Relative Quantitation of Glycopeptides Based on Stable Isotope Labeling Using MALDI-TOF MS

We have developed an effective, sensitive method for quantitative glycopeptide profiling using stable isotope labeling and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS). In this study, we synthesized benzoic acid-d0 N-succinimidyl ester (BzOSu) and benzoic acid-d5 N-succinimidyl ester (d-BzOSu) as light and heavy isotope reagents for stable isotope quantification for the comparative analysis of glycopeptides. Using this approach provided enhanced ionization efficiency in both positive and negative modes by MALDI-TOF MS. These reagents were quantitatively reacted with glycopeptides from human serum IgG (hIgG) at a wide range of concentrations; the labeling efficiency of the glycopeptides showed high reproducibility and a good calibration curve was obtained. To demonstrate the practical utility of this approach, we characterized the structures of glycopeptides from hIgG and from IgG1 produced by myeloma plasma. The glycopeptides were quantitatively analyzed by mixing Bz-labeled IgG1 glycopeptides with d-Bz-labeled hIgG glycopeptides. Glycan structural identification of the hIgG glycopeptides was demonstrated by combining the highly specific recognition of endo-β-N-acetyl glucosaminidases from Streptococcus pyogenes (endoS) or from Streptococcus pneumoniae (endo-D) with MALDI-TOF MS analysis. The obtained data revealed the glycan profile and the ratio of glycan structural isomers containing a galactosylated extension on IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 glycopetides

Protein oxidation mediated by heme-induced active site conversion specific for heme-regulated transcription factor, iron response regulator

The Bradyrhizobium japonicum transcriptional regulator Irr (iron response regulator) is a key regulator of the iron homeostasis, which is degraded in response to heme binding via a mechanism that involves oxidative modification of the protein. Here, we show that heme-bound Irr activates O-2 to form highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) with the "active site conversion" from heme iron to non-heme iron to degrade itself. In the presence of heme and reductant, the ROS scavenging experiments show that Irr generates H2O2 from O-2 as found for other hemoproteins, but H2O2 is less effective in oxidizing the peptide, and further activation of H2O2 is suggested. Interestingly, we find a time-dependent decrease of the intensity of the Soret band and appearance of the characteristic EPR signal at g = 4.3 during the oxidation, showing the heme degradation and the successive formation of a non-heme iron site. Together with the mutational studies, we here propose a novel "two-step self-oxidative modification" mechanism, during which O-2 is activated to form H2O2 at the heme regulatory motif (HRM) site and the generated H2O2 is further converted into more reactive species such as OH at the non-heme iron site in the His-cluster region formed by the active site conversion

Preparation and biological activities of anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies with fully core-fucosylated homogeneous bi-antennary complex-type glycans

<p>Recently, the absence of a core-fucose residue in the N-glycan has been implicated to be important for enhancing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity of immunoglobulin G monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Here, we first prepared anti-HER2 mAbs having two core-fucosylated N-glycan chains with the single G2F, G1aF, G1bF, or G0F structure, together with those having two N-glycan chains with a single non-core-fucosylated corresponding structure for comparison, and determined their biological activities. Dissociation constants of mAbs with core-fucosylated N-glycans bound to recombinant Fcγ-receptor type IIIa variant were 10 times higher than those with the non-core-fucosylated N-glycans, regardless of core glycan structures. mAbs with the core-fucosylated N-glycans had markedly reduced ADCC activities, while those with the non-core-fucosylated N-glycans had high activities. These results indicate that the presence of a core-fucose residue in the N-glycan suppresses the binding to the Fc-receptor and the induction of ADCC of anti-HER2 mAbs.</p> <p>Dramatic decreases in ADCC activity brought by core-fucosylation (red-colored) of N-glycans attached to anti-HER2 mAbs as illustrated with outline.</p

Glycoengineered Monoclonal Antibodies with Homogeneous Glycan (M3, G0, G2, and A2) Using a Chemoenzymatic Approach Have Different Affinities for FcγRIIIa and Variable Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity Activities

<div><p>Many therapeutic antibodies have been developed, and IgG antibodies have been extensively generated in various cell expression systems. IgG antibodies contain <i>N</i>-glycans at the constant region of the heavy chain (Fc domain), and their <i>N</i>-glycosylation patterns differ during various processes or among cell expression systems. The Fc <i>N</i>-glycan can modulate the effector functions of IgG antibodies, such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). To control Fc <i>N</i>-glycans, we performed a rearrangement of Fc <i>N</i>-glycans from a heterogeneous <i>N</i>-glycosylation pattern to homogeneous <i>N</i>-glycans using chemoenzymatic approaches with two types of endo-β-<i>N</i>-acetyl glucosaminidases (ENG’ases), one that works as a hydrolase to cleave all heterogeneous <i>N</i>-glycans, another that is used as a glycosynthase to generate homogeneous <i>N</i>-glycans. As starting materials, we used an anti-Her2 antibody produced in transgenic silkworm cocoon, which consists of non-fucosylated pauci-mannose type (Man_2-3GlcNAc₂), high-mannose type (Man_4-9GlcNAc₂), and complex type (Man₃GlcNAc_3-4) <i>N</i>-glycans. As a result of the cleavage of several ENG’ases (endoS, endoM, endoD, endoH, and endoLL), the heterogeneous glycans on antibodies were fully transformed into homogeneous-GlcNAc by a combination of endoS, endoD, and endoLL. Next, the desired <i>N</i>-glycans (M3; Man₃GlcNAc₁, G0; GlcNAc₂Man₃GlcNAc₁, G2; Gal₂GlcNAc₂Man₃GlcNAc₁, A2; NeuAc₂Gal₂GlcNAc₂Man₃GlcNAc₁) were transferred from the corresponding oxazolines to the GlcNAc residue on the intact anti-Her2 antibody with an ENG’ase mutant (endoS-D233Q), and the glycoengineered anti-Her2 antibody was obtained. The binding assay of anti-Her2 antibody with homogenous <i>N</i>-glycans with FcγRIIIa-V158 showed that the glycoform influenced the affinity for FcγRIIIa-V158. In addition, the ADCC assay for the glycoengineered anti-Her2 antibody (mAb-M3, mAb-G0, mAb-G2, and mAb-A2) was performed using SKBR-3 and BT-474 as target cells, and revealed that the glycoform influenced ADCC activity.</p></div

ENG’ase activity of the anti-Her2 mAbs (a; endoS, b; endoD, c; endoH, d; endoM, e; endoLL).

<p>(Blue bar represents glycopeptides without ENG’ase hydrolysis; red bar represents the remaining glycopeptides with ENG’ase hydrolysis; y-axis indicates each individual glycoform ratio to total glycoform content; % represents total cleaved glycopeptide ratio by ENG’ase hydrolysis.)</p