WO1997013410A1 - Molecules hybrides contenant des ligands amides fixant les polypeptides - Google Patents

Molecules hybrides contenant des ligands amides fixant les polypeptides Download PDF

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WO1997013410A1
WO1997013410A1 PCT/US1996/016237 US9616237W WO9713410A1 WO 1997013410 A1 WO1997013410 A1 WO 1997013410A1 US 9616237 W US9616237 W US 9616237W WO 9713410 A1 WO9713410 A1 WO 9713410A1
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hybrid molecule
cell
toxin
polypeptide
hybrid
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PCT/US1996/016237
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English (en)
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Susan E. Leeman
John R. Murphy
Johanna C. Vanderspek
Caroline E. Fisher
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Boston Medical Center Corporation
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Priority to AU75952/96A priority Critical patent/AU698031B2/en
Publication of WO1997013410A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997013410A1/fr

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/50—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
    • A61K47/51—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent
    • A61K47/62—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being a protein, peptide or polyamino acid
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/195—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from bacteria
    • C07K14/34—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from bacteria from Corynebacterium (G)
    • 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
    • C07K14/575—Hormones
    • C07K14/57572—Gastrin releasing peptide
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K19/00—Hybrid peptides, i.e. peptides covalently bound to nucleic acids, or non-covalently bound protein-protein complexes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K7/00—Peptides having 5 to 20 amino acids in a fully defined sequence; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K7/04—Linear peptides containing only normal peptide links
    • C07K7/22—Tachykinins, e.g. Eledoisins, Substance P; Related peptides
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide

Definitions

  • This invention relates to diagnostics and the treatment of diseases and medical conditions, and more particularly to molecular cell delivery systems capable of introducing chemical entities into select target cells.
  • Background Art The development of immunotoxins marked a new era in the treatment of human disease. By the early 1980's, a variety of biological toxins linked to cell- specific ligands such as hormones and monoclonal antibodies had been developed. See, e.g., Olsnes et al., Pharmac. Ther. 15_:355-381 (1982).
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,468,382 to Bacha et al. is directed to a chemical conjugate comprising cross-reacting material (CRM) of diphtheria toxin linked to thyroid- releasing hormone.
  • CCM cross-reacting material
  • Dr. Murphy prepared a hybrid protein comprised of the enzymatically active or catalytic domain and the translocation domains of diphtheria toxin linked via a peptide bond to a polypeptide ligand, which could be prepared in the form of a continuous protein by expression of a fused gene.
  • This invention disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,675,382 (••the *382 patent"), allowed for the production of the hybrid proteins in a homogeneous sample in which all of the identical molecules were effective and selective for a particular class of cells.
  • the generalized eukaryotic binding domain of native diphtheria toxin containing approximately the C-terminal 50 amino acids of native diphtheria toxin, is replaced by a cell-specific targeting ligand. Otherwise, the diphtheria toxin molecule is left intact. See also Williams et al., Protein Eng. 1:493- 498 (1987). Subsequently, Dr.
  • Dr. Murphy's laboratory prepared the hybrid protein DAB 389 IL-2, which is composed of an N-terminal methionine residue, the first 386 amino acids and His 4 g 4 and Ala 485 of mature diphtheria toxin (i.e., DAB 389 ) fused to residues 2-133 of mature human interleukin-2. See Williams et al . , J. Biol . Chem . 265 : 11885-11889 (1990) . Williams discovered that DAB 389 IL-2 was ten ⁇ fold more cytotoxic and bound more avidly to the high affinity form of the IL-2 receptor of target cells than DAB 486 IL-2 (disclosed in the '382 patent). Dr.
  • the present inventors have discovered that a certain family of cell-specific hybrid molecules have been relatively ineffective for their intended purposes. Specifically, the inventors have discovered that for certain of these hybrid molecules, amidating the polypeptide ligand moiety of the hybrid results in increased biological activity, while in other cases, hybrid molecules containing the non-amidated polypeptide ligand are substantially biologically inactive and amidation causes them to become active.
  • a first aspect of the present invention provides a hybrid molecule, comprising a first part, a second part and a third part connected by covalent bonds, wherein said first part comprises a chemical entity to be introduced into a cell of an animal, the second part comprises a polypeptide effective to translocate said first part across the cytoplasmic membrane and into the cytoplasm of the cell, and the third part comprises a C-terminal amidated polypeptide ligand effective to cause the hybrid molecule to bind to the cell.
  • Preferred C-terminal amidated ligands are neuropeptides such as substance P, neurokinin A, gonadrotropin releasing hormone, corticotrophin releasing hormone, calcitonin gene related peptide, growth hormone releasing hormone, galanin, thyrotropin releasing hormone, vasopressin, vasoactive intestinal peptide and neuromedins such as gastrin releasing peptide.
  • the chemical entity may vary widely providing that it is capable of being introduced into the cytoplasm of a target cell in accordance with the mode of action of the hybrid proteins of the present invention.
  • Preferred examples include non-polypeptide substances such as detectable labels and nucleic acids.
  • Polypeptide entities of interest include cytotoxic moieties such as enzymatically active portions of enzymes, e.g. toxins, such as diphtheria toxin, Shiga toxin, Shiga-like toxin, Pseudomonas exotoxin, and ricin, as well as enzymes in which the cell is deficient.
  • cytotoxic moieties such as enzymatically active portions of enzymes, e.g. toxins, such as diphtheria toxin, Shiga toxin, Shiga-like toxin, Pseudomonas exotoxin, and ricin, as well as enzymes in which the cell is deficient.
  • Preferred second parts of the hybrid molecules are translocation peptides obtained from a naturally occurring toxin such as diphtheria toxin or Pseudmonas exotoxin, and more preferably from diphtheria toxin.
  • each of the three parts of the hybrid molecule is a polypeptide
  • the covalent bonds linking the first and second parts, and the second and third parts are each peptide bonds
  • the hybrid molecule is a fusion protein that may be prepared via recombinant techniques.
  • a second aspect of the present invention provides a fusion toxin, comprising from N-terminus to C-terminus, (a) a polypeptide toxic moiety, (b) a polypeptide capable of translocating the toxic moiety across the cytoplasmic membrane and into the cytosol of a target cell of an animal, and (c) a C-terminal amidated polypeptide ligand effective to cause the fusion toxin to bind to the target cell.
  • the fusion toxin contains from N- terminus to C-terminus, fragment A of native diphtheria toxin, or an enzymatically active fragment thereof, peptidically linked to a portion of fragment B of native diphtheria toxin effective to translocate fragment A across the cell membrane and into the cytosol of a target cell of an animal, peptidically linked to a C-terminal amidated polypeptide ligand effective to cause the fusion toxin to bind to the target cell.
