Non-Enzymatic and Site-Specific Glycan Shedding: A Novel Protein Degradation Pathway Observed in a Stabilized Form of RSV Prefusion F Protein

Stability is one of the critical attributes of a protein-based therapeutic or vaccine product, which is directly linked to product quality and efficacy. Elucidating protein degradation pathways is required to obtain thorough understanding of the product and ensure degradation products are properly m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Analytical chemistry (Washington) 2018-09, Vol.90 (18), p.10897-10902
Main Authors: Qian, Jiang, Yearley, Eric, Tian, Sai, Jing, Li, Balsaraf, Ankita, Lo Surdo, Paola, Huang, Ying, Chandramouli, Sumana, Bottomley, Matthew J, Moniotte, Nicolas, Wang, Zihao
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antigens
Biodegradation
Chemistry
Degradation
Degradation products
Epitopes
F protein
Glycan
Glycine
Glycosylation
Immunogenicity
Immunology
Mass spectrometry
Mass spectroscopy
Molecular modelling
Mutagenesis
Product quality
Proteins
Respiratory syncytial virus
Shedding
Structural members
Vaccines
Viruses
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Summary:Stability is one of the critical attributes of a protein-based therapeutic or vaccine product, which is directly linked to product quality and efficacy. Elucidating protein degradation pathways is required to obtain thorough understanding of the product and ensure degradation products are properly monitored. We observed a unique protein degradation involving nonenzyme catalyzed loss of a complete N-linked glycan under stress condition from an engineered respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prefusion F protein (RSVPreF3). Investigations involving mass spectrometry, molecular modeling, and mutagenesis revealed that the glycan shedding was site-specific, dependent on structural elements, and required a glycine residue immediately following the site of glycosylation. The glycan loss did not negatively affect the binding between the main immunogenic epitope Site Ø and the neutralizing antibody D25. Further study indicated that the glycan shedding followed a similar but different mechanism than that of conventional deamidation. Since glycosylation is an important attribute for many recombinant therapeutic proteins or vaccine antigens, the finding from this study suggests the need to monitor this new type of degradation, especially when glycosylation has an impact on efficacy or safety.
ISSN:0003-2700
1520-6882
DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.8b02402