title: CD4-Pseudomonas exotoxin hybrid proteins: modulation of potency and therapeutic window through structural design and characterization of cell internalization.
abstract: Replacing the Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE) cell binding domain with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp120 binding domain from CD4 yields a hybrid toxin (CD4-PE) with potential therapeutic use in treating acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). To find the most therapeutically potent combination of CD4 and PE four different hybrid toxins composed of one [CD4(122)] or two [CD4(181)] Ig-like CD4 domains and sequences of PE where the binding domain was partially [PE(392)] or completely [PE(364)] removed were constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli. The number of CD4 domains determined the binding affinity to gp120 and in cell viability assays the window between specific and nonspecific cytotoxicity. The length of PE determined the potency of the drug. The optimal hybrid toxin was composed of two Ig-like domains of CD4 and PE(392). Investigation of the internalization mechanism of CD4-PE revealed that the hybrid toxin binds to target cells and is endocytosed within one hour. However, more than 6 hours are required for maximum translation inhibition. In contrast to PE which is inhibited by ammonium chloride treatment, cell toxicity of CD4-PE is not affected by ammonium chloride. Further investigations showed that the acid-induced hydrophobicity change which is required for membrane translocation is also observed with CD4-PE but at significantly higher pH than with PE.
authors.affiliation: BIOGEN, Inc., Cambridge, MA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jakubowski
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Burrus
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McGray
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heanue
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wali
mesh_terms: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015195:Drug Design; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000235:genetics; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D037521:Virulence Factors; D000097668:Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A
chemical_list: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D005098:Exotoxins; D015686:Gene Products, env; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; D000097668:Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A