Abstract: Ribonucleases (RNases) are a non-mutagenic alternative to harmful DNA-damaging anticancer drugs. Targeting of RNases with antibodies to surface antigens that are selectively expressed on tumor cells endows specificity to the cytotoxic actions of RNases. Barnase, a ribonuclease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, is a promising candidate for targeted delivery to cancer cells because of its insusceptibility to the ubiquitous cytoplasmic ribonuclease inhibitor, and its high stability and catalytic activity. Here, we characterized in vitro and in vivo an immunoRNase, scFv 4D5-dibarnase, which consists of two barnase molecules that are fused serially to the single-chain variable fragment (scFv) of humanized 4D5 antibody. The latter is directed against the extracellular domain of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), a cancer marker that is overexpressed in many human carcinomas. The scFv 4D5-dibarnase exerted a specific cytotoxic effect on HER2-overexpressing SKBR-3 and BT-474 human breast carcinoma cells (IC(50) = 4.1 and 2.4 nM, respectively) via induction of apoptosis. Ten doses of 0.7 mg/kg scFv 4D5-dibarnase to BALB/c nude mice that bore SKBR-3 human breast cancer xenografts resulted in a 76% reduction in tumor growth. A single injection of scFv 4D5-dibarnase at a total course dose of 7 mg/kg did not cause severe side effects in BALB/c nude or BDF1 mice. The cytotoxicity and selectivity of scFv 4D5-dibarnase merit consideration of this immunoRNase as a potent anticancer agent.
Abstract: Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) coupled with cancer-specific targeting ligands are new promising agents for fluorescent visualization of cancer cells. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/neu (HER2/neu), overexpressed on the surface of many cancer cells, is an important target for cancer diagnostics. Antibody scFv fragments as a targeting agent for direct delivery of fluorophores offer significant advantages over full-size antibodies due to their small size, lower cross-reactivity, and immunogenicity. We have used quantum dots linked to anti-HER2/neu 4D5 scFv antibody to label HER2/neu-overexpressing live cells. Labeling of target cells was shown to have high brightness, photostability, and specificity. The results indicate that construction based on quantum dots and scFv antibody can be successfully used for cancer cell visualization.
Abstract: Spin labeling was used to study the protein-protein interaction between the enzyme barnase (Bn) and its inhibitor barstar (Bs). A mutant of barstar (C40A), which contains only one cysteine, C82, located near the Bn-Bs contact region, was selectively modified by two spin labels having different lengths and structures of the flexible tether. The formation of a strong protein complex resulted in significant restriction of spin label mobility at the C82 residue of barstar, as indicated by notable changes in the recorded EPR spectra. The dependence of the separation between broad outer peaks of the EPR spectra on viscosity at constant temperature was used to evaluate the order parameter S and the rotational correlation time tau (a temperature-viscosity dependence approach). The order parameter S, which characterizes fast reorientation of a spin label relative to the protein molecule, sharply increases and approaches unity when Bs binds to Bn. In addition, formation of a Bs-Bs complex was observed; it is also accompanied by restriction of spin label mobility. At the same time, the rotational correlation times tau of spin-labeled Bs, its complex with Bn, and the Bs dimer in solution agree well with their molecular masses. This indicates that barstar, its complex with barnase, and barstar dimer are rigid protein entities. The described approach is suitable for studying any spin-labeled macromolecular complexes.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: RNases are currently studied as non-mutagenic alternatives to the harmful DNA-damaging anticancer drugs commonly used in clinical practice. Many mammalian RNases are not potent toxins due to the strong inhibition by ribonuclease inhibitor (RI) presented in the cytoplasm of mammalian cells. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In search of new effective anticancer RNases we studied the effects of barnase, a ribonuclease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, on human cancer cells. We found that barnase is resistant to RI. In MTT cell viability assay, barnase was cytotoxic to human carcinoma cell lines with half-inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) ranging from 0.2 to 13 microM and to leukemia cell lines with IC(50) values ranging from 2.4 to 82 microM. Also, we characterized the cytotoxic effects of barnase-based immunoRNase scFv 4D5-dibarnase, which consists of two barnase molecules serially fused to the single-chain variable fragment (scFv) of humanized antibody 4D5 that recognizes the extracellular domain of cancer marker HER2. The scFv 4D5-dibarnase specifically bound to HER2-positive cells and was internalized via receptor-mediated endocytosis. The intracellular localization of internalized scFv 4D5-dibarnase was determined by electronic microscopy. The cytotoxic effect of scFv 4D5-dibarnase on HER2-positive human ovarian carcinoma SKOV-3 cells (IC(50) = 1.8 nM) was three orders of magnitude greater than that of barnase alone. Both barnase and scFv 4D5-dibarnase induced apoptosis in SKOV-3 cells accompanied by internucleosomal chromatin fragmentation, membrane blebbing, the appearance of phosphatidylserine on the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane, and the activation of caspase-3. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These results demonstrate that barnase is a potent toxic agent for targeting to cancer cells.