  • the peptidic linkage between fragment A and the portion of fragment B of diphtheria toxin contains the lj cleavage domain of native diphtheria toxin.
  • fragment A and the portion of fragment B of diphtheria toxin together comprise DAB 389f and/or the C-terminal amidated polypeptide ligand is substance P or gastrin releasing peptide. More preferred fusion toxins are DAB 389 SP and DAB 389 GRP.
  • a third aspect of the present invention is directed to a hybrid molecule sub-part comprising a polypeptide capable of translocating a chemical entity across the cytoplasmic membrane and into the cytoplasm of an animal cell, linked via a covalent bond to a C- terminal amidated polypeptide ligand.
  • the covalent bond linking the translocation polypeptide and the amidated polypeptide is a peptide bond.
  • a fourth aspect of the present invention is directed to recombinant DNA molecules encoding hybrid molecules that are fusion proteins, wherein the protein comprises a first part comprising a polypeptide entity to be introduced into a cell of an animal, a second part comprising a polypeptide effective to translocate the first part across the cytoplasmic membrane and into the cytoplasm of the cell, and a third part comprising a polypeptide ligand effective to cause the fusion protein to bind to the cell, and which is extended at its C-terminus by a glycine residue.
  • Preferred DNA molecules encode glycine-extended precursors of the fusion toxins of the present invention, such as DAB 389 ⁇ substance P-Gly and DAB 389 - GRP-Gly.
  • DNA molecules of the present invention encode glycine-extended precursors of the polypeptide ligands, per se, e.g., substance P-Gly and gastrin releasing peptide-Gly, or a glycine-extended translocating peptide-polypeptide ligand sub-part.
  • a fifth aspect of the present invention provides a method of preparing a hybrid molecule comprising, from N-terminus to C-terminus, a chemical entity, a translocating polypeptide, and a C-terminal amidated polypeptide ligand effective to cause the hybrid molecule to bind to a target cell of an animal, comprising the steps of providing a C-terminal glycine- extended precursor of the hybrid molecule, or a portion thereof containing the polypeptide ligand, and reacting the precursor with an amidating enzyme under suitable conditions to amidate the polypeptide ligand so that the hybrid molecule can be produced.
  • the step of providing the precursor involves producing the C-terminally glycine-extended hybrid molecule or a portion thereof containing the polypeptide ligand (or the ligand peptidically linked to the translocating polypeptide) recombinantly in E. coli , and the amidating enzyme is peptiding ⁇ -amidating monooxygenase (PAM) .
  • PAM peptiding ⁇ -amidating monooxygenase
  • a sixth aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of selectively delivering a chemical entity into the cytosol of a target cell of an animal to produce an intended biological effect on the cell, comprising the steps of providing a first hybrid molecule comprising a first part, a second part, and a third part connected by covalent bonds, wherein the first part comprises a chemical entity to be introduced into a cell of an animal to produce the intended biological effect, the second part comprises a polypeptide effective to translocate the first part across the cytoplasmic membrane and into the cytoplasm of the cell, and the third part comprises a C-terminal amidated polypeptide ligand effective to cause the first hybrid molecule to bind to the target cell, and administering said hybrid molecule to the animal.
  • Administration to the animal of a second hybrid molecule containing the first part, the second part and the third part in non-amidated form produces substantially no intended biological effect on the target cell, or causes some biological (and less than maximal) biological effect, but is less than the effect on the cell produced by the amidated molecule.
  • a seventh aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of selectively introducing a chemical entity into a target cell of an animal subject, comprising the step of administering to the subject the hybrid molecule in an amount effective for said chemical entity to exert its intended biological effect on the cell.
  • the method is for the treatment of a subject suffering from a disease or medical condition characterized by the presence of cells to which a C-terminal amidated polypeptide ligand will bind, comprising the step of administering to the subject the hybrid molecule containing the amidated ligand in a therapeutically effective amount.
  • DAB 389 -substance P or DAB 389 -GRP is administered to a subject suffering from a cancerous condition characterized by the presence of malignant cells bearing substance P or GRP receptors, preferably at the sites of tumor growth.
  • Fig. 1 graphically illustrates the effects of the fusion proteins DAB 3 ⁇ 9 SP-Gly (•) , DAB 389 SP (D) and DA(E149S)B 3 ⁇ 9 SP ( ⁇ ) on 14C-leucine incorporation into
  • Fig. 2 graphically illustrates the effects of the fusion proteins DAB 38 g-GRP (X) , DAB 389 GRP-Gly (0) and DAB 389 SP ( ⁇ ) on X C-leucine incorporation into GRP- receptor bearing 5 ⁇ T4 cells; and
  • Fig. 3 graphically illustrates the effects of the fusion proteins DAB 389 -GRP (X) and DAB 3 ⁇ 9 GRP-Gly (0) on 14C-leuci.ne i.ncorporation i•nto GRP-receptor negative Balb/3T3 cells. Best Mode of Carrying Out Invention
  • hybrid molecules which contain a chemical entity, a translocation polypeptide, and a ligand, and sub-parts thereof, such as the translocation domain-ligand hybrids, are known in the art. See PCT/US 91/09871.
  • the chemical entity contained in the hybrid proteins of the present invention include proteinaceous and non-proteinaceous substances capable of being delivered across the cytoplasmic membrane into the cytoplasm of a cell of an animal by the translocation polypeptide and cause an intended biological effect on the cell.
  • Such effects include a therapeutic effect such as a toxic effect on the target cell or an ameliorative effect, such as in the case of supplying the cell with a substance or the genetic means to produce the substance in which it is deficient, either of which will provide a therapeutic benefit to the animal, or a diagnostic effect.
  • Representative chemical entities amenable to such cellular translocation intracellular delivery include drugs, detectable labels such as fluorescent, radioactive and electron-dense moieties, nucleic acids, e.g. a DNA encoding a polypeptide of interest, oligonucleotides such as probes, or antisense RNA, and polypeptides of interest including enzymatically active portions of enzymes. See, for example, U.S. Patent Nos.
  • the chemical entity is a toxic or cytotoxic moiety such as the catalytic domain (or a catalytically active fragment) of a naturally occurring toxin such as fragment A of diphtheria toxin.
  • Other toxins include ricin, Pseudomonas exotoxin, cholera toxin, Shiga toxin and Shiga-like toxin.
  • the chemical entity may be one in which the cell is deficient. See co-pending application serial no. 08/102,387.
  • the chemical entity may or may not be natively associated with the translocating polypeptide of the present invention.
  • the hybrid molecule containing the toxic moiety is a fusion toxin wherein the covalent bonds linking the individual parts of the hybrid are peptide bonds.
