Improving the anti-toxin abilities of the CMG2-Fc fusion protein with the aid of computational design.

TitleImproving the anti-toxin abilities of the CMG2-Fc fusion protein with the aid of computational design.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsXi Y, Wu X, Gao L, Shao Y, Peng H, Chen H, Chen H, Hu X, Yue J
JournalPLoS One
Volume9
Issue8
Paginatione104674
Date Published2014
ISSN1932-6203
KeywordsAntigens, Bacterial, Antitoxins, Bacillus anthracis, Bacterial Toxins, Computer Simulation, Humans, Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments, Immunoglobulin G, Models, Molecular, Mutation, Missense, Receptors, Peptide
Abstract

CMG2-Fc is a fusion protein composed of the extracellular domain of capillary morphogenesis protein 2 (CMG2) and the Fc region of human immunoglobulin G; CMG2-Fc neutralizes anthrax toxin and offers protection against Bacillus anthracis challenge. To enhance the efficacy of CMG2-Fc against anthrax toxin, we attempted to engineer a CMG2-Fc with an improved affinity for PA. Using the automatic design algorithm FoldX and visual inspection, we devised two CMG2-Fc variants that introduce mutations in the CMG2 binding interface and improve the computationally assessed binding affinity for PA. An experimental affinity assay revealed that the two variants showed increased binding affinity, and in vitro and in vivo toxin neutralization testing indicated that one of these mutants (CMG2-Fc(E117Q)) has superior activity against anthrax toxin and was suitable for further development as a therapeutic agent for anthrax infections. This study shows that the computational design of the PA binding interface of CMG2 to obtain CMG2-Fc variants with improving anti-toxin abilities is viable. Our results demonstrate that computational design can be further applied to generate other CMG2-Fc mutants with greatly improved therapeutic efficacy.

DOI10.1371/journal.pone.0104674
Alternate JournalPLoS ONE
PubMed ID25101992
PubMed Central IDPMC4125234