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Biomedical subjects

Kim D Janda

Publications and source records attributed to Kim D Janda.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Investigations using immunization to attenuate the psychoactive effects of nicotine.

Despite the enormous health risks, people continue to smoke and use tobacco primarily as a result of nicotine addiction. As part of our immunopharmacotherapy research, the effects of active and passive immunizations on acute nicotine-induced locomotor activity in rats were investigated. To this end, rats were immunized with either a NIC-KLH immunoconjugate vaccine designed to elicit an antinicotine immune response, or were administered an antinicotine monoclonal antibody, NIC9D9, prior to a series of nicotine challenges and testing sessions. Vaccinated rats showed a 45% decrease in locomotor activity compared to a 16% decrease in controls. Passive immunization with NIC9D9 resulted in a 66.9% decrease in locomotor activity versus a 3.4% decrease in controls. Consistent with the behavioral data, much less nicotine was found in the brains of immunized rats. The results support the potential clinical value of immunopharmacotherapy for nicotine addiction in the context of tobacco cessation programs.

Animals↗

Probing lipase/esterase libraries for lipid A hydrolases--discovery of biocatalysts for the detoxification of bacterially-expressed recombinant protein.

In our ongoing efforts to develop new methods for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) detoxification, we have screened lipase/esterase libraries for the ability to deacylate the 2'- and 3'-fatty acid chains from lipid A: the most active esterases were successfully employed to inactivate LPSs in a crude concentrated cell supernatant of E. Coli containing a recombinant single chain antibody (scFv).

Animals↗

A human single-chain antibody specific for integrin alpha3beta1 capable of cell internalization and delivery of antitumor agents.

Selective antitumor chemotherapy can be achieved by using antibody-drug conjugates that recognize surface proteins upregulated in cancer cells. One such receptor is integrin alpha3beta1, which is overexpressed on malignant melanoma, prostate carcinoma, and glioma cells. We previously identified a human single-chain Fv antibody (scFv), denoted Pan10, specific for integrin alpha3beta1 that is internalized by human pancreatic cancer cells. Herein, we describe the chemical introduction of reactive thiol groups onto Pan10, the specific conjugation of the modified scFv to maleimide-derivatized analogs of the potent cytotoxic agent duocarmycin SA, and the properties of the resultant conjugates. Our findings provide evidence that Pan10-drug conjugates maintain the internalizing capacity of the parent scFv and are cytotoxic at nanomolar concentrations. Our Pan10-drug conjugates may be promising candidates for targeted chemotherapy of malignant diseases associated with overexpression of integrin alpha3beta1.

Antibodies↗

Development of immunopharmacotherapy against drugs of abuse.

Drug addiction is a major worldwide medical and social problem that continues to escalate. The addiction syndrome is remarkably similar between different drugs of abuse, and can be characterized as a chronic relapsing brain disorder with neurobiological changes that lead to a compulsion to take a drug with loss of control over drug intake. Presently used medications for the treatment of dependence disorders are based on drugs that are either agonists or antagonists of drugs of abuse, and have yielded only limited success. Immunopharmacotherapy is based on the generation or administration of antibodies that are capable of binding the targeted drug before it can reach the brain, whereas replacement strategies based on agonists or antagonists of these drugs generally cause many undesired side effects. A large amount of data has been gathered in recent years on the effects of active and passive immunization against cocaine, nicotine, PCP and methamphetamine in animal models, suggesting potential efficacy of these treatments in humans; and clinical trials are currently underway for vaccines against cocaine and nicotine.

Amphetamine-Related Disorders↗

Catalysis of the photo-Fries reaction: antibody-mediated stabilization of high energy states.

A conformationally constrained hapten is presented that is capable of catalyzing the first antibody-mediated photo-Fries rearrangement. In this reaction, absorption of light energy by a diphenyl ether substrate results in homolytic C-O bond cleavage followed by recombination to yield biphenyl-derived products. The most proficient antibody studied converts 4-phenoxyaniline 15 into 2-hydroxy-5-aminobiphenyl 16 under high-intensity irradiation at a rate of 8.6 microM/min. These results support a recent hypothesis stating that immunization with conformationally constrained haptens provides higher titers for the acquisition of simple binding antibodies; however, in this case, conformational constraint does not ensure the development of more efficient catalysts. Using the obtained antibodies, the presence of products resulting from escape of free radicals from the solvent cage can be suppressed, altering the excited state energy surface such that free radicals are funneled into the formation of the desired biphenyl product. However, studies also show the inactivation of the antibodies as a result of photodecay of the biphenyl product. Using an isocyanate scavenging resin, the photodecay product could be removed and the inactivation of the antibody drastically reduced. Furthermore, despite the observed photodecay, turnover of the antibody was present; this represents the first case in which true turnover of a photochemical reaction using a catalytic antibody could be observed.

Aminobiphenyl Compounds↗

Total synthesis of the depsipeptide FR-901375.