  • the resultant hybrid molecule is a fusion toxin having a first part containing Fragment A of diphtheria toxin (amino acids 1-193) , or an enzymatically active fragment thereof, and a second part linked to the first part and which contains a portion of the hydrophobic transmembrane region in Fragment B of native diphtheria toxin effective to deliver Fragment A into the cytosol of the pre-selected target cells (i.e., the DT translocation moiety).
  • the portion of Fragment B effective to deliver the attached chemical entity such as Fragment A into the cytosol of the target cells contains a sequence of DT fragment B amino acids with Serl94 as the N-terminus and the C-terminus between Thr386 and Ser535, inclusive, provided that when the translocation domain includes fragment B amino acids responsible for the generalized eukaryotic binding function of DT (i.e., located within the C-terminal 35-50 amino acids) , the function is disarmed or inactivated such that the binding properties of the resultant fusion protein are determined by the polypeptide ligand.
  • preferred Fragment B sequences include from N-terminus to C-terminus, amino acid 194 to about amino acid residue 486, inclusive. See, e.g., U.S. 4,675,382.
  • the C-terminus of more preferred translocation domains is located at from about amino acid residue 386 to 416 of DT.
  • Fragment A and the DT translocation moiety are preferably linked so as to maintain the native DT l ⁇ cleavage domain (i.e., the protease sensitive domain within the region spanning Cys 186 and Cys 2 o ⁇ of native DT) intact.
  • native DT l ⁇ cleavage domain i.e., the protease sensitive domain within the region spanning Cys 186 and Cys 2 o ⁇ of native DT
  • DT-related fusion toxins have been proven to be selectively cytotoxic for eukaryotic cells that express the appropriate targeted cell surface receptor. See, e.g., Murphy et al., Sem. Cancer Biol. .6:259-267 (1995) . While not intending to be bound by any particular theory of operation. Applicants believe that the cytotoxic action of DT-related fusion toxins is dependent upon binding of the toxin to the targeted cell surface receptor, receptor-mediated endocytosis of the bound toxin into endocytic vesicles, which upon acidification, facilitates the delivery of the catalytic domain (i.e., Fragment A) through the endocytic vesicle membrane into the cell cytosol.
  • the catalytic domain i.e., Fragment A
  • the catalytic domain catalyses the ADP-ribosylation of elongation factor 2 (EF2) , thereby inhibiting protein synthesis, resulting in cell death.
  • the first and second parts together comprise DAB 389 , as disclosed in said co-pending Application Serial No. 08/231,397.
  • DAB389 contains an N-terminal Met residue, amino acid residues 1-386 of native DT, and amino acid residues 484 and 485 of native DT.
  • covalent bonds linking the parts of the hybrid include disulfide and thioether bonds.
  • the covalent bond linking the translocation moiety and the chemical entity is in the form of a protease-sensitive linker or loop such as, for example, those disclosed in co-pending Application Serial No. 08/102,387.
  • the amidated polypeptide ligands of the present invention cause the resultant hybrid protein to bind to the animal cell surface receptor to the ligand with greater affinity than a hybrid protein containing the corresponding non-amidated ligand, such that the amidation causes either activation of the hybrid molecule (i.e., the capability of binding to cells bearing a receptor to the amidated ligand to enable the chemical entity to be translocated into the cytoplasm of the cell and exert its intended biological effect) , or a more active hybrid molecule, in which case the delivery of the chemical entity to the target cell population is enhanced.
  • Some bioactive peptides require a C-terminal amide group for biological activity when used in and of themselves for therapeutic purposes; others exhibit increased activity when amidated.
  • neuropeptides such as the tachykinins, e.g., substance P, Neurokinin A and Neurokinin B, and other neuropeptide hormones such as gonadotropin releasing hormone, corticotrophin releasing hormone, calcitonin, calcitonin gene related peptide, growth hormone releasing, thyrotropin releasing hormone, vasopressin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and bombesin-like peptides including gastrin- releasing peptide and neuromedin B. Many such peptides are disclosed in the prior art.
  • Solid-phase peptide synthesis of C-terminal amidated peptides can be performed in accordance with techniques standard in the art. See Fields, et al., "Principles and Practice of solid-phase peptide synthesis," In: Synthetic Peptides: A User's Guide (Grant, G.A. , ed.), W.H. Freeman, New York, 1992, pp. 77-183. Accordingly, if the hybrid molecule of the present invention, or any portion thereof that includes the polypeptide ligand is made non-recombinantly, C- terminal amidation of the ligand can be accomplished by this route.
  • the hybrid molecule or any portion thereof containing the polypeptide ligand is prepared recombinantly, a different amidation process may be necessary.
  • the covalent bonds linking each of the three parts of the hybrid molecule is a peptide bond
  • the hybrid molecule is produced recombinantly in a host which lacks the ability to alter peptides post-translationally, e.g., E. coli
  • the resultant protein can be C-terminally amidated using peptidylglycine- ⁇ -amidating monooxygenase (hereinafter "PAM").
  • PAM peptidylglycine- ⁇ -amidating monooxygenase
  • PAM (EC 1.14.17.3) is a bifunctional, copper-dependent monooxygenase that catalyses the oxidative cleavage of C-terminal glycine- extended peptides to C-terminal ⁇ -amidated peptides and glyoxylate.
  • the two catalytic domains of PAM are peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylating monooxgenase (PHM; EC 1.14.17.3) and peptidyl- ⁇ -hydroxyglycine ⁇ -amidating lyase (PAL; EC 4.3.2.5). See Mueller, et al., Mol. Pharmacol.
  • hybrid fusion proteins i.e., hybrid proteins prepared recombinantly by the expression of a fused gene
  • PAM post-translational modification
  • Doubt has been expressed as to whether a peptide or protein of any length and structure could be amidated by PAM. See Engles, et al.. Protein Res. 1:195-199 (1987). It was also unpredictable as to whether alpha-a idation would affect the tertiary structure of hybrid molecules so as to inactivate any of their functional moieties.
  • the C-terminal amino acid of the hybrid molecule to which the glycine is linked is a Methionine (Met) residue, and in a more preferred embodiment, it has the sequence Leu-Met-NH 2 , which is present in tachykinins such as substance P, neurokinin A, neurokinin B and neuromedin K. See Regoli, et al., Pharmacol. Rev. 46(4) :551-599 (1994).
  • the glycine extension can be accomplished by the ligation of an oligonucleotide onto the 3 ' end of the fused gene encoding the hybrid molecule, thus resulting in a recombinant DNA molecule encoding the glycine-extended hybrid molecule or the polypeptide ligand-containing portion thereof.
  • the penultimate amino acid of the glycine-extended peptide substrate has been shown to have an effect on the ability of PAM to amidate the substrate. See Tamurini, et al. , supra .
