US20060148680A1 - Glycoproteins produced in plants and methods of their use - Google Patents

Glycoproteins produced in plants and methods of their use Download PDF

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US20060148680A1
US20060148680A1 US11/036,257 US3625705A US2006148680A1 US 20060148680 A1 US20060148680 A1 US 20060148680A1 US 3625705 A US3625705 A US 3625705A US 2006148680 A1 US2006148680 A1 US 2006148680A1
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hyp
hgh
growth hormone
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ser
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Marcia Kieliszewski
Jianfeng Xu
John Kopchick
Shigeru Okada
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Ohio University
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Ohio University
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Priority to US11/036,257 priority Critical patent/US20060148680A1/en
Assigned to OHIO UNIVERSITY reassignment OHIO UNIVERSITY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KIELISZEWSKI, MARCIA J., XU, JIANFENG, KOPCHICK, JOHN, OKADA, SHIGERU
Assigned to OHIO UNIVERSITY reassignment OHIO UNIVERSITY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MEYER, MR GARY D.
Publication of US20060148680A1 publication Critical patent/US20060148680A1/en
Priority to US12/117,692 priority patent/US20100029548A1/en
Priority to US13/005,715 priority patent/US20110230404A1/en
Priority to US13/855,946 priority patent/US8962811B2/en
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    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/52—Cytokines; Lymphokines; Interferons
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    • C07K14/56—IFN-alpha
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
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    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
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    • C07K14/575—Hormones
    • C07K14/61—Growth hormone [GH], i.e. somatotropin
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/76—Albumins
    • C07K14/765—Serum albumin, e.g. HSA
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    • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
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    • C12N15/62—DNA sequences coding for fusion proteins
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    • C12N15/63—Introduction of foreign genetic material using vectors; Vectors; Use of hosts therefor; Regulation of expression
    • C12N15/79—Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts
    • C12N15/82—Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts for plant cells, e.g. plant artificial chromosomes (PACs)
    • C12N15/8241—Phenotypically and genetically modified plants via recombinant DNA technology
    • C12N15/8242—Phenotypically and genetically modified plants via recombinant DNA technology with non-agronomic quality (output) traits, e.g. for industrial processing; Value added, non-agronomic traits
    • C12N15/8257—Phenotypically and genetically modified plants via recombinant DNA technology with non-agronomic quality (output) traits, e.g. for industrial processing; Value added, non-agronomic traits for the production of primary gene products, e.g. pharmaceutical products, interferon
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    • C12P21/00—Preparation of peptides or proteins
    • C12P21/005—Glycopeptides, glycoproteins

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to novel methods of producing fusion peptides, polypeptides, and proteins in plants, the nucleic acid constructs used in these methods, and the products produced according to these methods.
  • the methods generally involve expressing the peptide, polypeptide, or protein as fusion proteins, which are glycosylated by the plant.
  • a plant-based signal peptide is expressed as part of the fusion protein.
  • novel glycoproteins are presented.
  • HRGPs all of the cell surface HRGPs (extensins) form a covalently cross-linked cell wall network.
  • HRGPs arabinogalactan-proteins
  • AGPs arabinogalactan-proteins
  • AGPs are initially tethered to the plasma membrane by a lipid anchor whose cleavage results in their movement from the periplasm through the cell wall to the exterior.
  • the present invention provides novel methods of producing glycoproteins in plants.
  • the glycoproteins include a glycosylation site element and a core protein element.
  • the core protein element can be of mammalian (including human) origin, and in some embodiments, the core protein element can be a biologically active protein.
  • the protein can be an FDA-approved recombinant protein that is used therapeutically, e.g. recombinant human growth hormone (“hGH”).
  • hGH human growth hormone
  • the glycosylation site is an amino acid sequence that acts as a target for glycosylation by the plant.
  • One feature of the present method is an increase in yield in protein production.
  • recombinant protein yield considerably increases in comparison to expression of the same protein in plants without the glycosylation site and signal peptide sequence.
  • Glycoproteins produced according to the method exhibit additional advantages over their wild-type counterparts, including increased solubility, increased resistance to proteolytic enzymes, and increased stability. Another important feature includes increased biological half-life as compared to wild-type proteins.
  • the present invention provides nucleic acid constructs for expression of at least one biologically active protein in plants comprising: a) at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a glycosylation site utilized in plants and b) at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a biologically active protein.
  • the at least one glycomodule is covalently linked at a location chosen from the N-terminus and/or the C-terminus of the protein. In some embodiments, the at least one glycomodule is within the interior of the biologically active mammalian protein. While Lys, Ser, Thr, Val, Gly, and Ala, are specifically identified above as corresponding to X, it is believed that any amino acid can serve that purpose, and that the motif will be glycosylated in plants.
  • the biologically active mammalian protein can be selected from a group including growth hormone, growth hormone antagonists, growth hormone releasing hormone, somatostatin, ghrelin, leptin, prolactin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin-10, pleiotropin, interleukin-7, interleukin-8, interferon omega, interferon-Alpha 2a and 2b, interferon gamma, interleukin-1, fibroblast growth factor 6, IFG-1, insulin-like growth factor I, insulin, erythropoietin, GMCSF, and any humanized monoclonal antibody or monoclonal antibody, wherein the glycomodule comprises a glycosylation site chosen from i) X-Pro-Hyp n , where n is from 2 to about 1000, ii) X-Hyp n , where n is from 2 to about 1000, and iii) (X-Hyp) n , where n is
  • the protein is human growth hormone, and the glycomodule comprises (Ser-Hyp) 10 . While Lys, Ser, Thr, Val, Gly, and Ala, are specifically identified as corresponding to X, it is believed that any amino acid can serve that purpose, and that the motif will be glycosylated in plants.
  • the plant-derived biologically active mammalian fusion glycoproteins of the invention are covalently linked to at least one carbohydrate molecule.
  • the carbohydrate is an arabinogalactan moiety, and in some it is an arabinosyl moiety.
  • the invention also provides methods of increasing the aqueous solubility of a protein molecule, wherein one: prepares a nucleic acid construct encoding a) at least one glycosylation site and b) at least one peptide or protein; and expressing the nucleic acid construct as a glycoprotein; wherein carbohydrate component of the glycoprotein accounts for greater than or equal to about 10% of the molecular weight of the glycoprotein.
  • the carbohydrate component of the glycoprotein can account for greater than or equal to about 50%, about 75%, or about 90% of the molecular weight of the glycoprotein.
  • the invention also provides methods of producing a biologically active fusion glycoprotein, comprising: expressing in a plant at least one nucleic acid construct comprising: a) at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a glycosylation site and b) at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a biologically active protein, as a glycoprotein; wherein the molecular weight of the glycoprotein is greater than or equal to about 10 kD and wherein the carbohydrate component of the glycoprotein accounts for greater than or equal to about 10% of the molecular weight of the glycoprotein. In some embodiments, the molecular weight of the glycoprotein is greater than or equal to about 35 kD, about 40 kD, about 45 kD, about 50 kD, or about 55 kD.
  • the pharmacokinetic half-life of the glycoprotein is greater than the pharmacokinetic half-life of a corresponding wild-type protein.
  • the at least one glycosylation site is chosen from i) X-Pro n , where n is from 2 to about 1000, and ii) (X-Pro) n , where n is from 2 to about 1000; wherein X is any amino acid or is selected from Lys, Ser, Ala, Thr, Gly and Val, or more preferably from Ser, Ala, Thr, and Val.
  • n can range from 4 to 200 or from 6 to 100 or from 8 to 50 or from 10 to 25, or any number in between or any combination thereof.
  • the biologically active protein is human growth hormone and the glycoprotein comprises (Ser-Hyp) 10 , and in some embodiments, the (Ser-Hyp) 10 is covalently attached to the C-terminus of the human growth hormone protein.
  • the invention also provides injectable pharmaceutical formulations comprising glycosylated human growth hormone, and excluding additional excipients normally required for solvating or increasing the solubility of proteins.
  • the formulation excludes at least one excipient chosen from mannitol, sorbitol, trehalose, glucose, glycine, leucine, trileucine, histidine, and phospholipid.
  • the glycosylated human growth hormone comprises a glycomodule chosen from i) X-Pro-Hyp n , where n is from 2 to about 100, and wherein X is any amino acid, or is chosen from Lys, Ser, Ala, Thr, Gly and Val, or more preferably chosen from Ser, Ala, Thr, and Val, ii) X-Hyp n , where n is from 2 to about 100, and wherein X is any amino acid, or is chosen from Lys, Ser, Ala, Thr, Gly and Val, or more preferably from Ser, Ala, Thr, and Val, and iii) (X-Hyp n , where n is from 1 to about 100; wherein X is any amino acid or is selected from Lys, Ser, Ala, Thr, Gly and Val, or more preferably from Ser, Ala, Thr, and Val.
  • the glycosylated growth hormone can comprise X-Hyp n , where n is from 2 to about 20; wherein X is selected from Lys, Ser, Ala, Thr, Gly and Val, or more preferably from Ser, Ala, Thr, and Val.
  • the invention also provides lyophilized powder formulations of glycosylated human growth hormone exhibiting a solubility of greater than or equal to about 10 mg/ml, wherein the formulation excludes additional excipients required for peptide solubility.
  • the excipient is chosen from mannitol, sorbitol, trehalose, glucose, glycine, leucine, trileucine, histidine, and phospholipid.
  • the invention still further provides methods of increasing the yield in plant production of a protein, comprising: preparing a nucleic acid construct comprising: a) at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a secretory signal peptide, b) at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a glycosylation site, and c) at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein; and expressing the nucleic acid construct as a glycoprotein in plants or plant cell cultures.
  • the at least one HRGP glycosylation site is chosen from i) X-Pro n , where n is from 2 to about 1000, and ii) (X-Pro) n , where n is from 1 to about 1000; wherein X is any amino acid, or is chosen from Lys, Ser, Ala, Thr, Gly and Val, or more preferably from Ser, Ala, Thr, and Val.
  • the nucleic acid construct can also include or exclude a nucleic acid sequence encoding green fluorescent protein.
  • the invention also provides proteins produced according to these methods.
  • the invention also provides growth hormone molecules covalently attached to an amino acid sequence comprising a glycomodule, wherein the glycomodule is chosen from i) X-Pro-Hyp n , where n is from 2 to about 100, ii) X-Hyp n , where n is from 2 to about 100, and ii) (X-Hyp) n , where n is from 1 to about 100; wherein X is chosen from Lys, Ser, Ala, Thr, Gly and Val, or more preferably from Ser, Ala, Thr, and Val.
  • the glycomodule is chosen from i) X-Pro-Hyp n , where n is from 2 to about 100, ii) X-Hyp n , where n is from 2 to about 100, and ii) (X-Hyp) n , where n is from 1 to about 100; wherein X is chosen from Lys, Ser, Ala, Thr, Gly and Val,
  • the invention also provides growth hormone antagonist molecules covalently attached to an amino acid sequence comprising a glycomodule, wherein the glycomodule is chosen from i) X-Pro-Hyp n , where n is from 2 to about 100, ii) X-Hyp n , where n is from 2 to about 100, and ii) (X-Hyp) n , where n is from 1 to about 100; wherein X is chosen from Lys, Ser, Ala, Thr, Gly and Val, or more preferably from Ser, Ala, Thr, and Val.
  • Also provided are methods of treating a patient suffering from growth hormone deficiency or insufficiency comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of glycosylated human growth hormone.
  • Also provided are methods of treating a patient suffering from excess human growth hormone or growth hormone action comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of glycosylated human growth hormone antagonist.
  • FIG. 2 shows the DNA sequence of (a) [Gum] 3 , (b) [Gum] 8 and [Gum] 20 synthetic gene constructed in pUC18 plasmid between signal sequence (underlined) and GFP gene.
  • the restriction sites are in bold italic.
  • FIG. 3 shows the DNA sequence of [HP] 4 and [HP] 8 synthetic gene constructed in pUC18 plasmid between signal sequence (underlined) and GFP gene.
  • the restriction sites are in bold italic.
  • FIG. 4 shows the DNA sequence of [Gum] 8 [HP] 2 and [Gum] 8 [HP] 4 synthetic gene constructed in pUC18 plasmid between signal sequence (underlined) and GFP gene.
  • the restriction sites are in bold italic.
  • FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of the construction of the hGH-(SP) 10 -EGFP gene cassette.
  • FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of the construction of the hGH-(SP) 10 gene cassette.
  • FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of the construction of the INF-(SP) 10 gene cassette.
  • FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of the construction of the HSA-(SP) 10 gene cassette.
  • FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of the construction of the DomainI-(SP) 10 gene cassette.
  • FIG. 10A shows the gene construct for the expression of human growth hormone (hGH) with a (Ser-Hyp) 10 motif attached.
  • FIG. 10B shows how the (SP) 10 gene was constructed by primer extension.
  • FIG. 11 shows the gene construct for the expression of human growth hormone (hGH) connected to green fluorescent protein, with a (Ser-Hyp) 10 motif connecting the two.
  • FIG. 12 shows the gene construct for the expression of human serum albumin (HSA) with a (Ser-Hyp) 10 motif attached.
  • FIG. 13 shows the gene construct for the expression of human serum albumin domain I with a (Ser-Hyp) 10 motif attached.
  • FIG. 14 shows the gene construct for the expression of interferon-alpha 2a (INF2a) with a (Ser-Hyp) 10 motif attached.
  • FIG. 15 shows the detection of hGH equivalents secreted into the medium of ten lines of tobacco cells transformed with either hGH-(SO) 10 and hGH.
  • FIG. 16 shows the time course of cell growth and production of hGH equivalents in the culture medium of tobacco cells transformed with hGH-(SP) 10 .
  • FIG. 17 shows Western blot detection of hGH-(SO) 10 (left panel) and hGH-(SO) 10 -EGFP in culture medium.
  • FIG. 18 shows chromatographic profiles for the isolation of hGH-(SO) 10 and hGH-(SO) 10 -EGFP by reversed-phase HPLC.
  • FIG. 19 shows the gene sequence of SS tob -hGH-(SP) 1 construct.
  • the restriction sites are in bold italic.
  • FIG. 20 shows the gene sequence of SS tob -hGH-(SP) 2 construct.
  • the restriction sites are in bold italic.
  • FIG. 21 shows the gene sequence of SS tob -hGH-(SP) 5 construct.
  • the restriction sites are in bold italic.
  • FIG. 22 shows the gene sequence of SS tob -hGH-(SP) 20 construct.
  • the restriction sites are in bold italic.
  • FIG. 23 shows the gene sequence of SS tob -(SP) 10 -hGH-(SP) 10 construct.
