Repeat proteins have recently been of great interest as potential alternatives to immunoglobulin antibodies due to their unique structural and biophysical features. We here present the development of a binding scaffold based on variable lymphocyte receptors, which are nonimmunoglobulin antibodies composed of Leucinerich repeat modules in jawless vertebrates, by module engineering. A template scaffold was first constructed by joining consensus repeat modules between the N-and C-capping motifs of variable lymphocyte receptors. The N-terminal domain of the template scaffold was redesigned based on the internalin-B cap by analyzing the modular similarity between the respective repeat units using a computational approach. The newly designed scaffold, termed "Repebody," showed a high level of soluble expression in bacteria, displaying high thermodynamic and pH stabilities. Ease of molecular engineering was shown by designing repebodies specific for myeloid differentiation protein-2 and hen egg lysozyme, respectively, by a rational approach. The crystal structures of designed repebodies were determined to elucidate the structural features and interaction interfaces. We demonstrate general applicability of the scaffold by selecting repebodies with different binding affinities for interleukin-6 using phage display.non-antibody scaffold | repeat protein | modular architecture | molecular binder

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates immune responses for host defense and tumorigenic process. Upregulation of IL-6 is known to constitutively phosphorylate signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), leading to activation of multiple oncogene pathways and inflammatory cascade. Here, we present the development of a high-affinity protein binder, termed repebody, which effectively suppresses non-small cell lung cancer in vivo by blocking the IL-6/STAT3 signaling. We selected a repebody that prevents human IL-6 (hIL-6) from binding to its receptor by a competitive immunoassay, and modulated its binding affinity for hIL-6 up to a picomolar range by a modular approach that mimics the combinatorial assembly of diverse modules to form antigen-specific receptors in nature. The resulting repebody was highly specific for hIL-6, effectively inhibiting the STAT3 phosphorylation in a dose- and binding affinity-response manner in vitro. The repebody was shown to have a remarkable suppression effect on the growth of tumors and STAT3 phosphorylation in xenograft mice with non-small cell lung cancer by blocking the hIL-6/STAT3 signaling. Structural analysis of the repebody and IL-6 complex revealed that the repebody binds the site 2a of hIL-6, overlapping a number of epitope residues at site 2a with gp130, and consequently causes a steric hindrance to the formation of IL-6/IL-6Rα complex. Our results suggest that high-affinity repebody targeting the IL-6/STAT3 pathway can be developed as therapeutics for non-small cell lung cancer.

Targeted therapy based on protein-drug conjugates has attracted significant attention owing to its high efficacy and low side effects. However, efficient and stable drug conjugation to a protein binder remains a challenge. Herein, a chemoenzymatic method to generate highly stable and homogenous drug conjugates with high efficiency is presented. The approach comprises the insertion of the CaaX sequence at the C-terminal end of the protein binder, prenylation using farnesyltransferase, and drug conjugation through an oxime ligation reaction. MMAF and an EGFR-specific repebody are used as the antitumor agent and protein binder, respectively. The method enables the precisely controlled synthesis of repebody-drug conjugates with high yield and homogeneity. The utility of this approach is illustrated by the notable stability of the repebody-drug conjugates in human plasma, negligible off-target effects, and a remarkable antitumor activity in vivo. The present method can be widely used for generating highly homogeneous and stable PDCs for targeted therapy.

Targeted therapyb ased on protein-drug conjugates has attracted significant attention owing to its high efficacy and low side effects.However,efficient and stable drug conjugation to ap rotein binder remains ac hallenge.H erein, ac hemoenzymatic method to generate highly stable and homogenous drug conjugates with high efficiency is presented. The approach comprises the insertion of the CaaX sequence at the C-terminal end of the protein binder,p renylation using farnesyltransferase,a nd drug conjugation through an oxime ligation reaction. MMAF and an EGFR-specific repebody are used as the antitumor agent and protein binder,r espectively. The method enables the precisely controlled synthesis of repebody-drug conjugates with high yield and homogeneity. The utility of this approach is illustrated by the notable stability of the repebody-drug conjugates in human plasma, negligible off-target effects,a nd ar emarkable antitumor activity in vivo. The present method can be widely used for generating highly homogeneous and stable PDCs for targeted therapy.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have attracted considerable attention as promising markers for diagnosing and monitoring the cancer status. Despite many technological advances in isolating CTCs, the capture efficiency and purity still remain challenges that limit clinical practice. Here, the construction of "nanotentacle"-structured magnetic particles using M13-bacteriophage and their application for the efficient capturing of CTCs is demonstrated. The M13-bacteriophage to magnetic particles followed by modification with PEG is conjugated, and further tethered monoclonal antibodies against the epidermal receptor 2 (HER2). The use of nanotentacle-structured magnetic particles results in a high capture purity (>45%) and efficiency (>90%), even for a smaller number of cancer cells (≈25 cells) in whole blood. Furthermore, the cancer cells captured are shown to maintain a viability of greater than 84%. The approach can be effectively used for capturing CTCs with high efficiency and purity for the diagnosis and monitoring of cancer status.