  • the substrate is mixed with suitable amounts of a catalase, KI (potassium iodide) , and trace concentrations of copper and ascorbate.
  • Suitable catalases include Aspergillus Niger catalase and bovine catalase.
  • the catalase and KI protect PAM against ascorbate-mediated inactivation. See Merkler, et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 294:594-602 (1992). Ethanol may be added to protect against ascorbate-mediated inactivation of catalase. See Davison, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 261: 1193-1200 (1986).
  • the trace concentration of copper is from about 0.2 to 1.0 ⁇ M.
  • PAM binds copper relatively weakly (Kulathila, et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 311:191-195 (1994)). Excess copper has been demonstrated to inhibit PAM. See Kulathila, et al., supra, and Kizer, et al.. Endocrinology 118:2262-2267 (1986).
  • a variety of copper salts can be used, including CUSO 4 , CUCI 2 , and Cu(N0 3 ) 2 «
  • a buffer is used to provide a reaction mixture having a pH of from about 5.0 to about 8.5.
  • Suitable buffers include MES/NaOH, pH 6.0, MOPS pH 6.5-8.0 (pKa 7.2 at 20°C) , and PIPES (pKa 6.8 at 20°C.) Because PAM is a copper enzyme, additives and/or buffers containing phosphates, sodium azide, and particularly thiols, e.g., ⁇ -mercaptoethanol and DTT, should be avoided. PAM is active in relatively low concentrations of organic solvents, e.g., a maximum 10% (v/v), in less than or equal to 1.0 M urea, and in less than or equal to 0.5 M guanidine hydrochloride.
  • reagents can be included in the reaction mixture to facilitate the amidation of glycine-extended peptides having relatively low aqueous solubility.
  • a relatively low concentration of glycine-extended peptide is used, e.g. less than about 10 ⁇ M. In more preferred embodiments, the concentration may be as low as about 10 ⁇ M.
  • Substrate inhibition has been observed at relatively high concentrations of glycine-extended peptide. See Kaiser, et al., supra . , and Gilligan, et al.. Endocrinology 124.:2729-2736 (1988) .
  • PAM is then added. PAM is added last to ensure that it is not incubated with ascorbate in the absence of the catalase and KI.
  • PAM is commercially available from a variety of sources (e.g., Unigene Laboratories, Inc. , New Jersey) . It can also be prepared recombinantly. See Glauder, et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 169(2) :551-558 (1990) (disclosing a PAM cDNA) , and Miller, et al.. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 298:380-388 (1992). See also EP A2 249,412 and U.S. Patent No. 5,196,316.
  • PAM can be obtained from natural sources such as bovine pituitaries. See Engels, et al.. Protein Eng. 1:195-199 (1987).
  • the amount of PAM used (wherein one unit of PAM is the amount of enzyme required to convert one pmole of N- dansyl-Tyr-Val-Gly to N-dansyl-Tyr-Val-NH per minute at 37°C under the standard conditions set forth in Merkler, et al.. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 294:594-602 (1992)), is preferably an amount to avoid decreasing the specific activity of the enzyme, which has been shown to decrease with increasing concentration. See Noguchi, et al., Tohoku J. Exp. Med.
  • reaction optimization can be accomplished by varying the pH, the initial concentration of the glycine-extended peptide substrate, and the choice of buffer, all of which can be determined in accordance with standard techniques.
  • the amidated substrate can be confirmed in accordance with standard techniques such as radioimmunoassay.
  • amidated hybrid proteins or amidated polypeptide ligand-containing portions thereof.
  • One such approach is a protease catalyzed transpeptidation using amino acid amides, e.g., 2-nitrophenylglycine amide, short peptide amides, or ammonia as a nucleophile from a recombinant precursor. See Bongers, et al.. Int. J. Pept. Protein Chem. 4_0:268-273 (1992); Jakubke, "Enzymatic Peptide Synthesis", In: The Peptides: Analysis. Synthesis. Biology. Vol. 9 (Udenfriend, eds.), Academic Press, San Diego, 1987, pp.
  • Hendricksen et al., Pept. Res. 5:321-324 (1992).
  • calcitonin-2-nitrophenylglycine amide was converted to amidated calcitonin by photolysis in aqueous hydrazine.
  • Post-translation enzymatic treatment may be obviated by expressing the glycine- extended precursor in a host capable of amidating polypeptides post-translationally.
  • the hybrid molecules of the present invention flow directly from the types of polypeptide ligands which require a C-terminal amide group in order to be active or fully active in vivo, and the types of animal cells to which the amidated polypeptide ligands bind. Accordingly, these cells can be targeted for the selective delivery of the chemical entity in order to provide the intended biological effect, e.g.
  • hybrid molecules in the treatment of various forms of cancer characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells bearing receptors that bind hybrid molecules containing alpha-amidated polypeptide ligands, preferably with greater affinity than hybrid molecules containing the non-amidated ligand.
  • Hybrid molecules of the present invention wherein the chemical entity is a cytotoxic moiety and the amidated polypeptide ligand is substance P, for example, may be used for the localized (e.g., non- systemic) treatment of tumors characterized by the presence of substance P receptor-bearing cells.
  • Substance P is an eleven amino acid peptide. In the biosynthetic pathway of SP, a precursor form of SP,
  • SP-Gly is processed by peptidylglycine ⁇ -amidating monooxygenase (PAM) to yield an amide moiety at its carboxy-terminus which is important for high affinity binding to its receptor.
  • PAM peptidylglycine ⁇ -amidating monooxygenase
  • SP receptor-bearing cells are widely distributed in mammalian tissues. SP is mainly released from neurons and acts upon target cells evoking various cellular responses throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems. See Otsuka, et al., Physiol.
  • SP receptors are also expressed in various types of tumors, including glioblastomas and astrocytomas, as well as in peritumeral vasculature associated with several types of solid tumors. See Henning, I. M. , Laissue, J. A., Horisberger, U. and Reubi, J. C. Int. J. Cancer ⁇ :786-792 (1995) . There is also evidence that substance P is a sensory transmitter of pain in the spinal cord as well in the prevertebral ganglia. See Otsuka, et al. supra.
  • C- terminal amidated substance P-containing hybrid molecules may be used for the selective delivery of analgesic and anti-inflammatory modulating substances to SP-receptor bearing cells.
  • Other more preferred hybrid molecules of the present invention are fusion toxins comprising C- terminal amidated gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) .
  • GRP C- terminal amidated gastrin-releasing peptide
  • NMB neuromedin B
  • GRP is a mammalian, bombesin- like peptide involved in the regulation of a large number of biological activities including exocrine secretion, smooth muscle cell contraction, neuronal firing and gastrointestinal hormone release.
