Non-targeted characterization of attributes affecting antibody-FcγRIIIa V158 (CD16a) binding via online affinity chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Antibodies facilitate targeted cell killing by engaging with immune cells such as natural killer cells through weak binding interactions with Fcγ receptors on the cell surface. Here, we evaluate the binding affinity of the receptor FcγRIIIa V158 (CD16a) for several therapeutic antibody classes, isoforms, and Fc-fusion proteins using an immobilized receptor affinity liquid chromatography (LC) approach coupled with online mass spectrometry (MS) detection. Aglycosylated FcγRIIIa was used in the affinity chromatography and compared with published affinities using glycosylated receptors.

Identification of critical chemical modifications and paratope mapping by size exclusion chromatography of stressed antibody-target complexes.

Therapeutic proteins including antibodies and Fc-fusion proteins undergo a large number of chemical modifications during cell culture, purification, storage and in human circulation. They are also exposed to harsh conditions during stress studies, including elevated temperature, extremes of pH, forced oxidation, physiological pH, UV light to assess the possible degradation pathways and suitability of methods for detecting them. Some of these modifications are located on residues in binding regions, leading to loss of binding and potency and classified as critical quality attributes.

Characterization of therapeutic proteins by cation exchange chromatography-mass spectrometry and top-down analysis.

Recently, cation exchange chromatography (CEX) using aqueous volatile buffers was directly coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) and applied for intact analysis of therapeutic proteins and antibodies. In our study, chemical modifications responsible for charge variants were identified by CEX-UV-MS for a monoclonal antibody (mAb), a bispecific antibody, and an Fc-fusion protein. We also report post-CEX column addition of organic solvent and acid followed by mixing at elevated temperatures, which unfolded proteins, increased ion intensity (sensitivity) and facilitated top-down analysis.

Impact of antibody subclass and disulfide isoform differences on the biological activity of CD200R and βklotho agonist antibodies.

Agonism of cell surface receptors by monoclonal antibodies is dependent not only on its ability to bind the target, but also to deliver a biological signal through receptors to the cell. Immunoglobulin G2 antibodies (IgG2s) are made up of a mixture of distinct isoforms (IgG2-A, -B and A/B), which differ by the disulfide connectivity at the hinge region. When evaluating panels of agonistic antibodies against CD200 receptor (CD200R) or βklotho receptor (βklotho), we noticed striking activity differences of IgG1 or IgG2 antibodies with the same variable domains.

Protected hinge in the immunoglobulin G2-A2 disulfide isoform.

Human IgG2 consists of disulfide-mediated structural isoforms, classified by the number of Fab arms disulfide-linked to the heavy chain hinge. In the IgG2-B isoform, both Fab arms are linked to the hinge region, and in IgG2-A, neither Fab arm are linked to the hinge. IgG2-A/B is a hybrid between these two forms, with only one Fab arm disulfide-linked to the hinge.

IgG2 disulfide isoform conversion kinetics.

Human IgG2 antibodies contain three types of disulfide isoforms, classified by the number of Fab arms having disulfide links to the heavy chain hinge region. In the IgG2-B form, both Fab arms have interchain disulfide bonds to the hinge region, and in IgG2-A, neither Fab arm are disulfide linked to the hinge. The IgG2-A/B is a hybrid between these two forms, with only one Fab arm disulfide linked to the hinge.

Field flow fractionation for assessing neonatal Fc receptor and Fcγ receptor binding to monoclonal antibodies in solution.

Analysis of the strength and stoichiometry of immunoglobulin G (IgG) binding to neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) and Fcγ receptor (FcγR) is important for evaluating the pharmacokinetics and effector functions of therapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb) products, respectively. The current standard for assessing FcγR and FcRn binding is composed of cell-based and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assays. In this work, asymmetrical flow field flow fractionation (AF4) was evaluated to establish the true stoichiometry of IgG binding in solution.

Conformational implications of an inversed pH-dependent antibody aggregation.

Antibody formulation development relies on accelerated stability data at elevated temperatures to optimize formulation parameters. However, the pH- and temperature-dependence of aggregation is complicated for antibody formulations. In this study, a human monoclonal IgG2 antibody exhibited typical pH-dependent dimer formation under normal storage conditions (4 and/or 29 degrees C).

Human IgG2 antibody disulfide rearrangement in vivo.

Proteins destined to circulate in the blood are first folded and assembled in the endoplasmic reticulum of secretory cells. For antibodies, like many other serum proteins, the folding and assembly steps involve the formation of disulfide bonds. Such bonds have been thought to be static features of proteins, stabilizing domains, and linking polypeptide chains, although some cases of extracellular disulfide bond cleavage have been noted.

Structural and functional characterization of disulfide isoforms of the human IgG2 subclass.

In the accompanying report ( Wypych, J., Li, M., Guo, A.