Abstract: The dynamic spin label method was used to study protein-protein interactions in the model complex of the enzyme barnase (Bn) with its inhibitor barstar. The C40A mutant of barstar (Bs) containing a single cysteine residue was modified with two different spin labels varying in length and structure of a flexible linker. Each spin label was selectively bound to the Cys82 residue, located near the Bn-Bs contact site. The formation of the stable protein complex between Bn and spin labeled Bs was accompanied by a substantial restriction of spin label mobility, indicated by remarkable changes in the registered EPR spectra. Order parameter, S, as an estimate of rapid reorientation of spin label relative to protein molecule, was sharply increasing approaching 1. However, the rotational correlation time tau for spin-labeled Bs and its complex with Bn in solution corresponded precisely to their molecular weights. These data indicate that both Bs and its complex with Bn are rigid protein entities. Spin labels attached to Bs in close proximity to an interface of interaction with Bn, regardless of its structure, undergo significant restriction of mobility by the environment of the contact site of the two proteins. The results show that this approach can be used to investigate fusion proteins containing Bn or Bs.
Abstract: We successfully cloned and expressed a single-chain antibody (425scFv), that is directed to human epidermal growth factor receptor HER1 (EGFR) in transgenic tobacco plants as a fusion with bacterial barstar gene (425scFv-barstar). Plant-produced recombinant 425scFv-barstar was recovered using barstar-barnase system. Based on barstar-barnase affinity, during purification of the plant-produced 425scFv-barstar, we generated bispecific scFv-antibody heterodimers from individual single-chain fragments initially produced in different host systems with binding activity to both HER1 and HER2/neu tumor antigens. We demonstrated by flow cytometry and indirect immunofluorescent microscopy that both the components of heterodimer retain its specific cell-binding activity.
Abstract: Single injection of Bacillus intermedius RNAase in a dose of 5 mg/kg could protect 40 and 50-70% of the outdoor rabies virus-preinfected guinea-pigs and rabbits, respectively. In the control group there were 100 and 75-100% deaths of the RNAase-untreated guinea-pigs and rabbits, respectively. Animal protection was observed only when RNAase was injected into the site of viral administration. The intramuscular injection of RNAase, other than the site of viral administration failed to protect the infected animals. The efficacy (75%) of RNAase injected into the rabbits was similar 1 and 24 hours after animal infection.
Abstract: RNAse Bacillus intermedius, when administered once and according to 11 repeated experiments, protected the preliminarily infected CBA mice with street rabies virus (protection of 40-67%; p < 0.01-0.001). A reliable protection of Animals was registered only when RNAse was administered intramuscularly at the virus introduction spot; it was not effective, when the bacterial RNAse was injected in the brain, vein, under the skin or in muscles of a non-infected extremity. Neither did it produce any suppressive effect on the vaccinal antirabic immunity.
Abstract: Chimeric immunotoxins that combine antigen recognition domains of antibodies and cytotoxic RNases have attracted much attention in recent years as potential targeted agents for cancer immunotherapy. In an attempt to obtain a structurally minimized immunofusion for folding/stability studies, we constructed the chimeric protein VL-barnase. The chimera comprises a small cytotoxic enzyme barnase, ribonuclease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, fused to the C-terminus of the light chain variable domain (VL) of the anti-human ferritin monoclonal antibody F11. While the individual VL domain was expressed in Escherichia coli as insoluble protein packed into inclusion bodies, its fusion to barnase resulted in a significant ( approximately 70%) fraction of soluble protein, with only a minor insoluble fraction ( approximately 30%) packed into inclusion bodies. The in vivo solubilizing effect of barnase was also observed in vitro and suggests a chaperone-like role that barnase exerted with regard to the N-terminal VL domain. Cytoplasmic VL-barnase was analyzed for structural and functional properties. The dimeric state of the chimeric protein was demonstrated by size-exclusion chromatography, thus indicating that fusion to barnase did not abrogate the intrinsic dimerization propensity of the VL domain. Ferritin-binding affinity and specificity in terms of constants of association with isoferritins were identical for the isolated VL domain and its barnase fusion, and RNase activity remained unchanged after the fusion. Intrinsic fluorescence spectra showed a fully compact tertiary structure of the fusion protein. However, significantly altered pH stability of the fusion protein versus individual VL and barnase was shown by the pH-induced changes in both intrinsic fluorescence and binding of ANS. Together, the results indicate that VL-barnase retained the antigen-binding affinity, specificity and RNase activity pertinent to the two individual constituents, and that their fusion into a single-chain chimeric protein resulted in an altered tertiary fold and pH stability.
Abstract: A recombinant scFv antibody against human spleen ferritin was expressed as a barstar-fused protein in Escherichia coli and in Nicotiana tabacum plants and suspension cell cultures. As demonstrated by immunoblotting with antibarstar antibodies, direction of the recombinant protein to the endomembrane system of plant cells ensured its stability and solubility. Production of the recombinant protein did not differ between parental transgenic plants and their first-generation progeny. Fusion with barstar allowed not only immunochemical detection of the recombinant scFv antibody, but also their purification from the plant material by affinity chromatography with barnase-His6 immobilized on a metal-affinity carrier.