  • GRP and NMB also function as autocrine growth factors on a number of normal and neoplastic tissues, including some human small cell lung carcinomas. See Cuttitta, et al., Nature 316:823-825 (1985); Carney, et al., Cancer Res. 42:821-825 (1987); Giaccone, et al., Cancer Res. Suppl. 5_2_:2732s-2736s (1992); and Schutte et al.. Cancer Res. 129:115-129 (1993).
  • GRP-R GRP preferring receptor
  • NMB-R NMB preferring receptor
  • SCLC small cell lung cancer
  • Several bombesin analogs have reported to inhibit the in vitro and in vivo growth of various tumor cells. See, e.g., Corjay, et al., J. Biol.
  • fusion toxins containing amidated SP or amidated GRP may be used in the treatment of lung cancers such as SCLC, pancreas, breast, prostate and colon cancers, glioblastomas, astrocytomas, human chronic myelogneous leukemia, as well as in peritumeral vasculature associated with several types of solid tumors.
  • lung cancers such as SCLC, pancreas, breast, prostate and colon cancers, glioblastomas, astrocytomas, human chronic myelogneous leukemia, as well as in peritumeral vasculature associated with several types of solid tumors.
  • SP analogs have been reported that inhibit the effects of GRP as well as several other peptides. Additionally, SP derivatives have been reported that inhibit in vitro growth of SCLC cells, although high concentrations (20 ⁇ M) were required. See Schutte et al., supra . , and Bunn et al., Cancer Res. 5.4 . :3602-3610 (1994) . However, uses of peptide antagonists in anti ⁇ tumor therapies for SCLC and other lung cancers have not achieved satisfactory results because these target cells respond to a large number of peptide growth factors. The present invention, on the other hand, provides a more direct and effective approach to anti- cancer therapy.
  • the hybrid molecules of the present invention are administered to an animal, e.g. a human, suffering from a disease or medical disorder characterized by the presence of a class of cells to which the hybrid molecule containing the amidated polypeptide ligand will selectively bind with greater affinity than the corresponding non- amidated form of the polypeptide ligand.
  • a disease or medical disorder characterized by the presence of a class of cells to which the hybrid molecule containing the amidated polypeptide ligand will selectively bind with greater affinity than the corresponding non- amidated form of the polypeptide ligand.
  • the C-terminal amidation is critical for binding and delivery of the chemical entity into the cytoplasm of the target cells.
  • amidation results in increased binding affinity, and enhanced delivery of the chemical entity to and the biological effect on the target cell.
  • the amount of the hybrid molecule administered will vary depending upon several factors, including the nature of the chemical entity and the desired effect on the target cells, the type and extensiveness of the disease, the distribution of target receptor-bearing cells, and the size of the animal. Generally, amounts will be in the range used for other fusion protein agents in the treatment of the respective diseases, although in certain instances lower amounts will be needed because of the specificity of the hybrid molecules. See LeMaistre et al., Blood 79(10) :2547- 2554 (1992).
  • the hybrid molecules may be administered using any conventional method such as injection or via timed-release implant, that will allow for target cell binding and internalization of the chemical entity in the target cells, without substantial diminution of biological activity.
  • Pharmaceutical, diagnostic or therapeutic compositions containing the hybrid molecules can be formulated with a non-toxic, pharmaceutically acceptable carrier substance.
  • Oligonucleotides were synthesized using an Applied Biosystems Model 391 PCR Mate DNA synthesizer. Two complementary oligonucleotides were designed that, when annealed, encoded SP-Gly followed by a translational stop signal. Following synthesis, the oligonucleotides were removed from the columns and deprotected in NH 4 OH as described by the manufacturer. Oligonucleotides were than vacuum dried, resuspended in TE buffer (lOmM Tris, 1 mM EDTA, pH 8.0), phenol/chloroform extracted, NaAc/ethanol precipitated and annealed.
  • TE buffer lOmM Tris, 1 mM EDTA, pH 8.0
  • the resulting double stranded DNA fragment possessed a % SphI site on the 5'-end and a Hindlll site on the 3'-end.
  • the sequence of the oligonucleotides encoding the C- terminal glycine extended form of SP is as follows :
  • Plasmids and Bacterial Strains The parental plasmid for construction of the gene encoding DAB 38 gSP-Gly was pET-JV127 .
  • the construction of pET-JV127 described in vanderSpek, et al . , J . Biol . Chem. 268 : 12077-12082
  • pDW27 The preparation of pDW27 is described in Williams et al . , J . Biol . Chem . 265 : 11885-11889 ( 1990 ) .
  • pET-JV127 was digested with SphI and Hindlll , the large DNA fragment was purified by agarose gel electrophoresis , and DNA encoding SP-Gly was ligated into the SphI and Hindlll sites.
  • the resulting plasmid, PETDAB 389 SPG encoded the catalytic and transmembrane domains of diphtheria toxin linked to SP-Gly. Expression of the gene fusion was under control of a T7 polymerase promoter.
  • Plasmid DNA was prepared using a QIAprep spin plasmid kit (Qiagen) . Sequencing was performed using a Sequence reagent kit (United States Biochemical Corporation) according to the manufacturer's specifications. E. coli JM101 was used for plasmid propagation. Following ligation of the SP-Gly encoding fragment into the vector and transformation of E. coli JM101, transformants were selected on LB ampicillin agar plates. Several recombinant clones were purified and the DNA sequence of their respective chimeric tox genes was determined to ensure that the SP-Gly insert was cloned in single copy in the correct orientation and that the correct translational reading frame was maintained through the fusion junction.
  • DAB 389 SP-Gly A single clone was selected, plasmid DNA was prepared and used to transform E. coli HMS174(DE3) (Novagen, Madison WI) in order to produce DAB 389 SP-Gly in high yield.
  • the amino acid sequence and corresponding nucleic acid sequence for DAB 389 SP-Gly are as follows:
  • E. coli HMS174(DE3) pETDAB 389 SPG were grown in 1.0 L of
  • the final inclusion body pellet was resuspended in 5.0 ml of denaturing buffer (7 M guanidine hydrochloride, 100 mM Tris-Cl, pH 8.0, 10 mM EDTA) and dithiothreitol (DTT) was added to a final concentration of 6 mM.
  • the sample was resuspended by sonication and dialyzed overnight at 4°C, against 2 L of 30 mM, pH 6.0 2-[N-morpholino]ethane-sulfonic acid (MES, Sigma) . After dialysis, the protein concentration was determined using Pierce protein assay reagant (Pierce Chemical Co.).
  • DAB 389 SP-Gly has an Mr of 43,000, in excellent agreement with the molecular weight of 43,800 as deduced from the nucleic acid base sequence of the fusion protein gene.