Automated tryptic digestion procedure for HPLC/MS/MS peptide mapping of immunoglobulin gamma antibodies in pharmaceutics.

The rapid growth of antibody drugs and drug candidates in the biopharmaceutical industry has created a demand for automated proteolytic digestion to assist in pharmaceutical stability studies, identity assays and quality control of these therapeutic proteins. Here, we describe the development of a fully automated proteolytic digestion procedure for monoclonal antibodies in solution, which requires a high concentration of denaturants for unfolding. The antibody samples were placed in a 96-well plate or in 0.

Removal of cysteinylation from an unpaired sulfhydryl in the variable region of a recombinant monoclonal IgG1 antibody improves homogeneity, stability, and biological activity.

The antibody MAB007 was recently shown to be cysteinylated on an unpaired cysteine residue in the CDR3 variable region. Cysteinylation at this position was not complete and resulted in heterogeneous lots of MAB007 with respect to this posttranslational modification. In this report, a mild redox step was used that effectively removed cysteinylation while keeping native inter and intra-molecular disulfide bonds intact.

Identification of cysteinylation of a free cysteine in the Fab region of a recombinant monoclonal IgG1 antibody using Lys-C limited proteolysis coupled with LC/MS analysis.

MAB007, an IgG1 monoclonal antibody, is unique because of the presence of a free cysteine residue in the Fab region at position 104 on the heavy chain in the CDR3 region. Mass spectrometric analysis of intact MAB007 showed multiple peaks varying in mass by 120-140 Da that cannot be fully attributed to glycosylation isoforms typically present in IgG molecules. Limited proteolysis of MAB007 with Lys-C led to a single cleavage at the C-terminus of a lysine residue in the hinge region of the heavy chain at position 222, generating free Fab and Fc fragments.

Improving mass accuracy of high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of intact antibodies.

The glycosylation profile of intact antibody due to the galactose and fucose heterogeneity in the N-linked sugars was determined with instrument resolution of 5000 and 10,000. After deconvolution of electrospray ionization mass spectra to complete convergence, several extra peaks appeared in addition to the peaks observed in the original mass spectra. The artificial peaks were avoided if deconvolution was stopped after a smaller number of iterations.

Formation of pyroglutamic acid from N-terminal glutamic acid in immunoglobulin gamma antibodies.

The status of the N-terminus of proteins is important for amino acid sequencing by Edman degradation, protein identification by shotgun and top-down techniques, and to uncover biological functions, which may be associated with modifications. In this study, we investigated the pyroglutamic acid formation from N-terminal glutamic acid residues in recombinant monoclonal antibodies. Almost half the antibodies reported in the literature contain a glutamic acid residue at the N-terminus of the light or the heavy chain.

Optimization of a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for characterizing recombinant antibody heterogeneity and stability.

An enhanced analytical RP-HPLC/MS method was developed for monitoring the stability and production of intact and fragmented monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). The use of high column temperatures (70-80 degrees C), organic solvents with high eluotropic strength coefficients (isopropyl and n-propyl alcohols), and Zorbax StableBond columns, were critical for good recovery and resolution of immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) and IgG2 monoclonal antibodies. Using this method, cleavage products of a degraded IgG1 antibody were clearly separated and identified by in-line electrospray ionization time-of-flight (ESI-TOF) mass spectrometry generating exact masses and unique terminal ladder sequences.

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of reduced monoclonal antibodies in pharmaceutics.

A reversed-phase LC/MS method was developed for reduced antibodies that provides efficient separation of light chain and two variants of heavy chain containing N-terminal glutamine and pyroglutamic acid. The best separation was achieved on Zorbax CN and Varian Pursuit DiPhenyl columns eluted with increasing percentage of n-propanol and acetonitrile in 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid.

Development of an analytical reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry method for characterization of recombinant antibodies.

Analytical characterization of monoclonal antibodies has been hindered by the lack of appropriate chromatographic methods to be used in conjunction with high-resolution MS. Current methodologies for standard RP-HPLC are incompatible with antibodies due to irreproducibility, low recovery, short column lifetimes, and poor resolution of degradation products. An analytical RP-HPLC-MS method was developed for monitoring and characterizing intact IgG1antibodies.

Random-coil behavior and the dimensions of chemically unfolded proteins.

Spectroscopic studies have identified a number of proteins that appear to retain significant residual structure under even strongly denaturing conditions. Intrinsic viscosity, hydrodynamic radii, and small-angle x-ray scattering studies, in contrast, indicate that the dimensions of most chemically denatured proteins scale with polypeptide length by means of the power-law relationship expected for random-coil behavior. Here we further explore this discrepancy by expanding the length range of characterized denatured-state radii of gyration (R(G)) and by reexamining proteins that reportedly do not fit the expected dimensional scaling.