Antibody Targeting Kit Receptor D4 Domain for Inactive State Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies lack effective methods to characterize and target specific regions of receptor tyrosine kinases like Kit and PDGFR for therapeutic intervention, particularly in inhibiting their activity to prevent diseases such as cancer.

Innovation Solution

Development of antibodies or antigen binding portions that bind to specific epitopes on the ectodomain of receptor tyrosine kinases, locking them in an inactive state by preventing dimerization or altering the positioning of Ig-like domains, thereby inhibiting tyrosine autophosphorylation and downstream signaling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional methods are used to target receptor tyrosine kinases, then general inhibition may be achieved, but specific regional targeting and precise mechanistic understanding are lacking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecificity of targetingVSAvoidcomplexity of antibody design
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the receptor tyrosine kinase into functional segments (ectodomain, transmembrane domain, cytoplasmic domain) and targets specific epitopes within these segments. The antibody is designed to bind to particular Ig-like domains (D1-D5) of the ectodomain, allowing precise regional targeting rather than general receptor inhibition. This segmentation enables the antibody to interfere with specific functional regions while leaving other parts of the receptor intact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies local quality by creating an antibody with specific affinity for particular epitopes on the Kit receptor ectodomain. The antibody's binding properties are optimized for specific regions (such as the D4 domain involved in dimerization or D5 domain involved in ligand binding), allowing different local effects on receptor function. This enables precise control over which aspects of receptor activity are inhibited.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the antibody binds to the ectodomain to lock it in an inactive state, then receptor activity is inhibited, but the mechanism of preventing dimerization and autophosphorylation must be precisely characterized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinhibition effectivenessVSAvoidmechanistic characterization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The antibody is designed to bind to the ectodomain in advance, preventing the conformational changes and interactions that would lead to activation. By binding to specific epitopes on the inactive conformation, the antibody locks the receptor in an inactive state before activation can occur, preventing dimerization and subsequent autophosphorylation events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The antibody acts as an intermediary molecule that binds between the ligand and the receptor's active site. By occupying specific epitopes on the ectodomain, the antibody prevents ligand binding or receptor dimerization without directly interfering with the catalytic activity of the kinase domain. This intermediary approach allows precise control over activation while maintaining the integrity of the receptor structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If gain-of-function mutations in the D5 domain are targeted, then cancer-related Kit activity can be inhibited, but the molecular mechanism underlying these mutations is not fully understood

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecancer-related Kit activityVSAvoidmolecular mechanism understanding
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The invention addresses gain-of-function mutations by designing antibodies that bind to the D5 domain with high specificity. These mutations alter parameters such as ligand binding affinity and receptor dimerization propensity. The antibody counteracts these parameter changes by binding to epitopes that stabilize the inactive conformation or block the mutated regions, thereby restoring normal regulatory control over Kit activity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2155238B1Antibody against d4 domain of the kit receptor and use thereor
Publication Date: 2016.04.06 YALE UNIVERSITY
  • EP2155238B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2155238B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2155238B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

The present invention provides moieties that bind to an Ig-like domain, e.g., D4 or D5, of a human receptor tyrosine kinase, e.g., the human Kit RTK or the PDGFR RTK, or the D7 domain of a type V receptor tyrosine kinase wherein the moieties lock the ectodomain of the receptor tyrosine kinase in an inactive state thereby antagonizing the activity of the receptor tyrosine kinase.