Structural Fingerprints of an Intact Monoclonal Antibody Acquired under Formulated Storage Conditions via 15N Direct Detection Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

J Med Chem. 2020 May 28;63(10):5360-5366. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00231. Epub 2020 May 6.

Abstract

Noninvasive evaluation of tertiary structures is fundamental to the research, development, and use of the biologics. However, few methodologies are currently available for evaluating large molecular weight (MW) biologics, such as therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs; 150 kDa). Here, we have newly developed a 15N direct detection nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique, the 15N direct detection CRINEPT, which allows the observation of the main chain amide resonances of a nondeuterated protein with MW 150 kDa. The technique not only substantially expands the range of proteins applicable to solution NMR studies but also allows the noninvasive structural analyses of intact mAbs in a wide range of temperature and solvent conditions. As a proof of principle, we successfully acquired the 15N-detected CRINEPT spectra of an intact mAb in its formulated solution at 4 °C. The technique was able to discriminate heterogeneous galactosylation states, demonstrating the benefit of high resolution of the 15N direct detection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / analysis*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / metabolism
  • Drug Compounding / methods*
  • Drug Storage / methods
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Nitrogen Isotopes / chemistry
  • Nitrogen Isotopes / metabolism
  • Peptide Mapping / methods*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Nitrogen Isotopes