GlycoPEGylation of recombinant therapeutic proteins produced in Escherichia coli

Glycobiology. 2006 Sep;16(9):833-43. doi: 10.1093/glycob/cwl004. Epub 2006 May 22.

Abstract

Covalent attachment of polyethylene glycol, PEGylation, has been shown to prolong the half-life and enhance the pharmacodynamics of therapeutic proteins. Current methods for PEGylation, which rely on chemical conjugation through reactive groups on amino acids, often generate isoforms in which PEG is attached at sites that interfere with bioactivity. Here, we present a novel strategy for site-directed PEGylation using glycosyltransferases to attach PEG to O-glycans. The process involves enzymatic GalNAc glycosylation at specific serine and threonine residues in proteins expressed without glycosylation in Escherichia coli, followed by enzymatic transfer of sialic acid conjugated with PEG to the introduced GalNAc residues. The strategy was applied to three therapeutic polypeptides, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), interferon-alpha2b (IFN-alpha2b), and granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which are currently in clinical use.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylgalactosamine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Acetylgalactosamine / chemistry
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Cytokines / chemistry*
  • Cytokines / therapeutic use
  • Escherichia coli
  • Glycosylation
  • Humans
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • N-acetylgalactosamine 4,6-bisulfate
  • Acetylgalactosamine