Enzymes Photo-Cross-Linked to Live Cell Receptors Retain Activity and EGFR Inhibition after Both Internalization and Recycling

Bioconjug Chem. 2020 Jan 15;31(1):104-112. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00781. Epub 2019 Dec 16.

Abstract

In this work, we show that a prodrug enzyme covalently photoconjugated to live cell receptors survives endosomal proteolysis and retains its catalytic activity over multiple days. Here, a fusion protein was designed with both an antiepidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) affibody and the prodrug enzyme cytosine deaminase, which can convert prodrug 5-fluorocytosine to the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil. A benzophenone group was added at a site-specific mutation within the affibody, and the fusion protein was selectively photoconjugated to EGFR receptors expressed on membranes of MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells. The fusion protein was next labeled with two dyes for tracking uptake: AlexaFluor 488 and pH-sensitive pHAb. Flow cytometry showed that fusion proteins photo-cross-linked to EGFR first underwent receptor-mediated endocytosis within 12 h, followed by recycling back to the cell membrane within 24 h. These findings were also confirmed by confocal microscopy. The unique cross-linking of the affibody-enzyme fusion proteins was utilized for two anticancer treatments. First, the covalent linking of the protein to the EGFR led to inhibition of ERK signaling over a two-day period, whereas conventional antibody therapy only led to 6 h of inhibition. Second, when the affibody-CodA fusion proteins were photo-cross-linked to EGFR overexpressed on MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells, prodrug conversion was found even 48 h postincubation without any apparent decrease in cell killing, while without photo-cross-linking no cell killing was observed 8 h postincubation. These studies show that affinity-mediated covalent conjugation of the affibody-enzymes to cell receptors allows for prolonged expression on membranes and retained enzymatic activity without genetic engineering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytosine Deaminase / pharmacokinetics
  • Cytosine Deaminase / pharmacology*
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Female
  • Flucytosine / pharmacokinetics
  • Flucytosine / pharmacology*
  • Fluorouracil / pharmacokinetics
  • Fluorouracil / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Prodrugs / pharmacokinetics
  • Prodrugs / pharmacology*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacokinetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Prodrugs
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Flucytosine
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Cytosine Deaminase
  • Fluorouracil