title: Application of Dual Protease Column for HDX-MS Analysis of Monoclonal Antibodies.
abstract: A co-immobilized, dual protease column was developed and implemented to more efficiently digest IgG molecules for hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS). The low-pH proteolytic enzymes pepsin and type XIII protease from Aspergillus were packed into a single column to most effectively combine the complementary specificities. The method was optimized using an IgG2 monoclonal antibody as a substrate because they are known to be more difficult to efficiently digest. The general applicability of the method was then demonstrated using IgG1 and IgG4 mAbs. The dual protease column and optimized method yielded improved digestion efficiency, as measured by the increased number of smaller, overlapping peptides in comparison with pepsin or type XIII alone, making HDX-MS more suitable for measuring deuterium uptake with higher resolution. The enhanced digestion efficiency and increased sequence coverage enables the routine application of HDX-MS to all therapeutic IgG molecules for investigations of higher order structure, especially when posttranslational and storage-induced modifications are detected, providing further product understanding for structure-function relationships and ultimately ensuring clinical safety and efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Pfizer, Inc., BTx Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Louis, Missouri 63017.
authors.forename: Sasidhar N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Nirudodhi
authors.affiliation: Pfizer, Inc., BTx Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Louis, Missouri 63017.
authors.forename: Justin B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Sperry
authors.affiliation: Pfizer, Inc., BTx Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andover, Massachusetts 01810.
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rouse
authors.affiliation: Pfizer, Inc., BTx Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Louis, Missouri 63017. Electronic address: james.a.carroll@pfizer.com.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carroll
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000201:enzymology*; D016466:CHO Cells; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003412:Cricetulus; D041961:Deuterium Exchange Measurement; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized / Q000378:metabolism*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D059748:Proteolysis; D020539:Sequence Analysis, Protein / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases
keywords: HPLC; analytical chemistry; biotechnology; mass spectrometry; protein structure