The first total synthesis of FR-901375, a novel bicyclic depsipeptide isolated from the fermentation broth of Pseudomonas chloroaphis No. 2522, has been achieved. The synthetic approach involves 13 reaction steps and is achieved in 12% overall yield. The key points in the successful synthetic strategy are a concise asymmetric synthesis of the key building block (3R,4E)-3-hydroxy-7-mercapto-4-heptenoic acid, a mild Mitsunobu macrolactonization step, and an I(2)-mediated deprotection with concomitant disulfide-bridge formation.

Depsipeptides↗

Evidence for ozone formation in human atherosclerotic arteries.

Here, we report evidence for the production of ozone in human disease. Signature products unique to cholesterol ozonolysis are present within atherosclerotic tissue at the time of carotid endarterectomy, suggesting that ozone production occurred during lesion development. Furthermore, advanced atherosclerotic plaques generate ozone when the leukocytes within the diseased arteries are activated in vitro. The steroids produced by cholesterol ozonolysis cause effects that are thought to be critical to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, including cytotoxicity, lipid-loading in macrophages, and deformation of the apolipoprotein B-100 secondary structure. We propose the trivial designation "atheronals" for this previously unrecognized class of steroids.

Arteriosclerosis↗

Tandem IMAC-HPLC purification of a cocaine-binding scFv antibody.

Immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) has rapidly become one of the most widespread affinity purification techniques employed in recombinant protein expression. However, the high purity demands of certain applications are occasionally unattainable through a single IMAC separation. GNC92H2scFv is a cocaine-binding single-chain antibody fragment that is unstable during long-term storage in aqueous solution. To circumvent this problem, a reversed-phase HPLC separation was performed following IMAC purification of GNC92H2scFv from Escherichia coli cell culture supernatant. The resulting HPLC effluent was then freeze-dried to afford a salt-free lyophilizate amenable to long-term storage with minimal loss in binding activity. HPLC purification also effectively removed an 80-kDa protein contaminant that co-eluted with the IMAC-purified protein. Of special importance for in vivo applications of recombinantly expressed protein therapeutics, an HPLC purification step afforded a 1000-fold reduction in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin contamination in the final GNC92H2scFv product.

Chromatography, Affinity↗

Glycation of the amyloid beta-protein by a nicotine metabolite: a fortuitous chemical dynamic between smoking and Alzheimer's disease.

The origin of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been subjected to an intense amount of examination; however, a clear conclusion as to the nature of this crippling disease has yet to be identified. What is readily accepted is that a definitive marker of this disease is the aggregation of the amyloid beta-peptide (A beta) into neuritic plaques. The recent observation that nicotine exposure leads to delayed onset of AD has stimulated a flurry of research into the nature of this neuroprotective effect. This phenomenon has been debated, but no consensus has been reached, and although these studies have targeted nicotine, the primary alkaloid in tobacco, few studies have considered the physiological role of nicotine metabolites in disease states. Nornicotine is a major nicotine metabolite in the CNS and has been shown to participate in the aberrant glycation of proteins in vivo in a process termed nornicotine-based glycation. Herein is detailed a potentially fortuitous role of nornicotine-based glycation in relation to the pathology of AD. Specifically, nornicotine was found to covalently alter A beta, leading to reduced peptide aggregation. Potential consequences of this reaction cascade include reduced plaque formation and/or altered clearance of the peptide, as well as attenuated toxicity of soluble A beta aggregates. The findings described provide an alternative mechanism for nicotine neuroprotection in AD and a means for the alteration of amyloid folding based on a covalent chemical event.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Expression and characterization of a humanized cocaine-binding antibody.

The murine immunoglobulin G (IgG) cocaine-binding monoclonal antibody (mAb), GNC92H2, is notable for its exquisite specificity for cocaine, as opposed to chemically-related cocaine metabolites, and for its moderately high affinity (K(d) approximately 200 nM) for cocaine. Recently, we described the crystal structure of a mouse/human chimeric Fab construct at 2.3 A resolution. Herein, we report the successful framework humanization of a single-chain Fv (scFv) GNC92H2 construct without loss of affinity for cocaine. In brief, we compared the mAb GNC92H2 sequence to human antibody sequences, and used structure-based design to incorporate mutations (total = 49) that would humanize the framework region without affecting the overall shape of the binding pocket or the key cocaine-contact residues. The codons of the rationally designed sequence were optimized for E. coli expression, and the gene was synthesized by a de novo PCR reaction using 14 overlapping primers. Expression of the scFv construct was significantly improved in E. coli by fusion to thioredoxin. Intriguingly, this construct apparently refolds to form soluble active antibody in the reducing environment of the cytoplasm. Competitive ELISA and equilibrium dialysis demonstrated comparable binding activity between the humanized scFv and the whole IgG. The successful humanization of mAb GNC92H2 should enhance its potential therapeutic value by reducing its overall. immunogenicity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural basis for antibody catalysis of a cationic cyclization reaction.