  • the restriction sites are in bold italic.
  • FIG. 24 shows the gene sequence of S tob -hGHA-(SP) 10 construct.
  • the restriction sites are in bold italic.
  • FIG. 25 shows the gene sequence of SS tob -INF-(SP) 5 construct.
  • the restriction sites are in bold italic.
  • FIG. 26 shows the gene sequence of SS tob -(SP) 5 -INF-(SP) 5 construct.
  • the restriction sites are in bold italic.
  • FIG. 27 shows the gene sequence of SS tob -(SP) 5 -INF construct.
  • the restriction sites are in bold italic.
  • FIG. 28 shows the gene sequence of SS tob -INF-(SP) 20 construct.
  • the restriction sites are in bold italic.
  • FIG. 29 shows the gene sequence of SS tob (SP) 10 -INF-(SP) 10 construct.
  • the restriction sites are in bold italic.
  • FIG. 30 shows a binding curve for hGH-(SP) 10 -EGFP.
  • FIG. 31 shows a binding curve for commercially available hGH.
  • FIG. 32 shows a binding curve for hGH-(SP) 10 .
  • FIG. 33 shows serum concentration of commercially available hGH and hGH-(SP) 10 following a single administration of each to mice.
  • FIG. 34 shows serum IGF-1 concentration following a single administration to mice of commercially available hGH and hGH-(SP) 10 .
  • FIG. 35 shows blood concentration of hGH equivalents following a single administration of commercially available hGH and hGH-(SP) 10 to mice.
  • FIG. 36 shows serum concentration of commercially available hGH and hGH-(SP) 10 (and PBS controls) following two administrations per day for five days to mice.
  • FIG. 37 shows serum IGF-1 concentration following administration of commercially available hGH and hGH-(SP) 10 (and PBS control) following two administrations per day for five days to mice.
  • FIG. 38 shows growth hormone levels following once daily administration of a lower concentration (1 ⁇ g/gm) of commercially available hGH and hGH-(SP) 10 (and PBS control) for five days.
  • FIG. 39 shows serum IGF-1 concentration following administration of a lower concentration (1 ⁇ g/gm) of commercially available hGH and hGH-(SP) 10 (and PBS control) following one administration per day for five days.
  • FIG. 40 shows the increase in body mass over the course of a two-week treatment with commercially available hGH and hGH-(SP) 10 .
  • HRGP hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein
  • Some embodiments are directed to methods for improving the yield of protein production in plants. Some embodiments involve modified proteins produced in accordance with the present disclosure, which can exhibit improved properties overall, and specific advantages in vivo, including extended biological half-life and improved bioavailability.
  • peptide can and will be used interchangeably.
  • “Peptide/polypeptide/protein” will occasionally be used to refer to any of the three, but recitations of any of the three contemplate the other two. That is, there is no intended limit on the size of the amino acid polymer (peptide, polypeptide, or protein), that can be expressed using the present invention. Additionally, the recitation of “protein” is intended to encompass enzymes, hormone, receptors, channels, intracellular signaling molecules, and proteins with other functions. Multimeric proteins can also be made in accordance with the present invention.
  • amino acid refers to natural amino acids, non-naturally occurring amino acids, and amino acid analogs, all in their D and L stereoisomers.
  • Natural amino acids include alanine (A), arginine (R), asparagine (N), aspartic acid (D), cysteine (C), glutamine (Q), glutamic acid (E), glycine (G), histidine (H), isoleucine (I), leucine (L), lysine (K), methionine (M), phenylalanine (F), proline (P), serine (S), threonine (T), tryptophan (W), tyrosine (Y), valine (V), hydroxyproline (O and/or Hyp), isodityrosine (IDT), and di-isodityrosine (di-IDT). Hydroxyproline, isodityrosine, and di-isodityrosine (di-IDT). Hydroxyproline, isodityrosine, and di-isodityrosine (di-IDT). Hydroxyproline, isodityrosine, and di-isodityrosine (
  • Non-naturally occurring amino acids include, but are not limited to azetidinecarboxylic acid, 2-aminoadipic acid, 3-aminoadipic acid, beta-alanine, aminopropionic acid, 2-aminobutyric acid, 4-aminobutyric acid, 6-aminocaproic acid, 2-aminoheptanoic acid, 2-aminoisobutyric acid, 3-aminoisobutyric acid, 2-aminopimelic acid, 2,4 diaminoisobutyric acid, desmosine, 2,2′-diaminopimelic acid, 2,3-diaminopropionic acid, N-ethylglycine, N-ethylasparagine, hydroxylysine, allo-hydroxylysine, 3-hydroxyproline, 4-hydroxyproline, isodesmosine, allo-isoleucine, trileucine, N-methylglycine, N-methylisoleucine, N-methylvaline, norvaline, norle
  • a variant peptide/polypeptide/protein can have an amino acid sequence which is at least about 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, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or higher percent, identical to the reference sequence. Lower percent identity is also acceptable, and can range to as low as 20%.
  • the mutant polypeptide sequence can be aligned with the sequence of a first reference vertebrate polypeptide.
  • One method of alignment is by BlastP, using the default setting for scoring matrix and gap penalties.
  • the first reference vertebrate polypeptide is the one for which such an alignment results in the lowest E value, that is, the lowest probability that an alignment with an alignment score as good or better would occur through chance alone. Alternatively, it is the one for which such alignment results in the highest percentage identity.
  • substitutions can be conservative and/or nonconservative.
  • conservative amino acid substitutions the substituted amino acid has similar structural and/or chemical properties with the corresponding amino acid in the reference sequence.
  • conservative substitutions are defined as exchanges within the groups set forth below:
  • variants in accordance with the invention include peptides/polypeptides/proteins that have greater than or fewer than the number of amino acids in the wild-type version.
  • the wild-type has a molecular weight of about 22 kDa, yet variants of 20 and 17 kDa also exist. These sorts of variants, which may or may not be naturally occurring, are expressly contemplated.
  • Growth hormone antagonist which has an approximate molecular weight of 22 kDa, also can exist in 20 and 17 kDa forms, and these forms of growth hormone antagonist are also expressly contemplated.
  • Bioly active substance refers to a substance, such as any peptide, polypeptide, or protein, which causes an observable change in the structure, function, or composition of a cell upon uptake by the cell.
  • the substance is an animal protein, in some embodiments a mammalian protein, and in some embodiments human protein.
  • Observable changes include, but are not limited to, increased or decreased expression of one or more mRNAs, increased or decreased expression of one or more proteins, phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of a protein or other cell component, inhibition or activation of an enzyme, inhibition or activation of binding between members of a binding pair, an increased or decreased rate of synthesis of a metabolite, increased or decreased cell proliferation, and increase or decrease effect on the outward phenotype of an organism and the like.
  • administration of hGH to GH deficient children will ultimately stimulate growth.
  • administration of a human GH antagonist to acromegalic individuals will result in lower levels of IGF-1 and clinical curing of the disorder.
  • Fragments of biologically active proteins, wherein the fragments retain biological activity are expressly contemplated.
  • the basic protein that is modified in the fusion protein can be of any source, plant or animal.
  • Animal source proteins include mammalian and non-mammalian.
  • mammalian proteins include human proteins.
  • the present invention generally involves expressing glycoproteins in plants using a novel approach.
  • the approach generally involves genetically engineering nucleic acid sequences coding for glycosylation sites into genes for non-HRGP proteins/peptides/polypeptides using the codes that drive these post-translational modifications in plants.
  • the sequences for glycosylation can be constructed as separate units attached to one or the other end of the gene, to form fusion proteins.
  • These genes can also be engineered to code for plant signal peptide sequences to target the gene products for secretion.
  • Glycosylation types include, but are not limited to, arabinosylation and arabinogalactan-polysaccharide addition.
  • Arabinosylation generally involves the addition of short (e.g., generally about 1-5) arabinooligosaccharide (generally L-arabinofuranosyl residues) chains.
  • Arabinogalactan-polysaccharides are larger and generally are formed from a core ⁇ -1,3-D-galactan backbone periodically decorated with 1,6-additions of small side chains of D-galactose and L-arabinose and occasionally with other sugars such as L-rhamnose and sugar acids such as D-glucuronic acid and its 4-o-methyl derivative.
  • Arabinogalactan-polysaccharides can also take the form of a core ⁇ -1,6-D-galactan backbone periodically decorated with 1,6-additions of small side chains of arabinofuranosyl. Note that these adducts are added by a plant's natural enzymatic systems to proteins/peptides/polypeptides that include the target sites for glycosylation, i.e., the glycosylation sites. There may be variation in the actual molecular structure of the glycosylation that occurs.
  • the oligosaccharide chains may include any sugar which can be provided by the host cell, including, without limitation, Gal, GalNAc, Glc, GlcNAc, and Fuc, can make up the oligosaccharide chain. It should be noted that glycosylation can be achieved in vitro.
  • glycomodule is meant to refer to an amino acid sequence comprising at least one proline residue that is hydroxylated and glycosylated.
  • glycosylation site is meant to refer an amino acid sequence comprising at least one proline residue that acts as a target site of hydroxylation and subsequent glycosylation. Glycosylation generally occurs following hydroxylation of the one or more of the proline residues in the site. Thus, within glycosylation sites, proline residues may be hydroxylated to form hydroxyprolines.
  • glycosylation is generally of two types: 1) arabinogalactan glycomodules comprise clustered non-contiguous hydroxyproline (Hyp) residues in which the Hyp residues are O-glycosylated with arabinogalactan adducts (the structure of which is described above); and 2) arabinosylation glycomodules comprise contiguous Hyp residues in which some or all of the Hyp residues are arabinosylated (O-glycosylated) with chains of arabinose about 1-5 residues long. See the following U.S.
  • glycosylation sites can be introduced as follows.
  • arabinogalactan glycomodules where the glycosylation sites are clustered non-contiguous Hyp residues
  • n is greater than 2, 3, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 50, 100, or 500, or less than 999, 998, 997, 996, 995, 994, 993, 992, 991, 990, 900, 800, 700, 600, or 500; n can range from any number to any number between 1 and 1000. In some embodiments, n ranges from 1-100, or from 1-75, or from 1-50, or from 2-25, or from 2-10, or from 2-6. Many of the Pro residues in these sequences will be hydroxylated to hydroxyproline (Hyp) and subsequently O-glycosylated with arabinogalactan oligosaccharides or polysaccharides.
  • Hyp hydroxyproline
  • (X-Pro) n or (Pro-X) n repeats can be interspersed with each other and with other amino acids, and that such interspersed repeating groups are expressly contemplated. While Lys, Ser, Thr, Val, Gly, and Ala, are specifically identified as corresponding to X, it is believed that any amino acid can serve that purpose, and that the motif will be glycosylated in plants. As noted, X is more preferably selected from Ser, Ala, Thr, or Val.
  • n is greater than 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 50, 100, or 500, or less than 999, 998, 997, 996, 995, 994, 993, 992, 991, 990, 900, 800, 700, 600, or 500; n can range from any number to any number between 2 and 1000. In some embodiments, n ranges from 1-100, or from 1-75, or from 1-50, or from 2-25, or from 2-10, or from 2-6.
  • nucleic acid constructs and genes reflects the fact that the nucleotides will encode proline, not hydroxyproline.
  • nucleic acid constructs, genes, etc. will refer to Pro or P (in single letter form).
  • Reference to genes encoding repeating units might look like: (SP) 10 , which refers to a nucleic acid construct that codes for ten repeating units of Ser-Pro.
  • SP refers to a nucleic acid construct that codes for ten repeating units of Ser-Pro.
  • hydroxyproline, or hyp, or O in single letter form.
  • glycomodules within a single glycoprotein can also be made. That is, a glycoprotein can include arabinosylation glycomodules and arabinogalactan glycomodules.
  • a single gene construct can include nucleic acid sequences coding for one or more arabinosylation sites and/or one or more arabinogalactan polysaccharide sites, which are hydroxylated and glycosylated upon expression in a plant host.
  • the sites for glycosylation can be placed at either or both termini of the peptide/polypeptide/protein, and/or in the interior of the molecule if desired.
  • the N- or C-terminus might be modified by the addition of glycosylation sites; in a larger molecule, an interior substitution might be more desirable.
  • smaller molecules can be modified on their interiors and larger molecules modified on either or both termini—the choice is left to the practitioner.
  • a construct can be prepared that modifies the N-terminus by replacing the membrane-spanning or—anchoring domain (avoiding the intrinsic tendency of glycosyltransferases, for example, to associate with ER/Golgi membranes) with an N-terminal secretion signal sequence, followed by the glycosylation sequence, such as, for example, a short (Ser-Hyp) n or (Ala-Hyp) n repeat.
  • some enzymes such as glycosyltransferases, can be modified by replacing the N-terminal membrane-spanning sequence that often anchors the enzymes to membranes, with a signal sequence and glycomodule, allowing the glycosyltransferase to be glycosylated and secreted rather than retained in the ER or Golgi membranes.
  • the transgenes are designed to encode a signal sequence for secretion through the endomembrane system.
  • the strategy of using a secretion signal sequence to target the entire molecule for secretion can be used in any construct, and is not limited to the secretion of normally membrane-tethered, -spanning, or -anchored proteins.
  • glycosylation site and the subsequent glycosylation can have a number of different effects.
  • the glycosylation of the peptide/polypeptide/protein will result in an increased yield and secretion of the expressed product as compared to a non-glycosylated product that is otherwise identical. That is, adding at least one site for arabinosylation or arabinogalactan polysaccharide addition can result in an increased secreted product yield as compared to product expressed without the addition(s).
  • the yield can be increased by about 10%, 25%, 50%, 100%, 200%, 300%, 400%, 500%, or 1000%, or more.
  • Glycosylation can provide additional means for isolation of a peptides/polypeptides/protein of interest. For example, by introducing a glycosylation site into a protein's gene and subsequently expressing the gene in plants, the product can be isolated and/or separated by affinity chromatography or by use of a lectin-based chromatography.
  • arabinooligosaccharides or arabinogalactan polysaccharides can have effects on the physicochemical activity of the peptides/polypeptides/proteins.
  • the additions can increase the molecular weight, change the isoelectric point, and change the ability of the peptide/polypeptide/protein to modify the effects of other media.
  • glycosylation can have the effect of increasing a protein's ability to act as an emulsifier.
  • glycoproteins made in accordance with the present invention can be used as emulsifiers.
  • glycoproteins of the invention, which act as emulsifiers are combined with emulsifiers in pharmaceutical compositions, to improve the administration of the glycoprotein or to improve the administration of another biologically active substance.
  • Glycosylation can increase the molecular weight of a peptide/polypeptide/protein.
