Insertable Variable Fragments for Antibody Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing polypeptides with specific antigen-binding properties face challenges in inserting variable fragments into proteins without disrupting the structural folds or stability, limiting their utility in antigen binding and targeting applications.

Innovation Solution

Development of insertable variable fragment (iFv) peptides with two linker regions and a split variable domain, allowing for insertion into loop regions of proteins without disrupting the structure, enabling novel antigen-binding properties and applications such as targeting, detection, and delivery of payloads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If variable fragments are inserted into proteins using current methods, then antigen-binding properties are achieved, but the structural folds and stability of the proteins are disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantigen-binding propertiesVSAvoidstructural folds and stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The variable domain is divided into two separate segments (first variable domain segment and second variable domain segment) that can be independently inserted into loop regions of the protein. This segmentation allows the antigen-binding functionality to be distributed across multiple insertion points, reducing disruption to the overall protein structure and maintaining structural stability while achieving antigen-binding properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The variable domain segments are nested within loop regions of the protein structure, where they are inserted into available structural spaces without disrupting the core folding architecture. This nesting approach allows the foreign variable domain sequences to be accommodated within the host protein's structural framework, preserving both the host protein's stability and the inserted segments' antigen-binding functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Manufacturing precision

If variable fragments are inserted into proteins, then antigen-binding specificity is improved, but the complexity of insertion and structural integration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantigen-binding specificityVSAvoidcomplexity of insertion and structural integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insertion of variable domain segments is localized to specific loop regions of the protein, where each segment is placed in a structurally appropriate environment. This local approach allows for precise control over antigen-binding specificity at each insertion site while keeping the overall insertion process manageable and avoiding complex global structural rearrangements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4079747A1Insertable variable fragments of antibodies and modified a1-a2 domains of NKG2d ligands
Publication Date: 2022.10.26 XYPHOS BIOSCIENCES INC
  • EP4079747A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4079747A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4079747A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application relates generally to the production of polypeptides having specific antigen-binding properties of Fv domains, for example, insertable variable fragments of antibodies, and modified α1-α2 domains of NKG2D ligands.