Antibody 4C6 efficiently catalyzes a cationic cyclization reaction. Crystal structures of the antibody 4C6 Fab in complex with benzoic acid and in complex with its eliciting hapten were determined to 1.30A and 2.45A resolution, respectively. These crystal structures, together with computational analysis, have elucidated a possible mechanism for the monocyclization reaction. The hapten complex revealed a combining site pocket with high shape complementarity to the hapten. This active site cleft is dominated by aromatic residues that shield the highly reactive carbocation intermediates from solvent and stabilize the carbocation intermediates through cation-pi interactions. Modeling of an acyclic olefinic sulfonate ester substrate and the transition state (TS) structures shows that the chair-like transition state is favored, and trapping by water directly produces trans-2-(dimethylphenylsilyl)-cyclohexanol, whereas the less favored boat-like transition state leads to cyclohexene. The only significant change observed upon hapten binding is a side-chain rotation of Trp(L89), which reorients to form the base of the combining site. Intriguingly, a benzoic acid molecule was sequestered in the combining site of the unliganded antibody. The 4C6 active site was compared to that observed in a previously reported tandem cyclization antibody 19A4 hapten complex. These cationic cyclization antibodies exhibit convergent structural features with terpenoid cyclases that appear to be important for catalysis.

Antibodies, Catalytic↗

High-resolution diffusion-ordered spectroscopy to probe the microenvironment of JandaJel and Merrifield resins.

The success of organic reactions performed on a gel-phase resin is highly dependent on the accessibility of solvents, catalysts, and reagents to the interior of the resin. A variety of techniques including EPR, fluorescence, and Hildebrand solubility parameters (delta) have been used to probe reaction capabilities and in particular the microenvironment of a gel-phase resin. To provide a more detailed picture of the matrix in question, researchers have turned to NMR for the determination of the diffusion coefficients of solvents and small molecules in swollen beads to provide a means to compare the microenvironment of swollen beads. Since Merrifield and JandaJel resins display different swelling properties and have significantly different kinetic behavior, we undertook a comparative study of the diffusion coefficients of solvents and small molecules in both resins by high-resolution (1)H DOSY NMR. Our results show the following: (1) diffusion values for all studied solvents and small molecules are 20-30% higher in JandaJel compared to Merrifield resins, (2) in the absence of interactions between the resin and a given molecule, the diffusion values mirror the swelling properties of the resin, and (3) in the presence of strong intermolecular interactions between the gel and the considered molecule, the diffusion behavior in the gel is primarily influenced by the strength of the interactions and secondarily by the swelling properties of the resin. These results clearly show that the microenvironment of JandaJels is more "solution-like" than that of Merrifield resins, presumably due to the higher swelling capacity.

Chemistry, Organic↗

Enabling ScFvs as multi-drug carriers: a dendritic approach.

To enable scFvs as multi-drug carriers, we designed and synthesized dendritic linker molecules bearing up to nine chlorambucil residues at the branch ends. A maleimide group was used at the focal point of the dendron for easy linkage to the scFv. Originally designed molecules showed poor water solubility. To address this problem, a lysine residue with an unprotected carboxylic acid group was inserted into the dendron branches. The new molecules showed excellent water solubility and are now suitable for conjugation. Such dendritic molecules will allow studies to understand the relationship between the drug/antibody ratio and the potency of the immunoconjugates. The dendritic approach could also be applied to drugs other than chlorambucil and carriers other than scFvs to greatly increase the drug/carrier ratio.

Chlorambucil↗

De novo identification of tumor-specific internalizing human antibody-receptor pairs by phage-display methods.

Three tumor-specific, internalizing human single-chain Fvs (scFvs) were obtained by direct selection against tumor cells from a large, nonimmune scFv-phage library pre-subtracted with various normal human cells. After scFv selection and characterization for cell binding and internalization, the scFvs were also employed in immunoprecipitations to identify putative receptors. In the case of a prostate tumor-cell specific scFv PR5, the receptor that mediated endocytosis was shown to be the transferrin receptor. For two pancreatic adenocarcinoma specific scFvs SW1 and PAN10, the alpha(3)beta(1) integrin was identified. The scFv SW1 was studied in further detail and found to induce functional effects as a ligand-mimetic by mediating cell adhesion and migration. The results demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing enhanced phage-display methods as a rapid and general approach for not only direct isolation of human internalizing scFvs, but also for identifying tumor cell-surface receptors from various classes. The use of scFv constructs that target tumor cells and undergo internalization could have significant impact on the future of cancer and gene therapy.

Antibodies, Neoplasm↗

Soluble polymer-supported convergent parallel library synthesis.

Soluble polymer-supported convergent synthesis has for the first time been successfully exploited for parallel library synthesis; sub-libraries of tripeptide iodoarenes and arylboronic acids reacted smoothly in a multipolymer PdII-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction to generate a library of bisaryl-linked hexapeptides.

Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques↗

Rhodium carbenoid N-H insertion reactions of primary ureas: solution and solid-phase synthesis of imidazolones.

[reaction: see text] The solution and solid-phase synthesis of imidazolones is reported. The key step for the preparation of these compounds is the N-H insertion reaction of primary ureas into highly reactive rhodium carbenoid intermediates. Typically, a soluble or support-bound alpha-diazo-beta-ketoester is treated with a rhodium carboxylate catalyst in the presence of a primary urea to give the corresponding N-H insertion product. Subsequent acid-catalyzed cyclodehydration of these insertion products affords the desired imidazolone products.

Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques↗