  • the partially purified DAB 389 SP-Gly was stored at -70° C until the amidation reaction was performed.
  • the fusion protein DAB 389 SP-Gly was converted to its active form in 30 mM MES, pH 6.0, .001% Triton X-100, 1.0% ethanol, 5 mM potassium iodide, 59 ⁇ M CuS0 , 1.5 mM sodium ascorbate, 1.0 X 10 ⁇ 6 M fusion protein and 20,000 U/ml peptidylglycine ⁇ - amidating monooxygenase (PAM) (Unigene, New Jersey) .
  • the reaction mixture was incubated for 2 hrs at 37°C. Incubation of the fusion protein in the PAM reaction mixture (which contains catalase) did not result in degradation of the fusion protein (data not shown) .
  • the potassium iodide and sodium ascorbate solution were prepared immediately before use. Following the incubation, the reaction mixture was centrifuged at 2500 X g for 10 min. The pellet containing the amidated DAB 389 SP was solubilized in 10 ml denaturing solution and refolded into an active conformation by dialysis overnight at 4°C, against two IL changes of refolding buffer (50 mM Tris-Cl, pH 8.0, 50 mM NaCl, 5 mM reduced glutathione, 1 mM oxidized glutathione) . Radioimmunoassay.
  • DAB 389 SP-Gly To quantitate the conversion of DAB 3 ⁇ 9 SP-Gly to DAB 389 SP, the final concentration of DAB 389 SP was determined by comparison to the standard curve for displacement of radiolabeled SP in the SP radioimmunoassay. See, Powell, et al., Nature New Biol. 241:252-254 (1973). The control was DAB 389 SP-Gly that was subjected to the same amidating conditions used to prepare DAB 389 SP, without the addition of PAM. DAB 389 Sp-Gly did not displace radiolabeled SP in this assay system (data not shown) .
  • DAB 389 SP-Gly In marked contrast, following treatment of DAB 389 SP-Gly with PAM and conversion to the amidated form, DAB 389 SP displaced radiolabeled SP in the assay (data not shown) . Importantly, the displacement of labeled SP by DAB 389 SP was indistinguishable from that of unlabeled SP (data not shown) .
  • Cytotoxicity assays were conducted to examine the inhibition of protein synthesis in a variety of eukaryotic cell lines after incubation with DAB 38 gSP-Gly and DAB 389 SP.
  • HNK-3 were maintained in ⁇ -MEM (GIBCO) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (Hyclone Labs, Logan UT) and 800 ⁇ g/ml Geneticin (GIBCO) at 37°C in a 5% C0 2 atmosphere.
  • IM9 and HUT102/6TG cells were maintained in RPMI 1640 (GIBCO) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 2 mM glutamine, 50 ⁇ g/ml streptomycin and 50 IU/ml penicillin, at 37°C in a 5% C0 2 atmosphere.
  • AR4 cells were also maintained in RPMI 1640 medium except 20% fetal bovine serum was used.
  • cytotoxicity assays 1 X 10 of the transfected CHO cells were seeded in 100 ⁇ l of complete media into 96-well flat bottomed plates (CoStar) .
  • AR4 cells were seeded at a concentration of 5 X 10 4 cells in 100 ⁇ l volumes into flat bottomed plates in complete media, and IM9 and HUT
  • the fusion proteins DAB 38 gSP-Gly and DAB 389 SP were serially diluted such that the addition of 100 ⁇ l volumes to assay plates resulted in final concentrations ranging from 1.0 X 10 —8 to 1.0 X 10—13 M. Assay plates were incubated for 18 hrs at 37°C in a 5%
  • the assay plates were centrifuged at 170 X g for 5 min to pellet the cells prior to replacement of the culture medium. The cell cultures were incubated for 90 min and the medium was removed. Cells were lysed and total protein was precipitated, collected and counted in a liquid scintillation counter as described in vanderSpek, et al., supra . Medium alone served as the control, and all assays were performed in quadruplicate.
  • IC 50 for DAB 389 SP was found to be 1.8 X IO -11 M. See Table I. In contrast, the IC 50 for the precursor DAB 389 SP-Gly form of the fusion protein was greater than 1 X 10 ⁇ 8 M. See Fig. 1.
  • a SDP-ribosyltransferase defective mutant DA(E149S)B 389 SP-Gly
  • DA(E149S)B 389 SP SDP-ribosyltransferase defective mutant
  • DA(E149S)B 389 SP was constructed by site-directed mutation. Following expression, purification, and in vitro treatment with PAM, DA(E149S)B 389 SP was found to be devoid of cytotoxic activity toward IM9 cells (see Fig. 1) .
  • the data set forth in Table II demonstrate that the action of the fusion toxin is mediated through the SP-receptor, and that fusion protein-SP receptor complex rapidly enters an acidic compartment following entry into the cell.
  • DAB 389 SP The in vitro effect of DAB 389 SP on a variety of cell lines was also examined. As shown in Table II, the IC 50 for DAB 389 SP on a variety of cell lines which express either the human or rat SP-receptor was less than 10 ⁇ M. In contrast, cell lines which express either the human NKA- or NKB-receptor was 100 to 1,000- fold less sensitive to DAB 389 SP, whereas the HUT102/6TG cell line which is devoid of the SP-receptor was found to be more than 1, 000-fold less sensitive to the fusion toxin.
  • CHO cells transfected with either rat or human SP-receptors were found to be very sensitive to DAB 389 SP.
  • cell lines expressing naturally occurring SP-receptors, AR4 and IM9 were also sensitive to the cytotoxic action of DAB 389 SP.
  • the sensitivity of these cell lines were within the same order of magnitude, except for the human SP-receptor transfected CHO cells, which were somewhat more sensitive. This increased sensitivity may be due to the increased number of cell surface SP-receptors expressed by these cells.
  • CHO cells transfected with human neurokinin A(NKA) and neurokinin B (NKB) receptors were much less sensitive to DAB 389 SP.
  • Oligonucleotides were synthesized on an Applied Biosystems model 391 PCR Mate DAN synthesizer. Two complementary oligonucleotides were synthesized that, when annealed, formed a linker that encoded a C-terminal glycine extended form of GRP, GRP-Gly, and translational stop signal. The link also contained a % SphI site at the 5' end and Hindlll site at the 3' end to allow for vectorial cloning.
  • the oligonucleotide linker sequence used to encode the C- terminal glycine-extended form of GRP is as follows: Val Pro Leu Pro Ala Gly Gly Gly Thr Val Leu thr Lys Met CA GTT CCG CTG CCG GCT GGT GGC GGT ACT GTT CTG ACT AAA ATG GTACGT CAA GGC GAC GGC CGA CCA CCG CCA TGA CAA GAC TGA TTT TAC h SphI
  • the parent plasmid for the construction of the gene encoding DAB 389 GRP-Gly was pET-JV127. See example 1.