  • the glycosylation can account for 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 8%, 12%, 16%, 24%, 33%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or even higher percent of the total weight of the glycoprotein.
  • Glycosylation can add 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 kDa or more to a peptide/polypeptide/protein.
  • glycosylation can increase the molecular weight by any percentage increment.
  • Glycosylation of a protein according to this invention can render insoluble proteins soluble, and can increase the solubility of already soluble proteins.
  • peptides/polypeptides/proteins modified according to these methods can be isolated or dissolved in water, where a wild-type protein may require buffer solutions.
  • the glycoproteins are more stable, in comparison to wild-type proteins, which aggregate or form multimers if not treated properly.
  • solubility is increased over that of the non-glycosylated versions. Increased solubility is observed in the absence of other elements required for solubility in non-glycosylated forms, such as buffers or other additives. Solubility can be greater than or equal to about 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, or more mg/ml.
  • Glycosylation of peptides/polypeptides/proteins according to the invention can have the desired effect of increasing resistance to enzymatic degradation. While it is not entirely clear why this occurs, it appears that the bulky carbohydrate substituents added in accordance with the invention block or prevent access to the sites of enzymatic degradation. Thus, where a peptidase may have specificity for a particular terminus or for a particular amino acid sequence, the glycosylation blocks, impedes, or hinders peptidase access to those sites. This protective effect has a number of real world utilities, including increasing shelf life, reducing breakdown by microbes, and of increasing the likelihood of gastrointestinal passage and thus, in some cases, allowing for oral administration.
  • modified peptides/polypeptides/proteins of the invention that have been lyophilized can be dissolved with ease, whereas the wild-type peptides/polypeptides/proteins are more difficult to dissolve.
  • This aspect of the invention is important in, and leads to utility in, for example, reconstituting lyophilized modified peptides/polypeptides/proteins of the invention prior to injection, which can be, for example, IM, SC, IV, or IP.
  • a modified human growth hormone is made in accordance with the present invention, prepared, and packaged in the absence of mannitol; a lyophilized powder or solution for injection excludes mannitol.
  • a modified human growth hormone is made in accordance with the present invention, prepared, and packaged in the absence of added glycine; a lyophilized powder or solution for injection excludes added glycine.
  • a modified human growth hormone is made in accordance with the present invention, prepared, and packaged in the absence of added leucine; a lyophilized powder or solution for injection excludes added leucine.
  • a modified human growth hormone is made in accordance with the present invention, prepared, and packaged in the absence of added phospholipids; a lyophilized powder or solution for injection excludes added phospholipids.
  • a modified human growth hormone is made in accordance with the present invention, prepared, and packaged in the absence of added trehalose; a lyophilized powder or solution for injection excludes added trehalose.
  • a modified human growth hormone is made in accordance with the present invention, prepared, and packaged in the absence of added histidine; a lyophilized powder or solution for injection excludes added histidine.
  • modified growth hormone formulations of the invention for example, can exclude any excipients normally required in other growth hormone formulations.
  • modified peptides/polypeptides/proteins of the invention can be delivered by inhalation to the lung for a pharmacological effect.
  • a wild-type protein may be difficult to dissolve without additives.
  • dissolution in the membrane of the lung is very slow, which a) slows the rate of uptake, b) allows for phagocytosis of the particulate matter, and c) allows cilia to carry the particulate matter up and out of the lung.
  • a modified peptide/polypeptide/protein of the invention can dissolve much more quickly, thereby increasing the rate of uptake, decreasing the opportunity for phagocytosis, and preventing expulsion through ciliary action.
  • the net effect is the creation of a drug that can be delivered by inhalation, where such delivery is not feasible for the wild-type drug.
  • the arabinosylation and/or arabinogalactan polysaccharide addition can alter the biological activity.
  • Alteration in biological activity can be, for example, pharmacodynamic, i.e., modifying the agonist and/or antagonist activity of the peptide/polypeptide/protein.
  • a modified agonist can exhibit antagonist activity; thus, an antagonist can be made from an agonist.
  • modifications result in an increase or decrease in receptor affinity.
  • Alteration in biological activity can be, for example, pharmacokinetic, i.e., modifying the absorption, distribution, localization in tissues, biotransformation, and/or excretion of the peptide/polypeptide/protein.
  • a glycosylated peptide/polypeptide/protein can exhibit an increased bioavailability or half-life, relative to the non-glycosylated peptide/polypeptide/protein. Bioavailability or half-life can be increased by about 10%, 25%, 50%, 100%, 200%, 300%, 400%, 500%, or 1000%, or more.
  • Bioavailability can be generally measured by the area under the curve (AUC).
  • AUC area under the curve
  • the area under the curve is a plot of plasma concentration of drug (not logarithm of the concentration) against time after drug administration.
  • the area can generally be determined by the “trapezoidal rule,” wherein the data points are connected by straight line segments, perpendiculars are erected from the abscissa to each data point, and the sum of the areas of the triangles and trapezoids so constructed is computed.
  • Area under the curve can be calculated using any means known in the art for calculating this value.
  • AUC can be increased by about 10%, 25%, 50%, 100%, 200%, 300%, 400%, 500%, or 1000%, or more.
  • peak plasma concentration can be increased by about 10%, 25%, 50%, 100%, 200%, 300%, 400%, 500%, or 1000%, or more.
  • biologically active proteins produced in accordance with the present invention can have the advantage of exhibiting extended half-life and/or bioavailability, and thus exhibiting an increased or prolonged effect in the body. While it is not entirely clear how or why this occurs, it may relate to the charge and increased size imparted on the biological molecule by the carbohydrate motifs of the invention.
  • Another effect of the glycosylation in accordance with this invention is a lack of change in immunogenicity or antigenicity.
  • the immunogenicity or antigenicity of a peptide/polypeptide/protein can be unchanged by producing it as a glycoprotein in accordance with this invention.
  • the immunogenicity or antigenicity is actually decreased. In either case—no change or decrease—this is important for vaccines or other parenterally introduced molecules that exhibit a desirable biological effect but are hindered by their immunogenicity/antigenicity.
  • Specific examples include, but are not limited to, the beta-amyloid peptide.
  • the reduced immunogenicity (or allergenicity) relative to a base protein may result from antibodies' (in)ability to recognize the core protein.
  • the carbohydrate moieties can also be the epitope of an antibody, and thus, can function as an immunogen or allergen. While it's unclear what is necessary to cause antibodies to recognize those carbohydrate moieties as foreign, it is believed that glycoproteins manufactured in accordance with the present invention can serve as sensitizing agents for allergy immunotherapy. That is, glycoproteins made in accordance with the present invention can be used for repeated injections with the desired long-term effect of reducing an allergic response.
  • arabinosylated glycoproteins including glycopeptides or even glycosylated amino acids, such as a single hydroxyproline that has at least one arabinose attached
  • the glycomodules X-Hyp n are believed to be useful in allergy immunotherapy.
  • the peptides/polypeptides/proteins can be large or small, monomeric or multimeric, and have any type of utility. In some embodiments, the peptides/polypeptides/proteins are small, such as less than about 25 kDa. Through glycosylation according to this invention, their molecular weight can be increased to 40 kDa or higher.
  • the peptides/polypeptides/proteins are not post-translationally modified, except for disulfide bond formation or N-linked glycosylation. In some embodiments, peptides with many proline residues, which may be targets for hydroxylation and subsequent Hyp-glycosylation, are avoided.
  • Peptides/polypeptides/proteins that can be expressed using the present invention include, but are not limited to, those molecules in the growth hormone superfamily, including but not limited to, growth hormone, prolactin, placental lactogen, and other interleukins.
  • monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 interleukin-10, pleiotropin, interleukin-7, interleukin-8, interferon omega, interferon-Alpha 2a and 2b, interferon gamma, interleukin-1, fibroblast growth factor 6, IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor I and II, adrenocorticotropic hormone, beta-amyloid, amylin, atrial natriuretic polypeptide (e.g., alpha), bombesin, bradykinin, brain natriuretic peptide, calcitonin, calcitonin gene related peptide, corticotropin releasing factor, dynorphin, endorphin, endothelin (e.g., ⁇ 1, ⁇ 2, and ⁇ 3), enkephalin, epidermal growth factor, gastric inhibitory peptide, gastrin, gastrin releasing peptide, growth hormone releasing
  • protein growth factor also included are any protein growth factor, hormone, antibody, cytokine, oncoprotein (cancer causing protein), lymphokine, or derivative thereof. Also included are proteins involved in metabolic processes, including but not limited to, insulin, ghrelin, leptin, adiponectin, resistin, etc.
  • the present invention can be used to express a modified growth hormone.
  • Growth hormone is secreted by the pituitary gland. It is an approximately 22-kDa protein that exhibits a variety of biological activities. Hyposecretion of growth hormone results in dwarfism while hypersecretion results in gigantism and/or acromegaly.
  • a recombinant DNA construct can be prepared that includes: the nucleic acids encoding hGH, nucleic acids coding for a hydroxyproline glycosylation site, along with nucleic acids coding for a plant signal sequence.
  • the nucleic acids coding for a hydroxyproline glycosylation site can code for X-Pro n (or Pro n -X), where X is Lys, Ser, Thr, Ala, Gly, Val or any amino acid, or more preferably Ser, Ala, Thr, or Val, and n is from 2 to 1000; or the nucleic acids can code for (X-Pro) n (or (Pro-X) n ), where X is any amino acid, such as Lys, Ser, Thr, Ala, Gly, or Val, or more preferably Ser, Ala, Thr, or Val, and n is from 1 to 1000.
  • the first Pro in the XPPPPP series may not be hydroxylated, but the others will be.
  • the nucleic acids code for (Ser-Pro) 10 .
  • hGH is expressed as a GH-(Ser-Pro) 10 (modified on the N- or C-terminus); the Pro is hydroxylated by the plant and then glycosylated with arabinogalactan chains.
  • the product is an hGH glycoprotein comprising (Ser-Hyp) 10 .
  • the glycoprotein exhibits the same activity as the wild-type hGH, yet exhibits a significantly increased pharmacokinetic half-life. (The production and testing of this embodiment is described in more detail in Example 6, herein below.)
  • HGH modified in accordance with the present invention can produce a peak plasma concentration of greater than about 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, or 24 or more hours, following a single subcutaneous (SC) injection. This is a substantial increase over the half-life of wild-type growth hormone, which exhibits a half-life of about 20-30 minutes.
  • SC subcutaneous
  • the nucleic acids encoding hGH are engineered to create an hGH antagonist and the glycosylation site is added at the C-terminal.
  • the Gly at position 119 (found in a variety of wild-type animal's growth hormone) or Gly 120 (of hGH) can be replaced with any amino acid other that alanine and generate an antagonist.
  • Gly 120 of hGH is replaced with Lys, which produces a human growth hormone antagonist.
  • a (Ser-Hyp) 10 motif is attached at the C-terminal. The result is a glycoprotein that exhibits hGH antagonist activity and increased half-life, as compared to the half life of unglycosylated hGH antagonist is ⁇ 20-30 minutes.
  • Gly at position 104 found in a variety of wild-type animal's 20-kDa growth hormone
  • Gly 105 of the 20-kDa human growth hormone
  • the Gly at position 104 can be replaced with any amino acid other that alanine and generate an antagonist.
  • Gly 105 of hGH (20-kDa form) is replaced with Lys, which produces an hGH antagonist.
  • a (Ser-Hyp) 10 motif can be attached at the C-terminal.
  • the nucleic acids coding for hGH are engineered to insert the hydroxyproline glycosylation site in an internal part of the protein.
  • the Gly normally at position 119 or 120 is deleted and Ser-Pro-Pro-Pro-Pro inserted in its place.
  • the prolines will be hydroxylated and then arabinosylated. The result will be an antagonist with increased half-life.
  • the fusion protein of the present invention comprises a) at least one glycomodule, and b) a naturally occurring vertebrate hormone belonging to the GH-PRL-PL superfamily, as defined below. Vertebrate growth hormone, prolactin, or placental lactogen are of particular interest.
  • This mutant may be an agonist, that is, it possesses at least one biological activity of a vertebrate growth hormone, prolactin, or placental lactogen. It should be noted that a growth hormone may be modified to become a better prolactin or placental lactogen agonist, and vice versa.
  • the mutant may be characterized as a growth hormone mutant if, after alignments by BlastP, it has a higher percentage identity with a vertebrate growth hormone than it does with any known vertebrate prolactin or placental lactogen. Prolactin and placental lactogen mutants are analogously defined.
  • the mutant may be an antagonist of a vertebrate growth hormone, prolactin, or placental lactogen.
  • the contemplated antagonist is a receptor antagonist, that is, a molecule that binds to the receptor but which substantially fails to activate it, thereby antagonizing receptor activity via the mechanism of competitive inhibition.
  • the mutant polypeptide sequence can be aligned with the sequence of a first reference vertebrate hormone of that superfamily.
  • One method of alignment is by BlastP, using the default setting for scoring matrix and gap penalties.
  • the first reference vertebrate hormone is the one for which such an alignment results in the lowest E value, that is, the lowest probability that an alignment with an alignment score as good or better would occur through chance alone. Alternatively, it is the one for which such alignment results in the highest percentage identity.
  • the mutant polypeptide agonist is considered substantially identical to the reference vertebrate hormone if all of the differences can be justified as being (1) conservative substitutions of amino acids known to be preferentially exchanged in families of homologous proteins, (2) non-conservative substitutions of amino acid positions known or determinable (e.g., by virtue of alanine scanning mutagenesis) to be unlikely to result in the loss of the relevant biological activity, or (3) variations (substitutions, insertions, deletions) observed within the GH-PRL-PL superfamily (or, more particularly, within the relevant family).
  • the mutant polypeptide antagonist will additionally differ from the reference vertebrate hormone by virtue of one or more receptor antagonizing mutations.
  • the alignment algorithm(s) may introduce gaps into one or both sequences. If there is a length one gap in sequence A corresponding to position X in sequence B, then we can say, equivalently, that (1) sequence A differs from sequence B by virtue of the deletion of the amino acid at position X in sequence B, or (2) sequence B differs from sequence A by virtue of the insertion of the amino acid at position X of sequence B, between the amino acids of sequence A which were aligned with positions X ⁇ 1 and X+1 of sequence B.
  • the mutant sequence can be characterized as differing from the first reference hormone by deletion of the amino acid at that position in the first reference hormone, and such deletion is justified under clause (3) if another reference hormone differs from the first reference hormone in the same way.
  • the mutant sequence can be characterized as differing from the first reference hormone by insertion of the amino acid aligned with that gap, and such insertion is justified under clause (3) if another reference hormone differs from the first reference hormone in the same way.
