Thermostable Affinity Polypeptides for Interference-Resistant Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing affinity pairs in diagnostic tests, such as biotin-streptavidin and digoxigenin-anti-digoxigenin, are prone to interference due to increased biotin content in medical samples and the presence of dig-binding proteins, limiting their reliability.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing a novel affinity pair comprising polypeptides with specific amino acid sequences (SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2 or sequences at least 85% identical) for robust analyte detection, avoiding interference by incorporating Colicin E9-derived polypeptides with modified residues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If biotin-streptavidin affinity pair is used for analyte detection, then the detection method is well-established and easy to implement, but interference occurs due to increased biotin content in medical samples

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of implementationVSAvoiddetection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the affinity pair from biotin-streptavidin to a novel Colicin E9-derived polypeptide system. This parameter change eliminates interference from endogenous biotin while maintaining high affinity binding capabilities, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of implementation and detection reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a copy of the successful biotin-streptavidin system using a different molecular basis (Colicin E9 polypeptides). This copying approach replicates the functional advantages of the original system while avoiding its specific vulnerability to biotin interference in clinical samples

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If digoxigenin-anti-digoxigenin affinity pair is used for analyte detection, then the detection system is robust and widely used, but interference occurs due to presence of dig-binding proteins in samples

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection robustnessVSAvoidsample interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the affinity pair parameter from digoxigenin-anti-digoxigenin to a novel Colicin E9 polypeptide system. This change eliminates interference from endogenous dig-binding proteins while maintaining robust detection capabilities, thus resolving the contradiction between detection robustness and sample interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an intermediary affinity system (Colicin E9 polypeptides) that mediates between the detection requirements and sample complexity. This intermediary system provides high-specificity binding without cross-reactivity to endogenous interfering proteins

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If E. coli-derived Colicin/Immunity Protein affinity pair is used, then the affinity binding is strong with femtomolar binding, but the complexes are unstable with melting points below 45°C limiting biotechnological application

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebinding affinityVSAvoidcomplex stability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameter of thermal stability by engineering Colicin E9-derived polypeptides with enhanced thermostability. The modified polypeptides maintain femtomolar binding affinity while achieving melting points above 60°C, thus resolving the contradiction between binding strength and complex stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a more stable, reusable affinity system that replaces the thermally unstable E. coli-derived complexes. The engineered polypeptides can withstand higher temperatures and more rigorous processing conditions, making them suitable for various biotechnological applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances the reliability and specificity of analyte detection by minimizing interference from biotin and dig-binding proteins, ensuring accurate diagnostic results.

Implementation Method 1

The affinity pair is based on protein-protein interactions and comprises a first partner and a second partner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectProtein-protein interaction:

Data Source

PatentEP4356135B1Thermostable affinity polypeptides
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS GMBH
  • EP4356135B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4356135B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4356135B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method of determining an analyte in a sample, said method comprising (a) contacting said sample with (i) a binding compound binding to said analyte, said binding compound comprising a binding agent and a first partner of an affinity pair (first affinity partner); and (ii) a second partner of the affinity pair (second affinity partner) coupled to a solid surface, to an indicator, and/or to a second binding agent; and (b) determining said analyte based on complexes formed in step (a); wherein one of said first affinity partner and said second affinity partner is a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:l or a sequence at least 50% identical thereto, and wherein the other of said first affinity partner and said second affinity partner is a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or a sequence at least 50% identical thereto, the present invention also relates to a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as specified in SEQ ID NO:l or a sequence at least 50% identical thereto, wherein the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 77 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is not a histidine; and to a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as specified in SEQ ID NO:2 or a sequence at least 50% identical thereto, wherein (i) the amino acid at the position corresponding to position 17 in SEQ ID NO:2 is not a cysteine, in an embodiment is alanine, serine, leucine, isoleucine, or glycine and/or (ii) said polypeptide further comprises at least one functional peptide; and to fusion polypeptides, polypeptide complexes, polynucleotides and kit related to the aforesaid.