  • the IL-2 portion of the fusion gene was removed by SphI Hindlll digestion, and the GRP-Gly linker, above, was ligated in its place to create plasmid PETDAB 389 GRPG.
  • plasmid DNA was prepared and sequenced to assure the insert was present, and that correct translational frame was maintained through the fusion junction.
  • PETDAB 389 GRPG was maintained in E. coli JM101, and the fusion toxin was expressed in E. coli HMS174(DE3) (Novagen). Expression / Purification and Amidation of
  • DAB 389 GRP- ⁇ ly Expression of DABs ⁇ gGRP-Gly was under the control of a T7 polymerase promoter and was induced by addition of isopropyl ⁇ -D-thiogalactopypranoside (IPTG) to the growth medium.
  • IPTG isopropyl ⁇ -D-thiogalactopypranoside
  • the expression and purification of DAB 38 gGRP-Gly from inclusion body preparations was performed essentially as described for DAB 389 SP-Gly, above. There was a basal level of DAB 389 SP-Gly expression; however, following the addition of IPTG, there was a marked increase in the level of recombinant fusion protein produced (data not shown) . After purification, the fusion protein was resuspended by sonication in denaturing buffer (7 M guanidine hydrochloride, 100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 10 mM EDTA, 6mM
  • the inactive DAB 3 ⁇ 9 GRP-Gly was converted to its active, amidated form, DAB 389 GRP, by treatment with peptidylglycine ⁇ - amidating monosygenase (PAM) as described in example 1.
  • PAM peptidylglycine ⁇ - amidating monosygenase
  • the pellet containing amidated DAB 389 GRP was solubilized in 10,0 ml denaturing buffer and refolded by overnight dialysis against two, 1 L changes of refolding buffer (50 mM Tris-Cl, pH 8.0, 50 mM NaCl, 5 mM reduced glutathione, 1 mM oxidized glutathione) .
  • the relative purity of DAB 389 GRP was assessed by 12% SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
  • Radioimmunoassay The relative concentration of amidated DAB 389 GRP was determined by radioimmunoassay using anti-GRP antibody. Varying dilutions of DAB 389 GRP were used to displace ( I)-GRP from anti-GRP antibody (rabbit anti-human GRP; Accurate Chemical and Scientific Corp. Westbury, NY) . The anti- GRP antibody used only bound the amidated form of the fusion protein. The results were compared to a standard curve based on displacement of ( 125I)-GRP by known concentrations of GRP ranging from 1.56 fmols to 400 fmols/tube.
  • the reaction mixture contained 5000- 6000 cpm Of ( 125 I)-GRP (DuPont, NEN), a 1/125,000 dilution of anti-GRP antibody, and either a known concentration of GRP or a dilution of DAB 389 GRP.
  • the final volume was 500 ⁇ l and all dilutions were performed in RIA buffer (0.05 M NaH 2 P0 4 , 0.1 M NaCl, 0.02%NaN 3 ) with gelatin added to 0.8%.
  • the reaction mixture was incubated for 48 hrs at 4°C, then 500 ⁇ l of charcoal reagent (2.0% charcoal, 0.2% dextran T-40
  • the HuTu 80 cells were maintained in Eagle's MEM with Earle's BSS supplemented with 10% FBS and non-essential amino acids.
  • the NNK-1 cells SP receptor transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells [CHO]) were maintained in ⁇ -minimal essential medium (GIBCO) supplemented with 10% FBS and 800 ⁇ g/ml geneticin.
  • the AR42J cells were maintained in RPMI supplemented with 20% FBS. All cell culture media were supplemented with 2 mM glutamine, 50 ⁇ g/ml streptomycin and 50 units/ml penicillin. Cytotoxicity assays were performed as described in example 1.
  • DAB 389 GRP The biological activity of DAB 389 GRP was tested on GRP-receptor (GRP-R) bearing 5 ⁇ T4 cells to determine the potency and mechanism of action of this fusion toxin.
  • 5 ⁇ T4 cells are Balb/3T3 mouse fibroblasts that have been stably transfected with the gene encoding the human GRP-R. See Kroog et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270(14) :8217-8214 (1995).
  • the IC 50 of DAB 389 GRP on 5 ⁇ T4 cells was 20.0 pM.
  • DAB 3 ⁇ 9 GRP-Gly was essentially non-toxic, even at concentrations greater than 100 nM. See Fig. 2.
  • the cytotoxic potency of DAB 389 SP (prepared in accordance with the procedure described in example 1) was also tested on 5 ⁇ T4 cells. In this instance, the IC 50 was greater than 40.0 nM, which was the highest concentration tested. See Table III.
  • DAB 389 SP was not cytotoxic to these cells, which indicates that DAB 389 SP would also be non-cytotoxic to Balb/3T3 cells.
  • DAB 389 GRP did not inhibit protein synthesis in GRP-R bearing 5'ET4 cells in vitro, and DAB 389 GRP was not active against the SP-R positive HNK1 cells, suggesting that there is little, if any, crossover binding between the GRP-R and SP-R.
  • DAB 389 GRP was further tested on Balb/3T3 cells which had not been transfected with the gene encoding GRP-R. Even at concentrations greater than 100 nM, an IC 50 was not attained.
  • Table III also shows the sensitivity of various eukaryotic cell lines to DAB 389 GRP and DAB 389 SP.
  • HuTu 80 and AR42J which are reported to bear both GRP- R and SP-R, were found to be sensitive to DAB 389 GRP and DAB 389 SP.
  • HNK1 cells which only express SP-R, were sensitive to DAB 389 SP but not DAB 389 GRP.
  • 5'ET4 cells were sensitive to DAB 389 GRP, but not DAB 389 SP. No crossover binding between the GRP-R and SP-R directed fusion toxins was detected.
  • fusion toxin is internalized, passes through an acidic compartment in order to facilitate the delivery of its catalytic domain to the cytosol of target cells, and inhibits protein synthesis in the cell by catalyzing the transfer of the ADP ribosyl moiety of oxidized AND onto elongation factor 2.
  • DAB 389 SP were also evaluated on a panel of SCLC cells (Table V) .
  • DAB 389 GRP and DAB 389 SP concentrations that inhibited 50% of the protein synthesis in the indicated small cell lung cancer cell lines.
  • the relative amounts of mRNAs encoding gastrin releasing peptide receptors (GRP-R) and neuromedin B receptors (NMB-R) are indicated for some of the cell lines (ref) .