  • the preferred vertebrate GH-derived GH receptor agonists of the present invention are fusion proteins which comprise a polypeptide sequence P for which the differences, if any, between said amino acid sequence and the amino acid sequence of a first reference vertebrate growth hormone, are independently selected from the group consisting of
  • the receptor binding fusion protein preferably has growth promoting activity in a vertebrate.
  • Growth promoting (or inhibitory) activity may be determined by the assays set forth in Kopchick, et al., which involve transgenic expression of the GH agonist or antagonist in mice. Or it may be determined by examining the effect of pharmaceutical administration of the GH agonist or antagonist to humans or nonhuman vertebrates.
  • polypeptide sequence P is at least 50%, more preferably at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90% or most preferably at least 95% identical to said first reference vertebrate growth hormone,
  • any deletion under clause (c) is of a residue which is not located at a conserved residue position of the vertebrate growth hormone family, and, more preferably is not a conserved residue position of the mammalian growth hormone subfamily,
  • the first reference vertebrate growth hormone is a mammalian growth hormone, more preferably, a human or bovine growth hormone,
  • any insertion under clause (d) is of a length such that another reference vertebrate growth hormone exists which differs from said first reference growth hormone by virtue of an equal length insertion at the same location of said first reference vertebrate growth hormone
  • the first reference vertebrate growth hormone is a nonhuman growth hormone, and the intended use is in binding or activating the human growth hormone receptor, the differences increase the overall identity to human growth hormone,
  • one or more of the substitutions are selected from the group consisting of one or more of the mutations characterizing the hGH mutants B2024 and/or B2036 as described below,
  • the polypeptide sequence P is at least 50%, more preferably at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70% at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% or, if an agonist, most preferably 100% similar to said first reference vertebrate growth hormone, or
  • the polypeptide sequence P when aligned to the first reference vertebrate growth hormone by BlastP using the Blosum62 matrix and the gap penalties ⁇ 11 for gap creation and ⁇ 1 for each gap extension, results in an alignment for which the E value is less than e-10, more preferably less than e-20, e-30, e-40, e-50, e-60, e-70, e-80, e-90 or most preferably e-100.
  • condition (1) percentage identity is calculated by the BlastP methodology, i.e., identities as a percentage of the aligned overlap region including internal gaps.
  • highly conservative amino acid replacements are as follows: Asp/Glu, Arg/His/Lys, Met/Leu/Ile/Val, and Phe/Tyr/Trp.
  • the conserved residue positions are those which, when all vertebrate growth hormones whose sequences are in a publicly available sequence database as of the time of filing are aligned as taught herein, are occupied only by amino acids belonging to the same conservative substitution exchange group (I, II, III, IV or V) as defined above.
  • the unconserved residue positions are those which are occupied by amino acids belonging to different exchange groups, and/or which are unoccupied (i.e., deleted) in one or more of the vertebrate growth hormones.
  • the fully conserved residue positions of the vertebrate growth hormone family are those residue positions are occupied by the same amino acid in all of said vertebrate growth hormones. Clause (c) does not permit deletion of a residue at one of the fully conserved residue positions.
  • hGH is preferably the form of hGH which corresponds to the mature portion (AAs 27-217) of the sequence set forth in Swiss-Prot SOMA_HUMAN, P01241, isoform 1 (22 kDa), and bovine growth hormone is preferably the form of bovine growth hormone which corresponds to the mature portion (M 28-217) of the sequence set forth in Swiss-Prot SOMA_BOVIN, P01246, per Miller W. L., Martial J. A., Baxter J. D.; “Molecular cloning of DNA complementary to bovine growth hormone mRNA.”; J. Biol. Chem. 255:7521-7524(1980). These references are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
  • percentage similarity is calculated by the BlastP methodology, i.e., positives (aligned pairs with a positive score in the Blosum62 matrix) as a percentage of the aligned overlap region including internal gaps.
  • Vertebrate GH-derived GH receptor antagonists of the present invention may be similarly defined, except that the polypeptide sequence must additionally differ from the sequence of the reference vertebrate growth hormone, e.g., at the position corresponding to Gly 119 in bovine growth hormone or Gly 120 in human growth hormone, in such manner as to impart GH receptor antagonist (binds but does not activate) activity to the polypeptide sequence and thereby to the fusion protein.
  • bGH Gly119/hGH Gly 120 is presently believed to be a fully conserved residue position in the vertebrate GH family. It has been reported that an independent mutation, R77C, can result in growth inhibition.
  • the GH receptor antagonist has growth inhibitory activity.
  • the compound is considered to be growth-inhibitory if the growth of test animals of at least one vertebrate species which are treated with the compound (or which have been genetically engineered to express it themselves) is significantly (at a 0.95 confidence level) slower than the growth of control animals (the term “significant” being used in its statistical sense). In some embodiments, it is growth-inhibitory in a plurality of species, or at least in humans and/or bovines.
  • the GH antagonists may comprise an alpha helix essentially corresponding to the third major alpha helix of the first reference vertebrate growth hormone, and at least 50% identical (more preferably at least 80% identical) therewith.
  • the mutations need not be limited to the third major alpha helix.
  • the contemplated vertebrate GH antagonists include, in particular, fusions in which the polypeptide P corresponds to the hGH mutants B2024 and B2036 as defined in U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,535.
  • B2024 and B2036 are both hGH mutants including, inter alia, a G10K substitution.
  • vertebrate prolactin agonists and antagonists and vertebrate placental lactogen agonists and antagonists, which agonize or antagonize a vertebrate prolactin receptor.
  • agonists and antagonists that are hybrids, or are mutants of hybrids, of two or more reference hormones of the vertebrate growth hormone—prolactin—placental lactogen hormone superfamily, and which retain at least 10% of at least one receptor binding activity of at least one of the reference hormones.
  • the mutant is mostly defined on the basis of one family, e.g., GH, but at a limited number of positions, e.g., less than 10% or less than 5% of the sequence P, it is permitted to choose from another family.
  • this category is the Cunningham prolactin octomutant, infra, which binds hGH.
  • the hybrid is a segmented hybrid, such as a dihybrid visualized as consisting of segments which are alternately derived from (a) the vertebrate growth hormone family or (b) the vertebrate prolactin family, starting with either.
  • the number of segments may be odd or even, e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.
  • the reference hormones are vertebrate GHs
  • prolactin-derived segments the reference hormones are vertebrate prolactins.
  • each segment is at least ten consecutive amino acids long.
  • the segments may be unequal in length.
  • the segmented hybrid may be a GH/PL or PL/PRL dihybrid, or a GH/PRL/PL trihybrid (in the last case, the rule is that adjacent segments are derived from different families, whether GH, PRL or PL).
  • the mature growth hormones, prolactins, and placental lactogens are typically composed of 190-200 residues, with molecular weights of 22,000-23,000 daltons. However, these sizes are not required; e.g., mature flounder GH is not more than 173 residues long.
  • GH receptor is the specific receptor for GH
  • prolactin (a.k.a. lactogen) receptor is the specific receptor for prolactin and placental lactogen.
  • primate GHs can bind to the prolactin receptor with high affinity, and some non-human mammalian placental lactogens can bind to the somatogen (GH) receptor.
  • the GH-PRL-PL superfamily is composed of all proteins which, when aligned to hGH (mature portion of ref NP — 000506.2) by BlastP as set forth above, yield an alignment for which the E value is less than (i.e., better than) e-06.
  • the growth hormones are a family of vertebrate proteins with about 191 amino acid residues, the number varying from species to species. There are four cysteine residues, and two disulfide bridges. See generally Harvey, et al., Growth Hormone (CRC Press: 1995). The amino acid sequence of the growth hormones isolated from various vertebrate species are highly conserved.
  • the E value for alignments of mature hGH with a few of the many other database GHs were as follows (best alignment for each species cited): 1e-106 (Pan troglodytes), 3e-97 ( Caallithrix jacchus , common marmoset), 3e-68 ( Balaenoptera borealis , fin whale; Delphinus delphis , common dolphin; Hippopotamus amphibius ), 4e-68 ( Canis familiaris , dog; Sus scrofa domestica , pig), 2e-67 ( Mus musculus ), 1e-66 ( Rattus norvegicus , Norwegian rat; Oryctolagus cuniculus , domestic rabbit; Cavia porcellus , guinea pig), 2e-65 ( Capra hircus , goat; Giraffa camelopardalis , giraffe; Bos taurus , bovine); 3e-65 ( Ovis aries
  • the best scoring somatolactin is sp P20362, E value of 2e-18.
  • the best (lowest) E value is that which would be obtained if the query and database sequence were identical (or if one comprised the other); in a recent search in which the query sequence was the mature HGH, the best E value was that for the alignment of the mature HGH with the database HGH precursor (ref NP — 000506.2): 1e-106.
  • the alignment score must have been high relative to those which would occur by chance alone.
  • the alignment score for each alignment is calculated by adding up the individual amino acid pair scores dictated by the scoring matrix, and subtracting the appropriate gap penalties for any gaps.
  • the alignment algorithm introduces gaps only if they result in a net improvement in the overall alignment score.
  • identities tend to have the higher values, and hence alignments with high alignment scores will also tend to be characterized as having high percentage identities.
  • alignments ranked by alignment score will not necessarily have the same order as if those same alignments were ranked by percentage identity.
  • the percentage identity is calculated as being the number of identities expressed as a percentage of the length of the “overlap”, the aligned region.
  • This region begins and ends with aligned amino acid pairs (not necessarily identical) and may include one or more gaps in either or both sequences.
  • a gap occurs where one or more consecutive amino acids inside one sequence are left unpaired with amino acids in the other sequence (this may be symbolized by aligning each of them with a null symbol, such as a hyphen, in that other sequence).
  • the calculated length of the overlap region is the sum of the number of aligned pairs and the lengths of the gaps. If one sequence overhangs another, the overhang is an end-gap, outside the overlap region, and does not count in calculating the percentage identity.
  • Porcine GH is a single domain protein arranged as a four helix bundle with the helices in an antiparallel (up-up-down-down) relationship. Its four helixes are made up of residues 7-34, 75-87, 106-127 and 152-183. See Abdel-Meguid et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 84: 6434 (1987). Human growth hormone features a bundle of four major helices (9-34, 72-92, 106-128, and 155-184), connected by loops (35-71, 93-105 and 129-154).
  • Loop 1 (between helices 1 and 2) comprises mini-helices at 38-47 and 64-70, and Loop 2 (between helices 2 and 3) one at 94-100.
  • Reference to helices 1-4 of hGH is a reference to the major helices, not to the mini-helices.
  • Helix 2 is kinked at Pro-89. See DeVos, et al., Science, 255:306-312 (1992).
  • the other GHs are also believed to be four-helix proteins, on the basis of secondary structure prediction methods, sequence alignment, and knowledge of the 3-D structures of pGH and/or hGH.
  • bovine growth hormone is 92% homologous at the amino acid sequence level with porcine growth hormone, and bGH's structure has been deduced by study of the two sequences and of the structure of porcine growth hormone. Its four alpha helixes have been reported to be assumed by amino acids 4-33, 66-80, 108-127 and 150-179.
  • the third alpha helix of bGH is defined as amino acids 106-129.
  • Growth hormones can have considerable inter-species cross-reactivity. In general, the trend is for “higher” growth hormones to activate “lower” GH receptors, but not the reverse.
  • Human GH is active in nonhuman mammals, but nonhuman, nonprimate GHs are generally inactive in humans.
  • Bovine GH is active in the horse (see De Kock, et al., J. Endocrinol., 171(1): 163-171 (2001)). Mammalian and bird GHs are active in fish, see Gill, et al., Biotechnology, 3:643 (1985) reported that recombinant chicken and bovine growth hormones accelerate growth in juvenile pacific salmon.
  • Human placental lactogen has an overall sequence identity with hGH of 85%, but its binding to hGH bp is ⁇ 2,000-fold weaker. WO97/11178 at p. 100. For a comparison of placental lactogens, see Forsyth, Exp. Clin. Endocrinol., 102(3): 244-51 (1994).
  • Human prolactin is a 199-residue (23 kDa protein), with 23% identity (BlastP) to human GH.
  • the 3-D structure of human prolactin has been determined; as expected, it has four primary helices, with an up-up-down-down topology, just as does human growth hormone.
  • the first extended loop of hPRL is missing the first of the two mini-helices found in the comparable loop of hGH, while the second mini-helix deviates in angle from its hGH counterpart.
  • Both hPRL and hGH have a short loop connecting the primary helices 2 and 3, but the loop is shorter in hPRL, and there is no component mini-helix.
  • hPRL N-terminal of hPRL is longer than that of hGH, and contains a short disulfide-linked loop.
  • HGH Gly-120 is aligned with hPRL Gly-129.
  • G129X mutants of hPRL are known to exhibit prolactin receptor antagonist activity, see below.
  • the hGH receptor belongs to a large family of receptors of hematopoietic origin, which includes interleukin-3 and granulocyte colony stimulating factor receptors.
  • interleukin-3 and granulocyte colony stimulating factor receptors.
  • granulocyte colony stimulating factor receptors For purification and characterization of a human growth hormone receptor, see Leung, et al., Nature, 330:53743 (1987).
  • the extracellular domain of the hGH receptor is designated hGHbp.
  • the affinity (Kd) of hGH for hGHbp was reported by Cunningham et al. (1989) to be 0.34 nM.
  • WO92/03478 reports the affinity of hGH for the hGHbp in the presence of EDTA is such that the Kd is 0.42 nM, while in the presence of ZnCl2 the affinity is reduced (KD of 1.6 nM). It also reports that the affinity of hPRL for the hGHbp is extremely low (KD>100,000 nM whether in presence of EDTA or ZnCl2, see Table 1).
  • the affinity of hPL for hGHbp is very low (949.2 nM, Table 13), but not as low as that of hRPL.
  • the 3D structure of the hGH:hGHbp complex is also known (see Wells and DeVos, Ann. Rev. Biophys. Biomol. Struct., 22: 329-51 (1993) and DeVos, et al., Science, 255:306 (1992)). These researchers examined the complex of hGH and the extracellular domain of its receptor (hGHR) by X-ray diffraction. The complex had the form hGH (hGHR) 2 ; that is, the receptor dimerizes to interact with hGH.
  • the first receptor-binding region (“site 1”) of hGH is concave and is formed mainly by residues on exposed faces of helix 4, but also by exposed residues of helix 1 and residues in the region connecting helices 1 and 2.
  • the second receptor-binding region (“site 2”) comprises the exposed sides of helices 1 and 3 and is relatively flat. The role of the helix 3 is shown best in DeVos' FIG. 5 ; there is a significant decrease in solvent accessibility around hGH E119 upon complex formation.
