Catalent - Tratuzumab Global Characterization

Global Characterization of Human IgG1 under Oxidative Stresses—Combining dual independent protease digestions and LC-HRMS Data Independent Acquisition (DIA)
  • Organism: Homo sapiens
  • Instrument: Q Exactive Plus
  • SpikeIn: No
Abstract
Peroxide and leachable metal induced chemical modifications are among the most important quality attributes in bioprocess development. However, characterization covering all common modifications theoretically possible in a therapeutic protein has not been previously reported. We describe a method for the global characterization of leachable metal- and/or peroxide- stressed formulated trastuzumab, a human IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), using dual endoprotease, bottom-up, liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) to monitor 59 chemical modifications with maximum coverage and false-positive mitigation. 55 modification sites were identified, and the rank of amino acids’ propensity to react in trastuzumab were: Met> Gln*> Asn> Leu/Ile> Glu> Arg> Cys (C-C)> His > Trp> Tyr> Phe> Thr> Val. Two potential undiscovered metal binding sites and one previously hypothesized binding site were found differentially modified in H2O2 versus leachable metals stressed conditions. Unreported modifications on trastuzumab binding interfaces with FcɣRIII, complement protein C1q, and FcRn were observed, which could affect their binding activities or even their corresponding physiological functions. This widely applicable global characterization assay not only offers a broader and deeper view into IgG1 post-translational modifications (PTMs), but also reveals a more complete picture of how oxidative stresses might potentially impact the functionality of therapeutic mAbs.
Experiment Description
Either an 80 or 70 min gradient on Waters® BEH C18, 2.1 X 150 mm, 1.7 µm column were used for the digests of trypsin or chymotrypsin, respectively. Further liquid chromatography details are available in the Supplemental Materials. A Thermo Scientific TM Q-Exactive TM Plus (Extended Mass Resolution) mass spectrometry was operated under DIA mode. For trypsin digested mAb: MS scan collect precursor ions from 300-2000 amu at resolution of 70,000; MS/MS scans 350-1650 m/z on 54 isolation windows, 25 m/z span per isolation window, 0.4 m/z overlap per isolation, 27 loops counts per MS scan, at the resolution of 17,500, and HCD collision energy of 28. For chymotryptic peptide monitoring: precursor ion scan was the same as above; MS/MS collected product ions from 225 to 1210 m/z on 40 isolation windows, 20 m/z span per window, 0.4 m/z overlap, 20 loops counts, at the resolution of 17,500, and HCD collision energy of 28. Detailed instrument settings are in the Supplemental Materials.
Sample Description
Formulated human IgG1 was stressed under the following conditions: a. 3% H2O2; b. 1ppm Fe, 100 ppb Ni, 100 ppb Cr mixture; and c. 1ppm FeCl3, 100 ppb NiCl2, 100 ppb CrCl2 mix, 0.15% H2O2. All conditions were incubated at 25°C (±1°C). Condition a was sampled at 0, 2, 8 and 24 hours. Condition b was sampled at 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days. Condition c was sampled at 0, 5, 18, 27 hours. Each sample was buffer exchanged three times into 50 mM of ammonium bicarbonate with 10 kDa Millipore Amicon molecular weight cutoff filter with centrifugation upon the time point. All samples were stored at -80°C before analysis.
Created on 3/26/18, 3:22 PM
Clustergrammer Heatmap
 
Download
metal+H2O2_heavy & light_trypsin_updated.sky.zip2018-03-26 15:09:38512924410,4768
metals_heavy chain_trypsin_updated.sky.zip2018-03-26 15:09:381821618,70910
metals_light chain_trypsin_updated.sky.zip2018-03-26 15:09:38133522,85010
metal+H2O2_chymotrypsin_heavy & light chain_updated.sky.zip2018-03-26 15:09:38213726010,1988
metals_light chain_chymotrypsin_updated.sky.zip2018-03-26 15:09:38147874,25012
H2O2_light & heavy chain_trypsin_updated.sky.zip2018-03-26 15:09:387901684,6978
H2O2_heavy & light chain_chymotrypsin_updated.sky.zip2018-03-26 15:09:384751181,85310
metals_heavy chain_chymotrypsin_updated.sky.zip2018-03-26 15:09:381961758,00512

Figure. Global characterization maps comparing modifications of trastuzumab at starting and end time points of the three tested conditions. Each color band represents a proteolytic peptide. Color code represents average percentage of modifications of duplicated injections of single digestion. Peptides not detected were depicted grey. 

  Attached Files  
   
 Global characterization map.jpg

 

Figure. Global characterization map of trastuzumab with majority of modifications annotated. Sequences that hide behind are unreachable, thus cannot be labeled. Each color band represents a proteolytic peptide. Color code represents average percentage of modifications of duplicated injections of single digestion. Peptides not detected were depicted grey (A). Frequency was calculated as number of modified amino acid divided by total number of this amino acid in trastuzumab (B). Propensity to chemical modifications is calculated as total percentage of modification divided by number of this modified amino acid (C). All figures above came from trastuzumab that was incubated with H2O2 and leachable metals at 25°C (±1°C) for 27 hours. *Gln H39 was determined to be 80% converted to pyro-glutamate on the C-terminus of tryptic peptide R.QAPGK.G [38, 42]. The deglycosylation site Asn H301 was not considered as deamidation in B and C

  Attached Files  
   
 anotated global characterization map.jpg

LC-MS Settings for Tryptic Digest

Mobile phase A and B were 0.1% formic acid (FA) in water and acetonitrile, all in LC-MS grade. A Thermo Scientific TM Ultimate TM 3000 UHPLC system delivers 0.2 mL/min gradient as follows: roughly 10 µg digests were loaded onto a Waters® BEH C18 150 x 2.1 mm, 1.7 µm column with 2% B for 4 min, the mobile phase B was linearly increased to 40% for 60 min and increased to 100% for another 3 min, the 100% B lasted for 4 min before a 10 min column equilibration at 2% B. A Thermo Scientific TM Q-Exactive TM plus (extended mass resolution) mass spectrometry was used for the data collection with the following settings: sheath gas flow rate, 25; aux gas flow rate, 15; sweep gas flow rate, 0; spray voltage, 3.5 kv; capillary temperature, 275°C; S-lens RF level, 55; aux gas heater temperature, 400°C; MS resolution, 70,000; positive mode; AGC target, 3e6; Maximum IT, 150 ms; scan range, 300-2000 m/z; with centroid spectrum data collected. DIA settings were detailed in Experiential Procedures. 

LC-MS Settings for Chymotryptic Digest

LC mobile phases are the same above. The LC gradients are: sample loading at 2% B for 4 min, mobile phase B linearly increased to 35% for 50 min and increased to 100% for 4 min, column washing with 100% B lasted for 4 min, and equilibration at 2%B for 10 min. The MS scan settings are the same as the tryptic peptide analysis. DIA settings are detailed in Experiential Procedures.