,
imaging or other beneficial moiety. 16. An associate comprising a
polypeptide according to paragraph 5 and a therapeutic,
prophylactic, diagnostic, imaging or other beneficial moiety. 17. A
nanoparticle or microparticle comprising a polypeptide according to
paragraph 5, a fusion polypeptide according to paragraph 13, a
conjugate according to paragraph 14 or an associate according to
paragraph 16. 18. A composition comprising a polypeptide, fusion
polypeptide, conjugate, associate or nanoparticle or microparticle
according to paragraph 5, wherein the binding affinity of the
polypeptide, fusion polypeptide, conjugate, associate or
nanoparticle or microparticle to FcRn is stronger than the binding
affinity of a composition comprising the corresponding parent
albumin, reference albumin, fragment thereof or fusion polypeptide,
conjugate, associate or nanoparticle or microparticle comprising
said parent albumin, reference albumin or fragment or fusion
thereof to FcRn. 19. A composition according to paragraph 18 where
the binding affinity of the polypeptide, fusion polypeptide,
conjugate, associate or nanoparticle or microparticle to FcRn is
stronger than the binding affinity of HSA to FcRn. 20. A
composition according to paragraph 18, wherein the binding
coefficient of the variant of to the polypeptide, fusion
polypeptide, conjugate, associate or nanoparticle or microparticle
to FcRn is less than 0.9.times.KD of HSA to FcRn, more preferred
less than 0.5.times.KD of HSA to FcRn, more preferred less than
0.1.times.KD of HSA to FcRn, even more preferred less than
0.05.times.KD of HSA to FcRn, even more preferred less than
0.02.times.KD of HSA to FcRn and most preferred less than
0.01.times.KD of HSA to FcRn. 21. The composition according to
paragraph 18, comprising a polypeptide or fusion polypeptide
according to paragraph 5, a conjugate according to paragraph 14, an
associate according to paragraph 16 or a nanoparticle or
microparticle according to paragraph 17, further comprising a
compound comprising an antibody binding domain (ABD) and a
therapeutic, prophylactic, diagnostic, imaging or other beneficial
moiety. 22. The composition according to paragraph 18, comprising a
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 23. A method of using of a
polypeptide or fusion polypeptide according to paragraph 5, a
conjugate according to paragraph 14, an associate according to
paragraph 16 or a nanoparticle or microparticle according to
paragraph 17 or a composition according to paragraph 18 to alter
the binding affinity to FcRn or half-life, preferably in plasma, of
a therapeutic, prophylactic, diagnostic, imaging or other
beneficial moiety. 24. The method according to paragraph 23 wherein
the binding affinity is to FcRn is increased relative to the
binding affinity of a reference comprising or consisting of HSA
(SEQ ID NO: 2) or a fragment, fusion, conjugate, associate,
nanoparticle or microparticle thereof to FcRn. 25. The method
according to paragraph 23 wherein the binding affinity is to FcRn
is decreased relative to the binding affinity of a reference
comprising or consisting of HSA (SEQ ID NO: 2) or a fragment,
fusion, conjugate, associate, nanoparticle or microparticle thereof
to FcRn. 26. A method for altering the binding affinity to FcRn or
half-life preferably in plasma, of a molecule comprising: [0445]
(a) where the molecule is a polypeptide, fusing or conjugating the
molecule to a polypeptide according to paragraph 5 or to a
conjugate according to paragraph 14; associating the molecule to a
polypeptide according to paragraph 5 or to a conjugate according to
paragraph 13; incorporating the molecule in an associate according
to paragraph 16, in nanoparticle or microparticle according to
paragraph 17 or a composition according to paragraph 18; [0446] (b)
where the molecule is not a polypeptide, conjugating the molecule
to a polypeptide according to paragraph 5 or to a conjugate
according to paragraph 14; associating the molecule to a
polypeptide according to paragraph 5 or to a conjugate according to
paragraph 14; incorporating the molecule in an associate according
to paragraph 16, in nanoparticle or microparticle according to
paragraph 17 or a composition according to paragraph 18. 27. A
method according to paragraph 26 wherein the molecule is a
therapeutic, prophylactic, diagnostic, imaging or other beneficial
moiety. 28. A polypeptide, fusion polypeptide, conjugate,
associate, nanoparticle or microparticle or composition thereof
according to paragraph 5 wherein the polypeptide, fusion
polypeptide, conjugate, associate, nanoparticle or microparticle or
composition comprises one or more moiety selected from those
described herein. 29. A nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide or
fusion polypeptide of paragraph 5. 30. A vector comprising a
nucleic acid according to paragraph 29. 31. A host cell comprising
a nucleic acid according to paragraph 29. 32. A host cell according
to paragraph 31 wherein the host cell is a eukaryote, preferably a
yeast (such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae) or a mammalian cell (such
as CHO or HEK) or a plant cell (such as rice).
