Probing the limits of Q-tag bioconjugation of antibodies

Chem Commun (Camb). 2019 Sep 19;55(76):11342-11345. doi: 10.1039/c9cc02303h.

Abstract

Site-selective labelling of antibodies (Abs) can circumvent problems from heterogeneity of conventional conjugation. Here, we evaluate the industrially-applied chemoenzymatic 'Q-tag' strategy based on transglutaminase-mediated (TGase) amide-bond formation in the generation of 89Zr-radiolabelled antibody conjugates. We show that, despite previously suggested high regioselectivity of TGases, in the anti-Her2 Ab Herceptin™ more precise native MS indicates only 70-80% functionalization at the target site (Q298H), in competition with modification at other sites, such as Q3H critically close to the CDR1 region.

MeSH terms

  • Amides / chemistry
  • Amides / immunology
  • Amides / metabolism
  • Antibodies / chemistry*
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Immunoconjugates / chemistry*
  • Immunoconjugates / immunology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Radioisotopes / chemistry*
  • Transglutaminases / chemistry
  • Transglutaminases / immunology
  • Transglutaminases / metabolism
  • Zirconium / chemistry*
  • Zirconium / immunology

Substances

  • Amides
  • Antibodies
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Radioisotopes
  • Zirconium
  • Transglutaminases
  • Zirconium-89