  • GH antagonists that are GH mutants with mutations corresponding to bGH119X (or hGH120X) appear to interfere with receptor dimerization.
  • the site 1 residues of hGH are H18, H21, Q22, F25, K41, Y42, L45, Q46, P61, S62, N63, E66, R167, K168, D171, K172, I175, R178, C182 and C189.
  • the site 2 residues are T3, I4, L6, L9, N12, L15, r16, R19, Q22, Y103, N109, D116, D119, G120 and T123. See Tables 4 and 5 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,107 for details on the nature of the interactions between these residues and hGHbp.
  • hGHbp(S201C)-matrix can be used to test variants of hGH for binding to site 1 alone. See WO97/11178.
  • the extracellular binding domain (AAs 1-211) of the prolactin receptor is designated hPRLbp. It is about 32% identical to hGHbp, see WO90/04788 p. 89.
  • WO92/03478 initially reports (table 1) the affinity of hPRL for the hPRLbp in the presence of EDTA is such that the Kd is 2.1 nM, while in the presence of ZnCl2 the affinity is reduced (KD of 2.6 nM). However, in table 11 the affinity of hPRL for hPRLbp without zinc is said to be 2.8 nM.
  • GH also binds the human prolactin receptor.
  • WO92/03478 reports the affinity of hGH for the hPRLbp in the presence of EDTA is such that the Kd is 270 nM, while in the presence of ZnCl2 the affinity is substantially increased (KD of 0.033 nM, i.e., 33 pM). Increased affinity is also observed for the single Ala substitution hGH mutants H18A (370 to 4.5 nM), H21A (200 to 3 nM), E174A (360 to 12 nM) and D171A (ND to 0.037 nM).
  • the hGH binding epitope for the prolactin receptor is composed of determinants in the middle of helix 1 (comprising residues F25 and D26), a loop region (including 158 and R64), and center portion of helix 4 (including K168m K172, E174, and F176). See WO90/04788 p. 56. This patch overlaps, but is not identical to, the hGH epitope for the hGH receptor. Binding affinities of various hGH mutants for hPRLbp in presence of ZnCl2 are given in Tables 7-9. WO92/03478, p. 13, suggests that the binding of zinc to the hGH:hPRLbp complex is mediated by hGH residues H18, H21 and E174.
  • the affinity of hPL for hPRLbp in the presence of ZnCl2 is 50 pM. In the absence of zinc the hPL precipitated.
  • the hPRLbp affinities of hPL mutants D56E, M64R, E174A, M179I, D56E/M64R/M1791, and V4I/D56E/M64R/M179I are given in Table 12 of WO92/03478.
  • Cunningham et al., Science 243: 1330-1336 (1989) used a technique called homologue-scanning mutagenesis to identify residues involved in the binding of hGH to hGHbp.
  • selected segments of the hGH polypeptide were replaced with the corresponding segments (according to Cunningham's sequence alignment) of a homologous hormone (pGH, hPL or hPRL).
  • pGH, hPL or hPRL homologous hormone
  • the hGHbp data for w+ hPRL is also from WO90/04788.
  • the data for w+ hGH binding hGH bp is from Table III of WO94/04788.
  • hGH residues F10, F54, E56, I58, R64, Q68, D171, K172, E174, T175, F176, R178, C182 and V185 are listed in Table IV, p. 52, of WO90/04788. These residues are those for which the alanine substitution resulted in a more than four-fold effect on the Kd.
  • Table V of the same reference listed the residues for which the alanine substitution resulted in a less than two fold effect, and Table VI those for which it had a favorable effect.
  • Table X sets forth suggested replacement AAs for hGH residues S43, F44, H18, E65, L73, E186, S188, F191, F97, A98, N99, S100 L101, V102, Y103, G104, R19, Q22, D26, Q29, E30 and E33.
  • Table XXI OF WO90/04788 analyzes the additivity of the effects of various single substitutions on binding to the hGH or hPRL receptors. These effects are characterized as being “strikingly additive.”
  • a combinatorial library of mutants was prepared in which wild type hGH was randomized at residues K172, E174, F176 and R178. These residues were targeted for random mutagenesis because they all lie on or near the surface of hGH, contribute significantly to receptor binding as shown by Ala scanning mutagenesis, lie within a well defined structure occupying two turns on the same side of helix 4, and are each substituted by at least one amino acid among known evolutionary variants of hGH. See p. 32 of WO92/09690.
  • the mutants selected by competitive binding to hGHbp were KSYR(0.06 nM), RSFR (0.10), RAYR (0.13), KTYK (0.16), RSYR (0.20), KAYR (0.22), RFFR (0.26), KQYR (0.33), KEFR (wild type, 0.34), RTYH (0.68), QRYR (0.83), KKYK (1.1), RSFS (1.1) and KSNR (3.1), with, e.g., “KSYR” denoting K172, S174, Y176 and R178.
  • the tightest binding mutant (E174S, F176Y) had an affinity about six-fold higher than wild-type hGH. See table VII of WO92/09690.
  • a combinatorial library of mutants was prepared in which the mutant hGH (E174S, F176Y) was randomly mutated at R167, D171, T175 and I179.
  • Some mutations were over-represented among the selected clones compared to the expected frequency of those mutations in the library based on the codon (NNS) used to encode them. This over-representation may be expressed in standard deviation units by (observed frequency ⁇ expected frequency)/standard deviation.
  • the over-represented mutations (with a score of at least 2.0 standard deviation units) were R167N (25.6 sd), R167K (4.1), D171S (14.1), D171 (4.8), D171N (4.1), T175 (29.1), I179T (18.6), I179N (4.1). See Table 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,617.
  • the best library member was a pentamutant (R167D, D171S, E174S, F176Y, I179T), with three new mutations relative to the two mutation background, which bound hGH receptor about 8-fold better than wild-type hGH.
  • a combinatorial library of mutants was prepared in which wild-type hGH was randomly mutated at F10, M14, H18 and H21. After 4 rounds of selection, a tetramutant (F10A, M14W, H18D, H 21 N) was isolated which bound the receptor about 3-fold better (Kd 0.10 nM) than wild-type hGH.
  • Table VIII of WO92/09690 shows that H, A, Y, L, I, and F were all accepted at position 10, G, W, T, N and S at 14; N, D, V, I S, and F at 18, and N, H, G and L at 21.
  • a combinatorial library of mutants was prepared in which wild type hGH was mutated at minihelix-1 positions K41, Y42, L45 and Q46. Results are shown in Table 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,617. Seventeen clones were sequenced. By the standard deviation criterion there was a mild-preference (3.7 std. dev. units) for K41R, a slight preference for Y42R (2.0 sd) or Y42Q (2.0 sd), a strong preference for L45W (4.8 sd) or wild type L45 (4.5 sd), and a stronger preference for Q46W (7.6).
  • a combinatorial library of mutants was prepared in which wild-type hGH was randomly mutated at loop-A positions F54, E56, I58 and R4.
  • the over-represented mutations were F54P (14.1 sd), E56D (4.7), E56W (4.7), E56Y (2.5), I58 (8.1), I58V (3.5) and R64K (22.8).
  • the R64K mutant found in 81% of the clones, was previously known to by itself cause a 3-fold improvement in affinity.
  • the best of the library members tested was the tetramutant (F54P, E56D, 158T, R64K), which had a 5.6-fold greater affinity than wild type hGH.
  • Mutants of hGH and bGH which function as GH antagonists were first identified in Kopchick et al. Kopchick et al. discovered that mutation of Gly119 in bGH to Arg (“G119R”), Pro (“G119P”), Lys (“G119K”), Trp (“G119W”) or Leu (“G119L”), or the homologous Gly120 in hGH to Arg or Trp, results in a mutein (mutant protein or peptide fragment thereof) which has growth-inhibitory activity in vertebrates, especially mammals.
  • mice which express either wild type hGH, hGH G120A, hGH G120R and hGH G120W show a growth enhanced phenotype similar to mice which express wild type hGH.
  • substitution of R or W for G at position 120 in hGH, and subsequent expression in transgenic mice results in animals with a growth ratio between 0.73 and 0.96, and whose level of serum hGH is negatively correlated with the growth phenotype; i.e., as the serum levels of these hGH 120 analogs increase, the growth ratios decrease.
  • the preferred growth-inhibitory mutants are characterized by a modification of the surface topography of the third alpha helix.
  • the third alpha helix of “wild-type” bovine growth hormone there is a surface cleft or depression beginning, at the Aspartate-115, deepening at the Glycine-119, and ending with the Alanine-122.
  • All of the mutants discussed in the references cited in this section, both those which retain the wild-type growth-promoting activity and those which do not, are consistent with the theory that growth-promoting activity requires the presence of this cleft or depression and that, if the center of this cleft is “filled in” by substitution of amino acids with bulkier side chains, the mutein inhibits the growth of the subject.
  • glycine is both the smallest amino acid residue and the one least favorable to alpha-helix formation.
  • any other amino acid may be substituted for it without destabilizing the alpha helix, while at the same time filling in the aforementioned cleft.
  • All of the G119 bGH substitutions tested resulted in a “small animal” phenotype. These substitutions were arginine (a large, positively charged AA), proline (a cyclic aliphatic AA), lysine (a large, positively charged AA), tryptophan (a large aromatic AA) and leucine (a large, nonpolar, aliphatic AA).
  • hGH the homologous glycine is at position 120. Substitution of arginine or tryptophan resulted in an antagonist, however, hGH G120A retained growth-promoting activity. Consequently, it is presently believed that if antagonist activity is desired, this glycine, which is conserved in all vertebrate GHs, may be replaced by any amino acid other than alanine (the second smallest amino acid), and more preferably by any amino acid which is at least as large as proline (the smallest replacement amino acid known to result in a “small” animal phenotype).
  • position 115 Modification of position 115 is suggested by Kopchick et al.'s “cleft” theory.
  • the aspartate at position 115 may be replaced by a bulkier amino acid, which does not destroy the alpha helix.
  • the replacement amino acid has a size greater than that of aspartate.
  • the amino acids histidine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, arginine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan are substantially larger than aspartate. Of these, His, Met, Leu, and Trp are more preferred because they combine the advantages of bulk with a reasonably strong alphahelical propensity.
  • Glu is the strongest alpha-helix former of all of the amino acids.
  • the D115A mutant of bGH is not a GH antagonist, but Alanine is smaller than Aspartic Acid, so this is not probative of the value of replacing Asp115 with a bulkier amino acid.
  • Amino acids which are particularly preferred for screening are the six amino acids spatially nearest bGH's Gly119, that is, Ala122, Leu123, Ile120, Leu116, Asp115 and Glu118. Screening for the effects of all possible mutations of position 119 and these six proximate positions would require a library with 207 members. If such a library cannot be prepared one could prepare 19 separate libraries, each characterized by a particular bGH G119X background mutation, and randomization of the six proximate positions (for 206 different library members per library).
  • mutations are possible which will leave the growth-inhibitory activity or other antagonist activity intact.
  • These mutations may take the form of single or multiple substitutions, deletions, or insertions, in nonessential regions of the polypeptide.
  • it is possible to alter another amino acid in the alpha helix if the substitution does not destroy the alpha helix.
  • such alterations replace an amino acid with one of similar size and polarity. It may be advantageous to modify amino acids flanking the primary mutation site 119 in order to increase the alpha-helical propensities of the sequence, particularly if the mutation at 119 is one expected to destabilize the helix.
  • the GH antagonist activity was manifested, not only in these single substitution mutants, but in multiple substitution mutants.
  • the first such studied by Kopchick et al. was the bGH mutant E117L/G119R/A122D, which inhibited growth in transgenic mice.
  • Mouse L cell secretion of the mutant protein was observed in the case of the bGH mutants E117/G119R, E111L/G119W, E111 L/G119W/L121R/M124K, E111L/G119W/R125L, and E111L/G119W/L121R/M124K.
  • the B2024 mutant is characterized by the mutations H18A, Q22A, F25A, D26A, Q29A, E65A, G120K, K168A, and E174A.
  • the B2036 mutant is characterized by the mutations H18D, H21N, G120K, R167N, K168A, D171S, K172R, E174S, and I179T. In both cases, the boldfaced mutation imparts antagonist activity and the other mutations improve “site 1” binding to the hGH receptor. See WO 97/11178.
  • the B036 mutant may be compared with the 852d GH agonist mutant described previously.
  • the R64K mutation of 852d was omitted to protect site 1 binding residues from PEGylation.
  • the mutations K168A and K172R were added to B2036 to reduce the number of site 1 PEGylation sites.
  • Some of the mutations of 852d were omitted from B2036 because they make only modest enhancements to affinity, and their omission was considered likely to reduce antigenicity in humans.
  • the B2024 mutant carries this theme further, omitting additional mutations. Both B2036 and B2024 could be converted into agonists by reversing the G120 mutation.
  • non-PEGylated B2036 had an IC50 of 0.19 ug/ml, while the IC50 for a PEGylated form (PEG-4/5-B2036) of B2036 was 13.1 ug/ml. Later, it was shown that another PEGylated form, PEG(20,000)-B2036, had an IC50 of 0.25 ug/ml. See WO97/11178 at p. 135. Both PEGylated and non-PEGylated forms of B2036 have been shown to reduce IGF-1 levels in rhesus monkeys. WO97/11178 at p. 136. (See, generally, Ross et al., JCE, 2001, vol 86, pages 1716-1723, for its discussion of PEGylated growth hormones and their binding.)
  • a polyol can be conjugated to a GH agonist or antagonist at one or more amino acid residues, e.g., lysine(s). See WO93/00109.
  • Suitable polyols include, but are not limited to, those substituted at one or more hydroxyl positions with a chemical group, such as an alkyl group having between one and four carbon atoms.
  • the polyol is a poly(alkylene) glycol, such as poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG).
  • PEGylation The process of conjugating PEG to hGH (or a hGH mutant) is called PEGylation, but the process is also applicable to conjugation of other polyols.
  • the PEG has a molecular weight of 500 to 30,000 daltons, with an average molecular weight of 5,000 D being especially preferred.
  • the process is such that two to seven, more preferably four to six, molecules of PEG are conjugated to each molecule of hGH (or mutant).
  • the final composition may be homogeneous, i.e., all molecules bear the same number of PEGs at the same PEGylation sites, or heterogeneous, i.e., the number of PEGs or the sites of attachment of the PEGs varies from conjugate to conjugate.
  • the reaction conditions are such that the conjugation does not destroy site 1 binding activity.
  • the conjugate is to be used as a GH agonist, the conjugation should not destroy site 2 binding activity. See generally WO97/11178. Note that the G120K mutation contemplated above provides an additional PEGylation site.