  • the cell line, NCI-H249 was not tested for GRP-R mRNA in the same study, but has been reported to possess a similar number of bombesin receptors to NCI-H345 (ref) .
  • DAB 389 SP was also cytotoxic for these cell lines, indicating the fusion toxin was binding to SP-R and was internalized into these malignant cells.
  • the panel of SCLC cells that were tested with DAB3 8 9GRP and DAB 389 SP differed in their relative sensitivity to these two fusion toxins.
  • NCI-H209 cells were sensitive to DAB 389 GRP, with an IC 50 of 54.5 nM, despite the report that it does not possess GRP-R mRNA. This cell line does, however, possess mRNA encoding NMB-R, and it is likely that the cytotoxic effects of DAB 389 GRP are mediated through the NMB-R.
  • SCLC cell lines NCI-H249 and NCI-H345, which are reported to possess similar numbers of GRP receptors were sensitive to DAB 389 GRP with an IC 50 of 7.0 and 1.1 nM, respectively.
  • this degree of in vitro sensitivity for the NCI-H345 cells is 1, 000-fold lower than that reported for bombesin analogues to inhibit colony formation. See Mahmoud et al., supra .
  • the NCI-N417 cells were also sensitive to DAB 389 GRP.
  • NCI-N417 cells have been reported to possess no mRNAs encoding GRP-R or NMB-R, whereas in another study, they have been reported to bind ( 125I-Tyr4) Bombesin. See Moody et al., J. Pharm. Exper. Ther. 263(1) :311-317 (1992). Therefore, the results indicate that not only does the line NCI-N417 cell line possess receptors that bind DAB 389 GRP, but that these receptors are internalized by receptor-mediated endocytosis.
  • the SCLC cell line NCI- H510 was the least sensitive to the action of DAB 389 GRP. This observation is consistent with the report that NCI-H510 cells possess a small amount of mRNA encoding NMB-R, and trace amounts of the GRP-R.
  • the hybrid molecules of the present invention may be used to selectively deliver a variety of chemical entities into animal cells that will bind the C-terminal amidated ligand. Accordingly, the hybrid molecules may be used for numerous diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Diagnostic purposes involve introducing chemical entities such as detectable labels into the cells. Therapeutic purposes involve the introduction of chemical entities such as cytotoxins, in which case cell death is achieved, or chemical entities which provide an ameliorative effect, e.g., to provide a cell with a substance or the means to produce the substance in which it is deficient.
  • Preferred therapeutic uses include the treatment of cancers characterized by the presence of malignant cells that bear receptors to ligands such as neuropeptides such as substance P and gastrin releasing peptide, and wherein the chemical entity is a cytotoxic moiety such as the enzymatically active domain of a naturally occurring toxin.

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Abstract

L'invention concerne des molécules hybrides contenant une première partie, une deuxième partie et une troisième partie, liées par des liaisons covalentes. La première partie contient une entité chimique devant être introduite dans une cellule animale. La deuxième partie contient un polypeptide capable de réaliser la translocation de l'entité chimique au travers de la membrane cytoplasmique et de l'intégrer au cytoplasme de la cellule animale. La troisième partie contient un ligand polypeptidique comportant un amide C-terminal capable de provoquer la liaison de la molécule hybride avec la cellule animale. Les molécules hybrides amidées ont une activité biologique plus importante que leurs homologues non amidées. Les molécules hybrides préférées sont des toxines de fusion qui contiennent un neuropeptide amidé, tel que la substance P ou le peptide de libération de la gastrine. L'invention concerne également des procédés de préparation de ces molécules hybrides, qui, dans les modes de préparation préférés, sont préparées par voie enzymatique à l'aide de la mono-oxygénase d'α-amidation des peptidylglycines. Elle concerne enfin des modes d'utilisation des molécules hybrides à des fins médicales, dans le domaine diagnostique et thérapeutique par exemple.
PCT/US1996/016237 1995-10-13 1996-10-11 Molecules hybrides contenant des ligands amides fixant les polypeptides WO1997013410A1 (fr)

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FR2766193A1 (fr) * 1997-07-18 1999-01-22 Inst Curie Polypeptide chimerique comprenant le fragment b de la toxine shiga et des peptides d'interet therapeutique
DE19735105A1 (de) * 1997-08-13 1999-03-04 Univ Albert Ludwigs Freiburg Transportsystem zur Einbringung von Proteinen in Zielzellen mit Hilfe eines Fusionsproteins, Nucleinsäurekonstrukte kodierend für die Komponenten des Transportsystems und Arzneimittel, die Komponenten des Transportsystems umfassen
WO2000010598A2 (fr) * 1998-08-25 2000-03-02 Microbiological Research Authority Traitement de l'hypersecretion de mucus
WO2001031020A1 (fr) * 1999-10-22 2001-05-03 The Government Of The United States Of America, As Represented By The Secretary, Department Of Health And Human Services Toxines de cellules conjuguees de bisulfure et procedes de fabrication et d'utilisation correspondants
US7052702B1 (en) 1997-10-08 2006-05-30 Health Protection Agency Conjugates of galactose-binding lectins and clostridial neurotoxins as analgesics
US7727538B2 (en) 1998-08-25 2010-06-01 Syntaxin Ltd. Methods and compounds for the treatment of mucus hypersecretion
US7741435B2 (en) * 1997-07-09 2010-06-22 Advanced Targeting Systems, Inc. Substance P-saporin (SP-SAP) conjugates and methods of use thereof
US8367071B2 (en) 1998-05-15 2013-02-05 Inserm-Transfert Verotoxin B subunit for immunization
US8790897B2 (en) 1998-08-25 2014-07-29 Syntaxin Ltd. Treatment of mucus hypersecretion

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US7741435B2 (en) * 1997-07-09 2010-06-22 Advanced Targeting Systems, Inc. Substance P-saporin (SP-SAP) conjugates and methods of use thereof
JP2010180216A (ja) * 1997-07-18 2010-08-19 Inst Curie 志賀毒素のｂフラグメント及び治療向けペプチドを含むキメラポリペプチド
US8524652B2 (en) 1997-07-18 2013-09-03 Inserm Chimeric polypeptide comprising the fragment B of shiga toxin and peptides of therapeutic interest
WO1999003881A3 (fr) * 1997-07-18 2000-06-29 Inst Curie Polypeptide chimerique comprenant le fragment b de la toxine shiga et des peptides d'interet therapeutique
JP2001510030A (ja) * 1997-07-18 2001-07-31 アンスティテュ・キュリ 志賀毒素のｂフラグメント及び治療向けペプチドを含むキメラポリペプチド
AU750367B2 (en) * 1997-07-18 2002-07-18 Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique Chimeric polypeptide comprising the fragment b of shiga toxin and peptides of therapeutic interest
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