Engineering of a Biologically Active Glycosylated Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Analogue

J Med Chem. 2024 May 9;67(9):7276-7282. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00093. Epub 2024 Mar 11.

Abstract

Glucagon-like peptide receptor (GLP-1R) agonists (e.g., semaglutide, liraglutide, etc.) are efficient treatment options for people with type 2 diabetes and obesity. The manufacturing method to produce semaglutide, a blockbuster GLP-1 drug on the market, involves multistep synthesis. The large peptide has a hydrophobic fatty acid side chain that makes it sparingly soluble, and its handling, purification, and large-scale production difficult. The growing demand for semaglutide that the manufacturer is not capable of addressing immediately triggered a worldwide shortage. Thus, we have developed a potential alternative analogue to semaglutide by replacing the hydrophobic fatty acid with a hydrophilic human complex-type biantennary oligosaccharide. Our novel glycoGLP-1 analogue was isolated in an ∼10-fold higher yield compared with semaglutide. Importantly, our glycoGLP-1 analogue possessed a similar GLP-1R activation potency to semaglutide and was biologically active in vivo in reducing glucose levels to a similar degree as semaglutide.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1* / chemistry
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1* / metabolism
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor / agonists
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor / metabolism
  • Glucagon-Like Peptides / analogs & derivatives
  • Glucagon-Like Peptides / chemistry
  • Glucagon-Like Peptides / pharmacology
  • Glycosylation
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / chemistry
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Protein Engineering

Substances

  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1
  • semaglutide
  • Glucagon-Like Peptides
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Blood Glucose