  • the octamutant was characterized by the mutations (hGH numbering, Cunningham hGH:hPRL alignment) H171D, N175T, Y176F, K178R, E174A, E62S, D63N, and Q66E.
  • the additional mutation L1791 did not alter the affinity.
  • WO90/04788 suggests the possibility of improving the binding further with the mutations V14M and H185V, see P. 113.
  • hPL differs at only seven positions from hGH, as follows: P2Q, 14V, N12H, R16Q, E56D, R64M, and I179M, where, e.g., “P2Q” means that the proline at position 2 of hGH is replaced with Q in the corresponding M of aligned hPL. All of these seven positions were Ala-scanned in hGH, and four of the Ala substitutions (I4A, E56A, R64A, and I179A) resulted in a two-fold or greater reduction in binding affinity.
  • the hGH single substitution mutant I179M reduced hGH affinity by just 1.7 fold (as compared to 2.7 fold for I179A).
  • the R64A and R64M mutations both caused 20-fold reductions in affinity.
  • the hGH double mutant E56D/R64M evidenced a total reduction in affinity of 30-fold.
  • Wild type hPL binds hGHbp(S201C) with an affinity (KD) of 1800 nM, while wild type hGH binds the same target with an affinity of 1.4 nM.
  • the mutant hPL (0274) characterized by the mutations 10Y, 14E, 18R, 21G, binds hGHbp (S201C) with an affinity of 1.1 nM, i.e., superior to that of wild type hGH. See WO97/11178, Table 9 on p. 101.
  • WO90/04788 p. 116 says that the double mutant D56E, M64R in hPL substantially enhances its binding affinity for the hGH receptor, and also suggests the additional modifications M179I and V4I.
  • the G120R variant of hPL inhibits hGH-stimulated growth of FDC-P1 cells transfected with the hPRL receptor.
  • the IC50 for G120R-hPL is about 8-fold higher than for G120R-hGH. See Fuh & Wells, J. Biol. Chem., 270: 13133 (1995).
  • any of the amino acids at any position can be modified by deletion/insertion/mutation. These variations can be made in addition to, or as part of, the glycosylation motif.
  • Small hydrophobic or amphipathic proteins are tagged with the desired motif to make drug emulsifiers.
  • examples include but are not limited to, human serum albumin, including its individual domains.
  • hSA can be made with glycomodules according to the invention, for any purpose or use, not just for drug delivery/emulsification.
  • modified proteins are specifically contemplated: 1) human growth hormone modified at the C- or N-terminus with (Ser-Hyp) n where n is from about 1 to about 20, or about 2 to about 18, or about 4 to about 16, or about 6 to about 14, or about 8 to about 12, or about 10; 2) human prolactin modified at the C- or N-terminus with (Ser-Hyp) n where n is from about 1 to about 20, or about 2 to about 18, or about 4 to about 16, or about 6 to about 14, or about 8 to about 12, or about 10; 3) human placental lactogen, modified at the C- or N-terminus with (Ser-Hyp) n where n is from about 1 to about 20, or about 2 to about 18, or about 4 to about 16, or about 6 to about 14, or about 8 to about 12, or about 10; 4) interferon-2-alpha, modified at the C- or N-terminus with (Ser-Hyp) n where n is from about 1 to about 20, or about 2 to about 18, or about
  • N-terminal “insertions” are at the N-terminus of the mature or circulatory form of the various hormones. This placement may be desirable for proteins hormones that are found in the blood stream, which are generated by way of an amino terminal secretory peptide that is cleaved during the secretory process.
  • antibodies including monoclonal antibodies and humanized monoclonal antibodies, can also be expressed in accordance with the present invention.
  • glycosylated antibodies to growth hormone or to the growth hormone receptor can be made in accordance with the present invention.
  • the recombinant genes are expressed in plant cells, such as cell suspension cultured cells, including but not limited to, BY2 tobacco cells. Expression can also be achieved in a range of intact plant hosts, and other organisms including but not limited to, invertebrates, plants, sponges, bacteria, fungi, algae, archebacteria.
  • the expression construct/plasmid/recombinant DNA comprises a promoter. It is not intended that the present invention be limited to a particular promoter. Any promoter sequence which is capable of directing expression of an operably linked nucleic acid sequence encoding at least a portion of nucleic acids of the present invention, is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention. Promoters include, but are not limited to, promoter sequences of bacterial, viral and plant origins. Promoters of bacterial origin include, but are not limited to, octopine synthase promoter, nopaline synthase promoter, and other promoters derived from native Ti plasmids.
  • Viral promoters include, but are not limited to, 35S and 19S RNA promoters of cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV), and T-DNA promoters from Agrobacterium .
  • Plant promoters include, but are not limited to, ribulose-1,3-bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit promoter, maize ubiquitin promoters, phaseolin promoter, E8 promoter, and Tob7 promoter.
  • the invention is not limited to the number of promoters used to control expression of a nucleic acid sequence of interest. Any number of promoters may be used so long as expression of the nucleic acid sequence of interest is controlled in a desired manner. Furthermore, the selection of a promoter may be governed by the desirability that expression be over the whole plant, or localized to selected tissues of the plant, e.g., root, leaves, fruit, etc. For example, promoters active in flowers are known (Benfy et al. (1990) Plant Cell 2:849-856).
  • Transformation of plant cells may be accomplished by a variety of methods, examples of which are known in the art, and include for example, particle mediated gene transfer (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,807 hereby incorporated by reference); infection with an Agrobacterium strain containing the foreign DNA-for random integration (U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,838 hereby incorporated by reference) or targeted integration (U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,967 hereby incorporated by reference) of the foreign DNA into the plant cell genome; electroinjection (Nan et al. (1995) In “Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry,” Ed. Y. P. S.
  • infectious and “infection” with a bacterium refer to co-incubation of a target biological sample, (e.g., cell, tissue, etc.) with the bacterium under conditions such that nucleic acid sequences contained within the bacterium are introduced into one or more cells of the target biological sample.
  • a target biological sample e.g., cell, tissue, etc.
  • Agrobacterium refers to a soil-borne, Gram-negative, rod-shaped phytopathogenic bacterium, which causes crown gall.
  • Agrobacterium includes, but is not limited to, the strains Agrobacterium tumefaciens , (which typically causes crown gall in infected plants), and Agrobacterium rhizogenes (which causes hairy root disease in infected host plants). Infection of a plant cell with Agrobacterium generally results in the production of opines (e.g., nopaline, agropine, octopine, etc.) by the infected cell.
  • opines e.g., nopaline, agropine, octopine, etc.
  • Agrobacterium strains which cause production of nopaline are referred to as “nopaline-type” Agrobacteria
  • Agrobacterium strains which cause production of octopine e.g., strain LBA4404, Ach5, B6
  • octopine-type e.g., strain LBA4404, Ach5, B6
  • agropine-type e.g., strain EHA105, EHA101, A281
  • biolistic bombardment refers to the process of accelerating particles towards a target biological sample (e.g., cell, tissue, etc.) to effect wounding of the cell membrane of a cell in the target biological sample and/or entry of the particles into the target biological sample.
  • a target biological sample e.g., cell, tissue, etc.
  • Methods for biolistic bombardment are known in the art (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,807, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference), and are commercially available (e.g., the helium gas-driven microprojectile accelerator (PDS-1000/He) (BioRad).
  • microwounding when made in reference to plant tissue refers to the introduction of microscopic wounds in that tissue. Microwounding may be achieved by, for example, particle, or biolistic bombardment.
  • Plant cells can also be transformed according to the present invention through chloroplast genetic engineering, a process that is described in the art.
  • Methods for chloroplast genetic engineering can be performed as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,680,426, and in published U.S. Application Nos. 2003/0009783, 2003/0204864, 2003/0041353, 2002/0174453, 2002/0162135, the entire contents of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • plants encompasses any organism that is photoautotrophic, which includes blue-green algae. Also specifically contemplated are green, red, and brown algae.
  • Non-vascular plants include, but are not limited to, Bryophytes, which further include but are not limited to, mosses (Bryophyta), liverworts (Hepaticophyta), and hornworts (Anthocerotophyta).
  • Vascular plants include, but are not limited to, lower (e.g., spore-dispersing) vascular plants, such as, Lycophyta (club mosses), including Lycopodiae, Selaginellae, and Isoetae, horsetails or equisetum (Sphenophyta), whisk ferns (Psilotophyta), and ferns (Pterophyta).
  • Vascular plants include, but are not limited to, i) fossil seed ferns (Pteridophyta), ii) gymnosperms (seed not protected by a fruit), such as Cycadophyta (Cycads), Coniferophyta (Conifers, such as pine, spruce, fir, hemlock, yew), Ginkgophyta (e.g., Ginkgo), Gnetophyta (e.g., Gnetum, Ephedra, and Welwitschia), and iii) angiosperms (flowering plants-seed protected by a fruit), which includes Anthophyta, further comprising dicotyledons (dicots) and monocotyledons (monocots).
  • Specific plant host cells that can be used in accordance with the invention include, but are not limited to, legumes (e.g., soybeans) and solanaceous plants (e.g., tobacco, tomato, etc.).
  • legumes e.g., soybeans
  • solanaceous plants e.g., tobacco, tomato, etc.
  • Other cells contemplated to be within the scope of this invention are green algae types, Chlamydomonas , Volvox, and duckweed (Lemna).
  • the present invention is not limited by the nature of the plant cells. All sources of plant tissue are contemplated.
  • the plant tissue which is selected as a target for transformation with vectors which are capable of expressing the invention's sequences are capable of regenerating a plant.
  • the term “regeneration” as used herein, means growing a whole plant from a plant cell, a group of plant cells, a plant part or a plant piece (e.g., from seed, a protoplast, callus, protocorm-like body, or tissue part).
  • Such tissues include but are not limited to seeds. Seeds of flowering plants consist of an embryo, a seed coat, and stored food.
  • the embryo When fully formed, the embryo generally consists of a hypocotyl-root axis bearing either one or two cotyledons and an apical meristem at the shoot apex and at the root apex.
  • the cotyledons of most dicotyledons are fleshy and contain the stored food of the seed. In other dicotyledons and most monocotyledons, food is stored in the endosperm and the cotyledons function to absorb the simpler compounds resulting from the digestion of the food.
  • Species from the following examples of genera of plants may be regenerated from transformed protoplasts: Fragaria, Lotus, Medicago, Onobrychis, Trifolium, Trigonella, Vigna , Citrus, Linum , Geranium, Manihot, Daucus, Arabidopsis, Brassica, Raphanus , Sinapis, Atropa, Capsicum , Hyoscyamus, Lycopersicon, Nicotiana, Solanum , Petunia, Digitalis, Majorana, Ciohorium, Helianthus, Lactuca, Bromus , Asparagus, Antirrhinum, Hererocallis, Nemesia, Pelargonium, Panicum, Pennisetum , Ranunculus, Senecio, Salpiglossis, Cucumis , Browaalia, Glycine, Lolium, Zea, Triticum, Sorghum , and Datura.
  • a suspension of transformed protoplasts or a petri plate containing transformed explants is first provided.
  • Callus tissue is formed and shoots may be induced from callus and subsequently rooted.
  • somatic embryo formation can be induced in the callus tissue.
  • These somatic embryos germinate as natural embryos to form plants.
  • the culture media will generally contain various amino acids and plant hormones, such as auxin and cytokinins. It is also advantageous to add glutamic acid and proline to the medium, especially for such species as corn and alfalfa. Efficient regeneration will depend on the medium, on the genotype, and on the history of the culture. These three variables may be empirically controlled to result in reproducible regeneration.
  • Plants may also be regenerated from cultured cells or tissues.
  • Dicotyledonous plants which have been shown capable of regeneration from transformed individual cells to obtain transgenic whole plants include, for example, apple ( Malus pumila ), blackberry ( Rubus ), Blackberry/raspberry hybrid ( Rubus ), red raspberry ( Rubus ), carrot ( Daucus carota), cauliflower ( Brassica oleracea ), celery (Apium graveolens), cucumber.
  • the regenerated plants are transferred to standard soil conditions and cultivated in a conventional manner. After the expression vector is stably incorporated into regenerated transgenic plants, it can be transferred to other plants by vegetative propagation or by sexual crossing.
  • vegetatively propagated crops the mature transgenic plants are propagated by the taking of cuttings or by tissue culture techniques to produce multiple identical plants.
  • the mature transgenic plants are self crossed to produce a homozygous inbred plant which is capable of passing the transgene to its progeny by Mendelian inheritance.
  • the inbred plant produces seed containing the nucleic acid sequence of interest. These seeds can be grown to produce plants that would produce the desired polypeptides.
  • the inbred plants can also be used to develop new hybrids by crossing the inbred plant with another inbred plant to produce a hybrid.
  • Monocotyledons include grasses, lilies, irises, orchids, cattails, palms, Zea mays (such as corn), rice barley, wheat and all grasses.
  • Dicotyledons include almost all the familiar trees and shrubs (other than confers) and many of the herbs (non-woody plants).
  • Tomato cultures are one example of a recipient for repetitive HRGP modules to be hydroxylated and glycosylated.
  • the cultures produce cell surface HRGPs in high yields easily eluted from the cell surface of intact cells and they possess the required posttranslational enzymes unique to plants—HRGP prolyl hydroxylases, hydroxyproline O-glycosyltransferases and other specific glycosyltransferases for building complex polysaccharide side chains.
  • Other recipients for the invention's sequences include, but are not limited to, tobacco cultured cells and plants, e.g., tobacco BY 2 (bright yellow 2).
  • the present expression strategy can be used in plants, such as intact monocots and dicots, gymnosperms, ferns, bryophytes, cell suspension cultures, and algae, etc., to express proteins from various organisms, such as humans and other mammals and/or vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, sponges, bacteria, fungi, algae, archebacteria, potentially any organism on this planet.
  • the expressed product includes green fluorescent protein, for example, the product or cells containing the product can be used in fluorescent screening assays. If the product is biologically active, for example, the expressed product may be used as a receptor antagonist or agonist, and may be used in vitro and in vivo. In vitro utilities include, for example, use in screening assays. In vivo utilities include, but are not limited to, use of the compounds for treatment of humans or other animals, based on the agonist or antagonist activities.
  • treatment as used herein with reference to a disease is used broadly and is not limited to a method of curing the disease.
  • treatment includes any method that serves to reduce one or more of the pathological effects or symptoms of a disease or to reduce the rate of progression of one or more of such pathological effects or symptoms.
