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Sequence sensitivity and pH dependence of maleimide conjugated N-terminal cysteine peptides to thiazine rearrangement.

ABSTRACT: Thiazine formation during the conjugation of N-terminal cysteine peptides to maleimides is an underreported side reaction in the peptide literature. When the conjugation was performed at neutral and basic pH, we observed the thiazine isomer as a significant by-product. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy confirmed the structure of the six-membered thiazine and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) combined with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) allowed for facile, unambiguous detection due to a unique thiazine mass fragment. Furthermore, substitution of various amino acids adjacent to the N-terminal cysteine in a tripeptide model system resulted in different rates of thiazine formation, albeit within the same order of magnitude. We also determined that varying the N-substitution of the maleimide affects the thiazine conversion rate. Altogether, our findings suggest that thiazine rearrangement for N-terminal cysteine-maleimide adducts is a general side reaction that is applicable to other peptide or protein systems. Performing the conjugation reaction under acidic conditions or avoiding the use of an N-terminal cysteine with a free amino group prevents the formation of the thiazine impurity.

SUBMITTER: Gober IN

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8243948 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 have proven to be efficient cancer therapies in a subset of patients. From all the patients with various cancer types, only 20% have a positive response. Being able to distinguish patients that do express PD-1/PD-L1 from patients that do not allows patients to benefit from a more personalized and efficient treatment of tumor lesion(s). Expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 is typically assessed via immunohistochemical detection in a tumor biopsy. However, this method does not take in account the expression heterogeneity within the lesion, nor the possible metastasis. To visualize whole-body PD-L1 expression by PET imaging, we developed a nanobody-based radio-immunotracer targeting PD-L1 site-specifically labeled with gallium-68. The cysteine-tagged nanobody was site-specifically conjugated with a maleimide (mal)-NOTA chelator and radiolabeling was tested at different nanobody concentrations and temperatures. Affinity and specificity of the tracer, referred to as [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-mal-hPD-L1 Nb, were assayed by surface plasmon resonance and on PD-L1POS or PD-L1NEG 624-MEL cells. Xenografted athymic nude mice bearing 624-MEL PD-L1POS or PD-L1NEG tumors were injected with the tracer and ex vivo biodistribution was performed 1 h 20 min post-injection. Ideal 68Ga-labeling conditions were found at 50 °C for 15 min. [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-mal-hPD-L1 Nb was obtained in 80 ± 5% DC-RCY with a RCP > 99%, and was stable in injection buffer and human serum up to 3 h (>99% RCP). The in vitro characterization showed that the NOTA-functionalized Nb retained its affinity and specificity. Ex vivo biodistribution revealed a tracer uptake of 1.86 ± 0.67% IA/g in the positive tumors compared with 0.42 ± 0.04% IA/g in the negative tumors. Low background uptake was measured in the other organs and tissues, except for the kidneys and bladder, due to the expected excretion route of Nbs. The data obtained show that the site-specific 68Ga-labeled NOTA-mal-hPD-L1 Nb is a promising PET radio-immunotracer due to its ease of production, stability and specificity for PD-L1.

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Sequence sensitivity and pH dependence of maleimide conjugated N-terminal cysteine peptides to thiazine rearrangement.

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