A computational procedure for predicting excipient effects on protein-protein affinities

bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2023 Dec 23:2023.12.22.573113. doi: 10.1101/2023.12.22.573113.

Abstract

Protein-protein interactions lie at the center of much biology and are a challenge in formulating biological drugs such as antibodies. A key to mitigating protein association is to use small molecule additives, i.e. excipients that can weaken protein-protein interactions. Here, we develop a computationally efficient model for predicting the viscosity-reducing effect of different excipient molecules by combining atomic-resolution MD simulations, binding polynomials and a thermodynamic perturbation theory. In a proof of principle, this method successfully rank orders four types of excipients known to reduce the viscosity of solutions of a particular monoclonal antibody. This approach appears useful for predicting effects of excipients on protein association and phase separation, as well as the effects of buffers on protein solutions.

Publication types

  • Preprint