  • the administration of the growth hormone described herein can be used for: treating growth hormone deficient humans or other animals, including dogs, cats, pigs, cows, horses; reducing catabolic side effects of glucocorticoids; treating osteoporosis; stimulating the immune system; accelerating wound healing; accelerating bone fracture repair; treating growth retardation; treating congestive heart failure; treating acute or chronic renal failure or insufficiency; treating physiological short stature, including growth hormone deficient children; treating short stature associated with chronic illness; treating obesity; treating growth retardation associated with Prader-Willi syndrome and Turner's syndrome; treating Metabolic syndrome (also known as Syndrome X); accelerating recovery and reducing hospitalization of burn patients or following major surgery; treating intrauterine growth retardation, skeletal dysplasia, hypercortisonism and Cushings syndrome; replacing growth hormone in
  • growth hormone can be used for increasing meat production in, for example, chickens, turkeys, sheep, pigs, and cattle; stimulation of pre- and post-natal growth, enhanced feed efficiency in animals raised for meat production, improved carcass quality (increased muscle to fat ratio); increased milk production in dairy cattle or in other mammalian species; improved body composition; modification of other GH-dependent metabolic and immunologic functions such as enhancing antibody response following vaccination or improved developmental processes; and accelerate growth and improve the protein-to-fat ratio in fish.
  • uses of growth hormone includes stimulating thymic development and preventing age-related decline of thymic function; preventing age-related decline of thymic function; preventing age-related decline in cognition; accelerating wound healing; accelerating bone fracture repair; stimulating osteoblasts, bone remodeling and cartilage growth; attenuating protein catabolic response after major surgery, accelerating recovery from burn injuries and major surgeries such as gastrointestinal surgery; stimulating the immune system and enhancing antibody response following vaccination; treating congestive heart failure, treating acute or chronic renal failure or insufficiency, treating obesity; treating growth retardation, skeletal dysplasia and osteochondrodysplasias; preventing catabolic side effects of glucocorticoids; treating Cushing's syndrome; treating malabsorption syndromes, reducing cachexia and protein loss due to chronic illness such as cancer; accelerating weight gain and protein accretion in animals receiving total parenteral nutrition; providing adjuvant treatment for ovulation induction and to prevent gastrointestinal ulcers; improving muscle mass, strength and mobility; maintenance of skin
  • diseases that may be treated are characterized by one or more of the following criteria: elevated levels of growth hormone production, elevated levels of growth hormone receptor production, and elevated cellular response of receptors to growth hormone.
  • elevated as used herein is used with respect to the normal levels of growth hormone production, growth hormone receptor production, or growth hormone-mediated cellular response in a tissue (or tissues) of a diseased person (or animal) as compared to level in a normal individual.
  • Diseases that may be treated with growth hormone antagonists by the methods of the invention include, but are not limited to, acromegaly, gigantism, cancer, diabetes, vascular eye diseases (diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, age-related macular degeneration, retinopathy of sickle-cell anemia, etc.) as well as nephropathy and glomerulosclerosis and in critically ill individuals in intensive care unit of a hospital.
  • vascular eye diseases diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, age-related macular degeneration, retinopathy of sickle-cell anemia, etc.
  • Cancers that may be treated by the invention include, but are not limited to, cancers comprising tumor cells that express growth hormone receptors. Cancers that maybe treated by the methods of the invention include, but are not limited to: cardiac: sarcoma (angiosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, liposarcoma), myxoma, rhabdomyoma, fibroma, lipoma and teratoma; lung: bronchogenic carcinoma (squamous cell, undifferentiated small cell, undifferentiated large cell, adenocarcinoma), alveolar (bronchiolar) carcinoma, bronchial adenoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, chondromatous hamartoma, mesothelioma; gastrointestinal: esophagus (squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, leiomyosarcoma, lymphoma), stomach (carcinoma,
  • the growth hormone agonist or antagonist may be combined with compatible, nontoxic pharmaceutical excipients and administered.
  • suitable, nontoxic pharmaceutical excipients In the case of administration to nonhuman animals, it may be preferable to incorporate the drug into the animal's feed, possibly in a prepared combination of drug and nutritional material ready for use by a farmer.
  • Growth hormone or growth hormone antagonists may be administered orally, rectally, transdermally, by pulmonary infiltration, insufflation, or parenterally (including intravenously, subcutaneously and intramuscularly) to humans, in any suitable pharmaceutical dosage form.
  • Polyethylene glycol moieties can also be added to growth hormone or growth hormone antagonists.
  • treatment of retinopathy it may be administered directly onto or into the eye by means of a conventional ocular pharmaceutical form.
  • An effective dosage and treatment protocol may be determined by conventional means, starting with a low dose in laboratory animals and then increasing the dosage while monitoring the effects, and systematically varying the dosage regimen as well.
  • a clinical end point for GH action is measuring the level of serum IGF-1. As GH goes up, so does IGF-1. As GH goes down, so does IGF-1. So in conditions of GH deficiency, both GH and IGF-1 are low. When one give recombinant GH to these individuals, IGF-1 levels will rise. The clinician will attempt to keep IGF-1 level in age adjusted normal ranges. On the other hand, if one has too much GH, then IGF-1 will be high. When one gives the GH antagonist, IGF-1 levels will fall.
  • the clinician will try to dose the patient such that the IGF-1 level will return to normal, age-adjusted levels. Numerous factors may be taken into consideration by a clinician when determining an optimal dosage for a given subject. Primary among these is the amount of growth hormone normally secreted by the pituitary, which is on the order of 0.5 mg/day for healthy adult humans. Additional factors include the size of the patient, the age of the patient, the general condition of the patient, the particular disease being treated, the severity of the disease, the presence of other drugs in the patient, the in vivo activity of the agonist or antagonist, and the like.
  • the trial dosages would be chosen after consideration of the results of animal studies and the clinical literature with respect to administration of growth hormones, and/or of somatostatin (a growth hormone release inhibitor). It will be appreciated by the person of ordinary skill in the art that information such as binding constants and Ki derived from in vitro growth hormone binding competition assays may also be used in calculating dosages.
  • a typical human dose of a growth hormone antagonist would be from about 0.1 mg/day to about 10 mg/day, or from about 0.5 mg/day to about 2 mg/day, or about 1 mg/day.
  • a typical human dose of a growth hormone agonist would be from about 10 mg/day to about 80 mg/day, or from about 20 mg/day to about 40 mg/day, or about 30 mg/day.
  • the appropriate dose can be determined empirically, by monitoring the IGF-1 level. For example, one gives enough GH antagonist to return IGF-1 levels to normal.
  • glycosylation of proteins according to the invention can increase the molecular weight significantly.
  • Growth hormone (22 kDa) modified with (Ser-Hyp) 10 for example, exhibits a molecular weight of over 45 kDa.
  • the molecular weight can more than double—yet activity remain the same. This should be taken into account when determining dose and dose equivalence should be considered on a molar basis.
  • the invention also provides pharmaceutical formulations for use in the subject methods of treating disease.
  • the formulations can comprise at least one biologically active protein, such as, for example, growth hormone agonist or antagonist, and can include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
  • aqueous carriers may be used, e.g., water, buffered water, 0.4% saline, 0.3% glycine, and the like.
  • the pharmaceutical formulations may also comprise additional components that serve to-extend the shelf-life of pharmaceutical formulations, including preservatives, protein stabilizers, and the like.
  • the formulations are preferably sterile and free of particulate matter (for injectable forms). These compositions may be sterilized by conventional, well-known sterilization techniques.
  • compositions may contain pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary substances as required to approximate physiological conditions such as pH adjusting and buffering agents, toxicity adjusting agents and the like, e.g., sodium acetate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium lactate, etc.
  • auxiliary substances e.g., sodium acetate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium lactate, etc.
  • the formulations of the invention may be adapted for various forms of administration, including intramuscularly, subcutaneously, intravenously, intraocularly, and the like.
  • the subject formulations may also be formulated so as to provide for the sustained release of growth hormone agonist or antagonist. Additional details for methods for preparing parenterally administrable compositions and adjustments necessary for administration to subjects are described in more detail in, for example, Remington's Pharmaceutical Science, which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • GAGP Gum arabic glycoprotein
  • AGP arabinoglactan protein
  • This functional GAGP is a typical HRGP that consists of four main carbohydrate moieties including galactose, arabinose, rhamnose and glucuronic acid, and a small proportion ( ⁇ 10%, w/w) of Hyp-rich protein as an integral part of the structure (Islam A. M., Phillips G. O., Sljivo A., Snowden M. J. and William P. A. (1997), Food Hydrocolloids 11 (4):493-505.).
  • the GAGP has already been isolated and well characterized.
  • the gene encoding GAGP has not yet been cloned so far, nor has been the elucidation of the precise mechanism by which GAGP exhibits emulsifying ability and unique properties.
  • the dominant amino acid sequence of GAGP polypeptide backbone was derived. It contains a repetitive 19-residue consensus motif SOOO(O/T/S)LSOSOTOTOO(O/L)GPH (0: hydroxyproline) (Goodrum L. J., Patel A., Leykam J. F. and Kieliszewski M. J. (2000), Phytochem 54(1): 99-106). This provides the possibility to express GAGP analogs in transgenic plant cells by use of the synthetic gene technology.
  • the genes encoding seven GAGP analogs were designed and constructed. They include three types: a) [Gum] 3 , [Gum] 8 and [Gum] 20 are the genes that encoded three, eight, and twenty repeats of GAGP consensus motif, respectively; b) [HP] 4 and [HP] 8 , which are the genes encoding four and eight repeats of the GAGP hydrophobic peptide [HP] that was also derived from the GAGP backbone polypeptide; and c) [Gum] 8 [HP] 2 and [Gum] 8 [HP] 4 are those of the combination of [Gum] 8 with two and four repeats of [HP]. These synthetic analogs were expressed as fusion proteins with enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) in tobacco cells.
  • EGFP enhanced green fluorescence protein
  • All the gene cassettes constructed to express the GAGP analogs have a “SS tob -[Synthetic gene]-EGFP” structure, in which the synthetic gene encoding various GAGP analogs was inserted between SS tob , which encodes the extensin signal sequence from tobacco (De Loose, M., Gheysen, G., Tire, C., Gielen, J., Villarroel, R., Genetello, C., Van Montagu, M., Depicker, A. and Inze, D. (1991), Gene, 99: 95-100), and the gene for EGFP.
  • the [Gum] 3 gene encoding three repeats of SPSPTPTAPPGPHSPPPTL was constructed by head-to-tail polymerization of three sets of partially overlapping, complementary oligonucleotide pairs including 5′-linker, internal GAGP repeat and 3′-linker as described by Shpak et al (Shpak, E., Leykam, J. F., and Kieliszewski, M. J. (1999), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 96: 14736-14741).
  • the [Gum] 8 and [Gum] 20 were designed to encode 4 and 10 repeats of GPHSPPPPLSPSPTPSPPL-GPHSPPPTLSPSPTPTPPP, which was designated [Gum] 2 . It has slight differences in alternating repeats, thus more closely resembles the native GAGP.
  • the [Gum] 2 gene was synthesized by primer extension of two mutually priming oligonucleotides ( FIG. 1 a ) (Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc. Coralville, Iowa). The duplex was placed into pUC18 plasmid as a HindIII/EcoRI fragment.
  • [HP] 2 , [HP] 4 and [HP] 8 genes were designed to encode two, four and eight repeats of TPLPTLTPLPAPTPPLLPH, as designated [HP] 1 .
  • [HP] 1 was also synthesized by primer extension of two mutually priming oligonucleotides ( FIG. 1 b ) as above. The duplex was placed into pUC18 plasmid as a HindIII/EcoRI fragment.
  • the construction of two ([HP] 2 ), four ([HP] 4 ) and eight ([HP] 8 ) repeats of the synthetic gene involved annealing compatible but non-regenerable restriction sites (BspEI and XmaI) of [HP] 1 fragment as described above.
  • the plasmid pUC-SS tob -[Gum] 3 -EGFP was constructed according to Shpak et al. (Shpak, E., Leykam, J. F., and Kieliszewski, M. J. (1999), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 96: 14736-14741) ( FIG. 2 a ).
  • the polymerized [Gum] 8 and [Gum] 20 gene were subcloned into pUC-SS tob -EGFP (Shpak, E., Leykam, J. F., and Kieliszewski, M. J.
  • the polymerized [HP] 4 and [HP] 8 genes were subcloned into pUC-SS tob -EGFP (Shpak, E., Leykam, J. F., and Kieliszewski, M. J. (1999), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 96: 14736-14741) as a AgeI/NcoI fragment between SS tob and EGFP gene to generate the plasmid designated pUC-SS tob [HP] 4 -GFP and pUC-SS tob -[HP] 8 -EGFP ( FIG. 3 ).
  • the polymerized [HP] 2 and [HP] 4 gene were subcloned into pUC-SS tob -[Gum] 8 -EGFP as a AgeI/NcoI fragment between [Gum] 8 and EGFP gene to generate the plasmid designated pUC-SS tob -[Gum] 8 [HP] 2 -EGFP and pUC-SS tob -[Gum] 8 [HP] 4 -EGFP ( FIG. 4 ).
  • the entire “SS tob -[Synthetic gene]-EGFP” construct was then sub-cloned into plant vector pBI121 (Clontech, CA) as a BamHI/SacI fragment in place of the ⁇ -glucuronidase reporter gene to generate plasmids pBI-SS tob -[Synthetic gene]-EGFP.
  • the expression of these synthetic genes was under the control of the 35S cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) promoter.
  • Plasmid pBI121-SS tob -[Synthetic gene]-EGFP was introduced into Agrobacterrium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 by the freeze-thaw method (Holsters et al., 1978), then suspension-cultured tobacco cells ( Nicotiana tabacum , BY2) were transformed with the Agrobacterium as described earlier (An, G.
  • the culture medium harvested after 12-14 days of culture, was concentrated about 10-fold by rotorevaporation under 30° C.
  • An aliquot of 100-200 ml of medium containing 2 M sodium chloride was loaded onto a hydrophobic-interaction chromatography (HIC) column (Phenyl-Sepharose 6 Fast Flow, 16 ⁇ 700 mm, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.) equilibrated in 2 M sodium chloride, and eluted with step-wise sodium chloride gradient from 2M, 1M to distilled water.
  • HIC hydrophobic-interaction chromatography
  • the green fluorescent fraction eluted in distilled water was pooled, concentrated by freeze-drying, and then fractionated with a Superose-12 gel permeation chromatography (GPC) column (16 ⁇ 700 mm, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech) equilibrated in 200 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7).
