Site-Specific Antibody Conjugation Using Modified Bisected N-Glycans: Method Development and Potential toward Tunable Effector Function

Bioconjug Chem. 2023 Sep 20;34(9):1633-1644. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00302. Epub 2023 Aug 24.

Abstract

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have garnered worldwide attention for disease treatment, as they possess high target specificity, a long half-life, and outstanding potency to kill or modulate the functions of targets. FDA approval of multiple ADCs for cancer therapy has generated a strong desire for novel conjugation strategies with high biocompatibility and controllable bioproperties. Herein, we present a bisecting glycan-bridged conjugation strategy that enables site-specific conjugation without the need for the oligosaccharide synthesis and genetic engineering of antibodies. Application of this method is demonstrated by conjugation of anti-HER2 human and mouse IgGs with a cytotoxic drug, monomethyl auristatin E. The glycan bridge showed outstanding stability, and the resulting ADCs eliminated HER2-expressing cancer cells effectively. Moreover, our strategy preserves the feasibility of glycan structure remodeling to fine-tune the immunogenicity and pharmacokinetic properties of ADCs through glycoengineering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies*
  • Genetic Engineering
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates* / therapeutic use
  • Mice
  • Polysaccharides

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Polysaccharides