33. A method of prophylaxis, treatment or diagnosis comprising
administering a polypeptide, fusion polypeptide, conjugate,
composition, associate, nanoparticle or microparticle or
polynucleotide according to paragraph 5 to a subject. 34. A method
for preparing a polypeptide which is a variant albumin, fragment
thereof, or fusion polypeptide comprising variant albumin or a
fragment thereof having a binding affinity to FcRn which is altered
compared to the binding affinity of a reference albumin, fragment
or fusion thereof to FcRn, comprising the steps of: [0447] (a)
identifying one or more amino acid residue positions being
important for the binding of albumin to FcRn, in an albumin or a
fragment thereof or the albumin part of a fusion polypeptide
comprising albumin or a fragment thereof by: [0448] (i) providing a
three dimensional structure (model) of an albumin, such as residues
1 to 585 of HSA (SEQ ID No. 2); [0449] (ii) providing a three
dimensional structure (model) of FcRn, the structure being solved
at a pH equal to or lower than 6.3; [0450] (iii) using the albumin
structure of (i) and the FcRn structure of (ii) to model the
structure of a complex formed by albumin bound to FcRn, thus
generating a docking model; [0451] (iv) using the docking model to
identify amino acid residues in the albumin which interact with
FcRn or affect interaction of albumin with FcRn; [0452] (b)
providing a nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide; [0453] (c)
modifying the nucleic acid provided in (b), so that at the one or
more amino acid residue located at the positions identified in (a),
there is an alteration; [0454] (d) expressing the modified nucleic
acid in a suitable host cell; and [0455] (e) recovering the
polypeptide. 35. The method according to paragraph 34 wherein the
provided three dimensional structure (model) of FcRn is solved at a
pH from 3.7 to 4.7. 36. The method according to paragraph 34,
wherein the reference is HSA (SEQ ID No: 2) or a fragment thereof,
or a fusion polypeptide comprising HSA or a fragment thereof, most
preferably SEQ ID NO: 2. 37. The method according to paragraph 34,
wherein the one or more alteration is a substitution. 38. The
method of paragraph 34, wherein step (a) further comprises: [0456]
(v) comparing the primary structure and/or the tertiary structure
of a second albumin (e.g. a non-human albumin) with the primary
structure and/or the tertiary structure of the albumin of (i) to
identify equivalent amino acids to those identified in (iv) and/or;
[0457] (vi) preparing the polypeptide comprising one or more
alterations identified in (iv) or (v) and confirming (e.g. by
binding affinity analysis) that the prepared polypeptide has an
altered binding affinity to FcRn compared to the binding affinity
of the albumin of (i) to FcRn.
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Sequence CWU 0 SQTB SEQUENCE LISTING The patent application
contains a lengthy "Sequence Listing" section. A copy of the
"Sequence Listing" is available in electronic form from the USPTO
web site
(http://seqdata.uspto.gov/?pageRequest=docDetail&DocID=US20140315816A1).
An electronic copy of the "Sequence Listing" will also be available
from the USPTO upon request and payment of the fee set forth in 37
CFR 1.19(b)(3).
0 SQTB SEQUENCE LISTING The patent application contains a lengthy
"Sequence Listing" section. A copy of the "Sequence Listing" is
available in electronic form from the USPTO web site
(http://seqdata.uspto.gov/?pageRequest=docDetail&DocID=US20140315816A1).
An electronic copy of the "Sequence Listing" will also be available
from the USPTO upon request and payment of the fee set forth in 37
CFR 1.19(b)(3).
* * * * *
References