  • the fluorescent fraction collected from the GPC column was further purified with HPLC by injecting into a Hamilton PRP-1 semi-preparative column (10 ⁇ m, 7 ⁇ 305 mm, Hamilton Co., Reno, Nev.) equilibrated with starting buffer A (0.1% trifluoroacetic acid). Proteins were eluted with buffer B (0.1% trifluoroacetic acid+80% acetonitrile, v/v) with a linear gradient of 0-70% B in 100 min at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min.
  • fusion glycoprotein was heat-denatured in boiling water for 2 min, cooled, then combined with an equal volume of freshly prepared 2% (w/v) ammonium bicarbonate containing 10 mM calcium chloride and 100 ⁇ g trypsin. After overnight incubation at room temperature, the sample was fractionated with Superose-12 GPC column and further purified with HPLC using the same method as described above.
  • Emulsion assays were carried out according to the method of Pearce and Kinsella (Pearce K. N. and Kinsella J. E. (1978), J Agric Food Chem 26(3):716-723) with some modifications.
  • An emulsion was prepared by sonicating 0.4 mL of orange oil and 0.6 mL of 0.5% (w/v) protein solution (in 0.05M phosphate buffer, pH 6.5) in a glass tube with a Sonic Dismembrator (Fisher Scientific) equipped with a Microtip® probe. The amplitude was set at 4 and the oil/water mixture was treated for 60 s and kept on ice the whole time.
  • a 100- ⁇ l aliquot of the emulsion thus obtained was then diluted serially with 0.1% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) solution to give a final dilution of 1/1500.
  • SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate
  • the optical density of the 1/1500 dilution was then determined at 500 nm, which was defined as emulsifying ability (EA).
  • EA emulsifying ability
  • the remaining emulsion was stored vertically in the glass tube for 2 hr at room temperature, and then the optical density of the 1/1500 dilution was measured again.
  • the percentage optical density remaining after 2 hr of storage is defined as emulsifying stability (ES).
  • the present invention includes new ways to increase the yields of transgenic proteins produced in plant cells by producing the transgenic proteins as fusion glycoproteins possessing at least one hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein (HRGP) glycomodule.
  • HRGP hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein
  • This example employs some of the techniques described in Example 1 above to create novel proteins with glycomodules. By including these glycomodules, the yield of protein expressed into the medium is increased.
  • glycomodules there are two general types of glycomodules: 1) arabinogalactan glycomodules comprising clustered non-contiguous hydroxyproline (Hyp) residues in which the Hyp residues are O-glycosylated with arabinogalactan adducts (for example, Xaa-Hyp-Xaa-Hyp-Xaa-Hyp repeats where Xaa is Ser or Ala, but can be other amino acids like Thr or Val (or Lys or Gly).
  • Hyp non-contiguous hydroxyproline
  • the transgenes can include a signal sequence for secretion through the endomembrane system.
  • a signal sequence for secretion through the endomembrane system For example, tobacco extensin signal sequence: MASLFATFLWLSLSLAQTTRSA (Shpak, E., Leykam, J. F., and Kieliszewski, M. J. (1999), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 96: 14736-14741); Tomato LeAGP-1 signal sequence: MDRKFVFLVSILCIWASVTG (Li & Showalter, Li and Showalter, Plant Mol Biol. (1996) Nov; 32(4):641-52; Zhao Z D, Tan L, Showalter A M, Lamport D T, Kieliszewski M J., Plant J. 2002 August; 31(4):43144).
  • gene cassettes were constructed to have following structures:
  • FIGS. 5, 6 , 7 , 8 , and 9 show, respectively, schematics for the construction of gene cassettes for hGH-(SP) 10 -EGFP, hGH-(SP) 10 , INF-(SP) 10 , HSA(human serum albumin)-(SP) 10 , and DomainI(domain I of HSA)-(SP) 10 .
  • FIG. 10A shows the genetic construct for the expression of hGH-(SP) 10 ;
  • FIG. 10B shows how the construct was created by primer extension.
  • EGFP was expressed with an N-terminal signal sequence that targeted EGFP for secretion. However, even with the signal sequence attached, the average amounts secreted into the medium were so low that they could not be quantified accurately.
  • FIG. 15 shows detection of hGH equivalents secreted into the medium of tobacco cells transformed with hGH-(SO) 10 and hGH.
  • Frame (A) shows a dot blot assay of hGH equivalents occurring in one ⁇ L of medium from 10 cell lines transformed with either hGH-(SO) 10 (upper) or hGH (lower)
  • Frame (B) shows sandwich ELISA quantitation of the hGH equivalents in the medium from the same two sets of ten cell lines.
  • FIG. 16 shows the time course of cell growth and hGH equivalents in BY-2 tobacco cells transformed with hGH-(SO) 10 .
  • the tobacco cells were grown in 250-mL Erlenmeyer flasks containing 100 mL medium. Three flasks were withdrawn at 2-day intervals to measure the cell dry weight and hGH equivalents in the medium.
  • the cultured cells were harvested by filtration on a sintered funnel, and the filtrate (culture medium) collected for hGH assays; the cells were washed three times with distilled water, then lyophilized for three days before dry weight measurements.
  • the hGH equivalents were measured via sandwich ELISA assays.
  • the medium from transformed cells was harvested after 8-10 days of culture by filtration on a coarse sintered funnel and supplemented with sodium chloride to a final concentration of 2 M. Insoluble material was pelleted by centrifugation at 25,000 ⁇ G for 20 min at 4 C. The supernatant was fractionated by hydrophobic-interaction chromatography (HIC) on a Phenyl-Sepharose 6 column (Phenyl-Sepharose 6 Fast Flow, 16 by 700 mm, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech) equilibrated in 2 M sodium chloride.
  • HIC hydrophobic-interaction chromatography
  • the proteins were eluted step-wise first with Tris buffer (25 mM, pH8.5)/2M sodium chloride, followed by Tris buffer (25 mM, pH8.5)/0.8M sodium chloride, and then the Tris buffer (25 mM, pH8.5)/0.2N sodium chloride.
  • the flow rate was 1.0 ml/min, and the fractions were monitored at 220 nm with a UV detector. Each eluted fraction was assayed for the presence of hGH by dot blots and ELISA assays.
  • Tris buffer 25 mM, pH8.5
  • 0.2N NaCl fraction containing most of the hGH-(SO) 10 fusion glycoprotein was concentrated by ultrafiltration at 4° C., and either used for hGH binding and activity assays, or further purification by reversed phase chromatography.
  • FIG. 18 shows the isolation of hGH-(SO) 10 (A) and hGH-(SO) 10 -EGFP (B) by reversed-phase chromatography on a Hamilton polymeric reversed phase-1 (PRP-1) column equilibrated with buffer A (0.1% trifluoroacetic acid). Proteins were eluted with buffer B (0.1% trifluoroacetic acid, 80% acetonitrile, v/v) using a two step linear gradient of 0-30% B in 15 min, followed by 30%-70% B in 90 min at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. Absorbance was measured at 220 nm. The fusion protein hGH-(SO) 10 -EGFP was first fractionated by gel permeation chromatography on a Superose-12 column before injection onto the PRP-1.
  • PRP-1 Hamilton polymeric reversed phase-1
  • FIG. 17 shows Western blot detection of hGH-(SO) 10 (Left hand panel) and hGH-(SO) 10 -EGFP (Right hand panel) using anti-hGH antibodies.
  • the gels were run after fractionation of the culture medium using hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Samples (10 ⁇ g protein) were run on a 4-15% SDS-PAGE, then transferred to a NitroBind membrane.
  • TTBS buffer 100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl and 0.1% Tween 20
  • alkaline phosphatase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG diluted at 1:1000 in TTBS buffer
  • Lanes 1 molecular marker
  • Lanes 2, 3, 4 hGH-(SO) 10 (A) or hGH-(SO) 10 -EGFP (B) culture medium
  • Lanes 5 hGH standard (2 ⁇ g).
  • the fuzzy bands at 50-75 kDa (A) or 75 to 100 kDa is typical for arabinogalactan-proteins, which includes hGH-(SO) 10 and hGH-(SO) 10 -EGFP. Enough O-Hyp arabinogalactans were added to bring the molecular mass to ⁇ 50 kDa. Carbohydrate not only creates sites of microheterogeneity, but also interferes with SDS binding, which produces the fuzziness seen in the gel.
  • the band at >150 kDa in (A) may be a contaminant.
  • the band at ⁇ 22 kDa in (A) is probably hGH released from the hGH-(SO) 10 fusion protein either during the isolation process or on heat treatment in the pH 8 loading buffer.
  • the band at ⁇ 25 kDa in (B) could be EGFP, hGH with some SO and glycan attached, or some contaminant.
  • EGFP glycosylation profile of the expressed protein.
  • galactose and arabinose comprised the major monosaccharides in hGH(SO) 10 or hGH-(SO) 10 -EGFP, with lesser amounts of rhamnose and uronic acid.
  • the sugar accounted for 55.5% of the dry weight of hGH(SO) 10 , and 46.5% of the dry weight of hGH-(SO) 10 -EGFP fusion glycoproteins.
  • Table 5 shows the glycosylation profile of INF-(SO) 10 , which was similar to that of hGH-(SO) 10 .
  • TABLE 5 Glycosyl composition of INF-(SO) 10 INF(SO) 10 Glycosyl Molar percentage Weight percentage residue a (mol %) (wt %) Rha 9 4.6 Ara 30 17.6 Gal 45 29.3 Uronic acids 16 12.3 Total 100 63.8
  • Hyp-PS 100 100 Hyp-Ara4 0 0 Hyp-Ara3 0 0 Hyp-Ara2 ⁇ close oversize brace ⁇ 0 0 0 Hyp-Ara1 0 0 NG-Hyp Trace Trace Hyp-PS, Hyp polysaccharide; Hyp-Ara n , Hyp-arabinoside 1-4 ; NG-Hyp, non-glycosylated Hyp
  • Hyp-PS 100 Hyp-Ara4 0 Hyp-Ara3 0 Hyp-Ara2 ⁇ close oversize brace ⁇ 0 0 Hyp-Ara1 0 NG-Hyp Trace Hyp-PS, Hyp polysaccharide; Hyp-Ara n , Hyp-arabinoside 1-4 ; NG-Hyp, non-glycosylated Hyp
  • Table 8 shows the glycosyl linkage analysis of hGH-(SO) 10 .
  • TABLE 8 Glycosyl Linkage Mole Percent t-Rha (p) 6 t-Ara (f) 17 t-Ara (p) 6 1,4-Ara (p) 7 1,5-Ara (f) 8 1,2,3,5-Ara (f) 1 t-Gal (p) 4 1,3-Gal (p) 10 1,6-Gal (p) 5 1,3,4-Gal (p) 1 1,3,6-Gal (p) 17 1,3,4,6-Gal (p) 1 1,2,3,4,6-Gal (p) 1 t-GlcA (p) 2 1,4-Glc(p) 10 1,4-GlcA (p) 4 Terminal residues 35 Branched residues 65
  • the gene cassettes were built to encode the glycosylation site at either the N-terminus or C-terminus of the protein, and were sub-cloned into pUC18-SS tob -EGFP (pUC18 vector encoding the tobacco extensin signal sequence [SS tob ] and EGFP).
  • the genes were sequenced and then subcloned into pB121 (Clontech) as BamHI/SacI fragments in place of the ⁇ -glucuronidase gene and behind the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter.
  • the pBI121-derived plasmids containing the gene cassettes were transferred into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404.
  • the transformation of tobacco cells followed methods described earlier (An, G. (1985), Plant Physiol, 79:568-570; Shpak, E., Leykam, J. F., and Kieliszewski, M. J. (1999), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 96: 14736-14741; Zhao Z D, Tan L, Showalter A M, Lamport D T, Kieliszewski M J., Plant J. 2002 August; 31(4):431-44).
  • the tomato cells were transformed with leaf disk method (McCormick et al, 1986 Leaf disc transformation of cultivated tomato ( L.
  • All the transformed cells were cultured in SH medium (Schenk and Hildebrandt, 1972) containing 34 g/L sucrose, 0.4 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 200 mg/L kanamycin (Sigma). Flasks (250-ml or 1000-ml) were placed on gyrotary shakers rotating at 90 rpm at room temperature. Media were collected after 10-20 days cultures for isolation of target proteins.
  • Glycoproteins were isolated from media using hydrophobic-interaction chromatography (HIC) and reversed-phase chromatography, as shown before (NOTE the following differences: 2 M NaCl/25 mM Tris pH 8.5 was used to equilibrate the HIC column; and the column was eluted with a stepwise gradient of a second buffer containing just 25 mM Tris pH 8.5. The hGH derivative eluted in the gradient at 25 mM Tris/0.2 M) (Shpak, E., Barbar, E., Leykam, J. F. & Kieliszewski, M. J. J. Biol. Chem.
  • SS tob -hGH-(SP) 1 gene fragment was amplified with PCR using pUC-SS tob -hGH-(SP) 10 as template and the following primer set: 5′-AGAGGATCCGCAATGGGAAAAATGGC-3′ and 5′-TAAGTGTACAATCAGGGTGAGAAGCCGCAGCTG-3′
  • the resulting PCR fragment was then sub-cloned into pUC-SS tob -EGFP as a BamHI/BsrGI fragment, replacing SS tob -EGFP, to generate the plasmid designated pUC-SS tob -hGH-(SP) 1 ( FIG. 19 ).
  • SS tob -hGH-(SP) 2 gene fragment was amplified with PCR using pUC-SS tob -hGH-(SP) 10 as template and the following primer set: 5′-AGAGGATCCGCAATGGGAAAAATGGC-3′ and 5′-TAAGTGTACAATCATGGAGAGGGTGAGAAGCC-3′
  • the resulting PCR fragment was then sub-cloned into pUC-SS tob -EGFP as a BamHI/BsrGI fragment, replacing SS tob -EGFP, to generate the plasmid designated pUC-SS tob -hGH-(SP) 2 ( FIG. 20 ).
  • SS tob -hGH-(SP) 5 gene fragment was amplified with PCR using pUC-SS tob -hGH-(SP) 10 as template and the following primer set: 5′-AGAGGATCCGCAATGGGAAAAATGGC-3′ and 5′-TAAGTGTACAATCAAGGCGATGGGGAAGGGCTTGG-3′
  • the resulting PCR fragment was then sub-cloned into pUC-SS tob -EGFP as a BamHI/BsrGI fragment, replacing SS tob -EGFP, to generate the plasmid designated pUC-SS tob -hGH-(SP) 5 ( FIG. 21 ).
  • a NcoI restriction site was first introduced right after SS tob -hGH-(SP) 10 gene fragment with PCR using pUC-SS tob -hGH-(SP) 10 as template and the following primer set:

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